What Small Things Will You Do This Week? (13/12/21)

EssexHebridean

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 😀

EssexHebridean

Morning - hope nobody minds me hopping in and starting the thread! 

I'm (thank goodness) finally feeling like the killer cold from hell is properly on the retreat which is a relief - I don't generally get floored to that extent just by colds but that one left me properly wiped! 

I got ahead of myself last night  by pre-making tea for tonight ("sort of" moussaka) and tomorrow (Chilli) so that gives us a couple of easier nights. the rest of the week is planned too - including Thursday when I'm off visiting some friends and away overnight so MrEH will be fending for himself.

Back in work today, but also have a few odd jobs in mind to get done at home through the week. I'm keen to crack on with getting things done as the "Small things" approach is working really well for me at the moment. 

Today:
- Sort washing when we get in
- next load > Machine to run overnight
- Empty DW 
- MrEH to hoover
- check banking
- Get Amazon basket ordered
- Continue thinking of things that need adding to the list for a financial discussion in the new year - reorganising savings etc. 

I managed to get some of MrEH's Christmas presents wrapped while he was out yesterday - he's out on Saturday night too so I will get the final ones of his done then along with a couple of my Dad's that will give the game away as I order "nice" coffee for both of them from the same place. 

Have a good week everyone! 

Bagpuss741

Thanks for starting the thread @EssexHebridean Glad your starting to feel better

Today I have/will:

1.  Checked online banking
2.  Paid all bills that needed to be paid today
3.  Meals from stores
4.  Duolingo
5.  Took all handmade grave decorations around family graves
6.  Surveys
7.  Will vacuum later and clean up cat bowls/mats
8.  Check bird food and hedgehog food situation to make sure I have enough to get through Christmas 

DawnW

Afternoon all

Thanks for starting the thread EH, pleased to hear that you are feeling better

AWOL last week, due to the week from hell. One highlight was the car breaking down spectacularly on a dual carriageway. Now in garage with the parts on order (fuel injectors apparently). Will cost about £1100 to fix. Lots of other annoyances too, which I shan't bore you with!

However, now it is a new, and hopefully better, week! No car, so if we can't walk there, we can't go. No worries with that as there aren't any pressing appointments far from home this week!

Today I have / will:

Dog walk first thing, then another walk to town - plenty of exercise  

DD came round with little GS. Fed them sandwiches for lunch

Dusted and rearranged stuff on mantelshelf (doesn't sound like much but it is high up - needs steps - and a big space). Added a mirror, swapped round some candlesticks, pleased with how it looks now, very pretty. And nothing spent, as I only used stuff I already had   Dust made me cough, so definitely needed doing!

Sorted out a box of toddler toys, now outgrown by GCs, and offered free to collect on FB market place.

Decided I can't be a$$ed to put up Christmas decs. I my GD wants to decorate something, I will fetch in a little potted bay tree from the garden and she can hang stuff on that! We are out on Christmas day anyway.

Wrote Christmas cards, which I have been putting off - will use free stamps from RM surveys to post them

Dinner will be chilli made yesterday with rice and soured cream. There is also rhubarb crumble 

Heating off, stove alight, kettles on, any hot water at the end of the evening will be saved in flasks for the morning washing up

Must check banks and ought to total up spends for November as I haven't done that yet. Is it just me, or are the last few weeks of 2021 flying by?

EssexHebridean

Oh no Dawn - sorry to hear about your rotten week, and what a time for the car to decide to die on you! Glad to hear it won't impact you too badly, at least. 

Great idea to decide not to bother with Christmas decs if you're not fussed. I'm torn - as we're here up until Christmas day I'd like to, but also we're planning to put lights round the cottage when we get to the Hebrides so that might end up being our decorations after all - otherwise I'll need to take them down and pack them up on Christmas morning ready to take them with us. I will get the christmassy candle holders out in the next few days though as I love those anyway. 

We didn't get as far as the hoovering last night as were slightly delayed getting home, oh well, it'll wait. 

Today I'd like to:
- Try to sort out a haircut
- Get the label printed for the router return
- wrap C's presents tonight
- load > WM (probably not through tonight as won't quite be full)
- Check banking
- 15 minute general tidy
- MrEH to hoover....maybe? 
- Christmas candle holders out and into use. 

Have a good Tuesday all! 

DawnW

Well, the box of outgrown toys went first thing, so that is one box of unneeded junk gone forever!  And it is nice to think of other little children playing with them

Porridge for breakfast, with home grown berries from the freezer

Used saved hot water from the thermos flasks that I keep on the worktop at this time of the year for this morning's washing up. We pour any unused hot water from the stove top kettles into these before bed each evening for exactly this purpose

Checked the banks, or at least the current accounts

Walked to work and back, so exercise has been taken. No news of the car, currently marooned in the garage waiting for new fuel injectors.

Took a sandwich to work with me, so nothing spent there.

The weather is mild again, so no heating on today. However, we have now lit the stove as it did get colder as darkness fell, as it tends to.

Dinner is a jacket potato and the rest of the chilli that I made on Sunday.

Still haven't reconciled November's spending, so I ought to do that.

BlueJ94

Evening all, 

Sorry not been around much. I'm working at sainsburys all this week besides Saturday and then the run up to Christmas! It was also my birthday yesterday I got a new garmin watch, Michael kors coat and a LED mirror


We've got covid at my other job, found out today so we're keeping on top of cleaning and lat tests. 

I'm off to bed now, catch up tomorrow x

EssexHebridean

Belated happy birthday Jade! Which a Garmin did you get? 

BlueJ94

EssexHebridean said:

Belated happy birthday Jade! Which a Garmin did you get? 

Thank you! The Venu, I'm not sure how new it is but it's 10x better than my old one haha

Bagpuss741

Belated Penblwydd Hapus @jadewest94
@DawnW I bet breaking down on a dual carriageway was scary

Today I have/will

1.  Checked online banking
2.  Meals from stores - chicken curry in slow cooker
3.  Finished final exam 
4.  Duolingo
5.  Start meal plan for next week

DawnW

Afternoon all

Just walked to Waitr*se as it is closest, and we only needed a few bits this week. Just under £17 spent and we have loads of fruit and veg, some cream, bread and bacon.

The garage rang, and our car might be ready later this afternoon. Need to move money to ensure there is enough in the current account to pay the enormous bill!  

It wasn't too scary Bagpuss741, as OH was driving and not me, but it was pretty spectacular with loud noises and loads of smoke. Hopefully it will be ok when we get it back.