So here's to you, Mrs R....

mrs_robinson_3

Hhm, still here, but busy and stressed so no posting of late. will make amends soon. hoping not to have to confess to too many sins, but there has been a modest amount of personal spending....and more to come....

maintenant, au revoir

Mrs R

rupe34

:hello:Hey Mrs R - just checking in.

In_my_dreams

Are you still with us Mrs R - sins or no sins you're allowed to come back

rtandon27

:hello:just popping in to say hi!!!

mrs_robinson_3

And so it goes on.........

OK, so still here, and still MSE (ish). And just to prove it, here are some things have done lately:

1. Made first ever visit to Poundland, to buy ingredients for DS's stockings. Observations - good if you've got DDs, any amount of body lotions, spangly hair bits etc, but more of a challenge with boys. Set myself a £5 limit per stocking, which was easier for the older ones, and less so for DS3 - mainly as wanted real things, not just a load of tat - and achieved it

2. Bought a party dress by Coast on eBay for £10.50 - wore it at the weekend - was fab

3. Ditto a Principles shrug for £3.25, inc. postage. Not worn that yet though.

4. Did more surveys and clocked up a £10 voucher which promptly spent on Amazon on a gift - v pleasing

5. This is probably the best - foraged ivy for Xmas from my local cemetary. V gothic and bit spooky. Don't worry, harvested it from trees, not actual graves - still have some standards. Now looks fab twined in some chandeliers, snaking round some hurricane vases, and adorning pictures and mirrors. And totally free and au natural.

6. After going through permutations of xmas puds, chutneys etc, have finally made 2 stem ginger cakes for MIL and SIL. Which used up quite a lot of stuff from the cupboards so required little actual outlay. Now need to source cheap but vintage looking tins or cake stands to complete. That's tomorrow.

7. On other hand, just spent £154 on new phones for DSs 1&2. My dad gave me £80 for gifts for DSs and me, so have paid that into my bank to offset, rather than get them more gifts. So time Mr R gives me his share, will actually only have spent £32 of own money on them. And feel the DSs should know, if you have quite a costly present like that, you can't have too much else. Though they will each have a few other things, but nothing too much.

8. And as this is the week am home alone with Reg, is quite cheap on personal spends, though am spending every day, what with it being the season and all. Still not one penny on a CC though.

9. Got a big Xmas tree for £15, which was less than last year's

10. And as am home alone, have done the tree and decked the halls, in stress free fashion, so all is festive and nice for them to come home to.

So, all in all, not too much to confess, though did get into frenzy over outfits, involving much purchasing but then taking back and getting refunds when conscience proved too much. And definitely a good move as the eBay purchase is fab.

And now counting down to leaving work on 23/12. Still excited but bit scared too, now. Possibly madness in current jobs market, but what the hell! Am a big girl now and feel sure can create my own opportunities. Signed up to do a couple of free courses and off to my first session of volunteering tomorrow, which firmly believe, as well as being something that means a lot to me, will bring other good things my way.

Hope all's well out in diary land -take care y'all

Mrs R

In_my_dreams

Phew that was a very excitable read Glad you have a productive time, I checked out Poundland not long ago and was mightily impressed!

mrs_robinson_3

Possibly last post pre-Xmas as sure to be busy busy busy - but shall see.

So. Had friends to dinner last night and v pleased as did all food shopping for it at LIDL - came to £85, which buys a lot of stuff in there. Obv not all of that was for the dinner, much of it will last us over Xmas too. Was rather pleased with some of the buys, in fact on some kind of mini Germanic cheap shopping high when came home. Such as, a vast pannetone which turned into a bread and butter pudding for last night's dinner, which was fab, and loads left for toasting for Xmas breakfast. Veg was all unbelievably cheap, so made a leek, butternut squash and pepper lasagne for my veggie friend, who then cancelled on us at the last mo. Was really cross actually - think extreme bad manners? Still, upside is, Mr R and Mrs R having tonight as cosy TV supper.

Cava was £3.50 - now that really was too low a price point, as not v nice, but fizzy and festive nonetheless, in a frugal kind of way. Might have benefitted from some kind of other input, maybe pomegranate seeds?

And was dreading this morning, as had to sort out finances with Mr R, as have done majority of Xmas shopping myself, so needed to settle/square up. But as is always way, wasn't as bad as feared - have spent £365 in recent weeks, all on presents or otherwise Xmas related. But this was offset by £200 from MIL, and £80 from dad, leaving £85, and when Mr R did his own totting up, he had spent about £100 at the vets and Center Parcs, so called it quits. Feel better that's sorted - always have this guilty feeling hovering until is settled.

So, just few last things to get, and two more cakes to make, and feeling quite calm, which is unusual at this point. And just might end the month not much worse than last, and no CC spends (16 months now), and less in debt as CCs all paid. And next month, of course, will clear the Tesco card, and pay off my o/d with my redundancy payment, and my new, super-frugal, workless life shall begin. Goodness! Hhm, must remember to register for mystery shopping opportunities too, and keep up the surveys, and venture into pastures new with scratchcards etc.

Have another dinner out tomorrow, which will be fairly costly, as is with one single (ie. plenty disposable income) friend, and one madly extravagant friend, so will be usual menu sharing horror. Also have dress dilemma for that - bought blue slinky dress ages ago, but never worn, as proved fairly troublesome to accessorise, but can now see, will go v nicely with the bargainous eBay Jigsaw jacket - but does require a necklace to go with. Saw something close to perfect in the Coast sale, think possibly only £10.50, but feeling shouldn't really buy. But then, will probably rescue blue slinky from wardrobe oblivion, and is lovely dress, so really ought to wear. Hmm, think have just talked self into it. Naughty Mrs R.

And my leaving lunch to go to on Wednesday (no wardrobe dilemmas there, wearing one of my favourite dresses of all time, it even has a name, so well loved it is by me and my friends - the Claudia, as Claudia Winkelman once wore it on Strictly, so am told), and then a drinks party the same evening, for which am wearing the Monroesque eBay dress, topped with the new eBay shrug.

As can be seen, sorting out my diary and my wardrobe takes up far too much time, considering many responsibilities, but rather like that. Shallow, moi?

Toujours,

Mrs R

hypno06

:santa2:

So, after reading all that, all that remains to say is Have a very happy Christmas :xmastree:

mrs_robinson_3

Ah Hypno - thanks so much. Hope post wasn't too boring - as don't post that often, it all comes out one big splurge, and it is a bit self obsessed, but still. And hoping you have a fantastic Christmas, and a big rest, and an even better 2010!

Mrs R

hypno06

Occasional splurges are better than no posts at all!!

Enjoy Christmas and yes, 2010 will be fantastic