New year Old Style resolutions...

Lizbetty

Thank you sunshine6650 for reminding me what I need to do...write a similar to do list!!! :T

I am ALWAYS in absolute chaos and tend to just muddle through the days lately. I always used to reevaulate once in a while, but since we've had kids I'd forgotten that I did! It's kind of like firefighting sometimes.

After reading your post, I too will be:

1. Making sure all my bills are as cheap as they can be
2. Trying to be more prepared for birthdays by having a look at the birthdays diary and making the most of the sales now
3. Plan meals better, look at what's in the fridge/freezer before I do my online shop
4. FINALLY get on blooming ebay and empty our loft, which is CHOCK FULL of kids paraphenalia which I daren't make a start on, it's such a scary task
5. Make plans for talking to my husband more often, preferably in a pubilc house environment while dressed in poshness (or, our stylie poshness anyways! LoL!), as we very rarely go out these days due to aforementioned parental responsibilities and lack of funds
6. Get rid of credit card debt of around £1k+ before June this year (when interest rate goes up) if possible
7. Make time for myself!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cheaply..!
8. Come off prozac altogether and start looking after myself

Thanks so much for reminding me that New years resolutions aren't just about me getting rid of my spare tyre (s) ! ((hugs))

Love from Luce xxxx

luxor4t

Here's my list:
- USE my planner diary, not just look at it (so I can make lists, track spending etc)
- re-organise wardrobe so that I have some 'smart casual' clothes rather than the current 'work' or 'terrible' categories while at the same time sticking to Lula's clothes challenge :rolleyes2
- meal plan & use the Store Cupboard Challenge
- Ebay even though the charges are high, Paypal is a con etc etc (& all my other weedy excuses)
- carry on with my existing savings eg penny jar, 'found' money tin, daily clicks, Pigsback comps
- start doing the on-line surveys again
- oh, and squirrel away the money saved from all the above :beer:

sunshine6650

Even ready some of yours has made me realise little things i can do to make the year easier, cheaper & more fun for me!!!

x

leed

Your thread is exactly what I have been meaning to do and to try to organise myself for 2010.By writing these things down it is actually rather liberating and being a positive action might actually achieve something (to be held accountable to a number of like minded people - Thank you!)

My problem is that I am a squirrel by nature (maybe to do with the fact my Mum's legacy from the war when they didn't waste anything was to continue saving/not wasting anything) and don't like throwing anything away as it might come in useful sometime....!

So in 2010 I am going to try to do the following (or some of it at least):

1. Clear out some of the rubbish accumulated around our house.
2. Tidy out the cupboards that are over full.
3. Actually finish some of the numerous craft items started but not completed (this will create space in cupboards!)
4. Do the Store cupboard Challenge - make a list and use items and NOT replace them unnecessarily.
5. Clear and tidy the loft.
6. Pluck up the courage to actually sell something on Ebay and not always Freecycle it (coz it's easier).
7. Regularly get rid of some of the forest of unwanted junk mail and papers that always seem to litter our house and never get thrown away.
8. The garden - try to tame it!
9. Once tame - try to grow some veg as well as flowers
10. Exercise - A dreadful necessity as my back seems to be getting weaker by the day.
11. Whilst we are in the fortunate position of having sufficient money for our needs I sometimes buy food that we don't always use. I need to be more careful in what and how much I buy and freeze things straight away if possible.

Is this achievable? Probably if I do it one step at a time and not try to do everything all at once - which is what I normally try to do and get disheartened when I fail. Roll on 2010 - except I can actually start this week while I am off work.

nikki2804

Ok, I'm making a list too. I hope I can stick to it.

My main ones;

• Stop swearing as much - will use a swear jar if I need too
• Try to improve my grammar (fell into too many bad habits)

All the rest;

• Organise the outgoings and make sure I am getting the best deals I can
• Keep my house clean and tidy
• Have a good store cupboard
• Try to do well in my 10k in 2010 thing
• Start planning for birthdays. xmases, etc
• Plan my MSE wedding :j

Mrs_Optimist

Great thread!

My list for 2010:-

#Try and live solely on Dh earnings so we can actually save rainy day money and overpay mortgage whilst interest rates are low.

#Save all £2 coins in a tin (saw some in moneytins in poundland and am gutted I didn't pick one up now)

#save all loose change in our piggybank for Christmas 2010 (ditto Nectar points/Boots card/Clubcard voucher)

#Continue having a charityshop clearout once a month to avoid hoarding/mess

#host foreign students again this year for 6 months (money is good and comes in handy!!)

#write every spend down in my diary which I have bought for 2010

#sign up to cashback sites

#regularly log onto MSE for helpful tips and advice

queenpig

This thread is a good idea.
I'll post mine and add as I think of any more if I do.

Marking all birthday ect on the calender, buy cards in advance for said reason or other birthday ect that might crop up.

Be more organised with house work set a certain days for certin jobs

Be more organised with food planning try not to spend unnecessarily

Start making my own bread again

Lose weight and start my exersicing back up again plan all my food each day and only eat that, join an online club that will help with that this is the one I've signed up for, go for the free one don't pay for it http://www.livestrong.com/myplate/

Continue buying Christmas presents though the year.

Save as much money as I can, to buy a car the a new sofa don't get into debt again for it.

Have a money box for all the lose change I have in my purse, find ect.

Moto, do I really need or do I want it, can I do with out it the don't get it

Keep away from peacocks and next lol

Don't get into debt again, it's took me years to get out and wont be going there again for as long as I can help it.

Sort the cuboards out, then ebay, freecycle charity shop or bin what I don't want.

Have some flowers for my garden.

That will do for now I think

juliapenguin

Thanks for the great thread - I was actually in the middle of writing my own 'get organised' list before I took an OS break! I have longstanding anxiety issues and get easily overwhelmed when term starts (I'm a teacher) so keeping on top of things is absolutely essential for me. I'm like a different person when I'm organised compared to when I'm not.

Mine are:

Have a proper morning and evening routine a la Flylady - nothing complicated, just making sure things never get out of hand!

Meal plan for lunches and snacks as well as main meals.

Buy nothing new in 2010 (like the Compact in the USA - food, toiletries and essential underwear are excluded ) and enjoy what I've already got and the fantastic libraries here in Manchester.

Overcome my sugar habit which is soooooo expensive and use the money saved to have a spa day with my best friend at Easter.

Not sure if this one is realistic but......

Don't do any lesson preparation or marking at the weekend. This would make a huge difference to my stress levels!

I've got a really heavy term coming up as I'm trying to get an additional teaching qualification which is essential if I want to keep working in my current job (I'm only on a temporary contract).

Fingers crossed....

And good luck to all of you with your resolutions for being more organised!

Snowy_Owl

Juliapenguin - I share your pain / plan for the no / less marking and planning at the weekend. I'm really trying to be organised!!!! :rotfl:Oh the joys of teaching..............

My plans for this year

• Organise wedding for July and get married .
• Unpack all my boxes from the move and decide what needs to be done
• Save, save and save where I can until wedding out the way so we can start enjoying married life well

Snowy

Topher

During the last fortnight at school, where we actually experienced what it was like putting events such as the KS2 play into the "wrong" week, and forgetting the Christmas parties until it was very late, I thought it would be a good idea to write down what would have been ideal, then put it into a diary for next year, commit to actual dates and times for rehearsals, or dates to put up food lists, and include completion dates.
At the same time, my Christmas at home was slowly coming unravelled. I've just had the most hideous Christmas. Exhausted from a disorganised panicky school Christmas, I was too tired to put up the decorations, the cards, and tree. And too defenceless to make the right choices as my extended family gradually took over our celebration, dominated it, and made some fairly offensive !!!! ups. (e.g. mother insisting that the meal I'd invited her & the inlaws to, took place at her house, with her catering, last minute announcing my sister's family (of 5) joining us, and finally my brother, then "borrowing" my son to help with her decorations (diverting him from helping with ours. Then the day I broke up from school announcing that she would be too weak and tired to do anything, and as going to lean on me.) The in-laws backed out last minute.
This put me in mind of the same style of potentially useful diary/calendar making I'd thought of for school. Why not, (while its all still fresh in memory) write a countdown calendar for next year, so that by Chrismas week (we'll be breaking up on Tuesday 21st Dec 2010 making Weds 22nd the first holiday day, and Friday, Christmas eve.) all should be in hand, having done it in easy stages.
I know this is so obvious, and has been for the last 20+ years, so the key thing is to DO IT!
Support anybody?
T