2009 diary - time to make changes!

Shoe_Gal

:hello: Been reading through a few posts, threads and diaries and thought it might help to start my own. Like a few people on here I know what I should be doing - it's just doing it that's so hard!

I am single and earn an OK salary but always worry that there is just the one salary coming in and, like many others at present, what would happen if my job was to be made redundant

My new master plan (!) is more manageable things with short end medium term goals without giving up so much I give in! So here goes:

Have decided I can't give up my fortnightly manicure (sorry, my nails are my thing!) but I can give up my 5 or 6 monthly glossy magazines and weekly trashy gossip mags. I don't need clothes until I have lost the weight - and I can give up shoes for 6 months

I have updated my signature and paying these debts and losing this weight are my 2009 goals, medium term. I have other debts, about 20k, either on Standing Order with DCA's or part of 10k Lloyds credit card balance. Obviously they are the long term goal, over about the next 5-6 years, but I need smaller things to focus on first :eek:

Back at work tomorrow so I have palnned my lo-cal meals and dusted of my gym kit ready to go after work. Will do a proper food shop at weekend, I need to meal plan. Have notebook ready to write down all my calories as I go along, this has worked for me in the past

As for the debts, my biggest concern at the moment is my overdraft. It is due to be reviewed in June and as I owe Lloyds so much other money I am sure they will want to lower it. I know I cannot get credit/another overdraft elsewhere so am desperate not to lose this one, but pay it off gradually. My plan is to reduce by £100.00 per month then ask them to lower it to £700.00 in May, prior to the review. Hopefully this will buy me time to pay off the rest.

Just paying minimum payments on my card to concentrate on the overdraft but am going to throw any odd extra money at Frasercard. It's the highest interest rate, and the lowest balance. If I could clear this I'm sure it would give me a boost - just crossing off one target! :j

Just writing this all down has made it clearer - and made me feel I can achieve this. Sorry for the long post, just needed to get some focus! :wave:

hypno06

Writing it all down is exactly the right way to do things - and regarding the nails, well you are making excellent adjustments elsewhere, eg magazines so that is fine. Of course, if it comes down to choosing between your nails, and keeping a roof over your head then it might be a different matter.......but at this time, what you are doing looks fine to me!

good luck, and happy new year!

Fire_Fox

Do you subscribe to the magazines? It's usually an awful lot cheaper. You can also get free gifts (haircare, make-up) or be lucky and find a three issues for £1 offer.There is a whole thread dedicated to this on the 'shop but don't drop' board.

purplevamp

Hi Shoe Gal, just want to wish you luck. You are right, baby steps are they way to go, as looking at the bigger picture is too daunting and very off putting you feel you'll never manage it. As hypno06 says giving up other things like mags means you don't need to sacrifice your nails (for the moment ). It's not about seeing how much you can give up and be miserable, it's about making changes and savings but still having a life.

I agree with paying the smallest but highest interest debt first. Once that's gone it'll give you a real buzz and more confidence to carry on.

Also good luck with the weight loss, and have a Happy New Year! :j

dND

Shoe_Gal wrote: »

Have decided I can't give up my fortnightly manicure (sorry, my nails are my thing!) but I can give up my 5 or 6 monthly glossy magazines and weekly trashy gossip mags. I don't need clothes until I have lost the weight - and I can give up shoes for 6 months

Over here in France I can't get the gossip mags - well I can but the English 80p ones are around £4 and my French is not yet good enough to read the French versions. I get my fix from the Sky site. I scan the front pages of the UK newspapers (middle of the black bar above the main picture) and then link to the showbiz site that's on the bar going down the right-hand side. Saves a fortune :j

http://news.sky.com/skynews/

Shoe_Gal

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Do you subscribe to the magazines? It's usually an awful lot cheaper. You can also get free gifts (haircare, make-up) or be lucky and find a three issues for £1 offer.There is a whole thread dedicated to this on the 'shop but don't drop' board.

Thanks Fire Fox! Just used my Nectar points for 6 months Red, knew I wouldn't be able to go go Cold Turkey but have been cutting down recently, so it's a start!

Shoe_Gal

dND wrote: »

Over here in France I can't get the gossip mags - well I can but the English 80p ones are around £4 and my French is not yet good enough to read the French versions. I get my fix from the Sky site. I scan the front pages of the UK newspapers (middle of the black bar above the main picture) and then link to the showbiz site that's on the bar going down the right-hand side. Saves a fortune :j

http://news.sky.com/skynews/

Thanks, I'll give it a try - or maybe I should re-look at my addiction to gossip!!!! :rotfl:

Shoe_Gal

Back to work today, very quiet. Promised myself I will sort a big pile of paperwork tonight and do some ironing - yawn! :rolleyes:

Have challenged a friend to lose a stone by 13th Feb, 6 weeks away. The loser pays for dinner - looking at my budget I can't afford to lose, hopefully it's the incentive I need. Got a timetable today and planned what Body Pump classes I can get to, am aiming for 2 classes per week and 2 gym sessions

Only spent £2.11 all day - yipee!!! :j

Shoe_Gal

Off out now and staying overnite with a friend. Dead chuffed that today I have :

• tidied flat
• taken down Christmas decorations
• done 'proper' food shopping with a meal plan and a list!

Believe me, I am not normally organised or motivated in 'domestic' things!

Shoe_Gal

Well - good and bad I suppose!

• Good - I had a brilliant time, good friends, good food, lots of laughs :j
• Bad - spent £20 over my budgeted amount so the rest of the month will be really tight know if I want to stay on track
• Bad - ate LOADS so feel fatter than ever now!

Ok, the serious stuff starts tomorrow, need to start making some serious headway with the dieting - and stop spending!! :rotfl:

Shoe_Gal

3lbs lost! That's the good bit - no gym visits or other exercisse tho!

2 x NSD's, Monday and Tuesday, started off well, taking lunch to work etc. but it all went to pot after that. Bought lunches, and pizza - and other treats. Been very busy at work so hard to be disciplined

Targets for next week

• lose 2lbs
• meal plan and stick to it
• 3 NSD's
• 3 exercise sessions
• sort out electricity bill
• organise work hours

I've got a quiet week next week, socially, so this should all be achieveable - wish me luck!