What small DFW things will you do w/c 6th January 2020

1LuckyLady

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:

1LuckyLady

Morning all,
I've been awake since about 2.30am and have finally given up trying to sleep so thought I'd start us off this week.
Its the first day back to normal after the holidays for us today so my plans are as follows

Kids finishing off some crusts of bread from the freezer for breakfast Done and that finished off the choc spread too
Back to the gym for me, two classes booked and I've packed a bag so that I can shower/change at the gym - may as well use their water/electricity! (plus I'm thinking this will help me with my new self care plan - not just living in trainers/joggers but making more of an effort) Done, the water wasn't as hot as it should have been though!! :eek:
Wash at least one load on the quick 30 degree wash Done 2 loads, both on the heated airer
Try to work out whats going on with the kindle (I'm wanting to sell it, we've deactivated/unregistered it but its showing a padlock that I think is to do with parental control which then isn't letting me reset the device - [STRIKE]will look more at this when I've drunk lots of coffee I think!) [/STRIKE] Done, I wish I'd just got up earlier as this is what has kept me up I think!
If ^^ is sorted, print off post label Done
Package in some saved packaging Done and post on the way back from the gym Done
Empty dehumidifier water into the toilet cistern rather then down the sink Done
Check banking/update spreadsheet Done
Freezer inventory needs re-writing Done and taken some cooked diced chicken out to do something with tonight
Triage fridge Done, used a part jar of curry paste I aren't keen on, a cauliflower, a bendy carrot, spinach into a chicken curry I'm making for tea and wipe out
Meal plan
Dig out food/exercise diary that I bought a few months ago but haven't yet used! Done [STRIKE]Today is the day! [/STRIKE] strike that,
I started but don't like the layout of it, would rather use a plain note pad, I think this is why I didn't use it after I'd bought it! Anyway I've taken one page out and put it into the cs bag
Drink plenty of water and get back to healthy eating. 2 mugs of hot water done before 8am I know that I can't exercise my way out of a bad diet.
Make families lunches for tomorrow
Message a friend to see about meeting up for our once a month catch up one day next week Done
Go through the food cupboards and update the shopping list as I know I'll need to go tomorrow (should go today but think I can make do) Done
Continue decluttering for the cs/ tip shop / fabric recycling bags & try to locate a missing ds game cartridge for another thing I'm wanting to maybe sell or maybe give away
Give myself a mini pedicure using foot cream/nail polish I already have.
Have a think about taking a shoe storage thing out of our hallway as it keeps breaking, my dad has fixed it so many times already but it keeps breaking, with some of the sorting out we've already done over the xmas period I have another unit in the hallway that could be re-purposed for putting shoes in anyway.... hmmm Taken the old one down, stripped it for parts as I have another shoe drawer thing in my bedroom,
will keep the two "good" drawers as spare too and get rid of the other two
Put up a little hook in ds1s bedroom for a calendar he's been given Done easily as ds2 had a picture hook no longer needed in his room
Make something treat wise for packed lunches - Done made a date cake, lots of fruit/nuts in it but no fat
Rm surveys - starting both correctly and unadd this week
1poll / yougov surveys if any (just had a 1poll payout but not far off a ugov)

Thats my start. I'm hoping to get back on later with another list! (or I might end up having a nanna nap this afternoon instead )
Hoping everyone is feeling better, take care all.

Baileys_Babe

1LL thank you for starting this week's thread :A
Hopefully, now you have sorted out the kindle you will be able to sleep tonight.

As today is Epiphany we are putting away our Christmas decorations, the living room furniture will need rearranging & the room will need to be cleaned.

We are also resuming lessons.

Today's plans:
NSD
Make bread
Make porridge
Write shopping list
All food and drink from stores
RM survey
Pmp etc
Home educate children for free
Wash hair with shampoo bar
Let hair dry naturally
Close curtains before it gets dark

allydowd

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.

allydowd

Hi January Joy-Seekers,


Thanks 1LL.



DW is recovering from 'plague' so I have been busy working, caring and keeping the house. Today will be a solo adventure for me. Much love to all the other poorlies.


I'm off birdwatching at the reserve. Will combine it with my run and stop at Tesco and petrol station on the way.




Debt-Free-Nillionaire Continuity Plan Year Five:


:idea: Checked online banking.

:idea: Day 14 of 30 day Free Running Challenge. 30.3km/18.8miles so far.

:idea: Alarm clock off at the wall during day time.

:idea: Drink only water for a couple of hours.

:idea: Turn off Wifi box when not using it.

:idea: Defrost batch-cooked soup for lunch.

:idea: House cleaned with Stardrops and washable cloths.

carrielovesfanta

ziggy2407 wrote: »

Had a lovely weekend and have decided this is the year to say "Yes" more to any opportunities that come my way.

C x

I made this resolution at the start of 2018 and had a fab year

carrielovesfanta

Morning folks

Much love to the other poorlies xx

I am feeling quite a lot better today but have decided to try to work from home. Just struggling to connect to my pc at the moment! If I can't, I'll get OH to drop me off on his way over to his mum's. He's back in work today. - working from home

We actually put the Christmas deccies away yesterday but we decided to leave the winter garland and lights on the stairs as they will be nice in the dark evenings (our stairwell is in the corner of the living room).

Frugal things today:
:heartpuls B/L/D from stores - done
:heartpuls Hide choccies from OH as he wants to get back to healthier eating - done
:heartpuls Get OH to take some relevant bits to MIL's to get them out the way - done
:heartpuls Sneaky tidy round and washing on as I'm at home. While I'm waiting for IT there's not much I can do. - done
:heartpuls Heating off, make sure I wrap up warm - nope getting too cold to sit as it's making my lungs feel horrible
:heartpuls Check PMP - done
:heartpuls Found some stuff I thought was totally lost including a brand new accounts book. Listed the book on ebay as no longer required. - done. Also listed an accidentally duplicated Christmas present. I had added it to my wish list twice. I thought it was two different books but it was two different editions of the same book!

Not much today really. But to be honest, apart from food, I can't think what we'd be spending on after Christmas!

Oh, and in other good news, my MRI came back normal (although I did expect it to)

Have a good one all

clf x

twiggy86

Morning all!

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

I saw my orthopedic consultant this morning and he's give me the ok to run the London Marathon (provided I can manage the pain) - not sure if this is good news or not!!!

Today i have/ will:
* Check banks
* Do foam rolling exercises
* Make lunch to take to work
* Turn microwave off at the wall
* Park at supermarket near hospital for free and walk to appointment - unfortunately I had to pay to park by work to avoid being massively late, but at least I've only paid once for parking
* Snaffle receipt and snap to apps
* Make CC minimum payment now that statement has appeared
* Update spreadsheet
* Check OP/ PA
* Look at new gym timetable to see if there's any classes that fit with my training
* Email gym as realised I'm paying £1 more than advertised price
* Do first day of marathon training plan
* Get a lift to parkour tonight
* Dinner from stores

Think that's everything for today. Hope you all have a good day!

ziggy2407

Hi Everyone

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.

1LL - Thanks for starting us off today!

Back to some sense of normality today, plans are:

Check Bank & make PAD - Done
RM surveys up to date - Done
Wash blanket used in car for dogs yesterday - Done & Line dried
Investigate DS's gym membership - Done, now cancelled
Bake Banana cake & muffins - Done
Craft - Nope but listed a few crafty bits for sale on FB
Declutter - 2 tubs of chocolates, 18 mince pies and some French fancies given to Bin men as a Thank You, 2020 calendar freegled
Swagbucks - Done
Purge a few emails - Done a few
Enter a few comps - Done a few
All meals from cupboards/fridge/freezer - Done
Check: Lucky Bob, PMP, WinaDinner - Done
Read Library Book -

Have a great day!

C x

TryingAgain2022

This week:

-Work from home twice - save 120 miles of fuel (still use 180 a week but still…) DONE
-no coffee on way to work when in the office NOT DONE but it was a Loyalty card one so free
-packed lunch/lunch at home MISSED - Tuesday I had Maccy D's but with a fiver I found in my purse...
-check banks (DONE)
-move money around to cover Jan expenses after SSP disaster (ie I lost £500 out of December's pay packet without warning...) (partly done will need to keep checking)
-make sure SOs cover what’s needed - H card changes interest rate this month so check. (done, doesn't seem to kick in until next month?) DONE
-menu plan and use up what’s in store MISSED - had Indian food on credit card yest after tough day with health
-read lots on phone/book and avoid pointless browsing. DONE
-work my way through long TBR shelf ONGOING
-book mental health live video therapy - at last! DONE
-buy birthday gift for DD’s friend
-Saturday haircut (and it might be colour as well, need to check) DONE and it is colour, ulp, will have to be CCard. I missed colour last time to save cash and it really needs doing...
-pay first part of DD’s summer school trip - still can't, it's not set up on school payment thing yet for some reason
-do surveys DONE
-check Daily Stoic for reminder to stay motivated DONE though memento mori is a bit grim as a reminder!
-book car service for Feb. Deferred it as knew Jan would be hard but it’s a condition of the lease that it’s kept up to date with services
-do the FlyLady missions - part of ongoing self care and motivation
-write a tweet fiction (very short story) every day - again part of self care (writer self care!) and motivation. Very satisfying to have written 365 tiny stories a year! DONE

That's it I think. Boo for January.

ADDED: anxiety is BIG this week, cannot wait for therapy sesh, if they can make me feel better it will be such a relief. Money/job worries not helping me cope with health anxiety! FURTHER ADDED: working from home (tues, thurs so far) is saving me right now. I am taking lots of breaks which is harder in the office and just doing what I'm up to. I am completely open with work about this and they know I'm seeking help with mental and physical health. I have no goals for today except resting. I'm still doing more than if I was off sick and right now I won't let myself feel guilty about being underproductive.) Job hunting involves the words 'option to work from home' :-)

1LuckyLady

1LuckyLady wrote: »

Kids finishing off some crusts of bread from the freezer for breakfast Done and that finished off the choc spread too
Back to the gym for me, two classes booked and I've packed a bag so that I can shower/change at the gym - may as well use their water/electricity! (plus I'm thinking this will help me with my new self care plan - not just living in trainers/joggers but making more of an effort) Done, the water wasn't as hot as it should have been though!! :eek:
Wash at least one load on the quick 30 degree wash Done 2 loads, both on the heated airer
Try to work out whats going on with the kindle (I'm wanting to sell it, we've deactivated/unregistered it but its showing a padlock that I think is to do with parental control which then isn't letting me reset the device - [STRIKE]will look more at this when I've drunk lots of coffee I think!) [/STRIKE] Done, I wish I'd just got up earlier as this is what has kept me up I think!
If ^^ is sorted, print off post label Done
Package in some saved packaging Done and post on the way back from the gym Done
Empty dehumidifier water into the toilet cistern rather then down the sink Done
Check banking/update spreadsheet Done
Freezer inventory needs re-writing Done and taken some cooked diced chicken out to do something with tonight
Triage fridge Done, used a part jar of curry paste I aren't keen on, a cauliflower, a few mushrooms, a bendy carrot & spinach into a chicken curry I'm making for tea and wipe out
Meal plan
Dig out food/exercise diary that I bought a few months ago but haven't yet used! Done [STRIKE]Today is the day! [/STRIKE] strike that,
I started but don't like the layout of it, would rather use a plain note pad, I think this is why I didn't use it after I'd bought it! Anyway I've taken one page out and put it into the cs bag
Drink plenty of water and get back to healthy eating. 2 mugs of hot water done before 8am I know that I can't exercise my way out of a bad diet.
Make families lunches for tomorrow Done
Message a friend to see about meeting up for our once a month catch up one day next week Done
Go through the food cupboards and update the shopping list as I know I'll need to go tomorrow (should go today but think I can make do) Done
Continue decluttering for the cs/ tip shop / fabric recycling bags & try to locate a missing ds game cartridge for another thing I'm wanting to maybe sell or maybe give away Done, added several pairs of shoes to the cs bag, ones the kids have quickly grown out of and a few office bits too
Give myself a mini pedicure using foot cream/nail polish I already have.
Have a think about taking a shoe storage thing out of our hallway as it keeps breaking, my dad has fixed it so many times already but it keeps breaking, with some of the sorting out we've already done over the xmas period I have another unit in the hallway that could be re-purposed for putting shoes in anyway.... hmmm Taken the old one down, stripped it for parts as I have another shoe drawer thing in my bedroom,
will keep the two "good" drawers as spare too and get rid of the other two
Put up a little hook in ds1s bedroom for a calendar he's been given Done easily as ds2 had a picture hook no longer needed in his room
Make something treat wise for packed lunches - Done made a date cake, lots of fruit/nuts in it but no fat
Rm surveys - starting both correctly and unadd this week Done
1poll / yougov surveys if any (just had a 1poll payout but not far off a ugov)

Thats my start. I'm hoping to get back on later with another list! (or I might end up having a nanna nap this afternoon instead )
Hoping everyone is feeling better, take care all.

Sorry to post again but it wouldn't let me edit

Also made a berry & apple crumble with fruit from the freezer as a 1st day back to school/work treat
Cut open a bottle of ketchup to get the dregs
Cut open shampoo bottle
Unsubscribed from a load of email newsletters and dejunked my email inbox
Cut up the date cake into individual portions ready for lunch boxes, 16 good "chunks" so that will keep the kids going for a couple of weeks at least!
Done all the ironing from over Xmas so more then usual but its done now (hoping that the things on the heated airer won't need doing!)
Sorted out the office as dh is wfh tomorrow which was unexpected (he's been booked in for a blood test but I thought he'd go into the office after but I'm glad he's not as it will save about 120 miles worth of fuel!)

I've flagged now, time for a cuppa that ds1 has just made me and I'll have a read and catch up on here.

Take care all.