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.
📨 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!
Debt and Caring
Comments
-
That sounds like a pretty good start on the meals. I agree it's hard to find portable yogurts that aren't low fat, but nowadays I make my own so I can have full fat should I choose.
Front loading meals would be a bit of an adjustment but it might be the perfect solution.I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet 7.5, 2 t-shirts 10, men's socks 3, uniform top 0, hat 0, shoes 5 = 30.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, t-shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/220 -
I’ve seen portable protein yoghurt sachets in the supermarket - would those work ?Sealed pot challenge 822
Jan - £176.66 :j2 -
Nice you've been paid already.
What about the chicken satay sticks, or mini sausages etc perhaps with cherry tomatoes and carrot batons so it is finger food but still has some health benefits.
Impressed with the step count!!Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £172.5K Equity 36.11%
2) £1.8K Net savings after CCs 13/9/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £26.8K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 32.6/£127.5K target 25.6% 13/9/25
(If took bigger lump sum = 54.5K or 42.7%)
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 £4.8K updated 13/9/251 -
Although if it were me - I think I'd go with a full English breakfast or equivalent. Perhaps a flask of soup.Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £172.5K Equity 36.11%
2) £1.8K Net savings after CCs 13/9/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £26.8K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 32.6/£127.5K target 25.6% 13/9/25
(If took bigger lump sum = 54.5K or 42.7%)
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 £4.8K updated 13/9/251 -
This week has felt a little like I'm a kid playing Going to Work.
I'm so jaunty going off to Get The Bus To Work, like look at me with my tea in a to go cup. I'm a real grownup! I'm a real life Michael Rosen poem.
Today's snack pocket: sweet and smoky chicken pieces, extra mature cheddar (in the individual packets, only ate two), banana, squeezy yoghurt (the yoghurt sachets @dawnybabes) and two mint reindeers.
Legs were like cement today after only the first 20 blocks of flats. Perked up a bit after eating a whole packet of chicken pieces but it was hard going. Thankfully only 21k steps as no cleaning job on a Saturday. Although as I thought to myself this week, after being broke for nigh on five years my a$$ is motivated to get up those stairs. I do need some lessons in how to clean more efficiently though, I was looking at the official one which has classes that only be taken as part of the main license which I don't really want to do. If I can't find anything else I'll maybe resort to that.
I got fish and chips to celebrate the end of my first week of full time work. I may have splurged and gotten the full size fish supper and two pineapple fritters. Even with a postie job that is too much for my stomach.
Although I'm celebrating being able to work it's also been a bit bittersweet. I keep thinking I'd love to tell Dad all about it. I'd save up all my funny little stories from the day so I could make him laugh. I'm grateful though because without that experience I probably wouldn't appreciate work in the way that I do now.
Who am I kidding, I still talk to Dad- it just looks like I'm talking to myself now.
5 -
Write the stories in a book and dedicate it to your Dad?I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet 7.5, 2 t-shirts 10, men's socks 3, uniform top 0, hat 0, shoes 5 = 30.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, t-shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/220 -
Thanks all for the food ideas, they’re going onto my list. No energy to plan now so I’ll review what I need to do in the morning.
Can I just say though- it is an absolute joy looking at food and thinking no, thats not enough calories I need to get more 🤣4 -
Well done WD on the jobs.
On the food front - scotch eggs may also be an option or similar.
I like Cherry's suggestion of writing things to your Dad in a book. I journal and it's a lifesaver.Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £172.5K Equity 36.11%
2) £1.8K Net savings after CCs 13/9/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £26.8K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 32.6/£127.5K target 25.6% 13/9/25
(If took bigger lump sum = 54.5K or 42.7%)
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 £4.8K updated 13/9/251 -
Would teacup not appreciate any of your stories?1
-
Brain thought it was going to work this morning and decided I didn't need a lie in. So I was up at 6.45am on my day off sigh.
I thought that I'd see the boys today but on their usual schedule which would have meant going to supermarket while they were at swimming. But Sister Act was working, BIL had to take cat to vet, Small One elected to stay with me (ahem) and so I wound up on a completely different schedule.
I do apply the sort of childcare that you maybe wouldn't want their parents to see including wiggly bum dance moves. And letting him take all his clothes off which I find hilarious.
But man I was knackered by the time I got to the supermarket. I could not think of what I wanted to buy and just went with ready meals and finger food. I'm doing overtime at the cleaning job so going straight from one job to the other. I've cooked all the finger food that I could and I'll pack it up somehow to bring tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow morning when hopefully things will make sense.
I had planned to do some tidying but that ain't happening now. I do have to wait until the tumble dryer finishes before I can go to bed.
just realised I forgot I wanted to make lettuce wraps. Dagnabbit.
ah well, it was worth it.5
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351.7K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454K Spending & Discounts
- 244.7K Work, Benefits & Business
- 600.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.3K Life & Family
- 258.3K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards