Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget.

silverspirit

I have been following the person on the cruise, I am a lurker no less, stepping tentatively into the light. Never been on a cruise and am loving what I read. Maybe something to aim for, need to save

Graciefields

Hi, I’ve been a lurker and have now read the thread from beginning to end. Some great ideas and nice to know I’m not alone.
I recently retired due to Ill Health but not on an Ill Health pension. I took early retirement so my income has more than halved. I have still got a mortgage that I am paying for which is in negative equity due to my horrid divorce some years ago. I have taken in a lodger which I don’t really like as I am now set in my ways and like my own company but needs must. He’s out at work most of the day anyway and stays in his room most of the time when home.
I own my car outright and it’s about 4yrs old. I have joined the Grocery challenge and aim for £25 per week for me and my dog. I do play golf but already have all the equipment so it’s just the cost of membership and a bit of socialising.
I do like nice coffee and splashed out recently on a Delonghi Coffee machine which I got for half price on Amazon £99. I’ve been using the Ese pods which are great. I will experiment at some point with some grains.
For the first year of retirement I was very happy and felt very relieved. But recently I have been feeling isolated and am suffering from anxiety. I’m not sure why I’m suffering from anxiety but I think it’s the fear of what the future holds and financial worries. I keep waking in the night with a feeling of dread and thinking to myself, “Is this it” I don’t think I could live with anyone again as a partner as I have become quite set in my ways and was never really good in relationships. I;m in my early 50’s and have a grown up son. My parents are both alive and in good health for now. I do not have any more family and I only have a few friends but none that I am very close to.
So I have decided things have to change. I need to work on myself and I need to start living a little but within budget. This thread has given me some great ideas already and I’m going to also have a look at the Frump to Fab thread because I have definitely become a Frump and a Grump. I’m even going to look at a cruise for next year. I’m going to be very frugal so that I can have my Champagne moments. Cheers.

jackieblack

Graciefields wrote: »

For the first year of retirement I was very happy and felt very relieved. But recently I have been feeling isolated and am suffering from anxiety. I’m not sure why I’m suffering from anxiety but I think it’s the fear of what the future holds and financial worries. I keep waking in the night with a feeling of dread and thinking to myself, “Is this it” I don’t think I could live with anyone again as a partner as I have become quite set in my ways and was never really good in relationships. I;m in my early 50’s

Not wanting to get personal, but anxiety is a common (and normal) symptom of menopause ...

Siebrie

Graciefields, I lost my job last month, and enjoyed the first three weeks, until last week, when a big black gaping hole seemed to open up in front of me. I remembered what I had been told by friends with depression, and by a speaker at a 'burn out' information evening: set yourself a rigid schedule (including at least two halfhours of silence and repose), clear and clean your surroundings, get outside for at least 30 minutes per day, connect with people. So, I walked outside for 30 minutes, scrubbed the bathroom for four hours (including tiles and grout), facetimed my parents, and accepted an invite to an acquaintance's 40th (my gift will be a bottle of champagne I was gifted by my boss last year; I don't drink bubbly wine). None of this costs me anything, and it does make me feel better.

humptydumptybits

Siebrie wrote: »

Graciefields, I lost my job last month, and enjoyed the first three weeks, until last week, when a big black gaping hole seemed to open up in front of me. I remembered what I had been told by friends with depression, and by a speaker at a 'burn out' information evening: set yourself a rigid schedule (including at least two halfhours of silence and repose), clear and clean your surroundings, get outside for at least 30 minutes per day, connect with people. So, I walked outside for 30 minutes, scrubbed the bathroom for four hours (including tiles and grout), facetimed my parents, and accepted an invite to an acquaintance's 40th (my gift will be a bottle of champagne I was gifted by my boss last year; I don't drink bubbly wine). None of this costs me anything, and it does make me feel better.

I think I need to go to Specsavers. I read burn out as bum out and was thinking that sounded a funny information evening :rotfl:

Siebrie

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

An evening like that would have cheered me up no end, good for many happy memories!

humptydumptybits

Maybe we should arrange a bum out meeting, just the thought of it has made me laugh.

doingitanyway

I have a catering college near to me where they have people like Marcus Waring supporting the students. Very fine dining and carefully sourced produce. I took a friend there last year and she dines at posh restaurants and still thought it was the best meal she had eaten that year.

I took another friend for Christmas lunch last year and it was a great success.

Now I am off on sabbatical this will be my treat place when I need to dine out.:)

Today I booked for another friend for next week instead of a Christmas present. It is run as a social enterprise. The students are delightful and the food amazing. I like that I feel I am contributing to something bigger than an owners profit margins. The good news is the price is £12 for an exceptional 3 course meal. :money:

Champagne living on a lemonade budget indeed

doingitanyway

Graciefields wrote: »

So I have decided things have to change. I need to work on myself and I need to start living a little but within budget. This thread has given me some great ideas already and I’m going to also have a look at the Frump to Fab thread because I have definitely become a Frump and a Grump. I’m even going to look at a cruise for next year. I’m going to be very frugal so that I can have my Champagne moments. Cheers.

Good for you Graciefields :T:T

doingitanyway

Siebrie wrote: »

set yourself a rigid schedule (including at least two halfhours of silence and repose), clear and clean your surroundings, get outside for at least 30 minutes per day, connect with people. So, I walked outside for 30 minutes, scrubbed the bathroom for four hours (including tiles and grout), facetimed my parents, and accepted an invite to an acquaintance's 40th (my gift will be a bottle of champagne I was gifted by my boss last year; I don't drink bubbly wine). None of this costs me anything, and it does make me feel better.

I love this advice