Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget.

lessonlearned

Hopefully The savings will be used to fund the "big adventures" such as bucket list trips or maybe go into a new car fund.

I know it might sound a bit anal but I do want to keep trying to save a bit. Ok £200 a month might be a tad optimistic over the long term but if my projections are right I should manage it till the end of March. Then I will review it again.

If I can't keep it up it doesn't really matter but I think it's good to have a goal. I'm quite target driven :rotfl: if I don't set myself targets and challenges then I drift.

Wednesday2000

lessonlearned wrote: »

Hi Wednesday. Was there something in particular you're interested in. What do you want to achieve.

I see you gave yourself a home facial. Face masks can be made from all sorts of ingredients you are likely to have in your kitchen. Just google and you'll get loads of recipes.

If you have a specific query then ask me on the Frump to Fab thread and either myself or the lovely ladies over there will be able to give you specific advice and tips on beauty matters.

If you prefer to use "commercial" masks you can still make your own by buying the ingredients in powder form and mixing your own, ie the various clays and minerals and mixing media. I buy minerals and powders off amazon. Boots used to sell them but not so much these days.

Home manicures, pedicures, waxing and defuzzing are straightforward enough. Just takes a bit if practice.

Tip......keep your nail varnish in the fridge - stops it going gloopy. And keep your perfumes, creams, oils etc in a dark cupboard.....never on a sunny window cill. They will go rancid very quickly. Kept in the dark oils will last for years......millennia even. :rotfl:

When the tombs were opened up in Egypt at the beginning of the 20th century the aromatherapy oils were still perfect. I am currently using some oils I bought in Egypt in 2002.

Another little tip for perfume which is too strong or overpowering. Just add some to some carrier oil or a non perfumed cream or lotion such as the E45 range .......hey presto you have a luxury oil or body lotion and will smell divine.

For carrier oils I like to use Grapeseed oil. It's pure and cheap. About £3 for 500 ml. You can use olive oil, in fact most Mediterranean women swear by the stuff for skin and haircare but I think it does smell a little. Grapeseed oil is odourless. Wheat germ oil is a nice carrier oil but expensive. If I use that then I restict it to facial oils.

If you are allergic to nuts then don't use nut oils.

Basically if you can't ingest something (say strawberry allergy) then don't put it on your skin.

I do buy Aztec clay from Amazon, but find it quite harsh sometimes.

Ooh, I will check out that thread. Frump to Fab. That has me written all over it!:o:D I know I have spoken to you on here about Fibro and I think the past few years have really aged me. People used to often ask me for ID when I was buying alcohol until I was about 35, now I don't get a second look.:o

I want to get into much more self care and taking care of my appearance now I feel a lot better healthwise.:)

lessonlearned

Wednesday......your lavender oil Mix should help with fibro. It's a muscle relaxant so should help with sore muscles and joint stiffness.

For anti aging and helping with fine lines and "stress face" try a mix of frankincense oil and rose oil in your almond oil base. neroli oil is lovely (smells of orange blossom) and mixes well with Frankinsense. (Don't put rose and neroli together, it's a waste).

Have you got one those electric or battery cleansing brushes. I have one I got from Aldi for £12. I've seen them on amazon. Mine has various "heads" - brushes for cleansing and massage nobbly type heads. I use the massage heads every day whilst I watching tv. It really stimulates the blood flow to the face, helps drain the lymph and gives the skin a lovely fresh glow. I,think it also softens lines and firms up the jaw line too.

Trying to massage your own face is quite difficult, it makes my arms ache (fibro) but those nifty little gadgets make it so much easier.

I also use it on my knees......it helps with my arthritis, again because massage helps stimulate blood flow which aids healing.

Wednesday2000

lessonlearned wrote: »

Have you got one those electric or battery cleansing brushes. I have one I got from Aldi for £12. I've seen them on amazon. Mine has various "heads" - brushes for cleansing and massage nobbly type heads. I use the massage heads every day whilst I watching tv. It really stimulates the blood flow to the face, helps drain the lymph and gives the skin a lovely fresh glow. I,think it also softens lines and firms up the jaw line too.

Trying to massage your own face is quite difficult, it makes my arms ache (fibro) but those nifty little gadgets make it so much easier.

I also use it on my knees......it helps with my arthritis, again because massage helps stimulate blood flow and healing.

Oh, that is much cheaper that the one I looked at. I might buy one, they do look like they would be good. In fact, I will look on Amazon now.:D

I saw a girl on YouTube using a jade roller on her face the other day but I thought that looked too hard.

humptydumptybits

I've got the dreaded MOT in December, Christmas week in fact not to mention taxing it. What terrible timing that is, I've got the house insurance due mid December. I really need to try and plan things better.

caronc

Oh I've not given myself a facial for ages and after a bout of the shingles recently my poor skin would probably appreciate it. I'm pretty sensitive to scents/scented oils and over the years my favourite is an olive oil/hot cloth cleanse followed by an oat & egg white mask. Cheap and easy to put together but works well for my skin.:)

lessonslearned, after I've paid my mortgage/bills and added to my various savings pots £180 is generally what I have left for food/social life/sundries per month. I find it very doable and sometimes don't use it all. It doesn't include any irregular costs, special social events, clothes,presents etc. which are included in my various pots. I definitely eat well and do the social things I want. If it feels like too much of a stretch even saving 1/3 would soon add up. I budget £30 per week for food & £15 for social stuff which is £195 per calendar month but in 4 week months I pop £15 into a savings accounts and pull it back in 5 week months IFYSWIM and saves the dreaded long month feeling...:)
No "champagne" moments today but did have a lovely catch up with my sister when she popped round earlier.:)

candygirl

humptydumptybits wrote: »

I've got the dreaded MOT in December, Christmas week in fact not to mention taxing it. What terrible timing that is, I've got the house insurance due mid December. I really need to try and plan things better.

Get on compare the market! I got both my house n car insurance so much cheaper, n got the Meerkat cinema n meals deals

lessonlearned

Caronc......thanks for that. I think I can do it. As you say I can reduce the savings if necessary. But my plan is to "save and splurge" not to just save indefinitely.

I think it's easier to save if you know you are saving for a specific purpose, especially if it's for something nice. :rotfl:

doingitanyway

It is such a treat enjoying all your posts and getting new ideas.:)
I work part time so I don’t have a great deal of money but love the work-life balance.

I had a facial at the training college this past week for £12 A treat yes, but in future I will do it myself as it wasn’t anything I couldn’t do. Next week I am trying a manicure at the college (also £12) I rarely do them myself.:o

I am a fan of a £3 day time film (includes tea and coffee) and saw The Children’s Act this week and it was excellent.

I too will be joining you in your restricted budget for a month Lessonlearned. I will use £200 a month to cover all my discretionary spending. Caronc seems to manage perfectly well.

I am going on a 4 month sabbatical in 18 days so I will have a little less and I also want to overpay my council tax so I am council tax free when I start my sabbatical. I think £180-£200 is doable. Maybe I am being over optimistic. We shall see

Have a sparkling week everyone

doingitanyway

Oh, forgot to say Lid1 have half bottles of champagne for £7.99. I find Ald1 and Ld1 fizz quite acceptable For those of us who live alone they are great for a treat if you have a visitor and want to have a little sparkle with nibbles. Or I use a champagne saver top to have a glass for a treat and another glass another time