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A Very MSE Advent 2025
Comments
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Oh wow! That is amazing @weenancyinAmerica! And 15! The woman is bonkers! Mine is still in a bucket outside, waiting for the space to be created.
Personally I think the quote of the day is this from @PennysIntoPounds,
"Paired it with a checked shirt and checked scrunchie as I'm a firm believer in dressing like a lumberjack as often as possible over winter." I nearly spat my coffee out I was laughing so much.
I love this thread!
I tried to get ahead by making pastry but also use the shortcut of a double batch in the mixer - bad idea. It felt un-pliable and tough. I made a test mini batch of 6 mince pies and not up to standard. While we eat the mince pies, the pastry went bin-ward and two regular method batches are currently resting. I reckon I can make three dozen pies with that so all is well. And I wrote around 20 cards so ahead on that too. I should finish them today, ahead of the 2nd class deadlineSave £12k in 2025 #2 I am at £10,020.92 out of £6000 after September
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I am at £2234.63/£3000 or 74.49% of my annual spend so far (not going to be much of a Christmas at this rate as no spare after 9 months!
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 -
That is indeed a very epic commitment to Christmas @weenancyinAmerica
I stayed at my friends' house last night. Did yoga this morning, in front of their Christmas tree 😊 their daughter brought me a cup of tea 😊 They have a lovely lamp which shines rays all over the ceiling like the sunshine!5 -
15 trees. Wow!_!_Making the debt go down and savings go up
LBM 2015 - debt £57K / Now £27,644....its going down
Mortgage Free December 9th 2024! 18mths ahead of schedule.Challenges
EF #68 £950/£3000
.
68.Studies/surveys December £68.87
Decluttering items 1386/2025
Books read 22
Jigsaws done 18
My debt free diary...https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6396218/we-will-get-this-debt-d£own-the-savings-up2 -
Finished my first Christmas novel of the season, I stock up from charity shop. Was a lovely easy read & I will re-donate it to the shop. Now to try & finish my current jigsaw so I can get a Christmas one out.
Making the debt go down and savings go up
LBM 2015 - debt £57K / Now £27,644....its going down
Mortgage Free December 9th 2024! 18mths ahead of schedule.Challenges
EF #68 £950/£3000
.
68.Studies/surveys December £68.87
Decluttering items 1386/2025
Books read 22
Jigsaws done 18
My debt free diary...https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6396218/we-will-get-this-debt-d£own-the-savings-up5 -
Nancy that Family Tree is wonderful - what a lovely idea!
Rhy we can definitely count a cheeky beer as an advent joy!
Candy cane earrings for me - another pair from the usual Christmas set.
I need to tweak our outside christmas lights tonight I think - one set are a bit overly flashy and I'm concerned they might drive our neighbours over the road mad! the ones inside in the bay window have a better "twinkle" setting and are fine, but the outside set don't have the same setting so I think I'll end up sticking them in static mode.🎉 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
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her6 -
A pretty silver bracelet with dangly stars for me today.
Going to make myself do the listings power hour, it will be an enormous relief to get as many as possible done.
Hoping to have a push on eating some cupboard stuff over the next week or so, will prep some veggies for a stir-fry for dinner.
Work Christmas drinks this evening, unfortunately I have to be up in pitch darkness for work tomorrow but as drinks are early and just down the road I'll make an appearance, in ludicrous earrings 🥂
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Today's advent joy will be pistachio vienetta!Debts 04/01/25 01/12/25
Natwest2 £6,509.97 £5,600
NatWest CC £7,612.74 £6,680
Lloyds CC £6,112.60 £4,690
1st Direct CC £176.03 £144.20
CC total £20,411.34 £17,114
TSB OD £500 £0
1st Direct OD £600 £0
Car loan £4,000 £4,000
1st Direct Loan £10,684.44 £8,160
Total £36,195.78 £29,274.20
EF £1,002.83
HF £203.992 -
Tea bag of the day is St Clements. It's not my favourite but it's refreshing and is now decluttered.
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Supposing like me you were walking on the beach with some Advent joy spending money in your pocket and came across this at your favourite beach bar .... which would you chose?
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White Christmas please 😊 ☕️Blackcats said:Supposing like me you were walking on the beach with some Advent joy spending money in your pocket and came across this at your favourite beach bar .... which would you chose?
KKAs at 15.12.25:
- When bought house £315,995 mortgage debt and end date at start = October 2039 - now £227,385
- OPs to mortgage = £12,822 Estd. interest saved = £6,166 to date
Fixed rate 3.85% ends October 2030
Read 77 books of target 52 in 2025, as @ 13th December
Produce tracker: £447 of £300 in 2025
Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words, they become your actions.Watch your actions, they become your reality.2
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