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Wednesday 16th September - What small debt free wanabee things will you do today?

As the thread title suggests this thread is for tracking the small but important actions we take every day to keep on top of the pennies and reduce the debt.
When we start our debt free journey we focus on the big things. Cutting up the credit cards. Cancelling expensive memberships. But along the way it is just as important to focus on small things that are done each day but build up to help us on the way. Examples -taking cash to the supermarket, making a shopping list,buying YS food, walking instead of driving short journies.
Good luck with your small things today :)
" Your vibe attracts your tribe":D

Debt neutral :) 27/03/17 from £40k:eek: in the hole 2012.
Roadkill 17 £56.58 2016-£62.28 2015- £84.20)
RYSAW17 £1900 2016 £2,535.16 2015 £1027.20
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Comments

  • Bobarella
    Bobarella Posts: 10,824 Forumite
    Savvy Shopper! I've been Money Tipped!
    Good Morning

    To all reading or joining in today, this is a great thread for motivation/support. Its great reading everyones lists. Yesterday was a negative day, so I am attempting to redress that this morning. Woke up at 4.30 and wasnt in the slightest bit sleepy so thought I'd make a start. My list so far.

    1) After a whole year of paying back an incorrectly issued refund of £300 by First Utility, on top of our regular energy usage, I am today 7p in credit! As soon as the call centre opens I will be ringing to get my DD changed. Our usage jointly for gas/elec in August was £57. And we've been paying £105. A whopping £48 difference. Horray!

    2) Have uploaded 4 reciepts into Clicksnap, & Checkoutsmart for the 8p credit. I've set my payout limit to just £1 for Clicksnap, so that helps with teeny tiny PADs on slow days.

    3) Going to round my CC down to the nearest £50 in a moment as the CB had cleared yesterday.

    4) Its my/OHs wedding anniversary today, so I recieved a £20 cheque & card yesterday from a family member. They've suggested we treat ourselves to something nice to eat. I have put the cheque into a paying in envelope ready to post as I am with an online bank.

    5) As the household is up nice and early, well Im trying not to wake them actually, not till 6, it means we'll be up and out early enough for me to get supplies from the bigger of the Mr S stores on my way to work, rather than using the nearer but much more expensive Mr S local. I really struggle to pay 15p more for 1 stick of butter identical to their bigger store, or 20p on a loaf etc. Daylight robbery.

    6) Mr S sent me some useful coupons for extra points on things I actually do need, like 60 extra points on an avacado for example, so I will attempt to use those up, as its put me nearer a Nectar reward payout.

    7) Made sure I have a full water bottle on my bike rack. Saves cash buying a drink out.

    8) Using meds I got with my maternity exemption that would have cost £5/£6 otherwise.

    9) Been into the kitchen & very quietly tidied away the pots & pans from last nights meal/cleaned the sink/counters so again ahead of myself on prep.

    10) Have dried a load of washing overnight on the rack, but need to put just 1 item in the drier, so will put a few towels in too to make it worth the cost.

    And thats it!

    BB - Hope your son is feeling better today.

    Bob
    " Your vibe attracts your tribe":D

    Debt neutral :) 27/03/17 from £40k:eek: in the hole 2012.
    Roadkill 17 £56.58 2016-£62.28 2015- £84.20)
    RYSAW17 £1900 2016 £2,535.16 2015 £1027.20
  • DawnW
    DawnW Posts: 7,777 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 16 September 2015 at 7:18PM
    Morning Bob, I have been up for ages too. I woke early, would have loved to turn over and go back to sleep, but it is my day for looking after baby GD so need to get on.

    Hello to everyone who comes along later :hello:

    Well, so far I have washed the kitchen floor and removed a toad from the conservatory, where it was at an uneasy stand off with the puppy, who was barking at it :rotfl: Mr or Ms Toad was quite unharmed, but is better off outside in the flower bed I think!

    Confession time here - I have set the heating to come on in the bathroom and the airing cupboard in the morning and evening :o The bathroom is freezing and I need to be able to air clothes properly. All our radiators have individual controls, and except for these two, will remain firmly off.

    List for today:
    Get a postal survey item ready to post. Baby GD likes to post letters, so we can both walk down to the post box later :)Done, baby posted it :D

    Ring surgery for a repeat prescription. One of my inhalers is low, and my asthma doesn't like the cold, damp weather. Oops forgot this -must do it tomorrow :eek:

    All HM meals Done, baby GD wolfed down fish fingers and baked beans for lunch :rotfl:

    Find a chicken curry recipe to make for supper from one of the Hairy Bikers diet books. Their curries are the best :DEnded up eating yesterday's bolognese, as I didn't have time to do the curry. I will do it tomorrow now I have all the ingredients

    Spend day today - might need an ingredient or two for the curry (possibly just a green pepper, depends what I choose to make) This will be the first spend since Sunday :T I also need to buy a harness and lead for the puppy, but not sure I will get to this today. Also some chews, as he has started to chew his bed and the furniture :eek: Good job he is so small! Nothing major though! Bought a few bits in Lidls and the harness and chews in the pet shop. Not much spent :)

    A bit more tidying in the garden if baby GD gives me the chance - she likes being outside. Also depends on the weather though! The bit I managed to do yesterday looks much better already :)Didn't get chance, as it started pouring with rain

    I did manage to get a load of washing dry outside before it started raining though :D


    Any surveys that are available - a job for this evening I think! Just a couple for one poll

    Not an ambitious list today, as baby tends to scupper such plans :rotfl:

    Lots of playing, colouring, feeding the ducks in the park and looking at the fish in the pet shop :D

    Still, I did get a lot done yesterday.

    Hope everyone has a good day :)
  • determined_new_ms
    determined_new_ms Posts: 7,867 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 16 September 2015 at 8:54AM
    Morning Bob - eeek 4.30 is early even for me! Was up at 6, dgd has just woke up :) Hope things look brighter for you today, or at the very least you are nearer to a decision x

    Today is due to be contact day, so hopefully dd will be catching the train and coming here. Not sure how that will be, am sure there will be mixed blessings as it is the 1st time we have seen each other since the incident on Sunday...

    Plans for the day:

    * [STRIKE]check banking[/STRIKE]
    * [STRIKE]read Martin's email[/STRIKE]
    * all meals from stores
    * put away mountain of food been given by oh's parents. They are off on holiday for 6 weeks so have given us lots of things to use up :T need to work out what there is and shift around meal plan to use up & also freeze what I can
    * free activites this with dgd morning - autumn themed colouring sheets. will go for a walk later to find autumn leaves
    * will take bags in case I come across any elderberries ;)
    * letters :o
    * ebay :o (haven't done this for a week now even though it's been on my list of things to do)
    * have 2 bags of carrots so might make a cake later to use some up
    * read new book for entertainment. One from stash ;)
    * any surveys/onepoll that come my way

    Ok think that's my lot. Have a great day x
    DF as at 30/12/16
    Wombling 2025: £87.12
    NSD March: YTD: 35
    Grocery spend challenge March £253.38/£285 £20/£70 Eating out
    GC annual £449.80/£4500
    Eating out budget: £55/£420
    Extra cash earned 2025: £195
  • ziggy2407
    ziggy2407 Posts: 4,106 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Good Morning All

    Bob - Thanks for starting us off today
    Hi Dawn - that's quite a list

    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.

    Well yesterday turned into a lovely day weatherwise so had a quick trip into town and did the few jobs I needed, relatives turned up to collect the exercise equipment so our tea dried up (but we ate it anyway) so I want to make a nice tea. Today's little list:

    Packed lunch for DH & DS - Done
    Bump listings/stuff for sale - Done
    Check some prices on ziffit -
    Photograph some offcuts of worktop and old table/magazine rack for freegle and list -
    Fingers crossed freeglers turn up -
    Convince DH to seriously consider a neighbours request to rent our garage (we only use it for storage atm) -
    Continue purge on Emails -
    Surveys -
    Check Banks - Done
    Enter a few comps -
    All meals from cupboards/fridge/freezer -
    Read library book -
    Check https://www.freepostcodelottery.com - Remember there are now 5 chances to win -
    Check Lucky Phone -

    Have a great day, love to you all

    C x
    Goodreads 2025 Challenge :16/75
    Goodreads 2024 Challenge: 65/80
    Goodreads 2023 Challenge: 77/52


  • Good morning everyone :)
    I woke up a bit early this morning as well - 5.45, which I thought was earlier because it was so dark. Once I realised I was actually up and about I decided to do a bit of exercise before getting ready for work. Hoping for a brighter day than yesterday - I was a bit stressed by the end of the day.
    Not much on my list today I wouldn't have thought - another full teaching day so I won't have much time.
    :cool: check banking and PAD if possible (skint)
    :cool: read Martin's email
    :cool: mark a set of books
    :cool: 15 mins housework and declutter
    :cool: all meals from stores
    :cool: don't get tempted by the heating (but it is cold)
    :cool: do not stress at work
    Think I'm not going to attempt too much for today.
    Have a good day everyone, and thanks ally for the code.
  • lego_mum
    lego_mum Posts: 352 Forumite
    edited 16 September 2015 at 8:35PM
    Morning all, Thanks Bob for the very early start! Hope that you have a good days trade to make up for your rubbish week.
    Dnms, I hope that your dd's visit goes ok for you.
    Dawn, I've never followed a hairy biker recipe, looking to order some recipe books from the library, is there one you'd recommend I try?
    Baileysbabe, hope your ds is feeling better

    Its a dry looking start so far this morning, lots to do today, so better get on.
    Have a good day all who follow :)

    :starmod: Check banks/update spreadsheet done
    :starmod: Check Fpl done
    :starmod: Check luckyphone done
    :starmod: Delete junk from emails done
    :starmod: All meals from stores (see if I can cancel planned delivery for tomorrow & make do again!) done
    :starmod: Swagbucks - need to do this, not been doing much and both my acc & DH's are a couple of hundred off payout - this is our amaz0n xmas pressie fund
    :starmod: Keep an eye out for surveys - again not done many for days
    :starmod: Hoover carpets done
    :starmod: Rm survey done
    :starmod: Check tcb/quidco - put a claim in on tcb yesterday, done
    :starmod: Clean & tidy fridge (make sure we don’t waste anything) done
    :starmod: Watch catchup tv whilst ironing done
    :starmod: Tidy at least one cupboard Shower room cupboard done :) the door will close again :)
    :starmod: Use something out of the food use up box
    :starmod: Check 02 priorities
    :starmod: Gather together items for the cs
    :starmod: Walk at least 7000 steps to get bounts points - claimed a £5 Tesco giftcard last night, this is my first payout so fingers crossed 7210 steps done as at 11.15am :)
    :starmod: Go to the gym for a class (saving £15 that I would have spent on a pt session) Planning on 5 this week class 3/5 done
    :starmod: Print off free pizza voucher done
    :starmod: Fill water bottle at the gym done
    :starmod: Shower/dry hair at the gym, save my water & electricity! done
    :starmod: Sew up a hole in the top of my gym bag with left over cross stitch threads done
    :starmod: Walk the boys to & from the bus stop done
    :starmod: Check off tesc0 CC- done

    :starmod: Possibly pick more blackberries whilst waiting for the kids at karate done
    :starmod: Shred dh's cv's that he's updated done

    And that's just for starters!! I have to go up to the school this afternoon for an open parents evening which will take a couple of hours so must crack on!:rotfl:
  • Ziggy, how are you feeling now?
    CCL hoping you have a less stressful day today
  • Hey guys thanks for the thread boberella waves to all. Dawn poor toad and clever puppy for not trying to eat it!

    List for today.

    Watch out for messages for DS flying home
    Message DD to see if she wants a catch up tomorrow
    HM meals all day
    Bit of fly lady
    Bit of paperwork
    Feed hens/dugs
    Quick once over bathroom
    Work at garden 6 hours
    Check timesheets I think there's a muddle up somewhere, think I'm a week out.
    Change bed in DS room there's been randoms in there (visitors)
    A bit of gardening at home later.......
    Walk dogs
    Chop up more courgettes
    Make a plan to see a chum tomorrow if I can.
    Declutter some clothes
    Phone charge at work
    Charge fruit pad
    check in the stores for coffee/conditioner
    Bit womble work later on, but not sure how much.

    That's more than enough for today! Have a good one chaps.
    Total debt 26/4/18 <£1925 we were getting there. :beer:
    Total debt as of 28/4/19 £7867.38:eek:
    minus 112.06 = £7755.32:money:
    :money:Sleeves up folks.:money:
  • allydowd
    allydowd Posts: 4,965 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Uniform Washer Name Dropper
    edited 16 September 2015 at 1:42PM
    Giveaway:

    * I three legally obtained (!) Friends and Family Tesco discount code to give away. :j ...All gone now. Thanks people.
    Debt-free day: 8th May 2015 "Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck," Dalai Llama
  • allydowd
    allydowd Posts: 4,965 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Uniform Washer Name Dropper
    MONEY MAKING AND SAVING SITES AS OFTEN MENTIONED IN THIS FORUM:

    • A Girl Called Jack, cheap recipes ( Link
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    If this list helps you today please click "Thanks".

    Debt-free day: 8th May 2015 "Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck," Dalai Llama
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