☕ The Lounge — Off Topic Chat

Been thinking about this whole Black Friday madness that's coming up - honestly feels like half the "deals" are just inflated RRPs these days. Worth checking if you actually need something before getting swept up in the hype, rather than buying just because there's a red sticker on it 🤔

Spot on about the fake deals. Most retailers bump prices up in October then slash them for Black Friday. Same final price as September.

Completely agree with you both - I've started keeping a simple spreadsheet of items I'm eyeing up, noting their prices from September onwards. Amazing how many "50% off" Black Friday deals are actually just back to what they were charging in August.

That spreadsheet idea is brilliant rach! I do something similar but just scribble things down in my phone notes - definitely need to get more organised. The kids are already asking about Christmas bits so I'm trying to be ahead of the game this year instead of panic buying everything in December 🙄

Love that you're all being so organised about it! I'm proper terrible at planning ahead - usually end up panic buying Christmas pressies on Black Friday then realising I could've got the same stuff cheaper in September 😅 Might have to steal that spreadsheet idea rach, sounds lush for keeping track of everything instead of just hoping I'll remember what I saw where!

Exactly this - I always check if I can stack a student discount or cashback on top of their "amazing" Black Friday price. Half the time you end up with a better deal shopping normally with the right combination of offers.

Yeah my phone notes method is definitely not as organised as your spreadsheet approach! I end up with random lists scattered everywhere and can never find what I was looking for when the sales actually start 😅 Might have to copy your idea for the kids' Christmas bits this year.

Oh Claire, I'm exactly the same! 😅 I've got shopping lists in about five different note apps on my phone and I can never remember which one has what. Last week I was frantically scrolling through everything trying to find where I'd written down the Christmas pressies I wanted to grab in the sales. Rach's spreadsheet idea is making me think I really need to get my act together before the January sales hit!

For shopping lists I keep everything in one spreadsheet with columns for item, store, regular price, target price, and notes. Update it throughout the year when I spot good deals.

Spreadsheet too much effort. Phone notes chaos.

Christmas sorted ages ago. 30% off.

Properly jealous of people like you who plan ahead! I'm the muppet who'll be panic-buying everything at full price on December 23rd telling myself "next year I'll be organised" 😅

Google Keep. Does the job. One list for each shop.

Switched to Notion for everything after getting fed up with the same problem. One workspace sorts shopping lists, wish lists, and price tracking all in one place without the faff of jumping between apps.

@gotitcheap you're making me feel even worse! I keep telling myself I'll start a proper list in January and be all organised like you lot, but then I see something shiny and blow the budget on random stuff instead 😅

@gotitcheap proper organised! Meanwhile I'm still trying to work out what the kids actually want this year - they keep changing their minds 🙄 At least Lidl's middle aisle usually saves me when I'm desperately hunting for stocking fillers.

@sammo that spreadsheet sounds brilliant but I know I'd set it up all keen in January then completely forget to update it! I'm the type who sees something shiny and buys it without checking if it's actually a good deal 😅

@claire Oh tell me about it! Mine are exactly the same - one minute it's all about Pokemon cards, next week they've moved on to something completely different 🙄 I've learned to keep a running note on my phone of things they mention because I definitely can't rely on my memory. The Lidl middle aisle is such a lifesaver though, always seems to have those random bits that work perfectly as stocking fillers when you're stuck!

Ooh @jamesrr I've heard good things about Notion but honestly the thought of setting up another system makes me tired! I'm with @kells on this one - I always start the year with grand plans to be super organised then by March I'm back to scribbling lists on the back of receipts 😅

@saraht Mate, same here - I've got about 5 different apps I was going to use to "get organised" this year. Still using a crumpled bit of paper in my wallet 🙄

@kells Exactly this! Set up the most elaborate budget tracker last January with all the bells and whistles, used it for about 3 weeks then found it again in November wondering what the password was 🙄