Thursday 2nd April - what small DFW things will you do today?

xJOJOx_2

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 canceling 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

xJOJOx_2

Morning everyone x

Todays little list

- walk all journeys
- packed lunch (done)
- all meals from stock
- check online banking (done)
_ check emails (done)
- post ebay parcel (done)
- try and earn some tips
- pay cm
- pick up small bits from town whilst passing through (done)
- pick up gas and electric
- charge phone and I pad at work (done)
- make use of free drinks (done)
- pay £8 of cc from ebay sale (done)

That's all I can think of at moment, will review in a bit x

Red-Squirrel_2

Thanks for the thread!

Today I think I will finally get round to going through all my books and DVDs and seeing what trade in prices I can get for the ones I haven't touched/read/watched for years.

Already checked online banking and reconciled on YNAB

Baileys_Babe

Morning

I tried to get on last night to update my progress but our internet was down, it has only just come back. I'll pop in later with my list off now to try and work out why we have no hot water.

Teacher2

Even though I am quite frugal anyway I had a really bad shock last year when I thought my husband was going to lose his job. I went through the finances with a dose of salts - as they used to say.

I cancelled subscriptions to newspapers and magazines. I was horrified to find they were costing me £450 a year! I, reluctantly and sadly, discontinued having the house cleaned and the clothes ironed. I didn't need the housework done by others as I had to take early retirement due to ill health and am at home to do the work myself. However, I knew that people's jobs relied on the fees I was paying and was reluctant to withdraw money in a downturn. But biting the bullet through necessity saved me over two grand a year of taxed income and I quite enjoy the exercise of Hoovering and ironing now. I certainly don't feel so idle or useless.

I also cut out and rationalised some household breakdown insurances and changed my house and contents' insurance provider.

I shop in a different way now by using comparison websites and by stocking up on half price and other offers. When coffee was £3.80 a pack I was paying £2.50. I use 'pound shops' and stock up on branded bathroom items. I have never overbought food or wasted it so there was little to save in that department.

Recently I have stacked offers from British Gas and bought a massively discounted boiler which is much more efficient and cheap to run and comes with a year's free service contract. My old boiler was nearly 30 years' old and I didn't want to have to replace it when both of us were retired.

I have changed my gas and electric providers which looks as if it will save £400-£500 per annum.

I am so penny pinching that, although I use coupons and vouchers a lot, I throw them away if I do not absolutely require the items discounted to save myself from temptation.

I plan my shopping weekly so as not to over-buy and I plan my week's journeys so as to save on Diesel by combining errands and exercise. Needess to say, I have a detailed knowledge of the free parking available nearby.

That said, my husband and I have a bottle of Champagne every Saturday come rain or shine and have done for over twenty years. We pay very little for the fizz as we bulk buy on offer but it's our way of not feeling poor.

carrielovesfanta

Morning folks!


Thanks to JoJo for starting us off


Bob - I'm sure you'll hear something soon. They probably have to write a small report or something.


It's much nicer here today. Had a good talking to myself last night to try and pep myself up a bit!


Oh and at least 1 of the squash seeds/plants has survived! The first leaves have broken the surface of the soil! yay!


Here's today's list:

• B/L/D from stores
• Coffee with friends at lunchtime. Have brought lunch and a cake from home so will only buy coffee
• Charge phone in work
• Turn data off on phone as it's getting low
• Tend to seedlings
• Put fresh beer into slug trap and move to by the primroses. Apparently the purple one and the variegated pink one are the tastiest in the garden?
• Check online banking and reconcile spreadsheet
• Check prices of compost and pots as will need to buy a lot over the weekend
• Make bread as didn't yesterday
• Bit of housework if OH doesn't do it

Small and sweet list


Have a good one folks


clf x

ziggy2407

Good Morning All

JoJo - Thanks for starting us off, enjoy your day!!

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.

My little list:

Packed lunch for DH - Done
Try and speak to Virgin and downgrade -
Cancel Equifax - Done
Read meters and chart - Done & still managing to save the odd unit or two
Continue purge on Emails -
Continue purge on FB & Twitter -
Surveys -
Check Banks - Done
Check swapits -
Enter a few comps -
All meals from cupboards/fridge/freezer -
Check https://www.freepostcodelottery.com - Remember there are now 5 chances to win -
Read -

Have a great day, love to you all

C x

Bobarella

Thanks for the thread Jo Jo.

Carrie - I didn't get chance to comment last night but I was sorry to hear your OH is going through a bad patch. It's interesting to see how from his perspective his family may see you as poor for not offering to pay. I hope you both get through this ok.

Teacher - nice to read your very interesting update. You raise an interesting point re people being paid for jobs we can manage ourselves.

Red squirrel - hope you have a profitable rummage!

Well today is weird. It feels like a weekend day. Not many folk about but done quite a bit of trade on coffee and sausage rolls, pastries etc to take away. It is so hard to predict. Still has been really nice today to have time to chat with regulars. It really is the slower times that build relationships.

We've decided to bite the bullet and buy a new TV this weekend. I don't think it is economical to pay someone to come out and inspect the old one only to tell us it can't be fixed. I also need to buy a cheap tablet I can use at the shop as I struggle on my phone to toggle between the cash register app and paypal app. So its necessary.
Will be buying both for the best price we can. Will do online shop through top cash back to buy both the electrical then do click and collect. Will pay on my CC to get the reward points then pay off immediately.

anyway I suppose I'd better slope off and do some more work.

1HANNAH

Jojo - Thanks for the start
Red - Good luck with sorting out, I need to look at our books next, been through dvds this weekend.
BB- Hope you've sorted out your hot water issue!
Teacher - What a fantastic post, thanks for sharing
Clf - Fab news
Ziggy - I'm sure I'm being dim but whats Swapits?
Bob - Glad the scan went well.

FatVonD wrote: »

Hannah, totally with you on the Easter egg situation, were down to the last one now and off course that size is mow twice the price to when we bought them. Thankfully Mr S have reduced their small own brand ones to 80p but that means we have to eat the last Cadburys one (would be rude not to as we can't give one of the kids a bigger one than the others ) At least poor Picachu finally got mended though (yes, I've been paying attention!)

Was talking to my mum this morning and was trying to remember when it was that the toy got snagged... I remember it was after we went to Butlins...my mum said oh so it was a long time ago that was December.... My reply.....hmmm no I think it was October butlins!! omg I'm terrible! lol

* Check Sun perks done
* Check FPL 4/5
* Check TCB ordered payout of £1.98 amazon
* Check Quidco nothing doing..
* Check email survey oppurtunities check back later, nothing yet

* Check Banking/update spreadsheets done
* Do some Swagbuckswhoo hoo just been onto my acc and its paid a survey for 73sbs, I don't remember one not crediting!! done a few surveys and only 100sbs away from a £5agc. Hopefully I'll get enough tomorrow.
* All meals from stores Done & tidied fridge
* Unsubscribe from junk emails not much there these days
* Read a chapter of my book thats been on the bedside table 1yr+
* Heating off as long as possible off all day :j
* Use foot cream that I found in a pamper pack :j
* Check Nectar £3.74 749 POINTS as at 2/4

Another chill day at home with the family, so nothing else much to report today

Have a lovely day all x

Bagpuss741

Today I have/will:

1. Checked online banking
2. Put £10 in bank or I will spend it
3. Surveys
4. Meals from stores
5. Catch up on Fortitude
6. Free postcode lottery
7. Bought a hudl 2 for £5:j:j (It was £129 reduced to £99 for easter but I had enough to double up to £94 of clubcard points)

carrielovesfanta

Bobarella wrote: »

Carrie - I didn't get chance to comment last night but I was sorry to hear your OH is going through a bad patch. It's interesting to see how from his perspective his family may see you as poor for not offering to pay. I hope you both get through this ok.

Cheers Bob. He definitely projects his thoughts onto people. He personally feels guilty for not earning more, and so he expects others to accuse him of not doing enough. None of my in laws are particularly well off, and we are ok too. OH just takes it very personally that we are not rich!