The Edcawber Principle

edinburgher

@shangaijimmy - not being a big eater must save you a lot of money 😁 I get what you are saying about whether or not a dish is worth finishing. Oddly enough, my father-in-law is a chef, he could make an old hat and three twigs into a roast dinner, but we always end with a terrible ready made dessert. Rejecting those sorts of options would probably be a good start.

edinburgher

So, gambling. I am a lazy man and would quite like to be richer than holy heck. As a consequence, I tend to buy lottery tickets (no more than 4 a month). On the other hand, I realise it's almost definitely a waste of money. To that end, as of last month I have been paying an equal amount into my pension, I suppose it's the final equivalent of having a pint of water after a pint of beer? 😉 £10 paid into my SIPP (£12.50 after tax relief)

Karmacat

The whole desserts thing is interesting to me.  I weaned myself off, the only sweet things in the house are sugar for baking, jam, and dried fruit.  But on these cruise holidays I've been going on, my eyes are *completely* drawn to the sweets: they're so pretty!  And you can have as many as you want.   It's taken me a good long while to realise that although some of the textures are pleasant enough, they're almost completely tasteless, completely empty of the enjoyment that there should be.  Fortunately, there's always fresh fruit salad and pieces of fruit.  I'm going on at least 2 more cruises (the Danube, and Iceland/Greenland) so there's still time to use this learning about how greedy my eyes are.

Ed, equalling your gambling on the lottery with payments into your savings schemes sounds a positive way to offset things.

beanielou

A kir royale for me 

Suffolk_lass

OK that 2lbs has gone this morning. I may have been standing on a corner of the scales though...

You see I can totally leave constructed desserts most of the time but a scoop of good quality ice cream is something about the texture in your mouth. While sorting the freezer I realised there are 4 half litre pots of Haagan stuff out there. However, I want to stay healthy more than I want to open any (there is a rule here about once it is open too). I do like the @shangaiijimmy approach to one mouthful...

I love the idea of matching your gambling - I have just bought £250 of PB as my RS finished taking money last month. We shall see. I notice EM lottery is £110m Friday so we might go for a ticket. A win like that could share a fair bit of love around friends and family, good causes and what-not too.

edinburgher

Interesting chat all

• Karmacat - you are so right. I've been on a grand total of one all inclusive holiday in my life (gift from kind in-laws). All the desserts were like that, pretty, but essentially just foams or squidgy blocks in the middle
• Beanielou - very naice
• Suffolk_lass - well done, I always get two confirmations before "declaring" a weight, I'm down to 14st and 13.4lbs (sub-15 for the first time in 18 months)! One last day of eggs...
  
  

OMG people - it's a council tax free month - how could I forget?! £224 moved to Savings line of budget, budgets trimmed, £25 of PB bought and I won the lottery!!! The £2.80 has been paid into my SIPP (Mr E rule says 50% of all windfalls to SIPP, but £1.40 would have felt ridiculous somehow). The gummint has tax relieved me all the way to £3.50.

Right - off to home school DD - she gets 5 days off after this because of the mid-term break

beanielou

Hurrah for being down into the next stone.

edinburgher

@beanielou - cheers - I am feeling all empowered

Called Virgin after their oh so expected 10%+ price increase. They weren't willing to budge, so I cancelled! Will see if I get a wee retention call. If not, time to switch to a more affordable provider.

edinburgher

Woohoo! - 0.4 lbs off and I've now lost a cumulative 2 stone

Budget trimmed, £25 of PB bought and I have a £10 off voucher to use at Mr L when I go grocery shopping this evening.

DD off to her gran's, so house nice and quiet

shangaijimmy

2 stone, congrats. Fantastic achievement and commitment.