Sat 7th/Sun 8th November - what small DFW things will you do this weekend? :)

crazy_cat_lady

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:

crazy_cat_lady

Good morning everyone
I've been awake since 4am. I woke up to let a couple of the cats out and couldn't get back to sleep. My mind is busy thinking about money as always. Wondering what to do next - I hadn't made a plan for being debt free because I never saw it actually arriving. I still have a few weeks to put a plan together but my brain wants to get on immediately.
So I thought I'd start as I mean to go on - exactly as I've been doing.
Check banking - no PAD now though
15 mins housework and declutter for all of us in the house today
ds to football training
both kids to gymnastics
try and catch up with the bestie
nap later while the boys are at football maybe?
batch cook either today or tomorrow for the week ahead
2 loads of washing
encourage dh to do something
minimise heating use
do some surveys to raise some extra cash!
Have a good day everyone.

PurpleFairy26

Morning CCL and all that follow :hello:

Just caught up on yesterday's thread - huge congratulations CCL on being DF (and a not insignificant amount you have paid off - fantastic :T)

Went out with friend last night and she treated me - result been up since 3 when DD2 wandered into my room like it was morning :eek: it's going to be a long day. My BF birthday party tonight so can't even have an early night. I'm sure the small will have a sleep in the car later though :rotfl:

My list for the weekend:
Washing on radiators as and when I put the washing on, still too mild to have on a timer. Raining currently so no chance of getting washing outside
Meals from stores
Packed lunch to dancing with both girls
Meal plan for week
Stick to diet
Check banking, make a PAD - contemplating padding what I would have spent on dinner last night - not getting paid until Friday so need to be careful
Look what needs using up in fridge
Sort little ones clothes and pull out some more she has grown out of ready for selling
E Mail sale from a month ago that still haven't sent me my cheque
Check, junk mail to see if info for energy switch had gone there, was hoping to hear something by now

Think that's about all, I'll pop back later to catch up

YORKSHIRELASS

Morning everyone

I am on a training course today which I am a bit miffed about because I am losing my Saturday and I did expect to be given a day of in lieu but it seems that my boss has other ideas. At least I wont be spending anything.

Will likely have to use the tumble drier again later as its pouring down again. Meals are planned, heating is off, house is reasonably tidy.

Have a good Saturday everyone, not sure what to wear today, cant imagine anyone will be dressing that smart will they?

La_escocesa

Hi everyone :wave:

Amazing on your debt freeness CCL!! :T Definitely worth being a bit skint for a couple of weeks. It's amazing what you can get by on when you have no other choice. Maybe you can sell a few bits and pieces and get some extra cash that way?

Eek Jonno - that was an early start!!

YorkshireLass - yeah - I'm sure it will be a casual affair. Hope it's not too bad with it being on a Saturday.

DNMS - good luck with the new job tonight :T

Big hello to everyone else who follows :wave:

Here's me:
- looked at CCs and how I can shift things to 0%
- need to check banking
- do a survey - have £33 saved in points now :T
- crocheting friend's baby dress - ripped out the last one!
- night in with TV :cool:

Not very much tbh!!

determined_new_ms

Morning guys :wave:

Cat OMG!!!!! Massive congratulations!!! :j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j you've done so amazingly over the time I've known you, you paid off that massive vets bill and cleared your remaining debt in a couple of months (as well as everything else on your plate!). Fantastic. I know what you mean about it feeling a bit unreal. I remember vividly a sense of anticlimax when I cleared our debt. I had spent so long focused on the goal and was thinking "what now?" But it has been great knowing I no longer pay interest

Yorkshirelass won't you get paid for the day???? Shocking behaviour!

jonno hope you're not too knackered today, maybe you can get 40 winks when the little one naps?

Yesterday I started my job, I was really nervous going back into a work setting but it was very gentle, just running a cafe and talking to the people who came in. And also excitingly it won't be every Fri and Sat as there are 3 of us so I will get off every 3rd shift :T although driving to the town on a Friday was a bit of a nightmare. It took 1 hour 15 mins to get there and I literally just got there in the nick of time while it took 25 mins to get home at 10!

Anyway pleased to say dd is finally coming to visit today. Spoke to her yesterday and she seemed brighter which was a huge relief.

Plans for the day:

* all meals from stores - something out of freezer for dinner
* hang up a load of washing and do another load
* read through paperwork given to me for work
* taking dgd swimming as she wants to go with her mummy
* possibly pick up some compost and do some planting. Managed to plant rocket, salad leaves & corriander yesterday
* looks like the weather isn't going to be that good so if I'm going to go in the garden it's likely to be in the greenhouse or in the garage (clearing/tidying)
* call the spa I went to yesterday as I left my book there will call in and get it on way to work tonight
* pay CM

Ok that's all I can think of right now! x

maria3104

Morning all,

Feeling rough today, matching the weather. Only mine is the headache not windy!

Need to buy groceries, have a list. DD soon got bored with shopping, ho hum, real life I suppose.

Am going to get breakfast and try to rest for a bit to see it tablets can nail the head.

Have a good weekend all. Ideal budgeting weather, or decluttering, perhaps I should snooze then potter then shop then sleep. Such fun,

Maria

princess_pea

Morning all,

I had hoped to have a big lie in this morning but only managed half an hour and was up at 7 grrrrr. And yet in the week I can happily roll over and go back to sleep!

Thanks for starting CCL. I think I'll be the same as you once my debt has finally gone, I won't know what to do with myself not owing anyone any money! All we need now is a Sunderland win today :rotfl:

Thanks to all for the advice re. that debit card payment that hasn't gone out. I'm going to hunt for the receipt (I keep them in a big pot) and just keep the amount 'deducted' in my spending diary so if it does come out it's accounted for.

Yesterday turned out not to be a NSD as OH (this does stand for 'other half' right??) treated ourselves to a pizza from the counter at Mr S, so £2.80 out of the food budget. Planning on two NSDs this weekend.
Banking checked. I need to do a bit more planning re. Christmas presents this month. Sticking to the one present rule I want to be able to get my stepdad a TKMaxx voucher (he has more clothes than I do and that's his favourite shop) and my grandad a nice bottle of whisky (Mr S tends to have good offers on in the run up to Christmas so I'll keep an eye out).
Finish writing our Christmas cards this weekend :santa2: :rotfl:
MUST do some surveys - I'll have a look after I've posted on here
I also have my OU managing money course to do this morning :money:
Meals from stores - trying to be healthy this weekend so no alcohol (I downed a whole bottle of cava to myself watching Strictly last Saturday!). Roasted sweet potato and salad tonight :A
Finish my book this weekend (Tudor historical thriller) ready to attack the next Game of Thrones paperback - will hopefully finish this before 2016, then I can use it as a door chock it's so big!
Do some knitting
Nice long walks with poochy planned
Maybe squeeze in a trip to the cinema with unlimited cards on Sunday evening. OH wants to see The Martian
Housework and ironing (unavoidable!)
Oh and a little bit of work I need to do for work which hopefully won't take too long

Phew that's a long list for me! Have a fab weekend everyone

princess_pea

DNMS glad the job went well

Maria at least it's not wind! Hope you can shift the headache

DawnW

OK, time for an update:

Get rid of dead flowers One vase gone to compost heap, but 2 more need to go. Hopefully it won't rain so much tomorrow - nothing more likely to make me avoid paddling down to the compost bin than - having to paddle!
Make the tomato soup that I didn't make yesterday (had cheese on toast instead) Done, used up some lurking cream from fridge to make cream of tomato
Wash kitchen floor Done
Unload sales stock and other bits from car (that will be a wet job ) Done, just got to drag it up to the loft now
A freecycle item is going this morning Gone
Another one is listed De-listed it due to annoying responses (is it in new condition with box so that I can give it as a Christmas present :mad:) so I will take it to the CS on Monday instead
More decluttering, find more items to go. I started a major declutter a few months ago, and did get rid of loads, but I still have stuff kicking around and stuffed in cupboards that I don't use.
Mins total for today:
#12 ice cream maker - freecycled
# 13 toastie maker, in CS bag for Monday
# 14,15,16 & 17 4 pill boxes which belonged to my Mum. No idea why I was keeping those, as they certainly didn't have any happy memories attached! CS bag.
#18 frilly gingham thingy off a gifted jampot, bin
#19, 20, 21, 3 pairs of rusty tweezers, bin
#22 a coin purse CS bag
#23 a shoe box, recycling
#24, 25, 2 bits of foam that the person who fitted my sofa cover shoved down the side of the cushions for some reason - binned
#26, food waste alert here :eek:, but I chucked out some really horrible Greek biscuits that OH bought in Lidls for some reason. They were like bits of plywood pebble dashed with sesame seeds and really horrid _pale_ Apologies if this is being read by a Greek person and they are a national delicacy

So, not a bad haul today :eek:

Walk and groom pup later. Hope it stops raining later, as if it is raining he tends to want to be carried inside my coat instead of walking, which rather defeats the object! Done, we managed to find half an hour when it didn't rain!
Apart from that, I am not going out anywhere today, so am aiming for a NSD Nothing spent - though I did spend a bit of time looking at rage cookers online as mine (in the house when we bought it) is definitely past its best :eek:
OH is back later, but will have eaten so no need to cook a big meal again today :T Well, he was back earlier than he thought so I made potato wedges, ham and eggs as I didn't have anything out of the freezer.
His phone has died, so will need to buy a new one this week :mad:

More fireworks tonight, after Thursday and Friday night as well :eek: Seems such a waste of money - why not just go to the organised display :huh: Luckily the pup doesn't seem to be bothered by it. Old dog used to be terrified

Happy Birthday Bob, just a few days after mine (and a lot of years after, obviously :rotfl: )

glass_half_full

Good morning all!


Thanks CCL for starting the thread. So many congratulations on your achievement :T:T. I have followed your diary since coming on here and yours is one that inspired me to start my own, thanks!!


I realise that many of you posting on this daily thread are real veterans and I am a relative newbie. Some of my posts are early days stuff. I hope you guys don't mind me posting in here, it is really helping me to stay focused in these early days and stay disciplined,



Here are some DFW steps for today.
1. Keep posting everyday on the small steps thread
2. Transferring all outstanding CC debt (£7900) to zero % so debt free day is now Feb 2018 not July 2018 due to interest savings
3. Filled in YNAB
4. Insisted work pay for a course on invoice rather than me on CC which has been the case in the past
5. Low spend day today going to a bonfire local display £5 each


Have a great day y'all!