What small DFW things will you do this week - w/c 21 August

crazy_cat_lady

Morning all :coffee:
Just having a quiet 5 minutes pulling myself round before I head off into school and face any music that there is to face... We shall see. I'm gutted but not surprised that my own class results are not as good as last year but it needs to compared in context with other subjects. I already have a couple of plans, I just need to choose one and stick with it.
Not too many plans for today - I think I'll be in work all morning at least. I'm in the process of moving classroom so I have that to finish. DS has a friend coming for a sleepover later and I desperately need a couple of new bras for work. I, however, have to get mine from somewhere like Mr A while dd chooses the expensive lingerie sets from nice shops...
I'll check in later - meanwhile have a good day all :hello:

FatVonD

Morning all, as you're back to work, DNMS, I'm off for two days on account of the trains, fifteen platforms closed today at main station and life it too short to battle the crowds.

DS left for Reading at about 9am this morning, I'm terrified he'll lose his money as he has no wallet (as he lost it!) I've told him to buy one when he gets there as there will be tons of cool stalls that should appeal to him.

I have an actual physical list today but it's not necessarily money saving.

Breakfast is fig rolls from a pack I found in DS's room, I really am suffering for the cause here.

I've added more water to the nursery fish tank as two, difficult to see with the naked eye, transparent fish have hatched in the two inches of water left since I took the last batch to the independent pet shop.

I've photographed the inside of the wardrobe I have listed on eBay and added them to the listing. 25 watchers now though some of them are so rude and annoying (with their questions) that I'm considering blocking them.

I need to wrap and drop my eBay sale from yesterday.

I want to take the car into a local garage to get them to unbolt the double seat at the back as I am going away in it tomorrow! Still need to sew the curtains for it yet!

Lots of washing to do and DS's room to clean but could wait if necessary.

Hose out the wheelie bin (again.)

Have a good day everyone!

foxgloves

Afternoon Campers,
Oooh, & we soon will be camping. Can't wait to see the sea! I've been quite money-orientated today, I'm pleased to say:
*Bake sourdough loaf.....just on its 2nd proving. Fed sourdough jar ready for next time.
*Dug out old duvet cover which I stopped using because it went a bit discoloured where it was folded. Now in washing machine with plenty of detergent to see if I can rescue it. If not, it will do for camping.
*Did a mountain of ironing as had all the guest bedding to do. Sorted pile thoroughly first to ensure I only ironed what really needed it.
*Nobbled mr f over breakfast & knocked together next week's meal plan.
*Entered 3 competitions.
*Did a One-poll survey & 2 Prolific Academic, which I'm new to, but they are defo more interesting than endless questions about mobile phone tariffs & products I never buy.
*Did quick budget check-in. I think tomorrow is pay-day, early because of the bank holiday so I will aim to do my proper budget day tomorrow afternoon, but I needed to check how we are doing before a city centre trip tomorrow, plus final grocery shop of the month. Looking ok, though have eaten into August's 'cushion' with a few unexpected spends & higher grocery spend with having guests to stay, I will budget extra money for that next time.
*Paid a modest spend off a CC - we only used it to maximise voucher points.
*Noticed on olb that I had been paid the vast sum of £1.06 earned in recent survey project which involved testing out a new cashback app. It was a longish study & I could have earned a lot more, but I don't shop much online. I prefer to support my community by using local shops & I was determined not to buy stuff I didn't really need just so I could see cashback totals mounting up. Updated survey income in my signature, anyway, as I like to keep a tally of how much I earn.
*Sorted vouchers, gift cards, Sparks card offers, etc, & put ready in my purse for tomorrow's city centre visit. Also cash from Clothes Piggy, as mr f could do with new jeans to replace the ones which have gone into holes in a rather unfortunate place.
*Make a couple of sandwiches to take tomorrow plus a bag of crisps each so that we don't end up buying lunch out. I don't mind buying a coffee & sharing a little treatypoo, but I think cafe lunches add up to a ridiculous amount of money for what they are.....i.e pretty basic usually.
*Water & feed veggie garden and check if anything else needs picking.
*All free leisure time as intend to knit, read & have a bit of a pamper. Will save a bit of electricity by not using hairdryer & straightners.
*Free fitness - if I have time, I will pull up old broad bean plants & pack away all their canes, net, clips, etc & maybe do a little bit more tidying/clearing in the shed.
Wishing everyone a peaceful productive day,
F x

DawnW

Afternoon all
Been out for another picnic, just OH, myself and the dog this time. We went to visit a water park about half an hours drive away. Avoided the venue that cost £16 to get in :eek: and found a nice car park / picnic place where you just needed to pay for parking. Sadly there wasn't much of a walk (just a short stroll unless you wanted to then walk beside a very busy A road ), but a nice area and it seems there are other picnic places not too far away from there which do have nice long walks, so we will try again another day! We used picnic food left over from yesterday (just needed to make a couple more sandwiches). Stopped off at a nearby town to look round the charity shops, avoided expensive coffee and made some instant in the van.

Apart from that:
OH replaced his broken hair clippers with some from Lidl - they were only £12.99, so hope they are ok!
Food from fridge will do for dinner
See if anything in the garden needs picking or watering
Received a £17.26 Amazon gift card from Quidco
'Do something' with loads of tomatoes :eek:
Really ought to do some ironing
And the expensive bit - I need to look for decent offers on laptops as I need to buy one for GD1, who is about to start her GCSE courses at school. We bought one for both her brothers at this stage, so will do the same for her. Currys Digital or whatever they call themselves sale first port of call I suppose!

Happy_Kitties

Well I thought I would have an efficient day-banking checked, cat cleaning all done, bin and recycling day so that all sorted:A

Needed some bits ready for operation bathroom. Held off as I had read in Martin's email about a buy one get one free on paint today offer with Wick@s. Paint bought and also sorted out doors.
Paperwork done:j.

Thought I would be good and cook turkey steaks and fill the oven. I need to get used to cooking just for me, usually I am rubbish, esp as I found out today that DD will be starting her sports program early at uni and will be there earlier before the other students arrive.
Took a phonecall and I got robbed........DD's cat robbed one of my turkey steaks:eek::eek::eek: and the other cats were licking the gravy ready to attack the next steak.......they left the veg:rotfl::rotfl:. So much for being productive.
LL I always bring the complimentary goodies home....would be rude to refuse:D

Off to sulk now about my turkey steak! Have a good evening everyone x

determined_new_ms

Morning whoop today is Friday and while I have to work I don't go back until Thursday next week :dance: when I return after next week my hours change as madam starts school _pale_ and I'll be doing 2 shorter days so I can pick her up 2 x a week and 1 slightly longer and mil has just agreed she'll pick her up and bring her home. So apart from the odd days I have training or mil is away we don't need wrap around care :money:

payday so did my money shuffle. I need to work out the rest of my budget/cc payments but that can wait until next week....

portion of soup out of freezer as I'll be in an office today

need petrol but apart from that no other spends

need to portion up bolognaise for my friend and put a lasagna together and drop off. Might even do this on my way to work :think: will see how I get on for time

get oh to strip beds and hang out

need to make a decision re buying tickets for a festival next weekend. We're supposed to be going with my friend who's father passed away so not sure if she's in the place for it and don't want to be pushy. Possibly may suggest we take theirs as they've already bought them in case they decide now's not the right time...

List something on fleabay - why can I never do this????

Ok that's all I need to do. Feeling incredibly anxious at the moment which is really hard to take the constant feeling of someone sitting on your chest Like I say one more day of work and then I'll have 5 days off

Have a great day guys x

Angela84

Happy kitties, I bet you were cross, a stray cat once jumped in my kitchen window and made off with a freshly cooked gammon steak once, was furious! Although felt bad as he must have been starving poor thing.
Lucky lady, I put pickled onions in my stew sometimes too, I thought I'd stumbled on a hidden hack :rotfl:

Had a lovely day yesterday, stocked up on picnic things for the many upcoming picnics and then had a free day in the park and an evening with dinner with friends.

Today my frugal focuses are:
Drop boys to the last day of the local free holiday club, been so impressed this year with this great scheme, today is party day as it's the last one so the boys are taking grapes, crisps and biscuits.
Pick up free bag of clothes and another bag of shoes for my toddler 2 people are passing onto me, so kind around here!
Have already paid £100 to virgin so only £100 to go :T
Out for tea for ds2s birthday tonight but that's OHs treat.
Put our banners up ready for the morning for ds2s birthday, I still have banners my mum used when I was a little girl, I still can remember the magic feeling I used to feel when I woke up and saw them glittering in my house

Have a great Friday everyone

Lottebear

Good Morning All,

I finished my temp role yesterday, I have been there since my redundancy in April, I have a new permanent role. They were sweet and gave me a card and some flowers.

The only downside is the start date for the new role is 3 weeks away, so I have emailed to see if I can start sooner. If not I might need to do another weeks temp work somewhere as I don't think I can survive without money coming in for that long and I don't want to go back into debt again.

Other than that my MSE ways have been

- Paid CC off, as I purchased DD school uniform with it, the cheque has cleared and I had to send off the receipts to prove I had spent it correctly, which has been done and I am very grateful for the help.

- Used Coupon for Internet food shopping £9 off and I have a delivery pass.

- Read gas and electric meters, to keep bill accurate

- I think I might do the amazon Paypoint deal with the free £5 as I have some Christmas gifts in my basket.

- Surveys, I am doing well and the money is going towards Christmas gifts.

- Going to enjoy the time off with DS, use our annual passes, we have the local zoo and English heritage so we can have some low cost days out near by and take a picnic, there is also a bookstart day next week we can go to. Seeing friends today and are going to the local adventure playground.

DawnW

Morning all
Decided to post early as it keeps me accountable! So, today's list:

HG fruit with breakfast
Dog walk
Need to buy 2 birthday cards - they are for men, and I only have feminine ones in my stash.
Also need to pick up GD1's new laptop (big spend day :eek:). This will be her birthday and christas present for this year, and is to help her with her GCSE work. We did similar for her two older brothers, so now it is her turn This will come from savings and not be bought on credit.
Also need to put a much more modest sum of money in son in law's birthday card - he will put this towards parts for a truck he is building. More sensible than me trying to buy the right parts :rotfl:
Not planning any further spends today! :eek:
Make roasted tomato sauce from HG tomatoes, some for dinner, some for the freezer
All meals from food we already have
Check garden for anything that needs watering or picking
Some cleaning - though the house has stayed quite clean and tidy this week, for some reason!
Make a conscious effort not to eat too much, and not to eat rubbish, as the weight is creeping on again
Babysitting tonight, so will take a book to read!

FatVonD

You are making some serious inroads into your debt there, Angela, well done!

Another day off for me and, since it's costing me a days money, I intend to fully enjoy it.

I am taking off this afternoon in the can, only one night away to try it out! I need to sew a couple more curtains that I didn't finish last night. I have ordered club card vouchers to pay for dinner tonight.

I have another flea bay sale so that's now £42 in the last two days, I have another couple with starting price bids on them that finish on Sunday.

I need to freeze some tomatoes while they are fresh for use in pasta at a later date.

Have a good day everyone!