Not Tiny, Not Courageous, but definitely in debt

tiny_courageous

Have decided not to hit the sales today, as I've got a load of bagged up change from my sealed pot that I need to pay into the bank, which won't be open today. Will go tomorrow instead I think.

The Christmas decorations are now tidied. Three bags and a box are now one box.

I was thinking I need to buy a new notebook for the new year's spending diary, but then realised I was given a little diary for Christmas so I'll use that instead. And I just found a free app for my phone so will give that a go too. The diary will probably be better though because this year I've used the spending diary to record my AFDs as well, and I really want to up those next year.

Waiting for OH to get home from work and then might go for a walk. Now the snow's gone I don't have to worry about falling over and I need the fresh air!

tiny_courageous

So I've been thinking of my plan for the year to come. Will have a few expensive things (car likely to fail MOT, a few big occasions that will be costly) but I'll have to budget round that, and if I can save in little ways then the big things won't sting quite as much.

Sooooo, the challenges:
1. No buying lunch at work. There is no excuse for buying lunch at work, so I need to stop doing it. This links in to number 2.
2. Lose weight. This is pretty vital. Hopefully will be achieved by exercising more, drinking less and eating more healthily.
3. NSDs. At least 15 per month.
4. £100 clothes challenge. I have a full wardrobe. I have lots of work clothes. I do not need anything new.
5. AFDs. At least 15 per month. Hopefully will stop drinking in the week at home. Links to the losing weight challenge too.
6. Paying for things with change. I've found that sealed pots don't work for me, so I will be keeping change in my purse and will pay for things with change rather than break into a note or pound coin.
7. Decluttering. Anything remotely sellable will go on ebay.
8. Get back into doing surveys. have been very lazy recently and it's an easy £10 a month or so, especially now the scratchcards are no more.
9. Meal plan. This is always a challenge due to OH's shifts and MIL often sending us leftovers, but some basic planning should eliminate waste.
10. Enjoy free things. Walks in the park, events in town, whatever. Broadening horizons is never a bad thing.

Probably a bit ambitious but I always reckon aim high and you'll hit somewhere in the middle with a bit of work.

EssexHebridean

I like your challenges Tiny - some good aims there. Well done also on seeing off Egg - I must also get back into surveys as the free money on TCB has dropped substantially over the past few months.

tiny_courageous

Thanks EH.

A lot of places seem to be tightening up their loopholes and cashbacks at the moment, surveys are one of the few left that I do regularly now.

tiny_courageous

Getting there on the decluttering front kind of - got rid of a load of old make up, and six things are now listed on ebay.

Went into town yesterday but didn't buy much in the sales - got some pressed powder and a new mascara (which was needed) on 3 for 2 at superdrug, and that was it. Picked up some more shloer in Morrisons as it was £1 and definitely is a nice alternative to wine (which will work well for the new year resolutions) and some reduced bits and bobs.

Not planning on leaving the house today. Lots of running up and down the stairs will be my exercise!

tiny_courageous

Well NYE was fab, ended up having friends round, already had loads of drinks in so the grand total cost for the evening was £9.41 as I decided we'd go to the supermarket just before it closed to see what bargains there were (there were very few, but a few bits and bobs)
The new year is now here so the resolutions start in earnest. I don't plan on leaving the house today so it should be a NSD today, will probably have a drink later so probably not an AFD but will try to be healthy eating as much as possible so we'll see how that goes.

Found two more things to list on ebay. So far got bids on 2 and watchers on 4. Fingers crossed!

Decluttering is helping as well as I just found my red nail varnish that I thought I'd lost! A random resolution for this year is to always have my nails painted - I love nail varnish and have loads but never remember to paint my nails - it's such an easy feel good thing too!

Got an email saying £7 has been paid from Quidco, which is good! Am waiting on about £50 with them but every little helps.

Just got some beef out of the freezer to defrost so will make beef in red wine in the slow cooker tomorrow, that'll do for lunch for the week.

Decorations need to come down tomorrow, then can be put back under the bed until next year! I love Christmas, I'm kind of sad it's over for another year.

Two more days off, I need to make the most of them!

tiny_courageous

Healthy eating hasn't been great but I'm not drinking today so I guess that balances it out. I just figured I'd be drinking for the sake of it, because there's half a bottle of wine in the fridge, rather than because I actually wanted a drink. So I decided not to. :A Unfortunately I seem to have eaten a lot of party snacks today. Well a big bag of crisps with some dips, some leftovers from yesterday and some prawns in filo pastry

Beef is in the slow cooker with the remains of a bottle of red wine, and some onions and spuds. Smells nice, should be ready tomorrow so I can do something with it. Pie and then soup I'd imagine.

Think I'll have a bath now, and relax. It's not often I've got the house to myself so may as well make the most of it. Use up some bath products and therefore declutter the bathroom!

tiny_courageous

The beef is now three pies and there is a cheese and mushroom bake with the leftover pastry. Quite pleased with that - it smelled delicious, who knows what it will taste like!

Think today will be another NSD. Not sure about the alcohol, will see how I go with that. Have discovered a couple of boxes of herbal teas (best before 2008 but I can't imagine tea goes off) so am slowly making my way through that.

One load of washing is just finishing, I might try it on the line as it looks quite blowy out.

tiny_courageous

First day back at work was manic! Am knackered already, but it was quite successful in some respects so could have been worse.
Managed another NSD so that's 4 for the month so far, and yesterday was alcohol free so that's 2 and hopefully I'll manage today to make it 3/4.

Am just waiting for the last of the direct debits to go out for the month (they are all supposed to go out on 1st/2nd but because that was the weekend and bank holiday some have and some haven't. I just want them all out so I know this month is done.

Lunch for the week is sorted (pie, all week!) and there's plenty in the freezer for teas. Wonder if I can manage NSDs til Friday? An even bigger miracle would be AFDs until Friday!

tiny_courageous

Another NSD so that makes 5, and yesterday was an AFD and I think I'll manage it today too so that'll make 4. Two people leaving out team on Friday so I will need to put some money into the collections then. Eating habits seem to be getting better too, sticking to regular meals only and no snacks. Even managed a walk today! 10 minutes each way is better than nowt.