Can I justify spending £170 on a "treat"?

Luckystepho

Hi Mrs Tine, I think that the big difference is that a) you can afford it and b) you are still reducing your debts by a considerable amount each month so glad you have gone for it!
Your hesitation shows how your attitude to spending must have changed, and I get the impression that once you are debt free you will stay that way!

MrsTinks

Sorry it's taken me a wee while to catch up here again Working away really puts a crimper on things
I take on your points about riding and pregnancy - we're wanting to start a family but it will probably be 2 months now before we start trying in earnest. I'm off the pill as of today and on the folic acid to give my system a chance to clear it self out before we start trying.
I know riding isn't on the recommended list for pregnant women (although I have to say it didn't do my mother and I any harm - she was still riding when she had quite a bump although only gentle hacks. Only downside was that as soon as I could walk I wanted to get up on top of the horses... So it's all my mum fault really!)
Swimming... Ok this is fession time... I hate public pools... I find them gross to the extreem... Certainly all the pools I've ever visited have not been clean to a standard where I'd be willing to jump in. Come the time when I'm pregnant we're thinking of seeing if we can get a "non 12 month membership" to the local golf club so that I can use the pools there. It's got jacuzzis and spa pools etc and is meticulously clean! I'm not saying public pools aren't clean - just that I have a bit of a OCD issue about it. It's in my head and most of it is probably imaginary... but I can't pysically bring myself to do it

Right gang - I went last night! What was supposed to have been 30 minutes 1-2-1 to make sure I knew the front end of the horse from the butt magically became a 1 hour group lesson once they realised in fact I DID know what I was doing... I might have gotten a smidgen big for my boots and when everyone else were hopping over the jumps I thought it was a super idea... and so it was... if my ankles hadn't been weaker than a 40 year old elastic band!
I was doing fine on their laziest plodding old sod who btw isn't keen on jumping - until we went for a 3 foot fence (yes I'm stupid) the 3rd time... I figured we'd fit in 2 short strides... He figured that hey this jumping lark was kinda fun and lengthened his stride and only put in one and the biggest jump I think he's ever produced! We landed together, I lost a stirrup, he figured it was safer to stop as obviously I was coming off and I tought he was carrying on... And now my butt hurts! :rotfl:
I honestly don't know why I ever stopped riding... (well I do - I moved loads and at the time I earnt 1\3rd or what I do now...) Despite making a fool of myself I walked in the door at home with the biggest grin on my face you have ever seen! I had forgotten just how happy riding makes me...
At the moment I work long hours, I drive to Exeter usually once a week and I have to deal with some of our largest clients. I didn't really realise that I had forgotten that sometimes I need ME time - I kinda of got used to me time being in the house waiting for hubby to get home... The feeling of being able to go and forget about everything for an hour and just concentrate on me and the horse, and being in total control of something... *sigh* I should have gone back a lot earlier!

Long term plan - have a break when pregnant - then go back again, get fit and get a share if we can afford it

I'm sore, I'm in pain - and I can't WAIT till next week

I'm glad I did it...

MrsTinks

firesidemaid wrote: »

we have spent lots on dog training in the past - even went to the best in the country for £250!

we have the same problems as you regarding other dogs. none of it has worked until recently - we now have a dog trainer in the same village as us who not only does individual lessons for £20/hour (or £10/half hour) but we can also pop in our house if we have any probs.

we had 1 and a 1/2 hours private lessons between the 2 dogs individually, got great new but simple leads for only £5. she is honest, doesn't think she knows everything and inspires us with lots of confidence which makes the training easier and better.

the best bit is that normally we avoid other dogs in the village. now one evening a week for £5/hour we take them to dog training with 6-8 other dogs, and they do training and fun stuff together and all the dogs behave and get on really well - it's not 100% yet but we're well on the way.

if you live in the east mids i'd recommend her. o/wise i'd say you can get through several trainers before you find one who suits/works with you and your dog. for us, having someone close, on hand and with the opportunity to train with other dogs in a safe environment has been the key.

good luck and don't give up on your dog x

I know what you mean and Kira and I have attended training lessons and what have you's and private lessons and whilst we've made huge progress and managed to earn our Good Citizen Gold Award from the Kennel Club, then she STILL has a problem with other dogs on the leash...
I would say she goes as far as being red zone at times if they bark back at her!
I'm hoping that this trainer can help us as I've seen her work and I agree with her methods and I guess nothing ventured right?

I love my dog and I want her to be as perfect as possible for when we have kids - in the house she's 99% perfect, she gets a little excited when people arrive, but even that is improving. It's just this one thing I can't seem to crack...

I will let you know how we get on though

MrsTinks

Oh and Tyllwyd, I know there are other ways of getting fit too that don't cost £20 a week... but the sheer destress factor is so fantastic... I have a very stressful job as a Partner Operations Manager in one of Europes largest ISPs and I think if I tried to concieve whilst I was this stressed... It probably wouldn't be healthy. I'm going to speak to the riding school about when I do get pregnant and see if they or somewhere near here does driving - that I could carry on quite late into my pregnancy so would still be moving about grooming the horses but also get the destress factor. I already know how to drive (the horses my uncle breeds are the sulky trotting ones so used to sit in flimsy little buggies when I was a kid - it's much more popular in Denmark than classical galop racing) and I seem to enter a totally different zone when I'm with horses...
I think you are right though, I did want to justify it to myself, but I'm really glad I did I feel happy (if sore) today in a way I haven't for a long time
Off to work now - catch you all later!

MrsTinks

Just to update everyone about my riding Apart from coming off the first lesson butt first then I'm loving it! My back is still sore from the flying lesson I had but improving. I did go see the doc to make sure I hadn't done anything really bad! But I'm fine - just sore. Last 2 lessons have been mainly flat work and a couple of jumps and judging by last night I'll be fit to start jumping again next week. I might have one more jumping lesson and then return to dressage as I'm finding myself really enjoying that challenge.
This morning I'm not in pain or stiff so obviously my fitness is improving too!
The only pain is when I come to pay as £20 is still difficult to hand over! I just can't help feeling bad spending money!!! Martin what have you done to me!!! :rotfl:

LilMissEmmylou

awww Tine, only just seen this thread and Im so glad you went back to riding. If I had the spare cash, Id so be back at it too - it really is he only sport/fitness thing that I enjoy, so well worth the money imo! So dont feel bad spending it lol. Would it be worth you making friends with some people at the yard and perhaps offering to help out if they needed it? You could end up with an extra night a week to go riding in exchange for feeding, mucking out and grooming

Prudent

Go for the riding. I rode at that stage, even though I was very short of money. I don't regret it. I have never been able to ride regually since due to cost.

Karmacat

Hey Mrs Tine
I don't know you even on the boards, let alone RL, but I have to say your last posts especially have really brought a smile to my face. How wonderful! Good for you for spending that money, and for thinking about it and deciding to do it anyway. Life *is* for living, you're coping with the debt, you *have* to destress, I think its great that you're going for it.

MrsTinks

Thanks gang!
I'd love to make friends with people at the stables, my problem just that I work very long hours and I can't see myself putting on several hours a week to earn freebie lessons It's just not plausible with the job and the hours I do - especially as I have put thursday evenings in stone as being untouchable - that means occassionally I have to be flexible about other days and my site visits. Boo hiss!

Karmacat I'm glad I made you smile You're right - I'm coping with the debt, reasonably well in fact! And although I'm £80 out of pocket a month then it's not like I've started an enormous spending spree after finally managing to let go of that first cheque for £20 :rotfl:

I'm still humming and ha'ing about the dog training... What if we DON'T find a solution to the problem with the dog, then all that money will be wasted! I just can't spend money easily!!! Terrible really lol!

Horace

MrsT - am so glad that you are enjoying your horseriding. Sounds more like trick riding to me complete with free flying lessons:rotfl: I only wish that I could go riding, I have lost confidence and cannot see to dismount because I have no idea where the ground is (blame my lack of peripheral vision in my left eye - or any vision for that matter:rolleyes: ).

Everyone deserves ME time.

I have some cheap ME time coming up next week as I am getting a half price cut and colour at the local hairdressers (its training day on Wednesday), I was also naughty a couple of weeks ago and spent £114 in the beauty parlour some on treatments but mainly on products:eek: but I don't really care.

Hope you carry on enjoying your ME time and you'll be pregnant before you know it:j