Keeping up appearances.......

Honey_Bear

Congratulations on reaching the milestone of 5%! Marvellous news. For OH's birthday when I really, really couldn't afford anything that cost proper cash money, I asked friends who had hobbies he hadn't tried to take him along for the ride - sailing, gliding (a promotion at a local club, £10 for a flight), can't remember the rest, but it worked out as a superfun time as we got together and spent time with the various friends. (I also always cook a special meal for him and he chooses who to invite - or not, when life's been uncomfortably hectic.) The dressing gown is an excellent idea and if the cold weather continues, he'll find it useful as you've turned the central heating down/off anyway!

As to whether or not to use the MSE site to promote, or make people aware of, the new businessette - it's tiny, really tiny. Thank you for the suggestion and I've thought long and hard about it since you mentioned it. I'm working with someone on the project and he has an excellent website where the product will be promoted, and he's planning a series of events for the launch. I'm just very reluctant to give up my MSE on line anonymity, although there is a part of me that would love the feedback.

HappyNow

brizzledfw wrote: »

Good call with the dressing gown...it's a good way of getting a gift but not buying nothing extra iykwim. I often give the girls things for Xmas that I would have had to buy them anyway....
Brizzle

PinotGrigio41 wrote: »

The dressing gown was a very good idea and aren't men difficult enough to buy for anyway ? ! I do the same as Mrs B at Xmas I stock the girls up with things they already need or would be needing in the short term.

Ooh, I do the 'stock-up-on-essentials-and-call-it-a-gift' thing too ! Last Christmas Mr H and both kids all got shower gel/deodorant/new toothbrushes/hair care products/undies/socks etc etc. All stuff that I would have to buy anyway (albeit maybe slightly nicer versions), but that looked quite exciting when gift-wrapped. My family seem to get the most excitement from coming downstairs on Christmas morning to a huge mountain of brightly wrapped pressies - the contents are less important. Within reason of course, Mr Happy looked slightly confuddled by his golden-wrapped, bow-bearing nail scissors!

Anyway, he loved his dressing gown. It looks very classy and expensive (it was £19.50 ), although maybe a bit tight across his tummy. Perhaps I could offer the surgeon a few quid to perform a little lipo-suction while he's unconscious :rotfl:. Or better/cheaper still I could refuse to cut his food up for him while he's in his sling - that should lose him a couple of kilos .

HappyNow

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote: »

Well done on reaching the 3 financial landmarks. Hope Mr Happy has a fab birthday Xx

grannyx2 wrote: »

Well done on your debt busting you are doing well and are moving towards that ever popular debt free life.

Happy Birthday to Mr Happy, I hope he has a lovely day.

Granny x

NewLeaf wrote: »

wow Happy well done at getting under the £65k mark

Thanks all . Obviously I know the debts are still huuuuuge, but it's great to see them starting to shift.

Thanks also to everyone who wished Mr Happy a happy birthday. Unfortunately I couldn't pass your wishes on because he doesn't know that my diary (and therefore you lot!) exists! Anyway, he did enjoy his day. Work was apparently fun, then he fell asleep on the sofa in front of the TV. Party animals or what!

HappyNow

Honey_Bear wrote: »

Congratulations on reaching the milestone of 5%! Marvellous news. For OH's birthday when I really, really couldn't afford anything that cost proper cash money, I asked friends who had hobbies he hadn't tried to take him along for the ride - sailing, gliding (a promotion at a local club, £10 for a flight), can't remember the rest, but it worked out as a superfun time as we got together and spent time with the various friends. (I also always cook a special meal for him and he chooses who to invite - or not, when life's been uncomfortably hectic.) The dressing gown is an excellent idea and if the cold weather continues, he'll find it useful as you've turned the central heating down/off anyway!

As to whether or not to use the MSE site to promote, or make people aware of, the new businessette - it's tiny, really tiny. Thank you for the suggestion and I've thought long and hard about it since you mentioned it. I'm working with someone on the project and he has an excellent website where the product will be promoted, and he's planning a series of events for the launch. I'm just very reluctant to give up my MSE on line anonymity, although there is a part of me that would love the feedback.

The hobby thing is a really good idea and I will remember that for next year. He has a friend who is a keen wildlife photographer - which of course would be free - so I will try to set that up next time. Cheers .

I understand entirely why you might want to keep your anonymity. I would feel the same - although with my 'dirty washing' (so to speak) that kind of goes without saying . I'm sure you have loads of real-life friends to offer feedback, but if you would like some 'internet-friend' input I would be more than happy to oblige via PM, and I daresay lots of other people would be happy to do the same . Whatever you decide, good luck with your businessette (love that word!) x

HappyNow

So, today is a Big Day.

Firstly, Mr Happy and I have both received our wage slips today so I have been able to organise our budget. Hmm. We are £200 short of having enough to live on! That's quite a lot, but I reckon that with a lot of eBaying and some serious frugality we can manage it. After all, there's only 28 days in February according to the poem, so we'll barely notice the hunger . For the first time in my MSE career I am going to keep a spending diary. Here of course.

Secondly, today is Valentine's Day. Mr Happy has never been the romantic type. That's nothing to do with money, it's just his nature. He has, however, exceeded my previous expectations today when he gave me my Valentine's gift; a tax disc holder for my car!! He was absolutely 100% right when he said I DO need it. As he pointed out, I could get clamped if my parking permit is not on show, and the stickiness HAD disappeared from my last one. It's not even a romantic, fancy tax disc holder. It's a dull red one and has the name of local Post Office on the back. Anyway, it's MY tax disc holder and I like it!

I can't really complain. I 'bought' him a box of nine Thornton's heart-shaped chocolates that were free in W H Smith's, via O2 Priority Moments. Then I ate them before I got them home so he never even saw them :rotfl:. Ah, we really are a match made in heaven!

FlacosFloozie

Well done for reaching 5% that's great news :j

poohbear59

We are about £200 short too so we can compare notes. We were in the same situation last month so I feel I am an expert on living on next to nothing.

Well done on the 5 % :j:j:j:j:j


Mr Pooh and I decided that we wouldn't buy anything for each other this year. We usually just buy or make a card. It is our wedding anniversary on Monday so we will treat ourselves then instead. I am on the lookout for bargains to be had locally. Or maybe make a special meal.

grannyx2

:rotfl: at chocolates, they say its the thought that counts x

PinotGrigio41

Happy the tax disc story is hilarious. I think last year Mr PG bought me windscreen wipers, but I was so pleased with them ! As you are of course with your pressie !

Hope you enjoyed the choccies and as much as Mr Happy obviously doesn't know about the diary, I am sure all our positive happy birthday vibes were flowing from the PC to Mr Happys Brain yesterday

Good luck with the Spending Diary, its something I have not done either in my Diaryland Job....... I think I will sit back and observe yours first ! :rotfl:

haybel19

Well done on the 5%.

I got a winning email today- 3 of the new palmers lip balms :j:j:j