Frugal Friday

Spending what you earn on what YOU want

I have been so touched by the number of e.mails I have got recently from people commenting and thanking me for my posts I have done on budgets and meal plans etc. I have had people saying that they have changed the way they shop and saved themselves a load of money in the process. Fabulous stuff!

 It has been really encouraging to receive such lovely feedback -  thank you.

One lady who has contacted me recently to say Hi and talk blogs has started her own blog, Sheepskins and Fairylights , pop over and say Hi and leave her some encouraging comments. She gets up to some great adventures and takes some beautiful photos too. 

I realise that my blog is a bit eclectic - a  mish mash of things, but the common theme is always getting a better deal. We all like to make the most of our money. It is not about being cheap or about buying cheap. I like to get quality items for a good deal. I am quite happy to spend money on a designer handbag - if it is something I adore and have saved for and will cherish for years to come. I'd rather do that than buy 20 cheaper ones that I will discard when they break in a few months! Here is a post on when spending more is sometimes the better route!

It is about choice. 

I chose this MK watch for my birthday - I will cherish it for years to come!

It is my money and I want to have the choice about where and how to spend my disposable cash ( what is left after the bills!)

Here are some of my thoughts:

Clothes 

I've learnt the hard way with clothes that less is more (!) It is no use buying a load of tat in the sales because it is cheap. It is usually cheap for a reason. I like to save my money now and spend it on the things I really want. I am much more reasoned about my spending and will look in stores and then often order online where there are vouchers and deals to be found. I often set myself a target for a particular more expensive item , then sell things on e.bay or at car boots to help fund the purchase. Here are some of my tips in a previous post.

Latest Car Boot - to fund items for the new kitchen!

 A Gap dress from a Charity Shop

Beauty

I am learning with my beauty items. I have an obsession with taking care of my skin and do spend money on good quality cleansers and moisturisers. However, there are deals to be had in the drugstores on make up products with some amazingly good dupes for branded products.

Mua Palettes from Superdrug - great value

Beauty Blender Dupe

Groceries

This is where I find I can really go to town and beat the retailers. I've learnt a few of their tricks to get us to spend more and I refuse to be drawn in. I have a large, hungry family and to feed them well and within a budget I follow some basic rules that you can read about here and here.

We are choosing to be careful about how much extra we spend at the moment as we are having a rather large extension built. We have saved ( and saved) for this, but it is never enough is it? I may light heartedly moan about cash flow, but I am delighted where our money is going. I have waited a long time for this ! It was the push to return to work that I needed and I am loving it. The money has certainly been needed.

So to my lovely encouragers - thank you! I shall continue to witter on. This is my little corner to let out some of the frenetic muddle that is whizzing round my brain. 

Thank you for reading and for responding . 
XXX

Design ©2012 Another New Day

www.takingachanceinlife.blogspot.uk 2012 - 2013

All personal images are owned by Another New Day

unless stated otherwise.

Images may not be downloaded,manipulated or reproduced without prior written permission. All rights are reserved.

Commercial or Private use without explicit written consent is prohibited and action will be taken through UK and worldwide copyright laws.

Frugal Friday - Spring Spending

Keeping to a budget....again.

We have a had a lovely week of fresh Spring sunshine . Bitterly cold still when walking along the sea front, but I can handle that with the sun on my face. It has been just glorious having the children home from school with no sickness and the sun shining. It  makes all the difference doesn't it?

However, I always find despite my best intentions, having the children off always bumps up the budget, mainly for food!

 I don't spend a lot on taking them to paid days out. We spend enough on their sports clubs during the term times to be doing this as well. We are fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the country where we have entertainment that is free of charge within minutes of our house. The children are members ( £9 a year) of our villages tennis court which is 3 minutes from our house. We have a full size football pitch 2 minutes from our house. The park is at the bottom of our road. The beach is a 5 minute drive away. The list continues. We enjoy these "free" activities to capacity before spending on expensive days out.

I  find I get to this time of year, the sun peeps out and suddenly I am yearning after new clothes and fresh decor and plants for the garden. For some of us it just seems to be in our nature! I am always planning and scheming about the next thing.

Fortunately this year I have our extension to keep me occupied, but usually these are some of the things I keep in mind to help me stick to a budget:

• I ask "Need" or "Want"
• If "Want" then wait and save for it.
• Plan, Plan, Plan. I enjoy a spend so much more if I have planned it in, decided what I want and am saving for it.
• How will I "feel" next week if I buy this today. Sometimes we buy things for that quick , instant feel good factor. That wears off. Avoid emotional buying.
• Walk away and think about it.
• Don't go into the shops you love if you know you shouldn't spend.
• Don't deny yourself all the time. I find this ends up with you "falling off the wagon" and having a big splurge. It is better to have a reasoned spend from time to time than constantly deny yourself the things you like to do. ( As long as you can afford it)
• Write down what you have spent each day- it will shock you how the small purchases add up
• Take out your "spending money" each month in cash. That way you won't be tempted to just "pop it on the card."
• Don't take your credit card shopping with you.

I think there is a whole other blog post on "Emotional Buying" in there somewhere, that if we were honest a lot of us have struggled with at some point and at times probably still do. 

How do you deal with the temptations of new Spring clothes, fresh decor, booking a nice hot holiday, treating the kids when they are home etc etc.........all within a budget?

Design ©2012 Another New Day

www.takingachanceinlife.blogspot.uk 2012 - 2013

All personal images are owned by Another New Day

unless stated otherwise.

Images may not be downloaded,manipulated or reproduced without prior written permission. All rights are reserved.

Commercial or Private use without explicit written consent is prohibited and action will be taken through UK and worldwide copyright laws.

Primark

 Do you get it yet......?

Ok so fresh with new resolve following Susie So Sos fantastic post on shopping at Primark I headed off , with a friend for moral support, to try again. On the agenda - jumpers, preferrably with some content that is natural, a scarf, a belt, p.js ( for me this time), jewellery, and some kids bedding. Quite a list really.

• The first thing I did wrong was go at 11am rather than 9am, but I have 3 kids to get to school and the darn shop is a half an hour drive and then a walk and a coffee away so whats a gal to do! I did see a rather nice jacket just inside the entrance, but on closer inspection the collar was rather wonky so I hastily moved on to the 'knitwear'. 
• Now I did try, really I did. I looked at a fair few jumpers here. I also looked out for Sue hiding in a corner undoing and checking buttons in case she could help me, but no such luck! On the surface there was a few things I liked the look of , but touch the fabric and it goes downhill. Rough, rough, rough. I could not find one item that was not less than 98% acryylic. In the end I was throwing items back on the pile like a pro declaring "nope" " nope" and "nope again", before realising I was one of the culprits who leave this store in a devastatingly muddled mess that makes it so unwelcome to shop in at times. So gave up and empty handed moved onto...
• P.Js. Now I rather fancied the bird print p.j bottoms on Susie SoSos blog. Looking all ironed and pretty and well worth the money, but heres the rub. I'm a funny shape. Long legs. Short body you see. ( Think Olive Oyl)I need long bottoms. They seem to come in regular or cuffed and unfortunately I don't have regular or cuffed legs so it was a no go from the start. If you are a regular or cuffed type of gal then 100% cotton p.j bottoms from £3 are to be found. There were some rather pretty owl print ones . So Primark I will confess your  P.Js could be a winner - as long as you don't have long legs.

• Accessories then . Now I have had success here before. Buying a few scarves and the odd jewellery item that isn't too yellow or guady. If you can get over the fact that you will see a lot of people wearing your scarf then no problem. I have a lovely owl print scarf in grey, but so do two of my friends! Good job I don't mind. Today I was on the hunt for a splash of animal print. I don't want to spend much as it will go out of fashion and accessories are easily and cheaply replaced. It is also a good way of trying this trend out without looking like the old MDAL. Success - scarf in 100% cotton. Gorgeous print and feel, although the stitching needs a bit of attention, but for £4 who cares? Also an animal print belt with a gold buckle. Not too much bling, not too over the top and only £3. It won't last longer than this winter, but then will the trend?

• I had no luck with the bling today. All brightly coloured and gaudy. Horrid. Some you win some you lose.
• Now the bedding, again I was pleasantly surprised.100% cotton and some lovely simple and classic designs. I couldn't decide between two designs and also was uncertain what size bed we are getting my eldest son for his new room so chickened out on the purchase, but I will be back.
• Whilst in the depths of the store I also picked up 6m of wrap for £1 and Susie is right- it does the job and doesn't rip. 
• I also saw a few other odd bits amongst the piles of tat that is there - packs of strong wooden hangers for £2.50, antibacterial handwipes £1 for 2 packs, a scarf or tie hanger for £1, and of course my usual purchases of kids underwear and jeans.

So where am I now with the whole Primark is amazing thing? Well I would say I'm on a learning curve. I still cannot find adult buys that satisfy my need for quality over cost and the fear of throwing things away too soon when they wear out gnaws at my conscience. BUT there are bargains to be found if you hunt and look AND there is money to be saved by doing this. Wrapping paper is a huge expense with three kids so thats a big plus. Bedding - if it's good quality then it's a winner. I must admit to being a White company addict but for the youngsters I don't think they'd know the difference. Scarves for yourself or as a present that is pretty , yet affordable - yes. I'll go with that. Teachers gifts at end of term maybe? 

We still breathed a sigh of relief when we left and scurried guiltily off to M & S to look for school uniform. I don't know if it was the release of PPS (Post Primark stress), but I came out of M & S with a half price Mac and a pair of £5 P.Js ( 100 % cotton of course with the top included !). Very happy. And I know they will last.

I think it all comes back to the old question of budget . We have to live within our means and here is an outlet for us to get more for that budget. But,the questions that then get raised are:

• Is it a quick fix, but not a long term saving?
• Does it perpetuate the consumer mentality - Buy cheap, throw away quickly?
• Is this good for our environment?
• How do they get those prices down - or is it just easier to ignore that fact?!
• Are these really the great prices we think they are?

Very provocative questions I know and I'm sure apply to a great many stores other than just Primark. In our quest for fabulous fashion at great prices I think the answer is to be wise, open minded, do the research, shop around and then decide. And then throw into the mix a bit of the old impulse buying just to keep it fresh! 

Winter Coats

Layer Up!

Following on from yesterdays confession that I need to be warm, here I am again with another hot water bottle, perusing my winter coats ( the OH will have to relent and put the heating on now it's October, surely?). I must admit this is an area I tend not to spend money in very often. I love jackets and lightweight blazers , but until last winter my complaints of cold were met with the response from my OH of, "Layer up!" Layer up, I ask you. Even with thermals, two T's, a jumper, cardy and jacket I was still cold , and rather bulky. The year of the snow was the final straw and I marched off, layered up, one particularly cold day to buy myself an expensive, North Face, grey Metropolis Parka aka cosytoes for adults.

I have never looked back. I am never cold ( when I am wearing it). I am never in more than 3 layers ( including the coat) and I can see it lasting me another 10 years. An investment buy, but definitely cheaper in the long run than a series of inexpensive, flimsy jackets that are not warm enough to keep the chill out on a mild Autumn day, let alone in the depths of the British winter! It is deeply warm, fits snugly and is shaped in at the waist .

I did shop around prior to my purchase and my advice when buying a padded parka such as this is......

• Don't size up. You won't need loads of layers underneath anyway and you'll only end up looking like The Hungry Caterpillar if you do.
• Go for something that is as long as you are comfortable with.... if you are going for warmth of course.
• Get one with a detachable hood. I prefer to wear a woolly hat and a scarf so like to be able to remove the hood if possible. It becomes too bulky with a hood as well!
• Deep pockets. Not silly shallow ones that you can't bury your hands in.
• Make sure it is cut in and shaped in some way, not just a large rectangle. You will look like a walking duvet otherwise. A belted waist or slightly flared hem can improve the look no end.
• Go for a better filling and better quality coat every time. Down filled coats will last longer than synthetic filled coats and are lighter by far. You will not regret it.

There are so many now to choose from ranging from the ridiculously cheap to the ridiculously expensive. Again it is a question of personal choice and budget. Go for what you like and can afford! 

Happy shopping - in the warm.