Wednesday 2nd December - What small DFW things will you do today?!

La_escocesa

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.:D

allydowd

MONEY MAKING AND SAVING SITES AS OFTEN MENTIONED IN THIS FORUM:

• Benefits check-up ( Link )
• Coupon Shop Forum list of money-off coupons (Link)
  
• eBid ( Link )
  
• Freecycle ( Link )
• Free Postcode Lottery ( Link )
• FreeStuff ( Link )
  
• FreeUKStuff ( Link )
• i-Say Surveys (Link)
• Jack-At-A-Pinch, cheap recipes ( Link )
• List of online newspapers. At bottom of the linked page. ( Link )
• LuckyPhone free lottery with loyalty rewards (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 )
• NHS Minor Ailment Service article (Link)
  
• My Supermarket ( Link )
• OnePoll ( Link )
• Quidco ( Link )
• Reclaim PPI at no cost to yourself ( Link )
• Resolver tool. Helps you draft a letter, send it, monitor replies and then escalate it to an Ombudsman or key complaint body if it's not sorted. (Link)
  
• SayNoTo0870 cheap phone number finder ( Link )
  
• Survey sites that pay for your opinions ( Link )
• Swagbucks ( Link )
• Swapit ( Link )
• Tesco Orchard product testing (Link)
  
• Tickety Split cheap train tickets (Link)
  
• Toluna ( Link )
  
• TopCashBack ( Link )
• You Need A Budget site and App (Link)

Revised 31 Oct 2015.

La_escocesa

Hi everyone :santa2:

I got up nice and early with the hound so I thought I'd kick us off.

Thanks for the links Ally - I'm going to have a look into YNAB.

Rant alert!! I've been a nagging wife I remember this time last year I told OH he'd need to start paying bills as I couldn't cope on my own... He set up his business in Oct 2014 and wasn't bringing in any money from it. Then January came and he didn't have anything to put in the pot...Lo and behold January 2016 is nearly here and his business still isn't making enough to even pay his half of the mortgage. We can just about cope on just my pay but we need to start(re-start!) making serious inroads to pay stuff off. I feel like I'm the one struggling even though I earn loads and OH just expects the joint a/c to get topped up whenever he needs it.:( It's so frustrating because he gets so stressed about money but then doesn't do anything about it. There is a practical solution to his problem - get another job!! Not sure what else I can do/say to get the message across. I know he doesn't want to feel like his business has failed, but I keep telling him it hasn't, it's just not started up yet!! Get another job, work on your business part time, go full time whenever you're making enough money/are busy enough/have savings/have no debts! :mad:

Anyway...I digress...Here are my small things:

• Paid in a cheque
• Checked banking
• Cereal at work - free milk courtesy of my fabulous employer
• Sent a friend of a friend a job advert for my place - £2k finders fee if she gets the job :T
• Filled up my soap dispenser with bubble bath
• No lunch meal deals for me
• Look into YNAB
• Bit of voluntary work if I can face it - think I will give it up even though they are desperate for me not to
• Night in with some TV this eve :cool:

maria3104

Morning all.
Hopefully a nsd here.
Hope to clear lots of work and by the end of the week be a bit more in control of my desk.
Xmas shop booked with Mr t. Now I just need to avoid all other shops.
Have a good day all.
Maria

allydowd

Hi,

Thanks for the start La E.

I'm afraid my lists are still miniscule.

Debt-Free Nillionaire Month 6:


* Took a packed lunch.

* Gave it my all at work, despite yet more unjustified criticism.

* Re-watched a favourite DVD.

Have a good day everyone.

DawnW

Morning La E, and everyone who comes along later
Well, a spendy day for me today, as pup is due to have his neutering operation Feel sorry for him, though the last male pup we had done didn't really seem to notice :rotfl: I must be getting soft in my old age, or perhaps it is because he is so small.

It is also grandma day, and I have a 2 year old to entertain all day without her 'puppy poo' partner in crime :eek:

So, between looking after GD and worrying about pup, I am not likely to get much done today. Still, looking at the positives, I will do the following:
Walk pup before vet's, not sure if he will want a walk after Done, quite pathetic this evening
No spends apart from vet fees, which will be reduced as I belong to the practice's pet club (I pay £12 per month for all worming, flea treatments, regular check ups, plus discounts on routine treatments not covered by insurance and grooming etc) Got 20% discount on vet bill, and no other spends
HM meals from stores Done
Any surveys, FPL etc (though probably not till this evening when GD has gone) One survey appeared for onepoll, no others
It seems to be mild again, so no heating on unless it feels cold for GD Heating still off, but woodburner lit in the hope that pup will go to sleep in front of it!
Entertain GD for free

Right, dog walk #1 will need to be done shortly as GD will be here by about 8.30, so I had better get on!


Hope you all have a good day

DawnW

:wave: Hello to Ally and Maria, we cross posted

ziggy2407

Good Morning Everyone

LaE - Thanks for starting us off today!

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.

Quiet day and evening planned, today I will

Packed lunch for DS - Done
Packed tea for DH - Done
Make quiche for lunch with DH Before work -
Wrap a few pressies -
Write a few cards -
Look at pressie list and see whats still needed -
Bump all sale listings/freecycle/facebook
Check Banks -
Continue purge on Emails -
Continue decluttering -
Enter a few comps -
All meals from cupboards/fridge/freezer -
Check https://www.freepostcodelottery.com - Remember there are now 5 chances to win -
Check Lucky Phone -

Have a good day! Love to you all!

C x

crazy_cat_lady

Morning all
Another day, another dollar. Even though I feel like staying in bed all day and doing absolutely nothing. 12 more work get ups.
Here's my list for today:
check banking and PAD
reconcile YNAB
aim for nsd
all meals from stores
full day of teaching
do some marking
talk to my HoD about Year 10
15 mins housework and declutter
leave a list of things for dh to do
do not stress
try for an early night and some tv
count down to Christmas hols
do NOT suddenly decide I need to buy more Christmas pressies or groceries.
LaE - I feel your pain. I am the main earner in my household too, and dh isn't contributing much at the moment and some days it's so frustrating trying to hold everything together when he's not helping. I know the situation is different, but he's a real ignore-it-and-hope-it-goes-away type of person.
Have a good day!

YORKSHIRELASS

LaE I can really sympathise. My OH has been self employed for 12 years. Over the last 2 or 3 years he has gradually reduced his hours so now he works part time and we are struggling financially. He is in complete denial about this and any attempt to discuss it always ends in an argument. He just doesnt seem to be able to connect the hours he works with the money we have to pay the bills.

Anyhow, got to go and get ready for work. Will post properly later. Feeling the pressure at the moment, partly because of the time of year.

Karb

Morning everyone. Thanks LaE for starting the thread. Hugs to those who need them.

A fairly short list for me today. Checked online banking this morning and updated my spreadsheets. Brought lunch from home, had a free coffee at one of my calls this morning. Need to pop to Aldi on my way home, as I need some salad stuff, but will stick rigidly to my list. Tea will be pasta with various leftovers that are in the freezer - tuna mix for me, bolognese for DS as he doesn't like tuna. Trying to run the freezer down before restocking for Christmas, so this will help create some space.

Was up at 5.30 this am, and I really don't do early starts, but will try to find some energy tonight to go on the cross trainer. I suspect that is easier said than done though.

Have a great day all.