Charlottechicken Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Well, I'm still decluttering here, and I feel it will be an ongoing project However, OH and I are now saving hard for a future together so we have decided to buy nothing new as far as we can, and try to live as frugally as possible for the next 12 months. It's my birthday tomorrow and I know he hasn't bought me a present (and I really don't need anything!), so we are going out for a meal somewhere. I'm hoping to sell lots of bits and bobs on ebay if I can get organised, and already have my eye on stuff in the kitchen that I identified last year whilst decluttering. Sadly, I'm already thinking that ebay and charity shops will provide me with plenty of shopping opportunities, but I know I shouldn't buy just because something is only a pound! Our holidays are booked for the next 12 months, although they aren't expensive ones, so there is no outlay involved there, unless we want a short break for a couple of days, in that case it will be searching the internet for a bargain. Feel free to join in if you want to be frugal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Me, me I'm jumping in here I seem to do really well when I first put my head on this, but last year went totally pear shaped I've already started planning my meals, that way I also plan my shopping list and only buy what I need, last shopping cost £41 for 2 of us or the week... Including meat Shall we use this thread like a blog? I had a blog before, I might pick it up again Thanks for the nudge Cathy X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 2, 2013 Author Share Posted January 2, 2013 Welcome aboard Cathy! Feel free to blog away here, probably the best place to share tips on scrimping and saving! We will do a great job of being frugal this year, I'm sure! I really need to control my charity shop spending, and I've been a bit frivilous on ebay recently too, bidding on bits and bobs without actually thinking about what I'm bidding on. Trouble is, it's all so cheap to start off with Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 Oh dear, frugality was temporarily suspended for the day here It's my birthday and I went shopping with vouchers, the upside is I got £98 worth of clothes for nothing The downside is that I now have to make space for them Think there's a few more things to go on ebay then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 So, before you put them away, have a sort out of our wardrobe and 'get rid of' one item for every item purchased Selling stuff would help you to raise more money Happy birthday by the way Cathy X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Happy Birthday Claire I really must try harder this year so I'm hoping to come along and post on here at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 Ahh, thanks Cathy I've found a top to bin, and a dress and cardi to sell too! They are now on my ever increasing 'things to flog on ebay' pile. I had some clothing for my birthday so have also removed like for like there too! I have a bag for the rag shop, we've had quite a few fivers for clothing that was well past it's use by date Just need to find another pair of socks to bin. Phew! Thanks for the birthday wishes too, it's been a great day and we are going out for a meal tomorrow, as OH has been at work all day today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Happy ones Claire Trying to de-clutter here and sell as much as I can; it's just hard finding the time to get it done. Anyhow, I have just finished the housework for the evening and taken down the last of the christmas cards, am now going to iron a Superdry top which Rosie was given but won't wear and I'll try that on ebay when I get some photos done. I have a kneeling stool which I I don't use any more so that can go on there too and clear some space. I am really cutting back on spending this year; we aren't big present givers any way but I want to save to get the utility room sorted, so that's something to aim for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 Welcome aboard Lesley and DM True, DM, finding the time to ebay is hard, I used to have it off to a fine art many years ago but I have no idea how I did it! I'm going to let ebay calm down a bit first, saw an article in the paper about how many unwrapped Christmas presents were for sale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 The problem at the moment is taking the pictures in daylight as the only opportunity I have is in my lunchbreak when I am usually sorting the laundry or doing chores. I will try to get some done this weekend if the light is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 )Oooh, can I join too, please?!? I'm aiming for a major declutter this year (say this quite often, but really NEED to do something this year) so my new year resolution is to spend some time each week de-cluttering, be it via the tip, charity shop or ebay - I did take an old vacuum cleaner to the tip yesterday (am I the only one who feels guilty dumping stuff at the tip ) and have a weekend to myself so would like to get Ebaying ... I'm not planning to buy anything I don't NEED either ... Good luck everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Bramble do the tips in your area have recycling centres/shops? Some of ours do and they sell stuff on or recycle it. I always advertise stuff like that on Freegle as folks often want old electrical items for parts; I tend to list them twice before taking it to the tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 The vac in question was very old and no longer worked, but I have to say I hadn't thought of someone wanting it for parts - it went to the tip (to small appliance recycling, so hopefully some bits of it will be reused). Yes, one tip has a "rehoming centre" and I've taken several things there (usually things that are too big to go to the charity shop) - my "local" tip doesn't but I'm happy to hold on to things 'til I'm passing the other tip and can then drop them off. One of my main plans for this year is to USE the stuff I have in my cupboards (lots of cleaning stuff etc) before buying more - I have not end of half bottles of this and that, if I use those up, it will make a huge difference to kitchen space, not to mention saving some money in to the bargain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I'm another one with a surfeit of cleaning products and gadgets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I need a major clear out and declutter too. My sisters baby is due in 8 weeks and I really wanted to sort out the spare room for my nephew!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 This on our local Freegle made me smile.. Happy New Year everybody - hope you had a Merry Christmas! We've had an influx of new members over the last few days and so we'd like to take the opportunity to welcome all our newbies and maybe give everyone a nudge in the direction of your brimming cupboards/spare room/garage/loft/shed. It's time to get freegling! So there you are, trying to find homes for all your sparkly new Christmas pressies, but crikey - all your cupboards/spare rooms/garages/lofts/sheds are already full - of stuff you don't use any more?? Well, you're thinking you really ought to get rid of some of this stuff as you can't remember when you last used it, but you really don't want to have to chuck it away. Ah - but you don't have to dump it - go on - Freegle it instead! Or maybe the kids received some duplicate gifts that were shoved to the back of the cupboard. Possibly you received what you thought to be some pretty naff gifts yourself and are worried about re-gifting because you don't remember who gave you what and don't want to be embarrassed when Great Aunt Doris shows up for Christmas dinner and you've given her the awful knee length woollen tartan socks she sent you last year, or the hand knitted sweater with the kitty on the front with a bow round it's neck that Granny Winnifred made for you on her new knitting machine Stick them on Freegle - maybe someone else can enjoy them instead! And now that spring is just around the corner (ahem, yes, really take a look in the greenhouse, garage and shed. Yes, now is the time to clear them out! How much stuff in there are you going to hang on to until it's no use to anyone? Seriously - how many millions of plant pots do you really need in there? Try to find even just ONE thing to part with and freegle it! You may just make someone's day - and the more items posted on Freegle the more it will jolt your memory ("oh, I have one of those too and it's just gathering dust, I should give that away"). Some ideas: Garden tools Old pots, planters, hanging baskets Garden furniture Plants that need dividing or indoors: Magazines Books Toys Clothes Extra appliances (irons, vacuums) Duplicate pots and pans Extra craft materials If your item isn't in great shape or maybe doesn't even work, just say so. There may be someone who likes to tinker with broken or non functioning items out there, or a family would prefer that little Junior actually dismantle something that's already broken instead of the new DVD player. Just one thing - it's not a lot to ask is it. Go on - Get Freegling - you could make the world of difference to someone! Now the serious bit: When you do make Offers, please try NOT to do the "fastest finger gets it" thing. There are many members who are not surgically attached to their computers or on 'Daily Digest', reading their email only once a day. They won't get a chance to respond to your Offer if you automatically take the first reply. Please try to give everyone a chance to respond before choosing who to give to. This way everyone gets a chance to feel the thrill of getting something cool for free and the 'auto-responders' get what they deserve - nowt! How to choose who to give to? Well that's completely up to you! Some like to stick the email addresses of those who reply into the search bar on the homepage and see what it spits out. Some people like to choose the reply that amuses or intrigues them most. Some people have been known to let their cat choose (yes, you know who you are lol However you choose to freegle your item, it always saves it from landing in the tip. So Happy New Year and Happy Freegling everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superkitty Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 A very nice man has just come and picked up our old artificial Christmas tree this afternoon, which I put on Freegle a few days back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I've noticed lots of freegle and free cycling since the new year. We're half way through renovating our house, so we will need to spend quite a bit, however am going to really try to reduce unnecessary purchases. We had a good declutter before we moved, and managed to charity shop most of it, and I sold some old jewellery. We did invest in a chainsaw, but hopefully that will pay for itself by not having to buy logs next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I never buy wood.. just womble from skips, roadsides and friends. Cutting it up gets you warm, as does burning it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Another one here who needs to find time to do some serious decluttering and sorting out! I'm not a great collector of unwanted stuff but the combination of a very demanding job, a near teenager who has grown out of most of his toys and books, and a partner who is always too busy/not interested enough to spare time to sort stuff out, and claims that none of the junk is his has resulted in an accumulation of stuff that really needs to go. So, I shall be inspired by the rest of you and try and sort out/get rid of something each week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 7, 2013 Author Share Posted January 7, 2013 Ooh, good luck to all of you attempting frugality this year! I will be starting the decluttering process in the front room this week. Everything will be sorted through. Might need to contact Music Magpie too! Mum has a lot of old toys so I am hoping to photograph them in the next few weeks and send the photos to a specialist toy auctioneer in Dudley for appraisal. They hold auctions once a month and put all the stuff online too. I just need to see if their rates are reasonable first OH has just declared that he wants a new pair of shoes, so he will be sacrificing some tops he refuses to wear, for me to flog on ebay so he can have the shoes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 OH has just declared that he wants a new pair of shoes, so he will be sacrificing some tops he refuses to wear, for me to flog on ebay so he can have the shoes The only way I can get my OH to sacrifice any of his clothes is when he is away on business - he never notices they've gone as he seems to have loads of identical ones in various states of wear . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 The Boy lives a very minimal life; he's not one to be impressed by money or things, he has just the right amount of clothes etc. I am embarrassed by the amount of clothes I have, especially as I don't wear some of them... I shall have a massive clear out with him as my referee to keep an eye on me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 My Hubby has way more clothes than I do, he has a real thing for shirts and is always bringing them back from charity shops. My clothes are squished into a tiny space in our large built in wardrobe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I never buy wood.. just womble from skips, roadsides and friends. Cutting it up gets you warm, as does burning it! Same with us Now we have the van, I can see the wombling increasing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
