Sat 21/Sun 22 February

A question about : Sat 21/Sun 22 February

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

Best answers:

• Well today swapped my iPhone over to a Tesco SIM only contract saving me
  30 a month, I've just got to make sure I cap my usage!
  I'm hoping it will mean less random checking of facebook etc so I'll have more time too!! Win win!!
• Morning everyone
  Signed up to the make Ј2015 in 2015 challenge. Hope this motivates me to ebay etc and get these debts cleared. Received money today so paid straight of debt before I spend, I am poor but can survive by scrimping by til Wednesday.
  - check banking (done)
  - check emails (done)
  - Ј10.55 refund from gas company (DONE)
  - photos in post, finish baby book
  - list DVDs on fb selling pages before music magpie (done)
  - pay off studio money owing (DONE)
  - pay off Ј100 off c/c (DONE)
  - put appointments on calendar (done)
  - tidy downstairs house (done)
  - try and sort someone to take me shopping to spend gv I recently received for sainsburys (not one in local town)
  - list 2 items on eBay (done)
  - count penny jar from roadkill pickups and see if enough to bank
  - try not use much gas and electric
  - nsd
  - all meals from stock
  Have a good day xx
• Morning Ziggy & happytravells!
  Thanks for starting us off Ziggy hope you're ok
  happytravells nice one of the saving
  things for me this weekend
  * checked banking & reconciled all spends at least I now know where I am!
  * several loads of hockey cokey!
  * all meals from stores - need to get creative with what we have in. Have loads of bits and bobs and keep spending! Also it's going to be a tight month YS salmon out of freezer
  * list 3 things on facebay
  * paint windowsill
  * maybe go out for a walk and a pint later... I had a coffee as it was so cold!
  * take car to scrap yard
  * sort out a drawer and get rid of some junk did 1 1/2 drawers then couldn't take anymore!
  * offer a few things on freecycle
  * started a box of things to either freecycle or sell
  * checked stoozing credit card balance and how long 0% period lasts for
  Think that's all I need to do Have a lovely weekend everyone x
• ziggy Thanks for getting us started today.
  Morning, very bright and sunny here today.
  My DFW list:
• Open curtains fully done
• Cull 100 emails done
• BLD from stores done
• NSD done
• Dry washing on airer done
• Set DW to run overnight done
• Set WM to run overnight done
• Soak porridge overnight done
• Close curtains before it gets dark done
• Meal plan for next week done
• Contact group to create an order for wholesalers (rolled over from Thursday and Friday) still not done, realised I won't be around to take delivery will need to arrange someone else to do this
• Take metre readings done
• Submit metre readings done

Also turned off lights, electrical equipment when not in use.
Discussed with OH how we could reduce our heating costs over the next few years, even better OH initiated the conversion and had some good ideas

• Nice quiet weekend here, so I can focus on getting stuff done, and much needed cleaning!
  * check bank accounts & budget - done
  * pay Ј50 to the CC - done
  * wash & hang bedding - done
  * clean everywhere - part done
  * keep the heating off while it's sunny - done
  * go out for a walk and not buy anything, maybe a visit to the library - done
  * submit meter readings - done
  * pay Ј299 final bill to British Gas - I knew this was coming and it's budgeted but still - DONE
  * crack on with my Wordpress blog install
  * check deals on car hire for a trip I'm taking next month
  * build chest of drawers from Ikea that's been sitting there for weeks - done
  Happy weekend everyone!
• Hi All
  Todays small things
  1) Found a Mcdonalds cup with bean attached. Just need 3 more for a free coffee.
  2) Found a 3p brand match coupon
  3) Found 2p roadkill
  4) Transferred Ј100 back from emergency fund to try and balance out current account. I am sure I am not the only parent feeling the half term squeeze.
  5) No big plans for rest of the day.
  Have a good weekend all.
  Bob
• Hello all,
  Today's small money-saving things from me:
  *Checked February budget to see how things are going. Bank balance looked lower than I expected for this weekend, but it wasn't anything dodgy. Turned out that car insurance provider had decided to take our annual premium payment nearly 4 weeks earlier than last year, for some reason.
  *Updated grocery budget. It got a bit complicated as we had a good Sainso's voucher - Ј9 off a Ј60 spend - but didn't have Ј60 left in the budget for Feb's groceries. Decided to borrow it from March's budget. The 'free' Ј9 more than paid for a big pork joint which we'll roast next weekend when we have guests to feed.
  *Paid Ј30 across to savings from 2 Sainso's gift cards which we used for groceries (from my ongoing 'Toluna earnings').
  *De-cluttered today's 21 items.
  *Listed 5 vintage items on ebay, & re-listed 4 unsold items.
  *NSD. Mr f has had to work so I've got no wheels. All free leisure today - more family history, wrote my blog, might bake a cake & will knit & probably watch a film tonight.
  *Requested a return to paper bank statements. I've tried 2 months of paperless statements, but it's not really working for me.
  *Have got my clay flower-pot room warmer lit up in my little HQ room, as have turned the heating down a little. Decided not to listen to mr f's assertion that the towel radiator costs virtually nothing to run so can stay on 24 hrs & have tuned it off. It can go on again later this afternoon when I put the rest of the downstairs heating on. Our meter readings have shown higher electricity use in the day. It has to be coming from somewhere.
  OK, that's me. Am sure there's a cafetiere downstairs with my name on it.
  f x
• OH and I joined the local library today. We both love reading and in the past we bought so many books that we'd read once and then had to give away to charity shops. Now we live a 5 minute walk from a really good library, so it made sense to join up and take advantage. They even do a loyalty card where after 5 visits you're entitled to a free DVD rental. How good is that?
• We love the loyalty points at the library too Snow fox. Before we got Netflix it was the only way I ever got to see new films and series. I still take various films out that way now as not everything comes on Netflix. Not all the boroughs do it though Southwark do but Lewisham don't.
• What a great idea for a thread. I've done quite a few dfw things this weekend without realising, as its become a bit more like second nature, but it's nice to remind myself:
  Food shopping today:
  Bought food for mine and OHs lunches for work.
  Extra food for a family outing next week to avoid eating out.
  Bought Ds a red t-shirt in the sainsburys 25% sale (he's in reception and already has had 2 'wear read to school days').
  We went to a family party today. OH and I ate whilst we were there so we didn't need dinner at home. I also brought some leftovers home for the children's lunches tomorrow.
• Morning all
  I didn't get round to posting yesterday as I sat in on an all day online auction - by the time it finished I wanted to stretch my legs and do something offline
  Apart from that I:
  Made a big pot of soup
  Didn't spend anything - apart from the auction obviously In fairness I only bought business stock though!
  Heating off most of the day, lit woodburner and remembered to put the kettles on top for free hot water
  Have bids on 2 ebay items - not much, but these were small things that I found when decluttering, which would have come from the bottom of an auction box back in the mists of time.
  Going to an antiques fair today, and we will buy lunch out. We don't do this often, but will be a treat. Again, my spends, if any, will be business ones - can't be so sure with OH though He is a bit of a 'collector' as he terms it (hoarder I say ) Good job we don't go too often! A bit rubbish, due to the rotten weather. Not much spent, including on lunch and OH didn't buy anything
  Must also:
  Do meter readings and submit Done, we seem to have used more than last month
  Have some of yesterday's soup for supper Just what was needed this weather
  Start to sort out and clean up some items for my sales unit tomorrow. I try to make it more interesting by having themes, or collections of one type of item to display. I was thinking linens (tablecloths and napkins) which will entail ironing and old stoneware bottles (which need washing) for tomorrow. That should make a pretty display As what I want is mostly in the garage, and it is too horrible and wet to go out there, this is going to have to wait till tomorrow
  Right, better get on - hope everyone has a good day
• Morning Dawn
  Sounds like an interesting process choosing new stock in the antiques world. What did you buy in the end?
  It's a lovely frosty morning here today. Being brought coffee nd toast in bed by my OH who isn't working today! Result.
  We may even make it as far as a national trust place today which we haven't done in more than 6 months.
  Enjoy your Sundays all.
  Bob
• Morning everyone, grey and overcast here at the moment, hope it brightens up I get so much more done and we don't need to put the light on.
  My DFW list:
• Open curtains fully done
• Cull 100 emails done
• BLD from stores done done
• Dry washing on airer done
• Set DW to run overnight done
• Set WM to run overnight done
• Soak porridge overnight done
• Close curtains before it gets dark done
• Make a shopping list based on the meal plan we made yesterday and to make best use of the vouchers we have done
• Only buy things on shopping list Decided not to go shopping today as their was nothing pressing on the list and we didn't have enough on their to trigger the voucher
• Add up cost of shopping whilst going round (either mentally or by using the calculator on my phone) Decided not to go shopping
• Contact group to create an order for wholesalers, once I have arranged someone to be able to be here for the delivery done, finally
• turn off lights, electrical equipment when not in use done
• Pack bags for tomorrow done
• Make packed lunches for Monday done

As we decided not to go shopping today it was a NSD

• Morning everyone
  I need to get back on the DF wagon... chipping away at family loan but want to save lots too.
  So today's list:
  -LSD (all meals from stores, just treated myself to a little chocolate)
  -Need to clean and tidy up which will keep me busy!
  -Relisted wedding dress, items left from wedding on bridal website to try and shift...this was just a forum but I am debating listing it on a dedicated site if no more interest.
  -Check through our bank accounts to make sure everything where I think it is!
  Have a great day x
• Good Morning All
  Thanks for starting us Ziggy
  Sorry I've been awol
  works still rubbish but needs must
  so I've bad all weekend so today I will restart l
  To do Today
  check banking
  meals from stores
  do sales and book work
  washing and ironing
  housework
  have a happy Sunday xxxx
• Morning all
  Yesterday we got up late and went round for DH to do some small jobs at my Mum's and she then took us to the local Harvester to say 'thank you'. I then came home to find we'd run out of milk so had to go back out to the petrol station (we had just passed) to get some. I was also short of petrol so I put my purse on top of the car while I was filling up, remembered I had enough in my pocket to pay, went in to pay then drove off with my purse still on top of the car! Luckily I realised as soon as I got home and drove straight back and it was on the floor at the exit. I was all a bit 'woman on the edge' when I got back though and DH was totally unsympathetic to I stropped off to bed early.
  I feel like I've had the rubbishest week off ever, I know it's not her fault but I spent 2 days last week at various A&E/hospitals etc with my mum who moaned because I wanted to just sit and read the paper and relax yesterday while DH did the jobs. My IBS kicked in too so I spent much of the trip to the restaurant in the loo listening to the children of chavs practicing their swearing (and we're talking the F and C words here, from a boy young enough to still be using the ladies loo!) This was followed by thier mum coming in ranting 'if anyone has got anything to say about my kids they can say it to my face' as someone near their table had obviously complained about her bunch of oiks! I've been ill all week and nearly losing my purse (with the thoughts of everything I'd have to cancel and how long I'd have to wait for replacements going through my head) was the last straw! I feel like the only day I've done anything for myself was the day I lunched with a friend and then I got drenched both ways and sat in traffic for 2 hours on the way home.
  Today will hopefully be a better day:
  I have some potatoes that are sprouting so I will make mash with those and DS and I can have them with minted lamb shoulder from my Aldi shop last week and DH (who won't eat lamb) with a lone Aunt Bessie's toad in the hole from when they were on offer.
  I have borrowed some Cuprinol and am going to paint the new bit of fence.
  I need to buy cat food but I know Mr T have it on offer, I will check the end date on the shelf-edge sticker and stock up accordingly. I also need to stock up DS's fridge with easy to eat stuff for when he gets home from college.
  DH has a gig tonight but as he's not on until late I won't be going so I have the evening to myself I will eat too much and watch rubbish TV
  Have a great day everyone!
• MONEY MAKING AND SAVING SITES AS OFTEN MENTIONED IN THIS FORUM:
• A Girl Called Jack, cheap recipes ( Link
• Benefits check-up ( Link )
• Birthday Bingo, daily free game ( Link )
• eBid ( Link )
• Freecycle ( Link )
• Free Postcode Lottery (Link)
• FreeStuff ( Link )
• FreeUKStuff ( Link )
• i-Say Surveys (Link)
• List of online newspapers. At bottom of the linked page. ( Link )
• MSE Boost Your Income page. Gateway to lots of money-making links. ( Link )
• MSE Abbreviations Explained ( Link )
• MSE Deals and Vouchers ( Link )
• MSE Wow Offers ( Link )
• My Supermarket ( Link )
• OnePoll ( Link )
• Quidco ( Link )
• Reclaim PPI at no cost to yourself ( Link )
• SayNoTo0870 cheap phone number finder ( Link )
• Survey sites that pay for your opinions ( Link )
• Swagbucks ( Link )
• Swapit ( Link )
• Toluna ( Link )
• TopCashBack ( Link )
• Afternoon All,
  Well, not much actual money-saving here today, but some very useful planning on lots of stuff which will involve money & affect my big budget day on Friday. Wazzing down with rain, so a quick dash out to village garden centre only for seed potatoes, shallot sets & seed compost.
  *Made tomorrow's packed lunch & work snacks.
  *Heating off as long as possible, but will be going on imminently as I've just realised I can't feel my feet!
  *Read the energy meters. We've done better than last week on day & night time electricity, but gas is up. We only have hot water, the oven & one fire on gas, & I've been quite careful, so I'm not sure where the extra units have come from. Will keep an eye on it this week.
  *Loaded washer for an overnight wash on cheap tariff.
  *Paid a 50p into my sealed pot.
  *De-cluttered today's 22 items. (My desk drawers are looking so tidy & tat-free!)
  *Continue knitting current project.
  *Had long chat with mr f about some of the things we want to do this year, some of which will shortly need financing. Our ideal would be to have one festival weekend, 2 camping trips & a few concert tickets. However, if the finances look like they won't stretch to this without using credit or precious emergency fund, then we will prioritise & cut. I agreed to have a really good look at our finances when I do March's budget on payday this week, to see just what we can afford. The old me would have put everything on credit with barely a 2nd thought.
  *mr f booked car service online & managed to get it in for TOMORROW! Checked cash in Car Piggy, which will cover it with some to spare IF nothing horrible is found. Useful to have this sorted before budget day, though, so I'll have a better picture of our cash flow.
  *Still been doing 'Use-it-up'......finished very last of foundation I'd been fishing out with a coffee stirrer, still a few days use left in a mascara which I'm standing in a mug of boiling water before breakfast to soften it up (instead of chucking away loads which the brush conveniently - for the manufacturer - isn't long enough to reach) & am still using the pot of lip colour I made by melting together a too pink lipstick with a too brown lip gloss. I wear make-up every day & I love buying new, but I've become very aware of how much non-recyclable plastic it generates, so it's the least I can do to use every last little bit.
  *Entered 2 crossword competitions.
  *Checked ebay items. No more sales, but a couple of watchers, & nearly a week to go.
  Enjoy the rest of the weekend all,
  F x
• Afternoon DFW-Jedis,
  Well, life goes on, as does the almost everlasting quest for solvency and sanity.
  Thanks for the starter Ziggy.
  
  Been off the grid all week caring for poorly OH who has Flu-or-something-like it and working hard. Have tried hard to stay MSE but have slipped a couple of times as I've been too tired to do things the cheap way and have had to nip to local, expensive shop for things we couldn't do without. Also bought a sandwich in the company canteen as I hadn't had time to make a large packed lunch. Oh well, needs must.
  The List:
  Check online banking and reconcile monies
  Do i-Say surveys.
  Turn off electric alarm clock at the wall til tonight.
  Have another look at why OH's computer won't boot up. Will repair ourselves if we can.
  Do Royal Mail Surveys.
  Did masses of housework using Stardrops this morning. Gone are the days of paying someone to do it for us.
  Drove to local town at lunchtime to buy necessary groceries. Parked further away for free and walked to the shops even though it was pouring hard. Shopped around for cheapest necessary pharmaceuticals for OH. As far as possible we use natural remedies like hot water with honey and lemon but there comes a point where you have to buy stronger stuff.
  Caught up with washing using quick cycle.
  Didn't buy any charity shop DVDs this weekend. Will watch tonnes of tv taped throughout the week.
  Still typing...
  Well that's me for today. Good luck on your quests, Jedis.