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Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend
Comments
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A service warning car doesn’t always mean it’s due an actual service it could be something like brake fluid change is duebadmemory said:That tyre pressure thing is a pain. Mine does it when it’s cold & then I bomb up the motorway & of course the tyres get hot. You know there is nothing wrong & never has been but you still have to check, just in case. At the moment mine is bleeping at me because a service is due. No it isn't, I've hardly done any miles & it won't be a year until November. Last week I caught myself telling it to shut up & go away.
MFW 2026 #5007/03/25: Mortgage: £67,000.00
Mortgage:
04/04/26: £33,500
07/03/26: £34,418.15
16/01/26: £56,794.25
02/01/26: £60,223.17
12/08/25: Mortgage: £62,500.00
12/06/25: Mortgage: £65,000.00
18/01/25: Mortgage: £68,500.14
27/12/24: Mortgage: £69,278.38
Savings: £20,0005 -
Oh my goodness, why does coastal air always knock me right out?!
Money spent so far: 2 yoghurts, a newspaper & 3 postcards!
F x2026'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!9 -
Coastal air is fabulous isn't it? It blows away cobwebs, refreshes and invigorates and then knocks you out!"2 yoghurts, a newspaper, 3 postcards and a partridge in a pear tree" 🙃5
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Ooh are you on your mini break now? Enjoy if so. Sea air always makes me feel tired but in a good way.I get knocked down but I get up again (Chumbawamba, Tubthumping)5
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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!4 -
Have a lovely break! I am hoping that the weather stays good for you. Sea air is definitely both a tonic and a sedative and just generally the light is also very uplifting, relaxing and beautiful.3
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We are driving home this afternoon. Yes thanks, weather has been lovely.
F x2026'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 -
Glad the break has been lovely - did I hear a campsite mentioned? Decent weather for it if so anyway - we were lucky in Ludlow last weekend for all bar the last 30 minutes - which was of course exactly when we wanted it to stay dry for packing up tents! Oh well!🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her5 -
@EssexHebridean - Yes, it was lovely weather. We don't have a tent atm as we never replaced it after I wrecked the last one (fell through it!) a few months before the pandemic struck. We mostly have an annual cottage holiday but had both really been missing our favourite campsite, so decided to try out one of their ensuite rooms. We got on very well with it - communal kitchen & dining area in old stable, which was very clean & well-equipped & use of a large courtyard area for al fresco eating, bbqs, etc, which was strung with fairy lights as darkness fell. So atm, we are thinking we will probably not buy a new tent but will book one of these campsite rooms for a few nights now & again. We did love our tenty holidays & had lots of fun, but an obvious advantage is staying dry in a converted stable room throughout & not having to pack the blimming thing away wet. Also heard that off-season they do 3 nights for the price of 2, so as the rooms have underfloor heating & a radiator, this would also be an option.
Glad to hear you also had good weather in Ludlow apart from packing-up time, which is absolutely typical!
F x2026'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 -
That sounds like a lovely option - tents aren't exactly chap these days and let's be honest, the faff of setting up/packing away always eats into time you could be doing something else! Also nice to have options for a winter stay somewhere you love too!🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her5
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