So I’m not going
to drone on about our economies current recession, as we hear enough about it on
the news and radio and let face it.
It’s depressing!!
Depending on what
country or industry we are in, we are all feeling it in different waves and
ways. Some businesses are
flourishing and some are struggling and diminishing.
I myself am
feeling the strain. The industry
I am in is feeling the effects at this time more than ever before. However,
I cannot completely blame the economy as for me I personally have come to a
crossroad in my career, in which I need to develop, grow and go out on a limb
also to boost my business.
So whether you
are sitting pretty at the moment – then fantastic. Or if you are on Struggle Street we still need to remember
we are not alone, learn to make do, improvise and always be grateful for what
we do have.
So for us, we have
always been homebodies and not huge socialites. However it always feels great when we do have a bit of a
date night, splurge and go out for dinner or go to the movies, catch up with
friends or go to an event. Events;
I love being invited to events, birthdays, weddings, engagements whatever it is a great
reason to get out in turn celebrating a special occasion.
But with special
occasion’s come costs and when your not sitting flush this can put a bit of
downer on your enthusiasm of something you enjoy so much. There’s the present, the travel,
maybe accommodation, time off work and not to mention, “what am I going to wear”?
I know myself, as
much as I persist in my mind that I can just wear that dress from two years ago
that I wore to such and suches wedding, when I actually put it on; it looks
just as stunning as a skin on sausage and always ends in a tear. Because, I can’t speak for others my
age but Mothers, you’re not the only ones feeling the effects of a 30 something year
old body. I may not have had kids
but this lower body and thighs are hell bent in reminding me that I too have
good child bearing hips. And every
year I don’t bear they scream a little louder and wider. Honestly I’m pretty sure I saw my
stomach crease line in the mirror smirking at me the other day and my always
negative bellybutton chiming in with all its roundness exclaiming OOOOWwww. So I by no means am saying my body has
gone through all that a Mother has, not at all – just that children or no
children it's no spring chicken!.
So the next step
is finding an outfit, because there is no way that I am going to suck myself in
all day or night or resist the temptation to sit or eat, in fear of my attire
splitting and having a costume malfunction and lets face it, if you don’t look
good you never feel good!! hence you won't have a good time.
Which is where
recession dressin comes into effect.
How to find spare
cash when the funds are low? Save
money in other areas! For the next
few weeks I usually cut my spending down on Groceries and things that we don’t
really need straight away. A few
weeks of doing a pov shop (budget
shop) you can save a lot. And why
can we do this???. Because
we are chummies. With no
dependents we don’t have all the additional expenses of feeding and raising a family. If I had children I wouldn’t dream of
not providing what they need, in fact that's one of my worst fears but when its just the two or one of you its no
major drama. I think it also helps
you to learn to improvise at meal times, stretch your meals and learn to budget. As well as
ways to avoid any wasted food. Which in
turn may be good prep for if you do intend to have a family.
Nothing drove
this home to us more so than when we went on a trip to Africa recently (another
reason we are slightly on struggle street, but have no regrets what so ever in
going). The happiness of the
people was resonated in every town we went to. They survived on little or little selection in foods and
always made the most of every piece of the produce they had.
So for us I’m not
talking about starving yourselves for the sake of a some fancy frills. Just a few weeks of non gourmet meals
- Please note though for us gourmet simply means the addition of something like
chorizos, haloumi, fetta or any other lettuce than iceberg on our grocery list.
My shopping
habits have become so budget conscious anyway that I now hate buying anything
full price. Any meat bought is
reduced, and I’m not talking old and grey there are limits to budget shopping!! I only get the fresh produce in season
and on special and if the dog food or toilet paper is on special, I buy …..
eeeek I dread saying this because I used to go to peoples places and think they
were nutsack in buying so many of one thing but yes “my name is chummy and I
buy in bulk”. I don’t buy
perishables in bulk, as you have to be realistic, there are only two of us so how
many potatoes, carrots or tinned products can you eat. And my one pet hate is toot paper so if there
is an endless supply in the cupboard (2 ply on special, never cut the budget to one ply
seriously do they even make that anymore) I don’t have to make
a special trip to get them.
So with these
budget saving techniques on hand I now have some money to get an outfit for the
event we have to attend. And you
guessed it – I also refuse to buy anything full price. If you keep a keen eye out and pay
attention to the brands that you like you can get them on promotion and when
they are on sale. Sale ?#$@!! you
say, I know! I am not a big shopper at all, I really don’t like rummaging
through racks, loads of people, waiting in cues for the changerooms and then trying
on a dress that has every Betsy’s shade of foundation or lipstick around the
neckline. Because lets face it,
this is still your hard earned cash; you want something that is fresh, new and
current style. Which is where if you
sign up to your favorite brand websites, like them on facebook or generally are aware of reduction times you will always
be in the know – In fact I have an email dedicated to all the junk sites that I
have signed up too. Therefore they
don’t clutter my inbox and even though I hardly open them when I need to, it is
so beneficial.
So now you have a
new dress, maybe shoes and you are ready to go out, on the very rare occasions that you get to go to. Feeling good and
looking great. Plus your husband
or partner will be loving your styles too.
Do you have any money saving tips, I would love to hear them???
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