Are you spending more or watching the pennies?

RMCF · 04-12-2008, 11:50 PM

So with all the interest rate cuts, VAT decrease and sales left, right & centre, are you trying to revive the economy by going out and spending like there's no tomorrow?

Or are you very cautious with your money?

Me personally, I haven't really changed my spending habits at all, although I would not have been that foolish with money anyway.

**Iccz** · 04-12-2008, 11:52 PM

I'm watching the pennies more than ever lately, saving up for HTPC and the bills don't stop coming... sadly.

Abbeygoo · 05-12-2008, 12:25 AM

I've always watched the pennies and very rarely go on a spending spree .... the wife, on the other hand, carries on spending with no thought of repaying the credit card debt that's building up .....

Dony · 05-12-2008, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abbeygoo

I've always watched the pennies and very rarely go on a spending spree .... the wife, on the other hand, carries on spending with no thought of repaying the credit card debt that's building up .....

Same here.....I ordered about £80 worth of CD's, DVD's and Games from HMV (£7.99 was for me) and was asked if all those were really necessary.

Wife came in the other day having spent over £250 in the toy shop but no questions there!!!! This was after she had said everything was bought.

WalkInMyShoes · 05-12-2008, 12:52 AM

Im the same as before ive always shopped around to get the best deal, watch the pennies and the pounds take care of themselves!

Singh400 · 05-12-2008, 1:37 AM

Haven't changed my spending habits at all. Still buy what I need/want. Still shop around for the best deal.

Ian J · 05-12-2008, 6:56 AM

I've just been offered a good interest free balance transfer deal on a credit card so I'm busily spending away trying to up the balance on another one to make it worthwhile.

I've ordered a new subwoofer which is due for delivery at the end of the year but I'm going to telephone KHC and ask if I can pay them now instead of on delivery.

eric pisch · 05-12-2008, 7:37 AM

Slashed my spending, but i started doing so 16 months ago (i could see the credit crisis coming to ahead), done the full MSE job, I had 16 orders with sideshow toys, cancelled all but 4.

SimonH · 05-12-2008, 8:17 AM

I'm watching the pennies much more, as a self employed individual there is no net to protect me, things seem fine right now but as things slow down it all has a knock on effect.

I'm bracing myself and ensuring my family are protected should we start to feel the brunt of this slowdown more seriously.

I woke up to find out I am now around £400 per month better off due to the 1% interest rate cut The Virgin 1 account passed on which is nice to know , over £5000 pa better off, can't be bade but I am aware that things can go belly up quite rapidly and I'm not blowing thousands of pounds on crap now.

mjn · 05-12-2008, 8:57 AM

Saving more than ever, well, paying off as much of the mortgage as possible, while interest rates are low.

Desmo · 05-12-2008, 9:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimonH

I'm watching the pennies much more, as a self employed individual there is no net to protect me, things seem fine right now but as things slow down it all has a knock on effect.

Same here. My wages are starting to get affected a little now so I have to baton down the hatches a touch.

**unique** · 05-12-2008, 9:21 AM

i've actually spent more as i've grabbed a few bargains in the last week, including a mispriced dell mini at £99 instead of £269 and a sony camera mispriced at £50 instead of £107. this was just after buying another hardrive as backup, as the price dropped a few quid. on top of that i've bought memory and accessories to make the most of them. i've still not bought a single present yet, but the way things are going it looks like the longer you wait the better the deals

Decadence · 05-12-2008, 9:45 AM

Christmas shopping tomorrow...but I did just buy a 42" plasma because the deal at Comet looked too good to turn down.

**Steven** · 05-12-2008, 10:23 AM

I am wary of the fact because of NPower's mistake my leccy bill is due Dec 29th, so it will be a 4.5 month billing period

Naaktgeboren · 05-12-2008, 10:30 AM

Has not really affected my spending, I am buying more this time of year due to Christmas and other celebrations but I am finding their are more bargains to be had.

I have always been big on research before purchasing major items so I do manage to find the bargains as and when they come about.

I would not say the decrease in VAT factors in my buying habits these days either, most online/high street retailers are cutting ££'s anyway.

loz · 05-12-2008, 10:37 AM

Definitely watching the pennies.
But then again, apart from a mortgage, we don't borrow money for anything, and always pay off the credit card in full each month.
We buy things when we have enough money to pay for them, not just because we want them now.

None of the VAT reduction or retailer price discounts will make any difference. I will buy things when I need them and can afford them, not just because they are cheap.

And the nice savings we have on our mortgage are just that - savings...

So I am afraid I won't be helping out GB's fiscal stimulus - well not anymore than I would have done...

wormvortex · 05-12-2008, 11:53 AM

Hasn't made the slightest bit of difference to me.

KhalJimbo · 05-12-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wormvortex

Hasn't made the slightest bit of difference to me.

Me too, but then again I did just move into an unfurnished house with no furniture to my name.

loz · 05-12-2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimthelegend

Me too, but then again I did just move into an unfurnished house with no furniture to my name.

So, are you sleeping on top of that 50" plasma then?

KhalJimbo · 05-12-2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loz

So, are you sleeping on top of that 50" plasma then?

Not anymore haha but I did go out about 2 months back to go buy a dining room table and arrived home with no table but instead a PS3. As for the plasma thats kinda standard furniture that every house needs

wormvortex · 05-12-2008, 1:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimthelegend

Not anymore haha but I did go out about 2 months back to go buy a dining room table and arrived home with no table but instead a PS3. As for the plasma thats kinda standard furniture that every house needs

I'd take a PS3 over a table anyday. Anyway's the PS3 box doubles up as a nice table once made a bit higher with a couple of free argos catalogues

stewart28 · 05-12-2008, 2:04 PM

kind of watching the pennies at the moment. Been hammering the overtime in work and intending to up until the end of december all to make sure january wage is very big to buy gadgets.

Singh400 · 05-12-2008, 2:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimthelegend

Not anymore haha but I did go out about 2 months back to go buy a dining room table and arrived home with no table but instead a PS3. As for the plasma thats kinda standard furniture that every house needs

Quality

**Iccz** · 05-12-2008, 2:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wormvortex

I'd take a PS3 over a table anyday. Anyway's the PS3 box doubles up as a nice table once made a bit higher with a couple of free argos catalogues

Not to mention the reduction of dust in your house, turn the ps3 on for a couple of hours a day and it magically draws all the dust in the room to the shiney black case.
Makes dusting a nice easy job for me!

Singh400 · 05-12-2008, 2:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iccz

Not to mention the reduction of dust in your house, turn the ps3 on for a couple of hours a day and it magically draws all the dust in the room to the shiney black case.
Makes dusting a nice easy job for me!

PS3 shaped Dyson anyone?

wormvortex · 05-12-2008, 2:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Singh400

PS3 shaped Dyson anyone?

Dyson, bah. PS3 shaped Henry's

Singh400 · 05-12-2008, 2:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wormvortex

Dyson, bah. PS3 shaped Henry's

Puurr-lease Dyson > Henry

SimonH · 05-12-2008, 3:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Singh400

Puurr-lease Dyson > Henry

I'm gonna beg to differ having owned both, personally found Dysons to be overrated , my first one was about £400 many eons ago, it died within 14 months, my second one died within about 2 months, I had it reparied but it now sits in the garage for cleaning in there and the £100 Henry which was recommended to me has now lasted about 5 years, is going strong as ever and cleans the house.

Yuzo · 05-12-2008, 3:41 PM

currently saving 90% of my weekly wage, ready for a deposit on a house, as me and the gf currently live with parents.

i gave up my xbox360, ps3 and blu-ray collection to build funds.

i kind of figured i would rather have a nice house, with nice furnishings, than have a nice collection of games and movies.

.. the movies which i now rent, so still watching all the latest releases without paying a penny (ahem, lovefilm 90 day free trial).

mitchec1 · 05-12-2008, 3:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RMCF

So with all the interest rate cuts, VAT decrease and sales left, right & centre, are you trying to revive the economy by going out and spending like there's no tomorrow?

Or are you very cautious with your money?

Me personally, I haven't really changed my spending habits at all, although I would not have been that foolish with money anyway.

Not really spending anymore or any less than planned but Christmas is pretty much cancelled because I'm getting married in Feb. We will still have food, beer etc but it will be a quiet one.

All the money I'm going to spend was planned about 10 months ago. In fact we've just paid for our honeymoon today and in January have to pay the DJ, cake, reception etc.

After Feb I will spend but it's a list of gadgets I want, have planned to get and will have the money for it, if I don't I'll have to wait