Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget.

Wednesday2000

Optimistic October - I'm in!:A

OMG the weather yesterday when I went out to meet my friend in south London! It was pouring with rain and thunder and lightning. I did have a lovely time though. My friend said I looked like I have lost a lot of weight since he saw me a few months ago.

It is beautiful weather today, bright and sunny with a hint of a chill in the air.

I have a nice red and black wrap dress (from a chazzer) that I really like although it is getting a bit big on me. I don't really like the length either so I just took it to be altered. Less than £10 to get a "new" dress.:T

twopenny

Loved reading the original post, really impressed by the determination.
Looking for holidays that are a cut above? It's something I've been doing for years and I travel solo. Maybe not champagne lifestyle but did get some of that on a little island on one trip by sheer cheek.
Research and a lot of plodding till you could scream can be one way. It does pay off. Keep looking, know what you want and if it doesn't come up the 98th time it will 99th - often.
If you want it all taken care of keep trawling the reliable sites of an evening, look for last minute deals. These can be as long as 10 weeks before departure if you need to make arrangements.
Ask at a High street travel agent what is available on offer. They have the ability to bring up last minute deals where hotels want to fill rooms.

Certain airports are cheaper than others. Can you get yourself to another airport if train and overnight hotel are much less than the saving.
Relocation cruises if you want the trip more than where you're visiting.

I've had a £1200 holiday for £650 including 2 big trips and a £1200 for £345 because I travelled home on Christmas Day, both in 4* hotels with all included among others. The trip to Australia I booked a flat beachside and airline tickets through a High Street agent. Buses and transfers I found online. While there I booked through the local Tourist Information centre for trips and got some discount vouchers and freebies included because I'd emailed them from home.
Some others have been 3 weeks in Borneo, another trip to Oz and a 2 week trip in a dive boat around deserted islands in the Maldives over Christmas and New Year. If you don't want the frills there are some great islands at great prices. The location is the same and it's often friendlier, more enjoyable for the solo traveller, than the high end.

Don't know if this has given you some ideas but I hope so, it is possible. I do get exasperated sometimes from the constant investigating but it's all worth it in the end :-)
And I also learned to check the reviews for everything. The one time I didn't and trusted friends was the only trip that was dreadful. The rest were all great. Hope there's some ideas here

Dannii75

OK so my ex-bf/ lodger is moving out tomorrow & I'm getting my house back to just me... ah the peace & quiet .... & nobody sat there picking their nose (he's 50 btw! ugh!!!). I also need to spend all of Saturday cleaning his room/ the bathroom ... absolutely filthy!
I'm thinking of having a cheap treat weekend (post-cleaning), so far on my list I have a bottle of Prosecco & truffles from Lidl, possibly a facemask. Any other lovely ideas? send them my way!

sugarbaby125

On Tuesday I took my sister J, my daughter and my son for a 2 course Caribbean meal with cocktails at Leiland restaurant. I used a Groupon I had previously bought for £37.40 which saved me £98.20 compared to paying the menu prices on the day. :T

All 4 of us really enjoyed our meals. For our starter, my sister J and I had saltfish fritters, tartar sauce and salad, my daughter and son had fried peppered steak with African spices with salad leaves and pepper sauce. For our mains my son and I had jerk chicken, rice and peas and salad, my sister J had curry goat, rice & peas and salad, my daughter had steak, hand cut twice fried chips and salad. :j

My sister J and I had a Mojito cocktail and my daughter and son had a Tequila Sunrise cocktail

My sister J and I then stayed in the restaurant after we had our meal for Karaoke. We both sang 3 songs each, then we left Karaoke early. My sister was feeling tired and she wanted to get her packing done. :cool:

My Champagne moment yesterday evening was going to Karaoke. I had a really enjoyable, fun evening. I sang 4 of my usual songs and I sang I will Survive by Gloria Gaynor for the 1st time in public. :j:D

ska_lover

Champagne moment today - getting my hair done. Those pesky *sparkles* are starting to show through, so it will be a relief

Although I have never been one for pampering - it is sitting in a chair for a couple of hours gets on my wick, if I am honest. Do I want to sit and read a crusty magazine about celebs? Not really no - but hey its a means to an end hahaha

Happy Thursday all x

lessonlearned

Good morning everyone

Twopenny.....hello and welcome. - some great ideas for travel. Thanks for that, sounds like you found some great bargains.

Danni....hello and welcome. Well I'm not sure whether to commiserate on the end of your relationship or to congratulate you for getting rid of what sounds like a right liability. :rotfl: sounds like he had some decidedly dodgy personal habits in the hygiene department. Nose picking would put me right off .......:rotfl:

Sounds like you have got some nice ideas for this weekend -a thorough clean to "wash that man right of your hair". If you are too young to remember it's a song from the musical South Pacific, rather appropriate for you.;)

Then a bit of serious pampering..how about giving your self a manicure, painting your toenails....I love to paint my toenails. Chinese red. Lol. So decadent and Hollywood movie star......always cheers me up to see them. Who cares if I'm the only one who sees them.....it's the same as wearing nice undies. It makes me feel good to know that even if I'm wearing just a pair of jeans and sensible sweater - underneath I'm a goddess!!! :rotfl:

What else??? Whatever you feel like doing, it's your home and your life. You can now live how you want, eat what you want, watch what you want on the tv, listen to music, dance round the kitchen.

I would start by buying some flowers ......reclaim your space and make it your own again. Just potter about and enjoy. Go out if it's nice, or stay home if your prefer. Whatever pleases YOU. You are now free to do the things YOU love. Did you stop doing things because he didn't like them........if so now is the time to rediscover yourself.......it's your time. Have fun.

SUgarbaby....sounds like of fun.

Ska lover....I too used hate having my hair being coloured - I really resented the time it took. Now I have mine cut every so often and it takes around an hour. That's long enough. I ended up taking my own book, can't stand those trashy mags full of D list celebs.

lessonlearned

Well I have had some pretty good champagne moments.

On Wednesday I enjoyed the sunshine. I filled my house with flowers cut from my garden.... big bunches of dahlias are now dotted around my home. Fab and free.....what's not to like.

Yesterday was brilliant on the finance front......I went into the city and browsed the chazzers. Called into the everything's £ Cancer Research and the Everything's £2 Air Ambulance - I spent a total of £20 and ended up with a bagful of warm winter skirts, sweaters, a pair of jeans and a nice leather handbag. Having lost almost 3 stones I was very low on winter clothing but that's me set up for the cold weather.

Then I checked my current account to see if all the direct debits etc had gone though ok. I expected to have about £300 in there, turns out I had over £1k......not quite sure how I managed that but needless to say I'm dead chuffed.

That will bump up my savings nicely.

I'm off to acupuncture this morning....not exactly a champagne moment because the treatment can be rather uncomfortable but my knee will be grateful afterwards. Definitely worth a few minutes of discomfort.

Dannii75

lessonlearned wrote: »

Good morning everyone

Twopenny.....hello and welcome. - some great ideas for travel. Thanks for that, sounds like you found some great bargains.

Danni....hello and welcome. Well I'm not sure whether to commiserate on the end of your relationship or to congratulate you for getting rid of what sounds like a right liability. :rotfl: sounds like he had some decidedly dodgy personal habits in the hygiene department. Nose picking would put me right off .......:rotfl:

Sounds like you have got some nice ideas for this weekend -a thorough clean to "wash that man right of your hair". If you are too young to remember it's a song from the musical South Pacific, rather appropriate for you.;)

Then a bit of serious pampering..how about giving your self a manicure, painting your toenails....I love to paint my toenails. Chinese red. Lol. So decadent and Hollywood movie star......always cheers me up to see them. Who cares if I'm the only one who sees them.....it's the same as wearing nice undies. It makes me feel good to know that even if I'm wearing just a pair of jeans and sensible sweater - underneath I'm a goddess!!! :rotfl:

What else??? Whatever you feel like doing, it's your home and your life. You can now live how you want, eat what you want, watch what you want on the tv, listen to music, dance round the kitchen.

I would start by buying some flowers ......reclaim your space and make it your own again. Just potter about and enjoy. Go out if it's nice, or stay home if your prefer. Whatever pleases YOU. You are now free to do the things YOU love. Did you stop doing things because he didn't like them........if so now is the time to rediscover yourself.......it's your time. Have fun.

SUgarbaby....sounds like of fun.

Ska lover....I too used hate having my hair being coloured - I really resented the time it took. Now I have mine cut every so often and it takes around an hour. That's long enough. I ended up taking my own book, can't stand those trashy mags full of D list celebs.

Definitely a time to celebrate!!! Like you say, a liability! I had no idea he was going to turn into a sloth! he was not the man I met! The moment he moved in he completely changed! Anyway, good riddance!!! Yes, I WILL wash him out of my hair! Thank You! You reminded me that my mum gave me a voucher for a pedi - Chinese red here I come! I was saving it for an emergency treat, I think this counts!
Yes, there's a new Nick Cave album out today so I'll pop that on this evening by candlelight without having to listen to 80s hip-hop in the background!
I am going to have a wonderful weekend, just me & my lovely dog!

Dannii75

lessonlearned wrote: »

Well I have had some pretty good champagne moments.

On Wednesday I enjoyed the sunshine. I filled my house with flowers cut from my garden.... big bunches of dahlias are now dotted around my home. Fab and free.....what's not to like.

Yesterday was brilliant on the finance front......I went into the city and browsed the chazzers. Called into the everything's £ Cancer Research and the Everything's £2 Air Ambulance - I spent a total of £20 and ended up with a bagful of warm winter skirts, sweaters, a pair of jeans and a nice leather handbag. Having lost almost 3 stones I was very low on winter clothing but that's me set up for the cold weather.

Then I checked my current account to see if all the direct debits etc had gone though ok. I expected to have about £300 in there, turns out I had over £1k......not quite sure how I managed that but needless to say I'm dead chuffed.

That will bump up my savings nicely.

I'm off to acupuncture this morning....not exactly a champagne moment because the treatment can be rather uncomfortable but my knee will be grateful afterwards. Definitely worth a few minutes of discomfort.

Great idea! I have echinacea & lavender... a few small roses on their last legs too in my garden, I'll cut them & pop some around the house.

£1k that's a tidy amount! good for you!

'enjoy' your acupuncture, I've had it a few times & agree with you, it's worth the discomfort!

Cheerio for now

lessonlearned

Another champagne moment......well two actually. Currently sat in my kitchen, sipping a cuppa and feeling super toasty because I've got the oven on baking a banana cake. Smells yummy. Tbh I'm not much of a baker but sometimes I just enjoy playing at being a domestic goddess.

The other champagne moment......my acupuncture Dr gave me a lovely compliment. Looked me up and down and said how well I had done to lose weight, that I looked really healthy and that he liked my style. Apart from shoes, undies and tights, I was clothed in chazza shop bargains.

The whole enesemble, including coat and bag cost around £15. :rotfl:

There was a time when a compliment like that would have had me squirming in embarrassment. I would feel so uncomfortable that I would have felt compelled to admit that my clothes were "bargains". The poor person complimenting me would then be embarrassed too.

But I have finally learned to accept compliments at face value. Now I simply smile graciously and thank the person. They needn't know I'm "Secondhand Rose". :rotfl: