Sat/Sun 24th/25th Oct - what small DFW things will you do today?

carrielovesfanta

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! :money:

LittleMissDetermined

Morning!

I've just planned our weekly meals and taken half from store/freezer rather than buying in for each day.

That's a start!
LMD x

carrielovesfanta

Morning folks!

ccl - hooray for half term!
Bob - hope the cold/flu is of short duration

Tonnes to do today so am writing a list to help jog the memory. Some of this may spill into tomorrow.

• B/D from stores. L with m-i-l and niece (might be able to persuade them back here though - m-i-l paid
  
• Bit of meal planning for the week. This has slipped again and the fridge is totally full.
• Very small shop for essentials for THIS WEEK ONLY (money situation dire) - done, am saintly
  
• Put bread on - done
• Make sense of chard and kale in fridge
• Wash towels (on now), strip - done and remake bed, dark wash if needed
• Wash out on line now that the sun is out
• Clean bathrooms - one done
• Hoover
• Tidy up - ongoing
  
• Dusting if time
• Put washing away - done
  
• Continue decluttering (the bottom of my wardrobe is calling to me). And why do I have FOUR dressing gowns?! - ongoing
  
• Went through the pens/keys pot. Why 3 bottle openers, a broken keyring, a Chubb lock cover from my old flat (moved out 4 years ago), one brass banjo fingerpick, an alan key, masonic cufflinks, random screws, 6mm to 3.5mm jack converter, assorted fluff and 9 nib-less pencils? Suspect a running theme of the contents of OH's pockets... - done
• Open windows a tad to air the house - done
• Try not to buy anything in The Range - done. However three baby grows slipped into my bag (in exchange for money of course) in Mothercare. (for my pregnant friend)
  
• Ask m-i-l to bring some milk with her as have run out sooner than expected - done
• Get m-i-l to give me a lift to the charity shop- done
• Munch up the apple/blackcurrant/cherry crumble in the fridge (used up this year's soft fruit harvest!)
• Check plants in garden
• Rake leaves off lawn before it goes manky
• Crochet. There are now THIRTEEN balls of yarn on the go. Craziness! Also I received two more balls of yarn yesterday for another project I may be addicted.
• OH has expressed an interest in helping me make a quilted advent calender that I bought a panel for. May do this tomorrow.
  

Might go get showered first. Am a sweaty beast (is anyone else finding the weather warm?! I was in a vest top all day yesterday!) and cannot concentrate on lists when like this!

Love to all

clf x

determined_new_ms

Morning carrie thanks for starting the thread. Hope you and your oh are ok x

Quick post as really should be getting ready! Off out at 9 as have workshop to go to today. Have managed to get a concession so it's half price

Our neighbour is lending us his matlock so my soon to be veg patch should be cleared this weekend :j

Things to be done today:

* update spreadsheet with spends
* [STRIKE]post ebay sale[/STRIKE] used a recycled postage bag
* couple of loads of washing
* an hour in the garden
* all meals from stores
* dinner with be rubber chicken pasta
* divvy up rest of chicken from carcass and freeze
* make banana bread to use up over ripe bananas
* reply to a MSE-er re a life coaching session
* nip to sains on way to workshop and pick up fresh bread, humus and olives
* pay plasterer (meant to do this last night )

Ok think that's all I need to do. Just have 1 more repair to my greenhouse - need to go and get a replacement piece of glass and then it is finished :beer:

foxgloves & Dawn thanks for the tips re compost/manure. Foxgloves I have 1 of those compost bins, a tumbler, it shocked me you have 4 and it's not enough!

Ok have a great day everyone

determined_new_ms

carrie NO IT IS NOT WARM! I am freezing already, does not bode well for the coming months!

carrielovesfanta

determined_new_ms wrote: »

carrie NO IT IS NOT WARM! I am freezing already, does not bode well for the coming months!

Oh dear. Perhaps my work colleagues were right and am heading for early menopause (am just shy of my 32nd birthday) :rotfl:

princess_pea

Morning all,

Well parents have gone home so I won't see them now until Christmas We had a lovely time and I didn't go too crazy with spends.

This weekend:

Take poochy back to the ex today. I don't want her to go.

Found 1p roadkill on the pavement when walking poochy this morning. Sorted out 1ps, 2ps and 5ps from purse and put into money bags. When these are full I pay them into the bank.

Very small shop in Aldi needed for lunches next week.

Must change last of addresses on my list after moving home in September :eek:

We have lots of cinema to catch up on with our unlimited cards this weekend so planning to go at least twice! Will be taking popcorn and drinks from home.

I need to do some work for work this weekend. As of Monday I'll be working 10 extra hours a week on top of my full-time hours on a special project over the next 6 months. The extra money is paying for our wedding reception so hopefully that'll keep me motivated!

Text a friend and see how she is as haven't heard from her in a while.

Just about to update banking. FPL and surveys to do too (I've been neglecting the surveys recently so need to get back in the habit).

I've written my budget for next month but I need to do a bit more planning re. Christmas and what I am getting people. Still going to stick to the one present rule! I might even start writing some Christmas cards this weekend :eek::D

Oh nearly forgot, cleaning to do!! Bathroom/ hoover/ dust/ ironing/ Hoover out car...

Have a lovely weekend everyone

princess_pea

Carrie I can't decide whether I'm hot or cold at the minute. I'm 30 and seem to be having hot flushes!!

YORKSHIRELASS

Morning all

Had a bad night last night worrying about money. I am struggling a bit to stretch the budget at the moment. I gave DS1 £5 yesterday as he was going out with his cousin and he rarely goes anywhere. It was £5 I didnt have really. Fed up with living like this.

OK moan over, sorry for the doom and gloom. Day at home today catching up on a few jobs and sorting some paperwork. A little paid work to do. Oh and I am going to go to the library and choose a couple of books. I briefly thought about cycling there but its raining!

carrielovesfanta

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

Morning all

Had a bad night last night worrying about money. I am struggling a bit to stretch the budget at the moment. I gave DS1 £5 yesterday as he was going out with his cousin and he rarely goes anywhere. It was £5 I didnt have really. Fed up with living like this.

OK moan over, sorry for the doom and gloom. Day at home today catching up on a few jobs and sorting some paperwork. A little paid work to do. Oh and I am going to go to the library and choose a couple of books. I briefly thought about cycling there but its raining!

Big hugs to you. It's really hard sometimes x

kayannie

Hello to everyone.

I've not posted since we came back from holiday, although I've just about caught up with your posts.

Bob - I hope you feel better soon - nothing worse than feeling ill when you can't just give in and take to your bed. It sounds as if your little one is doing well and that she has a big brother who loves her.

To everyone else who is not well or unhappy - hope you too feel much better before too long.

I've had a busy money saving week dealing with windfall apples, donated goodies and foraged finds.

Foxgloves - I used your recipe to make 3 bottles of brown sauce & it does taste good! I am very envious of your pear tree! We have a young tree in the garden which only had 2 fruits on it this year, and the tree that I foraged loads from last year hasn't produced at all this year!
I found some quince and made quince marmalade (as on Countryfile). It tastes very sweet, but maybe it will mellow a bit.
I've turned some of our green tomatoes into chutney, but there are still loads more to pick yet, so the preserving pan will be back in use this next week.
I've been gathering hazelnuts and walnuts, and shelled enough to use in a onion & nut roast. The rest of the walnuts will be stored for Christmas.
A friend gave me some of her kale, together with a recipe for a pasta sauce made from kale & leeks. It was absolutely scrummy, although the colour of the sauce was a bit off putting - dark green!
I cleared the courgette plants out of the garden this week, and found one last courgette lurking among the leaves - that got used yesterday in courgette pancakes.
I've just knitted a scarf for a friend for Christmas, using some lovely Debbie Bliss chunky wool from my stash.
I cycled to the shops in the rain this morning. I wouldn't have bothered, but I needed bread and I like to get it from the bakery. It's well worth the extra it costs me. I always think bread is one thing you can't economise on. While there, I popped into the charity shop to drop off some books, and saw a pretty amber bracelet for £1.50 which I bought as a cracker present for one of my DDs - I make my own & always keep an eye out for small nice presents.

Hope you all have a good weekend, with plenty of rest for those that need it.
K