Monday 25 Jan 2016. What small dfw stuff will you do today?

maria3104

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.

maria3104

Morning all.
5.00 watched ds2 pull the most beautiful set of twin lambs ever. Fabulous mum now having breakfast and admiring her lambs. He is now milking, I have ironed, got dryer on cheap rate and am clock watching to 7.15 when I will check again for any more action.
Great weather.
Today I need to:
Check banking.
Do farm vat
Pay bills
Go to work, normal shift

Have a good week all.
Maria

PurpleFairy26

Morning Maria, what a lovely way to start the day with new arrivals

My list today:
Check banking, update sheet
Check surveys an FPL
Meals from plans, soup to work for lunch
Hope Monday commute is kind
Washing shuffle to rads, airer shortly. Heating not likely needed as seems mild again here
PAD to cc
See if there is anything else on my Jan list I can do. - if not plan when I can do, add a couple of annoying things to list - thanks foxgloves
DD2 parents evening tonight - last one at nursery before preschool with the most loveliest key worker ever, who not only keeps a lovely book for us (like they all do) but adds extra crafts and things in. Am looking forward to it

Have a lovely day everyone.

ziggy2407

Good Morning

Maria - Thanks for starting us off today, how do you manage to work and fit in all that you do?

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
Check Banks - Done
Bump all sale listings/freecycle/facebook -
Strip both beds and re-make -
Washing -
Ironing -
Clean wheelie bin -
Read -
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

Bobarella

Congratulations on the new arrivals Maria

Jono awww hope the last nursery parents evening goes well.

Just been reviewing progress on the NST Challenge this month. I'm very pleased to have cleared £440 this month which has now chipped me under the £200 a month mark if I want to be clear by next Christmas. It started off around £225 so it's going down with each overpayment I make.

I've been working hard to batch cook for the week and this week is all set from a couple of hours work on Saturday. I have usually meal planned for years now but batch cooking is a new thing that seems to be well worth the hassle.

Will have managed 21 NSDS by Friday with a bit of luck.

Starting to think about February and any challenges there. Half term will be one.

Good luck with your lists all

Bob

P.s morning Ziggy we crossed over

crazy_cat_lady

Aww, little lambs.
Morning Maria, Jonno and all who follow.
Just a quick check in from me this morning - I lay in bed a long time this morning. Can't believe there's still a few more weeks until half term...
Here's today's list
check banking and PAD (4 days till payday)
get dh out and about doing something
get the kids to do something round the house
full day of teaching
mark a set of books
try really hard not to stress
exercise
early night
keep a wombling eye out round school
That will do for now. Have a good day everyone

foxgloves

Morning Campers,
Lovely to sign on here to read about new lambs!
Bit of a random day today, as have loads to do, but not one job alike. Will be doung some frugal stuff:
*Bedroom heating turned back down a notch now that the cold snap is over.
*Update energy reading spreadsheets.
*Laundry done overnight on cheap tariff. Will re-load for tonight.
*Finish cleaning house, especially where workmen left mud last Fri.....tho they were pretty good on the whole. Minimal products, mop & washable cloths.
*Make tomorrow's packed lunch.
*Wrap ebay item.
*Sort out cheque to renew 'Friends' membership of local historic gardens. Price hasn't increased for 4 years & financially, we're 'in credit' by our 3rd visit, so worth doing, as we usually go about 5 or 6 times a year & admission would be £14 for the two of us.
*Do at least one small task from my Annoying Things list, & continue progressing a longer one.
*Pay another 50p into my sealed pot.
*Knit more of my purple socks.
Various other jobs today, but those are the main bits of money saving. Hoping to clear the decks for my Big Budget Day on Thurs & to make a start on the garden on Friday. Weds a bit of a write-off as I have to prepare for a meeting, attend the meeting & do other related stuff. I just fancy setting myself up for the week with a good start today......so here I go!
New week, Frugalistas! Keep your hand on your pence. No-one can MAKE you fritter it!
F x

DawnW

Morning all
Thanks for the start Maria, and congratulations on the new arrivals
Hope parents evening goes well Jonno
Batch cooking works for me too Bob My daughter does this thing where, if one of her friends is having a baby, she will make loads of meals and fill their freezer for when the new arrival puts in an appearance and the parents don't have time to think, let alone cook I think that is such a lovely thing to do, and is so appreciated :A
Hope you have a non-stressful day CCL
:hello: Hello Ziggy

Right, list for me today:
OH out and being fed, so no cooking needed today, I have lots of odds and ends and leftovers I can choose from for just me
No heating on downstairs
Dog walks x 2
Pull up some more chard plants for the hens
Take some new items to my sales unit, and no doubt bring some back
Take a postal survey item to the post office
Wash floors
Dust furniture
Look up how to prune and train a large and unruly climbing rose :eek:
Google what I need to do to my fruit trees
Peg washing on line to (hopefully) dry - well, it isn't raining at least
Any surveys that appear, check FPL etc
Aiming for another NSD

Hmm I'm sure there was more than that - I will pop back later to update

Hope you all have a good day

DawnW

Hello Foxgloves :hello:
We must have cross-posted.

La_escocesa

Well hello there everyone :hello:

Thanks for the kick off Maria. :A How sweet about the lambs

I'm off work today - yippee - one of the random days I like to take to get things done around the house. Yes guys - I am a saddo and proud.

Bob - I love the sound of all the challenges you do! The NST sounds awesome! I don't think I could keep up. Last year I did the virtual sealed pot and £2 savings but I never posted on either thread - seriously just couldn't keep up :rotfl: I've been trying to think about what I can do in Feb under the guise of 'come on, it's the shortest month - I could definitely do it'.

Josie - It was lovely to see you back yesterday. I've been away from posting for a while too but I do find I'm more focussed when I'm back here. Lovely news about bump too. (PS. My name begins with 'P' )

What else:

• Quick @ldi shop
• Building new wardrobes
• Clearing out clothes before they go in beautiful new wardrobes :A
• Took another booking for next week's course :T
• Teaching tonight - covering 2 classes for someone :T
• Bit of biz promo/prep as always :A
• £3 survey in my inbox :j
• Do free FutureLearn course :A

Yesterday I helped my parents switch gas and electricity - mum is due £100 back from overpaid gas and they're going to save a whopping £74 a month!!!! :eek: I did the estimate based on actual energy used last year so I'm pretty sure it's accurate!! We did it through Quid co compare thingy so I'll get £40 cashback too. :T

1974nicola

Crazy cat lady. You're a teacher? Have you tried tutoring? I've set up a website - free for teachers - where you can advertise yourself to tutor. No fee no commission - perfect for DFW.
It's at TutorMeet.co.uk