Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget.

PipneyJane

lessonlearned wrote: »

Ooh that sounds great.

I know feelings can sometimes run high with issues like pensions but really I can't see the point in endlessly going over and over the same old ground. I don't believe in fretting over situations over which we have no control. It just depletes our energy and wastes time which could be better spent in trying to improve our situation.

It's like constantly picking a scab and never allowing it to heal. (Sorry if that's too graphic rotfl:).

My modus operandi is to take control and change what I can change and to accept with good grace that which cannot be changed and over which I have no control.

It might sound naff and rather trite but I really do believe that there are very few clouds that don't have a silver lining. All we need to do is seek them out. I genuinely believe Looking back over past mistakes and wrong turnings we have taken in life is defeatist, futile and a complete waste of time.

Ok some of us have been shortchanged with pensions and yes some of us have had curved balls like death, divorce, redundancy and Ill health thrown at us, but we are here and we are still standing. Maybe bloody and bowed but not beaten yet.:rotfl:

With courage, fortitude, open hearts and minds, a bit of hard work and a dash of imagination we can circumnavigate most obstacles in our path.

And if I can't get over them then by golly I'll get round them......

.

I'm normally a lurker here, but Lessonslearned, can I adopt you as my new Big Sister? I totally agree with your sentiments and your attitude to life. My own philosophy is to prepare for the worst and hope for the best, so that I can just relax and enjoy myself whatever happens.

To me, there's no point dwelling on the "might have beens". That's just a route to lacerating old wounds and emotional self-harm. Learn what you can from your experiences and move on because if you don't, you'll be so wrapped up in making yourself feel bad about the "if only's" that you'll miss the golden opportunities for good experiences that life presents you.

Oh, and be kind. The b@st@rds aren't out to get you - they're just having a bad day.

- Pip

lessonlearned

Hi Pip. Glad you've come out of lurkdom. Yeah you can be my baby sis.

I agree Life is for living. I'm done with mourning and grieving. Enough.:D time to look to the future.

My husband was the love of my life and I shall always carry him in my heart, but I can't live in the past. It's time to step out into the light and start really living again.

Time for some fun.

pollypenny

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

But they are personal choice to have them - ever since the 1970's. To some extent before then - ie my mothers choice not to have any and it was the 1950s resulted in two children. If she'd been born in my era - she wouldnt have had any - but 1950s technology and law hadnt quite advanced to 1970s onwards level at that point in history.

One thing in life I am very thankful for - being born at an era where I came of age in the 1970s meant I chose not to have any and therefore didn't have any.

Not a personal choice to need to buy a house for instance - more a necessity and I could have done with half the married persons tax allowance and something instead of child benefit for one of the two children I could have had and that would have helped me buy my necessity (ie my house).

Oh dear, money.

Surely you realise that the married person's allowance stemmed from the days when the husband was expected to support the family.

In most areas, there were few employment opportunities for women, and less child care if there were jobs. If the wife had a job the husband lost the allowance.

humptydumptybits

I got my SRP at 64 years 10 months so yes I suppose I did "miss out" but pointless worrying about it. I was pleased when I got the letter as my pension was a bit more than I was expecting, just a few pounds but better than a few pounds less, and I feel very well off with it now. I worked till I was 63, had to give up then as being a carer and a demanding job was just too much. At 65 I still do a bit of consulting work and some on line selling, only amounts to £5 or £6k a year but useful anyway.


We are so lucky in this country, nothing is perfect but we should concentrate on the positive, constantly moaning just pulls us down so is very self defeating. I could moan about being married to a strong 6ft man with a good job and then finding myself as the wage earner and carer and hands on parent but what is the point? I've managed it for nearly 30 years and am lucky that I have a close family and my children and DsIL let me enjoy lots of love and fun with my grandchildren. What is the point of adding up what I "lost" by the delay in pension?


I have a nice clean oven, all my Christmas presents bought, paid for and wrapped and this morning I've put up the Christmas tree with the only cloud on the horizon being a blood test tomorrow. I'm not afraid of needles but I have bad veins and I will end up black and blue by the time they get the blood out but I am lucky that it is free and I don't have to worry about that, all my meds are free so what does a bruise matter, it will be gone by Christmas.


Thinking about it I bruise badly and someone has recommended Bromelain, anyone tried it? I've never found arnica much help. I might buy a bottle and give it a go.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

joedenise wrote: »

humptydumptybits - I use Boots own brand moisturiser - they do one for normal/dry skin and one for greasy skin.

This is a cheap one and they often have it on offer for 3 for £3 which makes it even more good value. I've been using it for years now and have found it really good.

I have been using Boots' own brand moisturiser since I was a student (20 years ago...); the cucumber scented one in the green tub. It seems much lighter and fresher than the more expensive fancily packaged creams. And as it's so cheap, if it doesn't suit your skin after a trial, it's not the end of the world.

Graciefields

Lessonlearned, I’ve also cleaned my bedroom, changed the bedding and cleared some clutter from it. I have a chest of drawers in the spare room that I need to empty so that I can get rid of them and make more space. I have drawn inspiration from your post and will tackle it today.
I went to Iceland with my son around 3yrs ago in around November time. It was magical, I would like to revisit in the summer. Cruise could be an option. I didn’t realise they did cruises to Iceland, will have to research. My fake-away was delicious, I’ve been watching the John Torode, Middle East series which gave me the inspiration to make keema lamb with peas, and my own simple flatbreads. Cheap easy and tasty. More pennies for my cruise.

Sayschezzat, thanks for the info I will check out the Arcadia.

My Champagne moment this morning was taking the dog out for a walk around the river and for the first time ever I managed to see the elusive Kingfisher, Made my morning.
I've made my point about pensions etc and don't need to labour it. Totally agree with your comments on this Lessonlearned. This thread is inspirational, keep the champagne moments coming.

Now on to that pesky chest of drawers.

happyandcontented

I think a positive outlook is priceless. It helps you see past the trivialities of life, see the good in others and count your blessings. Nothing is perfect, but if you look around you can see people coping with all kinds of adversity and they are usually the most positive as they know they have a choice, sit in the corner and cry or get on with it.

My friend is dying of cancer and she missed out on her pension as the goal posts were moved. It is very unlikely she will ever collect it, but she is grabbing each day and wringing as much joy from it as possible.

In the scheme of things harbouring resentment for imagined 'losses' or a perceived bias towards your demographic is fruitless, time-consuming, embittering and ultimately alienating. Live each day as if it were your last, one day you will be right. That might sound trite, and perhaps it is, it doesn't make it any less true.

joedenise

Out,_Vile_Jelly wrote: »

I have been using Boots' own brand moisturiser since I was a student (20 years ago...); the cucumber scented one in the green tub. It seems much lighter and fresher than the more expensive fancily packaged creams. And as it's so cheap, if it doesn't suit your skin after a trial, it's not the end of the world.

I use the blue moisturiser as I never feel as though my skin has been moisturised with the green cucumber one. But as you say definitely worth trying both to see if either suits as it's so cheap.

I love the fact that some people look on life so positively. I try to be like that. There's absolutely no point in worrying about the past. We need to count our blessings every day.

Denise

lessonlearned

Have I woken up in Spain. :rotfl: it's glorious here.

I am sat here on my patio just about to have lunch al fresco......in December. Now if that doesn't count as a champagne moment then I don't know what does. :rotfl:

Ok I have a fur throw over my knees and am wearing a nice thick coatigan but hey it's outside right. Soaking up the rays and getting a bit of extra vitamin D.

I've flung the windows open to air the house up. Later I shall warm up the house by cooking a nice hearty sausage casserole in the oven that works. :rotfl:

I've had my acupuncture and my knee is as sore as hell, never mind a perfect excuse to take it easy and wrap the rest of the Christmas presents whilst watching a cheesy Christmas film. I love them. The soppier the better.

Right time to prepare my lunch. In honour of the occasion......tapas and a glass of something nice.

joedenise

Sounds a great lunch to me LL!

Weather was awful here this morning but really bright sunshine at the moment. Just hoping that the washing dries but if it doesn't it'll be finished off in the tumble dryer - still cheaper than not trying to line dry first!

Denise