Amigos actively attempting austere actions August 24>

[Happierwithouthim]

Link to last thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/cost_of_living/5007277-familiar-friends-in-frugalityfeb-24?latest=1

All welcome, the vibe is frugal life to make the things that matter possible, which is different for everyone, some of us have overcome debt, separations etc. All are friendly and we're sometimes chatty, sometimes quiet.

Don't lurk, join in

Been sat tidying up bits and pieces on the financial front in readiness for 2025. After shuffling things around a few months ago - things are settling down and our debt free date is now somewhat shorter and thankfully nearer now and another card has bitten the dust!! But this thread is great for watching and encouraging when we feel a wobble or just to understand how someone else is feeling.
Christmas was a bit spendy but not madly so and the monthly transfers have been increased to cover inflation in readiness for next Christmas!! Believe it or not two outings for Christmas 2025 are already being discussed so people can mark dates in diaries (and save!!)
So now I'm resigned to making a list of everything that is in the freezers - we don't have any space so there must be food in there!! Might pull out some beef in gravy to have with mash, veg and Yorkshire puddings - have some cream to use up so will make a trifle too.
Trying to avoid the shops but it won't work - we need coffee and loo paper!!

They have indeed been relegated to hair dye or dog towels. She went purple @Happierwithouthim so there are flashes of pink on the bathroom Lino. Thankfully in the bathroom we haven’t renovated yet.

great news on the shorted pay off date rainbow. I too need a freezer audit.

i love your meal plans need

Ah, I remember your magnificent meal plans, need! Gin and tonic salmon!!!!

I was going to serve cassoulet tonight, with home-made duck confit and Toulouse sausages. Remembered to soak the beans, but forgot that the cooking time is close to 5 hours. So we will have cassoulet tomorrow night, and tonight use up yesterday's bourguignon leftovers, padded out with pigs in blankets, tagliatelle and a raddiccio and pecan salad.

Nice long woodland walk and a NSD today. Tomorrow it's finishing the floors, changing the beds and I have to do a bit of a top-up shop - red lentils, ginger, butter, eggs, olive oil, onions, potatoes, thyme. Planning to make a spiced lentil soup to have with flatbreads from the freezer on NYD. We have friends over for dinner on the 2nd, planning a poulet antiboise (chickens in the freezer, olives in the cupboard but need more olive oil, thyme and onions), baked chicory (use what we have - will be past its best for a raw salad), and tarte tatin (all ingredients in, have some gorgonzola and loads of chocolates still if the TT turns out rubbish).

DH is also signed up for a fitness course in 2025, and has his first planning consultation at 8am on the 3rd! I am very pleased he's decided to go for it, but his meal plan may require additional shopping and imperil my low-spend planning for January. We'll see!

Morning.

Well, I don't know about my meal plan, but yours sound delicious @BigSkies2022. Hope DH's consultation goes well.

Well done on clearing the card and reducing the debts @Rainbow1901

Should be a NSD today, unless I buy a cheap bottle of champagne to celebrate the New Year. Martin Lewis had a few recommendations for circa £10. But I don't really need one, so likely will be frugal and leave it on the supermarket shelf. We don't have plans for tonight, and very unlikely to actually be up at midnight to be honest!!

Loving the leftovers chat and new year frugal planning.
We drove down to Devon last night for NY so had to sort leftovers ahead of that. We've had
JO turkey & ham pie
Boxing day bubble & squeak (a bit of everything chopped up, mixed together and fried up, eaten with ham & turkey)
Turkey curry
Turkey fajitas
Leftovers stir-fry
Soup made with the spiced ham stock which then went in with the turkey carcass to give a very rich stock base for turkey & veg soup.

Lots of fresh veg left which will still be fine when we're back on Thursday, lots of cheese and frozen turkey, ham & cured beef so more leftovers magic to come!! I haven't meal planned yet but will while we're away.

Re 2025, our first target is to pull back the relatively small overspend we ended 2024 on. Eating the freezer & cupboards down should do that. I've almost sorted the budget out, just needs finalising. No big priorities this year, will try to build a bigger savings pot though and the house has reached the stage where lots of smartening up is needed. DH is determined to do as much of that as possible himself. More of my time is likely to be spent supporting mum & dad so I will need to be super organised. My new job is now around 9 weeks away....eek!!

Forgot to say, I'm fully behind spending on PT, it's so worth it. I spend a lot on my gym training but I'm so much healthier for it and so proud of the weights I'm lifting.

I'm in for another year, with the same aims of 1) not going overdrawn and 2) saving something every month - except December. 3) not using the credit card (unless its a real emergency, its why we've kept one)

The continuing aim is to build up an emergency fund so that elderly appliances can be replaced, cars repaired and house repaired without going into debt.

I achieved paying off the overdraft and then the not using it again, by the skin of my teeth sometimes, but no bank charges this year. I didn't save every month, but most months something went into the savings.

Big spends this year were 2 car repairs, a new cooker, and some plastering done. So the emergency fund was sometimes depleted as fast as it accumulated, but we didn't have to use the credit card. And Christmas was covered, no borrowing this year.

I am counting this year as a financial success.

So girding my loins for another one, with no horrible unforeseen happenings, a few treats along the way.

Spending plans for this year include nursing my 15 year old car along for another year, decorating and carpeting the room that has been plastered, 2 x week long UK breaks, a couple of shorter breaks, and getting the dogs teeth done. This last one is booked for February, and I am planning on getting my car serviced in March when there is no council tax.

Good luck everyone!!

Well so much for avoiding shops! My elderly neighbour wanted to go to our local outlet store. So one new jumper, new huge bath towels (as DH says ours are not large enough) and one new duvet cover set later!! But got them all for less than £80. I did also buy coffee, cat food and loo paper. (they were on the list!!) At least I shouldn't hit the shops on the 1st day of the new year!! Start as we mean to go on!! 😆Happy Frugal New Year to everyone!! 😇

January Frugaleers thread brings no judgment just friendly banter & advice for like minded folk http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/costoff_living/5242109-january-frugaleers-thread-brings-no-judgment-just-friendly-banter-advice-for-like-minded-folk

It's hard to do alliteration with the letter J

Hi all.

just checking in for the new year. Will hop over to the new thread.

Working link to new thread: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/cost_of_living/5242109-january-frugaleers-thread-brings-no-judgment-just-friendly-banter-advice-for-like-minded-folk