Improving my life during Summer 2010

Mags30

I’m so happy with a dress I bought in Zara today. It’s a black knee length dress with lace on top. Imagine a black topless dress-- then replace the missing top part with lace. I saw this dress, maybe a month ago when a tv presenter was wearing it. I remember thinking it was lovely at the time and then recognised it instantly when I saw it in Zara today. And here’s the MSE part RRP €50 but on the sale rail for €12.99. Bargain.
I must do a post on shopping and fashion in a while because I’ve had quite a few sale bargains.
For now it’s off to bed to read Jodi Picoult.

vasseur

Hi Mags

I just started reading your diary but have only got up to #21 so I'm going to subscribe and catch up tomorrow as I really need my bed now!

I think I have a dress very simlar to the one you've just described but I'm sure mine was from Mango. It's great when you get a bargain isn't it - makes you feel even better when you're wearing it

P x

Buffythedebtslayer

I have just all of your diar and think you are Brilliant. I have been been here for years(!) and although my debts have gone down I don't utilise freebies and surveys etc any where near as well as you!

What an inspiration!!

I shall keep reading xxxx

Mags30

Thanks so much for reading and replying guys:)

polesalot wrote: »

It's great when you get a bargain isn't it - makes you feel even better when you're wearing it

Almost all of my clothes are bargains. Out of necessity rather than the thrill of getting bargains. I love clothes, in particular expensive ones but my budget is more Primark than anything else. With years of practice ever since I was a student I can spot a bargain a mile away.

Winter coats and shoes are the only things I spend a lot on. Even if I had loads disposable income I'd still shop like this because I would rather put the money towards holidays or home improvements than clothes. Much as I love clothes they aren't a great investment.

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

I have just all of your diar and think you are Brilliant. I have been been here for years(!) and although my debts have gone down I don't utilise freebies and surveys etc any where near as well as you!

What an inspiration!!

I shall keep reading xxxx

Thanks Buffy:) I think it's the monthly totals that make the freebies and surveys look impressive. I don't apply for all freebies, just ones that I can use. I don't dedicate loads of time to surveys either. Most of the ones I do are fairly quick. It'll take a while to get the vouchers/paypal from them. If it all added up to €100 by Christmas I'd be delighted.

If you want to get into surveys borrow my list and start by registering for those sites. The registering and getting started part is the most difficult. The actual registration process is simple, it's more the effort required to learn how the different sites work and keeping track of what you've registered for and the passwords. Once the surveys are in your email inbox there's very little effort involved.

vasseur

Just got to the end...Buffy's right you are an inspiration. I started the freebies thing in about February but they seem to take so long to come through that I kind of lost interest. I might start up again because I still get the daily emails.....

Keep up the good work!

*Jellie*

Hi Mags
I've enjoyed reading through your diary. You're inspiring me to get motivated again!
I love the snippets from your reading. The oprah book sounds good.

Mags30

I'm just home from a focus group. I got €40 for giving a few opinions on gas and electricity providers. I quite enjoyed it too. I would LOVE to do more of these but I'm not overly optimistic because they probably use different people all the time. I did speak to the lady organizing it and made it very clear that I'm available should I be needed again:)

polesalot wrote: »

Just got to the end...Buffy's right you are an inspiration. I started the freebies thing in about February but they seem to take so long to come through that I kind of lost interest. I might start up again because I still get the daily emails.....
!

Daily emails? I'm assuming they come from some freebies website. That sounds a bit annoying to be honest, like junkmail cluttering up the inbox. I just use the freebies board on here and always ask for samples at make up counters.

*Jellie* wrote: »

Hi Mags
I've enjoyed reading through your diary. You're inspiring me to get motivated again!
I love the snippets from your reading. The oprah book sounds good.

I'm so flattered that people find some of what I've written inspiring or motivating. I usually need other people to get me motivated!

I do like the Living Oprah book. If you are near a big bookshop some day soon have a flick through it to see if you'd like to buy it. Find it in the self-help section. It's on Amazon too obviously.

I'm tired but I need to have a quick look at my mystery shopping paperwork/instructions for tomorrow before I go to bed.

*Jellie*

I'll have to see if I can find it on the library web site or as a bargain somewhere! Maybe I should join some sort of read it swap it web site as I really need to keep my numbers of books down.
I'm going to read it somehow though! Thanks for writing about it.

Mags30

Health: Today I finally got the Yantra mat. It cost €50 and was paid for entirely using vouchers obtained by writing reviews:T

Here's what it says on the pack: The Yantra mat is right for anyone who wants to have more energy. If you're stressed out, sleep poorly, have low energy, muscle tension, stiffnesss, headache, back or neck pain or simply need a better and more complete rest, then the Yantra mat could be the thing for you.

Yes to all of the above unfortunately. I've just noticed it has a money back guarantee if it doesn't work.

Apparently using it causes the body's pain relieving and happiness hormones to rush into the body and it can move the lactic acid and carbon monoxide that tend to collect in muscles causing stiffness.

So obviously I tried it out (for 15 minutes). It was rather relaxing, it made my skin feel very hot and red (looked badly sunburnt) for up to about 20 minutes after using it. This is supposed to be a positive effect due to an increase in blood circulation.

Now a few hours later I feel a bit sore like you would after a massage so it definitely did something. Can't wait to see what it does in a few weeks.

I think some people use it as a yoga mat but that seems a bit uncomfortable to me. Here's the website in case anyone wants to have a look. http://www.yantra.ie/index.html Amazon sell them too.

It's definitely easier to test and review than the shred dvd I might get on to that when I'm feeling lots better from lying on the Yantra mat!


I've chosen something else to earn vouchers for too, Reebok easytone runners. They cost €75-85 if I remember correctly. I want them sooner than this time next year though so I might pay the difference this time instead of waiting until I have enough vouchers.

vasseur

The mat looks really interesting - I've never seen them before. I think I might benefit from one because I am always aching especially after a pole class (although it's a good kind of ache ) but some mornings I wake up and feel all of my 38 years and then some...

Well done for getting it with all your vouchers. What a lovely feeling :T