hedgewitch
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Buy Nothing New... The Big Day Out!After doing the "Buy Nothing New" challenge in September, I've been inspired to make quite a few changes. And on Wednesday next week, I'm going to try a mini challenge. I have to go to London for the day for a work-related exhibition/conference.
I have my own small business, so the business will pay for the (pre-booked, cheap) train ticket and also for a few cups of tea etc. if required during business meetings as the a lot of the trip will be about networking.
Aside from that, I plan to spend no personal money at all 
This means no grabbing food at M&S in the train stations, no glossy magazines purchased on impulse and somehow I need to keep myself well away from the cunningly positioned Paperchase shops that seem to have sprung up in train stations recently. When I did the "buy Nothing New" month, the only time I really fell off the wagon was in Paperchase   
I'll take my own lunch and something to eat on the way back (I don't get back until 10.30pm ). I'm going to take stuff to read for both work and for fun to resist the magazine splurge. I'm most bothered about hot drinks as I love the comfort of a large cup of tea when travelling early in the morning. I've thought of a flask but I think it might be heavy to carry around all day.  I'll take a few bottles of water from home.
Oh - and I'll make sure I have notebook and pen so no excuse for buying stationery as an "emergency"
Has anyone got any tips or ideas to help me?
Is there anything I've forgotten?
Has anyone tried this before?
Help! I think "London" and I think "Paperchase! [/i]
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Penny
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Just don't take any money and then you can't spend anything - works for me 
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Cathryn
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Have you thought of moving. I had a few hours in Birmingham and thought it would be a treat to to do a bit of shopping. Within a few minutes I felt totally overwhelmed. Three hours later I had bought a pack of three socks (to replace the uncomfy pair I had on) and was waiting for the train feeling like a total country bumpkin.
Be strong, think paperchase, think green forest growing instead
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Frewen Feltmaker
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Sounds like you have all the bases covered. What about the vagaries of the weather? You'd be cross with yourself if you found yourself buying a brolly.
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hedgewitch
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| Frewen wrote: | | Sounds like you have all the bases covered. What about the vagaries of the weather? You'd be cross with yourself if you found yourself buying a brolly. |
Oh I always have a brolly! I grew up in manchester and now live in the Peak District - I never, ever, ever go out without at least a tiny folding one. Even on the brightest summer day...
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hedgewitch
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| Penny wrote: | | Just don't take any money and then you can't spend anything - works for me |
Yep - I'm thinking of that. I've been doing that locally and it has worked.
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hedgewitch
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| ruby wrote: | Have you thought of moving. I had a few hours in Birmingham and thought it would be a treat to to do a bit of shopping. Within a few minutes I felt totally overwhelmed. Three hours later I had bought a pack of three socks (to replace the uncomfy pair I had on) and was waiting for the train feeling like a total country bumpkin.
Be strong, think paperchase, think green forest growing instead |
To be honest, it might be like that for me. I used to travel a lot for work but haven't had to recently. I live in a small town and found just Manchester a bit much a couple of months ago
I'll remember the green forest -- I love trees and will fix that image in my mind
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Rosa
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Well, someone has said it, but don't take any money. Would you take a plastic card just in case? or are you confident you can do it?
I think it's a great challenge 
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alisjs
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did a similar thing last may....trip to Cheltenham for work. Long train trip.....a really good book helps keep you occupied. A sketch book is good too. I took enough packed lunch for 2 meals ....promise yourself a treat when you get home to make up for the lack of hot meal!
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2steps
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great idea. sounds like you have everything covered
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Pilsbury
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Re: Buy Nothing New... The Big Day Out! | hedgewitch wrote: | | I'm most bothered about hot drinks as I love the comfort of a large cup of tea when travelling early in the morning. I've thought of a flask but I think it might be heavy to carry around all day. [/i] |
How about a small flask to hold just enough for you cup of tea on the trip in, then it will be empty and not weigh much and you could fill it up with your last "business tea" for the jorney home.
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Róisín
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Not to blow own trumpet, but I do this all the time (around six times a month ). Take comfort - it's very do-able!
For hot coffee, I do take a flask - to avoid it being heavy, I bought a children's school lunch thermos - it has a funky spaceman design and holds exactly two and a half cups of coffee - which is as much as I should be drinking anyway. 
I make a definite difference between lunch and dinner - lunch is a sandwich and dinner is a small lunchbox packed tight with cold leftovers. The difference is important I think, though I can't explain why. When you aren't home and you are eating on a train, you still want to feel like you are eating a *dinner*, and having a different lunch somehow helps that.
Very important to me is to carry three snacks. One for 11am, one for 4pm and one for 8pm-ish, if I'm still travelling at that stage. For me, this means maybe a slice of brack/ 2 squares dark chocolate/ 2 biscuits/ 1 scone.
Breaking the day into planned sections also helps the travelling go faster. For example - before 11am, only read work stuff. Between that and 1pm, only read pleasure stuff. Etc. You can get so much done while travelling - maybe set out a list of things you'd like to have *done* by the end of your trip. You might think that this would tire you, but anything that helps the time pass is good. I like to knit while I read. Sometimes watching a film on your laptop, if you need to carry one, can be a lifesaver when you just don't have the brainpower to concentrate on type.
Bring a small bottle of lavender oil so that if things get stressful (late trains what's new) you can sniff it and relax. Really, look forward to it all! You won't need to buy anything, I promise 
Edit: bring your dinner in a lunchbox, as it's leftovers, but everything else, bring in some kind of disposable or squashable-and-then-bring-home-able wrapping. You do *not* want to leave home that morning with seven different sizes of tupperware! I bring sandwich bags. That way you are lighter coming home than going.
Edit 2: Golly I didn't half ramble in this post ...
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hedgewitch
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Thanks for all the tips I think I need a small flask - might have one somewhere.
Róisín, thanks soooo much for all the ideas! I think the lunch/dinner difference is important. I'm making something special for dinner. Also, I hadn't thought about snacks I'll plan a few small treats. I will have a laptop so I can do some work. And the essential oil is a really good idea. You didn't ramble - it's invaluable
Of course, now I've told you all it'll help me stick to it as I'll need to report back
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Róisín
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I think the most important thing is attitude. Don't go into your day with the idea of sacraficing your level of happiness or satisfaction. When you bring your own meals and entertainment, remember that *you control* the richness of them.
Also, don't beat yourself up if it comes to 9pm and you do buy that large takeaway tea. It's the overall day that counts, not one little lapse (don't even see it as a lapse).
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nettie
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All you can do is take what you think you'll need. Plus a few pennies just in case, it's not nice to be caught out if you're delayed and hungry. Plus you never know when you might need to pay to use a loo! Hope you have a good trip
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hedgewitch
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Well, I did it
I went all the way to London and back and spent no personal money!
Thanks for all the tips. I dug out a small flask so I had 2 cups of sweetened mint tea in the morning. This was really important as without a hot drink I'd definately have bought one.
I made two distinct meal for lunch and dinner, and spoiled myself on dinner a little. I also took treat snacks of some baby figs, home-made roasted cashews and dried apricots.
I took 3 5ooml bottles of water and struck lucky in that I was at an exhibition and one of the stands was giving away free bottles of water so I bagged two for the return journey Not very Downsizer-ey, but water was the biggest problem and the one I don't think I've solved properly as it's so heavy to carry and I drink quite a lot in a day. It's also very expensive at stations etc. 
I took lots of stuff to do. I was really tempted by a newspaper but resisted and found a complete copy of the Independent had been left by the previous occupant of my seat on the train, so I was glad I hadn't weakened.
Thanks for all the tips - they really helped. Instead of coming back frazzled and broke, I felt like I'd had a lot of treats. The fact that I'd organised myself and was looking after myself well made a real difference.
Oh, and I got a couple of good business meetings done and some new contacts as well - nearly forgot that
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Penny
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Excellent - well done you
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Pilsbury
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| hedgewitch wrote: | | Not very Downsizer-ey, but water was the biggest problem and the one I don't think I've solved properly as it's so heavy to carry and I drink quite a lot in a day. It's also very expensive at stations etc. |
I cant wait till they perfect the dehydrated water, its well in development but they have to find something to add to rehydrate it now.......................................................
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Róisín
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Maybe take one bottle with you and ask to refill it at nice places? If you drink tap water that is. By nice I mean friendly!
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Nick
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Tempted by a paper? Hunt out a Big Issue seller. That way, you get your fix and maintain your yurt on the moral High ground.
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hedgewitch
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| nickhowe wrote: | | Tempted by a paper? Hunt out a Big Issue seller. That way, you get your fix and maintain your yurt on the moral High ground. |
Good idea. And I love the phrasing! Am no happily camping in my yurt on the moral high ground
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