Friday 1st January 2010 - What small DFW things have you done today!?!

Candy0107

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 charging your phone up at work instead of at home to save your electricity, 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 All,

HAPPY NEW YEAR

· Checked online banking – some bills have gone out so updated spreadsheet and moved change to virtual sealed pot
· Twice resisted temptation to buy lottery tickets for tonight (we already have 2 lines) so I put the £2 I would have wasted into my virtual sealed pot
· Enter comps online
· Daily scratches
· Meals from storecupboards
· Have a NSD – we do not intend to go out at all today (we are both still sick)
· Washing on 30 – except for towels and t-shirts which need 40 to kill bugs etc
· Read more of my library book
· Take more painkillers as my back is still killing me
· Watch the crochet DVD that I got yesterday
· Need to cut out my pattern ready for next week’s dressmaking class
· Need to measure myself and cut out the material
· Need to tidy my dressmaking box
· Catch up on yesterdays forum
· Need to do a food plan for January
· Need to measure myself and do my weight journal
· Need to do a spending spreadsheet journal type thing
· Need to learn how to do advanced excel functions (this has been on my list forever)


Think that is about it but I am sure there is more to do, take care everyone

Candy xxxx

firestronaut

Today, I've...

• Checked bank online
• Made sure direct debit went to DD's Trust Fund account
• Transferred £4.04 to savings account
• Made small payment to Simply Be
• Sorted through a MOUNTAIN of DD's clothes to see what I can sell on eBay - gonna be a fun week
• Started a spending diary to keep track of my finances
• Packaged some clothes that I ordered online that don't suit me to get a refund - normally I just put them in the back of my drawer in case I have a change of heart.
• Decided to have a NSD if I can help it (excluding debt payments, DDs account and savings transfer)

:beer:
Quite a lot considering it's only 10am :T

Lottebear

Today I have or will

-Checked on line banking
-Emailed Travel agent to find out why they have not taken the money agreed for the flights.
-Daliy cards
-Go for a walk in the park (gym closed)
-Go Party this afternoon
-Store cupbaord meals, may use tesco vouchers for GBK

WelshWoofer

Morning all!
Thanks to Candy for starting the thread - have been back and forth a few times this morning to see when its up - so thank you!

Today's little list...

• Weigh to see what the damage is and decide how much weight I want to lose - not as bad as I thought but still too much, so the challenge is 7lbs in January (starting tomorrow with the new shopping at Mr T's)
• Walk dog x3 for free exercise (1 done) - will probably take him to the park for a good run later as its all frozen and not too mucky
• Check meter readings - yes I know! Still haven't done this!
• Checked banks - as expected, will be OK if I have a frugal January
• Stay in and watch darts and rugby on telly
• Cook nice tea with whoopsied stuff I got from M&S yesterday - last blow out for us all before the January diet starts
• Update spending diary
• Did freezer and cupboard inventory yesterday and did meal plan and shopping list for next week so may do one for the week after
• Read free Moneywise mag
• Do a bit more work on assignment
• Put dry washing away
• Clean bathrooms

That's it for today - happy new year!

bathgatebuyer

I'm off to the gym later today (getting value out of my membership and hopefully curing my cabin fever);
Also going to try and fix the black screen of death on my PC which I've had for about 5 weeks but not got around to fixing it (not a huge issue as I have the laptop to give me my internet fix!);
Will be having a wee clean around the flat which may open up some Ebaying opportunities as I have way too many books and clothes and should have a clearout;
No buying, no internet shopping, just me, some TV and the ironing.

miss_cosmo

Morning all!
Hope you all had a good new year, i was in bed for 11pm myyself...i like to avoid the whole new year thing, plus it saved on getting a baby sitter.

Today I will...

- have a NSD
- going to parents for dinner
- checked internet banking and updated spreadsheets
- moved a small amount of money in to my savings account

Candy- what kind of formulas are you after? I use excel all the time as part of my job so i may be able to help?

Happy new year! x x

painted_lady

Hi everyone, for me it is
- cooking dinner from home, using up some surplus things in the fridge
- sorting out & photographing stuff for ebay (can see it been busy on the ebay this week)
- I will tidy up
- I will go for a walk, or do something to get free fresh air & bit of exercise
- Prepare paperwork for a major overhaul of my finances

savingforarainyday

:beer:HAPPY 2010 EVERYONE:beer:

Well it is here at last!! Saw the New Year in quitely as poor DH has the lurgi and is not feeling well at all.

I spent yesterday afternoon sorting through finances and because a few things went wrong toward the end of the year my debt has slid the wrong way a bit (well more than a bit):eek:. I am not going to beat myself up about it as we had a few things go very wrong, car x 2 couple of household things that need fixing etc. :mad:

So i have revamped the family budget spreadsheet, we still come out in the green which is surprising. New Debtfree date is 2013 which is a bit of a blow, but I am still OK with this as we have a budget which does include travel to Turkey and I have apportioned money to save in separate online accounts for things like Christmas/birthdays, Car Maintenance and dental/haircuts and specs etc.

I did go to the sales and spend my £20 m&s vouchers on 3 tops and a pair of cord jeans, oh and a tenner on a pair of flat black boots, coz mine died.
I also replaced my pressure cooker, which I had to throw away earlier this year as the bottom was no longer flat:rolleyes:, but that was with voucher and nectar points so only paid £3.98 in real money:rotfl:

So today I will visits the old style board for some ideas to save money on my food budget.
I will walk my little dog for exercise for us both (will need to wrap up warm as it is very cold)
Check freezer and storecupboard and plan food shopping for January.
Order gluten free prescription items for ds this saves on food budget
Make work plan diary for January, it is a bit busy so I must get organised
Friend is popping in for cup of tea so no doubt we will do a post-mortem on 2009.
Find a book for a spending diary
List of things for ds to do for his college application and catch up study things he hasn't done over the Crimbo Holiday.:rolleyes:
Well it will be a nsd for me, no shops are open:rotfl:
I will do some more washing and dry it whilst the heating is on, rather than tumble dry.;)
Read the book my dd has lent me (I intend to read more this year)

I also need to decide what to do about training/retraining/courses for myself this year as home ed son turns 16 this year so I plan to return to work full-time at the end of the year. I have had a browse, but I am torn with just updating my qualifications in what I have always done (administration and accounts) or take a new career path. I am leaning towards something new. I am 48:eek: and wobbling about it a bit:rotfl:

Well as always everything starts with a coffee so I had better get going.

Have a good day everyone:D

brokemedic

Good morning and a happy new year .

Today I am going to:

Do my scratches.
Have a NSD as not leaving the house
Have a tidy up and sort out the stuff I don't need/use - will bag these up for a charity shop.
Do an exercise DVD as snowing here.
Get some homework done.
Sort out lib books that need to be returned for mon so no more fines (cost me £9.05 yesterday :mad:)

Hope everyone has a good day..

Candy0107

Candy- what kind of formulas are you after? I use excel all the time as part of my job so i may be able to help?

Hi Miss Cosmo - its mainly things like v lookup tables and advanced excel formulas....I have borrowed '000's of books about them from the library so there should be no excuse really for not looking at them.

I am a bit lazy TBH

I will make myself read them this afternoon, but thanks very much for the offer

Candy xxx

crawley_girl

Morning people! Happy New Year!

Well today:

• I tried to log on to banking and it had not 'remembered' details, so I went and dug out the info and eventually got to check and everything seems ok!
• make a small PAD to a cc
• am working this afternoon - just waiting to hear what time I am needed
• need to open up my saving tin as I can't get any more in... am hoping that it is about £100 :j (will update later!)
• will be eating at work for free

:heartpuls CG :heartpuls