Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget - 2021

phoebe1989seb

Sending you warmest wishes, LL.... enjoy your treats 🍷🍫💐

phoebe1989seb

Blimey, that was quick.... the wallpaper I ordered on Saturday has been delivered  😀

Also, the first of my flooring samples (the Karndean ones) arrived in the post. There's one I particularly like - we're hoping to match it to some painted original (that is Victorian, not 400 years original 😉) floorboards - but need to see the others first and also gauge DH's thoughts.....

Feels like progress is being made today...plus the sun is shining which is always a bonus!

sugarbaby125

My Champagne moment was having my washing machine repaired at no additional cost. I had it repaired just over 2 months ago and as the repair was guaranteed for 12 months, they sent out their washing machine engineer today. Although it was a different fault, he still did the repair.   

I am busy getting the backlog of laundry washed and dried.    

helensbiggestfan

Good Mornjng my lovely friends.  

Well now, what's new.......not much happening my end,  I drank a quiet toast to my husband, indulged in a little chocolate and enjoyed my tulips.  

That was Tuesday,  since then I have started a new regime, reduced social media time, less time spent watching news, and I've even started a morning routine of 30 minutes tai chi.  Doesn't sound much but i figure it's the small daily habits which, over time, add up to significant and positive change.  

I have revamped my finances and reorganised some cupboards and drawers.  Very productive. 😉

The real good news is that my DIL has booked us into holiday cottage for a week in the middle April.  They are having a new staircase fitted and will need to make themselves scarce.  The cottage is in the Peak District, only about 1hr away, so my son can nip back to check up and be on hand should any issues arise.  I'm really looking forward to a nice break.  It would be good if the weather gods will be kind but tbh I don't really care.  I'm just looking forward to a change of scene.  It's good that, all being well, the likes of holiday cottages can start opening up again.  

Sugar.....What a relief about the washing machine, I hate it when laundry piles up.  

Phoebe - well done on your steady progress, its great when it's all starts coming together,

Weather not great but at least it's dry, so I'll walk to the little shop in a bit.  Then a bit more cupboard sorting later. The excitement of it all is almost unbearable. 😂🤣

Have a great weekend y'all.  Enjoy those champagne moments, even if they are the quiet domestic variety.   

candygirl

The holiday cottage sounds fab LL Something to look forward to at last.I think that's why I'm struggling a bit at the mo, as I usually have quite a few things in the pipeline,  to keep me going and upbeat .Even going out for a coffee, would be fab at this point 🤣
Good news re the washer SUGAR 😁

savingfortomorrow

I hope you don't mind me joining in the conversation. 
I'm trying to be more careful with money to allow it to be used for my long-term goals. Right now I have cut the food bills down from a few years ago. The dress sizes falling are unrelated to that also. I prefer to eat more vegetables and legumes-based dinners and oats in the morning. 
I am lucky that I don't carry debt (well except 1,500 owed to the revenue but it will be drip feed over 4 years). I have small outgoings and can save. I just want to build the nest egg and make better choices in relation to food, spending, exercise, and outwards appearance. Now is the point to focus on the key things and spend more wisely to have more options.

helensbiggestfan

Welcome SFT.  

You are doing well and are very wise to try and cut down your expenditure. after all as this pandemic has shown, we never know what's round the corner, what curved balls lie ahead.  

I too am a woman of slender means 😂. but I'm determined not to let that stop me living a life of sImple elegance, style and abundance.  

You don't have to be rich to live well.  And you can be thrifty without living like a miser and deprive yourself of nice things.  

My motto.....

Why wear a hair shirt when you can wear a silk one.  Ok it might need to be pre loved but I won't tell if you don't. 😂. And if anyone comments just smile mysteriously and say "what this old thing, it's Vintage darling"   

You didn't have to tell anyone it cost £1 from the cancer research clearance shop.  😉

Had a lovely champagne moment this evening. A neighbour brought me some supper.  Homemade soup, beautifully presented with crostini, fresh herbs and a swirl of cream. She's a chef who just loves cooking.....She often brings me new dishes to try.  Next time I go shopping I'm going to buy her some flowers.  

Candy.... you are right, it's lovely to be able to look forward to getting away.  It's been a long haul and like Everyone else I'm getting a tad fed up now. 

We aren't going far, only up to the Peak District, staying in a small village between Buxton and Bakewell. We are staying for a week, so will hopefully do a bit of sight seeing.  Chatsworth gardens and farm will be open but not the house.  And of course there are so many Lovely little towns and villages to visit.   I might even take them to Eyam (plague village!!!). It seems quite appropriate. 😂.  And then of course Bakewell for a pudding and a mooch round the chazzers.  

 

candygirl

Welcome SFT.We're a great bunch here, with lots of ideas, n uplifting posts 😁
LL that is so lovely of your neighbour. My hobby is cooking, so I often do veggie curries, soups n chillies, for Mum n my friends. One of them is a primary teacher, so when I drop a dish off for her, She's so happy , as She's often too tired to cook   

sugarbaby125

Welcome SFT    

My Champagne moment today was discovering that Superdrug online has all sanitary wear on Buy One Get One Free. I bought lots of my daughter's usual brand of sanitary pads and pantyliners for the both of us. This offer is only for today. I also got free home delivery.   

I have space in a cupboard where I can store them, so I decided to stock up and save money   

LL it was such a lovely gesture for your neighbour to drop off that delicious meal for you. 

CG well done for cooking meals for other people. They must be so appreciative of your thoughtfulness 
I am a really good cook, but I do not like to cook in bulk, unless I absolutely have to, so I could not follow your example. 

savingfortomorrow

Its best off me not sharing food with neighbours as my cooking is a bit hit and miss. I can't bake for toffee and the poor birds will not even eat any bread I bake. It is wonderful to have that type of relationship with your neighbours. 

My work hours were reduced with the pandemic. It suits me still as there is limited pressure but I'm getting around to looking around for a new role in the next short while. It just requires actively setting out and looking. I have been able to remain patient-facing despite the pandemic but I feel I need a new challenge. It is up to me to see what I can branch into that has better benefits, pension and hours. Saving as much as possible allows a little flexibility to live it large in other ways. 

I honestly love the charity shops. As a teenager, I volunteered and loved the mix of stuff coming in. From the bizarre to brand new items. In university, I was only able to purchase in charity shops and looked as well put together as anyone else, without the massive bills. It is the thrill of the search for the gem in the pile of not ideal items. It makes it more fun for me to find a few nice pieces. I hate the sameness of fast fashion which has a distinct look about it. Often in some towns, there are no independent shops left and the same high street shops make a uniform for people to purchase. The only place to get something more unique is the charity shop.