A woman has told how her Grinch ex ruined Christmas after a 'silly row' by storming out the house on Christmas Eve - with the turkey.
Linda Scerri knew things were off to a bad start when she woke up in the spare room on Christmas Day, but she had no idea they were about to get whole lot worse.
Linda, 57, and partner Lee, 55, had a row in the pub the night before because he’d forgotten to get her a Christmas card, but she initially had thought things would blow over.
But she quickly discovered he had left her and taken a bunch of their belongings with him - including the turkey and Christmas booze.
Linda, 57, from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, broke down in tears after going to make herself a consolatory cuppa - only to find he had taken the tea bags and sugar with him too.
Thankfully, Linda's friends and family rallied around her and she says they ended up having the "best day ever".
What do you think about Linda's Christmas? Let us know in the comments...
She said: "Lee and I had rowed over something silly, it was over the fact he hadn't bought me a Christmas card, and I'd fallen asleep in the spare room.
"When I couldn't find him in our bedroom, I assumed he was already downstairs, but nothing could've prepared me for what I was about to find… he'd left and taken everything with him.
"The TV, kettle and mugs were missing, and when I opened the fridge door – even the turkey had gone together with all the Christmas booze.
"I was speechless. Lee had even taken the coffee, tea, and sugar so I couldn't make myself a hot drink. As I sat there sobbing, I wondered how I'd get through the day."
"I eventually called my friends and family, who all rallied together, and everyone bought something.
"We managed to make Christmas Day a success and I was so grateful to have such wonderful people around me."
Linda, who is mum to Tom, 33, Max, 30, and Amelie, 24, had been through a turbulent year prior to this - losing her sister to cancer in 2019, then moving in with her boyfriend, only for him to leave on Christmas Eve 2019.
She had also quit her £50,000-a-year senior sales manager job just weeks before Christmas 2019 and was terrified about the future.
But Linda, who felt like she was suffering from burnout in March 2020, now thinks Lee did her a favour - as she was forced to reinvent herself.
She said: "Lee and I ended up speaking briefly afterwards, but the damage was done. We split and moved out of the house.
"With no job and the UK plunged into lockdown, I picked myself up and decided to become a savvy shopper.
"And I started collecting furniture and clothes that people were throwing away for free. I upcycled them and sold them.
"Now I make my own cleaning products and toothpaste. I buy clothes from charity shops and I now have my own Facebook community called Save Money Make Money.
While living in France with her husband at the time, she started trying to save cash - and found a passion for refurbishing furniture.
Linda said: "I started upcycling - doing what we now know as shabby chic stuff.
"I learned how to distress pieces of furniture and the French equivalent of our boot sales was a great place to pick up a bargain or two.
"France was also where I discovered second-hand furniture shops which I used to love mooching around.
"They were huge warehouse-type places with items ranging from grandiose armoires to smaller things like milking stools which were more within my budget."
Now she become a supersaver and is taking to Instagram and Facebook to help others do the same.
Her shopping bill is now £100 a month as she cooks every meal from scratch.
She also doesn't waste and uses veg scraps to make soup or compost and potato peelings for crisps.
She said: "I've always been creative and even when I was in corporate, I had side hustles. I had continued upcycling furniture and I had an eye for a bargain.
"I knew how to make something out of nothing. This led me to growing my own, cooking from scratch, dehydrating food, pressure canning my own food, upcycling furniture, recycling anything I could get my hands on, looking around for free stuff and furnishing my house for free, where I could.
"It's odd how things turn out but years ago, I had invested in solar panels and solar batteries. I've always tried to invest in the long term and all of this helped keep my bills low.
"I joined money-saving groups for hints and tips and I started buying and selling on selling sites."
Linda has now built her Facebook community where she shares her tips and advice on how to do what she does.
She said: "I get a buzz out of helping people, I really do. I've reinvented myself as an expert in saving money and making money.
"I now want to give back via my FB group. With the current cost of living crisis, I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing than teaching others how there are always ways of adapting and I'll be right there helping them every step of the way.
"In some ways, my ex leaving has done me a favour as it forced me into a new career.
"I can't wait for Christmas this year - I will be cooking another turkey with real friends - who I know won't try to steal it."
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk
