What small DFW things will you do w/c 9th December?

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!

determined_new_ms

Morning always feels if I start the thread at this time of day then I'm in danger of a double thread!

Hope everyone had a good weekend and you're all ready for the week ahead

Today I have set aside 3 hours to make this tie for a customer. I'm hoping it's not going to take that long but that is my mission for today!

As well as that:

* load of washing & double spin
* TOMM
* take pup for a jog
* have defrosted one freezer. Need to wipe it down and transfer all food from the other & defrost that one too
* stick to SW - want to lose a few lbs before xmas so I can afford to have a few days of gluttony
* NSD
* finish bag. I did some yesterday but not as much as I wanted to. I started to get frustrated with it so decided to put it down until today
* might write out meal plan/shopping list for xmas week
* easy dinner as got batch of chilli made last week out of the freezer
* wrap last few gifts

Ok that's all for me. Hope you all have a good day

Baileys_Babe

DNMS Thank you for starting this week's thread :A

Yesterday we meal planned, we intended to do this week and start Christmas week, we managed this week, all but 2 days next week, but so far only the 24th & 25th of Christmas week.

trailingspouse

Thanks for starting us off determined.



And thanks for reminding me that I need to clean out the freezer!! It doesn't feel like very long since I last did it - it's supposed to be frost-free, but there is definitely ice forming so I need to give it a good sort out and defrost then see if it happens again. Hope it doesn't mean the freezer's on its way out!!


A day off today, and it looks like it might be a nice one (unlike yesterday - at one point we had rain and hail blowing past the staff room window horizontally). So, I'm going to crack on with the things that need to be done (washing already in the machine), and try to get out for a walk later. 3 loads done (darks, lights, woollens), and 4th - bedding - just about finished and will get put on the line for a couple of hours - it won't dry, but it will freshen it up.



Apart from the washing I need to


- put the last of the Christmas decorations up Done
- use up some past-their-best apples to make an upside-down cake Just taken it out the oven. Couldn't resist a slice warm, with a cup of tea
- check my bank statement - I'm expecting a refund from my energy supplier. Partial refund received (electric) - hoping the gas will come in the next couple of days

- hang the washing out (so long as the weather is dry, the washing will dry, even if it's cold. And it comes in smelling fantastic.) Done - and some of it is very nearly dry!!

- change the bed, wash the bedding (and hang out if possible) done

- clean the sides and tiles in the kitchen (a proper clean, moving everything, sanitizing, putting everything back) done
- make a couple of phone calls, send a couple of emails done
- but first - have another cup of tea... done


Just going to finish this cup of tea, hang the bedding on the line, then I'm off for a walk. Can't complain about the bad weather if we don't make the most of the good weather when we have the chance!!



Stay warm lovely people - but get outside for a breath of fresh air if you possibly can. We have to make the most of these good days while we can!!
xx

TryingAgain2022

Another poor week last week on a supposed budget of 60 I spent 188! Xmas gifts and food, but means I'll have to put some normal food shopping on the card at the end of the month.

This week
Use up mackerel and sweet potato from weekend
Meals all planned
Work from home twice, saving fuel parking etc
Do surveys, postcode picker etc
Make pack lunch for work (failed today after sleepless night. Sigh)

My Xmas gifting is never v big but I have to post most things and I have four parcels to post before Saturday so that'll cost, plus the (few) cards I send.

Am trying hard to resist adding to the one gift I'm giving each person this year. I feel so mean! But, my DD aside, I must train everyone to receive a smallish gift from me (and that they do not need to give anything to me). We all have what we need. And I do not want to increase my debt through bigging up gifts with extras when I really cannot justify the money.

This is just the beginning for me. Small steps.
-TryingAgain

trailingspouse

Well done TryingAgain2022 - you'll be pleased as punch when the bills start coming along in January!! I limit my spending on gifts to £10 per person per occasion. It's enough!! It's amazing how far you can stretch £10 when you put your mind to it!!


Keep up the good work!

foxgloves

Well done, TryingAgain2022. I won't go into how spendy I used to be back in the bad old days, as I've gone on quite enough about that in my dfw diary, but one thing I absolutely don't miss since the LBM & getting rid of our debt, is those horrible credit card & bank statements in January & February. I used to buy way too much & could barely bring myself to look at January's bills......then February's would be even worse, as I always used to fall into the 'early pay' December pay trap too! The less you succumb to temptation now, especially around extra gifting, the better your situation will look in the new year.
Be strong!
F

foxgloves

Hello December Frugalistas,
I have been thinking about the shape of my week & would like it to look something like this:
*Christmas decorations & tree at the weekend - no spending whatsoever on new stuff. We have more than enough.
*Finalise Christmas baking plan (as have crossed a couple of goodies off) & write list of any ingredients required.
*Continue with modest meal plans in the run-up to Christmas. Plenty of food in, so priority will be sticking to grocery budget & any under spend can be used to buy a few bottles for our depleted wine rack. I don't intend budgeting extra for this purpose.
*Review energy use/saving measures. Caught myself about to be wasteful with electricity this morning.
*Continue garden clearing. It's great free fitness & will really pay-off in Spring when there is less to do & I can concentrate on veggie seed sowing. Weather forecast looks wet though, apart from today.
*Free leisure activities. I don't want to spend any money on leisure activities this week. I have two knitting projects to work on, a book on the go, a TV series to watch on 'Walter presents', my piano is strewn with Christmas music, I live in a nice village for walks.........no spending planned.
*Continue to keep bang up to date with financial matters/budgets. There have been some very big changes recently & I am making sure I am keeping on top of transfers, filing, new spreadsheet & interim budget. I write each task that needs doing on a post-it as it occurs, then when I have desk time, I can properly tackle what needs doing.
*Cover a couple of cardboard boxes to use as hampers for home made preserves & progress that a bit.
*A few birthday things to sort out which mustn't get away from me in all the Christmas planning.
On the whole I'm feeling pretty much on top of things at the moment.
F x

carrielovesfanta

Hey everyone

Thanks to DNMS for starting us off

Foxgloves - your plans sound fab

Sorry for being MIA for a couple of days. I woke up on Saturday feeling so anxious that I was almost sick. I've no idea why but the feeling has persisted (albeit not as badly). Still feeling pants but forcing myself to do things. It hasn't helped that nature has gifted me with very bad period pains (possibly the cause of the anxiety?!).

We've had some lovely sunny weather the last two days so I've forced myself out into the garden to sort some stuff. I cleared the raised bed, the strawberry bed and the overgrown tiny bed by the shed. I planted up the raised bed with freebie strawberry runners, replanted the blueberry bush into the strawberry bed (damn the roots were shallow... it didn't seem happy in that pot. I hope it's ok.) and I've re-sited the lavender bush into the middle of the small bed where it's not butting against the raised bed. I have also washed all the bird feeders and got some thick wire from the DIY shop to attempt a squirrel-proof repair.

The garden should look fab but actually looks like a bomb site as the garden waste bin is full from where I pruned the holly last week. Luckily they collect it tomorrow so I'll be able to clear the mess. Plus our front door step sticks out onto the path and has a habit of collecting leaves. They are shin-deep at the moment and I need to be rid of them!

The other small thing I must sort is tea. I often find it very hard to cook when my anxiety is playing up and the last few days have been no exception. It's like a horrible paralysing feeling - especially where things that I MUST do are concerned.

Right, am going to put these bird feeders back together and fill them, get the washing in and MAKE TEA.

Here's to waking up feeling bright and breezy.

clf x

DawnW

Afternoon all
Thanks for starting us off DNMS. Have you done that tie yet? I think it would take me 3 years, I don't know about 3 hours :rotfl:
Hope you feel better soon CLF. Anxiety is horrible isn't it?
Went to sales unit to restock / tidy up this morning
Dropped off a parcel to be returned at the collection point

Put washing out as it was sunny and windy, and it is now mostly dry, which is great as it was bedding items. Will put on airer to finish off overnight
Lunch was yet more leftovers (I over-shopped last week for visitors, but I bought nice things, and they will all get eaten)
Got chilli out of freezer for dinner

Did a shop this afternoon
Posted savings account forms, and donation cheque to foodbank
Put recycling bin out and did a quick litter pick on the road / verge/ pavement outside our terrace

And that is about it, so far
Maybe I will manage a burst of activity later this evening and get more done - or maybe not :rotfl:

determined_new_ms

DawnW wrote: »

Afternoon all
Thanks for starting us off DNMS. Have you done that tie yet? I think it would take me 3 years, I don't know about 3 hours :rotfl:

I've partially done it Dawn cut the pieces out now just need to sew it up Tomorrow's job! Picked up another sewing job but need to say to person it's unlikely I'll get it done this side of Christmas (time is short and have 4 things I need to get done in the next 16 days :eek:

is it tragic I'm finding hearing the freezer defrosting quite satisfying?!