Monday 2 February - What small DFW things will you do today?

DD265

Morning all

Am off work today but got up to drop OH at the train station for 7.35 and managed to not go back to bed

Have arranged a viewing on one rental property (the one I like better although it's £80pm more expensive, but also the better estate agent going from initial contacts!) and the other was provisionally let so said not to bother.

Have reconciled YNAB with the bank - lots of bills going out today but not all. Also a standing order didn't go out so I have a feeling I changed the date wrong (set it to go mid month for an additional payment, then set it back to the start of the month) but will keep an eye on it rather than accidentally pay twice. Money from neighbour to repair my car has come in so will go to book that in next.

Oil for the car has just arrived - didn't actually need it but I like to know I have it ready and waiting. My old Fiesta would've been empty by now, this hasn't been topped up since I bought it in September and is still barely below maximum. Oil can sit in the garage along with the antifreeze/coolant and screen wash I bought at the weekend. I go through about 2.5 litres of screenwash a month. :eek:

Tidy_Up_Tash

Good Morning!

I'm glad it's not just me that's freezing this morning. It's been deceptively mild here for the last few days and it caught me out a little when I finally emerged from bed.

Had a fantastic Saturday night with my brother and his OH, however, I'm paying the price with a, so far, 2 day hangover That'll teach me to let OH pour the drinks!

My Moneysaving Monday...

• Gas Meter Reading (trying to get in the habit of doing this once a month)
• Heating off
• All meals from our stores
• Make a massive spag bol for dinner and freezer
• Take receipts to work for refund
• Clean OH's juicer so a friend can borrow it (hoping she offers to buy it off us, we never use it)
• Find some ideas for my lunchbox this week.

foxgloves

Morning Campers!
Very cold night....had to defrost birdbath & they were so grateful, they were instantly on it for a warm drink.
Today's money saving efforts:
*Made bread. Can just smell it baking. Mmmmmm.
*Did a couple of surveys. Very few around on Mondays but am trying to maximise pay-out from these this year (see signature).
*Did laundry overnight on Economy 7. Re-loaded for another cheap wash tonight.
*Did rubber pork. It did a roast dinner yesterday & I've divvied it up to make a potato topped meat pie to do two days (a Rosemary Conley recipe....v good for using up leftover meat & also calorie-controlled), will do BBQ pork fajhitas on Weds, also sufficient to make a bit of stew & a packed lunch. Birds were grateful for the chopped up fat.
*De-cluttered today's 2 items........
*.......& listed one of them on ebay.
*Started a 'De-cluttered item zone' in guest bedroom. Once an item has been decluttered & placed in there, it CANNOT be re-claimed.
*Make tomorrow's packed lunch.
*Re-filled tiny plastic boxes with value dried fruit for work snacks.
*£5 M&S vouchers arrived from M&S credit card. We use it for petrol, pay it off each month, so that we get a few vouchers.....we have to buy petrol anyway, so might as well try to get something back.
*The bargainmongous gifts I ordered for Mothering Sunday arrived (Crabtree & Evelyn Sale) & included a free perfume sample.
*Knit more of current project.
*NSD today, as mr f is at work & has all his food supplies with him & I am not intending to go out, unless I fancy a walk down to the post box with friend's birthday card.
New week, Frugal Friends......that's a new start for a bit of money saving. Beating a corrupt capitalist system with our clever
little ways :-)
f x

foxgloves

Me again, with a few more bits of money-saving since this morning:
*Found £1.30 in an old money box. I estimate that it has been sitting there for about 5 years!
*Received survey to fill in about the cereal I tested recently. Apparently, I'm shortly to receive another box, so that's another week that cereal won't need to go on the shopping list.
*Was just about to phone Car Insurers to renew policy, as it was only a very small increase, then found I just couldn't do it without checking their online price first. Glad I did. It was £19-08 cheaper online. Phoned insurer & said I was only prepared to pay the online price. No haggling necessary, very helpful chap on phone just put it through for me at the lower price. With the renewal quote they sent me only being £5 more than last year, I couldn't really be bothered to start f*rting about with online quotes, but would I walk past £19-08 if I spotted it lying in the street? No, I wouldn't, so that's a little bit saved & have paid it across to savings.
Time to go & do a bit of cooking now.
Cheers,
f x

little_pink_purse

Afternoon Every-one


Thanks for starting us Ziggy


Its a nice day here a little chilly at times


Glad to here u got a good deal foxgloves


Todays jobs


Check banking
meals from stores
try for a nsd
double check budgets for feb


have a good evening xxxxlppxxx

carrielovesfanta

Hey folks,


I did read over the weekend - looks like lots of good mse efforts!


Today's list:

• Found £1 under the couch. Certainly originally belonged to OH but I don't care!
• Post ebay parcel in recycled jiffy bag
• B/L/D from stores
• Make broccoli and stilton soup to use up cheese given to me by m-i-l
• Cheese is in an attractive clay jar. Wash and re-use
• Charge phone in work
• Check online banking
• Reconcile spreadsheet (not as bad as I thought)
• Small shop for milk
• Wipe down front door as per flylady mission. Also washed doormat

Small list as I'm still done in from the bug


Have a good one all!


clf x

AnnabelSaves

Hello! Well the last week of the payday stretch last week was painful but not as bad as it would've been in the past when I had my head in the sand. Did some good cost control.

Today my OH is doing the grocery shop..I gave him a list so it's really important he sticks to it! I feel really guilty about him doing it on his own.

I'm going to a yoga class after work but it was paid for as part of an introductory offer in January so it will be free. It's hot yoga so I'll get nice and sweaty and that'll knacker me out for the evening

maria3104

Hi All

Day firing on all cylinders at work. Am ready for a nap now!

But made progress re MSE stuff. Put money into GS pension, he is 0 years old so hopefully the miracle of compound interest will change his life in 65 years or so.

My DS and DIL are very sensible with their cash and are doing short term savings for him and frankly I can not bear to waste money on plastic toys etc for him, this will allow me to justify 2nd hand gifts, which I am sure he will not object to as long as stuff shiny and makes a noise etc. When my children were little there were only car boots and getting a bargain was the work of days. Ebugs etc and FBk pages are wonderful, bargains and better for the environment.

Lamb is in oven, will be ready by 8, so probably tomorrows tea as I can not face big dinner after 8. Will cook and chill for tmz. Beans on toast it is. Men are outside and no idea when they will be in. Actually can not be bothered to open tin, will have toast and honey. Done deal!

Have a good night all. Another NSD here.

Bobarella

Well done Foxgloves that's brilliant. And such a good point. You wouldn't leave it lying on the floor so why do it in other areas.

I am having a bit of a panic after putting all the school hols into the calendar. I honestly don't know how other parents especially those with more than 1 child cope with the cost of extra childcare over the holidays. I think we can manage the April hols and May Bank holiday using up annual leave (my husbands) but after that we'd be left with a few days for the rest of the year.
Little man did go to one set of grandparents for a week last May but he didn't like being away from home on his own for so long and has said he doesn't want to go again (he's only recently 6 so I can see how he may be just too young) neither of us has any family within a useful distance. Times like this I do feel very envious of families with all the support of extended family
Anyway this is all relevant to money saving I promise. I just thought if I started asking around earlier this year we might manage to save something.
Bob

allydowd

Morning DFW-Jedis,

Well, life goes on, as does the almost everlasting quest for solvency and sanity. Bit late today as much drama at Dowd Towers. OH had chest pain in the night :eek: so it was a long, unplanned trip to the GP this morning and we've to go for hospital tests tomorrow. Really hoping to finally get a "name" for this unpredictable medical condition. For the time being OH is stable, relaxed and at home.

Thanks for the starter Ziggy.

The List


:starmod: Check online banking and reconcile monies.

:starmod: Do i-Say surveys.

:starmod: Turn off electric alarm clock at the wall til tonight.

:starmod: Read news online instead of buying a paper.

:starmod: Went to the shop while OH was in the surgery. Bought wheelie bin numbers for 39p to stop neighbour repeatedly trying to claim our shiny bin and leave us his damaged one after collection. Also bought a 79p daily pill box for myself and set pill taking reminders on my mobile. I don't need to get sick as well!

:starmod: Going to shop around for a CD I want to buy I want it at least half the new price.

:starmod: Free NHS prescriptions collected.

Freebies

:starmod: Free NikWax sample via multiple-choice quiz: (Link)

Well that's me for today. Good luck on your quests, Jedis.


MONEY MAKING AND SAVING SITES AS OFTEN MENTIONED IN THIS FORUM:

• A Girl Called Jack, cheap recipes ( Link )
• Benefits check-up ( Link )
• Birthday Bingo, daily free game ( Link )
  
• eBid ( Link )
  
• Freecycle ( Link )
• Free Postcode Lottery (Link)
• FreeStuff ( Link )
• FreeUKStuff ( Link )
• i-Say Surveys (Link)
• List of online newspapers. At bottom of the linked page. ( Link )
• MSE Boost Your Income page. Gateway to lots of money-making links. ( Link )
• MSE Abbreviations Explained ( Link )
• MSE Deals and Vouchers ( Link )
• MSE Wow Offers ( Link )
• My Supermarket ( Link )
• OnePoll ( Link )
• Quidco ( Link )
• Reclaim PPI at no cost to yourself ( Link )
• SayNoTo0870 cheap phone number finder ( Link )
  
• Survey sites that pay for your opinions ( Link )
• Swagbucks ( Link )
• Swapit ( Link )
• Toluna ( Link )
  
• TopCashBack ( Link)