Five Frugal Things

I’m linking up with Cass, Emma and Becky in this week’s ‘Five Fabulously Frugal things I’ve done this week’ linky. 1. A couple of Mystery Dines which allowed Mr FM and I to have a date night and gave me a free lunch. 2. Joined Shopmium and got a free bar of Green and Blacks and a free tube of Pringles. You …

September wins

Credit Card debt: Total paid off £336.39 Holiday savings: £115.00 Mortgage Overpayment: £120.00 Other savings (train pass, emergency account etc): £295.00 Mystery Dines: Four, at a value of £70.18 Mystery Shops: Two, at a value of £26.00 (including getting to keep one of the products) Quidco: £29.32, from paying for our summer holidays Clicksnap: £10.79 Checkout Smart: …

Shoes and a mortgage

Earlier this week Mr FM and I were discussing our mortgage. We've always said we wanted it paid off by the time Mr FM was 50 - that's coming up for nine years away now. After doing some calculations we found that if we continue making over payments at the rate we have been doing …

It’s 95 days until Christmas…

I thought I'd be original and write a money saving post about saving money at Christmas 95 days before the big man arrives rather than the usual 100 days before (no, I didn't just forget).  A caveat - I absolutely adore Christmas. Mulled wine, carol services, scarves and boots and general merriment. None of this …

One man’s junk…how to monetise your clutter

I had to add that explanation to my post title as, hey, I don't want to get blacklisted for talking about gentlemen's privates! If you're anything like me your house will be full to the brim with clothes, toys, kitchen utensils and general tat that you really do not need. And if you're anything like …

What would you sacrifice to have it all?

This time two weeks ago I was in a bikini on a sun lounger in Spain, thoroughly enjoying the 32 degree heat. Now? On a commuter train in man made fibres, absolutely sweltering - in 25 degree heat. What is it about England that makes the heat so oppressive? Or do I just feel that …

Taking advantage

There's a quote over on Frugalwoods where Mrs FW and Mr 1500 point out that some goods never need to be manufactured again–that’s how saturated our world is with material goods. I believe that to be true. I also believe, in a similar vein, that if we live or work in a major city, there is …

On the lost art of blackberry picking or: how I’m learning to live a simpler life

If money was no object, what would you do? We have just returned from a holiday in Spain, something that always makes my mortgage free dreams feel more urgent (who wouldn't rather spend their income on trips abroad?) and I noticed that the blackberry bushes that overhang our back garden had suddenly burst into fruit. …