Friday 3rd January 2014 - what small things will you do today??!

determined_new_ms

When we start out on the Debt-Free Wannabe 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.:money:

Morning gang :wave: it's Friiiiiiidaaaaaaaaay :j:beer::j :T awww don't'cha you just love a 2 day week :rotfl: La E I totally didn't get your Tuesday comment until just now when I started the thread :rotfl:

Things for the day:

* [STRIKE]checked banking[/STRIKE]
* [STRIKE]paid off money for shoes on cc as db gave me the money for my birthday :A[/STRIKE]
* [STRIKE]updated GC on spending diary[/STRIKE]
*[STRIKE] did vsp & will update sig in a minute[/STRIKE]
* [STRIKE]put £5 reward into ISA[/STRIKE]
* all meals from stores - leek & potato soup from freezer for lunch, boiled egg & ham & a fruit salad for snacks mmmmm
* will check meal plan and get whatever is planned out of the freezer
* porridge for breakfast so I don't break my diet on the first day!
* remind oh to eat the lo curry for lunch
* paint radiator tonight
* return trainers for a refund
* make note of mileage and submit expenses claim tonight
* finish off monthly meal plan and then think about doing an online shop. Might organise it for click and save and colelct on my way home from work next week
* picking up dgd for the weekend tonight after work
* decide what I am going to do with dgd over the weekend
* iron bundles of clothes to photo and post on facebay/ebay
* [STRIKE]strip wash [/STRIKE]
* fold up & put away clothes on airer
* do a load (possibly 2 - see how motivated I'm feeling later!) & hang up
* do 20 minute shred

ok think that's my lot. Have a great Friday x

niksyg

Morning!

I am feeling really rubbish today - have a stinking cold but at least my voice is on it's way back...not ideal for starting my new job on Monday.

Today I will be:

- checking online banking
- checking freepostcodelottery
- post book sold on greenmetropolis
- check ebay selling items
- breakfast and lunch from stores
- free cinema tonight thanks to clubcard

Had a conversation with OH last night about my birthday, have finally convinced him not to spend a fortune on presents and meals out as we will have to pay for the new garage roof. He can afford both but I would rather he saved some money and put it into our emergency fund rather than spending it on me...I have a modest birthday list that he said he didn't want to stick to as it's a bit 'lacking'. My response was I am easy to please and he should be grateful I'm not the demanding type!!

nowpanicking

Morning! Thanks determined for starting us off today

Still on holiday...back on Monday and sad to say it will actually be good to get back into a routine! Too much over indulgence for sure!

Ds away for a couple of nights so house to ourselves for a change. .. very strange!

My list for today:

- was going to buy a yoga video but recording a class off tv so will see what it's like. My aim is to try and do some yoga every morning. .. I go to an actual class once a week but it's not enough really. So today is my first morning so I'll see how I get on.
- hm crepes for breakfast. .. lo mix from yesterday
- hm bread in bm
- no booze. I'm aiming for a dry January... for healthiness and money saving
- put stew in slow cooker per meal planner
- wash load on economy
- hang load up
- put shopping list on shopping app... take from meal planner spreadsheet
- maybe go to a!di... can't decide whether to go today or tomorrow
- try and convince oh to go for a walk... might be a struggle as looking pretty rough outside

That's all I can think of just now and the bm has just bleeped ... have a great day everyone x

ziggy2407

Good Morning My Lovelies

dnms - Thanks for starting us off today

Hi to all of the regulars and a BIG welcome to all the newbies, this is a really FAB thread with so many lovely, caring, considerate and supportive people.

Today's little list:

Check Banks - Done
Check swapits - Done
General Tidy up -
Meals from stores -
Washing -
Ironing -
Shopping (with list) -
Return Parcel via PO -
Investigate where to donate 2 tins Roses & box of Thorntons -
ponder/start project 1 of 52 -
Check www.freepostcodelottery.com -
Re-list a few bits for sale -
Catch up on E-mails -
Surveys -
Nectar Adpoints -
Enter a few comps -
Count my blessings -

Have a great day, love to you all.

C x

nowpanicking

nowpanicking wrote: »

My list for today:

- was going to buy a yoga video but recording a class off tv so will see what it's like. My aim is to try and do some yoga every morning. .. I go to an actual class once a week but it's not enough really. So today is my first morning so I'll see how I get on. Recording was no good - ended up out of the 30 mins about 10 mins of yoga so I gave it a go myself and it was actually ok so will keep going with that
- hm crepes for breakfast. .. lo mix from yesterday
- hm bread in bm done
- no booze. I'm aiming for a dry January... for healthiness and money saving
- put stew in slow cooker per meal planner done
- wash load on economy
- hang load up
- put shopping list on shopping app... take from meal planner spreadsheet
- maybe go to a!di... can't decide whether to go today or tomorrow
- try and convince oh to go for a walk... might be a struggle as looking pretty rough outside this ain't going to happen unless the weather calms down!!!

Have also: -

- updated budget spreadsheet as a pile of dd came off today. £31 lower than expected so I've fired this to a cc. Did have a wee inner argument with myself... should keep it "just in case of emergencies" but I know I'll end up spending it on non-emergencies so payment has been made :T
- updated snowball with additional payment
- updated sig to include DFD per snowball to try and focus me. If I see this date reducing I think it will motivate me (hopefully!!!) to keep making additional payments when I can

Quite pleased with myself so I'm off to make myself some crepes

La_escocesa

Hey there :wave:

DNMS - much better being Friday :T

Here’s me:
:j Bought a train pass – now just spending £88.70 a week instead of £130 :eek: - going to get a monthly pass from next week and buy via quidco so even cheaper per day :cool:
:j Used up leftovers in a pearl barley risotto – bit of ham joint, a lonely chicken breast, sweet potato, onion, garlic, stock and water – perfect ‘user-upper’
:j Signed up for the Cloud/wifi – downgraded my mobile package (now £9.90 a month rather than £36(!!) so need to make use of wifi hotspots and not go over data limit)
:j Cheapo porridge brekkie
:j Packed lunch
:j Buying 3 essentials on lunch and not one thing more!! :A
:j VSP transfer – hoping to stick to it this year
:j Sort out what I need to do for cashback offer – got £40 to claim on a new printer we got for Xmas from M&D :T
:j Get handiman quotes/phone nos – my trusted joiner has moved to Spain :eek:
:j Reading a free kindle book...Re free kindle books – I used to get a daily email that sent me a list of all new books that were free that day – can’t get it now – does anyone know where you can get notifications for free kindle books from??? Loads of books are free at first to build up reviews and then jump up to £3ish etc so want to get in there quick like I used to
:j And finally...Making a big decision – take away or fake away???!!! :rotfl:

foxgloves

Afternoon Friday friends,
Today's small positive things:
-Heating off till much later.
-House cleaned using minimal products.....my annual bottle of Stardrops diluted in a spray bottle & some loo cleaner was all I used today.
-mr f unblocked the bath - boiling water/soda crystals solution after a bit of welly with the plunger.
-Washed hair using shampoo/conditioner I was sent to test.
-Decided not to pop in to town as going to go in tomorrow anyway, so why pay 2 lots of car parking for twice the temptation?
-Made bread rolls.
-Meals as per meal plans. Pasta bake which I made using festive leftovers.
-Sit down with mr f & get all useful stuff onto new calendar. Have bought one with more columns so will be more useful for planning. For us, failure to plan is the enemy of both good financial practice & our continued weight loss.
-Rule up some new pages in my daily diet tracker book.
-Investigate getting my weekly energy use data onto Excel as have 4 years of records now & it's getting a bit unwieldy.
-Share bath water.
-Found pretty little photo album while decluttering guest room. Added to Present Box as if I add a few nice recent family photos, it"ll make a nice present for an elderly relative I find it increasingly difficult to buy for.
-Have received several survey invites since Christmas, so if I get time, I'll try a few of those. £50 from Ugov & £40 from One poll were very useful cash additions to our account last month, so want to keep it up. (Also got a John Lewis voucher to come from Ipsos & another Debenhams one from Toluna).
Ok, must get a shift on now.
Cheers,
Foxgloves x

MinnieMousesMummy

Good afternoon, it is very stormy here today. Happy New Year to everyone. DNMS – Thanks for starting us off this morning.

My list for today:

1. Check banking and move money aroundDone
2. Make a start on shopping list
3. All meals from storesDone
4. Get logs for the fireDone
5. Check the airer and move to the ironing pileDone
6. Check free postcode lotteryDone
7. General tidy up
8. Do some washingDone
9. Catch up with emailsDone
10. Nectar AdpointsDone
11. Do Msing work that is in for todayDone
12. Raise and chase invoicesDone
13. Print financial paperwork and finalise accounts for last month
14. Take dm homeDone
15. Do some course workDone
16. Do work that is in for todayDone
17. Research student discount card and decide whether it is worth getting oneDone

I think that is everything that I need to get done today. Hope everyone has a good Friday x

its_maths_not_magic

Good afternoon lovely peoples. I've started the year off right by keeping my mind firmly on my money and destroying these debts!

Today I've/am going to do:

1. Organised and done my groceries.
2. Payed off a bit more of our debts.
3. Organised my budget for the upcoming month.
4. Kept track of every penny.
5. Using free heat instead of expensive gas.
6. Hoping it will clear up a tad so I can take my pooch for a good walk.
7. Putting some money into our van so we can begin to use it.
8. Cooked most of the food for today, except for some naughty munchies for tonight.
9. Going to get some free tv for tonight.
10. Got my spreadsheets up to date.
11. Going to practise my guitar.

I think thats about it, have a great Friday night everyone :j

lulabelle

Hi all

Not been on here for a whole as have been rather bad with the old MSE but trying to be better now it's a new year.

It's horrid and windy here and there was just a liars of thunder and lightening so have decided to stay in rather than go to town which should at least save cash

I've already got myself into a pickle and overspent with 3.5 weeks to go! The problem is that NYE was ridiculous and also need some new shoes for work (mine had massive hole in them and feet got soaked on way home from work on NYE so threw them in the bin) and have bought self a running watch as am starting training for a 10k so Woking out what else I have to do this month I've !!!!!! all money left. Think I'll just have to go into freezer to try and cut down the grocery shopping next week

So, today I have/will:-

1. Worked out with a trainer (now I know this isn't exactly MSE but I have budgeted for it (although with all I've set our above it leaves me !!!!!! all for food) and he is fantastic and this year my health and well being are being prioritised and this is the best way for me to get fit)

2. Had manicure (although with the above I ought not to have done).

3. Breakfast was healthy whole meal and buckwheat pancakes with maple syrup from stores

4. Lunch was chicken soup and a piece of brown toast from stores

5. Heating off until later

6. Avoided town

7. Big lights not on and instead have candles and a lamp

8. Dinner with be lamb koftas with bulger wheat, pine nuts and nat yoghurt from stores

9. Staying in tonight so will watch one of the films I've recorded over the Xmas period for free entertainment

WelshWoofer

Can I sneak back in please?:):):)
The New Year and Christmas and lack of control last year has meant that that I need to tighten my belt before things get out of hand.


So today's small things ....

• Paid Next bill
• Paid old phone bill
• Downloaded free budgeting apps for new shiny phone
• Walked dog in the park
• Been to Mr T with a list and meal plan and stuck to it - spent £39 but that will hopefully last for main meals for 2 weeks and I'll just need a few fresh bits and dog food next weekend
• Cleaned the kitchen
• Done a teeny bit of ironing
• Used Xmas pressie toiletries rather than buying cheaper ones and keeping the posh ones for best that then never get used
• All food from stores
• Will attempt a bit of batch cooking later ready for going back to work next week
• Will go for a big walk later with the dog to get some more free exercise
• Watch recorded telly and read a bit more of Morrissey's autobiography (taking me right back to my youth!)
• Have a look for something cheap/free to do tomorrow

Hope everyone is ok?