Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

milann

Must have been lovely seeing Ash accepting being stroked 😻 

Tescodealqueen

@kayannie the Kathy Reichs book is The Bone Hacker. Am looking forward to it 

foxgloves

Yes, that's the newest one which I'm currently reading - 'The Bone hacker'.
Hello Diary Readers & thanks for all your comments & contributions. I've been thinking again recently that I am probably not really a very good fit for the DFW diary board any more, as no longer have any debt or mortgage at all. I still very much continue my debt-free lifestyle practices though, so as to continue building savings & security. My approach is very much 'old-style' - growing food, cooking from scratch, preserving, mending stuff, hand-made gifts, occasional foraging.....an ideal frugal diary for me would probably be on the Old-Style forum, if there was a diary section.
Anyway, on to today's money-saving wins:
*Baked a big seedy loaf of bread.
*Managed to get (temporarily) on top of the tomato glut. Yay!! Bottled another 3kg & made a batch of Cranks' tomato soup with another 500g. We had some of that for our lunch & the remainder has gone in a big microwaveable mug for Mr F's packed lunch tomorrow.
*Today's garden pickings: Blackberries, basil & 2 tromboncini.
*Perused a couple of books from our cookery book collection for new tomato recipes to try.
*Synchronised our diaries so we know what we're doing over the coming week.
*Did a load of laundry which has dried beautifully out on the line as it's such a hot day.
*Started off a batch of blackberry brandy.
Mr F has been busy lawn mowing & car cleaning. He's currently firing at aliens but not for too much longer as it's his cooking night. I shall crochet later but atm intend to carry on reading out on a sunny bench.
Enjoy your Sunday nights, m'dears,
F x

Four_Seasons

Hi Foxgloves, I think you are a perfect fit for this board, I have learnt so much and picked up numerous tips on growing veg, cooking, budgeting and all the others topics which come up!! Thank you for the info on pet insurance still mulling it over. Please don't think of deserting us!! Xx

angela110660

I second Four_Seasons comment - please don't disappear! 

badmemory

But you've been there done that & got the T-shirt & kept it.  What better to be on here & help people to see how it is done.

foxgloves

That's kind of you .Not dipping into savings & money supposedly destined for savings does require effort on the lifestyle front, I won't deny that. I suppose I think of the purpose of this board - to document one's journey towards debt-free - & that no longer applies to me. I love our simpler lifestyle. Now that we are mortgage-free, I would describe us as 'comfortable' as if we are careful & budget properly, we are able to pay a small but steady amount of money into savings each month. It is very much 'in the eye of the beholder' though, as we did decide to live on one salary, reduce to a single car & run a very steady ship with all matters financial. I'm sure there are people who would consider us rather poor in financial terms, but (despite coming to.budgeting later in life after many years of silly overspending), we have little appetite for flashy purchases, brands & keeping up with the latest trendy crud through constant upgrading, etc. Each to their own. We have found what works for us & I finally evolved a budget process which supports this on a practical level.
I still find regular posting in my DFW diary motivating, but am just conscious that it documents staying, rather than becoming debt-free......although that takes effort too, & is also important.
F x

foxgloves

Lol, @badmemory - I'm not going to deny I have that particular t-shirt!
F

Cheery_Daff

I don't think it matters where you post either- lots of people (including me) love to read your ongoing story, and those of others who are keeping to the MSE ways. You never know who you're going to inspire! 😊 and once someone's subscribed to your diary, they'll access it through their subscriptions list rather than the MFW board so it won't matter anyway! 😁

PennysIntoPounds

You make a huge contribution to the debt free diaries board, by sharing useful (and lovely) anecdotes, tips, and encouragement. And it's very much for you too if you feel it focuses and motivates you. After all, anyone can go back to being in debt regardless of situation if they're not feeling focused and motivated. 
I wondered when starting my diary if it was appropriate for me to be on this board as I don't have debt, but I think most people on here have far more assets and income than me so I chose here, largely because your diary is so welcoming, as the place where there's a nice community to all spur each other on in whatever challenges (good or bad) we're facing. It would be a much poorer place (meant both ways!) without you