Frump to Fab - A Whole New World.

helensbiggestfan

Good Mornjng lovely ladies. 

SFT - ouch to your bills too.!!  Looks like an expensive month for you as well. 

Like you I'm trying not to replace my car just yet.  Want to try find keep the old girl a bit longer.  I think you are right though I think there may be some subsidies and incentives soon. I think the car industry will need them and of course There will be a push to get us all to be "greener". My son got a great deal last time there were initiatives like that, so fingers crossed for us.  

Finance wise I'm ok, but as you know I'm not rich. I just want to s t r e e e e t c h my pennies and make them work hard for me. I want it all.  Security, a fabulous home and a nice lifestyle.  And you are so right about the importance of trying to enjoy ourselves too, no matter how small our budgets.  

I doubt very much that I will be socialising and gadding about much whilst Covid is still doing its thing and  I won't be going on foreign holidays so spending should be kept relatively low for the foreseeable future.  If I can do that then hopefully I can keep overpaying the mortgage and boost my savings ready for when life returns to normal (ish) and we can start travelling and having a few adventures.  

I had a nice surprise yesterday.   I received the share certificate for the shares which FIL willed to me in his estate.  They are a nice cushion if I ever I need them, although ideally I would like to keep them for my grandchildren.  Still it's nice to know they are there for an emergency.  Such a thoughtful, kind and generous man. 

I mentioned I was disappointed at my food spending last month.  Actually when I went over the receipts I realised it wasn't all food and that I had bought some clothes, some housewares, plants and bulbs, stocked up with wine, vitamins and otc meds so actually I hadn't been as extravagant as I feared. Anyway, I'm pretty well stocked up, although my stash of cleaning materials and toiletries isnt in Sugarbabys league.  Very impressive.  😁.  Although as it's only me here I probably have enough to see me for a few months.  

Raining this morning so going to do some batch cooking.  

Have a great day y'all.  

thepurplepixie

I haven't got the courage to add up my food spends over the last six weeks.  I've had all my kids, their partners plus GC here on and off all summer, they seem to have come in relays except for the children who have been left with me so I have been feeding between 4 and 8 people a day for six weeks instead of the two of us. Of course with children there are also treats and outings.  I'm just going to draw a line under it and move on or I would get too depressed.  I've got a days work today so that will be £200 in the bank which will restore some balance. I also do some surveys and I've got £60 due for that so it all helps.
I'm also going into birthday season with 2 or 3 birthdays every month from now till February with December being the only break but obviously Christmas has to be figured in.  I don't even know what to buy for the September birthdays so I will have to get my head in gear.  Roll on 2021.
I actually feel unwell, stomach upset, so I'm hoping I feel a bit better over the next hour or so and then I have to go.

Wednesday2000

I will be interested to see if our sleep improves after my husband retires from his job. 

I have a Zoom session with my therapist later today. I want to go out and buy some fresh fruit, loo rolls etc... after my shower. We actually bought a new laptop this week but I have also thought about cutting back and saving up. We have spent a shocking amount this year. I am starting a health kick with a lot more smoothies and soups in my diet and have made a list.

1. A takeaway only once a month.

2. Read all the books on my kindle or delete the ones I don't want to read. No buying new books! Hopefully until the end of this year at least.

3. Stick to a grocery budget.

4. Use up the toiletries I have. There are lots of hand lotions in my drawer upstairs.

5. Start using my hobby box.

6. Regularly buy my husband pizza and dough balls in the groceries so he won't be tempted to get the more expensive takeaways.

7. Lose weight before we go away at the end of October for a night in a hotel.

8. At least one fresh smoothie daily. I'm using my Magic Bullet blender a lot more often.

I am always feel like this at the start of Autumn. Very energised and enthusiastic.

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,
Ironically even though I now sleep 8-11 hours each night, thanks to Covid 19 I still suffer from fatigue throughout the day. Before Covid-19 I only needed 6-7 hours sleep each night to wake up energised and raring to go. 

I have decided not to actively save for the rest of 2020. I have so many family birthdays and Christmas presents to buy and put away until December that I will just wait until December to see what is left to add to my savings. I have started buying Christmas presents, so I do have some put away already, but I need to buy more to ensure I have enough for all of my family members that I want to give Christmas presents to. 

I have managed to save £3.650 so far this year, so now I have £5.650 invested in Premium Bonds. I hope that I will get enough small wins over the years that it will prove a wise investment. Only time will tell. 

I have been using up toiletries and luxury beauty lotions throughout 2020 and I have finally started to make a dent in them while pampering myself each day. 

Dove body lotions and Dover shower oil, Epsom Salts, Sure Deodorants, Lidl herbal bath foam and shower gel in my bedroom


Baby wipes, Dove soaps, hair products, and other items in my bedroom


Storage boxes of toiletries, toothbrushes and other items in my bedroom

Top box contents


Lower box of contents

Thanks to Poundland we never run out of toothpaste in my bedroom


My personal box of toiletries in my bedroom

sugarbaby125

I have started to buy gifts for Christmas presents. These are stored in storage boxes in my daughter's bedroom

More Dove body lotions plus Christmas gifts



Vitamins, Over the counter medications and Christmas gifts


More Dove body lotions and Christmas gifts

thepurplepixie

Sugarbaby you are well supplied, I thought I was being good this week buying 2 deodorants instead of one.  I need to up my game.

helensbiggestfan

SUgarbaby.....you could open a shop. 😂.  

sorry to hear you are still struggling with the after effects of Covid.  It's dragging on isn't it.  I guess you just have to give it time.  

Well pleased to say I actually managed a 35 minute Zumba workout today.  A week ago I struggled to do 15 minutes so I think I'm making good progress.  I'm feeling better, Less pain and stiffness and more energised already. 

Tomorrow I will change it round a bit ......introduce a yoga/pilates/tai chi rotation in the mornings and then some sort of Zumba or dance in the afternoon, followed by a few small hand weight exercises.  So hopefully that should improve my fitness quite a bit.  Stretching in the Mornjng for pain relief and flexibility, cardio in the afternoon, followed by resistance training for strength and stamina, building up gradually. Eventually I want to aim for around hour and half a day.  At least I can do it from home and Wont have to factor in travelling time to and from a gym.  

I have also decided to introduce two vegetarian meals a week, gradually increasing my plant based foods. 

I shall positively glow with health and vitality......😂🤣. 

 One extra positive from the increased exercise is that it is helping me to remember to drink more water, something I'm not always very good at remembering,    

Nice and warm and sunny now.  I've been sitting out reading, soaking up the sun.  Going to do an hours gardening then have a nice dinner and settle down for the evening.  Chiro tomorrow.  

helensbiggestfan

Today's healthy lunch.   😁

sukeyboo

Hi everyone, I am a long-time lurker on this thread & occasional poster in the past but I just wanted to let you all know that for some reason Maman has been banned from the forums - she posts regularly on another thread I post on and we noticed she went ‘missing’ at the end of last week. We have contacted the moderators and admin but haven’t been able to find out anything from them ☹️.

helensbiggestfan

Hi Sukeyboo.   Thanks for letting us know.  I thought it was odd that we hadn't heard from her recently. 

I am very sorry to hear that. I do hope things can be sorted out soon.  I have come to be extremely fond of Maman and regard her as a very real friend.  She has always been Very kind and supportive to me.   She's a lovely lady and I will miss her very much.  I really hope she can come back to us without delay.