Settling in for the long haul

Dakota_Rose

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82083823#Comment_82083823

I really love that series but apologise if it ends up being too much for you @Sun_Addict. I passed one on to a friend a few years ago after I discovered them and thought they were fab, and she was slightly horrified by it 🙈.

My holiday clothes are outdoors-type items that will be used a lot for camping holidays or days out. I know I will love wearing them but am still smarting at the price. £200 for 4 items 😳😳😳 - a new coat, fleece, jumper and trousers. They were mostly from Passenger, reduced from full price and a lovely style (imo) but I know that’s a lot to spend on non-necessities! The 4 items came from 4 different stores in the end as I shopped around for the best prices but still.

I’m looking forward to pay day on Friday when I can rebalance the books a bit and reset for August’s budget.

Today has been mostly preparing piles of clothes ready for packing. They now need protecting from the kids at all costs as I shan’t be washing and drying them on Thursday! We have a huge list of chores to do before I’ll be happy to let Mum come to dog sit for us. I have taken a few minutes to start my third library book though: We Solve Murders by Richard Osman. I enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club series so I’m hoping this will be a good pick for me too.

And just like that, we’re round to another hump day tomorrow!

vampirotoothus

Hi, if you bought clothes specifically for the holiday but don't wear them you can take them back if they still have labels in. I do this all the time, then I have a choice of new clothes, but any unworn get returned. V x

Blackcats

when i (occasionally) feel guilty about buying new clothes i just convert the price to a cost per wear which i think is a very reasonable adjustment. 🤷‍♀️

I quite enjoyed We Solve Murders but didn't feel a great affinity with the characters but maybe they will grow on me in future books.

I'm just re-reading Casual Vacancy by J K Rowling and really enjoying it. The tv version did not do it justice. It amazes me how clever J K is and how well observed her writing for grown ups is.

Dakota_Rose

I am a true Harry Potter fan @Blackcats and have to admit that although I so wanted to enjoy The Casual Vacancy, I really didn’t. I think perhaps it was due to the nature of the death at the start of the book which hit too close to home shortly after my dad had passed away. I did enjoy the Striker novel I’d picked up well enough and will keep my eye out for more of them.

I wonder what you would have rated We Solve Murders out of 10 and if my rating will be similar?!

I’ve bought the first two A Court of Thorns and Roses books which seem to be a big hit at the moment. These will come on holiday with me so I really hope I can get into them. I picked them up for just £2.25 each new in Sainsbos a few weeks ago, so no great loss if I can’t.

Dakota_Rose

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82084013#Comment_82084013

Thanks for this suggestion @vampirotoothus. I think I will definitely wear them beyond my holiday so I’m not too worried about getting use out of them. I think it’s more the guilt of knowing I could have just reworn my old gear for another year - most of it is very old/second hand and VERY uninspiring but it would serve the purpose.

Taking @Blackcats suggestion of thinking about cost per wear will soften the blow I think. I do try so hard to be intentional with my spending nowadays. Unfortunately I’m still paying penance by forcing myself to use things I bought back in the day. Some items were impulse buys that I didn’t particularly love.

Saying that, it seems that one of the new items has had an issue ‘in transit’ and may not arrive before my holiday now. If it doesn’t come, that may be a return decision taken out of my hands.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

I do the cost per wear calculation thing too, I can justify anything that way 😂

Blackcats

I have written my rating for We Solve Murders invisible ink on an imaginary piece of paper and put it in an imaginary envelope so I can reveal it with a showbiz flourish when you have finished reading it.

Sorry if mentioning the JK book was upsetting.

Have you read any of the Simon Serraillier books written by Susan Hill?

Dakota_Rose

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82085061#Comment_82085061

I love it @Blackcats and will wear imaginary sequins and a feather boa to receive said rating with an equally showbiz flourish 😂.

I haven’t even heard of those books - shall go and have a look shortly!

Sun_Addict

I’m currently reading To Die For by David Baldacci and enjoying it. The worst book I’ve read for graphic descriptions of torture is Kiss the Girls by James Patterson. Although it was a good book the torture scenes preyed on my mind afterwards. Makes you wonder how authors think of such awful things but then I guess they do research into serial killers. If I read a book that’s too horrific I have to read a couple of pink and fluffy books afterwards to compensate 🤣

Dakota_Rose

The funny thing is @Sun_Addict, I literally can’t watch these things on tele - but a book I will devour. At least I can pop it down and pick back up when I’m ready 😂.