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I'm keeping track of my email unsubscribing. So far 51. Although I think some of them may have been done twice as it can take a few days for the cancellation to kick in.
ETA … and I opened the museum putty and sorted out the ornaments on the shelf in the bedroom. It’s only taken two years…
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Well there is a thing I had never heard about… museum putty
I'm mid way through processing blackcurrants. Maybe a syrup to make yoghurt more varied, or maybe blackcurrant curd. Fast approaching the will to live point
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 here3 -
Well done on using the candle not leaving it for " a special occasion" which will never arrive - we used to work on that philosophy heavily on the "No buying new toiletries…" thread - it definitely encouraged us all to use the nice body creams etc while they were still smelling at their best! I was bought a lovely lime & basil candle for christmas so need to make sure that gets burned at some stage - needs a point where MrEH is out though as he can't stand smelly candles at all!
Progress here is that we have a firm of builders coming to take a look at our front steps next week to see if they can quote for the rebuild. That in turn means we need to get a sketch of what we want knocked out by Tuesday morning!
🎉 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/her2 -
Anyone ever used Sugru? That's my favourite type of putty 😄
I've just emailed HR to ask if I can increase my pension contributions.
Debts 04/01/25 02/02/26
Natwest2 £6,509.97 £5,100
NatWest CC £7,612.74 £6,535
Lloyds CC £6,112.60 £4,450
1st Direct CC £176.03 £3.53
CC total £20,411.34 £16,088.53
TSB OD £500 £0
1st Direct OD £600 £0
Car loan £4,000 £4,000
1st Direct Loan £10,684.44 £7,655
Total £36,195.78 £27,743.53
EF £1,100.13
HF £101.433 -
Cleaned the fridge (long overdue) and wormed a dog and two cats.
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What a fun day that sounds @greenbee 😁 Well done you
I have rather dragged myself through the last couple of days but tomorrow is Saturday so I will endeavour to achieve weekend loveliness and gentle winter productivity 🥂
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 Carmichael3 -
We need to agree if the freezer that is turned off is to be relocated before it gets switched on again. And I still need to build (beekeeping) brood frames. These are my weekend OATs
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 here4 -
Nothing impressive done but as my shoulder is rather hurting I was pleased to do basic flat clean (not vacuuming, Mr PIP can do that!) and bother with basic movement.
Did manage to bring myself to declutter a very pretty planter-bowl though, it had a hairline crack so someone can still use it for something and admire its beauty but I didn't fancy it's chances when we move!
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 Carmichael3 -
I cleaned the ingrained mud off the stairs last night but it seems to be one of those jobs where it now looks worse not better. I'll go back over it all today with a damp cloth and get all the gross dog hair out of the corners and fiddly edges.
My cordless hoover is only picking up on the boost setting. I only paid £90 for it 4 years ago, and it does take a beating (when I cba to get hetty out), so I had accepted that I'd need to get a new one. I've woken up this morning and watched a few utub videos on cleaning them out and getting them working again. I can't afford to replace it til the end of February so worth a try!
I also want to bring more wood into the conservatory and aim to use it all up through February, ready for a new wood store at some point in the year, and then a fresh delivery of better quality logs for next winter.
Apart from that, just the usuals, dog walk, coop clean, start on the lecture slides, wait in for big shop delivery.
Debts 04/01/25 02/02/26
Natwest2 £6,509.97 £5,100
NatWest CC £7,612.74 £6,535
Lloyds CC £6,112.60 £4,450
1st Direct CC £176.03 £3.53
CC total £20,411.34 £16,088.53
TSB OD £500 £0
1st Direct OD £600 £0
Car loan £4,000 £4,000
1st Direct Loan £10,684.44 £7,655
Total £36,195.78 £27,743.53
EF £1,100.13
HF £101.432 -
Hetty do a cordless and it was on offer last week.
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Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.3
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