What small moneysaving things will you be doing this CHRISTMAS week? W/C 25/12

FatVonD

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:

FatVonD

Happy Christmas to all the regulars, newbies and returnees on the small things thread, hope your day goes smoothly! :xmassign:

DawnW

Happy Christmas everyone :j
Hope you all have a lovely day

carrielovesfanta

:xmastree:Merry Christmas to all our posters and lurkers :xmastree:


May your joy be great and your debts be small

Lottebear

Merry Christmas Everyone!:beer:

MSE Wise.

I have done a little sale shopping in the boots sale for next Christmas although the website has been playing up, all half price.

Bought myself a throw from the white company with £36 off!
and a top from Boden with £33 off so all in all I am happy.

Breakfast with the family who have all headed off and then lunch together in another hour or so, the turkey is in the oven.

FatVonD

I just read that the B00ts website crashed it was so busy, Lotte!

We are fed and watered, I've taken my mum home and I'm in bed munching chocolate!

DS took some pictures of the cats (one sitting on his shoulder!) and framed them for my Christmas present along with a beautiful bottle of Prosecco. My mum gave me a generous amount of money with which I am going to treat myself to my namesake's (kind of) eyeliner and mascara as mine are totally dried out, the remainder will be spent on getting DS's impacted wisdom tooth removed! Of all the times to have toothache but I have managed to book an appointment online for 4th.

Off to watch EastEnders....

1SmallStep

Yeouch, toothache when surgeries are shut is miserable, I hope your DS is coping ok FVD.
Seen two lots of family today, but in both cases it was quite calm and laid back. Laughed so much my sides hurt with my sister last night trying to assemble her kids gifts - precious times, better than a gift (we swapped token chocolate bars). Had been aiming for a wild swim today but forecast far too choppy! Now home, no heating needed but multiple hot water bottles in bed - made one every time I made a cuppa this evening!

A few little (and big things) for the week ahead:
1. Have family coming for dinner tomorrow, but its been purchased over the past few months then YS veg added to it! Have a few bits for later in the week I'm ready to stick into the oven whilst its hot. Friends coming to stay in the evening who are bringing their left over snacks to mix with our left over snacks. Am resisting buying extra stuff 'in case' - there are shops nearby if we there is a significant gap!
2. Sort out broadband / phone quotes
3. Must claim expenses back - a faff, but a lot owing
4. List a couple of larger items on ebay
5. Go to work gym when passing...make best use of fact its free! Get my 10,000 steps in on days that I don't.
6. Online transfers and jiggling of balances need to be done a few times this week, and broader than that, a plan must be hatched!

sleepyjones

This might sound a bit weird but you watch these programs like Survivor and I'm a Celebrity ... and they all lose so much weight by eating mostly rice. So, without going too crazy, could you substitute dinner once or twice a week for just rice (and beans) ... lose weight and save money on the piece of chicken or whatever you would have eaten ... unconventional money saving and possibly really bad for your health, I don't know, I'm not an expert ... was just a thought? (with a question mark)

determined_new_ms

Morning guys just thought I'd pop my head in and say hi hope you all had a lovely family day yesterday.

For us it was the best Christmas we have had for years. Everyone happy & well. Madam loved all her gifts, although Christmas does make them go a bit loopy doesn't it? Christmas is a funny time for our lo as we generally try to keep life as steady and relaxed as possible as that helps with her behaviour. As long as life is steady and relaxed she is a dream. But when things are unpredictable this has an impact on her and her behaviour. Then Christmas comes along where routine is out of the window and everyone is trying to hype kids up and get them excited! That means we have to double down on calming/crafting/family times

Just the 3 of us today so hoping for a nice winter walk and just general relaxed times

Will eat los, and drink wine from stores & play games/more drawing/colouring/painting!

I will have lo xms day dinner soup mmmm

going for a run after breakfast :j xmas eve I did my best run since I've restarted running. I ran for 41 minutes and just over 5 k

Will continue to stay on top of the house so there isn't a massive clean up needed

I needed to get madam some underwear, PJs & a dressing gown but have been holding off till the after xmas sales. Just got some online saving £14.50 and then using a £1.50 moc So glad I held my nerve as a couple of times I went to buy them before xmas to give her more gifts to open on the day! (I needn't of worried she got much more than was necessary and she's so cute she really appreciated everything :A)

That's it!

DawnW

Morning all
Off to DD1's shortly to meet up with the rest of the family
But apart from that:
Strained off turkey stock and put in the best bits of meat off the carcase - we had a bronze turkey this year, and I can't say I was impressed. Back to an ordinary frozen one next year I think!
Read meters and entered readings onto energy company's web site
Cleaned up kitchen and did the remaining washing up
Updated spending diary with small spend on Christmas eve. Won't have a NSD today as we have to pay to cross a toll bridge to get to DD's

Small list, as we are out for the day, but will be back on it tomorrow! Hope everyone has a nice day

Baileys_Babe

Happy Christmas to everyone on the small things thread.

End of last week my parents arrived for Christmas :xmastree::j we are enjoying them being around.

Yesterday we hosted the Christmas day buffet for us, my parents and my sisters family. My parents brought food & drinks and gave us a very generous financial contribution towards the food. We had a lovely day with no tears or tantrums despite my 4 year old niece having a stinking cold.

Today will be spent building Lego I wasn't fortunate to get any of my own, I'm hoping my children let me join in with them. This evening us and my parents are off to the pantomime which is part of all of our Christmas presents. Any spare time will be spent playing board games and maybe watching the occasional Christmas special. Breakfast today will be the usual ceral/toast/yoghurt/fruit. Lunch will be a selection of cold meats, cheese, salad hm bread and hm soup. Dinner will be hm lasagna, which will be quick and easy, we remembered to get the ragu out of the freezer just before going to bed last night and oh will make the cheese sauce etc

Small Things for today:
Checking wrappings from yesterday and rescue anything that is reusable or suitable for crafts.
Put the stove on only if it is getting cooler (we didn't have it on yesterday despite it adding a lovely ambience it was very mild here, we would all of been to warm and we would of literally been sending money up in smoke).
Reviewing the food and drink we bought, especially for the buffet we have lots of pork pie left, which we will enjoy eating but not having bought so much to start with would also been good.
Only spending money today on interval ice creams, already budgeted for in present pot.
All travelling to the theatre in one car.