Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

milann

I’ve just had a catch up from the middle of December. I’m pleased you had a lovely Christmas with family and loved the Christmas cake.
Happy New Year and I look forward to hearing the money wrangling, plant growing and antics of Soot and Ash during 2025.

Blackcats

Happy New Year to the Foxgloves household.
we are having a board meeting tomorrow too.  2025 is my 2nd full year of retirement so it's time to settle into more of a routine with a balance of spending and saving.  Look forward to reading about your plans.

foxgloves

Morning all & thank-you for all of your encouraging comments. 
Well, yesterday involved one of my annual New Year tasks - sorting out my new diary & transferring birthdays, anniversaries, bin collections (oooh, the glamour!), Big Budget Days & all the regular gubbins which keeps life at Foxgloves Manor nicely functional. I received a new Emma Bridgewater diary for Christmas - my diary of choice, as aside from the lovely illustrations & seasonal text, I like the monthly calendar double page spread as it is perfect for easy-to-consult meal plans. I like the monthly notes pages too. So that's me set up for tackling 2025.
We also decided on next week's meal plans, then wrote a rough meal plan for the rest of January. Not much of a grocery shopping list at all this week & Mr F decided to pop out & get it this morning as he was planning to drop off some recycling anyway.
I've mixed up a sourdough & am just about to go & print out the figures required for our annual Money Summit later this morning. We have been having this meeting every January for several years & find it really helpful to have a targeted discussion with follow-up plans & actions. We do have a financial project in mind for this year, so tine to get the show on the road. Oh, & I've also repaired my jigsaw which was subjected to some overnight help from Soot. Not wanting to be outdone, Ash has decided that if it isn't persian queen variety, then he'd rather go without. Grrrrr.
Chat later,
F x

Sun_Addict

We had a cat that used to sabotage DS’s Subbuteo. He would spend ages setting it all up only for the cat to dive across the pitch and wreck it. 

Makingabobor2

I have been sorting out my diary as well. Bought a cheapish one, but it seemed it might work ok. But now decided its not as good as I thought. Might take a look at the EB ones

badmemory

Don't scoff at those bin emptying dates.  Ours are on a 6 week rotation & that needs keeping on top of.  Although my to do spreadsheet has pretty much got it down to a fine art.  As in column 3 equals column 1 plus 21 days.  

Such a refined spreadsheet that it even has a line for remind friend to pay his rent, although why that is my job I have absolutely no idea except the family members who owe him money pay it to me then he pays any shortfall & then I pay the rent.  I am sure you will be relieved to know that until I have every penny I do not pay out.  I have mug written on my forehead but after 60 years how can I not do it.  The bad bit is I am the only one who thinks that he is losing the plot

Makingabobor2

Actually discovered that I can make my diary work better if I just use a pencil an ruler and a few lines here & there.  I don't need to buy a new one, just need to use my imagination to make it work for what I need it for. 

badmemory

Oh sorry about that unload.  I have had a bad 24 hours.  Both of my closest friends have shown signs of dementia in the past but both in the same day!!  The awful thing is one friend is only 61 & her carers think she should be in a care home but she isn't really bad enough for them to insist.  I get phone calls that she says are about something but then I never find out what & finally wanted me to go see her about something still no idea why so I went & she didn't let me in just kept me on the door step.  That did not surprise me too much as the place is a pigsty & there isn't enough room to move a vac.

Then I unload again!!  Sorry folks feeling a bit stressed & can't unload on DS.

foxgloves

Oh my goodness, @badmemory, that sounds very complicated re your friend's rent. Good job you have such an effective spreadsheet. It's a sad thing if your friend does have early onset dementia, as 61 is no age at all, but I know some people are affected this way, unfortunately.

@Makingabobor2 - Well that's a few quid saved if you can make your diary work. Perhaps you can rule it up & find something that works for you, then next year, you will know what you need & look out for the optimum 2026 diary for your needs?
F

foxgloves

Evening New Year Frugalistas,
Well, our annual money meeting took place this morning & was very useful. 
We reviewed how things are working, our general savings & ways of doing things, then launched this year's challenge - "Project Surbiton" - the aim of which is to rebuild our 10 Savings Pots. We reviewed our current maximum holdings in each one & opted to increase the figure on most of them, as the idea is that they would adequately cover foreseeable expenses in each category. As we had to replace quite a few things last year, had some chunky car expenses plus we have pretty much emptied the presents pot with Christmas & all the winter birthdays, we very much need to rebuild. Both of us regard our Savings Pots as our 'first line of defence'. If we can cover items in those 10 categories from our pots, then we are not dipping into our Emergency Fund & our ability to save for our future. 
So "Project Surbiton" has swung into action as of today.
More another day, as I can't type & eat pasta! 
F x