Friday 31st October 2014 - What small DFW things will you do today?

MinnieMousesMummy

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:

MinnieMousesMummy

Good morning everyone, Hope nobody minds me starting the thread.

My list for today:
Feed the animals and collect eggs
Set up cover photo on f.b page
Check online banking
Write articles for client
Sort through Avon books and get rid of all the old ones
Make an optician appointment for DH
Spend an hour looking for freelance work
Catch up with the laundry
Check free postcode lottery
Do some surveys on one poll (over half way to payout)
Write about me for my new blog
Spend an hour decluttering the shed
Pay the childminder

I think that is everything for today, hopefully I can get it all completed.

carrielovesfanta

Morning all!


Thanks to MMM for starting us off and hello to the flurry of posters last night


Today's little list:

• B/D from stores. Forgot to make L so will pick up something cheap
• Pick up some cheap sweets in case of any trick or treaters knocking
• Payday so have moved money around. Savings account looking a little sad after holiday and Christmas present spending but determined to be good this month! - all done. Sad times though. Very naughty of us...
• Remind OH to take coins to bank - he may or may not!
• Take cash out for month and divide into weekly envelopes
• Charge phone in work - charging...
• OH doing housework today so free weekend - yay! - doing it now
• Got 5% off a Christmas present by sharing the fact I was ordering on FB. Removed post straight away so recipient didn't see! Only saved £1 but thought it would be more mse to do it!

Not sure what else, but may add more later


Have a good one all


clf x

Bobarella

Morning All
Dreadful night here I'm afraid. I felt it coming on all day yesterday. Just too much in my head and no where for it to go. I sometimes envy Dumbeldore for being able to empty his thoughts out for future reference
Husband is still off today so that is great. We have to take our son to the dentist for a check up. Probably just as well to do it before the Halloween sugar fest tonight. Will ask for a free toothpaste sample whilst we are there. Apparently some dentists will do that but only if you ask.
We are then attending a free movie at our local library which is Ghostbusters fab for the children!
Tonight will be a little bit of trick or treating with the little ones, my son is already in his skeleton costume.
Other than this it will be trying to make sure we enjoy this precious family time together. We haven't had a holiday in so many years, my job as a self employed start up with a fixed physical location has made that impossible. And this is the only block of more than 2 days we have all been together since last Christmas which makes me sad to type but I am determined to enjoy it sleep deprivation or not!
Will be looking around for pennies, pounds & any other floor treasure easily pickupable.

good luck with your efforts all.
bob

maria3104

been up since 5. Started day with cheap rate electricity, did 2 loads of washing, 1 load in tumble 1 on kitchen rack drying. Made victoria sponge and coffee sponge, hovered downstairs cleaned kitchen floor and tidied ready for business meeting at home at 2. Am ready and all done cheap rate electric. yippee.
rest of weekend:
make quiches to use left over stuff in fridge and AF flour
clean out chickens.
stay at home, then have 2 NSD
clean windows
wash car
hoover upstairs
wrap last few xmas presents
tidy bedrooms

GettingOrganised

Happy Halloween everyone!

Thanks for starting us off MMM, I don't normally come on so early and was really worried that I might have to start the thread - so relieved to see one had been started. And quite a few posts already!

Boberella - I totally understand about the family time. DH is self employed and works at least 6 days a week (7 days during Summer and run up to Christmas). You have to cherish the time together, hope you have a lovely day.

Maria3104 - I can't believe how much you've already done this morning - I'm tired just reading your list!

Hello to CLF and to the rest of the day's posters.

It's technically my last day of my week off, although I've still got the weekend to look forward to. Having a bit of a lazy morning (still in my PJ's, but you have to do that for at least one of your days off - it's staycation law!) Today I've got the following planned:

All meals from stores
Meal plan and shopping list (I started last night but was feeling very uninspired) DONE
Go shopping - will start in @ldi but will probably need to go to @sda too.
Will put some diesel in the car at @sda - cheapest around. I've managed without putting any in all week, which I wouldn't have got away with if I was at work, so I've saved some money there.
Check BB and PCL - DONE
Check bank
Update spending diary after shopping (I'm currently up to date, but need to get back into the habit of updating after each spend/day)
Finish homework project with DD - which will give us a homework free weekend.
Try to last without putting the heating on
Do any washing, if enough for a full load. I may even do my ironing today, again to keep the weekend clear.
Get DD ready for Halloween Party and that will be us out for the evening. It's near DH's work, so he can come too (yeah - I so often have to go on my own to these type of things, I feel like a single parent).
Call in to see F-I-L and family after party for a brew.

As we are out most of the evening/night, I may get away with no heating - this is getting more and more difficult. Although, I am more aware of switching it off once the rooms are warmed up and not just leaving it on until bedtime.

Hope everyone has a lovely day. Trick or treat!

solvencyseeker

Hello all, Happy Friday :j
Have been off work since Monday (Annual Leave) and have enjoyed a break from the computer screen - the only thing I missed was posting on here!
Have had a frugal week so far, lots of home cooking, had a friend over for lunch, long dog walks and lots of reading.
OH has been working his way through a list of jobs - he finds it harder than me to relax and needs to have something to do. House is looking very clean and tidy and he has done some of those little DIY jobs that keep getting missed.
We also did a big garden tidy up in the sunshine (didn't expect to be wearing my flipflops at this time of year).
My only trip out was a dentist check up (boy do I know how to enjoy life ) and, as I had been last week (or was it the week before, can't remember) for an extraction, no charge was made for the scrape and polish.

Today I resumed battle with the energy supplier. To cut a long story short their initial gas reading (from November last year) is incorrect, the statements on my online account are incorrect (don't show any of our DD payments!) and they keep changing them (literally deleting the old statement and posting up a different one). I have kept paper copies of the ones that were there originally but it's just getting stupidly complicated. There is about £1,000 involved so I need to get it sorted but, quite frankly, needed a break from it all this week.

I also need to check our bank accounts and finalise next month's budget (have had a break from this too).

OH has taken son2 for a second interview for an apprenticeship job (though at £2.70 an hour - slave labour would be a more accurate description). He will need some form of transport and has just £400 in his account - he has all the safety gear for a motorbike so, if he gets the job, we'll have to see if we can find a bargain.

Wishing you all a good DFW day x

Bagpuss741

Today I have/will:

1. Checked online banking
2. Cleaned bedroom
3. Watered veggies in greenhouse
4. Take gel polish off nails and redo them.
5. Meals from stores
6. Scan laptop with free antivirus and update programs.
7. Free postcode lottery
8. Surveys
9. Watch tv recorded in week.
10. read free kindle book

Have a great halloween:A

CoffeeandStitches

*de lurks*

Morning all. I'm an avid follower of this thread, and wanted to first of all say thank you to all those that post. You all really do inspire me, every day, to do the little things that make a difference, you are all wonderful.

I've come out of lurking today to celebrate a few things that I have done today, which are not huge, but that will make a difference. Things that I probably wouldn't have done before.

1. I contacted the supermarket following my online order to talk about the substitutes. All of the products that I had ordered were there, but the original items ordered were all over half the weight of the items that were delivered, but cost the same. Originals were smart price and bottom of the range, replacements were better quality, but such tiny volumes, and of course the same price. Called them (thought it was a bit cheeky, wouldn't have done it before....) and the lovely lady that I spoke to told me not to be silly, and that the same quantity should have been delivered, and has refunded a massive £15 on the order! I can't believe it!

2. Two beautiful chairs had been dumped by the bin at our work, we need two dining chairs. They are stunning and I can't believe someone would have thrown them out!!

So it's happy days here Hope everyone else has a beautiful day. Thanks for all of your posts, please keep it up!

*re lurks*

DawnW

Morning all

Thanks for starting the thread MMM

And thanks for all the birthday wishes yesterday :A I had a lovely day

maria3104 wrote: »

been up since 5. Started day with cheap rate electricity, did 2 loads of washing, 1 load in tumble 1 on kitchen rack drying. Made victoria sponge and coffee sponge, hovered downstairs cleaned kitchen floor and tidied ready for business meeting at home at 2. Am ready and all done cheap rate electric. yippee.

Goodness - you have been busy! I particularly like the sound of the sponge cakes

solvencyseeker wrote: »

Today I resumed battle with the energy supplier. To cut a long story short their initial gas reading (from November last year) is incorrect, the statements on my online account are incorrect (don't show any of our DD payments!) and they keep changing them (literally deleting the old statement and posting up a different one). I have kept paper copies of the ones that were there originally but it's just getting stupidly complicated. There is about £1,000 involved so I need to get it sorted but, quite frankly, needed a break from it all this week.

Time for a formal complaint now SS, surely :mad:

CoffeeandStitches wrote: »

*de lurks*

Morning all. I'm an avid follower of this thread, and wanted to first of all say thank you to all those that post. You all really do inspire me, every day, to do the little things that make a difference, you are all wonderful.

I've come out of lurking today to celebrate a few things that I have done today, which are not huge, but that will make a difference. Things that I probably wouldn't have done before.

1. I contacted the supermarket following my online order to talk about the substitutes. All of the products that I had ordered were there, but the original items ordered were all over half the weight of the items that were delivered, but cost the same. Originals were smart price and bottom of the range, replacements were better quality, but such tiny volumes, and of course the same price. Called them (thought it was a bit cheeky, wouldn't have done it before....) and the lovely lady that I spoke to told me not to be silly, and that the same quantity should have been delivered, and has refunded a massive £15 on the order! I can't believe it!

2. Two beautiful chairs had been dumped by the bin at our work, we need two dining chairs. They are stunning and I can't believe someone would have thrown them out!!

So it's happy days here Hope everyone else has a beautiful day. Thanks for all of your posts, please keep it up!

*re lurks*

Welcome CoffeeandStitches I don't think you were cheeky at all phoning about your grocery order. As the customer services lady said, the same size products should have been substituted! As for the chairs, I would make some enquiries and let it be known that you would like to rehome them. They will only go to landfill if someone doesn't And please don't re-lurk

So far today I have:

Used up some bread that was going a bit hard for breakfast toast

Walked to the post office to pick up parcels that the postman tried to deliver yesterday but couldn't because I was out - saved fuel, also gave the dog a walk

Popped to Mr S on the way back, and bought exactly the 3 things that I needed and nothing else. I also used some price match vouchers I had in my purse and got a large loaf of lovely brown, seedy bread, some butter and some cranberry juice for £1.48

Answered more questions about an item I have on ebay at the moment

Still to do:
A big garden tidy up and plant my new fruit trees Done

Also plant some garlic Done

Washing on line to dry in the sunshine Yes, and it just needs airing off now

Hoovering and dusting as the dog is moulting and there are hairs everywhere :eek: She is only little, I can't understand how she can lose so many hairs and not be bald :rotfl: Have to be tomorrow for this

Think of something for dinner as my planning has fallen by the wayside Found some fish in the freezer, so egg and breadcrumbed it and had it with chips and runner beans from the garden

Hope everyone has a nice day

[Deleted User]

Unfortunately, not another NSD (needed Washing Up Liquid), but I'll only be spending that £2-50 today.