MrsTUS is going to be debt free. FACT.

Wordsmith

Could you give yourself a cheaper treat? It may be the gods looking after you that you snapped a couple of nails!

You can get lovely, almost new stuff in charity shops, so no one need know that's where you got your clothes. Designer clothes are not necessary - although you can often pick these up in second-hand stores anyway. No one is going to notice that you haven't had your nails done, so it won't really be a loss - although I know you will feel good for having had them done ... but wouldn't you feel better knowing you had spent the money on necessary things, or reducing the debt a bit more?

You've mentioned your sister-in-law a couple of times. Can I be so bold to suggest that you stop comparing your life with hers? There could be all sorts of issues in her life that you don't have and can be grateful you don't have? She could be in masses of debt, buying her designer gear. She could have trouble with an OH, which you don't have. She could be really miserable and so trying to cheer herself up by spending - which never really works.

Perfect nails and designer gear REALLY do not matter. Other people's lives REALLY do not matter. A happy relationship, healthy children and not being in debt DO. And you are doing it for yourselves, not with help from mater and pater - so be proud of that.

It's tough - but you'll get there, and be glad you have done it on your own.

Give yourself a tenner to be frivolous with and go spend it on yourself. Now!

MrsTUS

Ah yes, yes I know all of that... I really do.. but I actually almost ENJOY whinging and being envious of other people, I can't explain it...

I know we have plenty that my sis-in-law would be jealous of, I know we do.. and as I did say, I generally AM NOT superficial or materialistic so I KNOW brands/designers have no relevance or significance in ones quality of life HOWEVER I merely suggested it would be nice, just ONCE to know what it feels like to be kitted out in lovely, new clothes and to have the cash to take care of myself nails/hair wise...

Wordsmith

MrsTUS wrote: »

Ah yes, yes I know all of that... I really do.. but I actually almost ENJOY whinging and being envious of other people, I can't explain it...

You don't need to explain it. It's a cheap hobby and that's good enough for me.

MrsTUS

*chortle* :rotfl:

MrsTUS

Well my holiday is looming (we leave tomorrow night) and I can't afford to get my hair cut or any new clothes; and after scouring all the charity shops in the posh areas, there's absolutely nothing I'd even consider wearing.. I could cry. I'm SICK of living like this.

Wordsmith

Aw, it's tough. It will get better, though, truly it will. Which bit of Somerset are you going to? (I used to live in Somerset.) Can you try the charity shops there? Or, if you are near Street, you could go to the Clark's factory outlet. Or if you are near Taunton have a mooch about there.

Have you looked into the model nights at the hairdresser, or is there a college that has a hairdressing course near you where you could get it done cheaply by students? Often mobile hairdressers are cheaper than salons. Just a cheap neat trim will make you feel better and so you don't need to get an expensive styling.

Today is a down day for you. Tomorrow will hopefully be an up day. I hope you enjoy your holiday - a break away from it all will be good.

MrsTUS

Thanks, yes, today is a crap day haha. My husband and my oldest son have both got new trainers today... I just felt a bit left out.. was having a look at the clothes in Asda and saw a few things which seemed cheap - a tenner here and there, but all those tenners add up (-_-)...

Have just booked into a local, cheap salon for 3:30 this afternoon for a dry trim - they just spray it with water to dampen it rather than a cut and blow dry... so yes, you're right, a basic trim will make me feel much better!!!

We're going to Taunton area, visiting the in-laws... My husband is from Somerset too, but came up to Newcastle for Uni and I stole him!! :-o

edit: Though we're moving to Somerset in 2-3 years time, much nicer place to bring up children :]

Wordsmith

I'm glad you're getting your hair done. I tend to cut my own and I can tell you that it might be cheap but there is nothing more guaranteed to make me feel worse about things than looking at my wonky fringe in the mirror! I put off doing it until I can't stand it any longer and then get out the scissors in a fit of anger and hack away. That's my money-saving tip of the day!

Taunton is good - lots of posh people live around there so the charity shops might have some bargains. It'll be fun looking, anyway. I hope you get some time to have a wander around.

MrsTUS

Well, my 'cheap haircut' has turned out to be the best hair cut I have had in YEARS, I am SO pleased with it.. LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!

MrTUS also surprised me with £100 to spend on clothes, I went to Primark and got some absolute BARGAINS! LOTS of them and still home with a tenner spare... he'd been saving it for a little while...

I feel so much better, I really do... Back on track now though, next month we'll both be clearing our Next accounts - £180 on His and £245 on mine, we've been saving all the extra money we've been making from various things and TUS has been doing a few shifts of over-time at work - which pay double time, which works out quite a bit as he's on a good hourly rate... still a little bit spare that we're paying a chunk off a credit card too.. AS you can imagine this made me feel a little less guilty about spending so much money on myself!

I embraced it though, as I know it won't be happening again any time soon, but that's ok.. Just reminds me how much I love MrTUS, he's always thinking of me and being very thoughtful, little things..

Anyway, a looooong night tonight, I'm currently up with the two babyT's - they're usually in bed by now - but I'm keeping them up later so that they're extra tired and won't wake up when we transfer them from their beds to the car at 2am for a long, long drive down to Somerset.
MrTUS has been in bed since 7pm and is getting up around midnight and mediumTUS (our 8 year old son) is in bed too, as once he wakes at 2am, he wont sleep again and we have lots of activities planned when we meet my in-laws in Cardiff the next day before heading over to Somerset afterwards...

toddlerTUS is a bit poorly, he has very visibly swollen glands in his neck, his tonsular glands.. He has no apparent sore throat, no temperature, is eating and drinking fine, but he has a very apparent stiff neck.. I'm dreading the long car journey as he will be very uncomfortable and sore and stiff when he wakes up but we've decided to take the car journey how it comes and if he wakes and is unhappy, we'll stop and have a midnight 'play' somewhere instead of feeling under pressure to arrive on time.. the kids and their comfort are paramount above all else. The doctors have ruled out tonsilitus, mumps and glandular fever - for now... we've had him there twice, once on Wednesday and once yesterday when we noticed his glands were even bigger.. He's a good boy though..

We also went to Pizzahut for dinner - to acknowledge the start of our holidays.. we've been saving for nearly a year to raise the spending money, plus activiyt cash, petrol money, hotels etc.. Can't complain when it was a fiver each and kids eat free :]

Hmmmm, I do LOVE my family :]

Wordsmith

Yay to haircut! Yay to bargainous new clothes! Yay to feeling better! Triple yay to being on holiday!

Hope the drive is OK, and that your little one isn't too uncomfortable. Have a great time away.