Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget.

mrs_slapshot

I came across this thread this morning whilst having my weekly 'luxury' of coffee in bed whilst browsing (usually mumsnet/Twitter/Pinterest but I had an inclination to MSE today). I love this philosophy and the fab suggestions - I am going to try 'a year to change my life' from January!

I split from my ExH in 2011, divorced in 2012. My son is now a strapping lad of 17, 18 next Spring. I work FT in a demanding role, having had about 4 changes of job in the last 4.5 years, mostly enforced changes (redundancy/restructure). I earn what I consider to be a very good salary, have a mortgage of £126K with 12 years to go (I am fast approaching 53) and would like to pay it off asap so I have some flexibility and options to reduce my paid work and spend more time just enjoying life. I have a lovely circle of friends but no partner, mostly because I am scared of getting hurt again, and would struggle to trust - but that is one of the things I would like to change next year.

I have worked hard to make my home my sanctuary, and I love it - but I have considered downsizing to a cheaper home to free me a little from that mortgage - but I would very much prefer to stay here. I too love life's little luxuries - mine are nice wine/pink fizz, coffee, food - and lovely shower gel! I also have a car that I love, but which is a monthly leasing expense I could do without, so I am considering drawing down on my SIPP when I reach 55 to buy instead - not brand new but a 2/3 year old car.

Anyway, didn't want to hijack the thread, just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading it, and I'm looking forward to hearing more (have already subscribed to a Sparks card after reading about it!!)

humptydumptybits

My moment this morning was DH and DGC sleeping late so I had a quiet breakfast and a nice cuppa while listening to the news and still had time to tidy the kitchen up before they all descended. It was a lovely start to the day and I'm planning on a nice soak in the bath later with a treatment on my hair.

sheilavw

What a glorious day. Me and Hubby loaded his motor scooter and set off , lunch in a Wetherspoons, then a walk (ride for him) round a park to get him some fresh air. A quick look at Motorpoint because looking for automatic SUV but nothing that took our fancy, also not pushing at the moment

lessonlearned

Hello Mrs slapshot, hello Sheila.

Yes what a lovely day although now the sun is dipping it's getting cold again.

New fencing just gone up......trees and fencing have come in under budget......wahaay. Every little helps.;) the underspend will more than pay for the replanting and a mini greenhouse next year.

I am feeling quite smug.....I have just done my projected budget till the end of the financial year, ie end March 2019, and, after all direct debits and bills are paid I am left with £380 a month disposable income. (Not counting earned interest which I will try not to touch).

I am about half way there with my Christmas shopping and have good store cupboard stocks, plenty of toiletries and have no need to go clothes shopping. My holiday is paid for and I have my spending money sorted.

All I have to think about is the cars MOT in January. Fingers crossed it won't be too bad. So far the car fund hasn't had too much of a hammering this year. I am still well in credit. Mustn't speak too soon. :rotfl:

I will have to pay for the new bathroom of course but all house stuff comes from a seperate renovation budget.

So I'm setting myself a challenge......to save £200 a month and live off £180. Let's see how creative I can be........and whether or not I can start achieving that champagne lifestyle.......:rotfl:

Wednesday2000

caronc wrote: »

My "Champagne" moment for today was having the time to watch a most beautiful winter sunset. It was glorious:D

There have been some really lovely sunsets recently!:cool:

lessonlearned wrote: »

Yesterday I made myself some body oil and some facial oil, using only natural aromatherapy oils. Natures goodness and No nasty chemicals and of course as cheap as chips.

I might do that later. I have some Naissance lavender oil and some sweet almond oil upstairs.

Have you got any other frugal beauty tips LL as you said you had experience in that field?:)

mrs_slapshot wrote: »

I came across this thread this morning whilst having my weekly 'luxury' of coffee in bed whilst browsing (usually mumsnet/Twitter/Pinterest but I had an inclination to MSE today).

I was just saying on another thread that I had a lie-in in bed this morning listening to a podcast and I gave myself a facial as well and it did feel very luxurious. I'm going to make that a weekly thing at least!:A

moneyistooshorttomention

lessonlearned wrote: »

So I'm setting myself a challenge......to save £200 a month and live off £180. Let's see how creative I can be........and whether or not I can start achieving that champagne lifestyle.......:rotfl:

:eek::eek: Yikes - I'm not sure that £180 would cover my social life - never mind food/hair/etc/etc.

I hope you've got a lot of free social life things going in your area LL (think you do have a noticeable number where you are?) as I'd never make it on that I do know....:eek:rotfl:

I guess a lot does depend on area - my haircuts would cost about one-third as much back in my home city and my social life probably about half as much I'd say....

Prinzessilein

My Sunday mornings are always a thing of pleasure!...I listen to the Radio 4 service(I can no longer get out to Church)….then Mum comes round for the 'good' coffee and a piece of superior chocolate (HotelChocolat...bought on discount!)...and then I read to her in German, whist she does her crochet....this afternoon I will sit quietly and do some embroidery.....bliss!

lessonlearned

Hi Wednesday. Was there something in particular you're interested in. What do you want to achieve.

I see you gave yourself a home facial. Face masks can be made from all sorts of ingredients you are likely to have in your kitchen. Just google and you'll get loads of recipes.

If you have a specific query then ask me on the Frump to Fab thread and either myself or the lovely ladies over there will be able to give you specific advice and tips on beauty matters.

If you prefer to use "commercial" masks you can still make your own by buying the ingredients in powder form and mixing your own, ie the various clays and minerals and mixing media. I buy minerals and powders off amazon. Boots used to sell them but not so much these days.

Home manicures, pedicures, waxing and defuzzing are straightforward enough. Just takes a bit if practice.

Tip......keep your nail varnish in the fridge - stops it going gloopy. And keep your perfumes, creams, oils etc in a dark cupboard.....never on a sunny window cill. They will go rancid very quickly. Kept in the dark oils will last for years......millennia even. :rotfl:

When the tombs were opened up in Egypt at the beginning of the 20th century the aromatherapy oils were still perfect. I am currently using some oils I bought in Egypt in 2002.

Another little tip for perfume which is too strong or overpowering. Just add some to some carrier oil or a non perfumed cream or lotion such as the E45 range .......hey presto you have a luxury oil or body lotion and will smell divine.

For carrier oils I like to use Grapeseed oil. It's pure and cheap. About £3 for 500 ml. You can use olive oil, in fact most Mediterranean women swear by the stuff for skin and haircare but I think it does smell a little. Grapeseed oil is odourless. Wheat germ oil is a nice carrier oil but expensive. If I use that then I restict it to facial oils.

If you are allergic to nuts then don't use nut oils.

Basically if you can't ingest something (say strawberry allergy) then don't put it on your skin.

lessonlearned

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

:eek::eek: Yikes - I'm not sure that £180 would cover my social life - never mind food/hair/etc/etc.

I hope you've got a lot of free social life things going in your area LL (think you do have a noticeable number where you are?) as I'd never make it on that I do know....:eek:rotfl:

I guess a lot does depend on area - my haircuts would cost about one-third as much back in my home city and my social life probably about half as much I'd say....

Ha ha......that's the purpose of this thread.......so I can pick everybody's brains......:rotfl::rotfl:

It's a fun challenge. Just to see how far I can go with it.,

candygirl

lessonlearned wrote: »

Ha ha......that's the purpose of this thread.......so I can pick everybody's brains......:rotfl::rotfl:

I think you'll do it! You know how to shop wisely, and get bargains to entertain yourself. I think if you're content with home comforts etc, it's doable xx:D
I have a similar budget but nothing to save x