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What small DFW things will you do w/c 23rd December?
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PurpleFairy26
Posts: 3,903 Forumite



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:
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:
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Morning! I know it’s Christmas week so the thread is likely to be quiet but started a thread in case anyone wants to post this week. I’ve a few things:
Went to butchers first thing for pre ordered meat
Went to SM at same time, glad I was early and only had about 6 things on my list!! No need to go near a shop now for several days, hopefully more.
Wrap presents!
Deliver a card by hand
Afternoon snuggled up on sofa watching a film with the small people.
Check banking and just for points CC
Have a good day all. Festive wishes to you all. Purps.0 -
Morning Purple Fairy, and thanks for starting the thread
Housework this morning, while waiting in for something to be delivered. So far I have stripped the bed and put the linen in to wash. Lots more to do!
I would like to get to my sales unit today if possible
All food will be from home
And am babysitting again this evening
Hopefully the gas man will come and fix the boiler :T
Hoping to be back later to list my achievements!0 -
PurpleFairy Thank you for starting this week's thread :A
Huge congratulations Ally on achieving your free travel goal :T
I've just bought my Dad tickets to see a band for his Christmas present, which saved me having to battle the crowds and more importantly I think he will enjoy it more than the water butt he suggested. I will buy him the butt in the new year as an early birthday present after a proper chat about capacity and where he is going to cite it.
I have no plans to do any more shopping except possibly a discounted meat run tomorrow if time allows.
We have a few presents left to wrap, hopefully, I and OH can sit down this afternoon and finish it off.
Yesterday I made mincemeat in the slow cooker (a suggestion I read in someone's DFW diary), I just need to jar it up today - note to self this could have been made in September/October/November I don't need to wait until Christmas.
Today's plans:
Check bank accounts done
Print tickets rolled over to 24th as other things became a priority
Wrap presents some
Pmp etc done
Light the stove it was a lot milder than predicted, so we didn't bother
Put kettles on the stove for free hot water decide not to light the stove
Deal with kitchen partly
All meals & drinks from stores done
Walk any journeys done, me and OH went out for a 45 minute walk about 11 pm last night as it was mild and for once dryFashion on a ration 2025 0/66 coupons spent
79.5 coupons rolled over 4/75.5 coupons spent - using for secondhand purchases
One income, home educating family0 -
MONEY MAKING AND SAVING SITES AS OFTEN MENTIONED IN THIS FORUM:
- Benefits check-up (Link)
- Birthday Freebies (Link)
- Coupon Shop Forum list of money-off coupons (Link)
- Cooking On A Bootstrap, cheap recipes. (Link)
- eBid (Link)
- Freecycle (Link)
- Freegle (Link)
- FreeStuff (Link)
- FreeUKStuff ( Link )
- Income Tax Calculator (Link)
- i-Say Surveys (Link)
- Jobseekers Railcard (Link)
- List of online newspapers. At bottom of the linked page. (Link)
- Marriage Tax Allowance (Link)
- Martin Lewis' Weekly List of Deals and Tips (Link)
- MSE Bank Charges Comparison Tool (Link)
- MSE Boost Your Income page. Gateway to lots of money-making links. (Link)
- MSE Budget Planner (Link)
- MSE Abbreviations Explained (Link)
- MSE Deals and Vouchers (Link)
- MSE Demotivator Tool (Link)
- MSE Credit Card Minimum Repayment Calculator (Link)
- MSE Money Makover (Link)
- MSE Piggybank Budgeting (Link)
- MSE Stoozing Guide (Link)
- MSE Wow Offers (Link)
- NHS Minor Ailment Service article (Link)
- My Supermarket (Link)
- NHS Free Prescription Checker (Link)
- OnePoll (Link)
- Parcel2Go: compare postage prices (Link)
- Parkopedia: compare parking charges (Link)
- Pick My Postcode Lottery ( Link )
- Quidco (Link)
- Reclaim Packaged Bank Account fees at no cost to yourself without using a claims company.(Link)
- Reclaim phone credit (Link)
- Resolver tool. Helps you draft a letter, send it, monitor replies and then escalate it to an Ombudsman or key complaint body if it's not sorted. (Link)
- SayNoTo0870 cheap phone number finder (Link)
- Split Ticketing (Link)
- Start Rescue Breakdown Cover (Link)
- Super Saver Amazon Delivery Tool (Link)
- Survey sites that pay for your opinions (Link)
- Swagbucks (Link)
- Swapit (Link)
- Tickety Split cheap train tickets (Link) Site closed
- Toluna (Link)
- TopCashBack (Link)
- Wombling Guide (Link)
- You Need A Budget site and App (Link)
If any of the links are broken, let me know.Debt-free day: 8th May 2015 "Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck," Dalai Llama0 -
Hi December Devotees,
:coffee: Mornin'. Don't really know what I'm going to do today. I've been paid early so I can sort out my finances.
Thanks for the starter PF.
I've started a new free challenge. A year+ ago I damaged my ankle and I've not been able to run on it lately and now I want to get back into running on it under Physio-Terrorist DW's supervision. Have found an online 30 day Begin Running Plan and I'm going to start that today. Won't cost me anything as I own all the kit I need already and it'll keep me busy.
Thanks for the congratulations, everyone.
Debt-Free-Nillionaire Continuity Plan Year Five:
:snow_grin Checked online banking.
:snow_grin Do own pedicure.
:snow_grin Day One of 30 day Free Running Challenge. Done. Survived.
:snow_grin Cheap treat: a hot bath.
:snow_grin Repaid DW the £25 I borrowed.
:snow_grin Alarm clock off at the wall during day time.
:snow_grin Topped up my Savings Account.
:snow_grin Repaid 0% credit card. I only use it to get points.
:snow_grin <stands on soapbox> Paid last Council Tax. What a faff! The Council have taken the online payment system offline because they want everyone to pay by Direct Debit. I refuse to pay by Direct Debit because I like to control when I pay. Telephone call took over 13 mins because I had to set up a password to pay THEM money. :mad: I could have walked to the Council and paid in person quicker! That's it paid until April now. First, it was no cash payments, then they stopped telling people about Standing Orders on the back of the bill, then paying by credit card means a 5% surcharge, then paying at the Post Office takes 5 days to credit the account, now they've taken the online payment system off and replaced it with a phone line. You can either pay 50p a min to call the quick automated service or spend 13 mins in a queue to talk to them for free, which involves having to go through a million security questions to PAY THEM. Do they not want the bill paid?! <gets off soapbox>
:snow_grin Froze a portion of leftover chilli.
:snow_grin Binge watch Lego Masters on catch-up.
:snow_grin DW is having steak and jacket potato for dinner, I'm not a steak fan so I'll just have tuna.
"It's ok not to be ok."
“Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.”Debt-free day: 8th May 2015 "Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck," Dalai Llama0 -
Morning
thanks for starting the thread purps! I've not long been up, again! Although didn't have the lovely sleep I had yesterday
Not sure what our Christmas plans are yet and oh isn't up so that'll be a nice little Christmas surprise :rotfl:
Things I do know will happen today:
[STRIKE]* TOMM last chance for the lounge. Might ask oh to help and do the kitchen as well so it has a good lick before famalam arrive Christmas day[/STRIKE]kitchen and lounge done - tick! 45 mins of h/w and it's gleaming again :cool:
[STRIKE]* put away yesterday's washing[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]* get the turkey out of the freezer to defrost. Must do this now![/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]* take dog for a lovely long walk. Going to dress up much warmer than I did yesterday![/STRIKE]
* carve out an hour to do some sewing
[STRIKE]* games & film with madam this afternoon/evening[/STRIKE]
All of the other stuff is doneHope you all have a lovely day x
DF as at 30/12/16
Wombling 2025: £87.12
NSD March: YTD: 35
Grocery spend challenge March £253.38/£285 £20/£70 Eating out
GC annual £449.80/£4500
Eating out budget: £55/£420
Extra cash earned 2025: £1950 -
Morning all,
Thanks pf for this weeks thread.
This morning we went out first thing as we had a parcel to collect from the sorting office. Also called into icyland as my dad has asked for snickers ice cream for an xmas treat!
Now home for brunch and then going to go to the park for a walk with the kids whilst its bright-ish and dry.
Later we'll have the last of the slow cooked brisket with some roast spuds.
Then films from our stash, a xmas candle and fleece blankets are planned for the rest of the day.
Take care all.Sticking with the "Small things" thread to keep up us on the straight and narrow.
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Hello all!
Today is a working day for me but then that's it until next Monday!
Today I have/ will:
* Check banks
* Make lunch to take to work
* Transfer end of honey and bbq sauce into new bottles (OH will just fling otherwise!)
* Park for free and walk to work
* Buy new phone - parents transferred me money for this for xmas. Decided not to hand my phone straight in, in case there's any problem transferring everything over. Provided no problems I will take it next week
* Back up old phone on work computer
* Snap receipts
* Check OP/PA
* Start thinking about next year's realistic financial goals
* Start spreadsheet for next month
* Drop presents into friend on way way to save a separate trip
* Finish wrapping presents
* Pop to Mr T for last bits
* Maybe some crochet but doubt I'll have time - goal is to have this project finished this week!
Think that's everything for today. Hope you all have a good day!Debt as at 5 June 2023 - £15,600.89
Current debt - £6,450.00
Total paid off - £9,150.89 (58% paid off)0 -
Hello
Sorry I missed the last couple of days last week. Things were a bit stressful.
So today
Checked the bank account and moved pennies
Bought a picture frame for a 3D postcard that my two little friends brought from Lapland for me
Spiced cabbage in the slow cooker. I have no sense of smell but apparently the house smells amazing - lost of Christmas spices.
Chicken drumsticks marinating for dinner. Trying a new recipe but I had everything in the store cupboard
Christmas food all bought, presents wrapped, cards delivered. I am now going to relax.Have adventures. laugh a lot and always be kind.0 -
Hello Frugal Friends,
Well, I'm going to be out of routines for the next few days, but am going to try not to leak money away in silly avoidable ways.......I'm already thinking I will put a snack & water bottle in my bag in case we get held up on any long journeys......it would annoy me so much if we ended up having to pay motorway services prices for sandwiches!
We don't need to do our household festive grocery shopping until around the 28th/29th, but we'll be sure to get the right balance between seasonal treats & not overbuying. Our aim is to find a reduced price turkey or big beef joint or similar. We'll see!
No other plans made, because as I said, we will be out of routines.
Shall catch up with what everyone's been doing as soon as we get back to normal.
Have a lovely break, all of you.
Midwinter Blessings,
F xx2025's challenges: 1) To fill our 10 Savings Pots to their healthiest level ever
2) To read 100 books (36/100) 3) The Shrinking of Foxgloves 5.9kg/30kg
"Life can only be understood backwards but it must be lived forwards" (Soren Kirkegaard 1813-55)0
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