Recent thriftiness

It's been lovely and sunny here for the last few days (although the temperature is dropping in the evening and it's now possible to sleep under the duvet instead of on top!), so we have been making the most of it and enjoying some lovely walks along the seafront.  There's always something to watch and look at, even if it's just the comings and goings of the various ferries across the Solent.

I've continued with a bit of dead-heading in the garden.  It's a job I really don't mind at all as it makes me get 'up close and personal' with the plants.  It also means I can spot any unwanted seedlings (the verbena bonarensis self-seeded a couple of years ago and it's been a battle of wits between us - I like to think I just about have the upper hand now) and weeds that might be taking hold.

However, there's also time for making things.  We're off on our hols at the weekend, and so far my expenditure for this has been £3, on a baseball cap to keep the sun out of my eyes.  I haven't bought any new clothes or shoes or accessories to co-ordinate with outfits, I just wear what I have.  I'm not out to make a fashion statement at all, we just want to have a quiet time together.

This is a photo of a beach wrap I bought on a trip to India several years ago.  I have another wrap in turquoise, or at least I did:

it's now a kaftan and belt, just right for covering up to and from the beach, or for breakfast on the balcony.  It was a bit of a trial and error as far as a pattern was concerned.  To begin with I folded the wrap in half, sewed side seams (leaving armholes) and across the shoulders.  This resulted in the 'pillowcase look' - not very flattering at all ;-).  I realised that some shaping was required and have just shaped under the arm (the photo shows it quite well), and straight down the side seams so I've reduced the width of the kaftan a fair bit.  The belt is made from the surplus fabric, and just gives a bit of shape.  Total cost = nothing.

N and I both enjoy reading and doing puzzles when we're travelling and on the beach, but we a bit shocked when we saw the price of puzzle-books in the newsagent.  A bit of lateral thinking, and N has come up with a solution.

A sudoku board, made from a scrap of wood found in the shed, with a bulldog clip stuck on to hold puzzles.  A couple of years ago N was given four books of sudoku for Christmas, and he enjoys testing himself with the really difficult ones.  That means the easy ones are left, but they are the ones that I prefer, so he's taken a few from each book and put them on my sudoku board, and stocked his up with the toughies.  Pencils and rubber in a little bag and we are set to keep our brains ticking over on holiday.  And the cost?  Nothing.

And finally, I cut my hair this morning.  Usually I've just given the fringe and side bits a trim and asked N to tidy up the bit at the back, but today I tackled the whole lot myself.  My hair is wavy (and past a certain length it has a tendancy to actually curl into ringlets - LOL - not a good look for the more mature lady, especially one who is decidedly grey!) but it does mean that I can get away with a not-quite-perfect cut.  Having said that, I'm really quite pleased with my effort, and getting rid of the very grey/white hair around my face does, I have to admit, make me feel better.  I have finally embraced going grey, I haven't had my hair coloured now since before last Christmas, and I haven't spent money on having it cut at all this year.  If I had had my hair cut 6 times between January and now, at a cost of £15.00 (about what I used to pay for a dry trim), that would have cost me £90.  A cut and blow dry at £25.00 would have added up to £150, and I'm not even going to think about highlights.  I don't have an income (by choice, I agree) other than a very small amount of savings interest each month, so my money must be spent wisely, and having done the sums, I can't justify spending my few pennies on something I can do myself.