What small DFW things will you do this week 14/12/20?

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 hope everyone is chipper today 

I'm keeping it basic today 
* TOMM
* considering whether to go in to town to get something. But covid cases are rising in our area so trying as much as possible to stay away. Need to think if I really do need to.... If I do return library books and collect another
* all meals from stores. rubber pork tonight continuing to use up as much out of the freezer as I can
* soup for lunch
* sewing
* some kind of xmas activity with madam after school
* bubble bath & pamper session this evening

We watched a really good film last night called "Uncle Frank" from amazon video. If you have it I highly recommend. I'm still thinking about it as it had quite an impact. 

Anyway going to go now

La_escocesa

Hi gang, 

Thanks for the kick off DNMS. I love the look of your dress too. Looking forward to seeing it when it’s finished. I’ve got a sewing machine in the cupboard that I’ve never used. May get it out when we move house next year and have more space.

Apart from that I am mainly saving money by not moving house. What a joke this has all been. Fingers crossed it will hopefully be early in the new year! We put up the Christmas tree at the weekend - defeated by incompetent solicitors, estate agents and our buyer. Ho hum, another Christmas in this house it is... 

Need to think about a meal plan... Managed to rustle up some crackers yesterday out of what seemed like nothing - pea and mint soup (frozen peas, dried mint in the soup maker), veggie sausage casserole and chips, custard and frozen fruits of the forest for afters. Was happy with that... 

LO got a new-to-her build a bear teddy from next door’s little girl and lots of clothes for it so washed them and got them drying. Looks so funny/cute.  

Santa (amazon) is arriving today so I’m going to do some wrapping tonight with a christmas movie and a glass of vino. Hopefully I don’t need to work until 10pm!!

Need to sort YNAB

TOMM living room

Catch up soon you lovely lot!

carrielovesfanta

Afternoon folks

Sounds like some nice plans there @La_escocesa!

Got up early for the gym this morning but still very sluggish. Came home and slopped about for an hour or so then had morning call with work. Accidentally switched the camera on to reveal pjs, dressing gown and unwahsed/brushed hair. Then was so tired that I dozed off for and hour! Tummy still a bit so so, but had some ginger in hot water and felt a lot better so sat myself at the laptop to study. Then got myself in a tizz and ended up blubbing on the phone to one of the bosses. Damn hormones. I think yesterday really took it out of me. Probably got 10-15 years til I'm shot of this!

Anyway, gave me head a wobble (as they say round here) and knuckled back down. I WILL finish this section today. Then I'm going to check over the other sections and make a schedule. Not many small things going on. Finished up a bit of stilton that m-i-l bought for OH (he HATES blue cheese) and then a mince pie (I did make them... and very nice they are too). Doing a bit of washing and have kept the heating down low. It feels mild today.

After that will just make tea and settle to try and finish/almost finish these cross stitches and watch some more Arne and Carlos videos. 

Have good one all

clf x

stokegal

Hi all,

This week is payday on Friday and I’m counting down the days. I got confirmation of my commission last week and it’s a fair bit more than I was expecting so will be paying off around £2.5k of CC debt this month, that is if the tax man doesn’t take it all 🤦‍♀️

This week my goals are

Eat out of the cupboards / freezer till pay day - today’s dinner was fish cakes and beans 🤦‍♀️
NSDs (apart from debt repayment) till Friday - I might need to buy a loaf of bread but I might see if OH can make a loaf instead! (He’s due to be off tomorrow as his colleague tested positive for COVID so he’s had to be tested and he can’t return until he has a negative result)
I didn’t manage to go up in the attic at the weekend so really need to do it this week and sort out some unused Lego to sell on facebook.
I made a start on wrapping Christmas presents today - I was going to buy some new paper for DS as what I had in was too babyish but I found some inoffensive red and white paper - he’s a proper little MSE’er (outside of spending money on his PlayStation) and he would be the first to say not to waste money on new paper as it’s only going to go in the bin!
During lockdown I also set up a little business making personalised homeware items. I ordered some milk cartons back in October which were delivered today so I need to try out some designs on them and advertise them - I bought 40 and intend to sell them for £10 each so would be £400 revenue - even after cost and tax it should be good profit margin.

I also had a refund of some jogging bottoms that I sent back for DS Christmas today - they were £19.48 and I rounded it up to £20 paid it straight of my CC. I also sold some stickers and received payment via PayPal  so I paid that straight of my PayPal credit account.
I also resisted putting the heating on for as long as possible today and sat with a hot water bottle until 3pm when I caved! 

I hope everyone is having a good week so far!

x

determined_new_ms

Morning I've woke up ridiculously early! Although I did fall asleep at 8 so it seems fair, if annoying! Think I'll get my sewing machine out in a bit and sew up the skirt of my dress

Things for today:
* TOMM - bedrooms
* load of washing & put away yesterday's
* make madam's packed lunch
* have put last of last night's dinner in tupperware for oh's lunch
* make a couple of scrunchies and face masks out of the lo fabric from dress
* all food from stores & meal from plan
* wrap last xmas gifts tonight - think I have 4 left to do
* make gingerbread reindeers and decorate with madam after school  
* do some sort of exercise and stick to diet 

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

La_escocesa

Hi everyone 

@stokegal have you used a gross to net calculator to see what your take-home pay will be? https://www.thesalarycalculator.co.uk/salary.php

@determined_new_ms - I woke up early this morning too but not enough energy as you at that time I read the Miracle Morning a couple of weeks ago, trying to embrace the early wake ups!!

@carrielovesfanta Hope you’re feeling better today and the ginger tea did the trick! 

So, apart from working hard, I need to: 
sort YNAB
TOMM bedrooms 
lunch and dinner from stores
Walk to pick up LO 
Working on my day off to extend my Xmas break  
Need to think about something to post to a pal who’s having a hard time. I was hoping to crochet some sunflowers for her but need to look out something and need to complete it in one evening... 

carrielovesfanta

Morning folks

Feeling a lot more normal today. Much more energy and did 6am gym session which just felt normally horrible tummy a little sore but am going to make sure I eat properly.

I'm in the office today but luckily my boss's wife popped in today (she's a good friend of mine from my old company) so it's nice to see her. Plus the sun is shining. 

Today's plan is for OH to do the housework while I'm at work and then when I get home, I'm going to marzipan the Christmas cakes. Then finish the cross stitches. I'm on the last stretch now and they will definitely be finished tonight (unless unforseen circumstances). 

Have a good one all 

clf x

carrielovesfanta

Need to think about something to post to a pal who’s having a hard time. I was hoping to crochet some sunflowers for her but need to look out something and need to complete it in one evening... 

Maybe a chunky cowl? You could strand 2 dk yarns together if you don't have chunky yarn

DawnW

Afternoon all

Thanks for starting the thread DNMS. Failed for some reason to post yesterday. I didn't feel great, and thought I might be coming down with something, but whatever it was seems to have disappeared overnight

Got someone coming from a windows and conservatory company later, to give a quote on renewing the glass bits of our conservatory (sounds daft but it has 3 and a half solid walls - imagine me trying to describe that on the phone )  Won't be a cheap job, but it really needed doing when we moved in nearly 10 years ago. Other than that I have / will:

Early morning dog walk (Done)

Take a box of bits to my sales unit (Done)

Put dry washing away (Done)

Put Icyland shopping that arrived at lunchtime away. Got a free gateau in with it for some reason (some draw or something), OH will be pleased. (Done)

Sold an item on ebay and listed a few more (posted quite a few bits out yesterday)

Put a curry in the SC. I had meant to make chicken pies, but discovered I had taken thighs instead of breast meat out of the freezer. No matter, I had a half jar of korma paste in the fridge. I don't normally buy curry pastes, preferring to make my own, but this was in the cupboard so I will use it. Added chickpeas, so chicken and chickpea korma. Why not? There will be enough for 2 meals for the both of us there. It smells nice.

Wrapped the last present and written the last card (I hope!). Struggling to be bothered with Christmas this year   Actually there are a couple more presents I need to wrap, but can't do till the last minute (food and drink related).

Oops I thought your post suggested that La E make a chunky cow CLF

La_escocesa

Ooh, a chunky cowl/cow - that can surely be done in an evening! I was going to send her wee boy some mittens so maybe they can matchy matchy  

Put a chickpea and spinach curry in the slow cooker. No chopped tomatoes but hopefully ok without them... Will do some rice in a bit. 

Put the washing on the clothes horse rather than the TD. Don’t need anything urgently... Fingers crossed LO’s sleeping bag dries on the radiator or I’ll need to put that in the TD for a bit though... 

Catch up soon party people!