I know what you’re thinking! I really must clean that mirror, the reflection is dirtier than the mirror and I will get some vinegar on it after I’ve finished this blog. And yes, that is Buzz Lightyear on the top of my wardrobe! Foster Mummy and I hit the charity shops today. I bought the Tracey Boyd striped skinny jumper in the Doggy Charity shop off the 50p rail and the Principles jacket was off the 75p rail in the Sally Army shop. The jumper is great for the weekend with shorts or a pair of jeans and the jacket will co-ordinate well with black or grey trousers for work.

I must add though, that I’m not intending to stay a size 14 so I won’t be buying too many clothes. In the meantime, I’ll keep my eyes open for bargains that will give me a few alternatives to the clothes I have that fit me. Most are too big but I’ve still got all of my size 12 suits and smart clothes and hopefully, I will be going back to school in them this September.

Anyone else get any incredible bargains this weekend?

Until tomorrow,

Love Froogs xxxx

Was £14 - now £7

I’m in the luxurious position of being able to afford a few new bits of clothes here and there. I usually shop in charity shops, car boots sales and even jumble sales. I’m the most popular size. Size 16. Any one who is that size, will know, most of the popular items soon disappear in the shops and there is little if anything in that size in charity shops. I’m also 5′ 10″ so most things are not long enough. I have to buy size 18 in cheaper shops such as Matalan, New Look or H&M. I just can’t afford to shop in places like Dingles, John Lewis or M&S. I also find that items in charity shops can be over £5, therefore, it’s often cheaper to buy new.

If and when I buy new clothes, they come from the big discount stores or the supermarket and I even bought a work suit on a discount (with money back vouchers) from Tesco. I’m thrilled to have bought: one jacket, one jumper and two cardigans for £36.50 and I even managed to find a free delivery code, so that is all they cost me. I also bought it through Quidco and got a further 7.5% cashback. Reducing the amount to £33.76. I saved really hard earlier in the year to buy some work clothes, and as I usually miss the sales; I’m thrilled that I was up early enough to buy these well needed warm clothes today. Thanks Matalan. BTW. This is not a sponsored post!

Those of an easily offended nature can stop reading now! I was up really early this morning and watched some recorded TV. I sat and munched my toast and drank my tea and watched Rick Stein’s ‘Cornish Christmas’. I then headed back to bed. No amount of affection would rouse the snoring Dearly Beloved! I must be losing my charm! So……………I went shopping instead!!! The moral of this is! More marital harmony leads to less shopping!!!!

6 a.m Firstly, sorry about the flash reflection but here goes with the next part of the frugal capsule wardrobe. Today I am wearing: charity shop skirt £2 (Woodside Animal Shelter shop) Black tights 3 pairs of 70 denier tights for £2 (Matalan) Black long sleeved T shirt, now over 2 years old £2.99 from Primark and my reduced jacket from Matalan £14. In answer to ‘Damn the Broccoli’ - I feel good about myself and I would encourage all women to do the same. The fashion industry can only make you feel unworthy if you let it, social expectation will only damage your self esteem if you let it. I am, as you can see, a wide hipped, wobbly bummed size 16 and DB can’t keep his hands off one bit of me. I wear what I think looks good on me, I don’t take any notice of fashion. If I like it, if I need it, if I can afford it then I might own it. I’m happy with who I am, what I look like.

6 p.m I’ve added this after reading Pixie’s comments this evening. I’ve come to terms with being me over the last 45 years. It didn’t happen over night. I’ve had periods of self-loathing, body consciousness, dieting, and insecurity. All of those are part of maturing. I’ve learnt the most valuable asset I have is my brain. I learnt to value myself when I went to night school at 32 years old with nothing more than a few O levels, take an Access course and get into University. I spent three years studying, working hard when it stressed me out, going with the fear and the pain and doing it anyway. Life still scares me from time to time, but it’s OK to be scared. Part of me came alive when I graduated; I felt validated, intelligent and I have really achieved something.

I then battled through teacher training and took the toughest route of the Graduate Teacher Programme and worked full time as a teacher and trained at the same time. After qualifying as a teacher, I was turned down from the first five interviews I went to, on the sixth interview, I got a job. I threw myself into my career and after only teaching for four years became a Head of English in another school. Every day, even though I’m scared, even though I worry, I go to work and do my best and make a difference to the lives of hundreds of kids who depend on me. I feel validated, intelligent and I have really achieved something.

In all of this, you don’t hear me mentioning any one else. I had to do this for me. I’m the girl who left home at sixteen, was a single mum at 19, divorced at 24, a single mum again, remarried a total bastard, escaped a violent home, now with two kids and learnt to pull myself together and get on with it. There’s no time for regrets and there is only today and the rest is the future. I am responsible for me, my emotions and my well being. I have to value myself as there are those who don’t and they really don’t matter. No man who ever squeezed my bum ever wished it was smaller and I never realised until I hit 40 what an attractive woman I am. I haven’t always felt this way but I enjoy every moment of feeling like this now. I have down days like everyone else, but in the main, I really value my life, my family, my friends, where I live, the world I live in. I found my own way to being totally beautiful and happy with who I am, may every woman do the same…………….although, like me, you might have to wait a while. Love Froogs xxxx

A lot of my clothes were brand new, but I didn’t buy them in a shop. I love eBay and the fact that people sensibly sell clothes they’ve never worn. I’m wearing a pair of really smart, Per Una trousers, which I bought for £7 including packing and they still had the tags. The scarf was from H&M, it was an deliciously expensive gift from Dearly Beloved at £5, but I wear it with so many things. It was bought originally to snazz up a dress that I wore to our friends’ wedding a few years ago, so although it was expensive, it gets a lot of wear. The black T shirt was a charity shop find and the cardigan was a recent acquisition from Matalan. It’s a ‘dress down’ Friday outfit. We had a training day today so I could relax a bit.

Sorry about the lighting, but here I am in another Per Una creation, again bought from eBay. This cost me around £25 including packing and postage, but again, was brand new with tags and never worn. It would have cost approx. £100 if I bought it from Marks and Spencer, it’s pure wool and makes me feel very elegant when I wear it. The ‘pashmina’ was bought off a street trader in Plymouth who sold three scarves for £10, again a lovely gift from Dearly Beloved who knows I have as many girly weaknesses as the next woman.

I’m not even half way through my capsule wardrobe and I’ll keep this going until I’ve worn every variation of every outfit. Gok Wan (fashion expert who makes women of any shape look lovely) always says, it’s about having a few key pieces. For me, it’s items that can mix and match and having colourful scarves or a bright jumper which just make an outfit. My most expensive item is my wool coat and most of my other pieces are a mixture of charity shop, eBay and discount fashion stores; it’s about wearing them well and making what you have work for you.

As ever, Froogs xx

More of Froogs at 6am! It’s a tough one, but never mind the expense, every teacher is expected to own a suit or two. I’m wearing a £22.40 suit from Tesco, with a £2.95 long sleeved T shirt from Primark and a charity shop pink Per Una scarf £1. I’ll often wear the items separately to make the suit last longer or to vary the smart working clothes wardrobe. When I started teaching, all my suits came from Dingles, went on the credit card and just to keep up the appearances. I then ‘down graded’ to Next and thought that was a compromise. Now in Frugal world, Tesco will do. It was more than that but I bought it when all the clothes had a 20% discount. It’s a training day tomorrow, so head to toe charity shop it will be!

Here’s the frugal wardrobe, second addition. Grey skirt (charity shop), yes, the same as yesterday and I won’t wash it for a while. I won’t wear it tomorrow but it will be hung up and put away, along with the red cardigan. The cardigan is £14 from Matalan and the white long sleeved t-shirt is an old favourite that goes with anything. I’m making a ‘Tupperware special’ for lunch as I never buy lunch, and always make my own for 50p instead of buying lunch for £3.50 (£700 a year if I buy lunch, £100 if I make my own……….I’ll make the time to save £600!)

I wore the same black shoes, black thick tights - I even wear those for two days; they just don’t get dirty. I used to wear clothes once and then wash them straight away, not only does it ruin your clothes, it’s an environmental disaster and a waste of money when they are not dirty in the first place. I had lovely compliments at work today about my lovely new red cardigan and I felt really special wearing it.

I asked Dearly Beloved to take my photo at six this morning. I’m always up and ready by then. It’s pitch black outside and I leave for work at 6.30 on the dot every morning. We walk, chatting usually, to the station for me to catch the 6.50 train to work. I get off the other end and walk to my ‘office’ and I’m at my desk by 7.30 prompt. I thought I would show off part of the wardrobe of ‘new’ clothes. The jacket is from Matalan and was half price at £14; the skirt is from the local hospice charity shop. The scarf is eight years old and the jumper I have on underneath, is also a charity shop find. I stick to neutral shades when I wear trousers or skirts. My shoes are always black, so are my tights. Any thing will go with that.

I colour my own hair, I buy my ‘award winning’ skin care and make up from Aldi (£1.99 for Q10 moisturiser, 89p for cleanser, £3.99 for their version or touche eclat, £1.99 for mascara, £1.99 for eyeliner and £1.99 for lipstick.). I have a managerial job and have to look smart, parents can come in and see me at any time and visitors can turn up to the school at a moment’s notice. Looking smart or stylish (I think I’m more smart than stylish) does not cost much. I’m a fan of Gok Wan and love the ‘wardrobe’ he puts together for his ‘client’ at the end of the programme, where all the clothes go together in one way or another, which means everything that person has in their cupboard gets worn and not wasted. I have been asked to show how to put such a small ‘wardrobe’ together and I will endeavour to do this over the next few days. Froogs xx