Lighthearted! What thing did you say you'd do as a sign you'd 'made it'?

[Tiredofitallagain]

I always said I'd know I'd 'made it' (whatever that means!) When I could go to M&S for my weekly shop!

DHs made it moment is when he can wake up on a spontaneous Saturday and decide to take us to Paris on a whim! (We are in UK)

Obviously his more exciting than mine but I guess for both it's about having enough disposable income to not feel guilt about 'luxury spontaneous' buys!

What are yours? Achieved? Gave you the thrill you thought?
(Ours as yet unacheived haha!)

Mine is the same as yours about doing a full weekly shop at M&S. I've never done it yet, only did a smaller shop at Christmas to make up a hamper for my elderly Dad. Cost a fortune for very little.

Having more than one holiday abroad each year was another sign 'We'd made it' We had 4 last year & have 4 planned this year. Much more satisfying than shopping in Marksies.

When I was in my very early 20s I earned a pittance working in an office next door to a shoe shop that sold Radley bags. I was fascinated by the picture bags and told myself that when I had a really good job one day and earned lots of money I would save up and buy a picture bag, or at least one of the purses with the little dog sitting in a deckchair at the seaside. At the time I was just about covering my rent and there was nothing left over to save, so it might as well have been Chanel for how out of reach it was.

By the time I could afford one my tastes had changed dramatically so I never did actually buy one.

Ooooh yes I have one of these. When I was in my 20s I had a very junior job and as part of the job I was in the back of a colleague's car dropping something off at a lovely old house in the country (not huge but inviting looking with a gate and pebble drive) and the owner came out to meet us saying she'd just been making jam - she then peered into the back of the car and gave me a really patronising, pitying smile. At that moment I thought, I want to have a lifestyle where I can be making jam at 11am on a Tuesday morning in my country house (in my head it has an Aga and Radio 4 is on).

I would say I'm halfway there (very grateful for that) but still some way to go!

PP’s story reminds me that when I was early 20s I went to a much more senior colleagues house for supper. I had never been invited for supper anywhere before. Colleague had a perfectly curated house and seemed effortlessly elegant. I remember thinking I aspire to be like this when I’m older. I can’t say I have achieved that but if I scrub myself and the house up both are quite presentable & that will do!