Learning to walk before I run

South_coast

A walk to work 😍 That's my dream! Conversely, I was paying for the heating anyway (we're communal here and we get billed the same amount whether we use it or not), so it's nice to actually have the benefit of it - pity they still want us in the office 3 days a week 🤦‍♀️!

edinburgher

Merry Christmas all

Not masses of news on the finances front, just looking forward to the annual December spendathon being replaced by the quiet serenity of January thrift! Additional borrowing of £60k has been requested, it will largely sit in PB until our loft conversion can proceed. I've already got the max amounts of c. £12k sitting in our higher interest accounts and regular savers. I've also switched my Vanguard Target Retirement fund to one that matures 5 years earlier than had initially been selected as a risk reducing move. The actual total of equities/bonds is roughly the same just now, but will lifestyle quicker in future. Mrs E to follow suit.

A few much appreciated cash gifts will help to offset the pain of my expensive exercise class and the fact that our pocket money will be getting cut again come January.

Can't really think of any way to make more money at present. Can't switch current accounts until additional borrowing goes through, have eBayed everything of realistic value of £10+ (including my 10 year old laptop that went for over £100) and a few collectables purchased over the last couple of years that basically only made back the money they cost I'm out of that particular game

Mrs E's second payrise of the year has shored up our monthly average, but my 4-weekly tranche of childcare vouchers for DD2 (£220) is certainly noticed as missing!

All of our holiday related cashback from last year has paid out, which was nice.

Looking forward to my annual cookery project of assembling a massive cassoulet tomorrow, Mrs E taking DD out to friends.

Suffolk_lass

Somebody mentioned an uber-frugal January challenge. I haven't found it yet but I plan the traditional (for me) drop-a-stone or two and an uber-frugal low spend month in January just to body shock us back to normality

Merry Christmas, Happy and healthy new year to you and your family x

Watty1

I need the ultra frugal January challenge.  Will look out for it too.

greent

I think Cheery's doing (a version of?) Frugal woods uber frugal January? Join the January Uber Frugal Month Group Challenge! - Frugalwoods   Although I'm sure there'll be some sort of one on the oldstyle board or debt free board? x

Suffolk_lass

Ooh thanks, I assumed it was on here. I have joined that one before but the plethora of emails and marketing were a bit of a turn-off to be honest. I wonder if we need an MSE version...

Watty1

@Suffolk_lass  I found this one 2022 Frugal Living Challenge - Page 6 — MoneySavingExpert Forum
  not for January but I am reading along.   Its actually inspiring.
(Sorry to hijack Ed)

Karmacat

Just continuing the hijack, Ed  I like the questions the Frugalwoods Challenge sets, but after that, I like an mse one, like Watty's found.  

Anyway, you've done well with selling your own stuff - a 10 year old laptop going for over £100, well done you!  Impressive.  

Enjoy assembling the cassoulet tomorrow  

edinburgher

Wow - some of those frugal challenges are immense! £4k a year? My new mortgage payment is £10,000 a year!

Suffolk_lass

edinburgher said:

Wow - some of those frugal challenges are immense! £4k a year? My new mortgage payment is £10,000 a year!

I just read both Cheery's and the one Frugaldom runs and I realise I am rich and have only ever played at being frugal  - so much so I am ashamed to post on the Frugaldom challenge. Don't forget it excludes the fixed costs (council tax, basic mortgage payments, for example) but £4kp.a is a different level and class