Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

tru

Hi all :hello:

I've been lazy today but it was on purpose. I showered (but not til 11am), moisturised body and feet and that was it.

I've lounged around, letting my mind wherever it wants to go. Then I started writing it all down, I'm actually shocked at how much rage came pouring out onto the paper. I was writing faster and faster, like I couldn't get it all out fast enough. Not sure what to do with it now, I might start a blog. I don't want to keep the paper version, I'm not ready for anyone to read it and I don't want someone to find it lying around. When it's all typed out, I'll shred the paper.

Might drive down to Fairford with mr tru tomorrow, to watch the planes flying out. Sounds boring, but it really isn't - the Americans know people are watching so they show off with mini displays as they leave

bratz81

haven't been on much over the weekend, had things on and was out and about but I've just caught up now
I've been keeping up, mostly, with the picking an outfit and putting on makeup etc in the mornings, although today it's raining to I'm wearing the fiance's hoody to walk into work. I have no coat with a hood on it but am really skint right now - any recommendations on cheap coats with hoods?

Have been feeling very down in the dumps the past few weeks, thinking I look like crap and am completely useless so I really need to get myself snapped out of it. It's hard to do thinks for yourself when feeling like that, I almost feel like I am not worth enough if that makes sense?

lessonlearned

Good morning Everyone

Miserable day here today, carer just bathing OH and then he has a dentist appt later.

Am having a little break - have just spent a happy hour tidying away clothes and OH's bits and bobs after the room re-organistation yesterday.

Decided to have a bit of a declutter from my wardrobe whilst I'm at it - chucking away a lot of old manky under wear, t-shirts, joggies etc because they are all too big:j Such a fab feeling.

So to all those who are struggling -just keep going - its taken the best part of 6 months but I've now lost well over a stone. Ok so it takes me another 6 months to lose another one - it doest matter how long it takes - I know I'll get there this time.

Chin up Bratz - The sun will come back soon and cheer us all up a bit. Do you have any £1 shops - you could pick up a cheap umbrella for now.

In the long term - if you walk quite a bit - then I would suggest a proper raincoat - trench coats are good - just make sure when you buy one you either take a jumper or jacket with you so that your raincoat can fit over thicker clothes, then it will take you through the winter too.

In the meantime - how about something like a Kagool - you can scrunch them up and keep them in your bag for emergencies. I have a bright yellow lightweight sailing type jacket from GAP - only cost £10. It is so useful and the colour always cheers me up on dark murky rainy days.

Anyway - rest break over - back to work.:D

vasseur

Sorry to hear everyone is feeling low. This thread is such a comfort though - a really nice bunch

Am off for a run in a minute if the showers hold off. I may still go anyway and get wet - I feel so much better for it and after all the food me and OH had yesterday I really need to do something

My castor oil arrived this morning so i will be doing the OCM tonight - looking forward to it.

Good tips on not eating sugar and yeast. personally i have cut out bread during the week only and I have found I feel much better for it. I have noticed as I'm getting older (39 now) which foods I have little tolerance for (unfortunately the list seems to be getting longer and longer!)

bratz81

lessonlearned thanks for the tips. I have bought umbrellas in the past from the pound shop but it's so windy here they break first time out so I think I need to stick to a hood!
Would you believe me if I said I didn't even have £10 til payday? I've about 20p I think, so will have to make do until then, and maybe try to get something cheap (£5 ish) from primark or something to do for now til I get saved up for something better.
Have the car tax and MOT due in a few weeks, plus we need to get oil so a proper coat will have to wait unfortunately.

skipsmum

Hi everyone, can I join in? Im going back to college in September (age 36) and I need to do something about my image (like actually having one instead of my frazzled hedge look). I need to lose about a stone before I clothes shop, hard in a stressful life!

Bitsy_Beans

bratz81 wrote: »

haven't been on much over the weekend, had things on and was out and about but I've just caught up now
I've been keeping up, mostly, with the picking an outfit and putting on makeup etc in the mornings, although today it's raining to I'm wearing the fiance's hoody to walk into work. I have no coat with a hood on it but am really skint right now - any recommendations on cheap coats with hoods?

Have been feeling very down in the dumps the past few weeks, thinking I look like crap and am completely useless so I really need to get myself snapped out of it. It's hard to do thinks for yourself when feeling like that, I almost feel like I am not worth enough if that makes sense?

when you think about it it's madness to base your wroth on how you look or your size. I do find myself drifting back to those sorts of thoughts from time to time but I try and remind myself it's just a !!!!!! attack......fat and ugly attack (or also as I've called it on my worst moments f**king ugly attack ). I've sat and wrote down a list of things that triggers this negative internal dialogue, it can be anything from feeling a bit bloated to a bad hair day :rotfl: Anyway acknowledging the feelings for what they actually ARE rather than pretending they are actually how I am works quite well for me. That and something to soothe the soul. Be it a bit of chocolate, a good cry, dancing to some favourite music. The tip is to find something that makes YOU feel good when your inner gremlin is saying the very opposite.

Tru - glad the writing is working for you xx

Just having a large plate of salad. It's cool and rainy but I asked myself what I wanted....well actually ran down a list of things I could have and this is what I plumped for. Not because I ought to eat salad (I've got full fat coleslaw on it but because after a weekend of eating a lot of party food my body was craving something less junkified (I am loathe to use the word healthy as subconsciously to me that's making see food as good or bad). Now if I could just apply this sort of thinking ALL the time I'd be on to a winner :rotfl:

maman

bratz81 wrote: »

lessonlearned thanks for the tips. I have bought umbrellas in the past from the pound shop but it's so windy here they break first time out so I think I need to stick to a hood!
Would you believe me if I said I didn't even have £10 til payday? I've about 20p I think, so will have to make do until then, and maybe try to get something cheap (£5 ish) from primark or something to do for now til I get saved up for something better.
Have the car tax and MOT due in a few weeks, plus we need to get oil so a proper coat will have to wait unfortunately.

If I were you, I'd stick to borrowing your fiance's coat:rotfl:and hope the sun comes out soon! Well done for being sensible with your finances.

Carmen

Hello ladies, and welcome to all new peeps.

I have been really busy over the past week so have been trying to catch up on all the posts!

Hugs to all of you that have been having a difficult time recently :grouphug:

Well done to everyone that have had a good week with weight loses and beauty treatments

Be right back...

lessonlearned

Hi Bratz

Sorry didn't realise finances were quite so dire at the moment, agree with Maman, just borrow your fianc!'s clothes - share & share. "What's yours is mine, what's mine is me own:D" Actually I like men's jumpers etc - they fit me better anyway. I used to beg all my dad's old cast-off jumpers and cardigans.

Don't feel embarrassed about the money situation - we've all been there. In the past we have had to do car boot sales just to put food on the table.:rotfl: Many's the time I've had to walk 3 miles each way to work and back because I couldn't afford the bus fare.

Being so hard up when we were younger, TBH looking back it's been most of my life, including my childhood - is what taught me to be such a frugalista, sewing, making my own beauty products, buying up old furniture to renovate etc. It just so happens I grew to enjoy it - perhaps as well because now that neither OH or I can work - it's back to frugal living. - Better for the planet anyway.:D

It's become so engrained now that I wouldn't have it any other way. I hate waste and I enjoy the challenge of making savings in one area so that we can live & eat well and have a few treats now and then.

I'm vain enough to want to look good but really have a very tiny budget for clothes, toiletries, make up etc, so I try to think creatively. I probably spend no more than about £200 a year at the most and that includes haircuts, clothes, everything.

I've started recording all my personal spending in my spending diary - I reckon about £120 since I started the first frump to fab and that was nearly 8 months ago.

Re a coat - I did recently pick up a navy blue full length wool coat for £3 from Cancer Research. Keep your eyes peeled - you never know your luck.;)

Bye for now x