Thursday 3rd March - 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)
  
• Cooking On A Bootstrap, cheap recipes ( Link)
  
• eBid ( Link )
  
• Freecycle ( Link )
• Free Postcode Lottery ( Link )
• FreeStuff ( Link )
  
• FreeUKStuff ( Link )
• i-Say Surveys (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)

Checked 25 Feb 2016.

allydowd

News:

I noticed two things in the news yesterday:

Microchipping of dogs will soon be compulsory for all dogs in England. This comes into force 6 April. But there is a "but". Your contact details must also be up to date on the database, otherwise you will be breaking the law and could be fined £500. There are six recognised databases, you can get contact details for them here if you need to update. (Link) You may be charged to update your details. Many charities will chip your dog free. Here's a list of who. (Link)

For anyone who does not have a TV Licence because you only watch catch-up tv after the live broadcast the rules are changing and you will "soon" require a licence. (Link)

allydowd

Hi March Misers,

Hurrah! Today is my day off. I'm sitting here in a hat and scarf not putting the heating on til my OH gets up. The lights are off too. Must keep the bills down, we were 25% over our self-imposed allowance last month.

This list will grow as the morning goes on.

Debt Free-Nillionaire Continuity Plan Month Nine:

* Check balances.

* Update Finances Spreadsheet and make a backup copy.

* Check what my wages will be tomorrow and update spreadsheet. I meticulously log all hours worked as my employer sometimes makes mistakes! Print and store this month's payslips.

* Check credit card loyalty scheme. £15 accrued.

* Write to Housing Association rejecting their offer of changing how we pay our rent. The letter is cleverly worded to imply that everyone has to change their payment method, but a proper reading reveals that we don't have to change at all. This really makes me cross; they are trying to force people into doing things their way for their convenience. Letter will be delivered by hand without an envelope.

* Do GfK surveys.

* Do iSay surveys.

* Online scrapyard sent us the wrong wee part for the car. They've now sent the right part which I've fitted and they say we can keep the wrong part. I've put it on eBay. Should get £5 for that.

* List OH's camera lens on eBay.

* Check how much data I have left on mobile. Use it to watch something nice on iPlayer.

* Clear out Admin pile.

* Check if Meerkat Movies has expired.

* Bring crocus indoors for free flowerage.

* Get OH to plant the rose she bought me for 99p.

What about you folks?

DawnW

Morning all
Thanks for the start Ally, and for the info I agree with the requirement to microchip dogs, as it might deter some of the irresponsible owners from getting them on a whim and then dumping them, or neglecting them Ambivalent about the TV licensing though - I like the fact that the BBC is advert free (though there are lots of things I don't much like about them) but dislike the fact that many of the people who are prosecuted for not having a licence are those in genuine poverty :mad: And I don't like the bullying, hectoring tone of the comms from the licensing people to those who don't own a TV either!

If it is any consolation, my heating bill was a lot higher than usual last month too

I didn't post yesterday, but did read the thread, and was sorry to hear that so many online friends are having such a hard time Special thoughts for Ziggy too, today.

Anyway, my list for today:
Dogwalks x 2 Done
Take dog to visit prospective home dogsitter, to see if I like them, and if she and the pup will get on (he gets on with everyone, but being a puppy still, is more work than an older dog) She is a lovely lady Confirmed booking with company, and cancelled the kennels booking (aka the 'puppy orphanage' )
Pay a cheque into the bank Done
Take some postal survey stuff to the post office Done
Collect dry cleaning Collected one item, a dress I bought at a CS last week - it looks fantastic, and just what I needed to wear to a wedding early next month . Other item (OH's dodgy suit :eek:) wasn't back so will need to collect tomorrow
Pop into sales unit while I am out Done, there seems to be one small item sold. Could be better, but at least something has sold!
HM meals from stores, stuff to use up today Done
Managed a NSD yesterday, hoping for another today (dry cleaning is already paid for) Failed
Any surveys, check FPL Done, close to payout on onepoll now
Wash kitchen floor, as GD spilt something sticky on it yesterday Oops forgot this Not sure how!
Put CDs in a wallet thing I have had for ages and recycle cases Not done
Sow tomato seeds (still haven't done this) Done

I am sure there is more, but will pop back later to update.
Hope you all have a better day than yesterday!

Picked up half a bag of rubbish along the grass verge at the front of our terrace The joys of living on through road, I suppose, but it looks better now

crazy_cat_lady

Morning everyone :wave:
Thanks for the start this morning Ally - enjoy your day off.
I've had a bit of a restless night, and have a massive amount of guilt going on about taking time off work. I'm working through some links to help me deal with this and my cbt stuff is out as well. I am going to write my usual list, but not worry if I can't get through it.
:lipsrseal Check banking and PAD
:lipsrseal Get kids to school
:lipsrseal Get dh to pick kids up later
:lipsrseal Get dd to cheerleading
:lipsrseal Sort through my billion or so knitting and crochet projects and prioritise
:lipsrseal Work through some CBT exercises
:lipsrseal Nap if I need to
:lipsrseal Try not to stress
:lipsrseal Try not to spend too much time in admiration of my new freezer :rotfl:
Have a good day everyone.

crazy_cat_lady

Hi Dawn - we cross posted.
Ziggy, I am thinking of you today

PaceThePixie

Morning All :hello:

I thought I would pop in early to wish a soggy but smiley day for everyone. I am off to work shortly

My day:
A full day at work
All meals from cupboards.
Check and update monthly budget.
Checked online banking and saving. Found a bit to move too
A NSD hopefully. I recently slipped back to old ways :eek: putting my foot down with myself now though :rotfl:

This is all for now. Stay safe folks.

Pace

maria3104

Morning all
Showered, fed, ready to dress and do another half day. Not sure if my back is better or not but at least I can walk ish!!
Dinner from fridge, the house is heaving with food.
Did lists yesterday and got quite excited but the flaw is I need to be able to move freely to go even the smallest stuff. Maybe next week.
Watched Dave Ramsey 7 steps again last night again. He amuses me.
Today I will be an athlete!!!!!!
Have a good day all.
Maria

PurpleFairy26

Morning all :hello: sending much love to your and your family Ziggy today. Also hope the builder turns up and behaves himself.

Thanks for starting us off Ally. My day will mainly look like this :
Meeting at work cancelled meaning I can work from home :j
Meals from stores/planner
Wrap DM Mother's Day gift I got from Wi1kos yesterday
Check banking last day before payday (thank goodness )
Double check budget, added my new pots. Need to get over my 'free' money is less but money allocated better
At least one thing if March/annoying list
Look at links Ally provided for mindfullmess

LegoMum - would you share your date cake recipe, found a big bag that are now in my use up box

woollisox

Good morning all!
Missed yesterday, I did start typing it out but someone was reading over my shoulder on the bus so I cancelled that and promptly forgot about it.
It's another wet and miserable day today. OH is annoying me, I asked him to put a lamb stew in the cooker but he was acting like if asked him to go outside and grow the vegetable and kill the sheep himself. I wouldn't mind but he offered to do it yesterday! Men!
Today's plan:
*Don't be late for uni! done
*Package up eBay sales and send them off done
*leave uni and go straight home done
*do a bit of light housework (collect up washing, pick up rubbish off the floor, sweep and mop) done
*read up for my seminar tomorrow.

Uni work is starting to get bit heavier now, I completely missed one unit out so I'm trying to make it up a little bit at a time. Placements start next week so need to be fully prepared for that, somehow.
Hope you all have a better day than me.
Wool x