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And now we go again...
Comments
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Aww, RAF Museum at Hendon….I'm sure I went there with my Dad (airman) many years ago when I accompanied him to a gala event at Hendon where his band was playing. I can even remember what I was wearing, & a right late 1970s ensemble it was too, but it was a good day out.
Our rhubarb is also on some kind of early growth spurt. I can see I shall be making this year's batch of rhubarb & date chutney earlier than usual. The sorrel has also returned with similar vigour. I am considering making a small quantity of pesto with some of it to see how it turns out. I think the lemony flavour would go well with a bit of chilli for a different vibe. I shall have to experiment.
F
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 -
There is a definitely some sort of rhubarby conspiracy to take over the world going on Foxgloves - ours is still growing with great vigour!
Apologies for the radio silence all - after the great frugal drive through January and February I've felt that there hasn't been so much to say this month hence the diary being a bit neglected!
Some spendiness - although all planned:
- finally bit the bullet and bought my new bike, pouncing on the last day of the sale to nab a nice sports hybrid for a penny under £300. Money from various personal savings pots.
- Additional spending in connection with that: a stand fitted to it by the shop, a heavy duty cover and a proper waterproof seat cover! Under £30 for the lot thanks to a little Big River credit which came off the cost of the covers.
- The kitchen electrical works finally got completed on Friday - after a couple of cancellations due to Lovely Luke the electrician getting stuck on other jobs, We now have working under-cabinet lights and the difference it makes is incredible! Paid for from money set aside from last month's surplus, plus some of this month's that was earmarked for the purpose.
- We'd been discussing buying a potting bench type thing, and spotted that Lil's had them in their garden event for an astonishing £19.99! A brief conflab and we agreed that there was so little to lose, we may as well grab one. First impressions are good - it was slightly faffy to build but nothing that couldn't be overcome, but it's certainly sturdy and looks like it will do the job nicely!
- MrEH topped his Oyster up this morning - he's having to spend an extra day in the office most weeks at the moment so the top-ups aren't going as far.
- My car - MoT and service. Cruised through for another year with the same advisory for the slight buckle in a wheel rim that she's had ever since I've owned her - so that's a win!
Both cars are going to need fuel too - I'll just stick £20 worth into mine for the time being, but MrEH's will be filled up, I'm guessing we're unlikely to see much change from £70 for that with the way fuel prices have sky-rocketed. Diesel prices around us are currently sitting at around the £1.68 a litre mark which is a bit ouchy.
Still managing a bit of MSE Stuff, too:
- Planning electricity use as far as we can around cheaper rates on Agile - and last night's run of low prices with a few negatives thrown in was MOST welcome!
- Meal planning - although it's fallen away a bit it's still happening enough to keep us on track.
- Making use of the various offers in the Lil's app on things we will use anyway - and shopping there means spend rewards too, although I'm not absolutely certain what I will use this month's free veg item on as we are fairly well stocked for potatoes at the moment!
- Weekend time is being mostly spent on garden stuff which is both enjoyable and cheap! We managed to get some more painting of the shed/office done on Sunday although an additional coat or two will be needed still.
- A tray of seeds sown on Sunday - the additional peppers we'd bought, plus sweet peas (two types) - all under a propagator lid on the front room windowsill. Assorted flower seeds scattered directly into pots and a spare trough, too - they will either grow or not!
- I've got back to Prolific surveys again - currently at £22 payable and £4 pending.
I've got a note to get tomatoes underway this weekend - I suddenly realised that we slipped all the sowing later last year due to holiday timings, and in fact we need to revert back to things being slightly earlier again this year!
🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her11 -
Please can you send rhubarb-growing vibes in my direction? Mine aren't doing much…
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Ahh that's a shame greenbee - it's obviously not a universally good year then. We're very conscious that we are probably going to have to crop ours fairly heavily this year, particularly on the side where it will otherwise try and swamp the poor redcurrant bush! It's all good though, we have loads of ideas, plus an absolute queue of folk who will happily take a glut from us!
🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her4 -
Mine are only in their second year of being in the ground, so not expecting great things from them TBH :)
3 -
Mine are year 2 as well. So hoping for a little bit.
LTotal Debt Dec 07 £59875.83 Overdrafts £2900,New Debt Figure ZERO !!!!!!:j 08/06/2013
Lucielle's Daring Debt Free Journey
DFD Before we Die!!!! Long Haul Supporter #1243 -
Ours is technically only on year 2 but it did a lot in the year we planted it, when we left it alone. We did crop it a bit last year, but as much as anything else where it was swamping other things, and so far this year it seems determined that It Has Established And It Shall Be The Boss Of Us! 🤣
🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her6 -
My rhubarb is going well also. This is its 2nd year, so hoping for great things
Making the debt go down and savings go up
LBM 2015 - debt £57K / Now £26,984....its going down
Mortgage Free December 9th 2024! 18mths ahead of schedule.Challenges
EF £1540/£3000
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Studies/surveys April.....£19.86
Decluttering items 1402/2025. 149/2026
Books read 23 in 2025. 2026- 9 (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 -
£31 cashed out of Prolific.
4 x bulbs of XL garlic bought in Al's while it's 8p.
Got a 50% off coupon for the crisps we like from Lil's so will swerve in there tonight and try and grab some shallots and probably parsnips too.
Loving the additional daylight in the evenings now - and will probably try and get into the garden this evening, might even get my herbs sown!
🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her7 -
Well done on the Billy bob bargains! Desperate to do something outside but the weather isn’t behaving.
LTotal Debt Dec 07 £59875.83 Overdrafts £2900,New Debt Figure ZERO !!!!!!:j 08/06/2013
Lucielle's Daring Debt Free Journey
DFD Before we Die!!!! Long Haul Supporter #1245
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