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Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend
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Well done on the steps. Its hard in this weather isn't it? Well done in Survey earnings as well. I found June a good month as well. Hope it continues.Making the debt go down and savings go up
LBM 2015 - debt £57K / Now £28,744....its going down
Mortgage Free December 9th 2024! 18mths ahead of schedule. Since 2022 we paid over £15K in OPs.Challenges
EF #68 £500/£3000
.
Fiver Friday '25 #10 £15
Studies/surveys July £79.31
Decluttering items 755
Books read 12
Jigsaws done 8
My debt free diary...https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6396218/we-will-get-this-debt-d£own-the-savings-up4 -
@Makingabobor2 - I think Mr F is hoping that July will be a good PA month as he's ordered a £60 box-set. He was just saying he needed to get back into the routine of checking for surveys & a £20 one appeared, which he's taking as a good sign!
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)7 -
foxgloves said:@Makingabobor2 - I think Mr F is hoping that July will be a good PA month as he's ordered a £60 box-set. He was just saying he needed to get back into the routine of checking for surveys & a £20 one appeared, which he's taking as a good sign!
FMaking the debt go down and savings go up
LBM 2015 - debt £57K / Now £28,744....its going down
Mortgage Free December 9th 2024! 18mths ahead of schedule. Since 2022 we paid over £15K in OPs.Challenges
EF #68 £500/£3000
.
Fiver Friday '25 #10 £15
Studies/surveys July £79.31
Decluttering items 755
Books read 12
Jigsaws done 8
My debt free diary...https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6396218/we-will-get-this-debt-d£own-the-savings-up5 -
Hi m'dears,
Wasn't going to bother with posting today, as my phone is really annoying me after installation of an update, & I really shall have to adjust some settings.....either that or lob it into the pond accompanied by some choice curses.
Have mostly enjoyed a day of leisure as Mr F is off this week & dropped me in town while he took the car for new tyres & a brake check. We met up afterwards & went for lunch at our current fave cafe. The nicest thing about this (apart from the beloved's company & scrummy food, of course) was that I included it in July's budget, so it already felt 'paid for'. Back in the Idiot Spendy Era, I thought budgeting was solely about curtailing fun, about stopping, cutting, banning.....whereas the reality is that it can also be a facilitator. Budgeting can make things happen. It can enable as well as limit.
Today was a good opportunity for me to go & spend some proper time looking through rolls of fabric on the soon-to-close-down market stall. I chose 3 fabrics - enough for a top & 2 dresses. £36 in total. I think (as long as I don't bog them up) that's a fantastic price these days for 3 garments. My sis asked me to look for some fabric for her too & I bought enough for trousers, a maxi-dress & a top - (£24, as one was end of roll & he knocked some off). Very sad to see this great stall close down. I thought he was perhaps retiring but the reality is that the business just isn't viable since Brexit. He has to pay such a lot more to import from his suppliers that it's no longer possible to make a profit. I was pleased to be able to buy a nice lot of fabric from him today, anyway. Sad times for a lot of businesses.
Garden pickings = carrots, parsley & spring onions.
Jacket potatoes tonight. Mr F is making Man-Stew & I'm having tuna & spring onion mayonnaise on mine, topped with sliced avocado. The Man-Stew chef is apparently also hardboiling eggs to make bagels to take with us along with a flask of coffee when we visit a local-ish NT place for a walk tomorrow.
Nothing else to tell you. Am about to start a new library book - a Scandi-crime & intend to catch up with Springwatch later.
So much more comfortable in today's sunny but cooler weather. Would have liked more rain than the 3ml of drizzle we did get. I actually heard 2 women in town this morning complaining that it was 'really cold' & one actually used the word 'freezing'!! It was actually 23° !!
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)7 -
I saw someone out today, actually wearing a padded coat and jeans. just a few degrees cooler and they can't cope....lol. I found it a much better day personally and praying for that rain for the garden.Making the debt go down and savings go up
LBM 2015 - debt £57K / Now £28,744....its going down
Mortgage Free December 9th 2024! 18mths ahead of schedule. Since 2022 we paid over £15K in OPs.Challenges
EF #68 £500/£3000
.
Fiver Friday '25 #10 £15
Studies/surveys July £79.31
Decluttering items 755
Books read 12
Jigsaws done 8
My debt free diary...https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6396218/we-will-get-this-debt-d£own-the-savings-up6 -
I loved todays weather though still a bit warm in the sun.6
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I did too, @ladyholly, & today's. Summer weather but cool enough for walking about without turning into a hot mess.
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)5 -
Evening Frugal Friends,
A thoroughly leisurely day today. We are both enjoying Mr F's week off.
A trip to Belton House this morning (NT). Enjoyed our walk, the gardens, seeing the deer, etc, & was restraint personified in the gift shop where I bought 1 birthday card!
This afternoon, I've sewn my pinned tunic dress together & sewn in the sleeves. This is from the bargainaceous fabric I posted a photo of last week, so if as successful as the first one, will have cost me the grand sum of £3. Bias binding to make & attach tomorrow then hems if I get time.
Garden pickings: 4 more lovely shiny courgettes. I diced one & added it to tonight's kedgeree.
A bit of make-do & mend as have restored my pinking shears to their former glory. They were covered in horrible sticky glue (no idea why!). Had been minded to buy a new pair but managed to scrub off gunk with hot soapy water. Cut up a piece of used foil to sharpen them & they have come up like new.
Received a free takeaway coffee voucher in the post from local C**p to say sorry for all the stock-gaps while they were dealing with the hacking aftermath. Donated it to Mr F who loves a free coffee.
Enjoy your evenings all,
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)11 -
That's good of the C00p to offer a freebie. Unusual for companies to care that much these days.Making the debt go down and savings go up
LBM 2015 - debt £57K / Now £28,744....its going down
Mortgage Free December 9th 2024! 18mths ahead of schedule. Since 2022 we paid over £15K in OPs.Challenges
EF #68 £500/£3000
.
Fiver Friday '25 #10 £15
Studies/surveys July £79.31
Decluttering items 755
Books read 12
Jigsaws done 8
My debt free diary...https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6396218/we-will-get-this-debt-d£own-the-savings-up4 -
@Makingabobor2 - Yes, I thought it was good of them to provide their members with a little bit of a freebie. I don't know if it is a national C**p thing though, as ours is a regional one with a separate loyalty card scheme.
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)5
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