Monday 25th Feb - What small DFW things will you ...

[bt1]

When we start out on the DFW trail we do loads of "big stuff" that makes quite a difference to our situation. These include having our lightbulb moment, cutting up the credit cards and cancelling Sky and the gym.

But once we have done the bigger stuff, we often feel that we are not making the same amount of progress, when in fact the small steps are helping us form good financial habits and helping us get closer everyday to staying in control and becoming debt free, or staying debt free.

Examples could be hanging washing out instead of using the tumble dryer or leaving your purse/wallet at home to avoid the risk of spending.

So be proud of those small steps, they really are important


Morning everyone Hope you all had a good weekend

Just a small one from me today...

• Check bank - direct debit for ipad sim should of come out done
• Update app done
• Have got lunch from home and lots of fruit done
• Drink lots of water done
• Stay in at lunch done
• NSD done

Quite pleased with my efforts today another NSD (#13 for Feb) now to head home to put the washing away! Arghhhhh!!!! Lol


Tonight:

• Put washing away (I hate this job!!)
• Quick tidy about
• Make lunch for tomorrow
• Check mums card to make sure 0% transfer is completed
• Start a meal plan template for next week

Only 5 more sleeps until the weekend

[katy_ann]

Morning BT1, thanks for starting us, hope you have a good day! My list for today as follows;

• NSD out my weekly money
• Work 9-5 and then 1 hour overtime 5-6
• Asda after work for a few supplies
• Drink free water and bring own squash at work
• Check bank account - Done
• Make money, not spend it!

Have a good day all x

[determined new ms]

Morning guys thanks for starting us off bt1

My things for the day:

* check banking
* check cc
* sign up for 123 account & get oh put on it
* get payroll to change my bank acc
* change 2 dds to the above account
* get photos and send off driving licence renewal
* all meals from stores. Lunch very disjointed affair as just trying to use up items from the fridge! Dinner will be soup & crumpets
* borrow sack barrow so we can put fridge in kitchen (currently in lounge!)
* update housekeeping diary re stoozing details
* check onepoll
* paint a door tonight & iron on edging strips around plinth
* get some food from the freezer in the shed and put in the freezer in kitchen
* sewing group tonight - hopefully will finish off my dress

ok think my list is wildly optimistic in terms of what time I actually have! Have a great day x

[Bobarella]

BT1 - I hate putting washing away too. Why is that? It just seems like such a boring task. The day someone invents auto fluffing and folding and packing away clothes, I will be first in line!

Determinded New MS - You have 2 freezers?? I cant believe it, but I am actually jealous. You must be able to fit in so many bargains and leftovers, amazing!

So....OH got paid today, and we have made a lump sum repayment of £700 off our 3rd credit card. Its not quite the full £834 I was hoping for, but there was too much month at the end of our money.

I get paid myself in a week and am hoping I can chip away further at that sum then. The slightly annoying thing in all of this is the min payments game. So, although our hope is to pay off the CCs in order of size, because they are now all on 0% anyway, the size of the min payment on the biggest (card 1) means we cant make such a huge dent on CC2, which is next in our minds in terms of priority. Min payments on CC1 and 2 combined is £166 this month. We were lucky last month because I'd just shuffled the decks when going onto new 0% deals, so we kind of had a month off the largest amount because it was paid by the old credit card if that makes sense.

Anyway! Todays activities. This is the start of my 'weekend' so Im home with my 4y/o and we are meeting a friend at the swings (flask at the ready) I need to defrost some chicken portions for dinner tonight. Think I will do jerk chicken with rice,peas and beans again, as we all enjoy that one.

Its so cold today that think we might just be hunkering down at home after our playdate so that is MS in itself.

Have a great day everyone.

Bob

[MinnieMousesMummy]

Good morning everyone. Its a sunny day here but still very cold.

My list for today:

• Quick shower
• Make packed lunch for ds
• School/Childminder runs (3 trips today as dd finishes at lunchtime)
• Take dd for a walk
• All meals from stores - pizza for dinner - Pizza put into the freezer and I treated myself to a take away, as both kids had dinner at friends
• Renew library books to avoid late fines
• Do freelance work that is in for today and look for new freelance projects Work in Progress
• Do some of ironing pile
• Collect up washing and do full loads Work in Progress
• Sort list for tomorrow as need to keep myself busy
• Help ds with his homework
• Tidy the living room
• Get kids bathed and off to bed at a reasonable time
• Make banana scones to use up bananas that are almost ready for the bin
• Pay some money off loan
• Check bank
• Do some course work
• Sort through dd's cupboard and remove small clothes
• Clear and wipe the dining table
• LSD - need to get electric for the meter
• Clean and tidy kitchen

I think that is everything for today sorry for my long list but trying to keep myself motivated at the moment. Well I guess that I better get into gear and get started.

[josiebabie]

Morning everyone!

Didn't set alarm last night so was up late this morning! Well technically I did set it, then forgot I set it and switched it off again accidentally!

This is me today:
- Checked banking
- 1 purge sale opportunity
- 1 service plan opportunity
- Hang washing on airer
- Car share to netball, take own water
- NSD
- Finish budget for Feb-Mar now I know BT has been done
- B/L/D from stores
- Make the most of an empty diary of work

Jx

[ziggy2407]

Good Morning my lovelies

bt1 - Thanks for starting us off, and I'm with you on the "5 more sleeps until the weekend"

Hi to all the regulars and lurkers and a BIG welcome to all the newbies, this is a really FAB thread with so many lovely, caring, considerate and supportive people - and I am proud to call them my friends.

Woke up feeling extremely down again, just cant seem to shake the "black dog" at the min so not going to pressure myself too much. Today's small things (sorry its so boring ...) :

Check Banks - Done
Check swapits - Done
Check www.freepostcodelottery.com -
Pay Cheque into Bank - Done (my £100 win)
Holland & Barrett - Done, got what Dr recommends
General Tidy up - Done
Packed lunch for OH & LO - Done
Work (11.30-2.00 & meet new manager) -
Shop with list -
Up to date on main email account -
Surveys -
Update Food Tracker - In progress
Meals from stores -
Enter a few comps -
Read/knit - In progress

Hope you have all had a great day, love to you all.

C xx

[zepsgal]

4 more sleeps til the weekend!!

Weekend starts on Friday at 5pm

Nothing much planned for today. Aiming for NSD, that's about it really.
Hoping to read more of my book tonight, had a busy weekend and would like to just relax.
Need to look for more ideas for making a keepsake box for a friend. She want's somewhere to put her daughters first babygro, first pair of shoes etc. Never made anything like that before, need ideas!

Have a good day y'all! x

[The Boss]

Payday is on Thursday. I still had just ovet £200 left in my account so have been able to make an extra extra payment to my balance transfer card (if that makes sense). Have left myself with £100 which I will aim to spend little of so I can make an extra extra exyra payment on payday too.

[Karb]

Morning everyone. Thanks bt1 for starting the thread. Hugs to ziggy and anyone else who needs them

Weighed in this morning, and no change from last week. I did have a bit of a blow out at the weekend while the kids were round - we went for fish & chips on Friday night, but as its my first take away of the year, I think I've done pretty well to last that long.

The problem, when I have the kids round, is that I tend to eat what they want to eat, which isn't usually as healthy as I would normally have if it was just me to think about. Also, now that DS1 has turned 18, we'll have a few beers together too.

18p left in the February grocery budget, so effectively it means I need four consecutive NSDs. I've got enough breakfast cereal, and enough in the freezer to cover my evening meals, but I'm definitely going to have to be a bit creative with my lunches this week!

Managed without putting the heating on this morning. I struggled to get up this morning, and reckoned that by the time the house had heated up properly, I'd be leaving for work anyway so just didnt bother. I've walked to the station again so no petrol usage too.

[mrsdee]

hey everyone. hope you are all ok!
got my haircut at weekend - I just have a (cheaper) wet cut as it's very short and I resent paying someone a load more money to dry my hair (esp when I just hop in the shower when I get home anyway!!)

For today :

breakfast at home
brought in lunch from home (sandwiches and fruit - not v exciting!)
DH and DSS out tonight so will be cheap dinner tonight - going to use up peppers mushrooms and onions and have with couscous from cupboard - if any leftovers will have for lunch tomorrow
charging phones at work
making most of free tea/coffee/hot chocolate at work
have worked out budget for next month and should be able to get rid of overdraft by end of the month AND have some money put into savings for bills - yay!!
have done meal plan for this week making use of what's in cupboards/freezer
will make some more pizza dough this evening and freeze it - made some pizzas yesterday and it was great just being able to use dough from freezer!!
definitely trying to eat less meat, and more veggie so will look up some interesting recipes this evening.....

have a good day everyone!

[Bobarella]

Originally Posted by MinnieMousesMummy

• Make banana scones to use up bananas that are almost ready for the bin

Never heard of Bannana scones MinnieMousesMummy. We make bannana bread but hadnt thought of scones. Have you a recipe link at all?

[Bottleofrum]

WOW this thread looks fun, I enjoyed reading through all your schedules .

-Wake at 4 am little boy (8 months) has bad coold and cough. Settle him.

-Wake at 7am
-get 4 yr old daughter to school.
-housework.
-found small mouse in bathroom bin.
-walk to work.
-work.
-walk home.
-see the family and make tea

[Pernicious]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for starting us off bt1.
Ziggy - Sending big hugs your way, make sure you take some time out to relax & just gather your thoughts. I know how you feel I've been so down lately but feeling a bit more positive today, hope it lasts.
Karb - You've done so well not having a takeaway until now!

Today I have/will:-

• Made use of free water & milk at work
• B/L/D from stores
• Staying in for my lunch break to avoid spending
• Leftovers for lunch
• Dinner from meal plan
• Log calories using free app
• Checked postcode lottery
• Charging phone at work
• Heating off as long as possible & on low when needed
• Check online banking
• Checked for new mystery shopping opportunities
• Enter some comps
• Declutter & flylady
• Contact Orange to query loyalty discount missing from the last 2 bills
• Dad coming over this evening to show me & DH how to fix our bikes, which will mean I can cycle to work saving petrol
• Make use of TKD membership if there is time!

Hope everyone has a great, MSE day x

[MinnieMousesMummy]

Originally Posted by Bobarella

Never heard of Bannana scones MinnieMousesMummy. We make bannana bread but hadnt thought of scones. Have you a recipe link at all?

Link to banana scones I make mine in the oven though rather than using a frying pan.
http://www.netmums.com/family-food/f...na-drop-scones

[pixiechick99]

Afternoon
That's me home from work and enjoying a cuppa, on my backside - but I'm allowed, as its my birthday

So,not the most mse day as we're having a takeaway tonight

Here's my list though anyway:

• Check banking - move maintenance to savings
• Packed lunch to work
• Heating on low (is 18deg low?!)
• Smile at my free sample of Lacoste perfume that arrived today
• Quick Hoover of the lounge
• Enjoy my takeaway - no cooking yayy
• Check onepoll

That's enough for one day!

[foxgloves]

Greetings again from the grey chilly Midlands. Cat has only just bothered to get out of bed! Don't blame him....but he is now looking at his food as though it's something I've just scraped off my shoe......
So far today:
*Ran washing machine overnight on Economy 7.
*Got creative with rubber chicken. It's already done 2 days of dinners over the weekend. Divvied up remainder to make fajhitas tonight, Mexican-style pizza tomorrow, stew, wraps for tomorrow's packed lunch & everything else is in the slow-cooker bubbling away for stock. Amazing how far you can stretch a chicken.
*Assessed fridge contents & assigned salad/veg that needs using up to meals early this week as I hate chucking stuff out.
*Small top-up grocery shop. Annoying as don't tend to do that many of these, but had forgotten to get ingredients for a cake I promised to make for a youth group. I did find 2 nice large loaves for 50p each from bargain bin while I was there. Also remembered to take glass recycling at same time rather than make extra journey.
*Closed Feb's grocery budget as new one starts on Weds. Feb grocery overspend of about £50. Not too impressed with that, but it came from me getting the chance to stock up storecupboard on decent quantities of spices, lentils, bulghur, etc. March's grocery budget will be set £50 lower than normal to compensate as we have lots of food in.
*Did competition & a few surveys.
Now going to have a nice afternoon finishing my book & trying not to put any mroe heating on till 5pm. I may crack....1 top, 1 jumper & 1 cardigan & still cold......I don't reckon I used to feel this cold while I was carrying so much extra weight......mustn't let that be an excuse for a 'Quavers' binge later on, lol.
Love to all,
foxgloves x

[allydowd]

Originally Posted by pixiechick99

• Heating on low (is 18deg low?!)

18-21C........................ Comfortable temperature
9-12 or 24+C.............. Risk of stroke and heart attack
21-24C or 16-18C...... Some discomfort
12-16C......................... Risk of respiratory disease
Less than 9C............... Risk of hypothermia

But you should use a thermometer to measure the actual temperature in the room rather than rely on the thermostat which can be inaccurate.

[Bobarella]

Originally Posted by MinnieMousesMummy

Link to banana scones I make mine in the oven though rather than using a frying pan.
http://www.netmums.com/family-food/f...na-drop-scones

Thank you MMM I will try this and report back. Great to have a new recipe to try!

[pixiechick99]

Originally Posted by allydowd

18-21C........................ Comfortable temperature
9-12 or 24+C.............. Risk of stroke and heart attack
21-24C or 16-18C...... Some discomfort
12-16C......................... Risk of respiratory disease
Less than 9C............... Risk of hypothermia

But you should use a thermometer to measure the actual temperature in the room rather than rely on the thermostat which can be inaccurate.

Thanks ally
I have a thermometer next to the digital thermostat...it says same temp that the thermostat measures. I never have the thermostat on higher than 18.5. That gets the downstairs really warm..I often put it to 17 instead. I do feel the cold too, so think 18 sounds low But it keeps us war enough and the 2 teens don't complain

Heating bill still seems pretty darn high and I only have heating on for 1 hr in the morn and then from late afternoon onwards, going no higher than about 18deg. Roll on spring, can't wait to have heating off