Welcome

Hello and welcome to my blog. I've been getting some thoughts & feelings, exasperations and the odd happy moment down on the blog which helps my sanity and, I hope, provides a little entertaining read for you for a couple of minutes!

Right now I am mostly concentrating on getting through a rocky financial patch which I really hope will be cleared (all being well) by the end of Summer 2013. In the meantime I need to concentrate on continuing to do well in my "new" job (actually got it in Sept 2011 but it still feels new!) and living my life as frugally as possible.

Thanks for stopping by and if you leave me an encouraging comment, it'll make my day. :-)

Friday 22 February 2013

I May Be Onto Something....

Evening readers, I am hoping you are well today? Well hooray anyway for Friday finally getting here! Reminds me of this (excuse the rude word...hopefully you're not easily offended):




Well this week, work has had its ups & downs again but I have mostly managed to keep a lid on things and just get on with it. I also feel cheerier for a few reasons:

Firstly, with regards to my finances, I have had an(other) epiphany! I realised I have been trying in the past to pay off debts too fast. I have tried (and failed) to meet unrealistic budgets which have just led to frustration and misery.

So...my debt repayments are coming down and stretching out a bit longer. Luckily I have 0% on the outstanding debt till April 2014. I was trying to beat the debt down by October time until I just realised I don't have to put myself under this pressure. The card is cut up, I can't add to the debt. I'm going to ease up and make sure it's cleared before the interest kicks in.

But this can be me all over: impatient! I have learned to curb that impatience in other areas of life as I matured, finance is the next area to conquer. Slowly but very very surely is the way. Slow progress is better than no progress. And that realisation sinking in; it feels good!

Secondly - let's talk about luxury. What's your favourite luxury?

In recent times I have stopped just buying "stuff". If I don't need it or it won't be used regularly, or if there is any doubt as to whether it'll "suit" (me or the house) then it doesn't get bought. I don't like clutter and I am not an avid collector of anything. (Erm, except maybe clothes!)

But there are some things I positively enjoy spending my money on: my proper little luxuries! These little luxury things are over & above decent skincare & affordable professional haircare which I refuse to feel guilty about. I don't really class those as luxuries, though others might. I just class them as regular maintenance for a woman who wants to look as good as she can do for her age. I am not going to pay good money for my car to get looked after then ignore my own face & hair! Sod that.

So anyway, we've all got something we'll scrape the pennies together for haven't we? OK they aren't always classified as luxuries but money is quite often found for things that people enjoy.

For some it's alcohol, drugs or cigarettes. For some people it's nights out. For some it's craft goods, football game attendance, music downloading, SKY+ or the Movie Channel....the list goes on but you get the picture!

So what are these things I gleefully hand over my coins for? Mmmmmmmmmm....gorgeously fragranced things! I am such a sucker for them.



I discovered very very recently and am currently in love with, Lenor's Gold Orchid fabric conditioner and have stocked up whilst it is on special in Tesco! I have made do for a long time with Aldi or other supermarket own brand stuff which does a job, I am not saying it doesn't, but frankly, once I used this stuff, I thought there's no going back! I am really looking forward to washing my bedding in it this weekend - how sad is that?!?

I also adore gorgeously scented shower gels and body lotions and feel so good when wrapped in vanilla, coconut or some other subtle fragrance. Dove soap is also an indulgence. I don't always buy it but when I do, it's heavenly.

Incense cones for after dinner are also a must. I try and get them from an online retailer who happen to be based in my part of town so they deliver for free.

It's hardly a secret that I like shopping for clothes, I definitely have the clothes shopping gene, but I love bargain shopping. Getting a bargain in a charity shop is a real thrill and it's a bonus that my cash goes to a worthy cause. Getting that item home then putting it through the wash, coming out smelling fresh was always a little treat but now I can't wait to find another bargain and use my new Lenor!


I would also like to share one last thing which may be contributing to my better mood. I can't say for sure that it is this, but it may well be helping: I take Oil of Evening Primrose for prevention of breast cysts and also to ease PMT. I used to take one 1000mg capsule in the evening. Now I have changed to 1 x 500mg in the morning and 1 x 500mg in the evening. So I guess my bloodstream is being kept "topped up" with it.

I wonder if this is helping me just take things a bit easier and relaxing a bit more? If it is then what a wonderfully natural way to feel better. Cheaper than regular bottles of wine & boxes of chocolates too!

Thanks for sticking with me (if you've read this far) I will admit that this post was written from a very girly perspective which won't appeal to everyone.

Take care and bye for now. Here's hoping you all have a great weekend.

x

5 comments:

  1. It's good to be realistic about how much you can afford to pay off every month without stressing yourself unduly. What I do is pay off a moderate amount and if there is some cash left over each month add that to the amount as an 'extra'.

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  2. Been reading your blog for a wee while now and just decided to say Hi. Had the same problems with my last job as you and am still not quite ready to look for another. I agree with the being realistic over how much to pay and my little luxury is blue Lenor, I love to put my clean smelling pjs on at night, than I just take a deep breath and forget about that day.
    Maysie

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  3. I love this post! You have made feel less guilty about buying decent skincare and having my hair highlighted every 6 months or so though I scrimp on everything else I just cant give these two things up so thanks for making me feel better!

    Amanda x

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  4. I so agree with your comments - I love to have a nice house magazine but some of them are touching £4 now - I've cut back to just 1 or 2 a month and I did consider cutting those out completely but like you I do a stressful though rewarding job (and commute) and same as you I came to the decision that I work hard enough - theres got to be some little reward other than just paying tax, N.I. petrol and bills - so I stick to just 2 magazines per month.
    But when you are trying to be sensible its easy to get into the mindset that we shouldn't have these little luxuries even though we do deserve the occasional trest xxx

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  5. My favourite luxury is a Saturday afternoon nap with the radio on listening to the football. Second is a shower after exercising, third a raisin bagel with almond butter and greengage jam.

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