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Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

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Comments

  • HairyHandofDartmoor
    HairyHandofDartmoor Posts: 13,960 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Has anyone else not bought their Christmas food yet? (apart from mince pies, chocolates, Pringles and drinks :o). I'm trying to guage how behind I am with Christmas prep.
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
  • beanielou
    beanielou Posts: 96,466 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Mortgage-free Glee!
    Bought nothing.
    To be fair I am only doing sweets.
    I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.

    Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
    "A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
    ***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb.     ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
    One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.
  • enthusiasticsaver
    enthusiasticsaver Posts: 16,114 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I see no point in buying loads of Xmas food before Xmas as it will get eaten beforehand especially if you have all your boys home. My Sainsbury's online shop arrives Tomorrow evening but we have friends over Saturday evening. Xmas day is at our DD2s so she has done an Asda online shop for Sunday. Shame Lidl's does not do online shopping.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free Wannabe, Budgeting and Banking and Savings and Investment boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

    The 365 Day 1p Challenge 2025 #1 £667.95/£391.55
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  • Onebrokelady
    Onebrokelady Posts: 7,903 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »
    Has anyone else not bought their Christmas food yet? (apart from mince pies, chocolates, Pringles and drinks :o). I'm trying to guage how behind I am with Christmas prep.
    Glad the haircut turned out ok Hairy,I did most of my last bits today so you aren't behind really,I couldn't get the vegetarian bits I wanted so I going to have to go in in Friday to see if MrS have any,I want Quorn party eggs and cocktail sausage which you can't freeze but the dates all run out before Boxing Day which is when I need them for,Mr T had boxes and boxes of both today but the date on most of them was tomorrow,there is no way they are going to sell what they've got by tomorrow so that's all going to be wasted,I'm hoping Mr S doesn't let me down
    Original Debt Owed Jan 18 = £17,630 Paid To Date = £6,736 Owed = £10,894
  • HairyHandofDartmoor
    HairyHandofDartmoor Posts: 13,960 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    beanielou wrote: »
    Bought nothing.
    To be fair I am only doing sweets.
    enthusiasticsaver wrote: »
    I see no point in buying loads of Xmas food before Xmas as it will get eaten beforehand especially if you have all your boys home. My Sainsbury's online shop arrives Tomorrow evening but we have friends over Saturday evening. Xmas day is at our DD2s so she has done an Asda online shop for Sunday. Shame Lidl's does not do online shopping.
    Onebrokelady wrote: »
    Glad the haircut turned out ok Hairy,I did most of my last bits today so you aren't behind really,I couldn't get the vegetarian bits I wanted so I going to have to go in in Friday to see if MrS have any,I want Quorn party eggs and cocktail sausage which you can't freeze but the dates all run out before Boxing Day which is when I need them for,Mr T had boxes and boxes of both today but the date on most of them was tomorrow,there is no way they are going to sell what they've got by tomorrow so that's all going to be wasted,I'm hoping Mr S doesn't let me down

    Thanks all :).

    @ES I'm going to hide any non perishable Xmas food in my bedroom ;) and free up a shelf in the fridge and freezer for Xmas food. The DC will be given strict instructions NOT to eat any of it before Christmas.

    @OBL I've never seen Quorn party eggs. That reminds me to check the use by dates at Mr T's tomortow.
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
  • elizabethhull
    elizabethhull Posts: 767 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts
    HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »
    Has anyone else not bought their Christmas food yet? (apart from mince pies, chocolates, Pringles and drinks :o). I'm trying to guage how behind I am with Christmas prep.

    I'm doing a part travelling Xmas to DD2. So far I've made the red cabbage casserole, the cranberry sauce, coronation chicken and the Xmas cake. Still to make are quiche(s), chocolate log, chestnut stuffing, Xmas pudding and brandy butter.
    She's buying turkey, sausages & veg (we'll prep veg the night before), salad and cold buffet items.
    We start buying mince pies as soon as they start selling them - I'm a big fan !!
  • HairyHandofDartmoor
    HairyHandofDartmoor Posts: 13,960 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    You sound very prepared Elizabeth. Home made things always taste better. I like the sound of the chestnut stuffing and homemade cranberry sauce :).

    Ours will all be bought as I'm not a talented cook plus time is a factor. But we will do proper roast potatoes and DH makes lovely yorkshire puddings. The sauces, stuffing and bread sauce wiĺl be packets or jars. Only DH likes Christmas pudding so I was thinking of a chocolate pudding for dessert.

    I need to make a proper list, I haven't even done that yet :o.
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
  • HairyHandofDartmoor
    HairyHandofDartmoor Posts: 13,960 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I feel less tired this morning, but that may all change after the Xmas food shop :rotfl:. I tried to lie in until 8am but woke up at 7am, sigh.

    Is anyone else sick of constant rain? I don't mind the cold but I'm fed up with getting rained on :mad:.

    It's our Christmas food shop today :xmastree: then we need to look for a present for DS2. He's difficult to buy for and always wants a surprise. DS1 gives us an Am@zon wish list and DS3 wants money so thst's easy.

    I've noticed a lot of food disappearing and dirty plates and baking trays appearing overnight. DS3 seems to spend all his time cooking and eating. I'm worried about how quickly the week's food is disappearing :eek:. I need a secret freezer :rotfl:.
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
  • doingitanyway
    doingitanyway Posts: 10,300 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Mortgage-free Glee!
    Funny about the secret freezer :rotfl:
    It isn't raining here so I'm going to go for a walk before it begins.
    I hope you find a break in the weather so you can walk too.
    If you have built castles in the air, your work should not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them

    Emergency fund 3501000
    Buffer fund 0/100
    Debt Free (again) 25/072025
  • WannabeFree
    WannabeFree Posts: 4,438 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    Have a lovely day HH
    Hope Christmas food shop goes to plan
    x
    “Once you hit rock bottom, that's where you perfectly stand; That's your chance of restarting, but restarting the way.”
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