WHEN A GIFT INSPIRES AN UPGRADE
Recently my mother generously shared some money with us when she sold her
house. I wrote about it a few months ago and how we passed some of it on to our children, and my husband also
enjoyed the windfall by upgrading his motorbike to a newer and sleeker
version. I was happy for everyone, but felt like I missed out because there
was nothing I really wanted.
What do you do when you love what you have, don't like to waste money on
unnecessary purchases, but feel like you'd like to have a treat too?
LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION
I'm a
very content person, I don't feel the need for a lot of
possessions, or for spending money just because it's available......but there was
still something in me that wanted to enjoy this lovely gift from my mum. I
didn't want to waste it on something I didn't really want, and I didn't want
to go overboard, but I did want to treat myself to something.... My
family was full of ideas (they're better with spending money than I am) and our son came up with the suggestion that I have my
car wrapped.
I bought my car 12 years, 3 job changes, two kids' marriages, two
grandgirls, and a retirement ago. It's a little Mazda 2 and I still love
it because it suits my needs to zip to the shops or out for a coffee. It's
cheap to run, still looks good and is in great shape. I'd originally
thought about upgrading to a newer model, but it just seemed a bit over
the top when what I have is already all I need. The car wrapping idea got
me thinking and researching.
WHAT'S CAR WRAPPING?
I've always had a fascination with car paint jobs that change shades
depending on the light, I Googled around (as you do when you're a Midlife
woman with a laptop) and before I knew it, I was down the rabbit hole of
gorgeous colour changed cars and chameleon paint shades. There are hundreds
of Youtube videos of cars being wrapped and it was mesmerizing to watch.
Once I'd been seduced into the concept, I started investigating where I
could have it done and how much it'd cost. I didn't want to risk an amateur
job, so it meant looking further afield to the city and a company that
specialized in wrapping. Lots of looking around and online reading brought
me to
VinylWrapz - their website was super informative and included pricing. Before I
knew it, I'd sent them an email, had a chat, booked a date, and sent my
deposit! Sometimes it's best for me to jump in before I start overthinking
it, changing my mind, and missing out.
THE CAR WRAPPING PROCESS
I chose Orafol's Lavender/Turquoise, and once it arrived, we journeyed up to the Big Smoke to drop off my car. They promised to take
some photos for me, and told me it would be completed in a week. As promised,
these are a few photos taken during the process - my little car was
stripped down to her undergarments, and then re-dressed in prettier colours.
The transition worked so well because the underlying paint colour was in
good condition and a matching shade.
THE PICK UP AND BIG REVEAL
A week later we headed back to pick up my car - I hadn't seen the photos
at that point and it was a bit of Schrodinger's cat moment where I didn't
know whether I'd love it or be sadly disappointed. Fortunately, I absolutely
loved it - my car has a new lease of life and is SO pretty, even the
VinylWrapz guys were impressed with how gorgeous it was. I'm calling it Turple (Turquoise and Purple combined).
Here's a few pics from the day and a little video - I think it was worth
every bit of time and money to have a whole new look with the familiarity of
driving my tried and true little car.
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Hi Leanne, it’s like a gift that keeps on giving. I love this idea and the colours never date for us ladies. I’m a spinner and weaver fibre artist and these colours are always popular. Hope your Mazda gives you many more years of pleasure.
ReplyDeleteHi Lynette - thank you for your wise words. I find the colour of a car to be one of the biggest deciders when I'm car shopping. The previous colour was the best of the available bunch at the time, but I never "loved" it - now I do....and it's endeared my little car to me even more.
DeleteI'm also a little envious of you being a fibre artist - that is such a cool occupation!
Leanne, what a great idea. Your car looks beautiful and you taught me something new today. Never heard of wrapping. Wow! very nice.
ReplyDeleteHi Suzanne - I always assumed a change of colour would mean a full re-spray (very expensive - especially for custom colours). To get this result - and it will last 10 years - is such a cool way to upgrade to something I really love without the big bucks. x
DeleteSuch a lovely way to upgrade without all the costs! You chose a beautiful colour to suit you!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much - I just love the colour....every time I go out to the garage or to wherever it's parked, I get a little smile on my face - worth every cent for that alone!
DeleteHow fabulous does that look!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo - I think it looks pretty fabulous indeed - and nothing beats a little spark of fabulosity here and there in life :D
DeleteOnly recently another blogger wrote about getting her car wrapped and that's when I learnt of the concept. The colours you've chosen are fab and your car looks ever so chic! ;) Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteHi Corinne - what a coincidence about the other blogger! I'd love to read her post if you have a link. I love the colour I chose and how it morphs between the green and purple - it's just soooo pretty.
DeleteI was hoping you'd write about how you did this as I was intrigued when i saw it on your Facebook page a while ago! Love it, such a cool idea Leanne.
ReplyDeleteHi Deb - I just had to write about it (and I promised I'd send a link to the wrapping guys to read when I saw how lovely it was). It's such an amazing process and my car just looks like it has a normal paint job - just a really cool coloured version. :)
DeleteThat looks lovely! I bet it brings a huge smile to your face every time you see it.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I walk out to the garage or I see it in the parking area at the shops Jo - it's still new enough to be a novelty and to catch my eye. I just love it.
DeleteGood for you, Leanne. Your little car looks fabulous. You will not go unnoticed. Like you, I don't like to spend money unless I really need to do so. I will fix and make do without it if it can't be fixed but I have to change that mindset and treat myself once in a while.
ReplyDeleteHi Yvonne - that's me exactly, and I think we do ourselves a disservice if we never give ourselves a treat. My idea of a treat means not borrowing or extending myself financially, but finding something affordable that gives me a boost. This ticked all those boxes - and it makes me happy. :)
DeleteHi Leanne - Definitely, we both share one thing in common -- I am also a contented person, don't feel the need for a lot of possessions, and I also don't like to buying something just because it's available.
ReplyDeleteRegarding your car. It was a good idea to get wrapped. It looks fabulous indeed. Just like it's new.
Hi Pradeep - a lot of people don't understand what it's like to be happy with what you already have, and to feel that it's enough. Marketing gurus make their money from making us want more and more, I'm happy to disappoint them! In this case, a lot of thought went into it - I'd been thinking about it for years, and this was the opportunity that made it happen (thanks Mum!) :)
DeleteHi Leanne, I had never heard of this before. It looks great! Love the colours!
ReplyDeleteThanks Min - I just love it and I'm so happy I took the risk to step out and try something new. I feel like I have a new car and it's even prettier than if I'd bought it from a showroom :)
DeleteStunning colors!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pat - they're just so glow-y and pretty when the light plays over them :)
DeleteHi, Leanne - I, too, had never heard of 'car wrapping' before. The colour that you choose is stunning. Your car looks fabulous. I am delighted that you decided to treat yourself. Very well deserved!
ReplyDeleteHi Donna - I thought that I'd need to have a full re-spray done if I wanted to update my car (not cheap!) and this has been such a great compromise. They say it will last 10 years - especially since my car isn't out in the elements much - so I think I've made a wise choice that will bring me a lot of joy over the years ahead - win/win!
DeleteI love that whenever you look at the car you can think of your mum too! 💕
ReplyDeleteHi Mika - yes, it's a lovely reminder of a worthwhile and appreciated gift - and I'm grateful for it (and for her) every day.
DeleteI've never even heard of this - it looks fantastic!! Go you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lydia - it looks so cute, and I feel like I have a new car that's prettier than all those silver and white ones out there! :)
Delete