What Small Things Will You Do This Week?? 29/08/22

allydowd

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 😀

allydowd

MONEY MAKING AND SAVING SITES AS OFTEN MENTIONED IN THIS FORUM:

• Benefits check-up (Link)
• Birthday Freebies (Link)
  
• Cooking On A Bootstrap, cheap recipes. (Link)
  
• eBid (Link)
• Freecycle (Link)
• Freegle (Link)
  
• FreeStuff (Link)
• Income Tax Calculator (Link)
• Ipsos i-Say Surveys (Link)
• Jobseekers Railcard (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 Makeover (Link)
• MSE Piggybank Budgeting (Link)
• MSE Stoozing Guide (Link)
  
• NHS Minor Ailment Service article (Link)
• My Supermarket Compare (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)
• Reclaiming guide (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)
  
• 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.

Links last checked for workability 1st Aug 2022.

Please click Thanks if this post helped you.

allydowd

Hi August Austerity Wranglers

A precious day off today.

Debt-Free-Nillionaire Continuity Plan Year Eight:

Alarm clock off at the wall during day time.

Turn off WiFi box when not using it.

Air dry clothing.

Shopped around for snacks to take to work conference so that I don't buy from vending machines or whatever.

Dinner will be some random leftovers from the freezer.

Bagpuss741

Today I have/will

1.  Checked online banking
2.  Meals from stores
3.  Duolingo
4.  Consumer pulse/Pick my postcode

not much today

carrielovesfanta

Morning folks

Back from my parents' house. It wasn't too bad this time actually, although my dad is getting quite down (understandably). It's been pay day, so OH and I treated ourselves to some food out when we got back yesterday and I went into the garden center slight tipsy and came out with 4 perennials off the cavalcade of the unloved (£17 for 2 asters, a hydrangea and a giant foxglove? yes please). 

Spent the afternoon pottering round the garden and then met up with some friends for a drink. Haven't seen them in months so it was nice to catch up.

So today's mission... MSE things:
B/L from stores. D tbd as everything a bit up in the air with me being away
OH teaching from home

Spendy things:
Working in the office so petrol spend

Other things:
OH to do the housework
Allotment this evening
Some knitting perhaps

Have a good one all

clf x

BlueJ94

Afternoon all, 

everyone meet little Ernie, he’s very fast and already gets his own way! 

Also, I had my tattoo on Friday 

DawnW

Adorable pictures @BlueJ94, Ernie is so cute it is no wonder he gets his own way!

Thanks for starting the thread @allydowd

Worked all day today, so limited accomplishments:

Load of washing which I pegged outside to dry before I left

Walked into town before work, and bought some foil freezer containers, as I have used /reused the ones I had (I tend to wash and reuse year after year till they look past it - the lids are cardboard, so don't keep,  but they can be sealed with foil when reused). Also bought some viola plants from the market, lovely colours, they will live and flower for ages, and if I am lucky they will seed themselves for new 'free' plants

OH cooked a small gammon joint for tonight's dinner plus another meal. We will have home grown carrots and some leftover home made bbq sauce with it tonight.

While the oven was on, I asked him to put in a tray of tomatoes to roast for tomato sauce for the freezer. He has already put it through the mouli to leave behind the skins and seeds, so I need to pack it in some of the containers I bought today, and freeze it.

carrielovesfanta

Morning folks

Has a good rag at the weeds on the new allotment last night. OH wasn't really feeling it but I did well. Sorted the last bits for our holiday when we got back. Today feels like there are some key items to be sorted.

MSE things:
End of month budget
B/L/D from stores. Must take salmon out of freezer. 
Washing done at 20deg and out on the line
Gym 1/3 (already paid for)
WFH so no petrol spend for me

Spendy things:
Need to buy ECOegg pellets. I thought we had some but apparently not. 
Bought some candles as it's been suggested there might be power cuts this winter. Rush lights anyone?!
OH working so petrol spend there
I cracked and got my eyebrows waxed. Should be good for another 4 months or so though. 

Other things:
Check when it will rain next as I want to put lawn seed and feed down
Rake lawn before feeding 
Tidy round

Have a good one all

clf x

DawnW

Morning all

Today I have / will:

Walked dog first thing

Had a not very fresh bagel thin thingy that OH wouldn't eat for breakfast. It was fine toasted. It wasn't mouldy or anything, just a bit dry.

Annoying jobs x 2 - fixed the printer and mended 2 pairs of OH's trousers (printers have very small brains, and I HATE sewing!)

Printed out return gubbins for Amazon item (with newly fixed printer )

Usual kitchen and bathroom clean up

Now sat down with a coffee and a scone!

Still to do:

Clean bathroom floor

Read meters and enter readings on energy company's web site

RM surveys stuff

Bit of gardening

Bit of shopping

Check apples and plums and see if they need processing / freezing

Dinner will be the rest of the small gammon joint that OH cooked yesterday.

Bagpuss741

@BlueJ94. I'm in love with Ernie

Today I have/will:

1.  Checked online banking
2.  Been to Wilko for bird food and noticed the cats favourite encore tuna loin was reduced to £1 instead of £1.70 so I bought her two plus a encore chicken with rosemary which was also £1 (cat eats better than me)
3.  Dice leftover celery and freeze
4.  Sort budget for next week
5.  Paid bills that needed paying today
6.  Surveys/Pick my postcode
7.  Keep electricity use low
8.  Ordered coal before price rises
9.  Water tomatoes in greenhouse
10.  Update spreadsheet

BlueJ94

Thanks all! 

To do 

look for cheaper internet I’m paying £32.50 
budget and check DDs as I haven’t in a while!