What small DFW things will you do this week? w/c 29/05

FatVonD

HappyKitties :beer:

Happy_Kitties

Thank you CCL and FVD.....I ended up having a little cry!
I did my final payment early, the IVA has to run until July because of the creditors being notified that this is when it will finish as I had to take a payment break. So what they did was took my final payment today to add to the funds I've paid early, they will make the June and July payment for me. All paywork should be easy to complete at the end as everything done for them but they were so nice (Payplan). Said if I have now or in the future any problems then to contact them-any creditors letters, paperwork to let them know straight away.
The lady was lovely asked how I felt about it, I said that i still felt flat, that i was scared of losing my budgets, that i would lose my MSE ways but had been told that this wasn't unusual....so that's me......debt free.....I just cannot get my head round it:shocked::shocked:
She helped me with regards to keeping control of my budgets so the money I usually pay to the IVA is now going to be saved for a buffer ready for hospital and DD going to uni so still feel like I have control:T
It's strange to explain, but will probably come on here one day suddenly celebrating when realisation has hit me:D
I'm sure DD has been taking secret lessons fromFVD. Since learning to drive she has been doing YS runs, has picked up all sorts of goodies including 19p sandwiches, yogurts, bread, fruit.

More paperwork completed this morning.
Just about to get WM and DW on and do some badly needed housework.
Missing kitty now home is still being monitored by the vet. Still having to go once a week for injections to help her intestine recover but it is now being done in the nurses clinic-costs £7 as opposed to £27. But she has to see the big boss vet next week for a review. Hopefully she will be signed off.
Sending hugs to need it, sounds like it is a year where alot of people are having a tough time.
thank you guys for sticking it out with me and I guess you're stuck with me to keep me on the straight and narrow::T:rotfl::eek:
Have a great day everyone x

Twins

Congrats HK!!!! :T:T:T:T What a relief that must be to finally be debt free and knowing it is all paid back. I know you said your feeling a bit flat right now but I think once you start squirrelling that money you paid on the IVA towards something else you'll feel amazing.
I look forward to the day I can also say I am debt free.

Fab job!

foxgloves

Well done Happy Kitties! Another load of debt bites the dust. Just what we all love to hear about on here! Congratulations!

foxgloves

Greetings Friday Frugalistas,
I don't feel like I've done much, but Mr Fitbit says nearly 9000 steps already, so I can't have been idle! Money saving bit of today as follows:
*Checked courgettes & squash plants. They're going to be planted out tomorrow but have been monitoring them for sparrow damage, They look ok & there's already a baby courgette forming. Yay!
*Parked on outskirts of town for free & walked in which saved at least £1.50 parking.
*Father's Day card bought from our little independent local card shop - 99p - & nice selection of cards. I don't think I could go back to routinely paying £2-99+ a time for a single card.
*Main Aldi shop tomorrow morning, but got all fruit & veg on the list this morning at our local market. Good value - I got nectarines, strawberries, garlic, root ginger, peppers, a cauliflower, vine tomatoes & lemons for £8. Updated grocery budget to check exactly what we have to spend for main shop.
*Updated June's budget as had to withdraw some unplanned cash for funeral flowers.
*Paid across 2 sums of money to credit cards which were used solely to maximise loyalty points for vouchers. Updated those budgets too.
*Did a few surveys - haven't had much time or interest for these lately. Cashed out on Toluna for another £15 Sainsbury's giftcard, so that'll be useful when it arrives.
*Cleaned entire house using minimal products & washable cloths. I don't use much......microfibre cloths last for ages, I use diluted 'Stardrops' in a spray bottle, loo cleaner (which I often buy in a big container & use to refill a smaller loo cleaner bottle......saves money as I get 3 refills from one cheap purchase) & bin bags are generally the insane amount of charity bags that come through our door on a weekly basis (2 yesterday alone).
*Refused to give cat 2 breakfasts despite his best efforts.
*Loads of YS items at Waitrose this morning, but very little we needed, as so much of it was ready-made stuff, which we don't tend to buy. I did buy a pack of ribs though for £1.30 as we're planning a BBQ next weekend......
*.......& while I was there, I had a free coffee with my loyalty card.
*Had a think about letter from energy provider. We are £184 in credit currently but they are wanting to increase our monthly DD by £6. Was quite surprised as it only recently decreased (by £23 a month) but they reckon our current amount won't quite cover what we use. I think I will agree to the extra £6, but make sure I revisit all my little energy-saving ways, especially in the winter months. If it turns out we are paying too much, it is pretty straightforward to get a refund from them.
*Free leisure for the rest of today. Intend to try & finish my current library book, cast on friend's sock again......did do this, but then knitted a couple of rows of such rubbish that I frogged it to start again. Also want to watch the next in a French crime series we've got into........loving our Firestick for this - so much European & Scandi TV available on All 4 - I don't think we'd get through it all if we watched something every night.
OK, that's my not-very-exciting-day.
Ziggy - hope things continue to improve with your partner's recovery. It's certainly great news.
DNMS & La E - Sorry to hear you have both had wobbles at work this week. It happens to the best of us. Actually, I never have cried at work......but I've driven home from work down the M1 simultaneously crying & effing & blinding on more than one occasion, so I'm with you in spirit!
Love to all,
F x

Lottebear

Hello All,

I have been trying to sort out my budget in the last few weeks, it is a struggle following redundancy and time off sick, I haven't really worked in May, I have transferred over some of my notice pay that I was hoping to keep to cover the outgoing bills.

This week is unpaid hols so next weeks wages will be low, I have never been paid weekly before it is really isn't working for me. I plan to tuck it away each week and then pay my bills at the end of each of month. I can see how easy it is to fall off the wagon and end up in debt.

I have

- Requested refund from lunch delivery firm, I had only ordered once and they stopped the service, so they have agreed to repay my credit account money £5 heading my way.
- Been out for the day, bought lunch and coffee, but a lovely day for all. Used annual passes so entry was free.
- Dinner from freezer for us tonight.
- DD required new shoes so used survey vouchers and then bought trainers and sandals from Supermarket, I think where possible children should have one pair of quality shoes. Still spent £30!
- Cleaned the house, so much dust all of the time.
- Tax credit renewal done ( oh joy) I am hoping it will sail through and there shouldn't be too much difference.
- I am still waiting to hear about my benefit claim for the time I wasn't working.
- Invoice to send for freelance work which will help cash flow.

Julie67

Twins Just to Lincoln for a week, my lovely daughter usually organises a family get together once a year at half term (my DGS is off next week unsually ) so we always get a good deal. Split between four families it usually works well.

HK Massive well done to you. I just cannot wait until we are in your position :T:T:T

DawnW

Congratulations HK :j:j:j:j
Don't go away, some of us here are debt free (now) but stick around to make sure we stay that way!

DawnW

FatVonD wrote: »

The courgettes are enormous, is there anything you can do with the leaves?

Why do people plant strawberries in strawberry planters? Is it to do with drainage or pests or just getting more strawberries in your space? I'm thinking I could slip a couple of grow bags inside one of the pallets then prop it up against the wall and cut slits between the slats to grow some? I have wild strawberries which are growing like mad but the fruits are tiny.

I don't know of anything you can do with courgette leaves FVD, I guess the plants need them to make courgettes! I grow strawberries in various containers, but find hanging baskets the best - having said this, they will grow pretty much anywhere - I have even had runners rooting between the paving slabs I find in the hanging baskets the slugs are less likely to get them, and it is easy to fleece the whole thing if the birds get too interested! I redo the hanging baskets every year though, overwintering the plants I want to keep in the big pots the tomato plants spent the summer in

Happy_Kitties

Many thanks everyone for your kind words:). You work so hard to get rid of the debt, it can be a damn hard slog sometimes that you feel is never everending. when you do get to the end it is the strangest feeling. I think once I have the paperwork in my hand I will truly believe it.
But definately sticking around to keep on the straight and narrow:T.
My budgets and bargain hunting are ingrained in me now and I would be heartbroken to fall off the wagon
..........plus I love this thread......you guys are all amazing and supportive:j:j:j