New here and really need to sort myself out(please move if in wrong place)

gemmajenkins0208

Thank you both suki and cheel

I was supposed to be getting my nails and brows done today but cancelled the apt over a week ago after advice given on here. My nails feel naked :rotfl: as for my brows, i plucked away the more obvious hairs and they don't look too bad


BF hasn't done anything to the bikes but as it's been reasonably nice weather around here he's been doing all the odd jobs round here that's he's been waiting to do

Hopefully if the weather stays then he can work on the bikes

monnagran

Just a little word.

If you have free time for a while Gemma, perhaps if you joined your bf in getting to work on the bike it may encourage him. I confess that I am the worst procrastinator in the world but if someone comes along and offers to do something WITH me I set to work with a will.

You are really getting to grips with your finances. Well done. When you have finished paying your loan off you will be used to doing without that money, so then you can carry on putting that sum of money into your savings.

Have a little bit of fun while you are off work, won't you? Life isn't all drudgery, but give yourself a set amount of money for fun and don't stray over that limit by 1p. There are loads of nice things you can do that cost little or nothing.

You are doing well Gemma. Good for you.

x

milasavesmoney

Good job on brows. Once you have a good brow line it's easy to keep it. Very MSE :money:

suki1964

A wee mse tip for eyebrows. Pick up a small x12 magnifying mirror - about £4. You can see the tiniest of hairs and can whip them out before they are noticeable to the naked eye. It's since I got one I've begrugged paying to get my brows done cos I can see all the ones they miss

gemmajenkins0208

Thank you all for the tips

I had to go into the city to get some new treads and clobber for work when I go back. Only managed to spend £20 altogether including my travel and I waited to have anything to eat until I got home

I did buy a cheap bottle of drink as I thought if anything I need hydration, and that was out of pocket change I had on me anyway

1 of the things I bought isn't quite what I thought it was in the shop so I will exchange that for the right thing whenever I'm in the area again.

maman

Sounds like you've had a very productive week gemma.:T

milasavesmoney wrote: »

Good job on brows. Once you have a good brow line it's easy to keep it. Very MSE :money:

I've managed to keep my eyebrows neat since the end of February when I last had them waxed. That's a bit of a record but I've seen it as a challenge.


I know what you mean about nails though. I've had my nails cut short and the shellac taken off to give them a rest. Last year my nails got really weak and flakey so I decided too much shellac isn't good for them. They're having a six week break and I'm using cuticle oil and handcream every day to pamper them. I can't wait to have them painted again and my eyebrows done. I'm going on holiday in a month so that's on my timetable.:)


Reading between the lines of your family meeting about the food, it sounds like a lot of processed stuff will still be on the menu. That's a shame especially if you want to lose weight. I'd suggest you look at the sample menus on the Slimming World website and see what lovely food you can eat which is also healthy and helps you lose weight.


Good on you for not eating out when you went into town. It'll be a good idea to carry a water bottle now that the weather's picking up but also because sometimes we can confuse feeling thirsty with being hungry so you're right to keep hydrated.


I'm pleased you're all setting aside money to pay off the loans although if these were your parents loans it's hardly fair (but I do understand you wanting to clear debts against your name and help them out). What was happening before? Was it just that your mum used any leftover 'rent' money to pay?


You've been lucky with the weather for your time off. Have you managed any fun?:)

Tiddlywinks

gemmajenkins0208 wrote: »

We all had a sit down the other day and discussed what foods we do and don't like. It may not be meal planning to the extent of you guys BUT it's a start. Mum now has a firm idea in her head of what to pick up not just when money is tight and she needs to get as little as possible while still feeding all of us, but when money isn't so tight and she can prepare some meals from scratch too.

We have all started to not just give rent, but also give my mum the money for each of our loans so she can ring up the office and pay them. For instance, I am on a waiver of £8 a week, so I gave mum £32 for the next 4 weeks out of my wages today, alongside the rent I usually give too.

Why is everything left for your mum to do?

Why can't your BF and your brother's GF get involved in the shopping and the meal preparations?

Also, it doesn't sound from the fact you say you all 'discussed what foods we do and don't like' and then added 'Mum now has a firm idea in her head of what to pick up not just when money is tight and she needs to get as little as possible while still feeding all of us, but when money isn't so tight and she can prepare some meals from scratch too'.

From what you've said, your mum still seems to have the impression that cooking from scratch is more expensive that pre-prepared stuff.

Add to that the fact that your mum is left to do all of this herself, nothing has really changed. You'll still be having the 'chips with everything' chicken nuggets etc that you've been eating 'til now.

It's good that you're still doing all the decluttering but the fundamentals are still the same so...???

maman

I picked up on the cooking from scratch comments too tiddlywinks. It seems a shame as gemma's mum was cooking from scratch when she was clearing the freezer so she sounds like a competent cook and Gemma is keen to have a go.
Gemma, I find a healthy way of eating is to have small portions of lean meat and fill up with loads of veg!

Tiddlywinks

maman wrote: »

Gemma, I find a healthy way of eating is to have small portions of lean meat and fill up with loads of veg!

Exactly, and the veggies would be an easy job for the others to prepare to take some of the chores from mum.

Also, pasta and rice are super cheap, filling and easy to prepare as well so the protein element (fish, meat etc) can be quite a small part of the meal.

suki1964

Truble is folks. Unless we do the WOW well done for not getting the full beauty treatment this month,we are acusaed of being harsh

Just want to say life is harsh and if a young lass want to moved forward to improve her lot and asks for help here, she may well get it, warts and all


For those slagging the ones actually offering encouragement and improvement , let's see what you have to offer


I post from my own experience. It's tough having sfa. It's hard to admit you need help. But sugar coating it just to stop hurt feelings is t going to do anyone any flavours