2009 diary - time to make changes!

Shoe_Gal

What a rubbish week! Have been really busy at work so have worked really long hours. That means I have eaten rubbish all week, done no exercise so have put a pound back on. Have also spent loads cos not planned meals - and cheered myself up with new underwear and a magazine! Doesn't look like I'm going to be able to pay £100.00 of my overdraft this month now.

I am really annoyed with myself, I can do much better than this! :mad:

So here's my list for next week - a copy and paste of last weeks! :rolleyes:

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

Plus, I need to start getting my glamour back, I feel such a frump!

lupyloo

I love reading your diary, you have inspired me to doone myself, thankyou

Shoe_Gal

Thanks Lupyloo

Sorry it's such a miserable post today!

dND

Changing ourselves takes time, it's like dieting, the most successful way is slowly and steadily. If you crash diet, or expect spending habits of a lifetime to change overnight, you end up giving up. Slow but sure, a step or a lb at a time and you will get there

Shoe_Gal

Spent most of yesterday still feeling down but feel a bit better this morning. Just read a post on here somewhere about keeping things simple and it struck a chord! Think that may be where I'm going wrong, trying to do too much too quickly

So, bit of a revised plan

• I've looked at my budget :eek: but what's done is done! If I'm careful for the remaining 2 weeks I can avoid increasing my debts by resorting to putting essentials on credit cards but won't pay anything of my overdraft. This can be next months target
• Work is tough at the moment and with the threat of redundancies around this needs to be my priority. I will need to put in the hours and make a success of the project I am working on. I accept that this may mean less time to focus on my other planas - AND THIS IS OK!
• Dieting and exercise - in view of my current work commitments progress here will be slow - AND THIS IS OK! As long as I am sensible and don't put on any more weight, any exercise I manage is a bonus
• Anything I do to make myself feel more glamourous can also been seen as a treat - and does not have to be an added pressure :rotfl:

I feel better seeing this written down, it doesn't seem so overwhelming - and maybe not so doomed to failure

Right, it's Sunday so I'm off to achieve a couple of mini targets. A food shop/meal plan and an hour a the gym

Lemon_Tree

well done for seeing that keeping it simple is the way to go, once you realise you can't do everything at once you can concentrate on what you can tackle.
As you say if there's a risk of redundancies you need to concentrate on work, and this will help in other ways as it may improve your prospects.
good luck and i'll keep checking in if that's ok. I spent the last 10 years (until i got married last sept) worried about it being only me and my income which was keeping this place, i know what the fear is like.

Radish72

Dropped in to wish you good luck with your challenges for the coming year

Baby steps is the best way with it seems everything, little and often, you will get there.
I did and have moved from DFW to MFW. I just wished this site was around when I was paying back all of my debt from uni as I went completly cold turkey but I did manage to buy a house at the same time

Home made soups are brillant for freezing in batches and cheap to make, if you know your are going to be working late, you can have one defrosting whilst your at work, couple of minutes when you get in and you have a meal

I have the threat of redunacy over my head to, which make for miserable time at work and worry when you are at home

makeup

Hi Shoegal

With your lloyds overdraft review, is that something you have to go into your branch for or do they do it automatically?

The reason I ask is that for ages I had a £2k overdraft limit (about 5 yrs) and every year they just extended it for another year. I never had to go in and discuss it with them and they just did it automatically. I lived permanently in my overdraft but I never went over the limit - I didn't have to speak to them at all. I think they were just happy that I kept on paying their extortionate interest. Plus I had a gold account so they got £12 out of me each month extra.

You may find that they won't worry about your overdraft so long as you don't go over the limit. I'm not saying you shouldn't pay it off but if there is a more urgent debt you may be better to pay that one. But I don't profess to be an expert - just letting you know my experience!

Good luck and I'm going to subscribe to this one!!

Compingirl

Hi Shoegal
just wanted to say good luck with the debt and weight busting for 2009! They are my goals too

compingirl x

Shoe_Gal

makeup wrote: »

Hi Shoegal

With your lloyds overdraft review, is that something you have to go into your branch for or do they do it automatically?

The reason I ask is that for ages I had a £2k overdraft limit (about 5 yrs) and every year they just extended it for another year. I never had to go in and discuss it with them and they just did it automatically. I lived permanently in my overdraft but I never went over the limit - I didn't have to speak to them at all. I think they were just happy that I kept on paying their extortionate interest. Plus I had a gold account so they got £12 out of me each month extra.

You may find that they won't worry about your overdraft so long as you don't go over the limit. I'm not saying you shouldn't pay it off but if there is a more urgent debt you may be better to pay that one. But I don't profess to be an expert - just letting you know my experience!

Good luck and I'm going to subscribe to this one!!

Hi Makeup

They have just renewed mine for the last few years too but I've read a few horror stories on here about overdrafts being withdrawn with hardly any notice and as I know I wouldn't get an overdraft anywhere else I'm worried about being stuck. I also have £10k on Lloyds credit cards that I am only making minimum payments on.

I have opened a Nat West Step (basic) account just in case, so I can divert my wages if Lloyds do withdraw my overdraft.

I thought they might be more likely to renew it if I was at least reducing it a little each month