What small DFW things will you do this week? W/C 22nd July

determined_new_ms

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:

ziggy2407

Good Morning

DNMS - Thanks for starting us off this week, hope you and DGD are feeling better

Hi to all of the regulars and a BIG welcome to all the newbies, this is a really FAB thread with so many lovely, caring, considerate and supportive people.

Today we will:

Check Bank & made PAD - Done
Drs appointment -
Declutter DS's room -
Washing -
Ironing -
Swagbucks -
Purge a few emails -
Enter comps
All meals from cupboards/fridge/freezer -
Checked: Lucky Bob, PMP, WinaDinner -
Read -

Have a great day!

C x

determined_new_ms

Morning another day at home with madam. She should be ready to go back tomorrow, but if not oh will take that one! We had a drama yesterday as she was climbing on a chair (tut tut tut) and fell, cracking her head and needing to go to hospital, but obviously the chickenpox complicated matters! All fine now, she came home and slept from 4pm until this morning!

With that free time yesterday I finished off the gifts for the teachers Just in time! Will get her to make a card today, dig out some kind of "wrapping" (likely to be a recycled bit of ribbon! Might even find some tissue paper to recycle) Will send over care instructions for oh to print off :money:

Today:

* load of washing & line dry
* English, maths, crafting & reading with madam
* do some baking (aka maths :cool:)
* clean up the house - quite tidy for a change!
* make a batch of bottom of the fridge soup for work this week
* take madam to allotment for an hour
* get clothes & bags ready for work/school tomorrow
* do some sewing - think I will cut out a pattern for a top using some left over fabric Will then use any scraps to make scrunchies and a headband for madam
* make gammon in pc
* hopefully picking up a free composter later
* check banks :eek:

Have decided I will take £100 out for madam's activities over the holidays. We will be having 2 weeks staycation (her and me) the first week and then will be a mixture of work and days off. I reckon that will cover icecreams/a treat/a couple of entrance fees. I have planned a variety of free activities mixed with a few more expensive activities :money:

Ok going to get on, don't want the day to end without getting things done!

Baileys_Babe

DNMS thank you for starting this weeks thread :A

Todays list:
PAD
Pmp etc
Go shopping
Stick to list
Record spending in diary
Put ALL shopping away
B/L/D from stores
Pack snacks, water and hot drinks to take to training
Home educate children
Make birthday cards
Make bread
Make porridge
Wash hair and let it dry naturally
Continue working on my emails

I've been following Foxgloves decluttering challenge, It has inspired me to have a try in August.

foxgloves

Glad my July decluttering challenge has inspired you, BB. Haven't I turned up some daft bits of clutter?! I think listing it prob makes for tedious reading for many, but I am finding that it is not only helping me focus on sticking with the challenge, but also making me confront how some of this silly stuff has built up.
Today's frugal activities:
-Overnight laundry on cheap tariff plus another two full price loads to make best use of this fab drying weather.
-Rubber chicken. Roast dinner yesterday, chicken salad & jackets tonight, Fajhitas tomorrow, sandwiches & enough to freeze for stew. Gribbly bits in slow cooker for stock.
-Pick lettuce & spring onions.
-Feed & water veg as soon as delivery has come.
-Make garlic pickle (all prepped, just need to make it... Next job)
-Listened to 2 more episodes of the Slow Home podcast.
-Change bedlinen & load washer for overnight laundry.
-Make tomorrow's packed lunch.
-Check for surveys.
-Letter from DVLA to say we will not get a fixed penalty notice. I should bloody well think not, as we've done nothing wrong & Mr F has made multiple attempts to contact them to advise them of this.
-Knit heel on current sock.
-Teach myself how to knit a 'Channel Island cast on' ready for a future garment. Will YouTube & use book.
-Bake bread - it's on first proving.
-Think about projects I'd like to start or achieve this week.
-Check my sent box to see if I replied to solicitor, as I may have reminded my sis to do it, but not actually remembered to do it myself.
-Declutter 22 items.
-Update my DFW diary.
DNMS - Glad your little GD wasn't too badly hurt in her fall.
F x

Happy_Kitties

Morning everyone

Many thanks to DNMS for starting us off. I'm glad ur GD was okay with the fall. A nightmare with the Chicken pox aswell. I do like the sound of the teacher presents u have been making.

Well I'm out and already have my next admission date to go in for next month.

I have had so many operations in the past that I thought I have prepared for this one, done everything they wanted of me and I went quite flippant into the op. Boy was I wrong. It has totally knocked the stuffing out of me, there were a few post surgery complications and we don't even know whether it will work or for how long.im getting so tired so easily and I'm out of action for 8 weeks

DD has been brilliant and has gone off to do some bits today for me. I decided that I wanted to do a little bit each day so yesterday we went to the garden centre for tea and cake. Abit of a spendy day, we also bought some plants and a present but still keeping the money saving faith I took my vouchers .
Thoroughly enjoyed getting out but think I slightly over did it as I felt sick last night and slept in this morning. Feeling better for it.

There is nothing worse when u r stuck in hospital on bed rest and prime day happens. That ended up being spendy. DD said there were some good cat food offers, ended up ordering some but will save me money in the long run, plus DD won't need to carry it home with shopping. With five 7+ in age cats it definitely worked out cheaper.

Dawn W hoping u r doing okay after ur op. Did I read right that I are driving again? I can't wait but need some energy first!

We have been eating from out of the freezer. DD wants to go back to M+S. When I took my car for a service a few weeks back now I stocked up on the chicken offers which have lasted really well. DD wants to stock up on more so that's one of my long term aims to get there.

Became fixated on completing my shoeboxes whilst in hospital. I think it's the one thing I can do but I'm waiting for a couple of bits to come and have ate the chocolate out of one box .

Been wrapping some birthday presents aswell as when I feel good I feel great and then knowing me I will over do it so trying to behave-its hard!

Have a great day everyone x

foxgloves

Happykitties - Do try not to overdo it......I know it's hard, as you just want to get things done.....& I stand to talk, as many years ago when I had to have a big gynae op & was off work for 3 months, I used to be very naughty, and even jemmied up an entire garden path by myself before laying stepping stones. Such a naughty girl. Surgery is a real shock to the system, & rest is so important. I hope the cats are all providing therapy. Mine objected massively to having suncream on his ears & nose first thing & spent the next half an hour licking it off again. Grrrrrr.
F x

1LuckyLady

Happy new week to all and thanks for the new thread Dnms. I'm glad your dgd is doing ok after her fall.

HK, so nice to "see" you back here

First proper day of the holidays and we had heavy rain til about 1.30pm! Ah well its stopped for now and its not stopped our fun so mustn't complain!

Todays list
# back of the cupboard cereal for us all for breakfast
# I went to the gym (normally have had the 6 weeks holidays off!) refilled my water bottle there twice.
# called into aldee with my little list and stuck to it
# booked for me and the kids to play badminton and they gave us a slot and reduced price which made me happy! Ds1 really enjoys badminton and ds2's coordination is getting better with it so he's enjoying it more now! As we were leaving we asked if they had any slots for tomorrow and they do so I've booked another session and they've done it on a cheap rate again
# sorted out a bag of clothes to pop up to a friends in a bit
# made dh's lunch for work for tomorrow

Still need to
# pop clothes round to friends
# check banking/update spreadsheet
# remind ds1 about his ^^
# cook two chickens in the oven at the same time, plenty of meat for us and I'll send some to my dad too
# hopefully get out for a walk with dh later if the weather stays dry.
# meal plan for tomorrow and make sure it includes something from the use up box

Thats my list, take care all.

determined_new_ms

Hi HK lovely to see you back. Sorry to hear about another wave of ops take good care & hopefully you'll have an easy (ish) recovery x

DawnW

Evening all
DNMS, hope your little GD is ok now after her fall AND the chicken pox
HK, lovely to 'see' you back. Sorry to hear your surgery didn't go quite as planned and there were complications Hope it ends up having a good outcome.
I am nearly mended thankyou, just get a bit tired still. I was only allowed to drive this week due to being 'advised' in my discharge letter that I should not do so for at least 4 weeks - I probably could have done before, but going against medical advice would probably have invalidated my insurance :eek:
Today I have:
Checked banks
Washed hair and left it to dry naturally
Strained ham stock made last night and froze, with the little bits of leftover boiled ham incorporated (not enough to do anything useful with, and it can all go for a soup at some stage)
Froze the rhubarb compote I made yesterday, it is a bit sweet for my liking, but will be ok in pies using ordinary (unsweetened) shortcrust pastry.

Load of washing dried on line outside
OH did the hoovering this morning, while I cleaned the kitchen :A
Restocked sales unit
Watered tomatoes and beans
Made a mushroom risotto for dinner - incorporated HG shallots, garlic and herbs
Finished off yesterday's sponge pudding and custard for afters (only a spoonful each, but waste not and all that.... and who would waste sponge pudding anyway :eek:)
Still got some business paperwork to do, and my spending diary / spreadsheet to update. Then another early night I think!

PurpleFairy26

Evening all :hello: thanks for the starter DNMS hope DGD bump is ok.

HK hope you're in the mend soon.

Today I have:
Leftovers for work lunch
Some left overs stretched out tea
Check banking
Cash back paid to 1p account
Long walk tonight with pal
Drank plenty of water
Made small list to do in town tomorrow

Still need to sign some papers and get DH to do the same

Have a good evening Purps