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A Very MSE Advent 2025
Comments
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Thank you but well done all of us for making this diary so fantastic! It is a highlight of the day to read about everyone's advent doings 😊beanielou said:
Well done you 🥂🎄PennysIntoPounds said:Ooh hark (the herald angels sing) at us, we're today's MSE Forum Homepage Advent pick of the day! 🥂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 Carmichael7 -
Although I notice that @MSE_James hasn't committed to digging out his cosy jumpers for MSE Advent this year, hope standards aren't falling at MSE Towers 😁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 Carmichael4 -
Put the tree up today as it was too wet & windy to go out. Still not feeling it yet though.Making the debt go down and savings go up
LBM 2015 - debt £57K / Now £27,424....its going down
Mortgage Free December 9th 2024! 18mths ahead of schedule.Challenges
EF £1150/£3000
.
Studies/surveys January £35.35
Decluttering items 1402/2025. 53/2026
Books read 23 in 2025. 2026- 2 (target is 52)
Jigsaws done 20 in 2025. 2026
My debt free diary...https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6396218/we-will-get-this-debt-d£own-the-savings-up7 -
Something I forgot to record yesterday: I ordered meds for the next few weeks so I won't run out over Christmas! I am sure all on regular medication will be nodding along when they read that.
Today, no perfume but the lip balm has been used again. We took the grandkids to the garden centre for the light-up Santas and the singing reindeer (saying how awful those are is a Christmas tradition between my husband and myself).
Christmas socks were brown with reindeer on, and a different Christmas jumper got its first outing this year for an end-of-course meal. I'm absolutely exhausted with trying to keep up with things I'm actually going to and things I'm re-arranging or cancelling: I'm not used to being so occupied, and the cold I had was very tiring. I hope all those suffering with lurgies can find time to rest and help yourself get over it: having a hour's kip before this evening's 'do' was very helpful.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 21/3/229 -
The (last year's, reduced to £3) Yule log is out of the freezer! Also, while not quite advent, the invitations for NYE have started to be sent and positive responses received. Keeping it small and low key. Mr Sl's application for the Jules Hoot was unsuccessful (a relief for me, as it is on Friday 12th!).
Today is the day for the Christmas dec's to come down from the big loft (called that because that one (of 3) has lots of space still; proving we don't need to move house again - yet).
DS will help put the outside lights up on Sunday and a large joint of (bargainous £5 shoulder) pork is gently defrosting in the fridge, ensuring suitable inducements for his (their) attendance - roast pork followed by the chocolate fudge log! I might have to get some ice-cream from the local shop as DS's partner has some unusual texture issues with foods, and is on the weight-loss treatment, so a little meal might be needed with a small amount of simple ice cream for her. Very happy to encourage her in any way we can. The stability of their relationship suits her.
I've swapped my earrings over to a lightweight pair with tiny sparkly dangly blue sapphires, perfect for a bit of pre-Christmas loft rummaging. I thought of @Humdinger1 as I wrote that phrase. "Perfect for a bit of pre Christmas loft rummaging" goes well with "bees too angry to sell!" and is a little more seasonal for advent, methinks!
Save £12k in 2025 #2 I saved £14,660.97 of £6000 or 244.35% of my target. The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I finished the year at £2880.99/£3000 or 96.03% of my annual spend so I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026
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 in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here5 -
Morning all - VERY exciting about the thread making the forum advent calendar - well done PiP!
A couple more oddments of christmas decor were put out last night in the shape of two gorgeous and favourite wooden ornaments from the lovely Gail at 3WishesInYourHome - a small business based up in Scotland. I've just ordered a couple more bits from her too - a little wooden star with sparkles on the points and "Snow" across the middle, and a slightly bigger wooden christmas tree decorated with sparkles, tiny buttons, and a bow. Personal spends will be covering that little spend, but it's a small business I'm always delighted to support.
Today's advent thing is some little silver earrings - drops in the same celtic knotwork shape as makes up our wedding rings.🎉 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 -
Ooh, excited to be an advent pick, well done! 🎄 and welcome to anyone joining us through that - feel free to jump in with any small festive things you're doing!
Candlelit yoga again this morning, just 14 minutes, and definitely more meditation than yoga today, which was fine by me (although a little chilly - we don't have the heating on a timer so it wasn't on yet). Nice though. 🥶
And my deadline was met, a whole 3 hours early! ⭐6 -
Oh, well done on the deadline @Cheery_Daff! That's very early isn't it?Save £12k in 2025 #2 I saved £14,660.97 of £6000 or 244.35% of my target. The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I finished the year at £2880.99/£3000 or 96.03% of my annual spend so I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026
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 in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here3 -
Woop! - brilliant deadline achieving there Cheery, especially when you're poorly too!🎉 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/her3 -
Well a week early would have been nice 😂 but I'll settle for 3 hours! 😊 Given I'm often running within minutes of these stupid online submission things (where there's no leeway) 3 hours is definitely an improvement 😂7
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