What small DFW things will you do this week? WC 24 February

DawnW

When we start 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 canceling 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 every day 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!

DawnW

I couldn't see a thread for this week so I started one. Hope I haven't cross posted with anyone else!

I posted yesterday (?) but managed to do it on an earlier week's thread   

Today's small things:

Shopping, not DFW at all, as I haven't been for 2 weeks and had run our of loads of things   

But my spring onion seedlings are coming up   

OH helped me to put together the support things for netting on the veg patch. Now it isn't in a box in the dining room.

OH repurposed a nice old frame for a painting gifted by my sis in law   

Finished up leftover remains of a pasta bake for lunch

Sorted out the houseplants

Tidied the larder

DS came round for some photos of his DS for an upcoming birthday party  

Updated the satnav's software and maps (free)

Went to the shop where I work and tidied my unit. It looks bitty as some of the better things have sold. I will have to do a restock later this week. Started sorting out some items to take down, but will need to crawl about in the eaves cupboard to find more.

OH has lit the stove early for some reason, so I must fill the kettles and pop them on for free hot water for washing up / tea..

allydowd

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

• Benefits check-up (Link)
• Birthday Freebies (Link)
  
• eBid (Link)
• Freecycle (Link)
• Freegle (Link)
  
• FreeStuff (Link)
• Income Tax Calculator (Link)
• Ipsos i-Say Surveys (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 Deals and Vouchers (Link)
• MSE Demotivator Tool (Link)
• MSE Credit Card Minimum Repayment Calculator (Link)
• NHS Minor Ailment Service article (Link)
• MSE Money Makeover (Link)
• MSE Reclaim Packaged Bank Account fees at no cost to yourself without using a claims company (Link)
• MSE Reclaiming guide (Link)
• MSE Stoozing Guide (Link)
• MSE Survey sites that pay for your opinions (Link)
• My Supermarket Compare (Link)
  
• NHS Free Prescription Checker (Link)
• OnePoll (Link)
• Parcel2Go: compare postage prices (Link)
  
• Parkopedia: compare parking charges (Link)
  
• Quidco (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. (www.resolver.co.uk)
• SayNoTo0870 cheap phone number finder (Link)
• Split Ticketing (Link)
  
• Super Saver Amazon Delivery Tool (Link)
  
• Swagbucks (Link)
  
• Toluna (Link)
  
• TopCashBack (Link)
• You Need A Budget site and App (Link)

Links last checked for workability 27th Jan 2025.

None of these are referral links from which I make any money. They are all links to either MSE pages or the homepages of organisations often mention on this forum.

Please click Thanks if this post helped you.

allydowd

Hi February Finance Fans,

Thanks for the starter @DawnW.

A precious day off today and I had a few things to do:

Debt-Free-Nillionaire Continuity Plan Year Nine:

• Alarm clock off at the wall during day time.
• Reconciled my finances spreadsheet.
  
• Lunch was a starter we had in the freezer which we meant to have on New Year's Day but didn't as DW was ill.
  
• Sort out my own nails. No point in going to a salon, I work in an outdoor occupation. They'd be wrecked in no time.
• Filled my pill box so I remember my pills and don't get sick(er).
• Cleared all my emails.
• Walked into town and back.
• Walked to the station to try to sort out a railcard issue. When I got there the ticket office was closed, it was scheduled to be open. 😠
  
• Cleaned the gloss paintwork in the hallway with hot water and washing up liquid.
• Lint shaved my work socks to rejuvenate them.
• Unclogged the sink with a £1 snake from the Pound Shop I bought ages ago.
• Checked our GHICs were still valid.
• Looked into Road Tax changes this coming April. The clearest guide I could find was this one and even this isn't crystal clear: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/car-tax/
  

Have a good day, friends...

singhini

@allydowd
Thankyou for taking the time to create your post with all the links (really appreciated).

allydowd

singhini said:

@allydowd
Thankyou for taking the time to create your post with all the links (really appreciated).

You're welcome. These links helped me get debt-free.

La_escocesa

Hi everyone 🙋‍♀️

I'm reviewing all things finance today so it was nice to see the thread. 

Moving some money around and making sure I know what's what even though it is scary reading!! 

This is the peak of it though - time to knuckle down again. 

We've done so well to get to a point where I could take 6 months off with no salary. V proud of myself. But now time to start topping up those savings and hoping for a smooth ride while I do so. (Contract work, coaching income, selling our junk.) 

We need to remortgage in September so that's the real milestone we're aiming for. Can pay off a chunk then and feel a bit more organised for the next 5 years. 

Small things wise: 
⚡Meal planned and created lots of weird and wonderful meals with food from stores + Aldi top up🍝
⚡Reading free book + free library audiobook 📚
⚡Stayed on top of scary finances even though I wanted to bury my head in the sand🙈
⚡Therapy swap with a pal - free self care 💫
⚡Working tonight
⚡Early night as I've got a crappy cold 

allydowd

Hi February Finance Fans,

A precious day off today:

Debt-Free-Nillionaire Continuity Plan Year Nine:

• Alarm clock off at the wall during day time.
• Reconciled my finances spreadsheet.
  
• Lunch for us was two Farmfoods steak bakes. Cheaper than a Greggs.
  
• Sorted out railcard issue at the station.
  
• Washed car really quickly for £1 at the cheaper petrol station.
  
• Pumped up tyres for £1 at the cheaper petrol station. I do have a compressor but it's a huge faff and takes energy I don't have right now.
• Trying to deep clean blind on French door to the bedroom. I am so sick of the blinds at Dowd Towers.
  
• Bought packed lunches for the week ahead for less than £5, it would be over £5 a day if I bought lunch at work.
• Entertainment was a flask of coffee from home and a cheap Morrisons scone in the car park overlooking the sea and some TV at home.
• Talked to DW about what I can afford for her birthday.
  

Have a good day, friends...

DawnW

Afternoon all

Today I have / will:

Spend day today as I bought pond gravel. Spent the morning moving patio pond plants to a much larger tub as they had outgrown their original one. Very muddy. The glamour!

Potted up my chilli seedlings. More mud   Popped them back under the growlight for now.

Put a rice pudding in the oven

I am going to do an air fryer 'roast' for dinner tonight (and there will be leftovers for another night)

I have started to deep clean the dining room. I am not feeling motivated, but will persevere.

La_escocesa

Hi everyone, 

⚡Applied for a job I'm perfect for 💃 even though I'm not sure how I could fit a full time job into my life 😵‍💫
⚡Sent my availability for another job I do - £140 for March 
⚡Slow cooking dinner 🍝
⚡Checked for MOC - need to fill up with petrol 🙈
⚡Free book and free library audiobook for the car journey 📚
⚡Tidy/clean something - saving £100 a month on not having a cleaner 🙌

Hope everyone else is doing ok. 🫂

DawnW

Morning all

Work today, so not many small things, but I will:

Post a parcel to my cousin while I am in town for work

Take a packed lunch with me, if a few crackers and bits counts as a packed lunch. It is certainly low effort!

Make sure all chargers are switched off at the wall. I have been guilty of leaving phone and laptop chargers plugged in recently, and that can't be moneysaving    .

Check current accounts, haven't done so this week. Also look at savings accounts.