Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget.

candygirl

LL I kept dozing off too, not a very inspiring film was it?:rotfl:

sugarbaby125

chanie wrote: »

There is one in Croydon, Valley Retail Park, which is where IKEA is. It is called JRC Global Buffet, but it used to be a Cosmo (I still call it Cosmo). There is also a Cosmo in Romford.

I know neither Croydon or Romford are technically not London........

Thank you Chanie, Croydon and Romford are too far, it is ironically much faster for me to get to Reading. The one in Reading is a great design, spotlessly clean and has such a vast array of very high quality food, that even after 3 visits a year apart, I have not come close to even tasting all the dishes on offer from 2 sections of the buffet.

DundeeDoll

lessonlearned wrote: »

Same with my sensodyne toothpaste. (Unfortunately it has to be sensodyne, it's the only one that works for me).
......

I agree, it's about being thoughtful about our spending choices, rather than just always going for the cheaper option. That said, i don't know if the sensodyne is due to personal or medical choice. after a bout of lichen planus i was recommended to use toothpaste without SLSs. i was thrilled to find Lidl toothpaste is. However, it comes in >100ml and i had one, albeit nearly empty, confiscated at city airport. i now use sensodyne when i'm travelling cos i can get that in smaller tubes. Result

ska_lover

Champagne moment this morning for me

On the way to work, was feeling a bit down. Last night we uncovered what is going to be a very costly repair on our house, which will likely take up all of our week off next week, and beyond

We had already booked next week off work, to attempt a few fun things, cinema or a meal out eg - but this repair has blown the time and budget for such things for next week at least

Anyway I was driving along pondering all this, and the impending four hour long meeting I have this afternoon and feeling rather sorry for myself...when I stopped to give way to a gent, so he could cross the road - who turned and gave me the most beaming smile as thanks

Such a genuinely happy smile... to a stranger. I don't see that often here in this big city. Most folk don't even make eye contact with strangers really

I know it isn't a regular type champagne moment, but it did truly make me feel happy and if i could have hugged the gent, I would have

It perked me, it truly did. I smiled to myself all the way to work after.

lessonlearned

My new challenge.....is Optimistic October.....but more of that later.

Ska lover....sorry to hear about your unexpected repairs. There's always something isn't there. No wonder you felt a bit down, especially on such a filthy morning.

However, a beaming smile of thanks and gratitude from a complete stranger is indeed a champagne moment. How lovely and how wonderful that it lifted your spirits and completely changed your outlook for the day.

Now I don't want to come all over as boring Little Miss Goody Twoshoes but I am a huge believer in concepts such as Karma, RAKs and Paying It Forward.

(RAKs. Random Acts of Kindness).

For the most part an RAK costs nothing but the benefits and rewards are unbelievable, not just to the recipient who is usually happily astonished and grateful and whose face lights up with a smile but also to the giver who gets a rosy glow of satisfaction. Never underestimate the rush of endorphins you get and the feel good factor from helping someone or being kind and generous.

Gawd I sound like Lady Bountiful :rotfl: but I always think it costs me nothing to be kind, considerate and generous with my time, to be gracious to the people who serve me and look after me, and even if my RAK costs me a little money sometimes, then what the hell ....I can afford it.

Same with Karma.....we reap as we sow, the universe always repays. And Paying It Forward.....well if we do something nice for others then perhaps they will pass that spirit of kindness and generosity of spirit on to the people they encounter.

Anyway. Ska...it ties in nicely with my theme and goals for this month, which I have christened Optimistic October.

My goal this month is to banish those melancholy moments where I miss my husband and start to feel sorry for myself. I need to give them short shrift and not allow myself to descend into gloom and despondency. If I feel them hovering then I will do something positive and constructive and not allow myself to wallow in a pity party for one. He would hate me doing that. He died, I didn't. C'est la Vie.

I need to live a good life as much for him as for myself, not fritter mine away in misery.

So.....instead of fretting about money and worrying what the future might hold for me I have resolved to DO SOMETHING. And that something is to start paying down my mortgage and increase my savings (whilst living a champagne lifestyle of course). :rotfl:

Action is always better than sitting around moping, giving into worry and feelings of overwhelm.

My target is a £200 per month mortgage overpayment and whatever I can add to my savings, to put towards a nice holiday and some fun stuff. £100 would be nice.

As yet I haven't a clue how on earth I am going to achieve this .........:rotfl:

October is actually an easy one because I get three lots of State Pension this month instead of 2. I have resolved that I shall not dip into that or let it get swallowed up in my usual budget. It's actually next month that the real challenge will bite and finding the extra money will start to get more difficult.

Anyway I have joined the make £10 a day challenge and set myself a target of £200 this month, that's in addition to the extra State Pension.

Going to start with slashing my housekeeping budget. Hopefully a nice easy win.

Let the games begin........;)

candygirl

Optimistic Oct, I bloody love it :T it's my Birthday month, n usually get a little bit excited, but with the family issues, I won't be having a massive blow out We're going to a Bowie tribute gig on Sat, with a meal before hand, so that should be a blast
LL keep the mantra going , cos I admit I'm a bit of a misery at the mo , with a few issues going on .Could be a lot worse though

ska_lover

I have started on that survey website (during my breaks at work) and listed a few items on t'ebay today, maybe they may make a couple of quid - mainly clothes I have outgrown

lessonlearned

Just back from the cinema.....saw Downton again. Indulged in a honeycomb ice-cream. :rotfl: didn't bother going for a drink afterwards, it is such a filthy night.

I'm curled up, nice and cosy, watching Escape to The Chateau. Love that programme. D I c k Strawbridge and Angel something or other doing up a dilapidated French chateau. They are amazing - so talented and creative.

Candy.....ooh a Bowie tribute sounds fab. I loved Bowie. Even my mum rated him. She called him "classy".

Sorry to hear you are still feeling down in the dumps. Sending a dodgy :grouphug:

Not long now till your holiday.....I think you need it. I'm well jell. :rotfl:

candygirl

lessonlearned wrote: »

Just back from the cinema.....saw Downton again. Indulged in a honeycomb ice-cream. :rotfl: didn't bother going for a drink afterwards, it is such a filthy night.

I'm curled up, nice and cosy, watching Escape to The Chateau. Love that programme. D I c k Strawbridge and Angel something or other doing up a dilapidated French chateau. They are amazing - so talented and creative.

Candy.....ooh a Bowie tribute sounds fab. I loved Bowie. Even my mum rated him. She called him "classy".

Sorry to hear you are still feeling down in the dumps. Sending a dodgy :grouphug:

Not long now till your holiday.....I think you need it. I'm well jell. :rotfl:

Mum's coming with us, She loves a bit of Bozz:rotfl: Am feeling slightly relieved tonight, as have just done my Indian 5 year visa, with help from a friend.Talk about a lot of faffing around, but it'll be so worth it

lessonlearned

Ooh sounds fab.

Big champagne moment. Just managed to save £294 on my car insurance. Wahoo. :rotfl:

And the sun is shining. What's not to like. .

Aiming to get out in the garden when it warms up a bit. In the meantime going to make a banana cake before the bananas go over.

Batch cooking going well, going to do a batch of chicken korma today. Freezer filling up nicely with home cooked ready meals.

Made some porridge this morning......fab on a chilly morning, lunch will be a frittata using up some sad veggies lurking at the bottom of the fridge but with Parmesan for some oomph. Lol. Still want to eat tasty food even if it's just scraps and leftovers.

Going all out with the frugal kitchen so I can save, save, save. Overpay the mortgage and bump up the "Fun Account". Aiming for at least 15 NSDs - don't count entertainment, just food and "stuff".

Optimistic October is off to a good start.