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Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.2026 Fashion On The Ration Challenge
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@thriftmonster I'm planning to Dig for Victory in my garden tomorrow :)
2025 remaining: 37 coupons from 66:
January (29): winter boots, green trainers, canvas swimming-shoes (15); t-shirt x2 (8); 3m cotton twill (6);
.
2025 second-hand acquisitions (no coupons): None thus far
.
2025 needlework- *Reverse-couponing*:11 coupons :
January: teddybear-lined velvet jacket (11) & hat (0); velvet sleep-mask (0);8 -
Just dropping in to say we have the world’s loudest blackbird singing away as I type! He’s at least in the trees at the other end of the garden (67ft) and probably in the school playing field and I can hear him through the double glazing.
He has a lot to say for himself morning and evening but he sings beautifully.
✒️ Declutter 2026 🏅 🏅🏅
👗 Fashion on the Ration 2026 58/66✒️ Declutter 2025 🏅👗 Fashion on the Ration 2025✒️Declutter 2024 🏅🏅🏅(DSis 🏅🏅)
👗Fashion on the Ration 2024✒️Declutter 2023 ⭐️ ⭐️🏅(and one for DSis 🏅)
👗Fashion on the Ration 2023✒️Declutter 2022 🏅 🏅 ⭐️ ⭐️👗Fashion on the Ration 2022✒️Declutter 2021 ⭐️⭐️⭐️🏅👗Fashion On The Ration 2021 (late joining due to ‘war work’)9 -
How did the gardening go @thriftmonster and @Laura_Elsewhere? I was in the office today, staring out the window, wishing I could do some gardening instead of work…
- 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 28 spent out of 80.5 coupons (66 plus 14.5 from 2025) 52.5 remain
12 coupons - yarn
12 coupons - 3 M&S thermal bodies
4 coupons - shorty pyjamas6 -
it was jolly hard labour, Pip! I lugged big sacks of manure, compost, top-soil and gravel… phew!!
the main area is now back-filled and I gave it a first soaking as the under-soil was bone-dry. I shall be able to start getting plants in soon!And a new birdbath, which wasn't planned but our little Robin has been such a delight every time I have been out there, so I added it to the plans :)
2025 remaining: 37 coupons from 66:
January (29): winter boots, green trainers, canvas swimming-shoes (15); t-shirt x2 (8); 3m cotton twill (6);
.
2025 second-hand acquisitions (no coupons): None thus far
.
2025 needlework- *Reverse-couponing*:11 coupons :
January: teddybear-lined velvet jacket (11) & hat (0); velvet sleep-mask (0);8 -
Lot of money dropped on tights and pop socks this week - all sheer ones that shouldn't ladder though, so a long term investment and better for the environment if they do what they say. So far I've only tried the pop socks but they've held up really well - the cheap ones always start to go at the toes and underneath the strap of my mary-janes practically at once, and these aren't even wrinkled. And because I spent good money on them and they still look intact and I don't want to ruin them I also took them off as soon as I got in and washed them by hand in about two minutes, which will definitely help preserve them if I can only keep it up.
These are coming from my 'forces' tights coupons. If I'm reading the rules right I'm halfway through those now.
I also now have a dusty pink quilted style jacket and a pair of stretch jeans my stepmother bought for me in the sales - I have given her the 6 coupons for the jacket, but she insisted the jeans were a gift. Which leaves me with 31.5 coupons left.
Fashion on the Ration 2026 - 31.5 coupons remaining (rolling over 1.5 from last year)
April Grocery Challenge - £134.93 of £250 spent
Declutter 12 things (net) in 2026 - 69 out and 65 in = 8 to lose7 -
Hi all, spends to declare, 2 t shirts for a birthday present for a friend 😁 so 8 coupons spent leaving me with 58.
@PipneyJane so sorry to hear about your friend
On the subject of birds today was apparently national dawn chorus day so as my resident blackbird had woken me at 4.45 I made a cup of tea and put my phone on the window sill for a listen 😁. I got blacbird, robin, blue tit, goldfinch, crow, greenfinch, dunnock, great tit, wood pigeon, wren, jackdaw, and long tailed tit. I was sad not to hear a thrush but not surprised as I haven't seen a thrush in the garden for a few years now but considering it's a very urban area I thought it was quite a good start to the day 😁.
Take care everyone
58/66 coupons remaining
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Hard work but so worth it, @Laura_Elsewhere. The garden looks amazing. Hope the birdbath brings joy to the robin.
@Liverpool_Anne. Quite a collection of birds. I’m impressed!
@diminua which brand of pop-sock claims to be ladder free? Please let us know how long they really last.
- 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 28 spent out of 80.5 coupons (66 plus 14.5 from 2025) 52.5 remain
12 coupons - yarn
12 coupons - 3 M&S thermal bodies
4 coupons - shorty pyjamas6 -
DH took me shopping. I found two pots of the chemist’s Traditional face cream hidden on the bottom shelf almost out of sight, so I bought them both because you never know these days when a store will have to shut down or a product be unobtainable.
I was looking for cotton sleeveless tops but could find them only in a synthetic mix. I did find 2 pairs of imported, knitted cotton, summer weight pyjamas at £7 each at Pmarket. The weather has warmed up all of a sudden and my fleece pyjamas are too warm. I learnt years ago that DH would bring only the most worn out nighties, even the one he found in the rag bag, when I was in hospital. 16 coupons used.
Fashion on the Ration 2026. Coupons used, 6 pairs of socks non-wool 6, 4 cotton vests 12, sleeveless wool cardigan 5, 2 pairs of summer weight cotton pyjamas 16. Total 39.
Grocery Challenge 2026, £5 a day for food for 2 pensioners. Total £1,825.
January £128.45/£155, -£26.55
February £122.55/£140, -£17.45
March £154.50/£155, -50p
April £144.78/£150, -£5.22
May £151.63/£155, -£3.378 -
Because I am taking up the lawn to replace with planting I have invested in a small handheld rotovator. It reminds me a little of the Trusty Tractor hand held thing on Wartime Farm (although irl mine is electric rather than petrol).
Have built it and started. So far it's clogging quickly with grass but it's doing well and the grass situation will get better
“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 One7 -
Your bed looks fabulous @Laura_Elsewhere
“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 One4
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