What Small Things Will You Do This Week? 01/11/21

Bagpuss741

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 😀

Bagpuss741

Sorry for not starting the thread this morning, was up and out early to doggy sit for my brother

Today I have/will:

1.  Checked online banking
2.  Paid bills that needed to be paid
3.  NSD
4.  New (second hand MacBook arrived so am slowly setting that up)
5.  Surveys
6.  Duolingo Welsh
7.  Read free book
8.  Cleaned living room

La_escocesa

Hi bagpuss, thanks for keeping us going 💪

Hope everyone else is doing well and up for joining in. 

I wasn't working today - off sick with a chest infection. 🤒

I should be keeping myself out of mischief in my sick bed but I've still managed to spend about £100 today on prescription charges, Christmas pressies, charity Christmas cards, take away pizza and a new water bottle I 'need'... 🙄 All budgeted spends so not an issue really but I should reign it in tbh... 

Going to reconcile YNAB as lots of bills have come out today. 😁 Let me know if you want my referral code - it could change your life like it did mine... 😁

Hopefully catch up as the week goes on... 

DawnW

Hello @Bagpuss741 hopefully others will join us at some stage.

Stressy morning as I had a blood test appointment in this town and a dental appointment in another. Anyway, all done now, and although I need a filling it isn't urgent and can wait till after Christmas. Apart from that:

Most of the Direct Debit bills went out. I notice the 'old' energy company that has gone bust is still taking the Direct Debit, but the new one has said to continue this for now.

No heating, but the stove is alight now. One lot of hot water from the kettles I keep on top has already been used for washing up.

Dog walked

Various leftovers finished off for lunch

OH did the shopping, got most of what was needed in Lidls. Managed to lose the loaf of bread that he had bought   Annoying as it had been paid for, but I can make one in the BM in the morning. I will need to buy a couple more things later in the week, but it will be a low spend week for grocery shopping, which is just as well given the cost of private dental treatment. My check up plus x rays cost £100, and my small filling, when I have it done, will be £210. No NHS dental treatment available round here, except for children and people on benefits, if they are lucky enough to be able to get an appointment.

Had stuff to use up, so made a nice frittata for dinner, which we had with salad. There will be plenty for lunch tomorrow as well

EssexHebridean

Evening all - hope those feeling poorly are better soon. Amazing to be in November already isn’t it! 

today I have:
- checked banking
- money shuffle done with my pay
- NSD (and set a target for them for the month)
- dinner cooked from plan
- MrEH has sorted out washing from the machine > airer

We have given in and out the first of the storage heaters on to charge overnight tonight - and currently have the little oil filled rad on in the front room as it was 17.5°C indoors this evening and that is just too chilly. I need to go and check the settings on the storage heater to make sure it’s set right too as we were still in lockdown last time it was used! 

capuchin

- Changed my current account to a reward account Costs £2 a month and gets £5 back!

- Updated my weekly spreadsheets. A day early but today will be NSD so no worries.

- Checked banking

determined_new_ms

Morning everyone thanks for starting the thread Bagpuss (No need to apologise! I saw it wasn't up yesterday morning but didn't have time to put it up )

Hey La E! Good to see you, I'm fearing our numbers are so low we are at risk of dying out after all these years! Think we should corral the old regulars in to coming back. Hope your chest infection goes soon x

EssexHebridean, we have also given in and put the heating on a couple of days these last few days. It's cold!

Eek Dawn to stressy & expensive days

capuchin chin chin

Quick post for me:

* working today so that keeps me out of harms way
* load of washing from last night to hang up and another in the machine
* make a home made pizza wheel for madam's packed lunches - will freeze a load
* nip to chemist to pick up prescription in lunch break
* dinner batch made campfire stew - love a no cook dinner on work days
* submit meter readings
* TOMM bedrooms if I can a chance
* work on reading for assignment if I get time/after work
* submit expenses
* make madam's lunch for tomorrow

Ok that's my lot and I need to fore up my work laptop.  

Bagpuss741

Today I have/will:

1.  Checked online banking
2.  Been to Morrisons to get flowers for family graves and lit lamps on the graves as it is all souls day today (my gramp was from Eastern Europe where they decorate the cemetery with candles)
3.  Meals from stores
4.  Duolingo Welsh
5.  Read free book
6.  Update spreadsheet
7.  Wash cat's blankets and put on drier.
8.  Home manicure

Have a good day everyone, hope those who are ill get well soon

EssexHebridean

Morning all - bright and sunny but F-R-E-E-Z-I-N-G cold down here this morning! My fingers were like icicles by the time I got to the office on the bike - I've asked MrEH to stick a note somewhere obvious at home reminding me to add my full-finger gloves to my bag for tomorrow. 

Just heard from a friend that her Mum died yesterday which is sad - her Mum had been suffering from dementia for a while but her death was still quite unexpected I think, and of course will come along with all the baggage about a death following dementia too which I know from personal experience is always a difficult one to balance out in your head. 

Odds and ends round here for me today 
- I'm in the office and MrEH is WFH
- already checked banking - wanting to keep an eye on the DD's/SO's leaving the new account to make sure all is good.
- First heater was on overnight and charged fine - now cheerfully letting out its heat as per the programmed times. 
- Remembered this morning to check the time was correct on that one too - it's supposed to set itself correctly but hadn't this time so good job I checked.
- electricity use overnight checked and (mentally) noted so we can see where we're at.
- food tonight is from plan - couscous with roasted veg and halloumi.
- Gym after work for me, and MrEH has rugby training.
- Check OnePoll through the day and Prolific at lunchtime. Prolific now at £5.61 paid/£3.27 pending

Should really do meter readings this evening , and also remind MrEH to read the gas meter if he gets a chance today. 

BlueJ94

Morning all, 

Everyone seems so busy!!

Didn't work at Sainsburys this morning so caught up on some sleep until 7.30am my OH has nearly finished the flooring and he's talking about buying a brand new fish tank now!

Also fantastic news that my grandads house completion date is today!! So I should be getting some money from that!!

To do:

Work lunch done
Put washing on(we have a mountain going on ) done

Pop up OH mams to give her avon stuff 

DawnW

Evening all

Nice to 'see' you @La_escocesa   Hope you feel better soon.

Today I have / will:

Dog walk first thing

Avoided putting the heating on - it really wasn't too bad in here this morning. The stove was alight yesterday evening, and since we had the conservatory redone (so no more draughts from that direction), it tends to keep the downstairs warm overnight even though we always let it go out by bedtime.

Folded and put away dry washing from airer

RM Surveys stuff

Cut final two aubergines and composted the plant. They aren't huge, but will make a useful addition to a curry or similar

Leftovers for lunch

Worked this afternoon

Made a big shepherds pie for dinner both tonight and tomorrow

Not spent anything.