We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

The MSE Forum Team would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas. However, we know this time of year can be difficult for some. If you're struggling during the festive period, here's a list of organisations that might be able to help
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Has MSE helped you to save or reclaim money this year? Share your 2025 MoneySaving success stories!

Giving every £ a job

1244245247249250281

Comments

  • badmemory
    badmemory Posts: 10,184 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I have to deal with my broadband & landline very soon.  I really hate it.  It was so much easier when everyone paid the same & I didn't land up always feeling conned and/or I had made a dreadful mistake.
  • Makingabobor2
    Makingabobor2 Posts: 4,489 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    That's a great idea to focus your odd ££ on 1 pot at a time. I tend to spread mine around & it takes longer fot each one to grow that way. 
    Making the debt go down and savings go up

    LBM 2015 - debt £57K / Now £27,644....its going down

     Mortgage Free December 9th 2024! 
    18mths ahead of schedule.  

    Challenges

    EF #68  £1000/£3000
    .

    Studies/surveys  December £75.87

    Decluttering items 1396
    2025
    Books read    23
    Jigsaws done  19

    My debt free diary...https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6396218/we-will-get-this-debt-d£own-the-savings-up


  • PennysIntoPounds
    PennysIntoPounds Posts: 5,485 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    Wonderful January mse stuff Blackcats 👏
    And don't forget the lifelong savings of telling the in-laws where to go!
  • Alchemilla
    Alchemilla Posts: 6,276 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Well done on the repair & replace pot
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,130 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Well done on growing your savings pots. A good result in a month that also featured a holiday. 
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £171.3K Equity 36.55%
    2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 10/10/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £30.9K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.25K) = 35.5/£127.5K target 27.8% 14/11/25
    (If took bigger lump sum = 62K or 48.6%)
    4) FI Age 60 income target £17.1/30K 57% (if mortgage and debts repaid - need more otherwise) (If bigger lump sum £15.8/30K 52.67%)
    5) SIPP £5.1K updated 14/11/25
  • Blackcats
    Blackcats Posts: 4,157 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    @badmemory - keeping on top of things like phone, broadband, tv services etc is a real pain.  It's shocking how there's always a better deal available when you threaten to leave a current provider.  I've got to grapple with V media soon on behalf of my dad.  That's the worst company to deal with in my view.

    @Makingabobor2 - I used to top up all my pots fairly evenly but I've been much more motivated by focussing on one at a time.  

    PIP - we haven't heard a peep from the relatives since declining their demand to double the amount of money we were prepared to send them.  I reckon they lost at double or quits.

    thank you SH and Alchemilla.

    well the sun has made a welcome appearance today so we have been in the garden cooking pizza.  Ate it in the garden room and now feel like a carbohydrate induced snooze but we need to visit my dad soon to do our Sunday tasks and watch football with him.

    we had to buy some lightbulbs yesterday and I remembered why I hate doing that.  So many choices and so expensive but the kitchen and bathroom are now fully lit up again.

    I need to start my new reading group book which is The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley.  It looks like it should be good and because it's for book group I will be endeavouring to think of intelligent things to say about it!
  • PennysIntoPounds
    PennysIntoPounds Posts: 5,485 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    Hope you're right about the scuzins but I'll have a fiver on them making a manipulative reappearance.
    Have MrBC and his brother been able to ease their minds about elder relative? I get really cross every time I think about the thoroughly scuzzy behaviour!

    Garden cooked pizza sounds lush, and well done getting the lightbulbs sorted. Why are there so many types?! I don't even want to deal with bayonet or screw, let alone get a blimmin masters to be able to achieve 'press switch=light on'

    Today's football you say... 😁

  • lucielle
    lucielle Posts: 11,645 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Excellent shopping from home finds there! Glad you’re getting use out of the garden room, it sounds lovely. 
    L
    Total Debt Dec 07 £59875.83 Overdrafts £2900,New Debt Figure ZERO !!!!!!:j 08/06/2013
    Lucielle's Daring Debt Free Journey
    DFD Before we Die!!!! Long Haul Supporter #124
  • RebeccaPAgain
    RebeccaPAgain Posts: 55 Forumite
    10 Posts Name Dropper
    Home made pizza in the garden room sounds amazing!  What's your go-to topping?  DH has recently done one with squash, pesto and stilton which was fabulous and I'd highly recommend!

    I love the shop from home - its so funny how so many of us have so much stuff stashed away.

    The scuzins sound dreadful - I hope they get their just desserts!

    You are such a beacon of inspiration on the MSE front - you seem to have everything so well organised and sorted.  Must take a leaf out of your book!
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.7K Spending & Discounts
  • 246K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 602.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.8K Life & Family
  • 259.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.