Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget.

moneyistooshorttomention

LL - you and me both on the decluttering and sending things to charity shops etc front.

I decided a while ago that one of the things I would do in the winters here is that's when I'd springclean/etc. So I've started on the springcleaning - the bathroom now looks pretty much brand new again (though not yet figured out what is going to make the grout between my huge tiles look brand new, as opposed to "a lot better than they did").

Now springcleaning the kitchen and re-organising my larder whilst on the subject - ooops to how long I've had some of the stuff (ie I can see a spare packet of lentils is from Waitrose - in other words it's over 5 years old then - as there aren't any Waitrose shops anywhere remotely near me now:o).

It's all starting to look so logical now that I've got time/mindspace to think about it. My idea of how my home should be is "I don't know if I've got x - but, if I have, then it will be right there logically-speaking" and I can locate it to within a few inches. I like things to be "time and motion conscious/ultra-logical". It wouldn't suit many I know:rotfl:. I commented to a friend of mine here recently that it's struck me I don't have any pictures or ornaments at all in my home - and she just went "Y...e...s:cool:":rotfl:. But I personally find it useful - and hence I knew I owned some booze when I moved here - as I knew that "If I had it - it would be in that room, in that space" and had identified where it was to within inches when I decluttered prior to moving here. Made it easy when my removers stole it and I had to charge them for it - when I paid them extra to do my packing for me when I moved here:rotfl:

Some "hobby stuff" has been gifted to a friend and other "hobby stuff" is packed up ready to go to a charity shop.

Have spent time figuring out "external to my house" stuff and got some sort of idea how to explain how to find a house now to my visitors - eg "This what you will be expecting - but that is how it is" and explain all the anomalies to them. I expect people to get lost by now....

pollypenny

humptydumptybits wrote: »

Would it be worth getting the trousers altered? A good dressmaker could make them perfect for you and it sounds like the sort of outfit that would be worth the investment.

They are two sizes too big. Woukd have to be taken apart. I did try having a good pair of wool trousers altered at a tailor. Looked as if I had two bums!

joedenise

pollypenny wrote: »

They are two sizes too big. Woukd have to be taken apart. I did try having a good pair of wool trousers altered at a tailor. Looked as if I had two bums!

That needs a "funny" button rather than a Thanks, LOL!

humptydumptybits

pollypenny wrote: »

They are two sizes too big. Woukd have to be taken apart. I did try having a good pair of wool trousers altered at a tailor. Looked as if I had two bums!

That's a shame, I suppose it is a case of people who are OK at a job or people who are good and it isn't always easy to find the good ones. My late FIL was a tailor but I guess a good tailor is in a different ball park to many dressmakers.


Two bums isn't a good look.

Caterina

Champagne moment. I ordered a subscription for an Italian magazine about natural lifestyle. Paid with pay pal as I had some quidco cashback credit. Still quite expensive, but this is my last luxury of 2018. In 2019 it's all about battening down the hatches and living within our means e.g. using pension money only without touching the savings for day to day living. Only dipping into savings for holidays or big expenses/repairs.

moneyistooshorttomention

I've been "testing out" a local tailor (ie seamstress) with cheaper type clothing/alterations - to see if she'll do for things generally.

Having been studying a lot of YouTube "how to dress" videos recently - I've become quite convinced that one "buys and then alters to suit" on some clothing. Having seen a noticeable number of comments to effect, for instance, of "Big-busted and you want a shirt style blouse - then buy a size bigger in order that it doesn't gape at the buttons. Then you get a tailor to 'fit' it to you at the waist" for instance. Having seen more than one of these "style Tubers" now saying that means I know tailors are supposed to be good enough to do that for instance without anyone else ever realising an item has been altered to suit.

One "test" to see if someone IS a tailor (as opposed to saying they are - and then you find they aren't) is getting them to take up a pair of jeans and tell them you will be keeping the line of visible jeans stitching at the bottom of the legs. If they look at you and lie and say "It can't be done" or they "Admit nowt - and then mess it up" = you've found them out for not being very good tailors and look for another one. The tailor I've found was okay for Easy Level alterations to date - but I'm planning to "test them out" with this - to see if they're adequate skills level to become "my" tailor generally.

pollypenny

The tailor we used was a proper, £300-400 suit place. We thought that he would take the whole things in, my trousers and OH's suit. We were so disappointed.

For simple alterations I use a great lady who has a stall in the market.

Ellie79

Hi, I have been lurking for a while but reasons of time and stress have kept me from posting. I am hoping you lovely people will welcome another champagne wannabe/lemonade realist to the party!

I have recently finished a long period of study and am now job hunting with a vengeance, however, I have a very limited income currently and I have big plans.

Oh, and seasons greetings to all!

lessonlearned

Good morning everyone.....my champagne moment so far.....9 hours sleep!!!! I must have been tired:rotfl: just sitting in bed now savouring my coffee.

Weather looks much better, it was grey and murky yesterday but whilst it's not exactly bright sunshine this morning it does look more inviting out there today. Going to go food shopping, lots of nice healthy fruit and veg although I didn't go mad over Christmas.

My family bought me nice toiletries, candles etc rather than chocolates. They know I need to watch my blood sugar levels so they have been really thoughtful this year.

Like many of us I do need to lose weight and get fitter so that too will be part of my New Years action plan.....

Made a start on the decluttering yesterday.......one black bin liner ready for the chazza.

Hi Ellie. Welcome to our merry gang.

butterfly2507

Maybe not really a champagne moment but still. I've decluttered 21 plastic bags (they won't be sold here anymore in starting 2019) and they have always bothered me in the first place. I guess almost everyone has a plastic bag, filled with other plastic bags just in case :rotfl:

So instead of just throwing them away I will actually use them for trash - which means I don't have to buy any for at least a month :rotfl: