June 2010, 80 payments to go............

museumworker

Glad to hear you'll be on your way shortly - have a great Xmas and hope the house looks as good (or even better) than you hope!

How's the tooth?

tootallulah

Hi MW train is zipping along. The tooth is not hurting but "feels" very odd! Lots of snow in Herts.

tootallulah

Ok folks had a lovely christmas and am now back in London contemplating the future and where I really am and where I want to be.

My house isn't QUITE as far on as i had hoped and even with the new lagging the kitchen and downstairs loo are all frozen solid and have been for the last ten days, the builder is going to have to take off a load of plaster and do more lagging but needs must it will always be likely to freeze so it needs doing now. I have to choose the colours for the decorator who is starting on Thursday. The kitchen fitters are about halfway and the appliances are in so I can see that it will be lovely.

Somehow i seem to have gained a £1000 overdraft so I need to work out my debts ready for the big pay off next year, happy days.

tootallulah

OK I am getting everything together for a one debt total to be declared on 31 December ready for the 2011 challenges. It may scrape in just under £180,000 we shall see. My challenges won't fit in my signature so I'll have to have a think about how I do that as if I don't declare them here there is no chance that I will do some/any of them!

I did some good bargain shopping today and got five little presents for next year plus some lovely sewing bits for myself. I have started making a mohair coat which is "interesting and challenging" yes I am already struggling, still nothing ventured etc.

Back to work tomorrow but hopefully it will be a short day with few colleagues around to see what is going on. I might be able to get a bit of sewing done once the emails are out of the way. I am off the coffee which is a first, I have just stopped having a coffee craving in the morning, that could save me £10 per week, hoorah.

Herewego

Well done on getting some challenges together, I am also in the process of doing this but jumping from one idea to another.
Good luck for 2011 and Happy New Year

tootallulah

Nice to see you Herewego, Happy New Year back to you.

I have finished the outside of the coat that I am making and now need to construct the lining. The coat is very dark grey mohair and the lining is bright orange satin. I also have a very beautiful large orange vintage button when I get to the finishing point.

This morning I have cut out a navy blue wool pinafore dress (not frumpy) I am appliqueing giant tulips around the hem so it doesn't smack too much of a school gymslip. I am enjoying the sewing and need to capitalise on the time available rather than spending hours on here.

tootallulah

Off to spend the day with friends but will be back tonight as I HATE New Years Eve with a passion.

I shall calculate my full debts, it's a mortgage but that is just a VERY BIG debt, and post them tonight together with my challenges and my plans for the diary. 2011 is going to be interesting.

A VERY HAPPY New Year to you all.

tootallulah

New Year, new challenges and by my new calculations I still have 80 payments to go from January 2011 taking into account that I have added £20k to my mortgage for the home improvements in my house.

This diary is going back to recording every spend and helping me pay off at least £2000 per month from the mortgage. Yes I am fortunate that I have a good salary but over half of it goes on debt payments and when the mortgage is paid off then I will be able to have some choices about what I do next.

I still have c£3000 to pay on my home improvements and I am hoping to move back into my house in the last week in January which I am really looking forward to, it will be lovely.

On the end of every post will be my challenges, that will be interesting once I have worked out how to cut and paste them in.

Cleaning today so that the New Year starts on a positive note.

tootallulah

11 CHALLENGES FOR 2011

1. Pay off £25k from my debts (largely mortgage)
2. Do 100 lots of 45 minute exercise
3. Lose 100 lbs in weight
4. Sell 100 things on Ebay
5. Save £1000 for emergencies
6. Save £1000 for unplanned fun
7. Have 100 NSDs
8. Make 100 things
9. Spend no more than £1000 on food
10. Spend no more than £600 on clothes
11. 5 week-ends away with friends.

I will report on the challenges on the first day of each month. They are all doable but not that easy I need to get some genuine get up and go to make any of them real.

julliff

Happy New Year, and good luck with your challenges!

I really admire people who can be really organised, and start getting things in the sale ready for next year. I find I am too exhausted with it all to even think about it. Must try harder!

I also dislike New Years Eve, and am glad when it is over. I did watch grumpy New Year last night, so I know I am not alone!


Congrats on weaning yourself off the coffee. These habits can be hard to break.

BTW, how are you getting on with your steam mop? Would you recomend one? I have bamboo flooring, as well as ceramic tiles (not in the same room).

J