Friday 12th August - what DFW things will you do today?

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 :money:

PurpleFairy26

Morning all :hello:

Quick post before I need to head out to work, hope commute is kind on this sunny Friday

Dawn there can be some good value insurance out there, worth doing a comparison and looking at cashback. Having had a vets bill for nearly £4K for my cat two years ago after he was hit by a car and broke a leg :eek: I was so grateful for the insurance (even though it only covered £2k) another :eek: but would have been worse and for £5 a month premium it was well worth it. I'd not claimed in the previous 8 but wouldn't have self insured to the same level if even I'd saved the premiums.

Determined hope you're ok and your daughters move went ok. Thinking of you.

My list:
Check banking, dh phone is cheaper than even his new sim only deal due to paying his last months contract in advance, so reduced amount on sheet and will pad the rest
Check surveys, £cl, FPL (signed up for a new site yesterday and earned 50p, will see how I get on - can cash out at £5 too )
Left over risotto for lunch, take hot drink for commute
Meals from stores DH making spag Bol
Update food tracker - DH did shop yesterday using coupons and discount, nearly £20 off weekly shop
Did some more of my accounts last night, will try and finish tonight - might try and print a couple of missing invoices at work
Check fleabay listings, couple of watchers on a couple of items. Re list one item
Use kiwi that's looking lonely in fridge for breakfast

Right must get on, check back later. PF.

crazy_cat_lady

Morning all
Thanks for the start PF. It's Friday!!! :j Been a funny old week this week...
I have a bit of catching up to do on here because I got very distracted with my crochet yesterday. I'm making a blanket and all my squares are done, but I'm getting into 'must get finished' mode - even though joining and bordering is a mammoth task within itself. I want to get it done today, but who knows? Hope everyone is doing ok.
With regards to pet insurance - mine aren't insured. I used to have them insured and paid between £5-10 a month. Then what I discovered was that when I needed to make a claim the insurers would find a way not to pay out. This happened to me three times without me ever getting a pay out from the insurers before I gave up. Essentially I was paying the insurance and then paying the vet bills anyway. Even my vet says I'm the unluckiest cat owner she's ever known in terms of cost and insurance. Hey ho.
So, here is today's little list
:cool2: check banking and PAD
:cool2: raise a ticket with TCB for my car insurance, which doesn't seem to have tracked
:cool2: sun is out again so probably a walk and some free pokemon hunting
:cool2: take ds to football training and walk him there to get steps up (been a lazy week)
:cool2: load of washing and line dry
:cool2: crochet (see above)
:cool2: plan something to make with a few bits of sweet treats (bakewell tart and iced buns) that are well past their best but I'm loathe to throw away...
:cool2: plan dinner tonight as ds has a friend staying over
:cool2: catch up properly on here
That will do - have a good day everyone!

SpekySquarehead

Morning PF and all of those who follow,

Had a great night last night with some delicious home cooked food. Unsure what tonight's plans are but I've been up since 5.30 so productive start to the day. My list

- Check banks and YNAB
- Check free post code lottery
- Bring lunch and snacks to work
- Exercise
- Shower at gym
- Aim for a NSD and if not, then a low spend day.
- Early night

Short but sweet.

Have a great Friday!

Bobarella

Morning All

Thanks for the start PF

Interesting to read all the views on whether to consider making this a weekly thread instead of daily.

BB I agree that posting a link to the old thread in the new thread would be good and useful.

After yesterdays day out which wasnt free in the end (£37) plus travel of £7 we really need a NSD to balance the books. I think can get a days menu out of what we have in. But I do find it hard being in the house all day (well garden on a day like this) & if we go down to the river we have to pass Mr T....here goes!


Bob

DawnW

Afternoon all
Thanks for the start PF
Well, I have dumped the pet insurance (thanks for your views, those who commented) - if it were £5-10 per month, I would have kept it, but it was nearly £30 :eek: for a healthy pup who is just 1 year old. I looked at cheaper options, but like you CCL, I suspect that if they could get out of it, they would avoid paying out. If he needs veterinary treatment I will pay it from savings - having said that, the £350 odd a year I will be saving by not renewing the insurance would cover a reasonably sized bill. I haven't had pet insurance before for all the other animals we have had, just paying as needed for any treatment, but took this out as I was offered an introductory offer via the vet.

Other than that:
Spent ages this morning looking for a small item sold on ebay overnight :mad: Found it in the end!
Took dog for a good run
Wrapped and posted the elusive ebay item plus one other
Walked to post office for free exercise / to save fuel, as they were only small parcels to post today
Popped into sales unit while I was in town, nothing sold there
Washing on line to dry

Still to do:
Water flowers in front garden, French beans and anything else that needs it Done
Pick vegetables if needed (bound to be some courgettes at least) Courgettes, French beans, tomatoes and a handful of raspberries
Leftovers / bits and pieces from fridge for me for dinner tonight as OH is out Done
Hoovering Done, bathroom and lower flight of stairs - better than nothing!
Washing up Done, but of course there is more now
Ironing :eek: Done
OH bought back a carrier bag full of potatoes that he was given, so I have crossed them off the shopping list (sadly we have now finished our own HG ones)

Found recipes for runner bean chutney which I will make tomorrow (but with French beans), and courgette and tomato chutney which I will make in a day or two when I have enough really ripe tomatoes. Looked through spice collection to see if I need to buy any ingredients, added a couple of things to my shopping list-in-progress

Sold an ebay item, already have it wrapped, postage paid and ready to go

LuckyPenny

Thanks PF for starting. Are you an extreme couponer? Don't know how you can collect £20?! Any tips to share?

DawnW you could save the insurance money each month in a pot and then when you need it, it should be there for you. We've been lucky in terms of insurance claims on the past but some insurance companies seem better than others! But if you have a young pet then you should have too many issues.

I've trouped around £land, Home b's and Aldi today to get the best possible prices.
Got a lot of interest in an car seat I've advertised, fingers crossed it will go this weekend - it's getting under my feet!
I'll have to dig out another car seat in the garage and give the cover a wash
Checked eBay, ipoll, signed up for a market research, checked task 360
DD making banana bread with some over ripe bananas
Trying to get DD to do things that don't include gadgets/TV! Colouring at the moment.

Think that's it for today

Bagpuss741

Today I have/will:

1. Checked online banking
2. NSD
3. Meals from stores
4. Read free book
5. Surveys
6. FPL
7. Managed to get to appt. without having to put petrol in car

LuckyPenny

Like the Pizza Friday idea Lego Mum. Sounds nice we are having Tacos as on special in Aldi.
Managed to find another car seat in the garage to sell. Washed the cover, looks good as new. Listed.
Went to the skip with garden waste. I am not paying for a permit for the council to take it way, is that not what we pay our council tax for?? Looked like everyone is doing the same as the skip was overflowing!
Washed the car rather than take it someone, got the hose out and that entertained my DD for half an hour!


I've booked my holiday, shopped around for ages. Anyone got any tips on car hire? Last year I was so annoyed as I felt conned into taking their insurance.

PurpleFairy26

Luckypenny for car insurance read Martins guide on here and book the excess things before you go - he recommends who to go for and just stand your ground when you're there when they try and pressure you to take theirs.

As for coupons, mr s sent me 4 £9 off £60 the first 2 weeks and then £12 off £60 the next two. I used a £12 one, plus DH gets discount too so nearly £20 off as they take the discount first. I also get 5% but need to get myself in to gear and put some money on the card.

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 28 June 2016.