:) Tuesday 26th July - What Small Debt Free Wannabe things will you do today?

lego_mum

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:

maria3104

Hi

Thanks for the start Lego mum. Have lost my focus a little lately. Not gone mad spending but food has crept up from 250 a month to 360. Adds up over a year.
My job list for the day is so long it is scary. Small steps I think are required.
Have fun all.
Maria

Bobarella

Morning All

Crazy week ongoing. Last few days before I officially end the old business and start the new. Feel like im riding 2 horses

Impressive list LegoMum hello Maria & all who follow.

Bob

foxgloves

Morning Friends,
Cooler today so better for all the gardening I need to do. Hoping headache will shift with the fresh air. Not a great night's sleep due to the lovely mr f sleepwalking (like a galumphing elephant!) Anyway, today's plans:
*Defrost leftover pastry to make a quiche for dinner.
*Make tomorrow's packed lunch.
*Clear broad bean bed & chop up old plants for compost. Free exercise digging over bed for next crop.
*Pod, blanch & freeze remaining beans
*Peg last load of this week's laundry out (until the rain arrives).
*Do a few surveys. Am hoping to have been accepted onto a longer one which pays 30,000 points.
*Water all veggies & give courgettes a dose of seaweed.
*Make bread rolls.
*Knit more of Mum's present.
*Cut down small stash of big plastic bottles into free cloches ready for next Spring's baby veggie plants.
*Rescue mini polytunnel from back of hedge & see if it's still useable. Don't want to buy a new one.
*Sow some more radishes & spring onions.
I think that will be about right for what I can realistically achieve.
F xx
Oh......we have been accepted for the loan we require to buy our new car. I feel very twitchy about borrowing after having no debt (except mortgage) since 2011 so as you can imagine, I have studied the 'Partial Repayment' clause & will be looking to use this facility to reduce the term of the loan. It is going to involve extra money saving efforts but at least I know I have the skills now.

SpekySquarehead

Good morning everyone, busy this morning.

lego mum - A very organised list. Impressive.
Bob - how exciting! Wishing you all the success.

Yesterday was productive and I hope today will be too;
Check banks and YNAB
Check free postcode lottery
Bring lunch and snacks to work
Get some exercise
Rack a NSD
Go to the library and collect my book
In fact....I Need to get my car cleaned as it has bird dirt on it and I've heard it can erode the paint. So there goes the NSD.

Have a lovely day everyone

SpekySquarehead

It did indeed, thank you. In short, it looks like they'll offer me the job and in their words they'll "get something over to me in the next couple of days".

crazy_cat_lady

Morning all :wave:
You have been SO busy Legomum - really pleased that it's all coming together for you now. And Speky - huge congratulations on the job. Well done.
Maria - I'm with you - I've had a couple of shaky months on the MSE front and things are starting to get out of hand for me so I'm determined to get back on track.
Foxgloves - try not to worry too much. I know that's easier said than done but the debt is for a good reason....
Today I still feel tired (no surprise). Not too many plans but enough to keep me busy.
check banking and PAD
me and ds to the hairdressers
do my eyebrows before they get up and walk off my face on their own :eek:
dd to her summer school
physio appointment
crochet
try and keep ds entertained so we don't descend into mayhem later on
meals from stores
post a couple of letters
hoping for a nsd but suspect that we need milk at some point
try and remain calm

foxgloves

Thanks CCL. Yes, you are right. It's planned spending. I'm just jittery because of the recession & fears concerning income security but we always new we'd need a loan to replace the car & I do (for the first time) have a good deposit saved.

Getting on great with the list. Broad bean bed cleared. Think will re-sow with little turnips for autumn stews. Think will also update blog later.
Can anyone with small children help with this? I need to buy a hyper-allergenic sunscreen for babies. Does anyone know of a good inexpensive brand? (Given that I don't have children, can you guess what it's for?)
Ok, coffee break over. Must get back to the veggie garden.
F x

foxgloves

Sorry 'knew'....can't edit typos on my phone. Grrr!

Baileys_Babe

Morning All

Lego Mum Thank you for starting the thread this morning, I love waking up and starting my day catching up with everyone’s plans. That was a very early start is everything ok? You seem to have managed to do so much to your house over the last week Sorry to hear about the kitchen floor problem hopefully you can solve it quickly.

Bob I seem to have been away (and not had time to read back) when you announced plans for your new business, what do you have planned? Good luck in your exciting new adventure.

Foxglove We recently needed to replace OH car (essential for him getting to work) and also needed to take out a loan so we could buy it but by following advice on this thread we only needed a loan for 20% of the cost not the majority of it, which is so much better than it could of been. I still want rid of this and all of our other debt, mainly mortgage ASAP. We are trying to balance that with giving our children a life and education which are other priorities for us.

This week we are very busy after children's martial arts classes this evening we are going away for 2 nights to meet up with some family, we will be back very late Thursday, I'm hopefully we can be home for 11pm but may be a lot later depending on traffic etc. Friday we are off to Home education 2 day event and camping, various different crafts, activities and tying in with RSPB Big wild sleep out, which will obviously be another late night. It is also ds's birthday this week :eek: we have managed to plan a few things to do this week to celebrate but the party will need to wait until we are home for a while.

Today is going to be spent getting organised so the week flows smoothly.

Today I plan to:
NSD, martial arts classes paid for in advance that way I get 2 discounts :money:
Write shopping list, for later in the week
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
Post letter today so it can go 2nd class
reusable sanitary wear
Stick to meal plan
B/L/D from stores
Reserve library books
PAD into saving £3.66 -1p
Unpack bags, when we get home so nothing is lost, damaged or allowed to go off
Pack snacks
Take water with us
Take hot drink in thermal mug
Check FPL
Ashleigh
Make cards,3 all for this week, would have liked have done these earlier, should have thought about it in the spring
Use recycled wrapping paper
Regift present
Educate children for free
Entertain children and us for free
Do not wash hair
Cut open toothpaste tube, these are last longer than I thought they would
Dry laundry outside, may end up moving it to the airer if the rain that is threatening arrives
Ongoing projects:
Cull 100 emails
Keep up to date with destroying confidential waste
Continue making scrap/note pad with used envelopes, the back of used paper all held together with a bulldog clip


I should have internet access whilst I'm away so I should be able to keep up with everything that is going on

princess_pea

Morning all


Thanks for starting LegoMum - you've achieved so much!
Bob - Good luck with your new venture
Maria - I know the feeling. I just try and remember that every day is a new one and a chance to be good on the spending front
Spekky - Well done on the job
Foxgloves - The car loan is a necessary evil. At least you have prepared by saving a big chunk. At least it's controlled debt
Cat - You made me chuckle with your comment about your eyebrows - mine get into similar states!


Sorry if I've missed anyone out!


NSD today for me
All meals from stores and ate breakfast
Busy day at work - catching up on little jobs I want to get out of the way
Banking to check/ spending diary updated
Walk home from work
FPL and surveys if I remember!
Free tea at work
Ironing tonight as I have to go to Birmingham tomorrow for work so can't be late for the train!


Have a lovely day everyone