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Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend
Comments
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Great news about the pension info arriving, fingers crossed for you it all adds up and makes sense in a positive way 🥂
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6466032/an-in-between-phase/p1
'aggressive safety shot' Ken Doherty5 -
Thanks, PiP. I am mulling it over & will aim to contact PensionWise at the end of next week for clarification on the AVC element which is confusing me.
Morning Campers,
Just having my 2nd cup of coffee. On today's list, the budget-helping bits will include:
*Phoning milk company to find out why we had a delivery this morning when I had cancelled it. Shall want a refund.
*Bake a loaf.
*Enter a competition.
*Do an audit of our first aid/medical supplies box.
*Plant out all the random plant freebies that are currently sitting around in pots.
*Finish the shaping on sock & finish knitting the foot.
*Remember to save bathwater later for a thorough watering of our front courtyard 1st thing tomorrow
*We have new potatoes & veg which need using up so have tweaked meal plans to include all of those tonight. Might make a rice pudding too as we now have too much milk.
*Save all peelings, fruit/veg scraps for the worm composter as they are getting low.
*Feed & water all houseplants. I want those geramiums looking nice & lush for planting up summer containers next month.
There'll doubtless be other random bits & bobs but not if I don't stop drinking coffee & actually crack on! Have a good day all.
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!8 -
Saturday Savers, Hello!
Busy day so far but am now out on the reading bench with the weekend papers, enjoying the sunshine. All systems go here getting ready for birthday mini-break. Money saving efforts as follows:
*Far too good a free drying day to leave big towels, etc, till we get back so put a couple of loads on which are dry already.
*How's this for the rigour of the newly water-metered? One fill of the bath = 2 baths, 8 watering cans & 2 loo flushes! As our front door is right next to the bathroom, I think I will make watering our front courtyard from bathwater a regular summer thing. We've paid for the water so it makes sense to get a 2nd use from it where possible.
*Baked bread rolls & biscuits which along with supermarket crisps & our water bottles plus a big flask of coffee will make a decent picnic for the journey. Always seems such a waste to be frittering holiday expenses money on service station sarnies when one hasn't even reached holiday destination
*Mr F popped by Waitbl00m to collect our latest free 'little treat' which was a pizza. We have a coolbag so that's a free meal sorted while we are away.
*Got through to dairy (incommunicado yesterday) & they are going to refund us for yesterday's milk & juice which we had cancelled.
*Found bag of carrots sitting in pantry which won't get used. Now prepped & frozen.
*Did a budget check-in to see if that extra inexplicable £52 is still there. It is....but had increased to £87. I can account for £12.99 of it as found I had mistakenly included a DD twice because it is collected right on the cusp of our new monthly budget cycle..i could find no other errors or peculiarities so have added it to our holiday expenses pot for now.
*It's not my cooking.night so my only other task will be very thoroughly watering all the veg & bedding plants so that all I need to do before we go away is ensure that there is some water in all the saucers I've put underneath extra thirsty plants.
*Mr F found local petrol had gone down by 2p a litre this morning whi h surprised us as tensions & intransigence over the war seem ongoing.
A tiny holly blue butterfly has just fluttered past. Such pretty fragility.
Wishing everyone a lovely weekend,
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!16 -
Loving your extra usage of water that as you say, you've paid for, marvellous work
Phew on finding the carrots in time to save them
How peculiar about the unexpected amount now increasing!
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6466032/an-in-between-phase/p1
'aggressive safety shot' Ken Doherty5 -
When reusing water, I found myself selecting old-fashioned low chemical content products or minimising the use of SM products, so that the residue on plants is minimal. Mind you, we are great ones for slopping water on leaves, rather than round roots. We are less diligent now older, and our bathroom is a trek from any doors - hence my exploration of the outside butt options.
Oh and happy birthday for tomorrow - have a lovely break. I presume a few sweet treats are in the foxgloves picnic stash too?!
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 here5 -
Happy birthday for tomorrow, have a wonderful break 🎂 I can’t believe you share a birthday with Mr SA 🤣
I get knocked down but I get up again (Chumbawamba, Tubthumping) -.literally have been run over by a bike, mobility scooter and a car - still here 💪5 -
Have a fab birthday @foxgloves another Taurean 😉
Anything is better than nothing-check back and see
On the declutter journey since 2023 with Mrs SD. Tilly Tidy since 2023.3 -
Thank-you for your good wishes for my birthday tomorrow. Yes, @Sun_Addict, am defo a birthday twin to Mr SA.
Treats? We are currently in 'Two Magpies' bakery coffee shop where Mr F has just ordered me a cappuccino & cake. The weather is glorious - have been seal-spotting on the beach & wished I'd packed the sun cream! Have walked away from an interesting garment in a hippie shop next door to give time for thought, but it may well be my holiday gift to myself.
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!6 -
Happy Birthday dearest @foxgloves! I had visions of you living in an actual windmill, sails turning!! I seem to remember you talking about Epic man turning up to a windmill to buy flour in lockdown to see that very thing? Love Humdinger xx
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Have a lovely birthday tomorrow🍰🎁☕🍹 and enjoy your time away and any treats you [thoughtfully no doubt] decide on x
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