Giving every £ a job

Blackcats

Foxgloves - I forgot to say that I still am not the proud owner of a plastic sparkly cactus.  In my tidying up, however, I found some plastic lavender in a glass vase and a "faux" orchid.  The lavender is now in my pastel spare bedroom and looks nice and the orchid is in my home office.   I think faux orchid sounds so much more upmarket than plastic orchid don't you?  I've wracked my brains and I think these both emanate from my N*xt Directory days,  pay £100 per month off the account and spend a minimum of £100 per month regardless of the huge account balance.  I would ring to place an order with a massive list of items I wanted and by the time the parcel was delivered I couldn't even remember what I'd ordered.  😳

foxgloves

Lol, as a keen gardener, I am slightly disturbed by the idea of 'plastic lavender'. Is it just for decoration or has it been impregnated with faux lavender scent? I don't mean to sound judgemental, as I bought heaps of tat for my house back when I was spendy. I like natural things so used to spend a fortune on dried gizmos.... wreaths, swags, garlands, woven gubbins, baskets..... plus oddly, I also liked (& bought!) prints, pictures & postcards featuring all of the above!
But I'm pleased to hear the plastic cactus has not yet been given house room.
F x

savingholmes

Lol at faux it does sound better though

Mum2Nan

Hi Blackcats

I thought I would drop by and say hello and thanks again for all your help recently.   I have only read through the first couple of pages of your diary.  I will continue with it later this evening.

M2N

Blackcats

Foxgloves, the lavendre artificielle doesn't have a scent, although after reading your post I did momentarily wonder whether to buy a lavender scent to squirt on it to achieve that additional sensory pleasure. It is a very small and relatively Inoffensive item which serves as a reminder of previous frittering.  

Hello mum2nan - I'm delighted that you got such a good outcome with your job.    Such a relief for you.    To summarise my diary for you, I have spent most of my adult life overspending and now I'm trying to re-train myself to budget, spend mindfully and save money towards an early retirement.  I'm a definite work in progress but I'm pleased to say that I still only own 3 teapots and won't be buying the one I was desperate for earlier this week.  😇 (Still pondering about some new mugs though 🤣).  

foxgloves

Lol at 'Lavandre artificielle', Blackcats. I don't mean to sound like your conscience re new teapots, etc, it's just that I reckon our past spendy behaviour was scarily similar!
F x

savingholmes

I think you should add scent. Lavender can be very soothing.

Blackcats

Foxgloves, you are indeed the voice of reason that I hear when I crave another teapot.  I smiled at your description of buying dried flowers etc.  I also did that.  In the mid/late 80's I would spend Sunday's going to antique fairs which were really bric a brac sales buying up bowls to keep my pot pourri in and baskets for my dried flowers and vintage linen.  Oh my word, I had lace on almost every surface - tables, backs of chairs, window ledges, shelves etc etc.  Some of the pieces were very beautiful but there really is a point when you've got too many table clothes and runners.  

A very busy week at work, meeting after meeting, hour after hour staring at a screen.  It's really exhausting and in the evening I forced myself to go for a walk and then flaked out in front of the tv.
last night I did Fredagsyms 🥳 it's nothing untoward! I read about it on the bookworm thread - it's translates as Friday night coziness.  The same type of concept as hygge.  Friday nights are family nights, hot chocolate, candles and a film.  I really enjoyed it after a long hard week at work.  I watched the Witches of Eastwick for the first time in years.  I enjoyed it but it was probably a bit sillier than I remembered.  So fredagsyms is going to become a regular feature of the autumn and winter.  

foxgloves

What a lovely cosy end-of week concept, Blackcats. Love it!
I did smile at your descriprion of your past buys from vintage fairs because my house at the time was exactly the same!!
F x

savingholmes

glad you are making time to relax. The lace 'explosion' sounds scary. I think they can look stunning but less is definitely more.