Saturday/Sunday 2nd/4rd May - What small DFW things will you do today?

determined_new_ms

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:

Morning guys :wave: hope everyone is well :A

Small things for me this:

*[STRIKE] quick flaylady of kitchen[/STRIKE] a cleaner told me about magic sponges so I bought a pack from the £1 shop. They are MAGIC!!!
* [STRIKE]massive clothes tidy up upstairs & put things away[/STRIKE]
* C[STRIKE]hange fridge's and do inventory of freezer[/STRIKE]
* [STRIKE]work out meal plan & shopping list[/STRIKE]
* [STRIKE]couple of loads of washing[/STRIKE]
* go for a walk later and possibly a pint Didn't go out as dgd decided she wanted to potty train today. She did really well and used the potty up until she had an accident at around 4 (after a long nap of 2 hours without any accidents) and then she wanted a nappy on
*[STRIKE] oh to do some rock clearing ready for gardening work starting soon[/STRIKE]
* [STRIKE]messaged a couple of friend's to arrange meeting up[/STRIKE]
* take some photos of some things to ebay
* reply to ebay person
* repot some plants
*[STRIKE] Checked banking[/STRIKE]
* need to remind oh about hosekeeping!

Ok think that's all I need to do. Have a lovely weekend

allydowd

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 )
  
• Coupon Shop Forum list of money-off coupons (Link)
  
• eBid ( Link )
  
• Freecycle ( 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 )
• Tesco Orchard product testing (Link)
  
• Toluna ( Link )
  
• TopCashBack ( Link )

allydowd

Morning DFW-Ninjas,

Up nice and early for a free 5km run courtesy of Parkrun (Link). Then I'll be working through a wee list. OH already did all the housework so I don't have that to tackle.


The List:

:starmod: Have a No Spend Day.

:starmod: Decide which restaurant we going to in a couple of week's time when we convert our Civil Partnership certificate to a Marriage certificate. We were going to go away for a night but have decided to leave that a few weeks til we have more spare cash.

:starmod: De-clutter the sitting room cupboard.

:starmod: Scanned PC for viruses with free AVG. Done

:starmod: Check OH's bank balances. She keeps losing track so I'm taking over the watching of them. Done

:starmod: Cull emails in my email archive for efficiency. Done

:starmod: Print out my eP60 for later preference. How lazy is my employer expecting us to print our own.

:starmod: Decide if we're going to the opera next week.

:starmod: Batten down the hatches, high winds forecast for tonight.

That's all for now. Good luck on your quests, Ninjas.

Bobarella

Morning Determined
I hope your flay lady routine isn't too brutal
Ally - can you guys not move to a joint account for your main outgoings to help you keep an eye? Also huge news about being debt free in 21 days time!!

My son just had me in stitches by announcing he plans to vote for John Lewis in the election. What can I say to that.

so today on the small things front.
1. Cycle to all our appointments/errands
2. Pack lunch for the 3 of us to avoid buying expensive food out
3. Take son to dance class, already paid for
4. Son's child trust fund statement came through so opened that last night. It has finally gone up a bit. We stopped paying in due to poor performance and hope to convert to a child ISA when the rules change. File this paperwork.
5. Check banking and update spends on my app
6. Dinner will be using up supplies. Probably pasta and veggies.
7. Look for roadkill & coupons
8. I desperately need new trainers and a new anorak as the amount I walk I have worn my shoes out in 6 months & my anorak is older than my son and looks very ratty. Possibly take a look at Decathlon.
9. Take library book and dvd back to avoid fines
10. Have an item on count down on ebay which has watchers so hoping to sell.

have a good day all
Bob

Bagpuss741

Today I have/will:

1. Checked online banking
2. NSD
3. Changed bed linen, dusted and vacuumed bedroom
4. Listen to free spotify
5. Print voucher for free can of tuna emailed to me
6. Print voucher for half price belgian chocolates in Waitrose emailed to me
7. Update programs on laptop and scan with free antivirus
8. Meals from stores
9. Surveys
10. Read free kindle book

ziggy2407

Good Morning All

DNMS - Thanks for starting us off
Ally - Have a great run and weekend, hope weather is less brutal than forecast suggest
Bob - I think your son is right - voting John Lewis is probably the best decision

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:

Packed free lunch courtesy of Walker's for lunch for DH - Done
Washing & line dry (hopefully) -
Walk to library -
Big clean in attic and move things round so we can move games table so we're able to use it more (before son decides he's too old for it )
TV off & music on
Craft -
Continue purge on Emails -
Continue purge on FB & Twitter -
Surveys -
Check Banks -
Check swapits -
Enter a few comps -
All meals from cupboards/fridge/freezer -
Make Fruit Salad -
Pamper feet this evening & nails -
Check https://www.freepostcodelottery.com - Remember there are now 5 chances to win -
Read -

Have a great day, love to you all

C x

DawnW

Morning all :j
Thanks for starting us off DNMS

So far today I have:
Heating off, but it is blimmin' cold :eek: Might have to light the woodburner later if it doesn't warm up a bit! I was hoping that was it for this year
Checked banks
Washed kitchen floor after dog accident
Fed chickens and let them out
Washed up a few bits that got left last night, put on the dishwasher (I have some old things that can't go in it, hence washing up as well)
Naughty cooked breakfast

We are going out later, to GD3's birthday party, so not a big list for the rest of the day:
Wrap birthday present and write card
Put a load of washing on, which I will probably need to dry indoors, as rain is forecast later
Pop into sales unit to collect this month's cheque and list of sold items, tidy up and put in a few new things to keep people looking
Bit of paperwork for business
No spends needed - we have plenty of food in

Have a good day everybody

1HANNAH

Good morning all,

Its a grey day here

Thanks Dnm for the start.
Enjoy your run Allydowd and wow to your 21 days!
Dawn Have a lovely day
La escocesa Good luck with your classes next week
ziggy We've got a mini pool table & mini air hockey table, I must dig them out today and get the boys playing with them, (they got them for xmas and loved having a family competition, so a long weekend is the perfect time to get them out again )
Bagpuss How do you get these coupons emailed to you if you don't mind me asking?
Bob I'd vote for John Lewis too!! How did your week go in work?

My list for today
* Switched mobile off over night done
* Heating off done but the fleece blankets come back out as its cold today
* All meals from stores - plan & prep done, still got leftovers to finish off so a nice easy day in the kitchen
* Check email survey oppurtunities completed a youg0v hopefully be something else later too
* Unsubscribe from junk emails done, this is easy now as only a couple a day coming through
* Drink warm water rather then tea/coffee save the cost of tea/coffee/milk and less calories too ongoing
* Try to use something out of the use up food box
* Read a few pages of a book - bought more then a year ago, about time I read some of it
* Do some Swagbucks sbtv apps running also amaz0n gift card was available so I've put that into amaz0n, we have nearly £200 in there now, saving towards bday/xmas gifts
* Check checkoutsmart done
* Check shopitize done
* Check Sun perks done
* Check FPL done
* Check TCB done
* Check Quidco/clicksnap done
* Use nectar search for points (need to average 10 searches on comp & 7 on app)
* Use up pamper box contains (used up 1/17 nail polish 1/4 handcream 0/1 footcream 0/3 perfumes so far)
* Use up household box contains (used up 2/5 shower spray & 1/1 spray cleaner that I didn't like so far)
* DH been given Paddington film so going to have movie night with kids for free entertainment

Today is going to be a chilled day at home pottering around but generally taking it easy.
Hope everyone else has a good day.

allydowd

Bobarella wrote: »

Ally - can you guys not move to a joint account for your main outgoings to help you keep an eye? Also huge news about being debt free in 21 days time!!

That's a great idea but we find separate accounts cause no arguments! All the cash comes into my account and all the bills go out of my account so they're safe. OH just has two accounts: one with the shopping budget and one with her personal spending money. I'm hoping that reminding her to update her balance Post-It Note every day will work.

FatVonD

We have separate accounts here too, there is quite a big difference in our earnings (when I'm working) so I pay all the bills except the council tax from mine and then DH pays the council tax.

Congrats on the forthcoming marriage and debt freeness, Ally, virtual champagne on ice for you!


The stepsons didn't come round last night as one is ill but DH still bought a curry though a slightly cheaper one as we shared. Middle stepson arrived this morning so have just ordered extra vouchers to include him at dinner tonight.

We did a late night run to Mr T to buy some wine and beers so DHs friends can come back here after dinner rather than staying in the pub. I've studied the menu and already know what I'm having to eat :rotfl:

I checked my Mr T credit card account last night and I'm nowhere near my limit which was a relief but the direct debit hadn't gone through as it was close to taking me over my overdraft limit so I paid half the balance manually and will pay the other half on 15th when I get paid. I could move back the £400 I transferred to another account this month but I like the idea of it being out of sight, out of mind and I just have to learn to live (and reduce my overdraft) within my reduced means.

I'm should really stop spending on that card but it was a useful exercise to see how much I actually spend at Mr T (online shops and lunchtimes near work) each month and it was just over £400 (though that included a pair of denim shorts and some sneakers for DS.) I know it's entirely possible to cut that down but I actually thought it might be more

There are still no houses in the 3 roads we'd like to live in though there is a beautiful and affordable one a bit further out but we'd still be just as far away from DS's friends but just in the other direction!

Have a great weekend all!

Tidy_Up_Tash

Good Afternoon!

Thanks for starting us DNMS

Another day taking it easy, although I'm going to spend a little time in the kitchen preparing some lunchbox treats for the kids..

My Saturday looks a little like this....

• Do an online shop for 2nd purse stuff.
• Pack away today's delivery
• Cook up treats for the boys
• "Takeaway" from the freezer, not the pizza place
• Check budgets for the next 7 days and make sure we'll survive to my payday on the 8th!

Not sure what I'll do with my Sunday.

Have a good day. all