What small DFW things will you do w/c 04/11

ziggy2407

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:

Happy_Kitties

Many thanks for starting us off Ziggy

This morning has been very stressful. Since the decorator has been in and I had to move the litter trays the cats have been fighting and agitated a lot more. Feliway doesn't work but they have a product Feliway friends that I haven't seen before so I have ordered that.
Litter trays will be moved back today to see if that will help.
Money will be decluttered this morning as oldest cat has her check up. She might be 20 but still feisty and went to bite the vet last time!

I have also done some paperwork. I am new to something so took a read of some instructions this morning and I'm using a colleague as a guinea pig!

Had a lovely weekend with DD despite us both having a gastro bug.
We went to the local garden centre for their official Christmas opening. Didnt have food there on Saturday as we couldn't face it but did yesterday (had a voucher towards this)

Also bought some bits. I'm a big fan of light and we had a voucher for 20% off. We tried to choose things that we could keep out all winter rather than just Christmas and items that would suit the newly decorated hall

Also booked Christmas dinner which we are having out. My Duncle is coming over, wanted to go out and is paying. We didn't want the 3 courses but it is a set 3 course meal. The restaurant is allowing is to take our starters home

Wrapped some more 'C' presents last night using paper bought in the sales.
Apart from the vets I am planning on spending no more money today as I seem to have spent a lot last week-always do when DD is home-must get spends book up and running.
Banking all checked, everything good.
Just off to check quidco

Have a good day everyone x

1LuckyLady

Thanks for this weeks thread Ziggy. Hope you're feeling better now?
HK, Sorry to hear of your stressful morning and that you've been poorly too.
Hi to everyone else who follows.

I'm not to good this morning, my lower back has been painful for the last few days but I went to the gym anyway this morning as I thought I'd do a stretch there with a very heavy kettle bell which would usually help...only today it didn't, something clicked and I'm in more pain then when I went! So frustrating... however I'm now home, I've had some ibuprofen, put a heatpad around my back and plan to try and keep on the move. (
So todays list
* food shop - will make do with what we have in and get this tomorrow instead when hopefully my back won't be so painful
* rm surveys DONE
* make families lunches for tomorrow
* check that a subscription I have for ds2 isn't set to autorenew DONE
* decide whats for tea tonight now as I was going to buy chickens... I'm sure I've got mince in the freezer Going to have a quick and easy pasta bake instead as I found a jar of sauce in the use up box from when our last tenant moved out. will do some peas and sweetcorn to go on the side so that we have some veggies
* check banking/update spreadsheet DONE
* wash a load on the quick 30 degree wash doneand hang on radiators (after putting the last lot awaydone just need to put the wet stuff on there now)
* have a look into this new computer program bought to help ds2 with his reading/spelling - he was really into it when we bought it over the weekend but I want to have a good look around it whilst he's in school.DONE
* ooo inlaws have come up with a date when we can meet up - that helps as I was struggling to come up with ideas of xmas gifts to post! Need to book a table now DONE
** text ds2 to remind him to check school lost property box as I found out yesterday when getting him to pack his bag for the first day back.. that he's lost one football boot
** fixed a lightcatcher thing in the garden with a bit of cotton, not a permanant fix but hopefully will hold up til I can fix properly
** went online to order my nieces xmas gift from b0dysh0p as we had a £5 off £20 voucher, they had an offer online for £10 off a £10 off a £30 so used that one instead and bought neighbours daughter a gift from there too to meet the £30 spend (and free delivery and I went through TCB too)



Thats my starter. Take care all.

ziggy2407

Morning Everyone

Missing lots of our regulars, hope all is well CLF, LaE, Ally et al

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 will be a quiet day here as we are still suffering with this dreaded cold (which unfortunately seems to be settling on my chest). Today's plans:

Check Bank & made PAD - Done
RM surveys prepped and up to date - Done
Tidy Fridge & Freezer ahead of Mr A delivery tonight -
Ironing (maybe or maybe not)
Swagbucks -
Purge a few emails -
Enter a few comps -
Surveys -
All meals from cupboards/fridge/freezer -
Check: Lucky Bob, PMP, WinaDinner -
Read book -

Have a great day!

C x

Bagpuss741

Today I have/will:


1. Printed off this to pick up later in week. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6063966/100-000-free-cif-ecorefill-cleaning-spray-coupons
2. Renewed blue badge online to save having to travel.
3. Paid bills that needed to be paid today.
4. Update spreadsheet
5. Update snowball on what's the cost (anyone else have problems on this site lately? I'm always getting error messages)
6. Make soup in slow cooker.
7. Have a look on ebay for cheap printer ink.
8. Two hours of duolingo Welsh

DawnW

Morning all
Thanks for the start Ziggy, sorry you aren't feeling well.
Take care of that back 1LL
HK, hope your cats' behaviour improves soon!
So far today I have:
Had HG fruit from freezer with breakfast
Usual kitchen clearup,dishwasher etc

Packed 3 ebay parcels ready to post later today when OH brings the car back (too big / heavy to carry for walking in to town). Used mainly recycled materials
Printed out drop and go sheet for the post office to avoid queueing I always end up behind a queue of people who either mess about for ages or want to do something really complicated, as opposed to just sending a parcel or buying stamps.

Recycled a bag of offcuts from OH's shed - wood bits to firelighting pile, other bits to a freecycler who collected them this morning
Folded a load of almost dry washing and put it in the airing cupboard to finish off, as we didn't have the stove alight last night to air it by.
Tried to ring cooker mending company again, and again failed to speak to anyone :mad:. Left a message. If I don't get a response today I will look for another company - though it isn't easy round here to find someone who fixes gas appliances!

Still to do:
Label up some items for sales unit Done
Go to sales unit / post office Done
Check banks and update spreadsheet Done
Might go shopping, might not! Done, also did FB donation. Managed to keep spend down to just under £30, not counting the FB donation. Donated to the poppy appeal as well.
Get a dressing table mirror downstairs for a potential buyer to look at. Hope they buy it, as I would like to see the back of it! They did! Tried to haggle the price down, but I was firm, feel that £15 for an antique mirror on a stand is not expensive!
Make a veg curry for dinner. Not done, worn out after doing all the stuff in town - had ham egg and oven chips instead

Still no joy in getting in contact with the cooker people Back to the drawing board tomorrow I think!

Toni'sfriend

Morning all (just)

Thanks for starting us off Ziggy.

Well, got up much later than usual and all I've done so far is have some porridge and check my banking. I'm a bit at sixes and sevens just now.

Have to

Charge the phone and tablet
Change bedding
Do washing (it'll have to dry inside as it's a really miserable day.
Dinner is already cooked but I'll have to make some sort of meal plan for the rest of this week
Lots of cleaning but think I'll have to spread that out over the week
Check if I need to put my repeat prescription in to the Health Centre

Sure there will be lots more as I go along

Have a good day.

foxgloves

Morning Frugal Friends,
Oh dear, more stresses, lergies & injuries around this week. Sending best wishes to all afflicted frugalistas for a speedy recovery. & HK......I hope your vet visit goes ok without your whiskered little madame causing too much expense. You've reminded me that I need to book our own cat in for claw cutting. He utterly refuses to do them himself!
On the money saving list for this week, in no particular order:
*Think about some batch cooking plans for the freezer.
*Do another meal plan very much based on existing supplies as we need to pull our budget back. A very good shop this weekend has already helped with that. Intend to jot down meal ideas as I think of them.
*Continue being economical with energy use, maximising use of Economy 7 tariff overnight & reminding Mr F that it is possible to be in the kitchen without needing to compete with Blackpool's illuminations.
*Keep budgets all up to date, especially any swaps.
*Move to the next stage of our plans to get some action from the solicitors.
*Update Christmas presents list. Progressing very well, though this is only partly down to organisation & partly down to the fact that some of our family plus a friend have died & some no longer speak to us. Must chase a nephew for his wish list.
*Continue to clear garden borders to shut everything down properly for winter.
*Plant baby lettuce plants into empty greenhouse border - this has already fallen off the list & needs doing this week.
*Continue a big research project I've been working on for a few months. It's nothing money saving in itself, it's completely unrelated, but if I'm busy using my brain at home, I can't be out spending, can I?!
*Compile my own Christmas wishlist at Mr F's behest. I find I really like useful presents these days, especially useful things which are also lovely. I will have a proper think & haven't ruled out something to wear if I see an item I like.
*Finish knitting my final gift of this year for a December birthday. I must prioritise this...a pair of socks for mr f in a really lovely quite festive yarn, but of course I can only knit them when he is out of the house. In the evenings, I shall continue knitting my new jumper.
*Continue to post in my dfw diary as & when I have something to say.
*All other little odds & ends of money saving to be done as usual as & when they occur.
Let's see if we can all have a productive week......but lergyfied folk should defo take it easy.
F xx

Bagpuss741

Happy Kitties - I felt inspired by your post so I wrapped my Christmas presents:A

little_pink_purse

good evening a busy day

very cold and heavy rain here

today's list
checked banking all looking good need to do a menu save shopping
I managed a NSD
Did some much needed cleaning and washing on sadly all in the dryer
topped up shop space fingers crossed it goes well
still waiting on a 0% deal to move some debt

have a safe and warm night xxlppxxx

crazy_cat_lady

Survived the first day back at work and also bagged my first nsd of the month as well. I'm pretty tired and I've had to work from home this evening as well so I'm already behind on the first day.
Other than that I'm trying desperately to get on top of a flea problem. In the 7 years we've had cats we've never had fleas in the house at all, but they have arrived in spite of everything this year. I could cry - it's cost me close to £100 so far and I still don't seem to be getting on top of it.
Plans for the evening, early night and a bit of crochet. And flea hunting.