Saturday 30th/ Sunday 31st January - what small DFW things will you do this weekend?

PurpleFairy26

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.

PurpleFairy26

:hello: everyone we have made it until the end of January :j

It's warm here this morning after raining heavily overnight. Hope everyone is ok. My list for this weekend:
Last bit of washing done ready for week ahead, ironing done for school uniforms
Quick clean through, fly lady bathroom
Call bathroom floor company and ask if they really want to do it, it's been 3 weeks after 2 aborted visits. If not will go elsewhere.
Sort out toy box in DD room, de clutter and put some younger toys to be sold
Packed lunch to dancing - subs already paid
Start February things list
Replace water retention thingys that are full in front 2 bedrooms, see if I need to order more to stock for next time
Meal plan for next week - try and find some inspiration for girls food when they don't eat the same as us, am in a bit of a rut with their meals
Do some adult colouring tonight and try not to be on t'interweb all night
Run tomorrow for free exercise

I'm sure there will be more, I'll be back to check in a few time over the weekend. Have fun everyone.

crazy_cat_lady

Good morning - and happy weekend! :T
Thanks for the start Jonno
No rest for the wicked here - I'm enjoying a cuppa and an episode of Silent Witness in peace before the rest of the family are up and the day starts properly. Lots to do this weekend.
:cool: check banking and PAD
:cool: clean the bathroom
:cool: hoover through
:cool: get the kids to do something around the house
:cool: get ds to his footy match
:cool: get both kids to gymnastics
:cool: get my refund from the gymnastics lot
:cool: mark some tests
:cool: make time for exercise
:cool: make time for crochet
:cool: do 2 things from annoying list
:cool: meal plan for the week ahead
:cool: aim for nsd (not sure how achievable this is as ds needs new school shoes before Monday)
:cool: all meals from stores
:cool: rest and relax as much as I can at the moment
Think that will do for a start. Have a good day everyone.

maria3104

Hi

Happy Saturday. What a mad start we have had. Visit to the maternity ward and 3 girls lambing all fighting over another who had lambed. They basically all wanted the born one so they did not have the effort of delivery! This I can relate to. DS2 came and rescued me and sorted out the chaos. Such fun and only 4 more months of this to go. No grass anywhere and constant rain. Even the geese are fed up.

So today I hope to resist going to a chicken sale and buying chickens. I have 6 which is enough but I am an addict. I want more chickens, no I NEED more chickens. I must resist. Perhaps I had better go back to bed and just focus on something else, like not chickens.
Mr T coming tomorrow with the first order for feb groceries, should be around £50 and I am hoping desperately to stay under the £250 for the month.

All machines were on cheap rate. Washing up to date. Dishwasher needs to go on again.
Could do with baking to use up some of the eggs......oops......maybe I do not need more chickens. But I want more chickens,,,,,, this could end badly.
Have a happy day everyone.

Maria

determined_new_ms

Morning jonno & cat & thanks for starting the thread jonno

jonno re meals can you look into things you can make for the sprongs and then jazz up for an adult version? I used to do stuff like that when mine were young. So for example simple fajitas with ketchup for kids and then spiced up with more adult sauces for us etc

Ok am logging on as wanting advice/opinions. I had booked tonight off of work at the crisis cafe as oh had plans. I booked several weeks ago to give my employers plenty of time to make alternative arrangements, as it just isn't financially feasible to pay for a babysitter. After travel and babysitting costs I would earn about £2 for being out of the house from 5-10.30. Last night received an email from the boss saying there were problems with the cover and if one of us can cover she will pay double. So now am in 2 minds whether to get my babysitter. After all costs now I would earn £60.

Dunno what to do? Now I had planned on not working and having the evening to myself I was looking forward to getting a bottle of wine, having a pamper session and just unwinding as it is the first whole weekend I've had off for ages and from next week onwards I will be working Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun evenings for 2 weeks and the 3rd Thurs & Sun. But then it's hard to turn down £60. Arrgggh! What to do??!

allydowd

jonno7 wrote: »

Replace water retention thingys that are full in front 2 bedrooms, see if I need to order more to stock for next time

Jonno, are you talking about those wee trays of white crystals you put in rooms to suck up the 'damp'. This kind of thing? (Link)

If so, you might save money by buying in bulk. Those white crystals are calcium chloride. Calcium chloride is a cheap type of salt. You have a few of options for getting this cheaply:

It's used by people who keep tropical fish. Look in pet shops. Also used by folk who have swimming pools if you have a local pool supplier.

Google "calcium chloride" for cheap suppliers.

Go to a builders merchant and ask for "road salt" or "grit". You'll find this time of year lots of places are selling the stuff "dirt cheap", it's the same stuff you throw on roads and paths to melt snow and ice. I think even Tesco are selling it.

Look around the house for those wee sachets that you get when you buy a pair of shoes. That's the same stuff too. You'd need to find a few to fill a pot but you could try asking local shoe shops to keep the unwanted ones people leave behind when they don't take the box home for you.

You can use table salt or table rock salt, the stuff you put in a salt grinder. However, sometimes the stuff you buy in supermarkets to go on your food contains additives which can make it work less well.

Some people buy cat litter and use that. I haven't tried it myself, and there are lots of different types, but if you have a cat with a litter tray you could try it.

Chemistry lesson over. Apologies to everyone who's heard me say this every Winter since I joined.

allydowd

determined_new_ms wrote: »

.

Dunno what to do? Now I had planned on not working and having the evening to myself I was looking forward to getting a bottle of wine, having a pamper session and just unwinding as it is the first whole weekend I've had off for ages and from next week onwards I will be working Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun evenings for 2 weeks and the 3rd Thurs & Sun. But then it's hard to turn down £60. Arrgggh! What to do??!

You say you were looking forward to staying in. I'd stay in. :rotfl:

allydowd

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Scrimps

I have paid another £8 from the change jar into the emergency fund at the bank this morning and listed a wetsuit on fleabay. I have lots of washing to do but am just going to wash the work stuff for the week and take it to work on hangers - it can dry in the warm clean changing rooms there. The rest of the washing can wait for a day it will dry fully outside. I loathe paying for the laundrette to tumble dry or drying indoors - we already have to run dehumidfiers because of our damp house.

I have a couple of other things I would like to list on fleabay, doing some batch cooking and then going for a bike ride once it warms up this afternoon.

allydowd

Morning all,

Thanks for the starter Jonno.

Greetings from the tale end of Storm Gertrude. We had a bit of snow overnight. Wandering around the house in a hat until it warms up.

Four months of working too hard + zero free time = Me looking like "Albert Steptoe".

Today is Operation Free Body Rescue:

* Started with an unusual but much deserved full night's sleep.

* Go for a run. ParkRun is cancelled so will hurtle around the village instead and save petrol on getting there. Nope.

* Manicure at home. Will coat nails in olive oil. Done. Found a whole host of manicure things in OH's drawer.

* Pedicure at home. I look like a character from "Where The Wild Things Are". Done.

* Home haircut. Head resembling "Dad" from "Bread". Done. Also cut OH's hair and she is dying it herself.

* Treat mouth to some TLC.

* Rescue eyebrows. Look like Norman Lamont. Done.

* Scrub body with handful of rock salt and a loofah. I seem to be scaly. Done.

* Beg OH for free full body massage.

* Lounge in bath for longer than is necessary. Done.

* Use second peel-off facemask I received at Decemberfest. Done.

Also need to pack for our trip further North tomorrow.

What have you folks got lined up for today?

maria3104

not gone to the chicken sale yet. Am resisting.....

It is killing me.

It is actually not raining this exact moment so we fancy turning out some ewes and lambs. How brave are we, forecast says 12 days of rain to come. Dear dilemma, so we are going to put little plastic jackets on the lambs to help them to keep dry.

Resisting the chicken sale.,...... killing me.

Have fun all. just saying, I would work for the £60, but that is just me. Then I would spend it all on chickens.....