To ask what you’ve bought to cheer yourself up

[Stuckinarut79]

A lot of this time has been great and a real eye opener as to how many material things we don’t need. But I’m really struggling now and feel like a treat, money’s tight but I’ve spent way less than usual, so looking for an idea on a bit of a treat. What have you bought that’s made you smile?

Railway sleepers and compost to build raised beds in the garden
An ooni pizza oven (already been used a lot!)
Kenwood chef (to make pizza dough easier to do)
New big paddling pool and inflatable flamingo to go in it!

• craft stuff eg mod podge and gold leaf. I’m doing up some old bits of furniture that I would otherwise have replaced.
• some bits of fabric - I’ve been making cushion covers
• decorative vinyl and a big wall sticker for a mini-makeover of the family bathroom

So stuff that has an element of “doing” and which makes the house a bit nicer. I do not have masses of free time as I’m working full time alongside the kids (I’m lucky my husband does most of the homeschooling but that’s because his work and income have dried up) but the removal of going-out options has really reminded me how much I like making things, and I didn’t do as much before cos I was always out at work, or slumped in front of the tv at the end of the day, or feeling I must be constantly taking the children out for improving activities. My mindset has changed about how I want to spend what bits of time I have.

A £200 jacket. Band merch. Hand sewn patches. I admire it, carefully folded and trying to keep cat hair off it, while not being able to actually wear it out and about. Never spent so much on an item of clothing in my life but it's beautiful! One day...

A USB blender.

It's amazing. I'm doing an iced coffee every morning and really enjoying it. www.amazon.co.uk/Portable-Rechargeable-BPA-Free-Smoothies-Sboly/dp/B07TWDJLRQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?hvlocphy=9046823&psc=1&hvnetw=g&keywords=usb+blender&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzREMxMlpQS0JXSlREJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzYxNTY5MUtKMVo3TlFLOU1HTyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzIyNzExUlJZRUlVRkRQVVgzJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfcGhvbmVfc2VhcmNoX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=&hvadid=267187795875&qid=1590448646&dchild=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw2a32BRBXEiwAUcugiOOXOLmSMQG7yeswIpTgPqlC3pe-A8r8Awda-cke67-ziLg6gjVT8hoCJacQAvD_BwE&hydadcr=3227_1757495&hvdev=m&hvqmt=e&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=kwd-307255723110&adgrpid=57641857129&hvrand=4612634692207877218&sr=8-2-spons

A proper apron. I've had a ratty cheap one for ages and wanted a better one. www.amazon.co.uk/Comfortable-Claccic-Fashion-Kitchen-Daughter/dp/B071ZYWTNJ/ref=mp_s_a_1_16?dchild=1&keywords=Women%27s+Apron&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1590448808&sr=8-16

It's so pretty and cheers me up every time I put it on.

Pyjamas, trainers, T shirts, shorts, colouring books, books, chocolate, airpods & smart watch when they finally arrive & a new laptop next week.

A charcoal sketch set and sketchbook.

I've found a website that sells secondhand books for €2 so I'm going to order some.

Also lots of books on kindle 😂😂😂

I've spent a small fortune on Amazon trying to find the perfect pillow. Still searching...

A set of 6 pritsticks and 5 very expensive rubbers that rub out without smudging. I think I need more ambition in my cheering up strategies.

Shit ton of food from Ocado. My weekly bill is ridiculous.

Howmanytoes have you tried an OTTY pillow? They are pricey (I think they’re pricey - £60ish) but SO worth it! I used to sleep with several pillows all bunched up but only need one OTTY.

I haven’t bought anything exciting over lockdown- spending more buying food at the local co-op as its tricky to get to a large supermarket.

New Mac lipsticks
T-shirt - on sale
Plimsolls (shiny multi-coloured stripes) on sale
Book
IKEA garden chair
Handbag - on sale 40% off
Wallet/purse - on sale
Umbrella - on sale
New luggage- on sale 60% off

I had a lot of time on my hands!

Far too many books on Kindle (I'm working my way through all Georgette Heyer's books in chronological order)
Decent scissors to cut my hair
Chocolate
A dress from Popsy
Some graphite pencils
Art materials(I regularly buy these, but I've spent more than usual)

I'm reading the Sharpe series. I didn't realise there was so many books!

A gold MacBook Air refurbished from Apple

I needed a laptop

lovelost there is a lovely one on sale at Aldi £429 Medion who are made by Levono, I've had one of their ones before, it was the best laptop I've ever had.

Junk food, colouring books and felt tips, a ridiculously expensive Disney hoodie. Spending so much.

Wine. Loads of wine.
And a jade face roller.

An Apple Watch.

Lots of craft beer, some nice summer clothes , an amazingly comfortable but lovely looking pair of Sandals and a long awaited new mattress

Some really lush flavoured gins and vodkas to stock up our (groaning) alcohol shelf. We love making all different weird and wonderful cocktails and these will really help. MIL also gave us an unopened large bottle of plum and cinnamon gin yesterday, 4 x fruit flavoured gin liquors (50ml each) and a bottle of merlot. Ideal.

@howmanytoes

Try this pillow! It’s brilliant and you get a 30 day trial so if you don’t like it you can send it back. I have had the memory foam one for a year or so now and it has revolved all neck pain issues. Definitely worth a try!

www.evesleep.co.uk/pillows?utm_medium=paid_search&utm_source=google&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=uk_brand_product&utm_campaign=Brand_Product&utm_term=eve%20pillow&utm_uk_medium=paid_search&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIv8r73frQ6QIViKztCh235ApDEAAYASAAEgJ4Z_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have rediscovered my breadmaker and am loving trying different things, so lots of ingredients.

Otherwise, several t shirts but not an awful lot else. Oh a random handbag purchase which turned out to be more purple than I thought it would so not sure how much I will be using it yet.

DH has bought loads of bits for the garden and is turning into Tom from the Good Life!

@Ireolu
Thanks. Off to search. It looks as though I’ll be WFH for the foreseeable so will need good coffee!