Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget - 2021

sugarbaby125

My Champagne moment yesterday was going to the Thinking Ahead discussion group at Balckfriars Settlement. It is so beneficial to me and all of the other people who participate.   

MrsPorridge

Am attempting a champagne moment each day.  Today is I am so pleased, I was tempted to go to Sainsbogs but I didn't (I have loads of food).  So I was able to complete 14 NSDs.  I have set myself a total of 21 this month and hope to reach that target.

phoebe1989seb

My champagne moment today -

Going to the dentist expecting a £750 bill, but my dentist decided to change his course of action saving me a whopping £500 😀

The money didn't go entirely unspent, however, as I finally pulled the trigger on the wall lights for the guest room (had been dithering 🙄) and picked up a few bits for the reading nook in Homesense. These included a throw* reduced from £35 to £10 in the clearance section, a small bamboo/rattan ottoman (aka footstool/drinks table) and a teal beaded cushion with a RRP of £50, for £19.99.....

*The throw I'd intended using - whilst lovely pure wool - is too tempting for our pooches to claw at and tear (they love making a 'nest', lol!), so I decided a cheaper, fleecy one was more practical.

I was also delighted that the pretty knobs I'd seen a couple of weeks ago - but didn't realise at the time would be ideal for the guest room built-in cupboard - were still there 😃

Thoroughly enjoyed The Apprentice tonight too 😀

MrsPorridge

My champagne moment today - DH making a lovely pot of tea!  It's not often he does that.  Also, the sun is shining, but its cold.  Am thinking of going for a walk around the block.

Another one who enjoyed the Apprentice last night.

phoebe1989seb

No sunshine here today, but I did spot loads of snowdrops beginning to open when I walked round part of the garden with the pooches earlier 😄 Also, the tulip bulbs I planted in a vintage enamel baby bath are poking through amongst the cyclamen....

As it's a bit gloomy, I've been revisiting the light - or lack of it, lol! - situation here at the old mill. 

Whilst bearing in mind the *champagne lifestyle/lemonade budget* mantra, drastic measures are called for. Which is why we'll be bringing in more natural light when we change the frontage on the existing extension....DIY to save the £££, of course 😎

Recently we swapped out the fifteen warm white recessed spots on the kitchen ceiling, replacing them with cool white (something we've avoided using in our previous old, thick walled, small windowed houses, as the softer light seemed more appropriate). It's definitely improved the quality of light - less dirty yellow!!! - and we paid just £36 for 50 bulbs at Screwfix 😁

We also decided that the two hand blown effect glass pendants over the kitchen sofa weren't helping. These - only £60 for the pair in Homesense back in 2018 - suited the room when they hung over our long table in front of the wood burner, but since swapping things around they work less well above the sofa.

With that in mind, I've been searching for something more quirky, colourful and bold!

After extensive hunting, this morning I finally found *the ones* and have placed an order. They are a bit different from the ubiquitous industrial style everyone else seems to be choosing for their kitchens at the moment 😀

Unfortunately these weren't exactly lemonade budget, but the outgoing lights will be heading for sale, which will help - a little - towards the cost of their replacements....

helensbiggestfan

Just a quickie.....

Champagne moment. Getting boiler fixed today.  Wahoo. 💃  Getting my house warm and cosy again after 5 days of it being absolutely freezing and miserable.  Still no lights yet but I'm ok with table lamps and candles for now.  

helensbiggestfan

Mrs Porridge ....well done on the 14 nsd.  I am aiming for an ultra frugal January too (boiler repairs and car mots  don't count, they are must haves😂).  Although to be honest I'm on a mission to live frugally anyway......so that I can save and splurge. 

Having said that  I did treat myself to a nice sweater yesterday, but as it was £3 from a chazzer I think that's  allowed.  It's a fine knit v necked so will be perfect for spring and cooler summer days.  

I am not intending to buy any more winter clothes now, unless I see something very special but I am happy to start thinking about spring/summer clothes if I see something nice.  Bought a maxi dress last week for £1.50, well at that price it would have been rude not to. 😁

phoebe1989seb

Thank goodness you've got your boiler sorted, Helen! And you've got electric problems as well? What a PITA! Hope you get that fixed soon too 🤞

I'm so pleased we had a new (oil, no gas here 🙄) boiler and full rewire when we bought the mill. It wasn't cheap, but so worth it, especially as the previous owners didn't have a clue when it came to doing stuff properly 😮 The old boiler looked about fifty years old, although it couldn't have been fitted longer ago than 1999 which was when the big house sold off the mill and stables. I wouldn't have trusted using it!

Having received a couple of really gorgeous jumpers for Christmas, I'm also steering clear of clothes purchases (the charity shops here are fairly dire and I no longer buy clothing on eBay, which I did occasionally a few years back), but couldn't resist a Jaeger dress reduced to £20 in TK just after the hols. It's jersey, so ok for layering now, but will also be good for the Spring 😉

MrsPorridge

I used to attend a stitching group in our village.  It closed because of Covid and has started up again, but I decided not to rejoin.  My champagne moment this morning, on my walk around the village I met a woman from the group who asked me if I was going back - nice to know I was missed.  I said I would go back.

helensbiggestfan

Champagne moment.......my little car passed it's MOT.

 Flying colours so I treated her to a new filter and oil change.  😂🤣