The Naughty Corner – Influencing, Alternatives & Things That Actually Worked

[Whowhatwerewolf]

This thread is the naughty corner offshoot of the de-influencing thread.

If you:

• want to suggest cheaper or better alternatives
• bought the thing and were glad you did
• want to talk about products that genuinely worked
• feel the urge to say something positive about an item being discussed elsewhere

…this is the place for it.

The original de-influencing thread is deliberately for talking people out of buying things. This one exists so those conversations don’t drift into recommendations and shopping there.

So please:

• post alternatives and “this was actually good” comments here
• use this thread if you want influencing rather than de-influencing
• consider this a pressure-release valve for good buys and success stories

That way we get two useful threads instead of one muddled one.

Welcome to the naughty corner. I'm going to try to stay out of here if I can because I'm trying to reduce my spending, but if you're naughty and you know it please crack on.

The original de-influencing thread is here https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5482885-de-influencing-thread-reasons-why-not-to-buy-things

No thanks.

I don’t think that making considered decisions about how I spend my own money is being ‘naughty’.

I like your username so much that I am in. After years of mislaying bits of jewellery and buying or being given the kind of boxes that don't have space to keep my earrings neatly paired without a lot of fiddling around, or thin chains tangling themselves on hanging devices, I invested in a Stackers system where you can buy different layers with the compartments you need for wHat you actually own. It cost nearly £100 for 4 layers and has made getting dressed a joy.
www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChsSEwjtxcTuwr-SAxWJllAGHbKgG-4YACICCAEQHxoCZGc&co=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-YvMBhDtARIsAHZuUzLL8T4Wim0e8SnYTrco8Fn0WlYlZySgO7QnV6_GP5O15QjWWGnybBwaAq9gEALw_wcB&cce=1&sig=AOD64_046EBQsSoVx_7eyHy_VzfxzS-0nA&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwit773uwr-SAxXgdUEAHRPdNXgQwg8oAHoECAoQEw&adurl=

Thank you @rockingroller 😍

I posted on previous thread about liking this suitcase. I don't have a suitcase this size, and am looking for something that is relatively lightweight. I want something that is colourful, as everyone seems to have a black suitcase. I love this one but ok said the construction may not be v sturdy,vans ( to me ) it's very experience. It is v pretty tho! Any recommendations for alternatives gratefully received.

https://www.johnlewis.com/sara-miller-4-wheel-77cm-large-suitcase-82l-midnight-leopard/p113898407

I've always heard good things about Tripp. There are pretty colours and styles available - maybe not in such nice patterns but they're much less expensive and are supposed to be quite robust

https://www.tripp.co.uk/suitcases/c3

This H&M cardigan:
https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1305448003.html

Yes, thank you I can read: It's polyester, acrylic, 5% wool (what's the point of 5%?) and it'll look like a dishcloth after a couple of washes. I still love it so nerr.

I think it was mainly the slightly large but not cartoonish collar that sold it to me but I even like the short sleeves cos it fits under a jacket without bulk. My only dilemma is whether to buy a second so I'll have a spare when it turns to rags - it kind of feels like rewarding shoddy work, but I might.

Oh and I like brown too.

Don't participate then?

@Appaloniaplease dont buy a Trip suitcase. As I was closing my case to return home at 4am and the taxi was waiting outside the hotel the zip broke. There were no shops open so I had to stuff anything of value in my hand luggage and buy 4 straps at the airport in the hope that they would keep the contents contained.
In fairness the customer service was great and they sent me a new case but I only ever use it in the UK when I travel in my car. I just dont trust the brand.
All of my luggage of various sizes is all American Tourister now, they are owned by Samsonite so are great quality.
I buy from Wardow at really good prices and have some lovely bright colours.

@rockingroller I bought some of those stackers more than 20 years ago, and they've been a brilliant purchase. I wear delicate jewellery, small stud earrings and chains, so it's ideal. I can recommend!

I bought a Nere medium case. Stori in candy pink. Think they’ve changed colours now but you can still get bubblegum. It’s lasted about 6 trips checked in, with no visible signs of wear. A little cheaper than the one you posted, plus currently 30% off over £150 spend. Nere

Samsonite or Antler for suitcases. Antler have a better guarantee than samsonite, or they used to. Best off at an outlet.
Floisme, love that cardi

Agree with others re: Samsonite luggage. I had Tripp for years and never had a debacle with them, but was looking for something in between cabin and medium and Samsonite seemed to be the only one who offered it (in Peter Jones et al at least, I wanted to see what I was buying.) I've since bought more of their products, they're well designed, functional, sturdy and not outlandishly expensive.

We’ve got Tripp suitcases. They are comparatively cheap and they are colourful. Quality is a bit
mixed. They’ve done 5 holidays for us including Japan where we used luggage forwarding so they have had a fairly hard life but are now really beginning to show it and odds and ends are going wrong (eg lock breaking so suitcase would not unlock meaning we had to cut the webbing to get access and spend time buying a new suitcase.

We had a tidy up / got rid of a load with all of our assorted luggage and bought these a few years ago. Excellent! We do two long haul trips a year and they have been great.

https://www.luggagesuperstore.co.uk/samsonite-flux-4-wheel-expandable-suitcase-68cm/?sku=88538-1041

We also bought the Samsonite suitcase covers as they make it so easy to see your cases coming round on the belt.

We were discussing Vinted on the de-influencing thread and I thought best to bring the discussion over here as I love it so much I can't help but sing its praises.

My best buys are a Jigsaw long tan suede coat in pristine condition for £50, a vintage Mulberry bag for £85, and. a fine knit merino wool jumper from the Gap for £1. There's currently (although I doubt it stay on long) a beautiful Harleys of Scotland fair isle jumper listed for £35 that looks to be in excellent condition but it's not my size 😭

I sell there as well so if something arrives and it doesn't quite fit or doesn't suit me I list it immediately. I've also sold on quite a few of my own things which frees up space and brings a bit of profit. I take great care with my photos and description and post out very quickly. I have hundreds of 5* reviews. One thing I don't tend to do is add measurements - maybe I should start.

My main issue is not buying too much because there are so many bargains on there (amongst all the tat). I have to be very strict with myself but don't always succeed

I'd be interested to hear other people's best buys and any tips and tricks?

Well, I went over to Vinted to take a screenshot of the Harley of Scotland jumper to show you and it's already gone! That's what makes it so difficult to resist a bargain on Vinted - you have to move fast for the really good stuff.

I’ve had my Eagle Creek suitcase for nearly 20 years, my bloke’s dates back to 2000. They’ve both done innumerable flights in that time - he was working abroad for a year and flying twice a week. Not a sign of wear and tear on either of them and they’ll see us out. Expensive but probably cheaper in the long run.

Re luggage, we'd always had samsonite and antler, but I didn't find them that robust. Maybe I just go to particularly rough destinations! A few years back I replaced the ragged looking stuff with eastpak. As I did a group purchase it all matches, which I'm loving. And many flights/years on it still looks brand new.

I love vinted but I really need to curb my spending so I'm trying this year to stick to selling!

I’ve had a stackers set for a few years and they’re great for organising your jewellery. The only thing I’d say is you need to be very gentle with it as the top layer of mine (with the lid) is looking slightly tatty, and I certainly haven’t abused it!

I’m on a different vinted (Nordics + Poland) and quality stuff is hard to find, imo. It’s possible but not easy enough to trigger impulse spending (for me). Very nice things are often priced accordingly too, there’s a lovely Hermès Pavement 140 there at the moment which is kind of fairly priced but nowhere near a real bargain. I always transfer everything I earn straight to my account to avoid temptation 😅

After being successfully de-influenced from buying a Polène Sept bag I did purchase this one for far less and I think it will be more versatile. At that price (half off) I couldn't resist https://www.celticandco.com/product/twist-lock-rectangle-cross-body-bag

That's nice, definitely more budget friendly! It looks fairly sturdy?

Thank you @RanyaJerodung . I think it will be more sturdy. It hasn't arrived yet but looks quite structured. My other bag (the Mulberry) is a large slouchy hobo style so I'll keep it also for casual wear.

It looks like the kind of leather that just improves with time. Let us know what you think when it arrives.