Escape to the country & living off savings

Skint_yet_Again · 29 December 2025 at 12:00PM

Thanks Doris & dia 😊 feeling a bit better today

I thought it would be good for carbs dia, all the things I am trying not to eat 😂 I thought chicken breasts stuffed with cheese & wrapped in bacon, whole chicken & pork chops might be nice to try and could cook enough for several meals in one go. 🤞 Will adapt my shopping list for a while and give it a try.

Skint_yet_Again · 30 December 2025 at 2:24AM

Dozed off on the sofa after a big bowl of stew and woke up around 10pm. Came to bed and cannot sleep. Multiple things going round in my head 😵‍💫🤯

Tomorrow (today 😳) I am going to do more sadmin and then I am going into town with my friend on Wednesday for brunch and go into the bank with Probate. Hopefully then I can get things paid & up to date in the new year. We are also going to have a mooch round the shops. I will see if I can get any reduced Christmas cards. I also seem to have lost all my gloves so I will look for a cheap pair.

Skint_yet_Again · 30 December 2025 at 8:38AM

Payday tomorrow. Have done a roundup of finances

Annual bills pot £670
Car pot £300
xmas pot £0
DIY pot £1
DS / gf wedding £1000

Living off savings pot £2500
(£833 a month x 3 = £2499 Jan - March 2026)

Regular saver £5000
1 year bond £15000 (matures Jan 2026)
2 year bond £40000 (matures Feb 2027)

Feb 2026
When the 1 year bond matures I will put £10k into the living off savings pot for April 2026 - March 2027 & reinvest £5k for another 1 year. The interest will go in the diy pot. I am planning on doing a mini makeover in my garden in 2026 and may buy a rattan outdoor sofa & outdoor rug. I will also be claiming back executor expenses to put back in this pot.

Feb 2027
1 year £5k & 2 year £40k bonds mature. £5k in regular saver. I will put £10k into living off savings pot. £5k remaining in regular saver. Reinvest 35k to feb 2028. Interest into diy pot.

SuzeQStan · 30 December 2025 at 11:51AM

Sorry you struggled with sleep SYA 🥲 were you able to drop off at all? Hope your shopping is successful - had a mooch at the weekend and got next year Christmas cards for 1/2 price from C@rd fsctory.

Future year financial plans are awesome.

Skint_yet_Again · 30 December 2025 at 6:04PM

Thanks Suze I did get a few hours until 6am. Must not fall asleep on the sofa tonight 🫩🥱

I took the final money from the diy pot this morning leaving £1 in the account. Went to aldee & bought chicken thighs & bacon for air fryer plus chicken wings. I will also do some tandoori thighs in the air fryer with courgette and peppers. Toilet rolls & washing up liquid plus 2 boxes of tissues and garlic & Cajun seasoning. Total spend £25.81. Should last until I go shopping again w/c 5 Jan. Tonight I am roasting the lamb (defrosted) with parsnips, carrots, swede and one of dad’s butternut squash in the oven.

Done some more sadmin and I will try & get my money back for what I have paid from dad’s estate tomorrow (over £700). Had a snooze then went to friends for a cuppa.

May have to de-ice the car in the morning 🥶We are going for brunch first 😊

doingitanyway · 30 December 2025 at 10:24PM

Chicken wings. I should have mentioned those. They are great in the AF as are thighs as they have the right amount of fat. Let me know how you get on.

I hope you sleep better tonight

Skint_yet_Again · 31 December 2025 at 7:49AM

“Payday” 😊

January

Phone (sim-only) £10

Apple icloud+ 0.99p

Tv licence 14.95

Water. 21

Council tax £106

Union. £2.35.

Gas & Electric. £63.63

Annual bills. £120

Birthdays / Xmas £50

Car pot. £50

Petrol. £40

Entertainment. £100

Food. £160. (£40 x 4 weeks)

Aquafit £32.50

Income £833

Outgoing 771.42

Remaining £61.58

Skint_yet_Again · 31 December 2025 at 8:19AM

Skint_yet_Again said:

Annual bills pot £670
Car pot £300
xmas pot £0
DIY pot £1
DS / gf wedding £1000

Updated

Annual bills pot = £570

(£670 + £120 =£790.00 - £220 car insurance)

Car pot £300 + £50 =£350.00

xmas pot £0 + £50 =£50.00

DIY pot £1

DS / gf wedding £1000

Tresinia511 · 31 December 2025 at 4:04PM

SYA: I have lots of time on my hands and your diary has keep me entertained for last 3 years. In that time you have posted your outgoings each month, and I've gone back and looked at a snapshot of the end of December, since you started this diary as follows:
2023: £778.89
2024: £791.74
2025: £771.42
They talk a lot a lot about the cost of living crisis but this truly inspirational diary shows you winning the odds. You have managed to spend less in year 3 of your retirement than in years 1 and 2! Added to that, you run a car, visit family on the other side of the country, buy birthday and Christmas gifts, feast out with friends and family as and when occasion arises, have yes and cake with friends and honestly if there was an "mse" 'obe' gong, I would nominate you and you would deserve to win. You are amazing. I and your loyal followers have been with you through the events of the year and truly hope 2026 will be a year of peace xxx

Skint_yet_Again · 31 December 2025 at 4:08PM

Had a lovely fry up in town for brunch £5 from entertainment fund. Took probate into bank. Bought Christmas cards 5 for £1 and a couple of boxes of cards 50% off plus 2 x half price gifts in boots. Will pay from Xmas / birthday pot. Parking was £4.

Dropped my friend home & then popped to asd@ for tiramisu for pud later for me & flowers for my friend tomorrow as she is cooking me lunch 😊 Not going out tonight but I have an aldee pizza for tonight as a last carb fest with garlic bread & tiramisu 😋 & a bottle of asti 🍾

Have a wonderful evening however you are spending it and wishing you all a happy and healthy new year 🎄🥂🍾🥳🎆🎇🍹🎊 🎉

Escape to the country & living off savings

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