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Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend
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P.S @Humdinger1 - re your comment.....I did get elected a few years back & served a 4-year term locally but although it was interesting, it was also deeply frustrating. We live in ToryTown, so I think mine was a bit of a rogue win - not enough fellow comrades on the council for me to to feel I'd been even slightly effective, except for my role at a local mental health charity, which I did enjoy, as well as getting on well with the service users & volunteers. I wouldn't attempt to go any further politically, even though I have been approached by people hoping I might stand for other councils. I got to middle-manager level in the public sector when I was working - we were not allowed to express any political views at work, so I had to go about with a virtual zipper over my mouth, especially difficult as I worked in a succession of areas which were struggling socially & economically. Yes, we are living through interesting times, but I'd like to see a bit more come-uppance for those in need of being taken down a peg or ten.
F
2025's challenges: 1) To fill our 10 Savings Pots to their healthiest level ever
2) To read 100 books (36/100) 3) The Shrinking of Foxgloves 6.5kg/30kg
"Life can only be understood backwards but it must be lived forwards" (Soren Kirkegaard 1813-55)9 -
@makingabobor2 - It really varies depending on where you live, if you are in a frost pocket, etc. We are northern end of East Midlands & I will sow some outdoor stuff in March, but will cover the containers with glass to be on the safe side......unless the weather warms up of course. I start most stuff off in my greenhouse (unheated) or if it's tropical veg like aubergines, peppers, tomatoes, etc, I use my little heated propagator. Sorry not to be able to give you a more definitive answer. Mr F is the potato/allium grower & I know he hasn't got his shallots in yet because he thinks it's too cold. I don't think he's doing potatoes this year as he has other projects.
F x2025's challenges: 1) To fill our 10 Savings Pots to their healthiest level ever
2) To read 100 books (36/100) 3) The Shrinking of Foxgloves 6.5kg/30kg
"Life can only be understood backwards but it must be lived forwards" (Soren Kirkegaard 1813-55)8 -
foxgloves said:@makingabobor2 - It really varies depending on where you live, if you are in a frost pocket, etc. We are northern end of East Midlands & I will sow some outdoor stuff in March, but will cover the containers with glass to be on the safe side......unless the weather warms up of course. I start most stuff off in my greenhouse (unheated) or if it's tropical veg like aubergines, peppers, tomatoes, etc, I use my little heated propagator. Sorry not to be able to give you a more definitive answer. Mr F is the potato/allium grower & I know he hasn't got his shallots in yet because he thinks it's too cold. I don't think he's doing potatoes this year as he has other projects.
F xMaking the debt go down and savings go up
LBM 2015 - debt £57K / Now £28,524....its going down
Mortgage Free December 9th 2024! 18mths ahead of schedule. Since 2022 we paid over £15K in OPs.Challenges
EF #68 £550/£3000
.
Studies/surveys August £14.50
Decluttering items 771
Books read 14
Jigsaws done 8
My debt free diary...https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6396218/we-will-get-this-debt-d£own-the-savings-up5 -
@Makingabobor2 - Anything transparent will do. I use glass because I have a few panes that are a good size for covering containers. They were actually glass shelves from an old bathroom unit, which I kept to re-purpose. Even a sheet of polythene would provide a bit of additional protection, as would horticultural fleece. I've used old voile/ muslin curtains in the past too.
The old folk advice about planting times was if you can rest your bare bum cheeks on the soil comfortably, then it's warm enough....but I've never tried that as our garden is overlooked!
F x2025's challenges: 1) To fill our 10 Savings Pots to their healthiest level ever
2) To read 100 books (36/100) 3) The Shrinking of Foxgloves 6.5kg/30kg
"Life can only be understood backwards but it must be lived forwards" (Soren Kirkegaard 1813-55)8 -
foxgloves said:@Makingabobor2 - Anything transparent will do. I use glass because I have a few panes that are a good size for covering containers. They were actually glass shelves from an old bathroom unit, which I kept to re-purpose. Even a sheet of polythene would provide a bit of additional protection, as would horticultural fleece. I've used old voile/ muslin curtains in the past too.
The old folk advice about planting times was if you can rest your bare bum cheeks on the soil comfortably, then it's warm enough....but I've never tried that as our garden is overlooked!
F xMaking the debt go down and savings go up
LBM 2015 - debt £57K / Now £28,524....its going down
Mortgage Free December 9th 2024! 18mths ahead of schedule. Since 2022 we paid over £15K in OPs.Challenges
EF #68 £550/£3000
.
Studies/surveys August £14.50
Decluttering items 771
Books read 14
Jigsaws done 8
My debt free diary...https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6396218/we-will-get-this-debt-d£own-the-savings-up7 -
That really is an extortionate price on that cat food isn’t it - I suppose people pay it though or they wouldn’t still be charging it! I remember shopping about all over the place to find the best price on HRH’s “Cats Like…” brand 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 1/4/25SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her5 -
@EssexHebridean - Yes, extortionate. I remember at one point last year, cat food was cited as one of the fastest rising prices. And the boxes we are buying are now also security tagged.
F
2025's challenges: 1) To fill our 10 Savings Pots to their healthiest level ever
2) To read 100 books (36/100) 3) The Shrinking of Foxgloves 6.5kg/30kg
"Life can only be understood backwards but it must be lived forwards" (Soren Kirkegaard 1813-55)6 -
foxgloves is it Sh3ba that you buy for your cat, if so have you looked on the online store Bother as it may be cheaper.5
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@pennywisepoundstupid - Thanks, yes that's the one! I expect I could find it cheaper online, but we're trying hard to support our high street/local shops atm, as so many of them have closed here in the last few years. I did buy Soot & Ash's flea treatment online last time though, as the price differential was just too big to ignore.
I wonder if cat food brands will become more competitive when inflation falls back, or whether the big companies which own the brands will keep them artificially high to make the most of the situation. I suppose we will just have to wait & see.
F2025's challenges: 1) To fill our 10 Savings Pots to their healthiest level ever
2) To read 100 books (36/100) 3) The Shrinking of Foxgloves 6.5kg/30kg
"Life can only be understood backwards but it must be lived forwards" (Soren Kirkegaard 1813-55)4 -
Not sure if it is all their range of cat food but I think the sachets just reduced in size as our subscription was not delivered because they have run out of the size we have.
Your point about public sector not being able to speak about political things. I similarly maintained the party line, implemented government policy with integrity, supporting our customers, despite the fact that I fundamentally disagreed on a personal level. I think the fuss about Sue Gray resigning to become Keir Starmer's chief of staff shows a number of things:- he is saying I will be following the rules
- I am putting in place someone of unimpeachable integrity to run my office properly, without chancers and know-nothings
- that he truly values the skills and honesty of the Civil Service
- in contrast Catman Moggy and the mad-woman once again demonstrate they do not value the public sector and do not understand it is possible to do your job and deliver, even when you personally disagree. It explains to me why these privileged MPs cannot distinguish between personal and professional interests.
Save £12k in 2025 #2 I am at £4863.32 out of £6000 after May (81.05%)
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I am at £1286.68/£3000 or 42.89% of my annual spend so far
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 thread
My new diary is here9
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