Peonie's journey to smart money management

Peonie

newgirly wrote: »

Hi Peonie , you have been busy this week happy anniversary, when was it ? Ours was friday just gone 17 years , makes me feel ancient!

Does your dh have a plain black suit he could wear in place of a tux, He might get away with a bow tie etc. what sort of occasion is it for?

Ours was on Wednesday. Happy anniversary to you.

It is a formal event. He does have a plain black suit and other than the shiny bits it looks the same as one of the tuxes he tried on - belt loops on the waist, number of buttons on the jacket sleeve etc. We've bought him a bow tie, a tux shirt and we'll get him a cumberbund. M&S are having a sale on tuxes at the moment but he's not interested. It's silly but I'm bothered someone will notice. If only I know how to make a make a removable shiny lapel that looked good.

Oh no, now I've seen he needs shiny shoes and he won't want to buy them either.

Update: What do you think of this suit? http://www.marksandspencer.com/Slim-Shawl-Collar-Button-Jacket/dp/B008G7N7X6?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_1&nodeId=42966030&sr=1-1&qid=1377632340&pf_rd_r=076QM2FA1C8QV5WD0Y27&pf_rd_m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_i=0&pf_rd_p=321381407&pf_rd_s=center-3 We've ordered it to take advantage of the sale but it does not have the stripe down the leg so we're not sure if it is 'black tie' or not. It came up in the search engine when I typed in tuxedo... And I've convinced him to look for shoes. But he is grumbling about the cost and what we could buy instead. I agree, I hope it will make special events cheaper in the long run.

And, I'm sat typing in an evening dress! It's a bit tight. I may have to get a body shaper underdress thing to smooth out the lumps and bumps.

shala_moo wrote: »

Lots of apple chutney making for you then??

That sounds like hard work. I'm thinking we'll store the eating apples as we'll eat them in a few weeks. We also have a baking apple tree and we've not collected from that one yet and I've been thinking about making apple pie and crumbles.

newgirly

Hi Peonie, the jacket looks perfect, I would not worry so much about the striped leg trousers we go to a black tie work do each year and its very formal but not everyone wears striped trousers, incl my dh.

Have you had a look at places like matalan as they do tuxes at certain times of year that are quite modern and not as expensive as other shops.

gallygirl

newgirly wrote: »

Hi Peonie, the jacket looks perfect, I would not worry so much about the striped leg trousers we go to a black tie work do each year and its very formal but not everyone wears striped trousers, incl my dh.

Have you had a look at places like matalan as they do tuxes at certain times of year that are quite modern and not as expensive as other shops.

Some of the hire places sell them off as well. Does he have any Scottish heritage? Hire a kilt instead (not money saving but ....... )

SeriouslySeekingtoSave

I agree, it looks very smart. A man can't really go wrong with a nicely fitted suit though. Or a woman either.

Can I wish you many happy returns for your anniversary? :beer:

Peonie

Thanks ladies, you have put my mind at rest. I'm going to pick up the dinner suit from the store tomorrow and if I can convince Mr P to come with me we can go via Mata1an to look at the evening suits there. I have looked in the past and this jacket looks similar: http://www.matalan.co.uk/product/detail/s2482243/denver-black-regular-fit-dinner-suit-jacket

GG, M0ss Br0s do sell their hire dinner suits. I've seen quite a few on ebay. The event is in just over a week so we don't have that much time left to find what we need. I did start looking for these clothes a few months ago - honest. Nope, no Scottish heritage for Mr P so no kilt. And he does look good in a slim fit jacket. Fingers crossed it will fit!

Thanks SStS and the years have flown by. He's great

Only one more FD monthly saver payment to go. I don't know why I think I'll suddenly have financial freedom when the saver ends as I get the money back in the end anyway.

Today I spent £2.17 on 3 cards. Not a bad price.

To do:

1. Update the SOA.
2. Get money out of the bank to pay parents - we owe them around £650.
3. Hope the plumber does not send his bill.
4. Get quotes from a brickie.
5. Finish present for family member (I started it in May - oops).

Peonie

So Mr P told me he went overdrawn this month - grrrr. No interest this month.

I updated the SOA and after the £300 for the FD monthly saver went out my account and the joint account have just broke even. That means no extra overpayments this month - booo.

The good news: I did not go to the garden center. The good/bad news: there's a sale on the tiles we like.

castlelough

Hi Peonie, hope your week has gone well. You've been very resourceful in preparing for your black tie event! It sounds like it will be a great night out!

Peonie

Hi CL, thanks we had a great night at the ball. It's nice to dress up every-so-often and Mr P looked fantastic. Momma P took a photo of us like we were going to the prom.

Getting the right size of suit was a pain but we got there in the end. Plus M&5 honoured the discount price which was good of them. And it did have the stripe down the leg that we wanted.

We also bought the tiles; they cost less than £40 - bargain. We paid another £200 to my parents and spent the day with them. Plus they fed and watered us. Only another £500 to pay back.

Mr P wants to buy some wardrobes. I think I've talked him out of it for the time being. It's quite easy when you use the argument - we don't have any money.

Despite that, I've OP'd £12.35 off the mortgage. Not much, but we're still trying to chip it away.

newgirly

Glad you had a good time Peonie

Peonie

Man I'm tired. But I've been living my life and that's good. Here's my activity update:
I have so many activities in the next 5 few months. I received an invitation to a hen party. Been and done A 2nd hen party a couple of weeks after the one above. Been and done. [STRIKE]A corporate fancy dress party (tickets and taxis around £115 plus hiring the costumes)[/STRIKE] Been and done - bought a tux rather than fancy dress, [STRIKE]a birthday party at the other end of the country[/STRIKE] - been, [STRIKE]a Christening nearly the other end of the country (we still need to buy a gift) [/STRIKE]- been and done, [STRIKE]a few days away[/STRIKE] been and 2 weddings - one of them overseas, Been to one plus 5 birthdays who I buy presents for now 6 birthdays now 7 birthdays 3 birthdays gone - I've lost count.