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A Very MSE Advent 2025
Comments
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OMW I went shopping yesterday to a retail park. My thinking was to beat the veg-wars induced rush! Yeah, right, that worked. An hour extra and the car park wasn't even gridlocked. I did buy the non perishable Christmas things on my list at M&S, along with collecting my new C&C bras. Then I braved Sainsbugs. I was very good at only buying my offers and the things on my list, plus oil. I want to make some soap with honey and beeswax, and oil is needed in moderately large quantities. Not very Christmassy. All those people. The woman in front of me in Sains was going for it - she spent £370 in a small trolley (lots of meat, treats and some pots and pans) then off came her offers and then she had some nectar credit and it was down by £100. I was feeling a bit envious until I thought about how much she must have spent to get that much credit. Mine was £15!
We did get all the 2nd class post in and done. Then I remembered I need to post a few more. Drat and double drat. Mince pies and a slice of the Christmas cake were both consumed (lunch and tea). And the Christmas tree has entered the building (still netted, but in). I may even decorate it today!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 here6 -
Wow, she really must have spent loads to get that many Nectar points. I can't stand shopping at any time, even worse this time of yearMaking 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-up3 -
@Cherryfudge, I remember being the Angel Gabriel at about 6 or so and having to memorise what felt to me like a very long speech and having to stand with my arms upraised so my bed sheet wings wouldn't droop! So there's a fair chance she will
Stunning sky @Cheery_Daff 💖
I am wearing an abalone pendant with a moon gazing hare superimposed over the top of it - one of my favourites
I am also treating us to a professional furniture clean tomorrow morning (SOOOOO lucky to be able to get this booked in before Christmas!! 🤩), as the smell of cat sick is like a miasma around me every time I sit on my side of the sofa and I can't bear the thought of going through the whole of the Christmas break this way ....
KK
As at 15.01.26:
- When bought house £315,995 mortgage debt and end date at start = October 2039 - now £222,084
- OPs to mortgage = £12,881 Estd. interest saved = £6,203 to date
c. 16 months reduction in term
Fixed rate 3.85% ends October 2030
Read 5 books of target 52 in 2026 as @ 13th January
Produce tracker: £29 of £400 in 2026
Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words, they become your actions.Watch your actions, they become your reality.8 -
Oh yes. This. And the other end smells too. Our old stealth cat (nearing 16) has cataracts, is selectively deaf, and has increased her eating by 100%, and it doesn't stay - and if she eats too quickly she sicks it up. Yesterday the sheet of Christmas stamps was on the aga after Mr Sl had dealt with the find of the evening.KajiKita said:@Cherryfudge, I remember being the Angel Gabriel at about 6 or so and having to memorise what felt to me like a very long speech and having to stand with my arms upraised so my bed sheet wings wouldn't droop! So there's a fair chance she will
Stunning sky @Cheery_Daff 💖
I am wearing an abalone pendant with a moon gazing hare superimposed over the top of it - one of my favourites
I am also treating us to a professional furniture clean tomorrow morning (SOOOOO lucky to be able to get this booked in before Christmas!! 🤩), as the smell of cat sick is like a miasma around me every time I sit on my side of the sofa and I can't bear the thought of going through the whole of the Christmas break this way ....
KK
She probably has some sort of life-limiting condition but she remains contented, purry and affectionate - and more vocal than ever (squawk) as anyone walks past. So on she goes, getting thinner and older looking by the week. Bless her. We won't let her suffer but now is too early.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 here6 -
Awwww .... Stealthcat sounds both loving and well loved 💖 Bless you for being kind to her and kudos to Mr SL for rescuing the stamps!Suffolk_lass said:
Oh yes. This. And the other end smells too. Our old stealth cat (nearing 16) has cataracts, is selectively deaf, and has increased her eating by 100%, and it doesn't stay - and if she eats too quickly she sicks it up. Yesterday the sheet of Christmas stamps was on the aga after Mr Sl had dealt with the find of the evening.KajiKita said:@Cherryfudge, I remember being the Angel Gabriel at about 6 or so and having to memorise what felt to me like a very long speech and having to stand with my arms upraised so my bed sheet wings wouldn't droop! So there's a fair chance she will
Stunning sky @Cheery_Daff 💖
I am wearing an abalone pendant with a moon gazing hare superimposed over the top of it - one of my favourites
I am also treating us to a professional furniture clean tomorrow morning (SOOOOO lucky to be able to get this booked in before Christmas!! 🤩), as the smell of cat sick is like a miasma around me every time I sit on my side of the sofa and I can't bear the thought of going through the whole of the Christmas break this way ....
KK
She probably has some sort of life-limiting condition but she remains contented, purry and affectionate - and more vocal than ever (squawk) as anyone walks past. So on she goes, getting thinner and older looking by the week. Bless her. We won't let her suffer but now is too early.
KKAs at 15.01.26:
- When bought house £315,995 mortgage debt and end date at start = October 2039 - now £222,084
- OPs to mortgage = £12,881 Estd. interest saved = £6,203 to date
c. 16 months reduction in term
Fixed rate 3.85% ends October 2030
Read 5 books of target 52 in 2026 as @ 13th January
Produce tracker: £29 of £400 in 2026
Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words, they become your actions.Watch your actions, they become your reality.2 -
Loving your account of Stealth Cat SL - may she live to enjoy many more purry fusses and dreamies!
Also somehow missed the glorious Sky Cheery - how beautiful!
Reindeer earrings for me today - with enamelled red noses of course!🎉 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 -
My tree is up and the lights are on. Nothing else, just the lights haha.3
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Not feeling great today (think allergic reaction to cinnamon, so at least it's a festive allergic reaction) but going round to mums for dinner and to help her decorate her Christmas tree.
Might require a medicinal baileyshttps://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 Carmichael3 -
@Cherryfudge - I remember my infants school nativity. My doting dad expected me to be Mary or at the very least an angel but I proudly announced that my role was to be "all quiet and peaceful in the stable" with the rest of my class. 😇
teabag of the day is a Yorkshire tea biscuit brew. I'm about to squeeze a second cuppa out of it. We have a slice of ginger and dark chocolate tart from the local bakers for a treat later.
the wind is howling and the rain is lashing against the windows but I don't have to go out again today! Bliss!
PIP - I hope your allergic reaction beggars off quickly. Baileys is apparently an antidote to cinammon.
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Thank you Dr @Blackcats, you are always so helpful in the medicinal drinkie advice department 🥂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 Carmichael1
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