We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING
Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.The Forum is currently experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. Thank you for your patience.
📨 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!
Summertime
Comments
-
Sorry to hear about your chicken @rachmach3, hope you're okay and the dealing with the necessaries is not horrible
Excellent June progress and aims already all 👏
Extra shout out to @greenbee as I did not expect to see 'built the first obelisk' on our achievements and I am fully picturing a huge masonry monument to guide the dead to the afterlife. It's the sort of thing greenbee could knock up in an afternoon
I have caught up on some good steps today on a gentle stroll with Mr PIP, and my June aims are to get as much money in the build fund as possible while also not letting other pots or our ability to do nice things like go for a beer or buy a meal we want go to wrack and ruin. I see a lot of tedious listings for online sales and doing very annoying surveys coming up!5 -
Thanks @redofromstart - that gives me an excuse to leave them for a bit longer
And just think how lovely it'll be when your ensuite is done.
@PennysIntoPounds - the obelisk was a very easy (but good quality and expensive!) flat pack. The hard bit will be digging 30cm foundations for it. Once I've got one worked out I have the other three to do.4 -
greenbee said:I have managed to use up around half a builders' bag of soil, which means there is only half a bag left to get rid of somehow:
- I've finished the last two veg beds
- Started planting up one of them (need to check what should be going in that and the other one)
- Filled the pots next to the archways at the veg plot entrances with soil/compost
- Planted the pots up with sweet peas/morning glory/sad-looking loofahs/leftover cucumbers which I hope will climb up the arches (most likely they'll climb over the fence).
- Found the fruit cages, built them, and shoehorned them over the blackcurrant and gooseberry. I haven't yet netted them.
- Tidied pots/modules/seed trays/gravel trays away into the shed as they've been emptied
- Sorted some stuff out from the greenhouse and put it in the shed
- Built the first obelisk (took less time than unpacking it
- Moved the rest of the obelisk packages from the garage to grass next to the patio so I can build them when I have time
- Moved the gabion cages to the back of the shed (where the rocks are). I need to put one together to see what it looks like and then decide where to use them.
- Put tools away in the shed
- Done some weeding
- Moved the rest of the compost to the back of the greenhouse.
- Done some laundry
- Boxed up electronics and booked collection for sale
- Set up soaker hose for hedge
- Water trees
- Ericaceous feed for relevant plants
- Mulch the borders
- Move any unused mulch to compost area
- Cut edges/paths in veg plot with edging shears
- Mow (at two different heights for different areas)
- Find plants (in pots) to fill last few buckets/galvanised bath by cat flap
- Get the obelisks made and installled
- Put up the pictures in the bedrooms, bathrooms, and on the landing
- Sort out house insurance
- Chase P11D and do tax return
- Sort out S&S ISA and pensions
- Book dog in for the snip...
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.7 -
So do I @beanielou4
-
I made a gluten free chocolate courgette cake, for some reason I have been putting this off for weeks, it is delicious 😋
Had a catch up with 2 sets of neighbours, at different points in my day.
Have filled the garden waste bin with weeds.
As it's the first of the month I've paid into all the savings accounts that credit the account and pay interest on non banking days.Fashion on a ration 2025 0/66 coupons spent
79.5 coupons rolled over 4/75.5 coupons spent - using for secondhand purchases
One income, home educating family5 -
How did I not know about this thread? Thanks to @PenniesIntoPounds for posting the link on @foxgloves' thread. I might read along this month as "stuff" going on here - but first question; what are OATS?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 here6 -
Suffolk_lass said:How did I not know about this thread? Thanks to @PenniesIntoPounds for posting the link on @foxgloves' thread. I might read along this month as "stuff" going on here - but first question; what are OATS?
Welcome, get stuck in!
@rachmach3 I hope you get less soppy over poorly chickens than we did. Hugs.
Mr C dismantled a big cupboard in the living room the other day, so I have been forced to deal with some paperwork that was lurking. Some deposited in the recycling bin, some (manuals for electrical things mostly) heading for the loft, couple of folders cleared out, two folders of important paperwork to keep have found a new home.
Still a bit to do, but I've sorted the stuff that was cluttering up my study 😂7 -
I've organised and sent a new baby present to my god daughter.
Back to work today, so will have to deal with my inbox shortly.5 -
Thanks @Cheery_Daff I have a bit of guilt that I didn't notice she was poorly sooner, but they are rescues and don't let me handle them so by the time I noticed it was too late. I only have 1 now and she was ill a couple of months ago, vet thinks she has a tumour on her reproductive bits, so I have to decide if she is happy hanging out with the ducks for a bit until it's her time, or whether to get her a buddy soon.
Not very a very OATy conversation! But! doing the necessaries did mean sorting out the compost bin area of the garden so the very OATy task of sorting the compost bins, using what I can, and turning the rest has been started!Debts 04/01/25 02/06/25
Tesco CC £6,509.97 £6,030.00
NatWest CC £7,612.74 £7,230.00
Lloyds CC £6,112.60 £5,355.00
1st Direct CC £176.03 £8.83
CC total £20,411.34 £18,623.83TSB OD £500 £0
1st Direct OD £600 £250 (0%)
Car loan £4,000 £4,000
1st Direct Loan £10,684.44 £9,657.09
Total £36,195.78 £32,530.92
EF £500.346 -
Welcome @Suffolk_lass 😊
Thanks @Cheery_Daff for explaining OATs, apologies for not providing that info!4
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.5K Banking & Borrowing
- 252.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.3K Spending & Discounts
- 243.5K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.7K Life & Family
- 256.6K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards