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Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend
Comments
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Looking forward to seeing 'foxgloves technicoloured dreamcardigan' 😁https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6466032/an-in-between-phase/p1
'self-blame can be as egotistical as self-praise... any work worth doing is greater than we are... we must not overrate our importance to it, either for good or ill' Margaret Kennedy Lucy Carmichael9 -
Do your hands respond well to ibuprofen gel? Fortunately mine do & I never even thought about trying it. I was trying it on my hip before my op & squeezed out too much & got it all over my hands. According to my doctor I can use it even though I must not take ibuprofen by mouth.
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@themadvix - Yes, this time of year is busy, but so full of promise & future food.
@PennysIntoPounds - Lol, yes, this cardi would certainly give Joseph a run for his money!
@badmemory - Yes, I do use that on my basal thumb joints when they are bad. In fact, it was what my GP prescribed at time of diagnosis. I rocked up thinking I had tendonitis, which I did, but the x-ray showed definite arthritis too. I was most put out as wasn't even 55 at the time & thought I was too young, but my GP said he is seeing people in their 30s with it & prescribed an ibuprofen gel. I can't take ibuprofen internally either as I am allergic to aspirin & it causes very similar effects, but the gel has been fine.
@Onebrokelady- I don't take the oil internally. The one I have is a CBD/lavender oil blend & it is for massage.
F
2026's challenges: 1) To rebuild our Emergency Fund to at least £5k.
2) To read 50 books (12/50) 3) The Re-Shrinking of Foxgloves 8.1kg/30kg
Remember....if you have to put it on a credit card, extend your overdraft or take out a loan to buy whatever it is, you probably can't afford it, as that's not your money, it's somebody else's!10 -
I'm feeling a little trepidatious about my plants. I have only planted sweet peas, tomatoes and peppers so far (chilli seeds were a bit old and haven't germinated but with three bags in the freezer I will give them a miss this year). We are off to my Mum's at the weekend and I was due to leave everything in DS's care but he is a drown or drought "gardener". Anyway, our gardener's wife has volunteered to water (phew) but too late to plant more seedlings so everything else is postponed until we get back in two weeks time. The forecast suggests it is all about to warm up (and that means swarms here) so we will be preparing the bees with lots of space and leaving them to itSave £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £2870.61 so far, against a £10k target The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2026 I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026 - currently £568.34 and most of my March purchasing made
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 here8 -
Everything will catch up if you plant it when you get back SL - it’ll be fine. Glad to hear you’ve got a good waterer though - I recall things aren’t always too happy when DS is left in charge!Mortgage free 16/06/2023! £132,500 cleared in 11 years, 3 months and 7 days
'Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.' Ernest Hemingway8 -
Yes, the drowned melons were probably the most upsetting, combined with loads of blossom end-rot (tell-tale drought) and nothing tied in so floppy vegetation. When I asked how he got in there he cheerfully told me he used the hose and sprayed (pressure-washed more like it) from the door. He thought it "better" to leave that to me. He will be 32 next month... Bob Hope and No hope are the two chances of him being a gardener at this rate!themadvix said:Everything will catch up if you plant it when you get back SL - it’ll be fine. Glad to hear you’ve got a good waterer though - I recall things aren’t always too happy when DS is left in charge!Save £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £2870.61 so far, against a £10k target The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2026 I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026 - currently £568.34 and most of my March purchasing made
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 here8 -
@Suffolk_lass - We don't usually go on holiday until Autumn, so watering veg & young plants not a problem. This year, because of my big birthday, we are going to be away at a much more plant-critical time. No family or friends nearby to pop in to water & Mr F will simply not agree to letting a neighbour have a key, despite there being someone I would both trust & for whom I'd return the favour. Mr F & I agree on the vast majority of issues & are good at finding compromises, but he just absolutely will not budge on this. So I am currently trying to get everything as robust as possible. I will have to try not to think about it while we are away, grrrrr.
F2026's challenges: 1) To rebuild our Emergency Fund to at least £5k.
2) To read 50 books (12/50) 3) The Re-Shrinking of Foxgloves 8.1kg/30kg
Remember....if you have to put it on a credit card, extend your overdraft or take out a loan to buy whatever it is, you probably can't afford it, as that's not your money, it's somebody else's!6 -
I wonder if your pots could possibly go to the trusted neighbour for a holiday? couched as more convenient than having to come round... or maybe the little garden centre offer a plant creche (although not the most money saving option)?Save £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £2870.61 so far, against a £10k target The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2026 I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026 - currently £568.34 and most of my March purchasing made
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 -
Bah! Just typed today's post & promptly lost it Today's budget-helping positives:
*Baked a crusty loaf.
*Potted up lots of cosmos (grown from saved seed).
*Sorted out 🍓🍓 troughs & filled in gaps using the runners I potted up last Autumn.
*Made tomorrow's packed lunch.
*Lamb & butterbean stew bubbling on the hob using some of the leftover Easter lamb & stock I made yesterday.
*Sorted huge pile of clean laundry & was delighted to find that only 4 items required ironing thus saving both electricity & my good mood.
*Knitted a few rows of cardi during my lunch hour.
*Did 1 Annoying Job. It did take 40 mins, but cost nothing in terms of materials.
F x
2026's challenges: 1) To rebuild our Emergency Fund to at least £5k.
2) To read 50 books (12/50) 3) The Re-Shrinking of Foxgloves 8.1kg/30kg
Remember....if you have to put it on a credit card, extend your overdraft or take out a loan to buy whatever it is, you probably can't afford it, as that's not your money, it's somebody else's!8 -
After seeing your fab Simnel cake I was delighted to get one on olio today. We both loved it, as this is the first time I have tried it. Definitely will be an Easter treat from now on 👍6
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