Saturday 15th September - What Debt Free Wannabee Things Will You Be Doing Today?

allydowd

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. :rotfl:

Morning folks! I've been having trouble sleeping so I thought I'd have a wee surf. Today I'll be:

*Going for a long walk for cheap entertainment. Wearing the coat I repaired yesterday.

*Changing my MSE signature cos it's out of date.

*Finding a cheap restaurant deal to go with my £2.50 theatre trip next week from here: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/cheap-restaurant-deals

*Having a look to see what to spend £25 Theatre Tokens on that I got as a reward from work. Then booking using the cheap number I found at http://www.saynoto0870.com cos last time it cost me £3 to book by phone and they wouldn't take vouchers online.

*Checking Grass Roots for more mystery shop opportunities. https://www.grassrootsmysteryshopping.com/msw_pnlExtWelcome.aspx

*Making cheese, tomato and potato pasties with the remains of the filo pastry from yesterday to take on our walk.

*Turning the tv off at the wall before we go out.

*Read papers online at http://www.dailymail.co.uk and http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk

*Find a new cooking apron on eBay; mine's derelict.

Candy0107

Morning folks

As I was off work on Wednesday, my body thinks today is Friday so I was awake at 5:30am

So, best make use of my last free weekend before I start college on Wednesday

to those that need them and to any newbies/lurkers

Today I have/will:
Breakfast and dinner from stores
Going out for lunch with hubby - using gift vouchers given to us by his gran last Christmas
Checked banking - no change
Counted change in coke bottle
Updated sig with new total
Read paper online
Off into town to get a savings account for aat savings (with a much better interest rate)
Watching bits n bobs on the sky box
Start reading a motivational book my friend lent me yesterday - about getting the ideal job (it has interview tips in it)
Try for a LSD as not planning on buying anything in town

Think that's about it - love you all

Candy xxx

determined_new_ms

Morning thanks for starting us off ally! Enjoy the theatre! You'll have to give me some advice on how you go the tickets so frugally??!?!

Candy hope you have a lovely lunch with hubby!

So today I am house sitting for a week for a friend and looking after her 2 toy poodles (practice for getting our dog when we are home owners! :j) As payment I am eating out of her cupboards/freezer :T

Today's efforts
* [STRIKE]free food at friends - steak for dinner tonight [/STRIKE]:beer:
* [STRIKE]take dogs for a walk in a minute [/STRIKE]
* check banking, shift some funds
* [STRIKE]work out GC spends for the last week - its around £7![/STRIKE] £8.20, and I anticipate a similar amount this week! Total spends for the month so far £85.48 :T
* [STRIKE]going to a party on the beach later[/STRIKE]
* sort out some paperwork, call estate agent and ask about possibility of doing some work in the house between exchange of contracts and completion, decide on a date to move
* stay in and watch a film with oh later - qt as its been soooooo stressful for us recently, this house sitting is like a mini holiday with dogs :T totally forgot I was babysitting for a friend!
* pick some tomatoes from garden
* think we are going to do some planning for new kitchen :T
* go for a run this evening

ok think that seems quite a lot to do!

PurpleFairy26

Morning all, not made it on all week thanks to a mega busy week at work and DH being away from Wednesday until tomorrow so it's just DD, bump and I. My list:

Try and get 10 items on fleabay after a good return last weekend
Meals from stores
Try and have 2 NSD
Tidy round
Try and find couple of things that I have misplaced I know they're here somewhere
Made banana bread with very very overe ripe bananas
Quality time with DD
Phone BT and see the earliest date I cangive the notice and then try and get sky deal through £co
Decide if I can be bothered to try for another £40 with 1poll, the last one took forever:p

Think that is about all for now. Have a good weekend everyone. Be back later to catch up

WelshWoofer

Happy Saturday everyone!

Hope we're all well and enjoying the weekend?
Today's little things....

• Walked the dog at the water park for 45mins on the way to the supermarket saving petrol
• Spent £24 on groceries and used a £6 off voucher and remembered to redeem the carpark 50p voucher too
• Will clean the house from top to bottom
• Go for a run later for free exercise
• Going to a comedy night tonight - £11 already paid for and will drive and park in a free spot so no alcohol spends
• All food from stores
• Checked banks and moved some money around - payday yesterday:)
• Done a meal plan for the week
• Rejigged budgets for the month

That's all I can think of for now - hope you all have a good weekend.

determined_new_ms

WelshWoofer wrote: »

Happy Saturday everyone!

Hope we're all well and enjoying the weekend?
Today's little things....

• Walked the dog at the water park for 45mins on the way to the supermarket saving petrol
• Spent £24 on groceries and used a £6 off voucher and remembered to redeem the carpark 50p voucher too
• Will clean the house from top to bottom
• Go for a run later for free exercise
• Going to a comedy night tonight - £11 already paid for and will drive and park in a free spot so no alcohol spends
• All food from stores
• Checked banks and moved some money around - payday yesterday:)
• Done a meal plan for the week
• Rejigged budgets for the month

That's all I can think of for now - hope you all have a good weekend.

Hi WW just looking at your sig, can I ask are you still doing SW or are you now doing the weight loss yourself? Have you given up smoking? x

Pernicious

Hi everyone,

Thanks for starting us off Ally.
Candy - Have a lovely lunchtime out with your hubby
DNMS - What does your OH do for a living? I ask because when we are debt free we would love a dog, but because we both work full time we're not sure if we'd be able to A friend of mine with dogs says it's ok as long as they are used to it, they just need a good routine, but I don't know what's right!

Today's plan:-

• Food from stores
• DH doing overtime
• Log calories using free app
• Charge phone via pc
• Check online banking
• Must try & do a survey or 2
• DH not drinking all month
• DH cashing cheque from wedding venue today
• Washing on eco setting
• Hang out to dry
• Study
• Free exercise on pole
• Must declutter a bit & do some flylady
• Dinner from meal plan tonight - Pasta with greens, garlic & chilli. I am definitely making use of my River Cottage veg everyday book!
• Go to second job tonight

Have a great, MSE day everyone x

determined_new_ms

Pernicious wrote: »

DNMS - What does your OH do for a living? I ask because when we are debt free we would love a dog, but because we both work full time we're not sure if we'd be able to A friend of mine with dogs says it's ok as long as they are used to it, they just need a good routine, but I don't know what's right!

My oh is a technical manager for a haircare manufacturer. We both work full time. We will get a pup, take some time off to settle it into its new life. We need to do research on what dogs are ok with being left. Likely we will put it outside in a kennel in the day times, take it for a walk in the morning and after work. Lots of people do. I want a cocker spaniel but we think this dog has too much energy & won't like being left.

Lets ask La E she has a dog

stitching_witch

determined_new_ms wrote: »

I want a cocker spaniel but we think this dog has too much energy & won't like being left.

I want a cocker spaniel too (got the collar, lead, food dishes and puppy cage many years ago) but will have to wait until I give up work completely before I get one.

ziggy2407

Hi All

Ally - Thanks for starting us off this morning, fab mse theatre trip
Candy - Hope you and OH had a great meal
DNMS & Perni - We'd love a dog too but finances dont allow at the minute (LO has already pained a dog bowl and bought toys, lol). My step-daughter has a Spaniel and she works full time but she also does walk her lots too before and after work

Hi to all the regulars :wave: and welcome to any newbies (you've joined a great supportive thread)

Well, not managed a great deal today, spent the morning at Meadowhall - EXPENSIVE and then the afternoon in bed - couldnt get warm, headachey, aching all over and pain between shoulders. Lots on my mind at the min too like garage roof and boiler - plumber called yesterday and we definitely need a new boiler this year but he managed to get it working for now by fitting a new thermostat, he also told us that the thermostat is in the wrong place and shouldnt have been installed where it is and that the boiler we have is one he wouldnt really recommend and we've been lucky to get 10 years out of it - has cost us a small fortune over the last few years. Thank goodness we have now found a reliable plumber who doesnt charge the earth - no call out fees, just need to find a roofer now, lol

Today I will:

Bought LO new Football Boots - Done
Bought new Printer - Done
Bought Birthday Card for party LO going to next week - Done ( good quality 5 for £1)
Washing - Done & Line dried
Check Banks - Done
Check swapits - Done
Keep up to date on Emails -
Keep up to date on surveys -
Quick tidy round - Done
Meals from stores - Done
Food Tracker - in progress (36lbs off so far)
Read (from stash) - in progress
Comps -
Hope Freecyclers turn up - Done
List more on Freecycle - Done

Hope you have all had a great day, love and best wishes to you all

WelshWoofer

determined_new_ms wrote: »

Hi WW just looking at your sig, can I ask are you still doing SW or are you now doing the weight loss yourself? Have you given up smoking? x

I'm kind of doing calorie counting and exercise using www.myfitnesspal.com a free website that allows you to log cals eaten and exercise done. I usually have 1200 cals a day plus sometimes those earned from exercise. I have lost every single week and have found it the best way to control my eating. Its also available as an app for posh phones if you have one (I don't!). I try to swim a mile twice a week and run a couple of times a week (about 5K, aiming for a 10K charity run in the new year) and that has helped no end . I'm now a comfortable size 10 and fitter than I've ever been. I originally wanted to lose a stone but got there quite easily so decided to carry on to 20lbs and then see how I felt.

Am still struggling with smoking - I'm going to try the Stoptober thing thats been advertised, giving up for the month of October. Fingers crossed xx

Pernicious wrote: »

Hi everyone,


DNMS - What does your OH do for a living? I ask because when we are debt free we would love a dog, but because we both work full time we're not sure if we'd be able to A friend of mine with dogs says it's ok as long as they are used to it, they just need a good routine, but I don't know what's right!

I have a dog and work full time as a teacher. I do leave school at about 3.30pm and walk him for an hour as soon as I get home and then do any work I need to at home rather than staying late. I also walk him for about 20 mins in the morning before I go and again before bed. My dog just sleeps all day - I know because my bed is always unmade by the time I get home and still warm to the touch:rotfl:
I think as long as the dog doesn't suffer from separation anxiety it will be ok. I took time off when I first got him to settle him in though.