What is the best change you have made in your DFW journey?

For me it's the financial education I have received as a result. The 'bad' years during which I was accruing the debt and getting into a mess provided me with an education on how companies can exploit ignorance. The DFW years (still going) are providing an active education in how to win as a consumer.

The attitude change is also good. My LBM was delayed because I thought that the DFW journey would be restrictive. I was wrong -it is liberating. I now know exactly where my money is going, and where to get the best deals. I'm still on the journey, still learning, but I no longer fear window envelopes or withheld numbers. I no longer cross my fingers when I use a cashpoint, I no longer worry that I will have enough money to get through the month.

I'm a DFW and it feels good! :j

Jazzy i don't know how old your little ones are, but there are 4 in our household too, At the moment I'm giving myself £60 a week as a household spend budget, I've struggled this week, mainly because i didn't make a list, and tried to do my shop with little man asleep in his buggy as didn't want to wake him up and I've forgotten things! so need to go out again, which means for first time I will have spent over my budget, But thankfully there is funds to do it. My youngest is 14 months, My Nappie/wipes budget is separate though. I have found it really tough though, But i think its because we are still learning.

From next month, I think were gonna do a big stock up shop when other half has been paid, then do smaller top up shops, and also go to our local fruit n veg growers place, and buy in bulk for our fruit n veg, as i already know the prices of loose peppers there are 20p cheaper each, than my local morrisons! so for buying 3 peppers, Id save the cost and beable to get a 4th lol.

And I'll see how much we can save on a "weekly budget" doing it that way, So watch this space!


Just to add I've also been buying £5 a week morrisons saving stamps out of that £60 a week budget aswell! (doing them as christmas savers for us and both of our mums)

Jazzie99 wrote: »

For me its been a number of things,

1) change in mindset
2) checking my on-line bank accounts
3) learning about money ie. interest rates/mortgages/isa's
4) haggling and checking for the best deals
5) and most importantly, keeping my beloved spreadsheets up to date!!

The one thing I havent yet got to grips with is the food budget. We spend £400 a month (family of four and includes nappies/wipes). I'm sure i could bring that down with a little forward planning.

Wow you are all doing wonders and have given me some inspiration. Im going to start paying for everyday things in cash and just use my bank account to pay essential direct debits. Thank you

Love this thread :heartpuls

As others have said, budgeting, recording all spends, weekly meal plans, downshifting on the shopping has saved me hundreds.

But also, If I am tempted to spend on something, I try really hard to invoke the 24 hour rule, ie I don't impulse buy and give myself some time to see whether i really do need it. This has worked every time so far. I did impulse buy a sewing machine in the sales recently, but took it back the next day for a refund.

This has really helped me to manage the mindset of "i work hard, therefore I deserve a treat" mentality that I still struggle with.

Have a good weekend all.

Dolly x

I think I would still be in £19,000 of debt if it wasn't for the help & support of this forum! And even though that is paid of, I still visit and I love this place!

Also learnt a lot about myself, and not as shallow and materialistic as I was, and love a good bargain! xx