Frugal Frump to Fab-u-lous Spring Equinox to Summer Solstice

lessonlearned

Good Morning

The sun is shining and it's Fab Friday - time to get the glad rags on.....

This week I have been using the Olay Hint of a Tint moisturiser to give myself a bit of colour. Apparently I "look well";)

I've also discovered a really fab body moisturiser (at last!!!) I got it from ALDI - it's made by their Lacura brand and its specially designed for mature and aging skin.......

I was very sceptical but it was dirt cheap so I thought what the heck. Well ladies - it's fab-u-lous. My thirsty skin just soaks it up. Also - wait for it - I rather fear my skin is beginning to look a little crepey and it works so well all those little fine lines are disappearing.

I've been using it for 3 days now and the effects really are astonishing.....No I have no interest and they are not paying me :rotfl:

In a similar vein I've noticed a product called "Nano Blur"???? or some such name. (Boots I think). Apparently it is supposed to have a similar effect - it's a wonder facial moisturiser by all accounts.

I think there are few of these "Blur" type products around now. Given the success of the body lotion I'm going to try and seek one out and give it a whirl.

Have a nice pottering around day planned, some paperwork etc.

BTW - micro-managing my finances is really paying dividends. I received a nice big fat cheque yesterday - that tax rebate I've been chasing.:D

I will bank most of it - but might have a little spend with some of it.

Has anyone been watching the "Secret Eaters" programme. I watched it for the first time last night......

Hands up here - "guilty as charged, M'Lud"

I found myself mesmerised because I too must be a secret eater.
They used the term "mindless munching". I'm afraid this is exactly what I do.

Well having watched that programme I've decided to tackle that particular issue. From now on I will keep an eating diary as well as a spending diary.

The spending diary has given me spectacular results this last couple of weeks. Let's hope the eating diary has the same desired effect.

I have weighed myself this morning:( So ....here we go - no more mindless muching.

podperson

Morning all,

WW - well done on the ofsted report :j very well deserved! As LL says it can make such a difference to kids to have teachers who put the care and effort in that you do - you have some lucky pupils

LL - go you on the tax rebate, wish I was due one but sadly not for last year it seems. Though I did get my p60, I'm on salary based wage so on a 'per annum' figure and the total amount paid box is over £300 under that figure. Wondering if I should get that queried. Good luck with the eating diary - I should probably start one but not sure if I dare :rotfl:

Anyway, busy night last night - gave my hair a decent trim and a deep condition. It's looking much better for it - took loads off and it's still really long in the back! Managed to get a bit of writing done and got some bets checked and some more bits on ebay.

We're meant to be meeting the in-laws tonight - of course them being them it can never be straightfoward! We were supposed to be going out for a meal with them about 7-ish so I had time to go home, get changed etc. Now they've messaged OH to say that they're now going to eat with his uncle and aunt instead (who they've been staying with for the past 3 days in order to sort out details for going away with them for 3 weeks next month, so not like they haven't seen them!) so they'll be eating at 5pm now. They know I don't finish work until then. Then they're going round some pubs after and we can 'meet them there if we want'. *sighs* So now if OH wants to see them at all during their visit we have to go into the town centre on a busy Friday night and sit in a pub where you probably won't be able to talk properly anyway. I suppose you have to appreciate the irony when the 30 year-olds would rather go for a quiet meal and a chat while the 60 year-olds want to go on a pub crawl through the city centre.

floss2

podperson wrote: »

...LL - go you on the tax rebate, wish I was due one but sadly not for last year it seems. Though I did get my p60, I'm on salary based wage so on a 'per annum' figure and the total amount paid box is over £300 under that figure. Wondering if I should get that queried...

No harm in asking for it to be explained. It's easy to roughly check your tax on one of the salary checker websites online

lessonlearned

Agree - there's no harm in checking.

I've become quite nerdy just lately but it really does help to double check everything.

I've just invested in some private health insurance for myself. I managed to get one at £54 per month (that's good for a 61 year old).

It includes dental cover. I was already paying £28 just for dental cover so in effect I am paying £26 for health cover, to include cancer drugs and treatments that are not available on the NHS. (Hoping that I never need them!!!)

Whilst I was arranging this, I asked for a quote for DS2. We pay £28 for his dental cover too. Get this - full pmi plus dental cover came to £27-70 per month.......

So yes check, and double check if necessary. You never know.

This weekend I am going to start reading up on matched betting.

At the moment I am taking a break from sorting out my bedroom and wardrobe.

I'm in declutter mode.......

podperson

Thanks floss, I've just checked my tax on an online calculator and looks like that's correct at least - so no rebate unfortunately Think may drop them a query about the total amount though.

LL - if you need a hand on the matching betting just give me a poke. I think it's just the getting your brain around how it works to start with, once it twigs the method is quite straightforward and there's loads of calculators etc to help with the actual maths part I was quite impressed I stumbled onto the end of an 'arb' bet today - only £16 left in the exchange by the time I got there so stuck it on quick and then matched a bit at the bookies so it's going to be uneven for a change, about £20 if one side wins and £66 if the other does - so am in the black either way but fingers crossed for the better result!
Also have someone coming to look at the parking space this week with a view to taking it longer term - so hopefully it will suit her.

lessonlearned

Good luck with the parking space and the bet.....

I will definitely be needing some help with the mb. I'll try and sit down and read it all through over the week end and see how much sinks in:o

Sorry to hear no dice with the tax. It was worth a try.

I've just done my month ends sums..... I've even managed to reduce my food bill this month too.

Just need to start earning something now. Hopefully if the weather warms up maybe a car boot next month.

Bitsy_Beans

Afternoon

Tried dressing summery today as sun was out, rolled up skinny jans, nice deck shoes etc. by 'eck it is freezing!!!! Hands currently like ice and dreaming of putting the heating on. Will have to make do with wrapping them around a cup of coffee

Eyes been really sore since yesterday, not sure if its tiredness or what. I have never suffered hayfever (although sure there is a first time for everything) but they are making me feel rather tired

WW well done on Outstanding :T:T:T:T glad to see you all your hard work and enthusiasm rewarded.

Pod I have read a little bit about matched betting but can't get my poor brain around it

LL good news of tax rebate better in your pocket than theirs

Sweet heels love the idea of unannounced fabbing

Have a great Friday evening everyone

podperson

Bitsy - I wore a short sleeved top today as was lovely this morning, then was hailstoning by lunchtime! Hoping it at least dries up before hometime.

It did take me a little bit to 'twig' the matched betting. I don't know if this will help but explained as simply as I can:
You're basically placing two bets that will offset each other. One will be at a normal bookies and the other at a betting exchange where you 'lay' the bet - this means that you're acting as the bookie so if the bet loses then you get the imaginary betters stake and if it loses then you have to pay out at the set odds for it. So if the odds were 2.0 on a £10 bet then if you won then as the bookie you would get the £10 - if you lost you would have to pay out the £10. But if the odds were 5.0 then if you won you would still get the £10 bet if you lost you'd have to pay out £50 as that would be the 'winnings' on it.

What you do is place two bets on the same event so that whatever the outcome you win at one of the places. For example if you placed a bet for £10 at 3.0 odds on Man Utd to win at the bookies then you would 'lay' a bet against them NOT winning at the betting exchange.
If they won then you would win £30 at the bookies but lose £30 at the exchange. If they didn't win then you would lose your £10 stake at the bookies but win £10 at the exchange. So either way you're breaking even.

When you then do is take advantage of the free bets that the bookies offer - usually on new sign up but once you're with them you do often get member ones sent to you. So now you're doing the exact same thing but because it's 'free' money that you're being given to gamble with not your own money then instead of just breaking even you're making a profit on it - you're basically taking the free money out.

Sorry wee bit long winded there! Does that make sense?

maman

Thanks for the explanation pod. I've often wondered how it works.

I took your advice and bought the body lotion in Aldi's today LL. I always use loads in the summer. That being said, since joining this thread I now use it all year round!:D I got the one in the maroon bottle.

It's none too warm here either bitsy so I haven't ventured into summery clothes yet. Today I'm wearing jeans and a pale pink cashmere jumper. When I went out I wore my favourite Joules gilet and a scarf. At least I've discarded the winter coat and gloves!;)

Don't work too hard at the weekend sparkles. I know what you mean about 'treats' creeping in. I've put on 3lbs. in the past two weeks so I'm on a mission to sort that out. I've got my meal plan all sorted for the coming week and done a huge shop today so now got plenty of fruit and veg in. I've watched that Secret Eaters thing too LL. I get a bit fed up with the formula but I find seeing these people stuffing their faces is a great deterrent for me.

Back soon.

lessonlearned

Yes it's the one in the maroon bottle - should have said...

Had a good sort out this afternoon. Not put all the winter clothes away just yet, need to wash all the sweaters and scarves etc first.

I've put all my big coats into a spare wardrobe - am determined to stop wearing them. It's nearly May for goodness sake. It's still cold here too.

I've got a big bag for the charity shop and I've had a good look at what I need to refresh my spring/summer wardrobe. My tummy seems all sorted out now so hopefully I can have a couple of shopping days next week and get buying some clothes. I need trousers, jeans and tops, shoes and undies. OK for jackets and sweaters.

Pod - Thanks for the tips on MB. Will try and digest it and read up the detail over the next few days.