Wed 15th October - What small DFW things will you do today?

ziggy2407

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 :money:

ziggy2407

Good Morning All

Bob - Sorry for not replying yesterday, at one point I read my meters every week/fortnight but this year the weeks seem to be rushing by me and I dont have many readings at all on my calendar. But our amazing Foxgloves takes regular readings and has records going back a few years so she can compare - may add that to my new year routine

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. Dont forget we also have a small things on Facebook, if anyone wishes to join

Apologies for not coming back and updating but felt really rough last night (yesterday I ventured out for an hour, the first time in over 10 days and boy was I shattered). Least this enforced "downtime" is giving me time to attack my book stash ) Todays activities:

Tea prepped and in slow cooker - Done
Craft -
Chase up boiler man -
Collect orders from Toys r Us & Smyths -
Sort present box (and write list) -
Check Banks -
Check swapits -
Packed lunch for DH & DS - Done
Enter a few comps -
Sort emails (& unsubscribe where possible) -
Nectar Adpoints -
All meals from cupboards/fridge/freezer -
Read book (from stash) -
Check www.freepostcodelottery.com -

Have a great day, love to you all

C x

ott09

Wondered if I can join you?


Started a diary the other day but often find it difficult to update/find anything much to add and actually at the moment as I'm on maternity leave, it's only really the small things that I can do to make a real difference.


It's also motivating to read what others are doing and keeps me going and inspired by all of you.

ott09

So today what I plan to do:


*Aim for a NSD although I fear this might not happen- again! Managed all day yesterday without spending but then poor little bubs has cold and bad botty and needed nappy cream, cotton wool, nappies etc.


*Made soup last night with leftover veggies and bits in cupboard so will have that for lunch.


*Dinner tonight- salmon, all bits needed we have already at home.


*Complete surveys online


*Look for and enter competitions


*Walk the dog- free activity, good for mind and body too.


*Washing should be ok to go outside today- been a nightmare trying to dry it indoors- don't like having heating on unnecessarily and had so much to do what with poor sicky bubs.


*Phone Natwest to cancel dd to credit card as account is now in credit.


*Continue to practise knitting- want to make most of time off work and have gained some skills/ created something by the end of it.


*Read book from the many I have on Kindle/ at home


*Use candles instead of lights as much as possible.


*Inspired by your posts, I will have a look at our meter readings and write into diary.


Let's see how I go with these and update later.

DawnW

Good morning :j

Thanks for starting the thread Ziggy. I hope you are feeling better today?

And welcome Ott09, we like new people here

I won't get much done today, as I have baby GD again

She is asleep atm, which is why I am able to post now. She has been asleep for nearly an hour (quite unusual) so will wake up in a minute.

I have managed to wash up, and have 'planted' my hyacinth bulbs in vases of water and put them in a dark cupboard - I meant to do this yesterday but didn't get to it

Also put a load of washing in

I am hoping to achieve the following:

I will take her out for a walk in her pushchair later for free exercise Done
HM meals from stores Done
Should manage a NSD Yes, no spends today!

Oops sounds as though she is awake. Hope everyone has a good day

Chilling now with a glass of wine

Bobarella

Good morning All

Glad to hear you ventured out yesterday Ziggy, although not good it drained you so much. Hopefully the start of real mending now. Thank you for your answer on the meter front. Maybe twice a month is useful for now. Curious to know what you are collecting from Toys r Us, its my DS's favourite place. We are so mean, we let him play with the toys that are out, look at stuff etc, & then we tell him we can get it cheaper somewhere else but he doesnt seem to mind.

Ott09 -Nice to meet you. It is hard on maternity leave isnt it. How long are you taking? Im in a similar boat in the sense Im at home a lot at the moment so I try to be the invisible woman re our house energy use, and leave the lights off all day, no heating etc, trying not to increase our costs just by not being at work. I also remember the expense of nappies. They add about £20 onto your shopping a month dont they.

DawnW -I am always so amazed by the number of people that look after their childrens kids willingly. It is an amazing gift you are giving your children, I really hope they appreciate it. Also thanks very much for the chilli jam link, we are all spicy fiends in this house so that sounds great.

Myself today. Well. It has been a bit of a painful one. You will laugh but last night my son ate a load of fat free, sugar free marshmallows after dinner. I did warn him that it might be a few too many. In the middle of the night he was awake crying in pain because the damn things had given him trapped wind. I was up with him till around 2 before we managed to get things moving shall we say. You wouldnt have wanted to light a match in our house....I do think its poor that they sell sweets that can do that to children. Having checked it does warn of laxative affects on the packet though.
So with match sticks under my eyes I have kept an appointment this morning & been shopping for a few more supplies.
I have no heating on, not that I feel the need yet really, have made plans for lunch & dinner at home. Packed snacks for after school treats, not marshmallows you'll be amazed to hear. Paid a bill, checked my banking. Read a few financial blogs & now going to sit down for 5 mins and try not to zzzz...

Hope you all have a good hump day!

Bob

solvencyseeker

Hello all, thanks for the start Ziggy, welcome otto, I second Bob's opinion that looking after your GD is amazing DawnW.


Just read your post about feeling down yesterday Bob.. I too find myself counting the days to payday - I think you are in very good company on here .


Didn't post yesterday, ended up at the dentist (again) and finally had the offending tooth extracted. It did not come out easily and I went home a bit traumatised and slept on the sofa and am very sore today. Not a DFW thing either at £50.50! But it is a relief that it is gone at last!


Back at work today, no spending. Existing on soup and yogurt. Had an omelette for breakfast which was really yummy and a nice change from the usual toast.


Best wishes x

foxgloves

Greetings Frugal Friends,
Well, I'm going to start by telling you about yesterday when we had a shopping day in the city centre, a meal out & went to a concert. In the old days pre LBM, this would have been the most SPENDTASTIC day with no thought to bank balance, indebtedness or the state of the planet. We had a fab time, but this is how we have changed:
1)Concert tickets & meal out paid for from the appropriate Savings Pigs so no impact on bank account.
2)Found street parking on a meter as cheaper than multi-story, then waited in car (looking out for wardens -privatised service- they are only missing the jackboots.... for 10 mins to avoid paying for extra half an hour :-)
3)Coffee & cakes for both of us free using 'My John Lewis' cards.
4)Free sample of gorgeous Liz Earle night cream (voucher for this arrived in my JL credit card bill & there was actually some left!)
5)Found the 2 skincare items I wanted half price in Superdrug.
6)Found the game I wanted for nephew's Christmas present in Debenham's. RRP is £29.99. Their price was £24.99, then I remembered I had £10.50 left on an old Toluna giftcard I got from doing surveys so that reduced it nicely.
7)Found 1p roadkill. All 'finds' welcome in the Big Change Jar.
8)At concert, mr f found a £3 programme on the floor.
9)In the interval, a friend treated us to ice- creams as we were giving her a lift home.
10)Arrived home with a big wodge of free paper napkins for packed lunches/picnics.....though I think mr f is developing kleptomaniac tendancies with these.......
All in all, a very pleasant day! And soooooo much more in control of our money than in the bad old days.
TODAY: Very routine morning spent mostly on reconciling budgets. Cancelled a monthly payment as I no longer want the service, paid credit card bill in full, did a lot of surveys, did online Waitrose feedback.....I'd love to win those vouchers. Also made bread, made tomorrow's packed lunch, another dinner from the freezer tonight, no heating on, apart from towel radiator this morning (have now got shawl on as well as long sleeved top & jumper)
STILL TO DO: Next, I'm planning to make a cafetiere, catch up on some recorded TV & finish a Christmas present. All the knitted parts are done, but I need to sew it together & sew on some little beads.
Ziggy - Thanks for your use of the word 'amazing'......not a word I tend to apply to myself, but sweet of you to say so. Yes, I DO still take my obsessive energy readings & they are very useful. I used them to challenge a past energy supplier (think company with a big letter at the start of its name) when I was subject to a big rip-off attempt & also use my figures to keep on track of what we are using, whether bills are likely to be up or down, & how different appliances affect usage.
OK......have a good day everyone. Kettle going on now, sewing box coming out.......must get this gift finished.
f x

Bobarella

solvencyseeker wrote: »

Just read your post about feeling down yesterday Bob.. I too find myself counting the days to payday - I think you are in very good company.

Best wishes x

Thanks SS, I always feel guilty for getting a bit fed up when I think of all that's happening in the world. I have a roof over my head & to quote a favourite saying 'nobodies dead & everyone's fed' but sometimes I wish I could come up with a magic formula to get out from under.
Sorry to hear of your dentists experience. I really sympathise. I had my wisdom teeth out a few years ago & still think it was the worst thing ever including child birth! I hope you have someone looking after you a bit?

Bobarella

Wow Foxgloves I am super impressed! Move over Martin Lewis!! My only trump card advice would be have you tried ebay for kids presents? You'd be amazed at how deep the discounts go as so many kids get a ton at Christmas play with it once and then it gets sold on. I am after a fart gun for my son it's from Despicable Me, anyway RRP £24 but on ebay £5
Worth a look.

foxgloves

Hi Bob, Yes, I have given good quality 2nd hand kids' stuff as gifts, particularly books & DVDs. I didn't look for this game 2nd hand though as thought one component of it might have gone a bit 'gungey'. Mr f & I were chatting about how our attitude to money had changed while we were enjoying our free coffee & cake, & we decided that we still enjoy shopping trips every bit as much as we used to, but we value things more. Because we budget these days, we have to prioritise what we really want/need, so we appreciate the stuff we buy so much more. I try not to dwell on the 1000s of £s we've wasted pre LBM. It feels like something from a different life!