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2026 Fashion On The Ration Challenge
Comments
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3 more coupons spent - I liked the first lot of underwear so much I went back for some more but in different colours. Lets hope they're as long-lasting as they are comfy. 57.5 coupons left.Fashion on the Ration 2026 - 37.5 coupons remaining (rolling over 1.5 from last year)
April Grocery Challenge - £217.61 of £250 spent
Declutter 12 things (net) in 2026 - 67 out and 60 in = 5 to lose8 -
Thanks, @PipneyJane - yes, you remembered right, but thankfully I am only on the edge of it all...!
@PollyWollyDoodle - I may also have mentioned the Simon Garfield books. I have a lifelong passion for the Mass Observation diaries, as I grew up with a copy of John Harrison's original book on the project, "Living through the Blitz".
And I recognised Maggie Joy Blount's style from your quotation- she was a marvellous writer, and I am pleased she was published as a writer: Jean Lucey Pratt, as in this article
https://www.redonline.co.uk/entertainment/book-reviews/a520976/a-notable-woman-jean-lucey-pratt-review/
Mr E has to go and help his son, and his son's lovely gf, tomorrow at the old house, so I intend to crack on with the frock- I am nearly ready to assemble skirts onto bodice, and then it's only sleeves and hem! But I also want to turn a brushed cotton sheet into a petticoat to wear under it, with a high round neckline and a flared skirt for fullness without gathers.2025 remaining: 37 coupons from 66:
January (29): winter boots, green trainers, canvas swimming-shoes (15); t-shirt x2 (8); 3m cotton twill (6);
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2025 second-hand acquisitions (no coupons): None thus far
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2025 needlework- *Reverse-couponing*:11 coupons :
January: teddybear-lined velvet jacket (11) & hat (0); velvet sleep-mask (0);10 -
Ooh - another book to add to my list, thank you @Laura_Elsewhere.Life is mainly froth and bubble: two things stand like stone. Kindness in another’s trouble, courage in your own.7
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So far this year I've bought various pairs of Christmas socks from Vinted to put towards people's Christmas stockings at the end of the year. They're all 'new', even if second hand. I was congratulating myself at saving my coupons and the planet, then I ordered a gift for a birthday girl off her wish list, and have only just thought that it's a cardigan so it comes off coupons! It's from DH and me so I suppose that's half the coupons each.
I'll look the cost up and start the countdown.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 21/3/227 -
I was in the shop yesterday after work. I couldn’t help but think about coupons and didn’t buy anything although I did enjoy browsing.7
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Laura_Elsewhere said:Thanks, @PipneyJane - yes, you remembered right, but thankfully I am only on the edge of it all...!
@PollyWollyDoodle - I may also have mentioned the Simon Garfield books. I have a lifelong passion for the Mass Observation diaries, as I grew up with a copy of John Harrison's original book on the project, "Living through the Blitz".
And I recognised Maggie Joy Blount's style from your quotation- she was a marvellous writer, and I am pleased she was published as a writer: Jean Lucey Pratt, as in this article
https://www.redonline.co.uk/entertainment/book-reviews/a520976/a-notable-woman-jean-lucey-pratt-review/
Mr E has to go and help his son, and his son's lovely gf, tomorrow at the old house, so I intend to crack on with the frock- I am nearly ready to assemble skirts onto bodice, and then it's only sleeves and hem! But I also want to turn a brushed cotton sheet into a petticoat to wear under it, with a high round neckline and a flared skirt for fullness without gathers.
Ooh, thanks for the link, @Laura_Elsewhere. I knew her diaries were published separately, in their own book. After the War, she ran a bookshop.
I finished reading Rose Cottage yesterday and was left wanting more. (Always the sign of a good book.) Rather than repeat it twice, here’s my review on the Reading as a Cheap Hobby thread.
- Pip
ETA: I’ve added the book to my wish list to read this year."Be the type of woman that when you get out of bed in the morning, the devil says 'Oh crap. She's up.'
It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it - that’s what gets results!
2026 Fashion on the Ration Challenge 24 spent out of 80.5 coupons (66 plus 14.5 from 2025)
12 coupons - yarn
12 coupons - 3 M&S thermal bodies9 -
Private Battles is available free on Open Library.
Page 80, Pam Ashford. “ Mother went to the English Society and says Mrs Robinson has been given a knitters medal. She has knitted more than 200 pairs of socks and 16 pullovers. On Saturday night last she knitted three pairs of socks. The speed with which she does them is a byword.”
Wow!Fashion on the Ration 2026. Coupons used, 6 pairs of socks non-wool 6, 4 cotton vests 12, sleeveless wool cardigan 5, total 23.
Grocery Challenge 2025, £5 a day for 2 pensioners. Total £1,825.
January £128.45/£155, -£26.55. February £122.55/£140, -£17.45. March £154.50/£155, -50p.9 -
Three in an evening!!!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 21/3/226 -
https://share.google/GtRZok1zveXgqdHRd
If anyone is nearby, this looks really interesting. I'm going on Friday to see it.“the princess jumped from the tower & she learned that she could fly all along. she never needed those wings.”
Amanda Lovelace, The Princess Saves Herself in this One6 -
Oh Wow! The Longest Yarn II Britain at War! I didn’t know they’d done another one. I saw the original in France, not long after it had opened. (In Carentin church, IIRC.). That was about D Day. The craftsmanship was amazing.thriftmonster said:https://share.google/GtRZok1zveXgqdHRd
If anyone is nearby, this looks really interesting. I'm going on Friday to see it.
Enjoy your visit @thriftmonster. Hopefully, they’ll tour it around. (Please ask.).
- Pip"Be the type of woman that when you get out of bed in the morning, the devil says 'Oh crap. She's up.'
It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it - that’s what gets results!
2026 Fashion on the Ration Challenge 24 spent out of 80.5 coupons (66 plus 14.5 from 2025)
12 coupons - yarn
12 coupons - 3 M&S thermal bodies5
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