New year Old Style resolutions...

slowandsteady_2

Can I join then if next year's is carrying on through this thread? How exciting!

My OS resolutions are going to be:

Stop buying so much food/cut down grocery bill and USE what is in my (three) freezers and cupboards and stop hoarding food

Carry on meal planning, and if i dont fancy whats on the plan just swap it about a bit-not order a takeaway

Restart my monthly budget breakdown spreadsheet and stick to it

join the OS Grocery Challenge as often as possible, and actually follow the thread and post

Bake more bread instead of paying for it-makes me cry what i pay for bread when i have the ingredients and the know how (thanks to MSE OS!)

Invest in an easy to grow plant i.e a tomato plant and reap the benefits and hopefully expand from there

That will do to be going on with but can think of a lot more but wont bore you anymore!

beautiful_ravens

I cant believe Ive been OSing for a year, and although my debt hasnt really changed, it hasnt got worse (which it would have done without the OSing!) so thats not too bad.

I slipped a little and started spending money in the village shop again, I worked out that just during November, I spent a hair raising £64 in there! On top of my weekly shops of £50-£60 :S Half the trouble is they wont let you use your card for spends less than £5 unless the boss isnt looking and you pay a 50p charge, so a loaf of bread turns into 5 things for a pound or more, once or twice a week...
IT MUST STOP!

Drink less, exercise more.

Make more money!

Get hold of a dishwasher - washing up is always a mile high and seems to take all day, especially with the cooking from scratch, and its getting mighty tiresome and my hands are like sandpaper.

Grow more veg, forage a little more wild food.

I hope everyone gets on well next year

freakyogre

I never make resolutions, but will be this year!

I have a terrible habit of not sorting paperwork out when it arrives, so I currently have a huge stack of stuff in the kitchen, my desk and two drawers full of paperwork. I will be looking for a shredder in the sales and will chuck what I don't need.

I still have some guides/forms from my old job that finished in March that I can't bear to throw out so will scan those and keep them on a disk and get rid of the actual 'paper'.


Apart from that, I will stick to meal planning as seems to work well (although I could still do with a bigger freezer - only have a mini one in fridge).

I also plan to have one 'new' meal a week. I have been collecting recipes for ages, but rarely use them and it's about time I did! I say 'new' as it may be something I have never tried before or it could be something I have eaten, but not made myself. One of the first things I want to try is falafel as never tried it, but really fancy it.

I have also created a cleaning 'rota' as I tend to do everything on one day rather than spread it out, so having a checklist will probably help me as I like ticking things off lists!

Oh and I must sort this bloody box that keeps looking at me!! I had a major de-clutter earlier in the year and have a box of clothes and things that were planned for car boot which never happened. I WILL take the clothes to a charity shop and either throw the other things or try and sell them.

And finally, I must try and get out more

mollythewestie

Here are my resolutions for 2010:

- Lose weight. I really want to lose 2 stone next year at least.
- Organise the house. I will get a page a day diary as suggested here to keep on top of chores instead of letting them build up.
- Pay off Credit Card. Because as soon as its gone, we can start to save for a deposit for our dream home or pay off some more of the mortgage on our current house.
- Cut back of grocery budget. Or more accurately, set a grocery budget and STICK to it!
- Keep an up-to-date list of food in the freezer/cupboard to help with meal plans.
- Do more sewing and cross stitch. I used to do this quite a lot, but gave up on a few projects and never really got back into it.
- Read more. I have been taking part in a "52 books in 2009" challenge this year, but I have failed miserably and have only read about half that. I used to read a few books a week, and I have stacks of books in my "to be read" pile. So it will have to be a "52 books in 2010" challenge instead!


This list will get pinned to my laptop and I will print it to put on my 'fridge to remind me of my goals for this year.

tiptoes

I wish everyone the best of luck with there new year resolutions and here are mine
My biggest resoultion is to get back on the OS wagon and stay on it

But I also want to:

1) Get grocery spend below £250 for 2A 2 CH and 1 Dog
2) Meal plan
3) Loose weight (hopefully 3 stone )
4) Get better at House work ( not my strongest point a the best of times but what with juggling ful-time job with long hours, kids and the dog)
5) Start looking for a new job as this one make me misrable and I spend far too long at work to be miserable
6) work at reducing debt
7) try and excercise at least 30 mins aday
8) generally get organised!!!

[Deleted User]

How many of us actually managed to stick to some of the ones from a year ago I wonder. Its lovely when we have a New Year its like getting a second chance to change your life even if its only something small.This year I learned to worry less about daft things, and actually spent less than normal.I also got my hair back after chemo and went swimming again so I am a happy bunny.Baby steps, but big ones when you haven't done these things for 18 months.

Shortie

Hi everyone, can I join in too please?

I've had a naff year with work ending up with me currently being signed off work and being stuck in a position of not wanting to go back, but not having anohter job lined up as a back up... However on the bright side, I've started to think a bit more positively and here come mine:

(1) Get my business up and running. It will only b a side line, but I KNOW there is a market out there and not one in the UK yet. So far I've just been too tired from work and not pushing myself to get started.
(2) Support OH in his new business venture as much as I can. Like me he works full time, and I know no clue about thethings he's working on but I'll help where and when I can...
(3) Reduce the food shopping bill. I don't think we do badly at the moment, and we cook from scratch 95% of the time, but I'm sure there are places to cut down without cutting out the quality - we buy good meat and bulk it our with veg etc.
(4) Lose some weight. I say it every year and I have managed it before but the weight has recently crept back on. I need to stop making yummy twinks and start using the Wii Fit again - it's doing me no good collecting dust by the side of the telly!!
(5) Find a more local job that means I can spend more time at home with my two young kids.

Thank you, that's me done for now

Kimitatsu

Pleased that I found this as I was thinking about this last night so here are mine!

1. Lose weight - last year I lost 3 stone and still have more to go, although a little bit of it has crept back on, I am still on the downward spiral.
2. Declutter!! Have already started putting some stuff on ebay but I need to be ruthless with everyone in the household.
3. Get my veggie patch going properly and grow more of my own stuff
4. Get my business off the ground, so I only have to work part time around the kids
5. Batch cook more than I do now
6. Use more OS methods for cleaning etc
7. OH has just bought me a sewing machine for Xmas so I need to interline all of the curtains :eek: there may be threads asking advice!!

Think thats it really - no doubt there will be more lol!

The_Dragon

The_Dragon wrote: »

A quick comment for those hoping to keep chickens - make sure you are allowed to! I know Jamie Oliver stated that "everyone with a garden can keep chickens" but local byelaws where we are ban the keeping of them!

Oh and I plan to use up a load of my stitching stash and plan menus better!

This sorta happened! most weeks there was some form of menu planing (but need to keep this up AND improve it!) and I didn't buy any more stash

sunshine6650

Can you believe its going to be 2010 in less than a week! madness!!

As everyone says every year..or week in my house im going to get organised!!

Ive started to think of what i need to do:

• re-look at money being spent, i do this quite regular anyway, petrol etc.
• Sort clothes so more organised doing the washing & work things etc
• complete list for food, i have cupboards full of sauces, herbs, spices, mixes, freezer full of veg, meat etc...i have got so much better but still struggle if im not organised in advance for tea times after work. - Yet i have slow cooker, steamer etc!!!
• make list for birthdays etc..i ussually buy few presents for the year in the sale but want to remember cards etc!!
• Be more crafty...i love the threads on here but never actually do them!!
• By starting the above i can concentrate on myself, weight loss, exersize, hobbies etc making a better relationship with my partner, remembering hes my boyfriend, lover etc not just a mate!!! (i am bit of a waynetter from Harry Enfield sometimes!!!)
• I dont have alot of demanding debt £1800 for bank loan, £4000 to MIL that is in no rush for & no intrest however want majority gone in 2010.
• Use the body & hair products i already have before buying more!!!!

There is only 2 adults who work full time & have real busy lives but sometimes i feel so all over the place i live in choas!!

Anyone else got a few 'to do's' for ther new year?

xx