We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
Progress not Perfection
Comments
-
Afternoon all, happy Monday.
Worked in the office until late morning then came home. I wasn't ready for this morning's 4.30am alarm and was fast asleep having a weird dream about work where I had to climb up a precarious ladder to get in. So the alarm was a shock to the system. I often have similar dreams about having to climb something or wade through deep water to get somewhere. I'm sure this must have some sort of hidden meaning, probably something to do with all the stress Mr SA causes me and the hurdles I have to overcome to reach my destination.
I realised this will probably be the last time I have to get up for work the day after the clocks go forward as in theory I'll be retired next time.
Free coffee picked up and enjoyed with a piece of the vegan banana loaf this morning.
New 4 week budget period starts today so totted up the last period's spends. The food/alcohol budget had an underspend of £76.15 which I'm very pleased about. £70 has gone to the stock up pot and £6.15 to the Christmas pot. Mr SA had £14.46 left in his pot so £10 has gone to his master personal spends pot and £4.46 to the Christmas pot. £12.86 underspend in the house/garden pot so £10 to the house/garden master pot and £2.86 to Christmas. Finally the entertainment pot had an underspend of £15.25 so £10 to the master pot and £5.25 to Christmas. I had an underspend of £30.63 in my personal spends pot so £30 back to my personal spends master pot and £0.63 to Christmas. Pleased with all the underspends although some are very small but any underspend is a win.
The Christmas pot has done quite well with shaving off the underspends and a couple of oddments thrown in and has received £23.40 in total.
£25 has been transferred from the Birthday/Easter pot to cover the GKs bits and bobs.
Oh and I got Mr SA a can of Brut for £2.19 from B0yes which he's overjoyed with 🤣
No visit to Lid! today as I'm going tomorrow on my way home from work to take advantage of the cheap veg. They've sent me a £5 off £40 available in 2 days so will need to think about whether I can use it.
Today's exercise has been walking to/from work and I'm doing a live strength training class tonight.
Tonight's dinner is scampi from freezer stocks with sweet potato wedges and steamed veg from fridge stocks.
I get knocked down but I get up again (Chumbawamba, Tubthumping)6 -
Lucky Mr SA!
I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet 7.5, 2 t-shirts 10, men's socks 3, uniform top 0, hat 0, shoes 5 = 30.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, t-shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/220 -
Haha bless him.
What a realisation about being retired next time clocks go forward 🥂
Fab underspends there
You probably know but in case not, check the lid! app daily for the next week and a half (I think) as they're doing easter countdown coupons
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6466032/an-in-between-phase/p1
'self-blame can be as egotistical as self-praise... any work worth doing is greater than we are... we must not overrate our importance to it, either for good or ill' Margaret Kennedy Lucy Carmichael2 -
I used to love the smell of Brut…..hadn’t realised you could still get it.
Your holiday seems to have come around quickly…..bet it hasn’t for you.
Hope this week passes quickly for you….you need a break 👍
January spends - £587.581 -
Yes thanks I was aware. Unfortunately the coupons are all for things I wouldn’t buy so far.
I get knocked down but I get up again (Chumbawamba, Tubthumping)3 -
I've got a five pound off forty coupon but I don't know when it expires and if I can actually use it. I was thinking of stocking up the freezer but I'm also thinking I may be shopping for no particular reason. Which of course is the purpose of it. 🙄
2 -
I think it's great for people who do their big shop there. I don't think I'll use it, although I need to pick up some compost at some stage which would boost the spend. The coupon is valid from tomorrow but doesn't say until when, I suspect it may only be valid for a couple of days. There's only so much we can fit on Mr SA's scooter 😆
I get knocked down but I get up again (Chumbawamba, Tubthumping)2 -
Afternoon all.
Worked in the office this morning, WFH this afternoon. No more office days until next Tuesday woo hoo 😁🎉
Mr SA met me at Lidl and I picked up the cheap veg. I got 1 x carrots and parsnips, 2 x shallots, 2 x spring onions and 2 x swede. No point going mad for the sake of it. I might pick up some more shallots and another bag of carrots but that will do. I certainly don't need potatoes as I still have quite a bit of the free sack left.
I'm not panicking yet but I haven't seen Mr SA's lip balm in there recently. I made a point of looking today but couldn't see it. I stocked up last time it was on offer so I think I've got a couple left in stock. This is the only one that Mr SA prefers to his previous branded one.
Payday today so some money shuffling done. Tomorrow will be the day for the savings shuffle though.
YBS have paid interest early on my savings accounts and I'm going to have to move the emergency fund to an ISA otherwise as it was quite a good amount and I need to be mindful of not having to pay tax on the interest on the various regular savers, surveys, etc, I could be getting very close to £1k if I'm not careful. Not a bad problem to have though and I never thought I'd ever be fortunate enough to be in this situation. I've not had the account for the sinking funds with them very long and have only accrued £14.72 interest so that has gone to the Christmas pot as I don't need it to be in the sinking funds pot.
The weather has been sunny, windy and quite warm so I've got a line of washing dry.
Today's exercise has been walking to/from work and I've got a live resistance bands class at 6.15.
Tonight's dinner is tofu and mushroom stir fry with sesame noodles which will use up a fair bit of veg from fridge stocks.
I get knocked down but I get up again (Chumbawamba, Tubthumping)6 -
I must say I agree with Mr SA. I like L*d! lip balm. Its equally as good as N*v*a that I used to buy, but loads cheaper.
I'll be popping in for the cheap veg tomorrow after dance class. I hear Mr M are doing 4p veg though!
Making the debt go down and savings go up
LBM 2015 - debt £57K / Now £26,764....its going down
Mortgage Free December 9th 2024! 18mths ahead of schedule.Challenges
EF £630/3000
.
Studies/surveys April.....£131.34
Decluttering items 1402/2025. 195/2026
Books read 23 in 2025. 2026- 10 (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 -
Mr M are doing swede, carrots and parsnips for 4p. Mr L are doing the same for 4p plus potatoes, shallots and spring onions for 8p.
I get knocked down but I get up again (Chumbawamba, Tubthumping)8
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 354.4K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.4K Spending & Discounts
- 247.3K Work, Benefits & Business
- 604K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.4K Life & Family
- 261.5K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards


