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The Edcawber Principle
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Woohoo - employer has offered 3% payrise
Not bad as a minimum, although I think union petitioning government for a better deal. Certainly beats the last decade...0 -
Good news on the payrise.I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
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.
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan. 21 months left.0 -
Making good use of my train journey to update my approach to debt repayment to something a bit more boring
Have calculated that we can repay all debts before 2020 remortgage, but will require a small budget cut and the continued use of CB. From May I will make minimum payments + one monthly repayment for the rest. Dunno what I'll do with the rest of my time :rotfl:
£1.85 paid off a CC0 -
The best sort :j:j:jedinburgher wrote: »DD has decided that she wants to use the toilet after seeing one of her cousins toddling off to the bathroom with Mum - spontane ontaneous toilet training? :rotfl:
And congratulations on the payrise :j
Enjoy London - are you seeing something pretty, like I did yesterday, or something useful for work? Or both 2023: the year I get to buy a car0 -
Neither! I'm just sort of pottering about, bit of this, bit of that 0
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edinburgher wrote: »Dunno what I'll do with the rest of my time :rotfl:
Set up a business? Make cheese? do odd-jobs? learn a bit about gardening so it is a bit more pleasurable?Save £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £865.15 in January 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 £138.39 for January and a bigger target of £300 for February, with lots to stock up on
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 here0 -
Suffolk_lass wrote: »Set up a business? Make cheese? do odd-jobs? learn a bit about gardening so it is a bit more pleasurable?
Is it sad that the cheese one of those suggestions appeals the most?
I am also going to be spending a bit more time gardening this year, as needs must. On my list so far:- Set up a compost bin
- Paint our new fence
- Repair and paint our old fence
- Scarify the front and side lawns
- Probably sow the front and side lawns again!
- Remove grass from the rear lawn and replant as a wildflower "meadow"
- Improve the appearance of the "dead zone" where our conifer hedge was by planting some hydrangeas to act as colour, bee scran and a wind break
We had a chap in repairing brickwork to the walls of the house. He finished yesterday and while he appears to have done a solid job, I can't help but feel he was taking the !!!! as regards the amount of hours he billed for. Still, he was the only person to quote for the job and our front steps were literally at risk of collapsing :eek: £450 paid from our home maintenance fund, which is now at -£5?
I also bought a scarifying rake and an extendable window cleaning pole yesterday.
£74 paid off a CC (Am@zon voucher shuffle and a TT). Also, I owe the CC £11.89 once I can make another payment tomorrow morning.
Feeling a bit skint now.
Ps. Not really related to anything, but I saw a fantastic animated Chinese film called "Big Fish and Begonia" in London town - try and see it if your local cinema is showing it, so many feels
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edinburgher wrote: »
I also bought a scarifying rake and an extendable window cleaning pole yesterday.
...................Feeling a bit skint now.
But at least you'll not need gym membership for the foreseeable, wielding that lot about!:T
Greying XGrocery spend February 2026 £192.56/£235
Non-food spend February 2026 £35.68/£80
Bulk Fund 2026 Month 2/12 - £0/£120 (reducing balance - start £120 pa)
""Mother Nature don't draw straight lines
The broken moulds in a grand design
We look a mess but we're doing fine
We're card carrying lifelong members
Of the union of different kinds..."
"Union of the Different kinds" - R Christie & T Gilbert, Fisherman's Friends0 -
Your gardening is like mine ... it's actually navvying
Bee scran! Not seen those two words together, but that's lovely! No idea if bees actually *like* hydrangea.
If you're still into planting perennials for edibles, have a look at a quince shrub, see if you've got room for the roots round there. I have a very mature one outside my back door (completely by chance, it wasn't me that planted it) and for about 3 weeks, starting from about a week ago, its full of bees. And I often get quince later in the year.2023: the year I get to buy a car0 -
When does gardening actually become labouring??? Glad to say no gardening envy in SJ towers!MFW: Was: £136,000.......Now: £47,736.58......0
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