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Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend
Comments
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You can all keep your stollen - filthy stuff!
Now, lebkuchen is a different matter - although I'm not going to risk making it as if I do MrEH will realise it really does contain ginger, and will then decide he doesn't like it after all!🎉 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/her7 -
Christmas sweets are the bane of my existence! We have a sharing table in the office and I swear just looking at all the yummy treats I've put on 20lbs! Am trying to stick to easy peelers, tomatoes, grapes and water biscuits, but a bit of cheese, a mini pain au chocolate and some cheese may have landed on my plate as well. All the cakes and cookies are currently calling out for attention, I may or may not make it to the end of the day without sampling the home-baked goods!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)8
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This is one of the things we like to buy post-Christmas to follow on when the homemade stuff has gone. We find it useful to use up the scraps of pastry to make a few mince pies.EssexHebridean said:Those look very festive Foxgloves!
I have no issue buying "extra" bits of christmas stuff Y/S'd as long as it will keep, and get used - This year's mince pies are going to have some VERY nice mincemeat in them as a result of this!
@foxgloves your hosts are very lucky to be receiving such a fantastic gift.
A couple of years ago as part of our Advent activities, we tried different mince pies from various supermarkets 😋Moorviews said:Generally, I make mincemeat that lasts well for two years. This year is a poor one for my health and energy so I have decided that I won’t be making mince pies at all. Mr MV is happy with bought ones although he prefers homemade - maybe he just says that 😂 We are experimenting with the different supermarket offerings.Fashion on a ration 2025 0/66 coupons spent
79.5 coupons rolled over 4/75.5 coupons spent - using for secondhand purchases
One income, home educating family8 -
I’ve managed to miss lots of posts….not sure what happened but life just got in the way. Will try to skim over and catch up. 👋January spends - £587.587
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Since I had to stop driving I have always missed out on the reductions post Christams but having the scooter this year I will be there seeing if there is anything I can use. I am very good at not buying stuff we dont eat but things like mincemeat are always useful as I make mince pies for Mr LH to take to his festivals during the summer. The marshalls wolf them down apparently.
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@EssexHebridean - I like lebkuchen too. Very festive. Also, Mr F not keen so all the more for me!
@rtandon27 - Oh yes, I well remember the shared goodies table at work.....I'd find myself picking at stuff every time I went past....even stuff I wasn't fond of!
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!8 -
@Moorviews - Sorry to hear you've been struggling with health & energy this year.
Re marzipan trimmings, I must say that Nigella was over-generous in her suggested quantity of marzipan required to cover large Christmas cake, so I was on those trimmings like a fat piglet who had just been informed there's about to be a world shortage of said golden loveliness!
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!9 -
@ladyholly - I look forward to hearing that you have scootered home some amazing post-Christmas yellow-sticker bargains. Defo worth getting mincemeat by the sounds of it.
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!7 -
Hello Christmas Fairies,
Wasn't home until late last night as we had a rare city centre night out. A Christmas concert. Very festive indeed, even if I did get a 'side eye' from a morose Christmas elf. Shame she quickly vanished as I am master of the side-eye & would have enjoyed returning it with bells on, lol.
Well, m'dears, here is today's budget-friendly activity, such as it is:
*Free parking as decided to use supermarket car park & be quick.
*Hair cut at my favourite little salon - £13.
*Most of the meat still on our festive shopping list was in our market butcher's '5 for £20' offer this morning & as we had a full collection of stamps on our loyalty card, we got £10 off.
*Collected free box of la-di-dah fancypants mince pies from Waitbl00m, which was one of my 'My JL' monthly rewards.
*Put up Christmas tree. Haven't bought any new decorations this year. We have plenty - many of them made by my Mum.
*Divided up this morning's meat & froze in portion sizes needed for various things. Not essential, but avoids waste by defrosting whole packs when, for eg, only 3 or 4 rashers of bacon required.
*Nice pile of Christmas cards on the doormat this morning. Not money saving to me, but I like to snip off the stamps for sending to charities which can raise funds from them.
Well, that's my lot for today. It's not my cooking night. I am on the sofa with Ash & am about to go through the Christmas Radio Times with a highlighter pen to identify anything I fancy watching. Then with my trainee cryptic crossword solving skills, I shall have a crack at the crossword before starting on latest library book.
Wishing everyone a pleasant Friday night,
Foxgloves (& Ash)
xx
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!12 -
'Side-eye from a morose Christmas elf' 😂https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6466032/an-in-between-phase/p1
'aggressive safety shot' Ken Doherty6
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