Horrible things my wife has done to me: Selling my mobile phone

I’ll admit it – I don’t use my mobile phone much. When you work from home, you’re never more than a few feet from a landline. The only time my mobile gets dusted off is when I’m going out for the day – and even then it’s only as a precaution in case the car breaks down, or I’m running late.

Still, when I was heading out the other day, I couldn’t find my mobile anywhere. Strange…it was on the charger the other day. And with that thought in my head, I popped my head into the living room and asked Lisa if she’d seen it.

Then I remembered. Pennies dropped. Things clicked into place.

“You sold it!” I spluttered, in a J’accuse stylee.Her face froze for a split second, not sure how I was going to react. Then she just burst out laughing.

It turns out that she’d sold it four days before. I’d worked out that the last time I saw the mobile, it was charging on the kitchen counter. Except I wasn’t charging it, Lisa was. We’d joked at the time about how I might have missed a few messages from my best friend…O2 Alerts.

And why? Well, it seems Lisa’s found herself a new alternative to eBay – Amazon Marketplace. After trialling it a couple of weeks ago with some random electronic items, she decided that anything electronic and unused was fair game. Hence the great mobile phone sale. And various other items. It’s all in a good cause though – she’s saving the cash for Christmas presents.

What’s funniest of all is that she knew me well enough to know that she could sell my mobile phone without telling me and I wouldn’t bat an eyelid.

Get Your Christmas Presents On eBay NOW Before It's Too Late!

Just a quick note to remind you that if you want to pick up a bargain for Christmas then you need to get onto eBay right now!

As Christmas draws nearer the prices on eBay start to rise. Try getting a decent mobile phone for under £30 in November or December, it just won’t happen. The same can be said for most electronics and sought after toys. In fact in many cases it would be cheaper to buy the item new from the high street than from eBay.

I recommend that you all follow my lead and begin to get your Christmas bargains on eBay now. Don’t leave it too late or you really will pay through the nose!

Money Saving Tips: Second Hand Doesn't Always Mean Second Best!

Since we have had children, and I have left work, things have been tight in the Family Of Five household. Its hard to afford all the luxuries we once enjoyed and still pay the bills and keep our bank balance in the black.

Thankfully over the last five years I have become a bit of an expert on all things second hand. I love shopping in charity shops, and very often get clothes and toys for the kids for a fraction of the original price. My best buys were when i discovered I was pregnant with Daniel. I had already given away all Jakes baby clothes, pram, moses basket, bouncing chair …everything!

Thankfully since I was a regualr to our local charity shops, once I found out that I was expecting a baby boy, I asked the shop volunteers to watch out for suitable items. The next time I visited, the ladies in one shop had saved me 3 huge black bin bags full of baby boy clothes, all like new, and all top quality brands and labels. I paid a ridiculous price of ?10 for the lot. Daniel is still wearing these clothes. I picked up his stroller for ?5, his Moses Basket (with stand) for ?3 and his bouncing chair for ?2.50.

I also find car boot sales invaluable? for childrens items. I am proud to say that I have never bought Rachel or Jake a new bike or scooter, I have gotten all of theirs for less than ?8 each at a boot sale. Last week I found beautiful football bedclothes, curtains, lamps and a bin for Jakes room, they all cost me ?6 and he is thrilled with his ‘big boy’ bedroom.

Many people often look down their noses at used clothing and household items, but just think of how much wear a baby actually gets out of their clothes. I know that our kids very often wear an item once or twice, before it becomes too small. It is a sin to throw items like this away.
Think of how much money you waste on buying items new, and as they say time is money. How long do you have to work to earn the money to buy these things. To me it seems sensible to pay less for certain items when I can, and in doing so I can afford to work less, stay at home with my children, and spend my life where I actually want to be. Instead of working 40 hours a week, to buy the best designer labels for my children, the trendiest bicylce or the latest game.
Summer is the season for Car Boot Sales, they are springing up everywhere. So go out, have a look, and pick up a bargain. i guarantee if you try it once, you will become an addict like me!

Festival Of Frugality #23

I got another mention on this weeks Festival Of Frugality, so I thought it was only fair to point you all over to this great weekly event.

Have fun!

Breast Is Not Only Best, Its Cheaper Too!

I love breastfeeding. I breastfed all my children until they were at least a year old, and at almost nine months old, Daniel is showing no signs of stopping.

I am well versed in all the health benefits of breastfeeding, both for baby and me, but one aspect I hadn’t thought of was the cost.

According to this study I have already saved myself at least $567.42 just by breastfeeding Daniel. If you take Rachel and Jake into the equation also, I have saved myself approximately $2000 on formula milk since my children have been born.

As many of you will know I am the bargain queen, and I am so chuffed that I have been saving myself money for the last four years without even knowing it! Good for me.

Festival Of Frugality

I just noticed that the Clutter Queen has linked to my money saving tips section from her Festival of Frugality.

Well worth a read for all you penny pinchers out there!

Money Saving Tips: Make The Most Of Those Retail Sales!

As a follow-up to my post on recycled gifts I thought I would also cover ways to make the most of retail sales.

I am always on the lookout for reduced items when i am out shopping. If I see a shop with a sale I am always on the lookout for possible gifts. My weekly groceries from Tesco or Asda are often supplemented by gift sets, toiletries, books and toys.

Although I plan my gifts for family and close friends very carefully and try to get them something specific that I think they will love, for people like teachers and aquaintances sale goods can save me a fortune.

I always have some emergency gifts in storage if I need them, and they don’t cost me an arm and a leg. I also stock up on gift bags and wrapping paper so that I am never unprepared!

Money Saving Tips: Recycled Gifts

Over on Parenting Ideas today is listed some tips to help parents save some cash.

One that?I use frequently is recycling gifts. Very often my kids are bought clothes that do not fit them, or that they grow out of before they wear, they also receive at least a few duplicate?toys and games?each year.

I never throw these out. Rather I keep them in my ‘gift box’ and sooner or later an occasion arises when?I can repackage them as a gift for someone else.

Obviously?I don’t do this?for my closest friends or family. But when Rachel gets invited to one of her friends many birthday parties, quite often I can save myself some money by wrapping a something from my gift box rather than purchasing something new.

Also if a mum from school or mother and toddler group has a new baby, I may just have the perfect gift for them.

I don’t see it as being tight fisted or mean. Just a way of recycling something that would be of more use to someone else.

Does anyone else have any good money saving tips?

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