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.
The MSE Forum Team would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. However, we know this time of year can be difficult for some. If you're struggling during the festive period, here's a list of organisations that might be able to help
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Has MSE helped you to save or reclaim money this year? Share your 2025 MoneySaving success stories!
Escape to the country & living off savings
Comments
-
Ah ha, so they COULD issue a cheque for £4 in the end! Scoundrels and crooks these blooming faceless organisations, a plague on all their houses i say👾4
-
Lovely sunny morning. Towels washed & hung out. Quick trip to asd@ for final milk, salad & cold meats for DS & gf arriving at the weekend.Had a lovely lunch out at a fancy garden centre with my friend. Turkey, stuffing & cranberry roll with roast potatoes and pot of gravy plus cold drink £14.45. We each paid for our own today. I also bought 2 more gifts for b-in-law as his bag seemed rather empty. Yorkshire chutney to go with the Christmas tree shaped cheese truckle I bought him and some wild duck crisps. £6. So now everyone has had roughly the same spent on them.2 bags of gifts left to wrap. Will do those tonight. One chair left to go upstairs. Have begun clearing stuff into the cupboard under the stairs away for when the dogs arrive.
Remaining in current account £59.83. Will use £50 for petrol to my sisters. Am planning on paying for our meal out on Tuesday. I will borrow from one of my pots and put it back from my budget in Feb or March when I have 2 council tax free months (I pay mine over 10 months).❤️Mum 2018
0% credit card £1360 & 0% Car Loan £7500 ~ paid in full JAN 2020 = NOW DEBT FREE 🤗
House sale OCT 2022 = NOW MORTGAGE FREE 🤗
House cash purchase completed FEB 2023 🥳🍾 & left work. 🤗
Retired at 55 & now living off the equity £10k a year
❤️Dad 2025
Previous Savings diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5597938/get-a-grip/p1
Living off savings diary
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6429003/escape-to-the-country-living-off-savings/p14 -
Sya, i would love to get your bil's gift, sounds right up my street!2
-
I would also enjoy BIL's pressie. I love consumables as gifts

I had forgotten about the 2 free CT months!If you have built castles in the air, your work should not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them
Emergency fund 350/1000
Buffer fund 100/100
Debt Free (again) 25/07/20254 -
Thanks Tresinia and dia ☺️
He now has cheese truckle (aldee £2.69) chutney & wild duck crisps (garden centre £6), gift set 3 mini bottles port (b n m £5) chocs (his favourites) £3.49. We usually spend £15-£20. It used to be £10 but everything has gone up❤️Mum 2018
0% credit card £1360 & 0% Car Loan £7500 ~ paid in full JAN 2020 = NOW DEBT FREE 🤗
House sale OCT 2022 = NOW MORTGAGE FREE 🤗
House cash purchase completed FEB 2023 🥳🍾 & left work. 🤗
Retired at 55 & now living off the equity £10k a year
❤️Dad 2025
Previous Savings diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5597938/get-a-grip/p1
Living off savings diary
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6429003/escape-to-the-country-living-off-savings/p13 -
Crazy how a packet of crisps costs more than 3 little bottles of port! But still the best gift I've seen this year!2
-
Lol Tresinia that’s £6 for the Yorkshire chutney (2 small/medium jars) and the crisps.It’s been cold damp and foggy here today. Just a few items washed & dried on clothes rack with dehumidifier on. Treated myself to fish & chips & mushy peas for lunch £6.50. 😋
Have just been watching junk on tv & finished wrapping 🎁🎄❤️Mum 2018
0% credit card £1360 & 0% Car Loan £7500 ~ paid in full JAN 2020 = NOW DEBT FREE 🤗
House sale OCT 2022 = NOW MORTGAGE FREE 🤗
House cash purchase completed FEB 2023 🥳🍾 & left work. 🤗
Retired at 55 & now living off the equity £10k a year
❤️Dad 2025
Previous Savings diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5597938/get-a-grip/p1
Living off savings diary
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6429003/escape-to-the-country-living-off-savings/p14 -
Once again our weather is the same as yours. I will be washing a load and drying it using the dehumidifier too.
I think I might invest in a heated clothes rack at some stage.
I hope you enjoyed your F&Cs treatIf you have built castles in the air, your work should not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them
Emergency fund 350/1000
Buffer fund 100/100
Debt Free (again) 25/07/20252 -
The only thing with a heated airer DIA is that the water evaporates into the air so you still need the dehumidifier on. F&C were nom nom 😋 thanks ☺️❤️Mum 2018
0% credit card £1360 & 0% Car Loan £7500 ~ paid in full JAN 2020 = NOW DEBT FREE 🤗
House sale OCT 2022 = NOW MORTGAGE FREE 🤗
House cash purchase completed FEB 2023 🥳🍾 & left work. 🤗
Retired at 55 & now living off the equity £10k a year
❤️Dad 2025
Previous Savings diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5597938/get-a-grip/p1
Living off savings diary
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6429003/escape-to-the-country-living-off-savings/p13 -
Ah I thought the crisps were very artisan chutney and wild duck flavour😆😆,1
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 353K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.8K Spending & Discounts
- 246K Work, Benefits & Business
- 602.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.8K Life & Family
- 260K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards