indulging my retail therapy needs by buying what I actually need - my groceries

Like everyone I have times when a bit of retail therapy just hits the spot. It's lovely to buy something luxurious like a gorgeous new perfume or beauty product, or something fairly practical, but still fabulous like wonderful Autumn shoes - to transition you from Summer to Winter, but I've found the best way possible. I make a game out of seeing where I can get what I really need such as my groceries for the cheapest price. I live within easy reach of an Aldi, Lidl, Dunnes, Tesco, Superquinn and Centra. After making a careful study of all the things I regularly buy and all the shops' prices, I know where to buy the most reasonably priced meat that suits me (Tesco 3 items for 9 Euro), the cheapest fruit (Aldi 6 items for 49 cents each), which can then be topped up by (Tesco 3 items for 3 Euro). I know that Superquinn is the only shop I can find that sells the ribbon noodles I like which are an extravagance at just over 2 Euro, but so worth it. I buy my facial moisturisers in Boots on 3 for 2 offers and combine that offer with any extra points they have sent me, so I get enough points on my Boots card to buy myself a little unexpected treat when it's coming up to payday and there isn't much cash knocking about.  I use my Tesco clubcard vouchers as well to get myself treats. Sure you can cash them in for groceries in store, but you get 4 x their value if you convert them to days out, restaurant vouchers or what I like best - magazines, so I get my Image magazine now through Tesco, so a year's shopping pays for that.

I suppose with the realisation that more tax cuts are starting in January 2012 and a water charge and a household charge coming down the line. I don't want to have to compromise my lifestyle anymore than I already have over the last few years, so while I've made significant cut backs in my entertainment budget, now it's time for some careful analysis of the best places to get the groceries. It'll also keep the retailers on their toes if no single one gets all my custom.

I do get a buzz out of this, knowing that I'm eating well for as cheaply as I can and managing to save the money for the equally important, but more fun things in life like going on holiday or doing up the house.

so much to be proud of...

I went to the Creative Island craft and design show at the RDS last week sponsored by the Crafts Council of Ireland. Wow! Wow! Wow! What a lot we have to be proud of as a country. Gorgeous craft and design. Beautiful colours! Wonderful people. Great prices. I love Ireland and the people who are doing things which make me proud to be Irish.

On the Late Late Show on Friday Bob Geldof came across as a rock of sense and musical inspiration. Look at what he's done for the world in so many ways and he's proud to be Irish.

Pauline Bewick on the Saturday Night Show with Brendan O'Connor,  (who I went to college with and has turned into a really nice guy), was wonderful and an artistic inspiration and looked unbelievably fantastic and sexy and vibrant for 75.

I have stopped listening to the news and reading the papers. I am choosing my energy fields at the moment and they are the ones which make me proud of our country, our heritage and our success in so many areas.

Tell me what makes you proud to be Irish.