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Learning to walk before I run
Comments
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Happy Christmas all. Cooked for 7. Survived! Taking next year off 😂9
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Glad to hear it on all fronts ed! Merry Christmas!5
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I sometimes read about stingy !!!!!! online and I don't believe these people exist. MIL's boyfriend gave me 4 cheap and thoughtless gifts, one of which was de-icer
We were honestly in the territory where I wished he'd taken his £20 and just set fire to it. In exchange we spent c. £40 on a small but tasteful gift that spoke to his interests and preferences 
Now, I know that we don't give to receive but I honestly find being a skinflint to be one of the least attractive character traits. That is not me having a go at my fellow MFWers, many of who I know manage to provide warm, thoughtful Christmases on what most of us would consider a shoestring budget! For anyone who appreciates a bit of vicarious foodie nonsense, Christmas dinner was:- Blinis with creme fraiche, sturgeon and salmon caviar, HM potted lobster and royal fillet of smoked salmon. Served with a salad of kale and roasted spiced butternut squash, sunflower seeds and a lemon and garlic dressing.
- Roast turkey, porchetta, duchess potatoes, roasted carrots and parsnips with maple syrup, sprouts with chestnuts and pancetta, stuffing, pigs in blankets, HM red wine gravy and cranberry sauce.
- Colin the Caterpillar cake
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I would have thought living in Scotland you would be grateful for all the de-icer you can get your hands on 😀😀😀Mortgage start: £65,495 (March 2016)
Cleared 🧚♀️🧚♀️🧚♀️!!! In 5 years, 1 month and 29 days
Total amount repaid: £72,307.03. £1.10 repaid for every £1.00 borrowed
Finally earning interest instead of paying it!!!6 -
@South_coast - Climate change, innit? 😉8
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Reminds me of a friend who was given screen wipes from Poundland as she wore glasses 🤓6
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Reading your menu thinking wow, how can they top that dinner....Colin the Caterpillar cake 🤣🤣🤣 brilliant!Emergency Fund goal - £717.77/1500
Weight loss goal 1 - 1/7 lb
Mortgage OP goal 2026 - £120.77/£4500
New Diary- https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6647063/investing-in-us-holidays-health-and-the-road-to-150k#latest5 -
I applaud the choice of dessert - almost tops the use of maple 🍁 😋 syrup!4 YEARS 10 MONTHS DEBT FREE!!! (24 OCT 2016)(With heartfelt thanks to those who have gone before us & their indubitable generosity.)...and now I have a mortgage! (23 AUG 2021)Original End Date - Sept 2041 New projection - Dec 2039 (reduced by 21 months)4
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You should suggest you don't exchange gifts with stingy-sponger in future, or do something consumable between them, so there is no repeat, if he lasts that longSave £12k in 2025 #2 I saved £14,660.97 of £6000 or 244.35% of my target. The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I finished the year at £2880.99/£3000 or 96.03% of my annual spend so I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the grow your own in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here6 -
We went for the cheaper dessert option and had Cuthbert the Caterpillar!Nov 2025 - part 1 - £13,878 part 2 - £20,953 Total - £34,832 24 months to go!5
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