Starting to face up to it all

chevalier

Maybe you could lend you dress to Oberon.....?!

fc123

Hi both.......it feels bad looking at it added up but deep down one kind of always knew..........with the new thrifty spending budget, I started with the obvious things like the cleaner.
I added up the take aways, sky +, costa coffees, waxing, pret a manger lunches, hair etc etc and i think it came to around an embarrassing £1000 - £1500 + per month.

We reduced loads of stuff straight away and as each thing became a habit, it just became normal.

I remember doing the bathroom cupboard "challenge"...using up everything (all those gifts of bubble bth etc)...........always thought i had really sensitive skin (the cheaper coloured stuff brings me up in a rash) , so spent a fortune on delicate products....discovered that Asda smart price (always bottom shelf in white bottles, green writing) has NO nasty colourings etc and is fantastic...up there with Aveda in performance.

As you go through the list and start planning a budget, don't feel deprived...but see it as a further step to freedom...took me 3 yrs to NOT feel deprived. Now the absence of an Indian takeout on Friday is a relief, as no dodgy tummy on Sat. am.

With friends...some are odd when one starts to say "no, we can't afford to do that" and others are cool about it.........oh! you can't afford a meal out, come over to ours, we'll cook....just as much fun in the end.

We did have an incident of a big posh private view in London followed by a meal out for 25 people.....usually the bill is split equally...i e-mailed prior that we would prefer our own bill for 2 as we knew people were going who order £80 bottles of wine and eat like there's a famine coming (and only the finest fillet )....she dismissed it (as she earns £100 per hour and has no empathy for those that don't) and didn't acknowkedge my request...consequently, we went but didn't go to the meal afterwards, which annoyed her as she "really wanted our company".........................and we felt REALLY empowered as before we would have just given in, spent a mountain of £££££££££ that we would have to worry about another time.

Anyhow, cut the obvious first, then start being ruthless as you go along.

Ebay the frock??....my wedding dress is in the loft of our family home (that we now rent out) and has been for 20yrs.....it needs another 15years before it qualifies as vintage...but it is currently worth £0.

££ in the hand is worth more than frock in the loft.....


good luck