Sorting out my life - Part 2!

copperjar

Hey IWAH :wave:

You know, I don't think we should feel too bad about actually going out and having a life...even if it delays some of the money saving/debt paying a bit. I know that goes against the whole spirit of this site, but I've just been happy that my immediate debts (CCs and OD) are gone - and happily plodding along paying my loans. Last month I started saving towards paying off my smaller loan - but I'm not going to be living on virtually nothing to get it paid off a month or two quicker. I was pleased how quickly I paid my CCs off - but its been really great to have some money left at the end of the month and actually not feel guilty about buying things for myself (that NYR is still going strong...I'm good at treats now! ).
And likewise for you - you're having fun...and I think we both needed a bit of that over the last year or so!

Twitter has kind of taken over Facebook for me now (I think ever since my Dad became my FB friend...I mean, there's just some things your parents don't need to know!). Lol.

Aiming for 4 lots of exercise is a lot! I'm in a routine now - to the gym twice during the week and once over the weekend and I'm managing to keep that up. Onto week 5 now and definitely feeling fitter and healthier (although it took 4 weeks before it physically started to show!). Good that you can keep your GNR place for next year....when you going to start training?! I've found that I just can't run. I've tried a few times now - and used the couch to 5k app on my phone - but I just can't do it! After about 10 mins my shins hurt so much I have to stop...even if I can then do other exercise instead. Maybe these legs just weren't meant for running!

iwantahome

It's all in the running shoes. You are wearing the wrong kind. You need to go to a proper running store and get them to check your gait and recommend the best shoes for your body and running style. Anyone can run (some of us much slower than others, but we can still do it).

I'm thinking of starting the training for it around march when the nights start getting brighter and keeping the other group going over the winter months.

With the facebook thing. Why don't you talk to him about it and say you are still friends with him and a social networking site does not confirm or deny your friendship but it's not appropriate for him to see all of your posts so would he be offended if you defriended him?

I go through bouts of defriending people if a) what they write constantly annoys me; b) are my parents; c) I work with them and don't want them reporting anything back to my superiors; d) I finally realise that we hated each other at school and being an adult hasn't changed my hatred. I know that is harsh but I really don't have a problem with it.

I love a good cull of FB buddy's.

You are completely right about the life:debts ratio. If the balance isn't right for your own sanity and happiness then it needs adjusting. You must have a life outside of debts. I know staying in every weekend and never going on holiday would mean we could pay debts/save deposit within a year(ish) but what a horrible depressing sad year that would be. Saying that though, the following years would be amazing. I guess its about compromising with yourself and readjusting what is more important on a month to month basis.

I only have a few famous people that I have clicked to follow on twitter (at least they claim to be those people), but i've not read any of their tweets. I might give it another whirl this weekend to see if its any good. Lot's of people have stopped posting on fb within the last few months and seem to be heading down the twitter route anyway.

IWAH.

PS: Congrats on the exercise and the not smoking too. Keep it up. I am looking to enter a few smaller events over the winter, not half marathons more 5k and 10k runs and obstacle course things, have a look around maybe a smaller event could get you into running a bit more. Running is tough but it's free.

PPS: Very well done on giving up the ex. I've almost done that too, I'm harbouring no feelings of regret or longing anymore and we very rarely speak/text now. It's almost non-contact, and I can see that by christmas it will be non-contact, which does not bother me at all now.

copperjar

A couple of people have said the same about my shoes...unfortunately after I'd already spent £50 on some new ones! Grr. I'm trying to build up by walking fast and upping my time - I have a romantic vision of being able to run...being one of those people who gets up early for a pre work jog :rotfl: One day....

The annoying thing with FB is that I told my dad I wouldn't be his friend - then my brother accepted his request so I felt I had to as well! Might have a cull - not that I use it much at all, I haven't got many people TO actually cull!

Well done on the ex as well. Ironically after your last message I saw mine for the first time in ages at work (but not to speak to). Aparently she's getting herself into a real pickle financially with the new house, new furniture, etc etc. I'm glad I'm out of it!

If you rejoin twitter, I'm catkims on there. All my tweets are self indulgent !!!!!!!! mind you...who really cares what I'm doing?! It does entertain me though!

Wordsmith

Hi, Copperjar. Good to see you back. I'm with you on the running. I am going to try to do the couch to 5k though. I've tried running many times in the past and just can't get to that stage of enjoyment. I have a problem with running shoes (shoes in general actually) since I have hideous feet that hurt a lot. If I wear cheap runners I am afraid they will be no good and put me off, but if I buy expensive ones I am afraid I would still have problems and be massively out of pocket.

It's good news that you are able to feel relieved you are out of the relationship with your ex. And good news on the debt-busting, too.

How is the job going?

copperjar

Hi Wordsmith :wave: How's everything with you?

New job is going well thanks. You know you said everything happens for a reason? Well you were right! I think I needed a change and it has given me a bit of a new lease of life! The travelling is a bit of a nightmare, but I'm moving to an office a bit closer in October - its just great to be in a totally different post with totally different people in a totally different office. Me likey so far!

I think the relief at being away from the ex is starting to wane. My head says I'm well out of it, but my heart still wants to swoop in and sort everything out for her. She's getting into such a mess financially, her (not so) new partner is as daft as she is and is encouraging her to be reckless - apparently she's about to quit her secure job to set up a child minding business, without any actual business plan, for example. But its none of my business - its just frustrating to see her jump from one "I want it!" thing to another -a sign that she's not particularly happy. Stop me!

My love life is very strange at the moment. Remember inappropriate valentines man? Well I was very straight with him (pardon the pun!) and I thought we'd become friends and he was happy about that. But its all kicked off this weekend and I'm starting to worry that I might have led him on :eek:

All in all its been a strange weekend. Had a bad one food wise, exercise wise and male-friend-who-can-only-ever-be-a-friend wise!

Need to get back on track on all fronts tomorrow!

iwantahome

Golly Gosh it's been a long time. How are things?

I've been on this site a bit, but usually go on the house buying threads and by the time i'm finished with those i'm done with the site all together and falling asleep.

I haven't been on twitter, but still aiming to give it another shot soon. Well I lie, I set me phone to have twitter on it checked to see if my account was still active and added a few "celebrities" to follow, I think that took me about half an hour and then I was confused by the whole hash thing on it. I can't understand what that is all about. I don't have any non-celebs to follow yet, but i'm working on it.

have you moved to the new office yet? How's it going if you have?

Oh and go back to the gym. ;-)

copperjar

Well it's been a long time! But with 2011 drawing to a close, I thought I'd look back at some of the things I was saying this time last year and at my resolutions just to see how far I've come. It's easy to achieve things, be pleased for a week or so and then forget - so I'm going to do a little summary of 2011. Not to show off - just to remind myself not to give up!

1. Money. Well I paid off all my credit cards (£4k) and have also managed to save approx £2k! I'm pretty surprised at the savings I have to admit - and I've not been as frugal as I could've been either. My credit cards remain at £0 (well, about £100 but that will be paid off on payday) and I've had a few big expenses as well. Car has cost over £650 in service/MoT/repairs over the last 2 months but I've managed to pay it without adding to the CCs

2. Job. Got new job - different team, different base, different service area and I love it. It's pretty stressful at times and the commuting is a bit crazy, but it has really re-energised me. Before this, I was often getting into work late, couldn't keep myself motivated, had lost my mojo! It was a stressful time with the whole restructure-offered job-job retracted-given notice-new job in a different field issue - but it's all worked out! :dance:

3. Relationship. Have pretty much got over the ex (well I certainly don't want her back...just miss having a hug sometimes!) but haven't made any headroad into a new relationship. Maybe that's for this year!

4. Confidence/happiness/treats. I said I would give myself a treat once a month as my last NYR, and whether it was that or just a non financial LBM, I've made really good strides with improving my confidence. Have read some books, made some changes in my life and certainly feel so much happier for it. There's still some way to go before I achieve all my goals and dreams, but I'm doing more and people have commented that they can see a difference. I've bought myself some new clothes, stuck with my monthly treat, have spent money on myself without feeling (too) guilty. Pretty proud of this one actually - I don't think I ever really knew how my confidence used to effect my mood and then my actions, it's all been a bit of a revelation!

5. Diet and fitness. Well I lost a stone...but then put half of it back on again (and I daren't even weigh myself after the Christmas I've just had!), so I'm a bit disappointed with this one. Think I've found a fitness class I quite fancy for the new year...got to use this new found confidence to make sure I go!

6. Smoking. I had my last cigarette mid January and haven't smoked once since _party_

7. Increase circle of friends. I've found this a bit difficult, but have made much more effort with the friends I already have and have seen them much more.

All in all, not a bad year. I think it's obvious where I still have some work to do, but looking back, I really do feel like I've come quite a long way. I really did feel awful when I first started this diary - everything was falling apart and I was beyond the ceiling and on the roof! If I can do it, anyone can!

jwil

You've had a really successful year, well done! Hope 2012 is a good one for you x

copperjar

Thanks jwil How's things with you? I see you'ver got a shiny new diary - off to take a look now.

I'm going to have a think about my goals for the year ahead and keep this diary going here I think.

copperjar

Well I've spent most of the day faffing about on my new laptop (:D) and catching up on some diaries on here. I'd forgotten how inspiring this site can be, just reading how well people are doing and being amused at some of brilliantly written diaries has spurred me into action. So I've designed a new spreadsheet (my old laptop has completely died and I've lost everything on it...could probably get it back if I bought a new battery but there's not much on there really and I don't want to waste money!) and have also been thinking about a few little challenges/resolutions for myself MSE wise.

I want to buy a new car this year, but won't do that until I've paid off my smaller loan. My car is starting to cost me a lot of money and I'm doing so many miles a month so want a bit of comfort (and safety). So the aim is to get the small loan paid off asap. I do kind of miss making those PADs and seeing the total coming down so I'll get back into it. Just a couple of problems - HSBC now have this stupid key safe system which is makes online banking a right kerfuffle and also I don't know if I can make overpayments directly to the loan. Will phone them tomorrow and maybe make one monthly big payment if I can PAD into my savings.

Going to set myself an ebay/amazon challenge. Do have a few things to sell so I'm going to get into it and aim to sell 100 items by end March. I think that's pretty doable and will also help with the decluttering of the spare room so I can make it into a proper office.

So, that's my first challenge. Reckon I need £2500 to pay it all off. I'll set a tough deadline of 1st April and see if I can make it!