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Watty's Awakening
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Loving the Xmas champagne elf!I am being that - carting champagne around fir relatives
I am trying that blanchard de limoux as well this Xmas (1/4 price of the moet!)DON'T BUY STUFF (from Frugalwoods)
No seriously, just don’t buy things. 99% of our success with our savings rate is attributed to the fact that we don’t buy things... You can and should take advantage of discounts.... But at the end of the day, the only way to truly save money is to not buy stuff. Money doesn’t walk out of your wallet on its own accord.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6289577/future-proofing-my-life-deposit-saving-then-mfw-journey-in-under-13-years#latest4 -
I can't imagine there is more champagne in there but looking forward to sharing that with some veggies and roast chicken breast tomorrow evening.
Inspired by @Cherryfudge weeks ago I finally made a Christmas cake. Now I know they should be made weeks before hand but hey ho this one is unusual as it is more of a use up what is in the cupboard rather than traditional. Inspired by an online find I've used gram flour as I didn't have the coconut flour, I've used ground almonds, mixed nuts and a mis match of dried fruit and a fresh orange. I have no idea what it will be like but it looks ok. No time for icing etc and anyway the cake is sugar free but with a lot of fruit and I have glazed it with a little honey mixed with DisArono (?spelling found in the cupboard).
I will nip to the local co-op or garage later for a bottle of fizz for girlfriends after carol service and mince pies in case cake not nice (if it is not it can be eaten with ice cream in small amounts I'm sure) and a couple of large bags of crisps. Boxing day I will make a prawn curry and there is some cheese and a grazing platter left by the friends who stayed earlier in the week and I have a plan to make some soup using bits in the fridge.
Festive catering in budget. All good. As the year closes, I find there is still A LOT of stuff in the cupboard to use up which is fine. I think I can eat well into January and even feed friends with what is in the house with just a few veggies purchased locally..Made it to mortgage free but what a muddle that became
In the event the proverbial hits the fan then co-habitees are better stashing their cash than being mortgage free !!12 -
Your cake will probably be an inspiration - you just seem to know what will work together. Nevertheless I think I ought to volunteer to taste-test the glaze, you can't be too careful.
Have an amazing Christmas xI 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 21/3/224 -
Merry Christmas to you and yours Watty.My mortgage free diary: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6498069/whoops-here-comes-the-cheese
GNU Mr Redo4 -
Have a happy Christmas.I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.3 -
Have a merry Christmas from me, too. You are doing great.Save £12k in 2025 #2 I am at £4863.32 out of £6000 after May (81.05%)
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I am at £1286.68/£3000 or 42.89% of my annual spend so far
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 thread
My new diary is here4 -
Merry Christmas Watty xMFW 2025 No. 7 £1130/£1200
MFiT-T7 No. 6 £2873.51/£30,0003 -
Your kind offer most welcome. Left over glaze mixed with coffee and left to go cold then the VNM drank it over ice as a cheap cocktail and pronounced delicious.Cherryfudge said:Your cake will probably be an inspiration - you just seem to know what will work together. Nevertheless I think I ought to volunteer to taste-test the glaze, you can't be too careful.
Have an amazing Christmas x
Cake actually very good (I am surprised tbh) the fruit has really worked to sweeten it and the brazil nuts from the packet of mixed nuts worked really well).Made it to mortgage free but what a muddle that became
In the event the proverbial hits the fan then co-habitees are better stashing their cash than being mortgage free !!7 -
Thank you for all your Christmas good wishes. Much appreciated. Glad Christmas day over and done with tho as bit of disaster in Watty household caused by the VNM's mother. She is fine, just frail and old, I feel sympathy for the VNM as he is very conflicted but he decided mid walk to the pub with horse and WattyDog he just could not bear the thought of his dear frail elderly mother all alone in her nursing home on Christmas day (we had planned to visit after the walk) so walk abandoned so he could spend the rest of the day with her. Her daughter and her daughter's carer went to visit as well so tbh she probably had her last Christmas day with her family which would have been nice for her.
Me, I drank the fizz, read, spent time with my horses and enjoyed the day. I offered to go with him but honestly it was not genuine and he knew it. The old lady has been very unkind and rude to me and the passing of time has not softened her attitude and I find after all the drama with PPH I have no need to put myself in the line of fire. However I had a little too much of the fizz to be able to cook and retired to bed with a cup of tea and a slice of Christmas Cake!
Made it to mortgage free but what a muddle that became
In the event the proverbial hits the fan then co-habitees are better stashing their cash than being mortgage free !!10 -
What a good idea to make a cocktail out of the leftover glaze! And did you chop the Brazil nuts or leave them whole? I like them a lot but I'd not thought of adding them to cake.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 21/3/224
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