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Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend
Comments
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Sounds interesting.Debsnewbudget said:Was listening to Gardeners question time from Eden project in the car this afternoon.
they had a good segment on compost and how best to use it or mix your own. Following from the discussions on here about compost earlier this year quite a few people might find it interesting. You can catch up via Radio 4 BBC SOUNDS
Making the debt go down and savings go up
LBM 2015 - debt £57K / Now £26,324....its going down
Mortgage Free December 9th 2024! 18mths ahead of schedule.Challenges
EF £290/3000
Studies/surveys July £42.60
Decluttering items 1400/2025. 345/2026
Books read 23 in 2025. 2026- 14 (target is 52)
Jigsaws done 20 in 2025. 3 this year.
My debt free diary...https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6396218/we-will-get-this-debt-d£own-the-savings-up3 -
Thanks for that, @Debsnewbudget. I do often listen to GQT but I missed this one. Will defo listen on BBC Sounds, which has reminded me there's another programme on there I want to hear.
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!4 -
I also donated a Mons**n dress recently. It came from a CS originally, but was brand new with tags and priced accordingly. When I first put it on, it fitted ok, but made my stomach look huge. Now minus a stone and a bit it no longer has that effect, but was now too big at the top and across the shoulders. So back to the CS it went.4
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I am also doing some "weeding" in my wardrobe. I seriously need to cull some of the smart clothes I retained from my working life. I never wear them. They do not even fit as I am nearly 2 stone lighter than I was. Having attended a funeral where my neighbour was wearing a suit (maybe his only suit) that was from a different time and size, I have resolved for that is not to be me. I have never packed away seasonal clothes before but I am going to. And my four pairs of gardening shorts (all the third size above my current size!) are going. Even if they are the only ones with side leg pockets that are so useful. I have been holding them up with bungees all year. Ridiculous!Save £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £9004.48 so far, against a £10k target The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2026 I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026 - currently £1111.79 and most of my May purchasing made
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 in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here8 -
@DawnW - Yes, that sounds like a similar problem with my dress. I think I must have quite narrow shoulders compared with my general curviness elsewhere, as I noticed that those summer dresses I made fit/skim perfectly everywhere else, but are a little bigger on the shoulders. Despite this, I did try the M*ns**n dress on in the shop & thought it looked fine, so I think they must have soft lighting in the fitting rooms. Pondered yesterday whether to wear it (& fit & length be damned) to get my money's worth or to donate it because it doesn't fit well enough for me actually to feel good in it. Decided on the latter & hopefully lesson learned, as I'm not happy about having wasted the money.
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!7 -
Morning Campers,
Well Mr F has set off for work, Ash has decided he's no longer sitting on my lap because he's spotted a nice cushion, so I am gearing myself up for action.
Not much planned, so a pottering about day. On the budget friendly front I will:
*Have a no-spend day.
*Do a Ugov survey.
*Water the veg, esp greenhouse where I still have peppers & chillies.
*See what needs picking.
*Tackle another decluttering task (dealing with a big pile of knitting patterns which will be filed, donated or binned).
*Wind a skein of fab yarn I received as a gift into a ball ready to cast in a pair of cabled socks for myself. Soot is quite interested in the yarn swift because it spins while I'm winding so will do this while he's snoozing.
*Will also be making at least some use of free electricity hour between 2 & 3pm today. Everything will be ready to go on charge & I have a laundry load ready to go for starters.
So nothing major or exciting planned today but I quite enjoy pottering around achieving bits & bobs as I go. I also want to finish my book (the doorstep-sized one) as the end is in sight.
Enjoy your Saturdays, Frugal Friends & as always, remember that cards & cash can't leap out of your purses on rheir own,
F x
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!10 -
Chuckling at your last sentence @foxgloves 😊4
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@honeybee1234 - If I hadn't spent my life from the age of 19 to my early 40s letting it do just that, I wouldn't have had to spend a later chunk of it debt-busting. Honestly, the stuff I used to buy! Bright lime green 2m long concertina paper sea serpent anyone?
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 -
Oh wow, that's quite a vision. What on earth did you do with that??5
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I hung it from the ceiling until it fell down overnight & was chewed up by an escaped hamster.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!5
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