Wed 20th Jan - What small DFW things will you do today?

allydowd

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:

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.

allydowd

Morning all, :hello:

Greetings from Dowd Towers. Well, I just booted up my laptop to do some money-saving having got in from work and went to make coffee, opened the kitchen door and nearly fainted at the state of the kitchen. :eek: OH had been 'cooking' in there. It was like a reconstruction of the Somme. Don't misunderstand me, I'm really grateful that she cooks during the week, but does she have to 'decorate' the kitchen quite so liberally with food?! So, I powered down my laptop and headed into battle. I had to use a swimming pool full of hot water cleaning up. (Gentle) words will be had later. Anyway, after all that I'm all out of energy for money-saving and will soon be heading to bed:

Just a wee list:

* Charged phone at work.

* Sitting in my dressing gown and hat to avoid putting the heating on. The pipes are noisy and I don't want to wake OH.

* Updated Finances Spreadsheet.

* Used Stardrops and washable cloths to clean battlefield.

* Leftover puy lentil soup for breakfast.

* Need to plan my birthday for Friday.

How about you lovely people?

PurpleFairy26

Morning Ally, thanks for starting us off - your description of the kitchen made my laugh, my DH can be the same, why the need to use every utensil whilst cooking (and not put in DW on the way) is beyond me :rotfl:

My list for today will again be brief as long day at work and extra long commute each way to drop DD off to childcare:

Banking and spreadsheet
Surveys and £co
Meals from stores, lunch to work
Hot drink in car for journey
One thing off my January list
Decide where my tax rebate is going
See if my mum can pick up order for customer
Text customer and tell her amount for above order
Washing drying on rads whilst on anyway, rest on airer
Keep eye out for replacement f1tbit they are sending fir DH for free
Run tonight (no 4 in plan) will likely go to gym though as wont be back late and I'm not overly keen running late round the streets as there are lots of unlit gullys.

Think that's all, will check back later, J

princess_pea

Morning all, thanks for starting Ally
My OH is the same in the kitchen - he leaves trails of crumbs wherever he goes. I say trails, more like sack-fulls!


Bitterly cold here this morning (car read -5). I stupidly didn't get the proper scraper out of OH's truck last night so had to scrape the car with my ex's union membership card
NSD and all meals from stores
Busy day at work - I have a teaching session this morning using one of our art collections
Finish reading for course starting tomorrow
FPL and surveys to do at lunchtime
Some ironing tonight if not too knackered
Banking already checked :A


La E - I will talk to OH about Birmingham job and maybe ring their HR department to ask about help with travel. Even if I just got an interview it would be good practice!


Have a great day everyone

greensalad

Ah what a day so far. Trains delayed! Stood in -6c for far too long waiting for the train. Still feel it in my bones.

I did a fair bit from my list last night so I guess that is good. I still have a fair few bits to return though. Will try tonight. Will also go out at lunch to return handbag to post office (freepost)

:starmod: Do fast day, 3 shakes - I have 5lbs to lose before the end of the month and I'm lagging!
:starmod: Return handbag to post office at lunch (+£229)
:starmod: [strike]Order some more Dylon to sort out old towels (1 packet wasn't quite enough)[/strike] ordered purple this time, the Burlesque red gave a lilac towel a horrible brown colour. I think purple should go over it nice enough and give it a cool tone. Ordered on Amazon with prime so I can do it tomorrow.
:starmod: Free hour-long massage after work. Woo! I need it. My poor shoulder
:starmod: Take 2x Very parcels, 1x Simply Be parcel, 1x CUK parcel back to various places on the highstreet
:starmod: Carry on washing - mustn't forget to run an empty wash to get rid of dye residue
:starmod: Put together a bag of craft bits for freecycle
:starmod: Zapper some books before we move to try and get some cash!
:starmod: Music magpie all DVDs. I kept quite a few back but to be honest, everything can be rented on Sky for less and they just take up space.

Hoping we get confirmation of referencing today.

ziggy2407

Good Morning

Ally - 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.

Today I will

Packed lunch for DH & DS - Done
Bump all sale listings/freecycle/facebook -
Check Banks -
Sort filing drawer -
Read -
DIY Pamper -
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

Baileys_Babe

- oh I didn't know you could bulk cook porridge. How long does it keep
Originally posted by Bobarella

I have kept porridge made with milk in the fridge for 5 days with no problems, it possible keeps longer than this but I don't have a bigger dish to cook it in, I also make mine in the microwave as the dish is easier to clean than a pan;) and I soak the oats overnight in the liquid as it uses less fuel to cook.

make_the_change

Good Morning All,

Today's plan is as follows:

Take DS school - its freezing out
Put wash on - done
Breakfast for OH and he has taken leftover dinner for lunch - done
Nursery run with DD
If DS is better and I can brave the cold then baby clinic
School run and dinner from stores
Ironing, really must do as need school uniform
Surveys
Check finances for end of month bills :eek:

And breath.....!

PaceThePixie

Morning All,

Sorry I have not posted for a few days I have been catching up on stuff in the homestead and new part time job!

Todays little list:
Washing on.
Ironing (OH doing)
Check online banking.
NSD as the last two days have not been
All meals from cupboards but that is a standard every day of the week.
Heating on low. Extra layers a must. OH doesn't like this though :rotfl: tough love.

Hope everyone is well.
Stay safe, keep warm and keep smiling.
Pace

Baileys_Babe

Morning everyone :hello:

Ally Thank you for starting the thread.

Today I plan to:
NSD 14/20
Post on this thread for support, motivation and inspiration
Open curtains fully
Close curtains before it gets dark
Turn off lights and appliances not in use
reusable sanitary ware
Follow meal plan
B/L/D from stores
Check and reconcile bank accounts
PAD into saving £3.66 -1p
Soak porridge overnight
Set DW to run overnight
Set WM to run overnight
Pack snacks
Unpack bag of any left overs and rubbish
Freezer inventory, keep up to date
Check FPL
HWB for children’s beds instead of heating
Entertain children and us for free
Educate children for free - we are going out to a HE group today, but we paid in advance and I counted the cost on the day I paid
Read Martin’s email
Dry washing on airier
Keep heating to a minimum, we have jumpers and blankets
Light the stove, burning free wood
put kettle on stove for free hot water, put water in flasks if boiled before ready to use and refill kettle, water used for making hot drinks (we drink plenty of these, cooking rice, pasta etc, washing up etc)
Cull 100 emails
10 minutes shredding