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The ups, the downs and the insides out of growing your own in 2026!
Comments
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I think if you are going for an offer like 6 months for £5 it is worth it as they do the garden 2-for-one annual ticket with seeds in Spring. On their own, if you are one who visits other gardens, it might be worth a short one. In my head that is April, but it might be March or May
Save £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £9004.48 so far, against a £10k target The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2026 I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026 - currently £1111.79 and most of my May purchasing made
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 -
I'm definitely not a confident gardener...lol
Making the debt go down and savings go up
LBM 2015 - debt £57K / Now £26,544....its going down
Mortgage Free December 9th 2024! 18mths ahead of schedule.Challenges
EF £750/3000
.
Studies/surveys May...£226.33
Decluttering items 1400/2025. 306/2026
Books read 23 in 2025. 2026- 13 (target is 52)
Jigsaws done 20 in 2025. 3 this year.
My debt free diary...https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6396218/we-will-get-this-debt-d£own-the-savings-up2 -
Aah, ok. Will look out for that offer. At the moment its £28 for 6 months
Making the debt go down and savings go up
LBM 2015 - debt £57K / Now £26,544....its going down
Mortgage Free December 9th 2024! 18mths ahead of schedule.Challenges
EF £750/3000
.
Studies/surveys May...£226.33
Decluttering items 1400/2025. 306/2026
Books read 23 in 2025. 2026- 13 (target is 52)
Jigsaws done 20 in 2025. 3 this year.
My debt free diary...https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6396218/we-will-get-this-debt-d£own-the-savings-up2 -
Cheaper to just buy that one edition at that price
Save £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £9004.48 so far, against a £10k target The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2026 I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026 - currently £1111.79 and most of my May purchasing made
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 -
@Makingabobor2 , i would recommend Kitchen Garden Magazine. Also, linked to your local library account you can download Libby app and get free magazines, so you can download Gardener's World and see if you like it while waiting for a special price.
I have finally started some tidying and planning. Cleared 2 raised beds of maretails and filled them up again. Done a third bed on weedsuppressing fabric.
Garlic looks good and got a few broadbeans coming through, unfortunately a mouse discovered the seeds in one bed.
Started pruning the pear tree.
Hope to go back this weekend and start on gooseberry pruning.
It's good for the soul to walk with your soles on the soil.4 -
Thanks for that @carinjo
Making the debt go down and savings go up
LBM 2015 - debt £57K / Now £26,544....its going down
Mortgage Free December 9th 2024! 18mths ahead of schedule.Challenges
EF £750/3000
.
Studies/surveys May...£226.33
Decluttering items 1400/2025. 306/2026
Books read 23 in 2025. 2026- 13 (target is 52)
Jigsaws done 20 in 2025. 3 this year.
My debt free diary...https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6396218/we-will-get-this-debt-d£own-the-savings-up1 -
@Makingabobor2 - definitely try your free library app - I read gardening & cooking mags on my tablet, and have the page turning to emulate real pages. If there's something I want to keep or refer to, it gets a screenshot and saved to SD card. Much more MSE than the magazine habit I used to have once upon a time!
4 YEARS 10 MONTHS DEBT FREE!!! (24 OCT 2016)(With heartfelt thanks to those who have gone before us & their indubitable generosity.)...and now I have a mortgage! (23 AUG 2021)Original End Date - Sept 2041 New projection - Sep 2038 (reduced by 3 years)1 -
Doh … I had never thought of saving a screen shot of useful info. I feel VERY stupid now!! 🤣😉
KK
As at 21.05.26:
- When bought house £315,995 mortgage debt and end date at start = October 2039 - now £215,607
- OPs to mortgage = £18,925 Estd. interest saved = £9,670 to date
c. 16 months reduction in term
Fixed rate 3.85% ends October 2030
Read 35 books of target 52 in 2026 as @ 24th May.
Produce tracker: £119 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.1 -
Thank you … Glad it’s not just me! 😊😂
KK
As at 21.05.26:
- When bought house £315,995 mortgage debt and end date at start = October 2039 - now £215,607
- OPs to mortgage = £18,925 Estd. interest saved = £9,670 to date
c. 16 months reduction in term
Fixed rate 3.85% ends October 2030
Read 35 books of target 52 in 2026 as @ 24th May.
Produce tracker: £119 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
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