Monday 16/06/08 What small dfw thing have you done today???

sophiesmum_2

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.

Examples could be charging your phone up at work instead of at home to save your electricity, 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.

Today i will:

• Clicks
• Check online banking
• Update spreadsheets - [EMAIL="DD@s"]DD's[/EMAIL] due out
• Storecupboard lunch
• No spend day except DD from bank

Have a good day everyone.
Hi to all the regulars and welcome to any new posters:D
Got to rush, catch up with you all later.

EmptyPurse

I've not been on this board for a few days and have been slipping into old habits - i.e. not logging my spending, being over-generous with presents to impress people etc. So, today I'm going to force myself back into DFW mode. I will:

Log any spends in my Spending Diary
Reconcile online banking with MS Money
Ring new credit card company to chase up paperwork that hasn't arrived
Continue to sort out ongoing mobile phone PAC saga (it's been going on for AGES!)

claireabelle_2

Morning all!
Didn't get on yesterday because "popped" back to bristol to see my dad for father's day! Not very DFW because my tiny car cost £40 to fill up :eek: I don't drive very often, can't believe it's gone up to 121p in London for unleaded... We didn't do well at the races either still, we didn't go over budget :T .
So, today...

• have checked internet banking
• updated spreadsheet
• done a piggy click
• checked for mystery shops (still none)
• have volunteered for a focus group for Wednesday night, £50, waiting to hear back
• brought in breakfast and lunch (including a carton of OJ to stop me buying Pepsi Max

I am having a debt rethink - we have paid off loads but think stress is getting to OH (the debts are almost all mine), so I might ease off on the overpaying and enjoy the summer, pay off £1500 a month instead of £2k plus, it will put the debt free date back a month but think it will keep him sane. Has anyone else had an ease-off like this? I don't want to think about putting worse figures into my spreadsheet though :rotfl: all I ever want is improvement!

Claire

Cleosmum

Claire, we are easing off in august as the kids are home and I dont want to be stuck at home with no options. If we have tons left at the end of august then I will pay it off debts then. I want to be able to go swimming etc without having to fret about money. In anticipation of easing off I have been making extra payments to 3 debts that are due to end in july and aug. I will have paid off 2 roughly 6 weeks early, which means I can spend july throwing extra at debts too. By 1st august we are going to be £187 a month better off :T


Today I have:

• Checked banking
• Checked mystery shops - none
• Done PB comps - no CT again today
• Responded to PB re missing points
• Breakfast from stores

And I will:

• [strike]Do a mystery shop[/strike]
• [strike]Walk to school rather than drive[/strike]
• Lunch and dinner from stores (Kids having toad in hole, OH and I are having chicken and veg)
• [STRIKE]Submit MS report[/STRIKE]
• Walk to Aldi for milk
• Watch dvd from free trial
• MAKE SOUP....MUST MAKE SOUP!!!!!!!

EDIT: I also forgot that I took chicken and sausages out of freezer yesterday so that I didnt need to defrost in the mike. Must remember the really small things

claireabelle_2

Cleosmum wrote: »

Claire, we are easing off in august as the kids are home and I dont want to be stuck at home with no options. If we have tons left at the end of august then I will pay it off debts then. I want to be able to go swimming etc without having to fret about money. In anticipation of easing off I have been making extra payments to 3 debts that are due to end in july and aug. I will have paid off 2 roughly 6 weeks early, which means I can spend july throwing extra at debts too. By 1st august we are going to be £187 a month better off :T

Thanks Cleosmum sounds like you have everything under control!
I have done my calculations and everything gets put back a month, but as you say I can have contingency and pay a bit quicker if we don't spend it. How nice will £187 extra be?! :j

I do want them to go as quick as possible but it won't kill me to be in debt for one month longer.

rubydoiwannabee

OK guys here is what I have done today:
applied for a 0% cc
called my local hospital to go back on their admin bank staff list
called RAC to see if I can get a cheaper deal and/or pay monthly

Not bad for now...

andan

Claireabelle, hope you had a nice time at the races. I think its important to ease off sometimes as and to give yourself that break, if only to remember your human. Life is also for living and i know you can't wait to be debt free, but life has to continue in the mean time. Just remember to spend wisely and look into cheap days out and am sure you'll be fine.

Cleosmum, its great news that you will be £187 a month better off, your doing so well.

OberonSH

I've put dough on for H/M pizza, done my clicks and updated my spreadsheet to sort out what rewards I want from te non-cash sites for people for Xmas - nearly got the first one! Going to walk in and out of town to get DD from nursery, so no bus fare, and sorted out some more stuff for Ebay.

No spend so far, but need to get our tickets for Lincolnshire show - advance ones are cheaper!

andan

Hi to everyone else and any new posters. Have got back from a rubbish day at work, have to say, i will be very glad when the end of july comes, not much longer though:j

Not a busy day for me as i have to get my revision finished!
-Will read through last two tma's
-Re read through revision notes
-Place some matched bets
-Have emailed back regarding a focus group
-Have dropped off job application form
-Have emailed someone back regarding job application form
-Received letter regarding job interview
-Have looked for mystery shops and picked up four more
-Will work through emails
-Will do any surveys
-Cook tea from store cupboard
-Sort out stuff for exam tomorrow
-Sort out mystery shop for tomorrow
-work on job application forms
-Look for another job
-Work out everything i need to sort out for business
-Look at grants available for business
-Work on leaflets for business
-Work on gift vouchers for business

Think thats it for me. As long as i get my revision done though i will be happy, anything else is an added bonus. Have a great evening everyone.

Cleosmum

Claire and Andan, its going to be great to have the extra, but in my brain I am ignoring the extra, or I will just carry on with current payments and go WAHEY! with the extra I shall make sure I sit down and rework the budget for september and work out which will be overpaid first. I still have 1 interest debt that needs clearing before I overpay the others. I hope I wont spend too much over the hols, days out are being "paid" for with clubcard vouchers and brit trips, so its just travel (kept most local) and going to London for 3 days, but even then we have aimed for free entry museums and a meal out using clubcard tokens (& accom at travelodge £19/£29 rooms). I am so sad, I am even planning on booking a load of mystery shops when I go to London :rotfl:

andan

Cleosmum, don't think your sad at all, infact i think its a case of great minds think alike! I can't really afford a holiday this year what with starting my business, going part time and trying to get on my course. So, my hol will be paid for by airmiles from tesco clubcard deals, we will stay in a cheap hostel, that i will pay for on my 0% credit card which i also earn points on. Days out in this country are usually a combination of free things or special deals, or mystery shops. I also think it just goes to show you can have a good time without spending loads of money.

I am going back to visit my family at the end of July and am already looking for jobs for then that i can do, especially as they don't seem to have many mystery shoppers in their area.