Hey big spender!

 After a week of being so frugal I squeaked when I walked, today loosened up my wallet a bit! We walked into Liskeard this morning for a charity shop mooch. I bought this lovely blue top for £3 in the Hospice shop - excuse the mess in the back ground, I really should tidy up.

£6 - a bit steep but I haven't spent any money in ages.

 Later, we had a look around a second hand shop in Callington that specialised in furniture with some accessories too. I bought the lovely little harbour scene print, because it reminds me of Polkerris, although the real harbour wall doesn't have a light house.

£4 for the butter dish; I think it's really pretty!

I also bought this spotty butter dish. We don't eat butter but the soya marg tub fits inside perfectly. I promise I'll go back to my frugal ways and not spend any money on pretty things! Have any of you 'wasted' a few quid recently?

When the challenge becomes exciting.

 Many, many thanks to everyone who left such encouraging words yesterday. This blog reminds me every day what a wonderful world I live in as it is filled with so much compassion, common sense and good humour. Yesterday had challenges and today has had rewards. My daughter truly is a 'mini-froogs'. Sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin.

Very well meaning ex-husband bought son and daughter a flat in deepest darkest Devonport, in Plymouth. It was cheap and it's affordable for my son. However, very well meaning ex-husband has never bought a property (everything inherited) and literally bought the flat off a 'man down the pub'. It's worth what he paid for it but it's tatty and needs work. Lovely son of mine is a builder but on very short hours and is just paying the rent/mortgage and there's nothing left. Consequently, he hasn't been able to get the gas tested, the boiler serviced and there is no heat and no hot water. Tomorrow (not going to be a frugal day!) there will be. He has lived independently for years and it used to roughing it as a contractor, who sleeps where ever he lays his head. It was meant to be a home for our daughter too, but because of her inner turmoil; she took one look at a grimy damp flat and turned and never went back. Tomorrow, it will look a lot better and will be the start of becoming home for her, when she is ready to live there.

As I was saying, daughter is 'mini-froogs' and was delighted with our charity shop today. I took her shop to shop showing her what was cheap. Bedding, towels, tea-towels, crockery, saucepans, curtains and pennies and no where in comparison with new prices. She chose and I bought the following for her today.  A double quilt for £2, retro double sheets for £1 each, double duvet cover and pillow cases for £2, a shirt for 50p and one bath towel, two hand towels and a bath mat for £3. The loveliest thing she found was a set of curtains for £7.50 and I couldn't buy the material and make them for that. She was excited by the cheapness of everything and acknowledged that living independently was within her means, even if she has to temporarily claims benefits until she is well enough to work.

I've known plenty of teenagers in my career and very few embrace the second hand items that can make a place a home. She spent ages looking a crockery, cutlery and saucepans and was really friendly and chatty to the ladies in Salvation Army shop (my favourite, also one of my favourite charities and I always try to spend money in there).

She fully understood when I became excited to find a preserving pan for £5, also in the Sally Army shop as the pan I use at home (the cleaned out chip pan) isn't quite big enough and I'm always afraid that it will boil over. Depression comes and goes for her and today, although it was a strain to get  out, was an adventure for her and she had great fun.

Many thanks again for the kind words.

Until tomorrow, Froogs xxxx

Chuffed to bits!

I love reading the 'crafty blogs', where people make quilts, knit blankets and display the beautiful things they have made. I can't crochet. I am a crafty soul but I can only focus on one thing at a time, so in term time, that's school. I'm sure it will be next August before I finish the quilt that I started making last year. I most admire the beautiful coloured quilts that 'Bunny Mummy' makes, along with the crocheted bunting and decorations, she really is so clever. I didn't make the blanket that Bob the dog is modelling. It caught my eye in a charity shop window this morning. I saw it by chance as I took a different route to avoid the road works. There it was, draped over the display in the RSPCA shop window. I left work early and headed there to see if it was still for sale. They wanted £10 for it and I handed over the money as it would cost more than that in yarn and I even felt guilty that I didn't pay a bit more. Well, here it is, my lovely crocheted blanket. I'm chuffed to bits.