What Small Things Will You Do This Week? 20/12/21

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

Today I have/will:

1. Checked online banking
2.  NSD
3.  Meals from stores
4.  Finally put tree up
5.  Duolingo Welsh
6.  Paid Very (Budgeted for)

DawnW

Evening everyone (well, Bagpuss741 anyway!)

Today I have / will:

Washed my hair with my everlasting shampoo bar (well, it lasts for months anyway...) and left it to dry naturally.

Washed up and cleaned sink area using hot water from the stove kettles, which was kept in flasks overnight.

DD and children came round so I made lunch for everyone prior to walking into town

Small spend - a couple of gift bags in Po*ndstretcher. Also bought a hair ribbon that GD wanted, and provided pennies to put in the collection tin in the cat rescue charity shop, as she and GS wanted to 'save the cats' . The shop assistant let them each choose a chocolate from a box that the staff had been given   Town was very quiet, not many people around at all.

Made a list for the supermarket. Don't need much, just a few things that wouldn't keep if bought too far in advance. I might go tomorrow after work. If not it will be Thursday. After that I shall avoid going again for as long as possible!

Dinner was fish from the freezer

Had to put heating on for a while this afternoon, as it was chilly   Now turned off as the stove is alight. Kettles on again for 'free' hot water.

Still need to check the banks.

EssexHebridean

morning ladies - thanks for the thread bagpuss!

I'm meeting myself coming back this week - loads to do or at least it feels that way - but so much needs to wait for the later end of the week - frustrating! 

It's feeling far quieter this week - traffic has been delightfully light and MrEH tells me that the tube was almost empty yesterday too. Today is his last day commuting - he's working tomorrow and Thursday but from home. I'm glad of it too - not ideal needing to use public transport at the moment really. 

Food is all organised - last night was lamb chump end chops with three root mash & ratatouille (augmented with sweetcorn to give us a bit more veg), very tasty. Tonight will be couscous with roasted veg, halloumi, toasted seeds, yogurt and mint sauce and a sprinkling of either zatar or sumac. Nice and simple and we can get other jobs done while the veg roasts. Can't recall what's on the meal plan for tomorrow - probably pasta with something or another though! 

Bagpuss741

Today I have/will

1. Checked online banking
2. Cleaned car, checked screen wash, oil, tyres.  Put wd40 on door hinges
3.  Meals from stores
4.  Organise bag with id etc. as I have my Covid booster tomorrow 
5.  Watch Agatha Raisin tonight (love this show)
6.  Washed cats mats

DawnW

Evening all

Worked this afternoon, so limited 'accomplishments' today:

Dog walk first thing

Usual kitchen / bathroom clean up (used hot water stored overnight in flasks for the washing up)

Off to see DD1 tomorrow, so made a loaf in the BM to take with us

Did final shop in Mr S after work. It was really quiet compared to how it usually is at this time of the year. I shan't go again till after the festivities though! I got everything I needed except for ground almonds, and I haven't been able to get those for weeks.

Managed to find a nice silver necklace at a really good price while I was out (not in Sains obviously), which will be nice as a present for DD1's birthday, which falls in January

Got home to find that OH had cooked dinner, which was a nice surprise!

I still need to wrap some Xmas presents to take with me tomorrow - not my favourite job.

EssexHebridean

Morning! A bright cheerful but VERY cold morning here today - I had to cut short my planned extra cycling distance because my fingers were so cold I was struggling to work the brake levers - eek! REALLY hoping someone's bought me the winter cycling gloves that were on my Christmas list! 

- Checked banking already and done a little  bit of money shuffling that was needed.
- Final T's visit done last night for chipolatas and streaky for pigs in blankets, and regular sausages which will go into sausage rolls.
- Sorting/packing for Hebrides trip is coming along steadily
- MrEH has been for his booster this morning - YAY! (Hope yours goes well Bagpuss!)
- Homeless Shelter cash donation done (Money from not sending out Christmas cards)
- Got a choice for dinner tonight but it will most likely be the remains of Sunday's stew.
- Roasted the whole pack of mushrooms last night so those for Sausage & mushroom pasta are ready in the fridge.
- decided to bite the bullet and just cancel my gym pass yesterday as I'm definitely not going this side of Christmas now, it's just not worth the risk although I suspect it would be extremely quiet. I'll be joining the gym directly in the New Year so wanted to make sure Hussle is fully cancelled. 

Lots of odds and ends to crack on with but no waiting about for MrEH this evening so I can move the car at lunchtime so it's behind the office, and head straight off at 5pm - hopefully the traffic will be as light as last night! 

Bagpuss741

Today I have/will

1.  Checked online banking
2.  Been for my booster jab
3.  Stocked up on cat litter, bird food and cat food 
4.  Took Christmas presents to my brother
5.  Duolingo
6.  Surveys

Bagpuss741

Today I have/will

1.  Checked online banking
2.  Been for pedicure (not dfw but since knee surgery I cannot see to my own feet)
3.  Duolingo
4.  Meals from stores
5.  Surveys
6.  Paid £100 off next
7.  Set budget for next week

EssexHebridean

Today I have proved that there is such a thing as a free lunch as MrBoss treated up both to pizza instead of us going out for our customary office Christmas (long) lunch. We both agreed we didn't fancy the pub right now, so that was a good alternative. Even better (and very MSE) is that he always insists on order enormous ones on the 2 for 1 deal so I have two thirds of mine to take home! 

Also
- banks checked - I've been paid, MrEH hasn't which is slightly concerning
- I have a £200 christmas bonus which I've already shifted and stashed somewhere safe to do something nice with. 
- remembered I needed to put a claim in for missing TCB cashback, and done it, too
- done a Power of Opinions survey which took me over the level to cash out to Amazon. 
- Had a nice little flurry of OnePoll stuff to do
- Cleaned the office kitchen and bathroom sinks & kitchen worktops
- got my watch plugged into the usb on the computer to charge

I'm now about to while away my afternoon with some filing of paperwork - it's one of those jobs that tends to get done infrequently, but is very untaxing! (And some of it is going to go into a file marked "random paperwork" - shhh!) 

DawnW

Afternoon all

Fairly relaxed day today, after travelling to see DD1 and family yesterday. Didn't sleep very well either. But I have:

Had home grown berries from the freezer with breakfast. There are still loads in there!

OH did the hoovering  

Load of washing, which will have to dry entirely inside on the airer, as it is wet and horrible outside (though it has warmed up as the day has progressed)

Finished up leftovers for lunch

Made mince pies this afternoon. Mincemeat was made last year, so wants using up. Added more brandy to loosen it up a bit. All fine though, as the finished mince pies got the vote of approval from OH on quality control duty   Most will be taken with us to DS and his GF who are hosting Christmas day.  I was volunteered to do the desserts, and mince pies and sticky toffee pudding were requested. I shall make the sticky toffee pudding tomorrow.

Had the heating on this morning, but have since turned it off. OH will light the stove in a minute, so that the house feels warm for the evening and the washing will dry overnight.