Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

Bitsy_Beans

MrsWoolfe wrote: »

Bitsy Beans- Birthday cake is outside the rules- as for the chocolate- have you tried buying yourself some really good quality chocolate and only having one a day? You know build it in to your plan, you could buy a really nice box of something from hotel chocolat or something? You'll need to eke it out otherwise not very MSE:D

I've tried darker chocolate and I just don't like it. As much as it pains me to admit I am phillistine when it comes to chocolate......I am a Galaxy girl

floss2

tru wrote: »

Bitsy I know what you mean about the chocolate. I HAVE to have some every day ...... I'm going to give myself permission to eat as much as I like as long as I eat a healthy meal first. When I'm 'allowed' to do something, it doesn't seem as exciting. It works for other things, I'm hoping it works for choc too.

I buy myself either a large bar of good bitter chocloate or bag of plain chocolate lime creams or caramels and ration myself to one a day.....generally works but not always! :rotfl:

lessonlearned wrote: »

...There's a few of you who've gone very quiet - you know who you are. Hope you are all ok....

Floss scuttles quickly in hanging head....:o

phoenix_dragon wrote: »

...But a long hot bath, with Lush bath bomb, chocolatey face mask and using Lush's Buffy (all birthday treats) left me in a much better state.....

I've been banned from using bath bombs in our lovely new bath....:p

Sorry I've been MIA....RL caught up a bit and I've been cleaning up after my builders and doing some family stuff. Still can't use the shower due to a slight leak but the bath is fab!

Have had a little change in my routine in that I've started to use the No 7 Radiance Balm...2 days in and my skin feels luverly!

Plans for this week include changing my royal blue nail polish to maybe bright pink on my toes, defuzzing and checking my eyebrows for silver hairs! We're off to DH's parents & then a few days on our own at the weekend so won't have chance for much more than routine stuff next week. The girl who colours my hair has gone mobile and is coming to do my roots next week at 1/3 of the cost so very MSE

I picked up a gorgeous paisley maxi in the New Look sale the other day and also a lovely white cotton gypsy style maxi - we've got a BBQ coming up and our belated honeymoon in September so they will be fab for those events

Work wear today is an F&F trouser suit (I also have the matching skirt ) in charcoal with light grey flecks, tan wedge sandals and a pale grey s/s top. I really need to do some ironing later, as most of my good work clothes are lurking in the basket!

maman

:wave:

I'm definitely feeling motivated to do my nails later. Why is it that varnish on toenails always last longer even when they're in and out of shoes?

I've also been shamed into fetching myself a bottle of water to drink while I'm browsing;) On holiday, we were getting through a minimum of 3 litres a day between us and I was definitely having the bigger half! It's so easy when it's hot and the dehydration risks are so obvious. I do start the day with a large (250ml?) glass of squash like Ribena or similar which helps to get me started in the mornings. I have the low-cal version. I swapped it for the huge glass of fruit juice I used to have to reduce calories.

I had 30 minutes to spare after a meeting this morning and found myself in a jewellers (as you do:)). Last year I treated myself to a Trollbead (cheaper versions are available) bracelet. This was unusual for me as I don't normally wear costume jewellery. DH bought me a couple of extra beads for my birthday. Today I really fancied a bead I'd not seen before but I resisted and I'm planning to treat myself when I get to my SW target!! I've got 4.5lbs to go.

I'm feeling quite guilty as I've never really been one for retail therapy and when I put weight on, I went right off clothes shopping. Unfortunately now that I have huge choice there's no stopping me:o I think I'm safest sticking to CSs.

MrsWoolfe

Don't feel Gulity Maman! treating yourself every now and again is a good thing- funny how we feel guilty about it though isn't it? I think that is especially the case when you are being careful with money as most of us here are- but being careful doesn't mean never doing anything nice for yourself!

In fact I tend to look at it that I'm careful with money, so that I spend it where it means more to me- i.e. I am pretty thrify with our food budget, and stretch everything, I use bi-carb and vinegar for most of our cleaning and I try and save whereever we can- we are luckily doing ok, we can save a fair bit of money each month and don't need to panic if something unexpected comes in- so if I want to treat myself to something lovely that wont break the bank and is within our means- then why the hell not!

Sorry if that was a bit of a rant but it's something that's been bugging me recently- certain ppl having a bit of a dig if I do something nice/buy myself something- the same people who turn their noses up at shopping any where "cheap"/using up leftovers/shopping around for things- then have a pop at me cause they see me doing/having something they can't afford:mad: sorry rant over- just a bit of a bug bear for me.....and breathe!

There is also sometimes a bit of a similar attitude from some with looking after yourself which I find weird, why have an attitude/have a snide swipe at someone because they are looking after themselves???

oh I don't know, sorry guys I think my B*%tch filter is a little off today, looking forward to hometime when I can go and blast some Rage Against The Machine...now if only I still had that punching bag

MrsWoolfe

philsmum

Mrs Woolfe,
You are so right, I am very careful with my housekeeping budget, been doing grocery challenge for 2 years, I cant remember the last time I bought new clothes (except underwear) I buy my clothes from either charity shops or my favourite Car Boot. Everyone asks how I can afford to spend so much on clothes when I am on pension, I only ever have clothes from Next, M&S or designer labels, none of which cost me more than £10. and that was for a Jaegar winter coat (Cashmere) & gorgeous. So I find it really frustrating when I have to apologise for buying good cosmetics and toiletries.
Rant over. Feel better.
Pat

floss2

MrsWoolfe wrote: »

...if I want to treat myself to something lovely that wont break the bank and is within our means- then why the hell not!

philsmum wrote: »

Mrs Woolfe,
You are so right, I am very careful with my housekeeping budget, been doing grocery challenge for 2 years, I cant remember the last time I bought new clothes (except underwear) I buy my clothes from either charity shops or my favourite Car Boot. Everyone asks how I can afford to spend so much on clothes when I am on pension, I only ever have clothes from Next, M&S or designer labels, none of which cost me more than £10. and that was for a Jaegar winter coat (Cashmere) & gorgeous. So I find it really frustrating when I have to apologise for buying good cosmetics and toiletries.
Rant over. Feel better.
Pat

Why not do what I used to do when on a tight budget - I would apply Shirley Goode's way of housekeeping to my personal pin money, and if I saved on something by buying a CS item when I had cash for the same thing new, I would "keep" the balance of what I'd allocated and spend it on a treat for me.

Also, for birthdays & Christmas, my mum would always buy me a gift voucher for somewhere like Dotty P's or for books or my garden, never Asda / Tesco / M&S that might get spent on food or school uniform!

Even now, my DH always buys me whichever perfume is running out for my birthday / Christmas / Valentines / anniversary gift and even for our wedding last year, as he knows I won't buy it myself as I think it is "too expensive"!!


E.T.A. Didn't do my toenails, or anything else I said I would....DH was home for tea (fresh trout) and I ended up being sociable until he left to travel off to his tomorrow's appointment! Oh well, tomorrow's another day!!

maman

Totally agree with all the sentiments about budgeting and spending priorities. I think my attitude comes from hating being ripped off. Also, I've worked really hard for my money and so I want to spend it wisely on the things that are important to me. I'm happy to shop around but only within reason as I put a price on my time and travel.

DH and I eat really well at home but I don't spend vast amounts on food. We probably spend almost as much on lunch out with friends as a week's food shopping. Some people would frown on that but that's our choice on how we want to spend the money we've saved. We've arranged our finances so we can live that way.

Of course, I realise that money is very tight for some people and they don't have much (if any) disposable income. I have great sympathy with them and admire them for coping at such a difficult time.

I did manage to paint my nails today: toes are a deep red and I just went for a quick shape and clear polish on my nails.

P.S. I checked my record book and I'm 4lbs off my target and 1.5lbs off 3 stone lost.

lessonlearned

Hi Everyone

Just thought I'd drop by for a chat.

Reading your comments about budgets/treating yourselves occasionally etc was very interesting. Today I treated myself to a very pretty shabby chic style jewellery box - from a CS of course. It was new and cost me the grand total of £2-49 (I always put the odd coppers in change in their collection box).

To me that £2-50 equates to 5 daily papers or perhaps a latte in a coffee shop. Like Mrs W said - for me it's about "re-allocating" my money for something that will give me pleasure or value. The newspapers I can read online, I genuinely prefer my own home brewed coffee anyway.

But you are right some people can make nasty snidey comments and yet if you were to explain how you can afford to dress well, go on holiday, have a few treats they look at you as if you are mad.

My dear old Aunty S was a miracle worker when it came to stretching money - she taught me a few things. She was left a penniless widow with three children under the age of 2.5. (The youngest wasn't even born). After a lifetime of hardwork, scrimping and doing without, she had managed to put her children through private school and college, and ended up owning three houses which she let out - always dressing like an old movie star in the process.

When she retired she started travelling - several times round the world. When she was asked how she did it she would smile and say, I don't smoke, I don't go down the pub, I shop in the sales and my holidays are always last minute bargains. A lot of people were envious of her lifestyle but couldn't see that with a bit of forethought and self restraint they could do it too.

I see no problem with careful budgeting and treating ourselves with any savings we can make. I don't just spend my treat money on myself - we have a lot of "Very Merry Unbirthday" treats in this house.:rotfl:

Back in a mo

lessonlearned

Anyway sorry to hear you are a bit low Mrs W - hope you feel better soon. When you think how poorly you have been in the past and how far you've come, you really do deserve a pat on the back.

It must have been a very scary time for you and I think you have been very courageous in tackling your illness head on and taking responsibility for your health. Far too many people simply rely on the medical profession to sort them out. The thing is the medics can only do so much. I genuinely believe we owe to ourselves to take some responsibility too.

So for me Frump to Fab also tries to encompass this, losing weight, getting fit etc.

You are bound to have days when it's an uphill struggle - but just keep looking after yourself and staying positive - a little bit of TLC and some pampering will surely help too:D.

Maman - Only 4lb to go.:T:T And almost 3 stones lost. That is a fantastic achievement.

Thanks for the tip about extending your tan. I was thinking of using one of those body glow type products next winter. My colour is ok at the moment - from gardening but now that we no longer have our foreign holidays in the winter I can look rather pale at times.

I use Olays daily sunshine on my face in the winter, but I might try and do my body too. Definitely no sun beds for me;)

A few of you have mentioned problems with chocolate cravings. I know that not everyone likes dark chocolate but I do think that the sweeter cheaper chocolates contain a lot of additives. I think they are actually quite addictive.

I do agree that the "better" chocolate is more satisfying so that although it is more expensive - it actually works out cheaper in the long run. I find I don't need to eat as much to get my choccy hit.

How about a couple of nice rich milk chocolate truffles. Two would be plenty - you'd feel that you'd had a nice satisfying treat.

Aldis & Lidl do some lovely continental chocolate and boxes of truffles and they are not expensive. Aldis do a gorgeous dark choc/orange and a dark choc/mint. The orange and mint makes them sweeter so you don't get a bitter taste that you get with some plain dark chocolate. The dark chocolate with chilli is quite something too but only if you like really strong tastes. They cost no more than Galaxy or Cadburys. TBH I really dislike Cadbury's now - it seems to have a nasty "after taste" but perhaps that's just me.

Anyway - just had my hot milk so off to bed now.

G'night all x

bratz81

morning all.
Haven't been on in a few days but I have been lurking!

Well last night was a great treat for me! I have back issues and when it's really playing up a hot bath helps. However we've no oil right now and can't afford any so heating water for a bath is impossible. But my fiance's parents are on holiday so he offered the use of their bath...and what a bath!! Oh it was bliss

I also put on a face mask while relaxing in the bath and moisturised so I'm all soft Well I'm always soft and generally put on jojoba oil every other day after a shower (that's all I need anyway) but the bath oil made me extra soft.