Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

newgirly

Thanks Daisy, I really appreciate your post

It's funny as I'm the one that's often quite outspoken in a lot of situations and am not shy, so I don't know why I feel the need to explain. I guess it's just I know I'll get personal questions about why I'm doing it when it's out of character for me :eek: I'd also rather not make a big deal about it, I don't want to feel I'm beng watched.:o

My parents and best friend will be fine, it's more the larger groups with nosey people :rotfl: I'm not even sure I want to cut down 'right now' but on the other hand I'm not sure I want to carry on drinking - probably not if I'm reading sober blogs!

I see what you mean about watching others drunk, unusually for me I purposefully drove to a 50th party for one of the guys at work (fancy dress too!) and had a great night, including being the first one up dancing. For me I think it's the pointless over drinking at home that's become a habit.

This time of year seems to make me much worse, so I'm thinking I should nip it in the bud before I start on the port and cheese regularly....


Thanks for popping on and being encouraging, it's good to know you can be happy and booze free, newgirly x

CathT

I'd got into the habit of having a few glasses of wine just sat on the sofa on a Friday evening. Decided to go alcohol free mainly to help with fitness goals and honestly don't even miss the pouring of wine sound now! We don't socialise much and I know that's where some may find it more difficult. I last drank properly at the races in the summer and don't remember the latter part of the evening properly. For me it defeats the point of going really.

There is an alcohol free thread on debt-feee I think.

newgirly

Hi Cath, I think I've seen that thread before, I'll have a look though. You are so disciplined! I am sure to replace wine with vast amounts of chocolate :rotfl: So far so good for a second day while I think about giving up still......

I've just splashed out on posh chocolates for Xmas :T the hotel chocolate "Christmas sleekster" no less! Topcashback are doing an extra £3 off any spend today (over £5) plus I found a 10% off code and there is hopefully 10% normal tcb took if it tracks.

So today's mortgage op is the £2.29 I saved with the 10% code, will wait and see what happens with the rest. I've wasted so many hours planning Xmas food it's crazy :eek: I was bought this box last year and it was very good. Next on list M&S order - going to get lots from ald* but want some bits ordered so I don't have to keep trying to get it like last year when lots was sold out.

Xmas food budget £22.95/£250 spent :xmastree:

greent

I rarely drink - maybe the equivalent of max 2 bottles of wine per year, probably less. I think if you want to drink less and people ask why you can say about less calories pre-Xmas and wanting to fit into an outfit/ general health/ need to be sober just in case (if one of the boys are out, for instance) Definitely cut it out at home as a start - that should be the easier one? - if you want to, of course - this isn't a lecture about whether you drink too much or not - I have no idea and it's none of my business anyway! xx

xx

Arkers

Good afternoon NG,

Just thought I'd drop in to mention the giving up or cutting back on alcohol thread. It's probably one of the most supportive and non-judgemental threads out there. People subscribe for loads of reasons: cutting back, abstaining, health or weight loss for example. No one judges anyone, but just posting a chosen tally really helps to focus if you are wanting to cut back.

Enjoy reading your posts as I have kids of a similar age to you, and a lot of what you say resonates.

Good luck with the next chapter.

Arkers x

newgirly

Hi greent, 2 bottles of wine a year- that probably explains why you are mortgage free and I'm not :rotfl: seriously though I shall probably try and make excuses to start with like weight loss, thanks

Hi Arkers , thanks for popping in I will defiantly go and have a look at the thread

I did have a chat with mum and Aunt today about cutting down /giving up. Mum was fine, Aunt said "but obviously you will still drink at Xmas?" I said well I don't know yet, but if I've managed to stop drinking then no probably not!

So today I've finally written all my days and nights out in my diary, it turns out I'm not on a cruise this week , it's next week :eek: I panicked it clashed with out bath trip and a 50th party :rotfl: All good though luckily, what an idiot!

Booked in the only free day both Dd and I can do together for our mum and daughter day, then scoured the deals on at the theatre and settled on a Phantom matinee with a huge discount - right at the front in the middle for £44.99 each :T last time I went best friends dh had bought her a pair and they were over £100 each and further back. I'll use one of the discount meal for two vouchers I bought the other day for £15.

No free cash today anywhere so I've just op'd a token £1

newgirly

Didn't manage to post last night as I wasn't feeling great, missed out on the Elvis tribute night out too!

Mortgage ops for yesterday £20 - Elvis night would have cost more but £20 is a decent op as I didn't go

Mortgage op for today £9.99 thats just hit the current account from tcb - from dds birthday treat on the London eye in July

I've taken another day off work today, trying to use up holiday I'd saved for December which I can't as we are not allowed time off then as it's the new companys busiest month.

Plans are :

A spontaneous visit to the big Xmas shop at the garden centre and coffee with Dd, best friend and her little one

Cook dh a lovely dinner for letting me have the day off

Get ahead with the cleaning and washing

Spend a bit of time on the op spreadsheet as I haven't done it for a while and it's fun :rotfl:

themadvix

You seem to be doing well with your daily OPs NG - that can only be a good thing!

Regarding the drinking - could you take it a day or a month at a time or would that not work? I know when I became veggie the thought of *never* eating meat again (when I thought about it in its entirety) was terrifying, but over time that feeling has faded (we're talking 20 years!) - now I couldn't bear to eat it.

I definitely agree with Daisy that you don't need to explain yourself!

newgirly

Hi vix, I'm a long term veggie too (32 years) so I can stick at something I guess :rotfl: I've another day to add, so far so good!

themadvix

There you are then! Is there something (healthy) you could substitute for a drink when you feel like one? I know if I'm stressed or have had a long day I feel like a glass of something but quite often if I make a cup of tea it has the same de-stressing effect! (I'd avoid chocolate )