What are your luxuries?

Curry_Queen

Bogof_Babe wrote:

Regarding cleaners, I think I would find that stressful actually. I get edgy when anyone is in the house (it was awful when we had a decorator doing the living room for three days recently, and I had to camp out in the kitchen).

Also there is the business of making conversation, offering refreshments, sorting out payment, giving instructions....

How friendly to get? I wouldn't want a friend doing my dirty work, but I couldn't sit around with "staff" doing it either.

Am I weird, or does anyone understand what I mean?

I fully understand what you mean and is also another reason that stops me getting someone in. I've got so used to being on my own here, apart from DS of course and the other two when they decide to show their face, but apart from that I just have someone come in to see me for an hour a week and I even struggle to cope with that!

It all sounds great in theory having a cleaner but I don't think it would work in reality

Cheapskate

Went off chocolate last summer when I was poorly, no bad thing in terms of my figure! - but have now re-discovered Green & Black's wonderful range of organic chocolate. It's really expensive, at least £1.49 for most varieties, but it's so good that I & OH don't eat any other choc & just share one bar of this at weekend. Sounds like we have good willpower, but the stuff is so concentrated you get high on it!
Another 'luxury' for me is buying good quality organic food as locally as I can - high days & holidays only!

squiggles

I think i will have to come back at a later date to add my reply to this thread,when ive been doing old style a couple of more months.

At the moment i dont have any thing what i call luxuries but just essentials i need or think i need.When i think of how i used to live a few years ago when i had no job and was so skint i couldnt afford to eat some days as what i had in food wise had to be kept for my little one,yes really.Its quite ironic that im actually trying to cut down and budget things the way i used to do,and make meals stretch to what seemed like forever in those days but now its quite like a fun challenge than a got to do to survive one.Please dont take this post the wrong way that i intended it to be,im not in any way or form trying to boast to those struggling to survive but just want to let others know that it wont be like that forever and theres light at the end of the tunnel eventually.:)

Sofa_Sogood

Bogof_Babe wrote:

Regarding cleaners, I think I would find that stressful actually. I get edgy when anyone is in the house (it was awful when we had a decorator doing the living room for three days recently, and I had to camp out in the kitchen).

Also there is the business of making conversation, offering refreshments, sorting out payment, giving instructions....

How friendly to get? I wouldn't want a friend doing my dirty work, but I couldn't sit around with "staff" doing it either.

Am I weird, or does anyone understand what I mean?

If it's any consolation, I can understand all of your post Bogof_Babe.

I've been told it falls under the heading of 'social phobias'

But if a plumber/decorator/etc has to call - I make o/h take time off work!

So a cleaner would be out of the question too. Besides, I'd be like Curry_Queen .... I'd need a cleaner to clean before the cleaner came ... if that makes sense?

Luckily my husband helps a lot, but a cleaner for the 'heavier' stuff, like ironing or hoovering, would be great ... for both of us!

Zziggi

Sofa_Sogood wrote:

If it's any consolation, I can understand all of your post Bogof_Babe.

I've been told it falls under the heading of 'social phobias'

But if a plumber/decorator/etc has to call - I make o/h take time off work!

So a cleaner would be out of the question too. Besides, I'd be like Curry_Queen .... I'd need a cleaner to clean before the cleaner came ... if that makes sense?

Luckily my husband helps a lot, but a cleaner for the 'heavier' stuff, like ironing or hoovering, would be great ... for both of us!

My OH has 'social phobia' and we have a cleaner come in for 3 hours a week. I'm sure having the cleaner is more hassle than it's worth but he puts up with it as the cleaner helps ease my workload (OH has M.E. as well so i do most of the domestic jobs). He always goes and sits outside when she comes. Sits in the garden or in the shed if its raining for the whole 3 hours. He never sleeps the night before either, worrying about the cleaner coming - although it's the same lady every week!! Although he does love the clean house as she's a good cleaner. Also he won't answer the door or the phone. If we have a workman come round, he's upstairs out of the way when they are here. Even when his mum or my mum come round, he finds it extremely stressful and exhuasting.

It's really awful. When he does have to talk to people GP/consultants/social worker etc etc he comes across as a bumbling idiot who cannot speak properly. Not a man who, before his illness, was a middle-manager in charge of 350 people and was working towards his doctorate.



P.S. i have to admit to doing a quick clean up before the cleaner arrives - silly really isn;t it!

sans_2

Louis Vuitton, which should finally work out very cheap if I buy a classic and have it 'forever'.

arkonite_babe

cider, smokes and good company

Sofa_Sogood

Zziggi wrote:

My OH has 'social phobia' and we have a cleaner come in for 3 hours a week. I'm sure having the cleaner is more hassle than it's worth but he puts up with it as the cleaner helps ease my workload (OH has M.E. as well so i do most of the domestic jobs). He always goes and sits outside when she comes. Sits in the garden or in the shed if its raining for the whole 3 hours. He never sleeps the night before either, worrying about the cleaner coming - although it's the same lady every week!! Although he does love the clean house as she's a good cleaner. Also he won't answer the door or the phone. If we have a workman come round, he's upstairs out of the way when they are here. Even when his mum or my mum come round, he finds it extremely stressful and exhuasting.

It's really awful. When he does have to talk to people GP/consultants/social worker etc etc he comes across as a bumbling idiot who cannot speak properly. Not a man who, before his illness, was a middle-manager in charge of 350 people and was working towards his doctorate.



P.S. i have to admit to doing a quick clean up before the cleaner arrives - silly really isn;t it!

It's no fun Zziggi, either having a social phobia or living with someone who does.

If it's any consolation I understand all your O/H's fears, apart from the family calling round etc. I've lived through, and still am, all of what you mentioned.

I'm not sure what part M.E. might have played ... but IMHO, I think anything that dents your confidence, things like illness, recovering from operations, studying for exams etc, might be one of the reasons social phobias begin. But I'm only guessing there. It's all stressful stuff isn't it?

My heart does go out to you though. I really do understand.

Hopefully things will improve soon, however slowly

P.S. Yes, it is silly cleaning before the cleaner comes but I guess it's just an inbuilt pride thing? For instance, I'd have to throw any dirty underwear out of a window if I was expecting a cleaner. Or something just as stupid Not that I have dirty underwear hanging about btw!

Seriously, I hope things get much better, and soon

Sofa_Sogood

sans wrote:

Louis Vuitton, which should finally work out very cheap if I buy a classic and have it 'forever'.

Swiftly getting back on topic ... is it a luxury to own it, or to own it and use it? As in, do you take off the price tags and render it no longer as BNIB?

I've an awful habit of buying designer stuff - or having it bought for me as presents, yet don't use it until a "Sunday Best" day appears ...
... it rarely does

Does "classic" mean as I think (but forgot as I was reading) .... "used"?

some1shy

£35 a month for the gym...!! go 3-4 times a week...couldnt live without that my health is important to me..