three and a half months into my recovery from QVC

[silversequin]

yup it is three and a half months since I bought anything from Q and I must say it is getting easier as time goes on. As 2012 began I resolved not to buy anything unless I really could not resist it and could actually afford it. By sticking to those two rules and adding in the p and p every time something caught my eye, I have managed to stick to my plan. Am so proud of myself.

I have had to cut down on my spending due to being in the second year of a pay freeze and like everyone still seeing the bills continue to rise so have been economising across the board. I have been really getting into cooking from scratch and growing plants from seed and have actually been enjoying this part of my economy drive.

As I can't survive without treats I have had to find ones that are more affordable than stuff from Q. So I download favourite tracks, shop at TK Max if I feel I need a new bag or some Birkenstocks. Toiletries are from Boots with the added plus of advantage points which I hoard til Christmas.

Oh I still watch Q and get tempted but then I look at the prices and also think about how much similar stuff I already own and I find the strenght to resist for another day

 

[rainbowdottie]

Well Done SS,thats really good

I've cut down massively what I buy now - like you say,its the high street most of the way for me now

Do you still watch QVC? When I first started to cut down I stopped watching,and I found that hard - I don't watch much TV and I realised I was using QVC as a way of winding down - now I can watch and not spend.....sometimes its hard!

 

[Huggles]

I lasted till the end of March but then the dam burst. I've bought three items on the three easy pays Easter promotion and a 'one time only' Yankee Candle set. I'm determined this time to resist :doh:

 

[rainbowdottie]

If I really want something,I have a look online and do lots of research,so I don't "jump" into things.

Thats why I love to come here and see details of upcoming things,so I can really research and think about it.

Normally what I loved there and then at QVC,can be found elsewhere.Most of the time I think to myself oh I'll go and buy x,y and z when I next have a free afternoon off - but to be honest? I've normally forgotton about it the next day!

 

[lilian]

If I really want something,I have a look online and do lots of research,so I don't "jump" into things.

Same here.I don't panic buy any more by ''jumping to the phones '':grin:I go online & check up on stuff. Its amazing what I have saved. So many companies do free P&P unlike QVC who when they do offer it make out its like the holy grail.

 

[petpixie]

I buy in phases ~ nothing for ages then a few things all at once. If something takes my fancy I've now learnt to check around and see if I can source it cheaper. Sometimes I can and even when I can't, by the time I've looked around I've often gone off the idea anyway!

 

[stratobuddy]

I've only bought the Gtech sweeper this year, and here comes a confession - - - -

I bought two, one for upstairs and one for downstairs, how lazy is that? But I saved a few pence postage!

I have been tempted a few times, even by the TSV pillow as I haven't found anything comfortable for the last few years.

 

[silversequin]

I do still watch if I have had a tough day at work as it is such a contrast with my job (mental health). Find it relaxing in a way as they waft on about the latest "must have" piece of nonsense in a world where everything is fabulous, iconic, dazzling, breathtaking, on trend, etc etc. And I do get tempted, I love shiny things, hence being called "silver sequin" sometimes I trawl last clicks and there are some bargains to be had but again I feel the p and p takes the p! I have often seen several items that suit my budget but I'm not going to shell out at least another £9 to get them home.

 

[China Girl]

I agree Silversequin,qvc can be very relaxing at the end of a long stressful day,it can just be like window shopping....we don't actually have to buy anything.

 

[janie]

ahhh pillows strato.....i think i must have bought every wonder pillow qvc have sold over the years and still haven't found one i like.

 

[Silver Fox]

I am quite disenchanted with le Q at the moment & long may it last!! I ordered some earrings & a Mally product which at one time I would have kept but when I looked at the price they were just not worth it and with the P&P-- so back they went!They make so much about the 30MBG but the cost & EZP doesn't make any difference in the long run.I of course have the luxury of having time to go round the shops,( & access to most of the products on Q) those who don't have the time really pay for the convienience but then these are so many websites which offer bargains & free P&P. I do watch though which says a lot for the rest of the TV channels!!

 

[Itchy]

I started the year with good intentions and no money. I lasted until March - the post Christmas bills were paid so I got stuck in and bought, Ultrasun face 30, 2 Annelie & Hope tops (lovely!), Joan Rivers sunglasses in clearance, 3 Nails Inc polishes (I NEEDED THEM) and Sunday's Kipling TSV. I am checking myself back into QVC rehab in the morning.

Oh god - I forgot a Kipling Gostanza cross body bag too - Aaargh!

 

[BusyMum]

I started the year with good intentions and no money. I lasted until March - the post Christmas bills were paid so I got stuck in and bought, Ultrasun face 30, 2 Annelie & Hope tops (lovely!), Joan Rivers sunglasses in clearance, 3 Nails Inc polishes (I NEEDED THEM) and Sunday's Kipling TSV. I am checking myself back into QVC rehab in the morning.

Oh god - I forgot a Kipling Gostanza cross body bag too - Aaargh!

repeat after me.."My name is Itchy and I'm a QVCaholic.."! Soddit Itchy, if you want to treat yourself, why not! I think we all fall off the wagon occasionally...I do ever so well and then all of a sudden go a bit mad and buy a few things (whether I need 'em or not!). I did resist the Kipling TSV but I bought one a couple of weeks ago..I bought two Meesh Hope tops (my first, very nice they are too), some Eternal st st earrings, the latter two from Clearance, which is where I usually buy from now, and a Peony product towards my sister's birthday - not from Clearance! Hey ho!

 

[Itchy]

repeat after me.."My name is Itchy and I'm a QVCaholic.."! Soddit Itchy, if you want to treat yourself, why not! I think we all fall off the wagon occasionally...I do ever so well and then all of a sudden go a bit mad and buy a few things (whether I need 'em or not!). I did resist the Kipling TSV but I bought one a couple of weeks ago..I bought two Meesh Hope tops (my first, very nice they are too), some Eternal st st earrings, the latter two from Clearance, which is where I usually buy from now, and a Peony product towards my sister's birthday - not from Clearance! Hey ho!

I feel better now, not so guilty!! It feels good to treat yourself sometimes (if possible). I justify this last spurge by thinking of the money we have saved by giving up smoking. That cost an absolute fortune (2 of us puffing like chimneys). Also I am not spending a couple of euros a day on sweets/rubbish on my way to work as I am trying to lose weight. I spend that money on my 2 zumba classes a week. However, I will knock it on the head now for a while. Some of these purchases were on easy pay and I always get confused as to what i spent and what is owing, cos QVC don't itemise it on your account online.

 

[BusyMum]

you're still off the fags?! Well done girl, keep it up! In that case you DESERVE a treat! :rock:

 

[Tinkerbelle]

I keep a spreadsheet with a note of easy pays so I know what I've got to pay and when. I didn't start it as a way of curbing my spending but that's precisely what it's done. You only two or three easy pays running to be anywhere between £30 and £80 in hock to QVC for three or even four months.

What I do now is add on to that spreadsheet everything I order from QVC and I store all the receipts in a folder. By heck you soon realise how much you're buying from QVC. And in my case nearly everything I buy from QVC is a treat for myself.

I haven't stopped buying but it has made me think far more carefully about how much I spend. I've set myself a limit which I cannot exceed unless it's birthday or Christmas. And it's working. And I'm not spending the money elsewhere either so it really is cutting costs.

 

[yesilkedi]

This thread has made me look at my own orders from QVC this year. 6 items ordered, 1 returned as it was faulty and the Philip Kingsley Elasticiser is on its way back today. The items I have kept are a Yankee Candle set (for birthday presents), the Prai TSV(I needed some skincare and had always wanted to try this range) a Kipling drawstring bag (Iwanted this and it's been really useful) and the Ecoegg. Definitely am not buying as much this year and I always check online before placing an order.

 

[rainbowdottie]

I keep a spreadsheet with a note of easy pays so I know what I've got to pay and when. I didn't start it as a way of curbing my spending but that's precisely what it's done. You only two or three easy pays running to be anywhere between £30 and £80 in hock to QVC for three or even four months.

What I do now is add on to that spreadsheet everything I order from QVC and I store all the receipts in a folder. By heck you soon realise how much you're buying from QVC. And in my case nearly everything I buy from QVC is a treat for myself.

I haven't stopped buying but it has made me think far more carefully about how much I spend. I've set myself a limit which I cannot exceed unless it's birthday or Christmas. And it's working. And I'm not spending the money elsewhere either so it really is cutting costs.

my QVc "addiction" came to a head when my hubby wanted to change our mortgage and I had to produce 3 mnths of CC bills as it was an obvious expenditure every month.My DH handled it well - because he knew nothing about what I owed and ALL of it was QVC - and like you,the things I buy at QVC are purely for me.I was so sad that I'd been that selfish.

I paid off my CC quite quickly after - will never have another - and then stopped my QVC addiction.Life is better - and like you,I set myself an amount each month - and once its gone,its gone.I don't allow myself to carry that money forward either,if I don't spend my allowance one month.Seems harsh sometimes but we as a family are better off for it.

 

[mariecat]

Sobering thoughts rainbowdottie - and well done! It's the impact of excessive spending on the rest of the family that can be heartbreaking, actually. Setting a monthly limit and sticking to it is a brilliant idea - great you're doing this.

 

[rainbowdottie]

thanks MC.I was actually getting very secretive about my CC - I shredded it the minute it came,I used money from my nana that she had given me for other things,to make some of my monthly payments.I was actually turning into quite a deceitful person.

Now my DH and I buy christmas/birthday presents,for each other,which we never had before- we have takeaways more often.Ok so we don't have loads of available cash - but its the little things we never had that make you think spending it on all this....stuff....is just not worth it