Freedom from guilt...for a while!

This thread is really cheering me up. It is life enhancing and positive. Much better than threads that reinforce all the cliches of old age.

Lets have more of them.

I sometimes think that I have become a child as I have grown older; childhood was quite stifling, home was a quiet and I now realise unhappy place. I have such delight in small things, being silly with the grandchildren is one, and seeing humour in the ridiculous and pompous. I don't need expensive amusements - and several bottles of nail polish and a boxful of new lipsticks would certainly 'spark joy'.

I'm all for this.

I'm very about pleasing my inner child with unicorn handbags and butterfly things.

This is the very definition of self care. Have fun

My doctor advised me to be frivolous and buy or do something that I generally regarded as non- essential. I started having my nails done. That was 20 years ago and it’s now a monthly routine. I don’t drink or smoke so I feel entitled and it gives me an edge of confidence to have nice nails. Don’t ever feel guilty. It will do you good to be a bit frivolous. Have fun!

Oh I so love this post! A few weeks ago on a certain selling site I saw the most fantastic Valentino handbag in red and fell in love with it. Absurdly no one else bid for it and I got it for, what to me was an expensive bid, but to anyone else would have been inexpensive. So pleased with myself. Stay safe everyone

Great post - good for you !

So happy for you———I have always painted my nails so have an assortment of colours.Someone commented on gels,I uses ones that do not need a lamp to harden,2 layers then a clear gel coat and no time dry,works a dream.Just showed one of my granddaughters yesterday,she is so happy with her nails and then we went out and bought her a ring,we are both very happy !

Like Pen50 my nails are terrible, always have been, they are as thin as a plastic bag, they bend and tear just getting the washing out of the washing machine. For the last 20 or more years I have had extensions. I moved onto gel a few years ago no need for extensions. I was unable to continue during the lockdown, so I bought the necessary items on Amazon including an ultra violet lightbox. I have taught myself to do my own gel nails, using YouTube videos a bit rough at first but am now quite good. I used to pay £50 a month on my nails, now I reckon about £6 after the initial purchase of gel, files ect. At least something good has come out of lockdown for me.

Linked to this and a thread on losing confidence, I recently went to visit family in the UK on my own. I stayed in extravagant (for me) b&bs, hired a car, drove around, got lost, found myself, ate what I wanted when I wanted, went shopping, coped with petrol shortages, pcrs flying etc. I had such a good time!! I was sitting in a park by a river at one point and realised that, for the first time in over 20 years I was answerable to no-one. It was amazing and so relaxing. I really indulged myself with no guilt. Of course I'm glad to be home but I may well repeat the experience in the future!

Don’t feel guilty, if you saw my bathroom and powder room you wouldn’t. I could open a shop with all my products and potions. Enjoy looking gorgeous!

Definitely you go for it, I did similar last year and spent
£1,000 s on my new hobby and loved every minute
Spent the last two many years on everyone else …
Me time now …

mimismo, that sounds brilliant

I love this thread

I have just treated myself to boots and trainers specially made for feet with bunions. They were expensive but I've come to the point of thinking why not I carnt take it with me.

Life is short, small treats like lippy, nail varnish are nothing to feel guilty about, see also perfume, lovely bath stuff, good chocolate, cocktails, m and s cruncher cheese biscuits (fabulous), gelato, good coffee, smoked salmon (lidl is good), so come on, get with the programme ???

Why not indeedy! My DH thinks nowt of shelling out £20 every week on beer("I only have one or two and not every night" ....ya) yet when I get an Amazon of maybe £5-10 worth of necessity items he moans" whatve yer bought now?" Why do we often feel guilty of we treat ourselves? Probably cos someone's making you feel guilty! Have a blast with your new purchases! ?

I love love love this post, good on you, and I hope more Grans will take inspiration from it.
No need to feel guilty about anything at all. Enjoy!

It’s good to treat yourself & definitely no need to feel guilty. Be it clothes, shoes, cosmetics, or just a nice bunch of flowers, whatever cheers you up and makes you happy is good. Don’t wait for birthdays and Christmas, go out and treat yourself now.

Good for you. I wish I could bring myself to do the same !

Absolutely nothing wrong with splashing out from time to time! Why on earth should you feel guilty? I think we all need cheering up at the moment, if nail colours do it for you, it’s money well spent!

I have had laminate flooring for years. So practical with 5 children tracking in dirt. I have been thinking of having new carpets fitted right through the house,. So much warmer and nicer, but cringing at the dent it would put in my savings.
Namsnanny, and others, you have persuaded me to take the plunge, and spend some of my childrens' inheritance. They are better off than me, anyway, and have been urging me to enjoy myself.
Lots of happy stories on here today.

Yes spend it now whilst you can enjoy it GreenGran78????

I was so worried about the reception this thread would get. Afterall people are worried about the environment, covid, their problems, the ills of the world etc., and it's hard to shake that off sometimes.

Thank you soooooo much to all who posted for the lovely heartwarming stories of self nurturing.
All the encouragement you have given others to follow your examples is so welcome and uplifting, you generous, thoughtful people.
Definitely GN at it's best.
Long may it last ❤

I am glad OP that you could just splurge money, without anyone else questioning you or feeling any guilt. Life hasn’t changed much for me since retirement. I am still cooking, washing, cleaning and organising our life for me and my husband. Yes, yes, my Mother did the same.
Although I don’t have to, I feel I have to answer questions about bags that I bring in to the house. It results in my smuggling stuff. Luckily my OH can’t remember too well what clothes I have.
My husband mainly looks like a tramp, despite us being well off. . He won’t iron his clothes willingly. He stands there ready to go out, looking as though he has been in a battle with a grizzly bear. And then when I roll my eyes, he says WHAT what ! He moans and groans about wearing a tie, even when it’s necessary. He hangs onto everything until it falls apart, including the cars.
We could pay for lots of help, but I come up against his reasonably expressed opposition. He says “ I will do that” …and so he can, at the pace of a snail, and / or it doesn’t get done. I love him but I sometimes feel evil thoughts overcoming me. Sighs. Go girl buy more lippy,, yea!

I come up against his reasonably expressed opposition, he says I will do that....and so he can....
at the pace of a snail and/or it doesn't get done

I love him hut I sometimes feel evil thoughts overcoming me

I really empathize SylviaPlathssister (brilliant name btw)
Is there a hand book they all refer to?

Just keep smuggling. It will do you good!x

I too could open a beauty/cosmetics shop and have never had a moment’s guilt about it. It’s part of looking after myself and making the most of what I have.
When someone says to me something like they had a ‘naughty’ cake or similar, what do they mean? It’s not heroin. Now that’s a situation I would feel guilt about.

Buffy

Good for you. I wish I could bring myself to do the same !

I'm wishing you can too?