Thursday 24th September - What small DFW things will you do today?

allydowd

determined_new_ms wrote: »

How are you doing this ally? I'm totally addicted to being online at the moment and whenever I have 5 minutes this is where you'll find me need to live more in the real world! Trying to just go online for 15 minutes when I do but too much time on my hands means too much time online

I give myself permission not to multi-task too much on work-days. I was wearing myself out physically and mentally.

Before my work I concentrate on doing one thing; getting ready for work. When I am ready I may go online for 5 mins before leaving if there's time.

During my breaks at work I concentrate on relaxing and eating/drinking and socialising and I phone my OH. I don't connect to the internet unless I NEED to.

When I come home I don't now turn on my laptop as soon as I walk through the door. I eat, shower and do my relaxation App. Then, and only then, do I turn on my computer and sit with it in front of the tv if I'm not too tired.

I'm also limiting my visits to certain websites which I check daily for no reason whatsoever, like Nectar. These can be visited weekly.

I've also chosen not to visit four news websites every day. This is excessive.

I have chosen to just visit websites daily that add quality to my life: Facebook to maintain contact with my international family, Ancestry for our genealogy hobby, BBC podcasts and MSE if I'm not too tired.

It's harsh but it's necessary for me.

carrielovesfanta

Morning folks!


Thanks to ziggy for starting us off


A quick note on the online time - a friend of mine has a limiter app that only allows her onto (either Facebook or the internet in general? I can't remember) for 30 mins a day and said it really helps.


Ally - I know what you mean about giving yourself permission not to multi-task. I had definitely gotten to the point where I really believed that if I wasn't going full pelt at all hours of the day that I was lazy and useless. I started doing less and a lot of that horrible anxiety and the constant knot in my stomach has definitely eased up. I found that the knock on effect is that I actually started making even better decisions about my health and wellbeing. It's definitely a cycle.


I was saintly last night and even though I didn't get out of work until half 7, I still cooked dinner (eating at 8.45 not my thing!). And no drinkies. Am a saint.


So today's mission:

• B/L/D from stores. Dinner might be hm pizza or spag bol.
• Check online banking and reconcile spreadsheet. - done
• Get OH to do the mountain of washing that has come to us from his mum. House like widow Twankey's. Weather looking ok though so out on the line to dry - done
• Think I'll run at lunch time. - nope, OH cancelled
• Try to sneak a couple of housework jobs OH's way while he's at home today!
• Possibly some overtime but would like to leave on time today.

A small list again. Might add more later!


Have a good one all


clf x

MinnieMousesMummy

Good morning everyone, Ziggy - Thanks for starting the thread off today.

Well today has not got off to the best of starts as DH had an accident in my car early this morning on his way back from work, he hit a deer. After a quick check it looks like I will need a new wing, bumper and panel :mad: On a positive note it could have been worse if it had caught the front of the car and at least I can still drive the car.

My list for today:
Get a quick shower *DONE*
Meet friend for coffee and some de-stressing *DONE*
Do some studying *DONE*
All meals from stores *DONE*
Fill in form for council tax reduction *DONE*
Do 2 loads of laundry *DONE*
Check onepoll *DONE*
Sort through one pile of paperwork, now that my new storage boxes have arrived.
Check FPL *DONE*
Make a start on xmas list
Check luckyphone *DONE*
Get rid of 50 emails *DONE*
Update cv, ready to apply for the type of work that I want *work in progress*
Swagbucks *DONE*
Look for part time work *DONE*
Do daily on JPJ whilst avoiding the temptation to spend *DONE*
Look into setting up bounts, I tried to set the account up a few months back but couldn’t understand it.

I think that is everything that I need to get completed today, Hope everyone has a good Thursday x

twiggy86

Morning all!

I've actually managed two NSD in a row! And Monday the only money I spent was on the grocery shop! Today wont be a NSD as its payday and I desperately need petrol!

Didnt get much done as got back from circuits at 8.20 and then a friend popped round for a "quick" cuppa and we were stilling nattering away at 10!

Today I have/will:-
* Check banks DONE
* Sweep fireplace DONE
* Sweep kitchen floor and hall DONE
* Do washing up DONE
* Take some bits to eat to work (boss' taking me out for lunch as its my birthday on Saturday) DONE
* Put dressing gown into wash DONE
* Check FPL
* Earn more on OnePoll
* Eat a big lunch courtesy of my boss!
* Finalise budget for month
* Small dinner from stores
* Hoover living room
* Sweep bathroom
* Clean shower glass

Think that's everything for today! Really want the house to be as tidy as possible for OH's return - not because he's the queen or anything but just to prove what it can be like with a bit of effort/keeping on top of it! Hope you all have a good day!

determined_new_ms

MMM what a nightmare! Hope your dh is ok x

Bobarella

Morning All

Will post list later but just joining in the chat re time online. I find its one of those things that waxes and wanes naturally depending on what I have on in life.
The only conscious decision I made regarding online use and have stuck to ever since is to give up facebook. Except for my business. I check it once a day in the evening and if no one has messaged me there and I have nothing to post then I come off immediately. I get bookings for parties etc there so no way of doing without it.

I found facebook was making me feel unwell mentally. It is a vanity parade essentially with everyone trying to show off how perfect their life is. I found the rat in a maze, hit like button or no one would hit like button in return wearing and tiresome. Plus when you'd look to see who had approved your posting it would be school friends I hadn't seen in 16 years. So how relevant to my life?

I view MSE as my community now, it feels way more real and I'd always rather read about people's real lives. I also like various twitter communities I dip into like the Minsgame hash tag and anyone trying to live frugally or step off the hamster wheel.

I don't feel I have a problem with how much time I spend online. A few years ago it would have been how many hours TV I watched a night but when I'm reading here or my other chosen online sources I feel I am learning and supporting myself towards a better life. I often tell my family about things on here that are useful to us.

Anyway that's my POV.

Bob

foxgloves

Morning Campers,
Money saving things done already today:
*Got up early & did the ironing while still on Economy 7 tariff.
*Cleaned all of downstairs using minimal products & washable microfibre cloths.
*Paid 2 x 50ps into my sealed pot.
*Paid £20 of leftover September's 'Personal Spends' into my secret tin - I'm sure there'll be another month when an extra £20 is useful.
*Made a PAD of £2-80 into Car Fund - just another oddment from current account which wasn't destined for anything in particular.
*Checked ebay. Nothing doing. Sold around £40 of craft mags recently, but the final two, despite being the same title, just won't sell. The others must have been scarcer issues.
*Updated grocery budget. Last shop of this budget tomorrow. Looking good.
*Did a pile of filing.
*Did a few surveys.
*Did next week's meal plans.
*Labelled the chutney I made yesterday & stored it away in the pantry.
*Pulled leeks & baby turnips. No sign of pesky onion leaf miner pest in our leeks as yet (unlike shallots & onions).
*Put stew in slow cooker (using the big piece of bargainmongous beef skirt I got from Waitrose reduced items fridge a couple of weeks ago). Will serve with home grown greens from freezer.
Ok, so I've done all of the above.
Still to do:
*Pick all remaining outside tomatoes regardless of colour & lay out on trays in conservatory to ripen. First teeny tiny signs of blight starting to appear on the outdoor ones, so will nip that in the bud by bringing in the fruits & binning the plants.
*Write shopping list. Lots already in freezer so hopefully the last of Sept's grocery budget will also run to a bottle or two of wine.
*Free fitness hacking back shrubs out the front & tying in naughty pyracantha, etc.
*Knit some more Christmas present jumper.
*Write job list for mr f (he requested one!!)
*Finish today's big house clean by hoovering upstairs.
*Gather up windfall pears before the blackbirds move in on them. I don't begrudge them (or our hedgehog) the squishy ones but I don't want to find I'm spending money on apples & pears when lots of ours have been left to rot. Basket at the ready!
That's it for today's money saving.
f xx

foxgloves

Just to add to the online debate.
I often feel that 'online' is a distraction. I mostly post on here then check back much later to read rest of posts. I do look several times a day to see if I've got Facebook messages, but I certainly don't live my life by it. I post on it when I feel like it & seem to use it most these days for accessing info from left-wing pressure groups, signing petitions, etc. I have got into the habit of checking emails too frequently. I think I'll do what I did when I was working - check them first thing, then after lunch. If anything is so urgent that 2 looks a day won't cover it, then whoever it was probably should be phoning me, not emailing. I deliberately avoid brands online as they can clog up inboxes terribly. I opt to receive marketing only from my top favourite companies - Monsoon, Body Shop, etc.
My worst online distraction is the News. When I bought a 'Guardian' most days, I just read it in one & recycled it. No more news till the next day's edition. Using their news app defo saves me money but because I'm very interested in politics/current affairs, I find I'm checking multiple times a day, just to be informed. How informed do I actually need to be?
It would be interesting, I think, to have a piece of paper & log how many minutes spend online per day that are not essential (I mean for things like online banking, emailing the tax office, that sort of thing). I think it would be quite scary.
And I'm still online, aren't I? Time to make some lunch & crack on with the rest of my list.
Bye,
f x

Moonbean

Tidy my room & Declutter a little at 15 mins a time (so i don't push myself)
Have dinner (and try to keep it down after last night)
List some items on ebay for sale - UPDATE! Listed 5 and kept the other free 5 listings in case there was anything else to be posted that i urgently need to get rid of ; only listed the ones i want a bit of money for, not the ones where i'd hardly get anything for it.
Purge at least 2 email accounts
?? Maybe look at vouchers for October so I can save some money
Make a list of what I can do in October to save money
Figure out a rough budget to work out whats the best way for my fanciancal needs
Sleep - Update! had a lovely 4hr sleep from about 1pm-4ish
drink 6 glasses of water/sqaush


OKAY maybe I won't get all done but i'm going to have a darn good crack at it.

I'm ill you see, I was sic last night and feel so awful this morning.
I don't think I can go back into work tomorrow as theres a 48hr rule?

xxxJOJOxxx

Carrie
Re bank accounts, I hold that in consideration as that may come in handy.One has a cash card I can pay money into & no local branch for new account. Will keep them for now and see how things run for a month
Moonbean
re drinking the water. Getting into a habit off one glass morning, breakfast, lunch, tea, supper & before bed really helps. (Maybe when your feeling better?) it's helps more with digestion etc doing it like this