Money, Money, Money...

 And Finally...

It's back to my notebook and cash records for the end of the holiday....

Month 6 - Bite 29

Having recorded all the spending as I go through the holiday it's time to total up where we spent what and how. 

The cash totals help me to work out what we'll need in terms of currency next time and the credit card purchases provide a guide as to how much all the other costs come to.

This time it had been so long since we'd travelled abroad that I took far too much! Mind you, I'm dithering about changing the spare back as a quick check online shows exactly how much worse off I'll be if I simply go and change it back into sterling. Patience is needed for this one as it may be that the conversion rates change, in which case I'll get my cash converted. However, if I think the hit is too much I'll keep my Euros for the next time or until I know someone who is going abroad and would like to buy them from me at a rate that's fair to both of us!

Month 6 - Bite 30

This is something I keep meaning to do and never have, so now's the time. Today's the day to research an easy access account with the best possible interest rate to open. This account I want to keep separate from my other finances and it will have a target too. The target is going to be the total cost of our holiday so that next time (even if I don't reach the full target) financing it will be easier on the day to day household budget.

So, that's this month all sewn up...

My favourite holiday saying though is a true money saver and helps the planet too.....

Take only photographs, leave only footprints...

Don't know who said it, but, boy, were they right!

Water, water everywhere..

 

Now I know it goes against the grain to pay for water at any time, but sometimes there's just nothing for it! So these next couple of bites look at minimising the costs...

Month 6 - Bite 27

The first problem starts with the airport. Because of security rules taking water through into Departures isn't allowed so that's a non-starter. We always take our own water bottles and empty them just before security. That means that we've got a container for filling on the other side.

Unfortunately the water quality and taste at the airport isn't always wonderful. When this is the case it's the inevitable trip to the shops in Duty Free to buy a bottle or two. It's always overpriced, but necessary and at least it gives us a spare bottle for the holiday. These spares we use if we need more than our more robust bottles for a day out. We also fill them for the return trip and ditch both the contents and the bottles before going through to the Departure Lounge coming home.

Month 6 - Bite 28

Once at our destination it's time to get some water for the duration of the holiday. A trip to the supermarket is in order to buy a large pack and fill our bottles on a daily basis. Of course, once out and about they may well need re-filling. Sometimes, as I mentioned, we take a second bottle. There are, thankfully, alternatives. In Rome for example there are drinking water points. We tried these the first time we went to tennis in Rome and the water tasted fine, so that's what we do now. There are also drinking water points around the city so that's a saving.

It doesn't just go for abroad either. Even here in my own neck of the woods there are free, public filling stations for everyone..a great addition to the local facilities.

When travelling within the UK we also tend to take a pack of bottled water when we're unsure about local facilities. Having some already bought at our local supermarket saves on the awful prices for small bottles while away - and our own bottles have now saved us far more than we spent on getting them originally!

Make your own lunch (but never stint on pastries)

 Month 6 - Bite 25 +  1

The last post sort of links straight into this one with the thought of bought snacks and supermarket visits.

We do like to experiment with meats and cheeses and breads so making our own lunch at times helps us to explore new ideas. This also tends to help on the financial front too! Some fresh bread filled with cold meats, cheeses and sliced tomatoes is always welcome.

As mentioned, the supermarket near to where we stay (opposite in fact) is great for this the local markets are brilliant too. When in Florence a stroll round the market there makes you want to groan about the fact that you don't have enough days in the holiday to work your way through all the different types of produce. One of the other bonuses is the way you can get invited to taste before you buy. SOmetimes a walk is needed to make space for the food you've bought for lunch!

However, pastries are not to be passed up on. Buying local versions of different cakes, pastries and bakes is one of the sheer delights of being away from home (all that walking around will make sure the waistline is safe).

                               

Month 6 - Bite 26

Eating like a local did come into it in the last post. There's more than one way to view it though. Breakfast is a real pleasure when it's taken at a pasticceria or coffee shop. (And that goes for other incarnations across the globe in their own localities). In Florence for example we popped acfross the road from where we were staying for breakfast in this way. The thing to remember is that there is often a different charge for your breakfast depending on where you eat it. We prefer to prop up the bar like the others in there rather than sit at the tables and voila, good chats with other customers and a cheaper price.

In fact with time on our hands at the end of one trip we decided to go to Caffe Gilli - the oldest cafe in Florence. We'd seen it on a TV programme and thought we'd take the plunge and accept the hit on the budget. How wrong were we - yes, it was great, yes it was a particularly good establishment, but budget breaking... the coffee at the bar was 1 Euro and the pastries just as cheap as elsewhere..... Always worth a try - you never know how pleasantly surprised you can be....

Living Locally

 Month 6 - Bite 23

Now my favourite part (well mostly) of any holiday is the food! One of the best bits of advice I wass ever given was to check where and what the locals eat. Whether that's a local cafe or hostaria or .. well you get the idea.

On our recent trip my niece's husband took us into the hills to his father's favourite eating place. The food was plentiful and cooked within sight of our table. It tasted wonderful and the place was full of lunchtime diners looking very satisfied. 

Not only was the meal great, but the prices were too. The children weren't charged for and the whole lot (including wine) came in at 20 Euros a head - oh and that included an extra course that we we're told about, saw delivered to someone else and then, when we'd drooled over it, was presented to us at no extra charge....

Month 6 - Bite 24

Eating and drinking like a local may mean stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new tastes and flavours, but you'll rarely regret it. I know we joke about the times that gravy browning and certain types of chocolate or spread have had to make it in our luggage, but generally sticking to food that is produced, cooked and served close to where you are staying makes sense.

Picking out an option from some too-bright photographic menus of variations on the Great British Breakfast have never been our way - although if that's what you crave.... Once you've been introduced to the favoured dishes in your country of choice you'll soon build up a list of recommendations to pass on to others.

By checking out some of these when we've returned from holidays has meant that our repertoire of home cooked food has grown and quite often it makes good financial sense. Cacio e pepe makes it on our menus virtually every week and it costs so much less than many other things, especially when I knuckle down and make the pasta. My niece's husband is always raving about how cheap 'proper' pasta is - and he's right... Give it a go!

Month 6 - Bite 25

Visit a supermarket... Not just the flashy delis - although they have plenty to offer. The supermarket opposite where we stay has a great range of quick and easy snacks - including freshly made pizzas, lasagnes and so on.

Quite often (and this is where renting an apartment scores over an hotel room) we get back too tired to eat out or pop back at lunchtime so eat in. It does mean either of us is tied to the kitchen as the supermarket supplies the food freshly cooked or we can put some super local meats together with fresh salad ingredients for quick, cheap and easy eating.

Seize the Opportunities

 Month 6 - Bite 21

Planning is important, however being flexible or spontaneous on holiday can bring huge benefits too. We had earmarked St. Peter's Basilica for a return trip along with the Vatican Museum. Our first visit was with a wonderful guide and it was worth every penny, but there was so much to see and take in that we felt the need of more time. We hadn't done anything about tickets as we didn't know how we'd feel around crowds on our first trip abroad after COVID so mentally moved that visit onto another holiday.

Imagine our surprise when we walked over to St. Peter's Square and saw that the normally long and tedious queue for the Basilica was moving quite speedily. Queuing gets you in for free, but can take an hour or so - hence our delight at the quick pace. Abandoning what we had planned for the rest of the day we joined the tail and within 15-20 minutes we were inside St. Peter's with plenty to explore, including the crypt that hadn't been open on our previous visit.

You just have to grab opportunities sometimes and this was one!

Month 6 - Bite 22

Sometimes being flexible includes things that don't make it onto the 'Top 10 Tourist List'. When we were last in Florence we fancied getting out of the city and took a bus into the town of Fiesole. Wandering around looking for the bus stop led us through a lovely market with craft stalls as well as vegetables. Well, you just have to take the chance to get something unusual when you can don't you...

Having arrived at Fiesole there was an Etruscan/Roman site to explore, unexpected and quite easy on the pocket. Now if we hadn't taken a punt on going somewhere different we'd never have seen it!

To help us extend our 'off the normal track' fun our apartment owner gave us a book as we left to begin to look at other ideas for visits...

                                                 

Some great new ideas to look forward to!

Free Site seeing

Month 6 - Bite 19

Many of the sites and venues featuring as essential viewing come at a cost, and that's fine - there is a price for the upkeep and maintenance of all such highlights. There are, however, many sites that don't cost a thing! It doesn't take much exploring or researching to find them and this trip we've discovered lots that we hadn't visited before.

Churches are one huge storehouse of interest and fascination. Whether that's marvelling at the work of  masters - like this statue of Moses by Michelangelo in St. Pietro in Vincoli....

or looking at the monuments to the long dead (and sometime seeing them too) or finding out more about the revered relics in their care. This time it was the chains that held St. Peter and a fragment of the manger. Whether you hold these in esteem or look at the effect they have had on the faithful over time they add new interest to a trip.

Churches aren't the only free sites.

Our walk along the Appian Way with its monuments and relaid original paving led us to the Villa di Massenzio with ruined buildings and a Circus worthy of any chariot race. Not only was it free, but we were virtually the only people there!

There are sites like these around in many countries (including our own) some appreciate donations or if there's a shop (most of the sites we went to this time didn't have a commercial outlet - just a warm welcome) then buying something will help swell the coffers, but most are there to celebrate and inform.

Month 6 - Bite 20

Many years ago I went to Greece as part of a tour and it was explained to our group that on Sunday we would be going on a boat trip out of Athens as this was the day that the sites were free and the tour operators tried to take their customers out to enable locals easier access to this. I'm not sure we totally believed that as the sites needed tourists to pay in order to keep going, but anyway the boat trip was great!

It is, however, still the practice in many countries to have a free day for visiting sites either weekly or monthly. It's worth finding out and then booking ahead if need be in order to make use of the offer.

Some places have cheaper entrance rates on different days or at varying times of the day - we found that when we rocked up early at the Pitti Palace in Florence one time and got in half price.

A little research goes a long way!

Getting Around

 When we first went to Rome we played it safe - I've already mentioned getting out accommodation and event tickets through an agent/third party as we weren't too sure about either. We did come up trumps in both cases, but subsequent visits have been much cheaper with our new knowledge and contacts.

Now it's time to consider getting around...

Month 6 - Bite 17

Again on our first trip we looked carefully at the maps and decided that our route to the tennis was a bit out of our comfort zone so took taxis. Then, when we visited my niece and her family she and her husband drove into Rome to pick us up - his journey back was awful and so we decided not to be so faint-hearted the next time and to explore public transport.

What an eye-opener! Our journey by metro and tram to the tennis was simple and soooo cheap. The tickets for a single trip (and on some combinations that means a total of 100 minutes travelled even when changing buses) was 1 Euro 50. Buying tickets was simple as you can just get a strip of them from the kiosks around town and date/time stamp them on board. They even covered our trip out into Labaro where picking us up was quick and fairly traffic free! This time we used the buses too to get out to the Appian Way - it couldn't have been much easier and again really cheap. It certainly beats paying around 10-15 times more by taxi...

Using the train from Sorrento to get to places like Pompeii was straightforward and far less expensive than any other way of getting there. It's an experience not to be missed...

Month 6 - Bite 18

Embolden by our experience (I know, others will have done Grand Tours, Gap Years and so on - we hadn't obviously) we looked at travel further afield. When we were in Sorrento it was ferries around the coast and from Florence the buses into Siena and beyond were really easy from the coach station and a fraction of the price of joining a tour or hiring a car.

The trips also had the advantage of us choosing our own time within the schedules (even if the 'last bus' from Vesuvius went rather earlier than advertised!) and giving us the chance to enjoy the scenery rather than consulting maps and concentrating on unfamiliar roads if we'd driven ourselves or searching for parking, etc.

Definitely to be recommended.

A Little Local Knowledge Goes a Long Way

 

Month 6 - Bite 15

Reading guide books, looking on line and so on are all free and helpful ways of deciding what to do, especially somewhere like Rome where the choice is vast.

The best information we've got, however, has always been from asking a local! The owner of the apartment where we stay in a mine of information. The first time she directed us to a church around the corner from where we were staying which had the most amazing archeological site beneath it. We were there for hours, exploring old Roman roads and houses and wondering at the state of preservation of it all. It also helps with the spending as you can be advised of the best routes to get there, any off peak viewing times or additional free entrances.

Another time she sent us off to Ostia Antica -wow - a mini Pompeii a short train reide away.

This time she sent us to a park with fountains, statues and a magic door that may even lead to the Underworld itself, along with a church we hadn't thought to visit before, but which had fabulous ceilings. 

You get the idea!

Month 6 - Bite 16

Of course there's nothing like walking a place to get your bearings and to see it at a variety of times of the day and night.

                                      

It's true for just about anywhere at home or away. There's always plenty to see and then to add to your list of 'must visit' locations for later in the holiday - or in our case there seems to be an overspill list for 'another time'!

By walking around we've discovered cut throughs and short cuts and so can duck from one overcrowded spot to another less busy corner changing our plans as we fancy. It also means that we can see whether we want to spend money in certain spots or if a place around the corner is a little cheaper for just as great an experience. Although it must be said that sometimes it's worth pushing the boat out - to take a drinks break in Piazza Navona perhaps. It's only spendthrift if you don't fully throw yourself into the experience!

Tap into Local Knowledge and Buy Tickets Wisely

 Month 6 - Bite 14

The first time we went to Rome and wanted to see the tennis there we researched all the sites and went for safety first. We bought our tickets in advance from a certified agency and, even though we were a bit concerned about them arriving before we left, had the re-assurance that we were okay for entrance and thoroughly enjoyed the holiday.

However, when talking to my niece's husband he was horrified at paying fees to an agency and suggested that next time we should go direct to the venue.

Humming and haa-ing about it we decided to give it a try the next year, and he was right, it was cheaper and quicker.

This year it was even better - the tickets were emailed within seconds of going onto the site. In fact soooo much quicker than the tickets we've got for tennis events in the UK which are digital, through an app, have to be transferred from the purchaser to the 'guest' and all in all took hours of sitting in online queues!

Read All About It

 Month 6 - Bite 13

A bit of an add on this one following the previous technology post.

We have in the past had a good read of guide books before going away, just to help with planning and so that we know what we want to see. Generally they are from the library or even as freebies on the e-reader.

This time there was an added attraction in using our phones. Taking a quick snap of the legend at points we wanted to remember, or read up on later, or to refresh our memories about (especially when trying to remember where a particular photo was taken) meant that we could do this at leisure or do some further reading back at the apartment.

Another big bonus was the QR codes on most of the explanations and at many of the sites. Some were straightforward reading and information while others provided free guided tours on-site - brilliant!!

The Joys of Technology!

 One of the biggest developments in more recent times has been technology. It's got its downsides I'll grant you, but they are far outweighed by what it now allows us all to do. 

Month 6 - Bite 11

Booking ahead means savings in time, money and effort. It certainly saves on the stress of knowing that you don't have to scramble for change, be concerned about running late at the car park and all sorts of issues of that ilk.

Generally booking airport parking ahead of time is a great money saver. I hadn't realised by just how much until we were driving in and I caught site of the information board with the list of costs - it was a huge saving having it all online - so that's this bite - pre-booking.

It applied to visiting places of interest too. From previous trips we know that certain venues get booked out long before we arrive so have had to get an online booking, they also have tended to work out cheaper too. This year, with the main pandemic measures in Italy only ending the day before we travelled it was even more essential. Most of the sites were online booking only and the opening times for a lot of places needed to be checked for changes. Thank goodness for mobile phones, internet connections - oh yes, and remembering to pack the chargers!

Month 6 - Bite 12 

In amongst our planning we also needed to check on local events and festa. Not just in case we wanted to go along and take part - it was pretty important to know that the Rome Cancer 5km run would close 'our' street on the Sunday and that the European Cup match would mean log jams in certain areas. That way we could plan to avoid the areas and enjoy other events!

Mind you, taking part in local festivities found online isn't to be missed either. That also applies at home - well how could you miss a Jubilee party with fun and live music?

Travelling comfortably

 Now I know there are many who will say that travelling comfortably belongs to the rich and celebrated who can afford to have all their home comforts and a staff to carry everything. Especially, you might say with the amount of problems and disruption around at present - we were lucky to have a problem free trip. However, when on the move I do try to limit the discomfort if you like.

The transit bit of travelling when you are carrying your belongings with you, especially if you managed that panacea of only taking carry on stuff can be lightened up by packing wisely and leaving out some of the weighty items that you can acquire along the way.

Month 6 - Bite 7

When packing there are some things I don't like to be without (make up, shower scrunchy, toothbrush, hairbrush, that sort of thing). There are others I don't bother with because they are just as easy to pick up and as cheap to buy while we are away. In addition to that many of the places we've visited supply some toiletries as part of the deal so why lug stuff abroad when you can get it there? Okay, sometimes if you're not sure (a sensible price for deodorant is never a given) taking your own supplies is best, but avoiding things that spill or have to be packed separately in plastic bags to be scanned at security makes life easier.

This is also where those freebies that I was accumulating come in. A small sample of perfume is lighter to transport than a bottle, the free sachets of sun block take up next to no room and so on. Worth stockpiling a few then.

Month 6 - Bite 8

Emergency supplies are another thing. I mentioned my free samples of sun screen, but if I don't have such a freebie I'll usually take a small tube of my own, buying at the airport at silly prices seems unnecessary. Then there are other essentials to consider - paracetamol, for example, is so cheap in this country that it's daft having to go searching for it if I need painkillers while I'm away and would tempt me to paying more than I need - they are packed without the box though... Sting relief and anti histamine tablets are something else I'd rather take with me. I know there are supplies available at the airport, bust a captive audience never guarantees a good price!

Month 6 - Bite 9

Packing wisely sounds like good advice and one day perhaps I'll manage it! I don't do too badly although I still managed to bring home clothes I've not worn as I've taken far too many in the first place. I think I learned a lot about packing when I was still working and having to spend time in hotels. Getting most of my needs into a holdall I soon discovered what were the heavier items and which crease proof dresses were a must. I usually keep a change of underwear and a top as well as comfy shoes in my hand luggage and wear the heaviest outdoor gear and shoes for the journey. That works well for me. 

I tend to roll my clothes and pack out my case corners with small items so that it's all fairly tightly packed. You'd think this would result in very creased clothes, but because they don't move about in the case they seem to travel well and any wrinkles steam out when hung in the bathroom while I'm showering (if only the same could be said for the wrinkles on my skin!).

Why am I going on about weight and travel comfort, when I'm supposed to be thinking about cost cutting? Well, the less I take, the smaller and lighter my case, so the cheaper it is to book in! It's also better for the environment and energy efficiency if we all travel lighter - just imaging what a difference it would make if every passenger on a flight reduced 1kg weight from their portables!

Month 6 - Bite 10

This year I also did something which I keep thinking of doing bu never do. Having sorted out my old clothes I still had some with a small amount of wear in them, although they would never stand a close inspection - just why do t-shirts develop small holes near to the hemline in the front?

I deliberately wore some older clothes that were on their way out, including underwear, that while comfortable, had definitely reached the end of its 'wear by' date. These went out with me, but never made it back! Well, did I mention the extra space I needed to bring back some stuff for our soon to be arriving family?

                                   

Holiday Time!

 I know I've mentioned it once or twice, but we finally got abroad for the first time since the pandemic! Now I know that in writing about saving money a holiday seems a little frivolous, well, perhaps finding money saving ways to be frivolous is just as important sometimes in keeping the spirits up.

This little pink elephant is here to announce the next monthful of bites about getting away. Perhaps his pinkness is due to a little too much sun!

Now, unlike most of this year's writing where I've largely set myself a day-by-day task, this month will be full of predominately retrospective bites. I'm still going to record them though - for future reference.

Month 6 - Bite 1

As soon as we were able to book with some confidence we went ahead with confirming our accommodation (which had been on hold since 2020 with the deposit paid) and booking flights. 

Straightaway came the decision about holiday insurance. Normally we have annual insurance that just rolls over, but of course, with the pandemic it didn't seem sensible to do this in 2020.

Looking at the insurance made us question whether our usual joint policy was a good idea in respect of our ages. We're not that too far apart in age, but it did make a difference to the premiums. So, this time it worked out cheaper to have two individual policies - one each - rather than a joint one. That'll need constant revisiting as age catches up with me/us from here on.

Month 6 - Bite 2

After all our travels in Italy our attempts in the language are little more than saying hello, asking for the bill and saying thank you! Unforgivable really, especially with family living there. So before going this time I downloaded a free (and excellent) book on the e-readers so we could really get stuck into the language in order to fully understand what was going on and to integrate a bit better. Knowing a bit more than the basics helped with ordering, buying, finding out information and using public transport - all time and money savers!

Month 6 - Bite 3

Having visited Rome once or twice before we've been lucky enough to find an apartment that works well for us. Knowing the owner helps with the cost too. That said, it's still a luxury and has to be weighed up carefully to see if the benefits outweigh the cost implications. From our point of view they do. There's something about being somewhere very convenient where you have the option of dropping back during the day for breaks or eating in. The very location of the apartment - this after all is the view from the living room and kitchen windows (yes, really, the Colosseum) - means that we spend little on getting around as so much is walkable and there are tram, bus and underground stops within 2 minutes of the front door!

Month 6 - Bite 4

For my retirement birthday my sister bought me a notebook....

I've been using it ever since to record what we get up to on our wanderings - it makes life so much easier when trying to remember highlights or decide where any photos that we can't place are taken!

One page I always start a holiday with is a record of costs. It might sound a bit un-holiday like, but it's so valuable in seeing where the money goes. It also means that we know in advance roughly how much we need to budget for another time or where we can save a bit. Especially since this was our first trip abroad for a while it was so helpful with simple things like how much currency to change up.

                                                  

Month 6 - Bite 5

You can see from the last photo that each cost is followed by either 'cash' or 'Clarity'. That's because I like to keep tabs on how I pay for each thing (as I say it helps to know how many Euros to take). A couple of trips ago I was happily using my normal credit card abroad, asking to be charged in local currency, all that sort of thing. Then when the monthly statement came there was a currency conversion charge against each item. It might not have been much on each individual spend, but it certainly added up over the whole time away.

Having researched what was available I got a different card that I only use abroad that doesn't charge a fee (and has a reasonable conversion rate too). I know that I don't get points (as I do on my regular card), but having done the maths the saving on the currency fee was greater than the reward points.

Just before we went I tested out the 'card for abroad' to make sure it wasn't sulking through lack of use and it worked fine so that's where the spending went!

Month 6 - Bite 6

With all the 'paperwork' in place it was time to dust off the cases and check them out. With all the extras counting on flight costings we needed to make sure that whatever we were taking fitted the bill both in weight and size. So out with the tape measure and scales for a reassuring sizing session. The main baggage allowance was fine and our cabin bags fitted easily so no extra hidden costs there.

I did take a slightly larger carry-on bag than usual - although still well within the restrictions. This wasn't for me! With our Italian family due to relocate to the UK soon I needed to be able to bring some of their clothes back to lighten their load! Mission accomplished I'm glad to say - and a bit more money saved in their pot too...

A relaxing, crafty end to the month...

I know it's been a long time getting to these final posts for Month 5, but a rather lovely holiday got in the way!

Actually it's provided plenty of new ideas, especially for Month 6, but more of that later.

Firstly it's kick-started something that I've wanted to do for a while that'll give me the topic for the last Bites for the month...

Month 5 - Bite 30

While we were away I spied this great piece of yarn-bombing/installation art at the Rome International Tennis. The crocheted octopus models brandishing their tennis rackets was a fantastic piece of work. 

My Nan taught me to crochet when I was small and I got quite adept at going round and round in circles and then progressed to a large square/rectangle for a bed cover. The edges got a bit out of alignment, but on a big blanket it didn't really matter. 

Over the years I've tried to make small squares, but they always seem to 'lean out' at the corners!

So my final free bite for the month is to spend some time on the internet to find some easy to follow tutorials to improve my skills. 

I don't think I'll get as skilled as the talented Beth from Mind Over Hook (see link for her Etsy shop or visit on Facebook or Instagram @mindoverhook) who made some lovely headbands for my nieces' children, but I'll give it a go!

That brings me to the additional mouthful which is definitely connected!

Bonus Mouthful 4

So having found a simple to follow set of instructions for crocheted scrunchies I was reminded of some presents I did last year which have led to requests for more.

I needed some small presents for our Christmas celebrations and decided to make the girls a collection of hair slides and decorations. 

Time to repeat the process ready, not just for Christmas, but as a handy stock of stuff for birthdays, impromptu gifts, party bags, etc. that can be ready to hand for little or no cost (especially as scraps of fabric and leftover yarns are never in short supply here!).

The bags were simple and quick to make (thank you online videos) so I'll do some more.

Then onto the contents - here's my stash so far.. The crocheted ones were from the tutorial I found and the fabric scrunchies were originally created from another online video.

I still want to do some hair slides - I've seen a great clip on social media where they are made from a rectangle of fabric tied into a pretty bow and then tied onto a hair elastic so that's next. And finally there'll be some hair clips prettied up with fabric and buttons like some I made before. 

I might even get adventurous and make some headbands too - I'll post them if I get that far!

And now onto Month 6.....