Thursday 12th May - 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

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 )
• Income Tax Calculator (Link)
  
• i-Say Surveys (Link)
• List of online newspapers. At bottom of the linked page. ( Link )
• LuckyPhone free lottery with loyalty rewards (Link)
  
• Marriage Tax Allowance (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 )
• Wombling Guide (Link)
  
• You Need A Budget site and App (Link)

Checked 7 April 2016.

La_escocesa

Hi guys :hello:

I thought I'd kick us off today as I'm up nice and early. For the past couple of days I haven't had time to post when I normally do (my lunch breaks) because I've had to come home to walk the dog while OH is working.
I hope you are all well and looking forward to the weekend already! :beer:

Here's me:
Posh coffee at home - 35p rather than £2.50 :cool:
Brekkie at home
Don't think we have any packed lunch stuff - will have another scout round :cool:
Dinner from stores
Transfer money from surveys to paypal
Cancel hotel booking I don't need before I forget!!
Email yoga peeps about tonight's class
Tidy round
Shopping with a list - damage limitation!!
Print postage at work to send a card I have in my stash :cool:

Parents are visiting this weekend so I need to get bits and pieces in and do a bit of a meal plan.

Have a great day everyone!

allydowd

Hi May Marvellous-oes,

Thanks for the starter LaE.

I finally have a day off, so naturally, I have awoken early when I could've had an extra hour in bed. :rotfl:

It's going to be a scorcher here today.

It was our 7th Wedding Anniversary yesterday. DW bought me 99p carnations, a bottle of our fav wine and made dinner. I bought her Chinese last weekend and inexpensive opera tickets for the forthcoming weekend.

Also, during the week, I offered to buy her a new silicon medic alert-style wristband but while choosing a colour DW spotted a gold plated one which she fell in love with. It was £31 instead of the £12 I'd planned to spend but I bought it anyway. Could just about afford it. It arrived yesterday and DW is thrilled so Wifey Brownie Points there.

Debt Free-Nillionaire Continuity Plan Year Two:

* Trip to the dentist for a check-up. Hoping I won't need anything doing but I know I probably will do, it's rare for me to escape the drill.

* Going to the heated (filtered) sea water, outdoor swimming pool in the next town today. The sun should reach 21c today. I've lived in this region for 16 years and never been to this pool. Consolation for having to go to the dentist. If the pool agrees with me I'll do another 1km of my Great Big Swimmathon: Swim 5km in May oddysey.

* Will go spend the £16 credit card loyalty vouchers in M&S food hall. Perhaps we'll get some meat. Will be looking out for yellow stickered items at any rate.

* Sign up for free (Scottish) NHS Minor Ailments Service at local Pharmacy. They gave me a leaflet last time I was there saying I was eligible, I think on account of the fact I have a life-long medical condition which must be medicated daily. This means I can get basic medicines free for things like colds, minor infections etc. England also has a (more complex) scheme. DW can also sign up. Ask your Pharmacists if you think you may be eligible.

How about you folks?

PurpleFairy26

Morning all :hello: thanks for the start la E ally your (swim part) of your day sounds fab. Not a fan of dentists but needs must. Enjoy the sunshine and your day off.

Lovely sunny day here just enjoying 5 minutes peace before the smalls wake up

My list for today:
Peg washing out another half load to do to dry in the sun.
Lunch being provided by work in recognition for a recent project I lead (had to organise it though :rotfl:) then having dinner with supplier breakfast from stores
Check banking FPL and surveys, 5p from payout
get DH to call about changing his phone contract to sim only, bill is ridiculous this month and although he is still in contract as its within last 2 months they will let him swap
Reflect on mortgage options.
Quick shower
Text 3 customers about how much they owe. All money straight to cc, including profit
Message fleabayer about payment.
Double check April/annoying things and see if there is anything I can do.

Think that's about all, check back later. PF. Enjoy the sunshine.

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi all

Hope the dentist goes OK Ally. Another busy day for me, working at both jobs then DS1 to pick up from work at 4.30 and drop off at some fishing lakes nearby to meet a friend then DS2 to pick up from school at 5.15. However Thursday night is a reasonably free night so I might actually get a chance to sit down tonight.

Nothing especially debt busting that I can think off today. I am posting a couple of ebay parcels but the money will go to buy DS2 new clothes. Not sure what I am doing for tea as everyone will be home at different times but I will work something out.

Have a good day everyone x

crazy_cat_lady

Morning all :wave:
Thanks for the start LaE, and Ally - belated anniversary wishes for yesterday. Enjoy your day off and the nice weather. It's grey here again today but hopefully dry.
I used to love Thursdays but I've really gone off them in recent weeks. Too much stress and pointless rubbish going on to make work enjoyable.
Here's today's list:
:cheesy: check banking and PAD
:cheesy: use my free time at work wisely
:cheesy: mark a set of books
:cheesy: plan next week's teaching
:cheesy: get dd to cheerleading
:cheesy: help dd celebrate the end of her SATs, which end today
:cheesy: make time for exercise
:cheesy: crochet
:cheesy: do not stress (easier said than done)
Have a good day everyone. :beer:

crazy_cat_lady

Morning PF and Yorkshire. :wave:
And BB - hope that you're feeling better today.

determined_new_ms

Morning La E and ally thanks for starting the thread La E :A yay to do working :T

Quick post for me. Taking dgd to swimming this morning and will take a packed lunch to have at the parkafterwards if the weather is dry

Buying swimming membership - cost is £30 for the year but worked out it should save us £63 over the course of the year :T (tear taking account of membership cost)

All meals from stores - grab something out of the freezer for tea

Buy peanut butter for mousetraps - foxgloves how do you get rid of your furry critters? I've practically had to throw everything that isn't in a jar or tin out of our larder

Pick up items for cafe tomorrow while at sm.

Email work and ask the manager to bring a expenses form to the meeting tomorrow so I can submit expense - having laptop problems! Ours has got a virus so can't use that and the work laptop needs updating so can't use that! done

Plant runner beans in tubs - use canes I got on Sunday for free for the wigwams :T

Pot on peppers

Must make the pastries today

Need to write up report for work and send. Will start this in a minute

Email and accept 2 interviews offered for next weekend ask them to send me the adverts and job descriptions so I can prepare done

List a few more things on fleabay

Load of washing and on line

Ok that's all I think I need to do today. Hope everyone has a great day x

foxgloves

Morning all,
Flying visit only, as I really need to have a good productive day today - on all fronts, but esp. money saving. Feeling really motivated, so will crack on & pop back later to share what I achieved.
Lovely sunshine is also helping the motivation levels.
Back later,
F xx

Bouncybubbles

Morning


1. check all online accounts to see my debt slowly coming down :beer:
2. try and find how to login to Barclaycard online banking as it wouldn't let me on last time
3. have some 'posh' toast from a coburg cob snaffled from morrisons for 19p yesterday! made even better by finding 10p on the floor so only cost me 9p!
4. try and shove a quick lunch in before going to work at 12
5. eat as many free cakes as possible at work due to nurses day!
6. try and get a relatively early night ready for 3 mind bending days at uni to write 3500 words!
7. contemplate my own stupidity for not sticking to budget this month and having to use savings to get by :mad:
8. sit outside whilst having breakfast to enjoy the sunshine and get some free vitamin D :coffee: