2011...............and I'm still learning!

Snowdonlily

I know its not quite 2011 yet, but I have plans for the New Year and can't wait to get cracking .

I'm not going to rake over old ground, but my life changed beyond all recognition in 2010. I wasn't a compulsive spender, but I was an emotional spender, stuck in an unhappy marriage and trying to make myself feel better. It worked in the short term, but in the long run all it did was leave me with a mountain of debt and an even unhappier marriage!

I left H in August and since then I've been living by myself and making my own decisions (I still make the odd howler, but I try to learn from them and not make the same mistakes twice...........but I'm only human and it doesn't always work!)

Since the end of 2009 my debt has come down from over £26k to £18,968.56. Its not as good as it could be 'cos I'm not completely cured and still have the occasional slip up, but I think its pretty good going considering my past history

2011 is going to be a year of huge changes and if I have my own way, they'll all be changes for the best:-

1. I will be divorced
2. I will be debt free (not in the way I'd planned, but debt free nonetheless).
3. I will get a mortgage (hopefully).
4. I will buy my own home (in my own name, on my own and in my home town)
5. I will be a size 12.

To help me along the way, I'm going to set myself some little challenges:-

1. I've already joined the Virtual Sealed Pot Challenge.
2. I'm ebaying anything that isn't nailed down (this won't last 'cos sooner or later I'm going to run out of things to ebay!).
3. I've rejoined the Lightspeed Survey site (I'm not far off my first £10 voucher).
4. I'm taking lunches into work.
5. I'm going to stop buying glossy mags (my downfall!).
6. I need to build up a backup fund so any money made on ebay will be diverted into a savings account for this purpose.
7. I'm going to start a spending diary and account for every penny spent. This is something I've started so many times but failed to maintain.

Most people say "life begins at 40" but for me its "life begins at 41"....................its always taken me longer than most people to catch on to a good idea

I'll try to post a link to my old diary if anyone is interested, but I can't promise it'll work!

I promise to keep posting and hopefully you'll see the debt go down and the savings go up. There'll probably be a few more slip ups along the way knowing me, but I WILL get there in the end.

The encouragement of fellow MSE'ers is invaluable and I hope you'll keep on giving me the occasional nudge when I'm feeling sorry for myself and I promise I'll do the same whenever I can

2011 will be our year so bring it on :beer:

pinkarsenalprincess

Hey snowdonlily

Here's to a good 2011 with lots of positive changes
Good luck for the year ahead

Snowdonlily

I'm on a mission today...........I hope it lasts

Just checked and I have £30 left in my purse. I'm hoping to make that last as long as possible.

I've sold about 8 items on ebay over Christmas and these will all need to be parcelled up before Weds.

I also forgot to mention I have a BF :eek:

Its VERY early days but we've been friends for a long long time and he's been my rock this past year. He's coming round for his tea later (he's back at work today) but its only bubble & squeak out of the leftovers ....Yummy!

I've sliced up the remainder of the turkey crown and divided it up into meal sized portions ready to freeze. BF will have to help me eat these as he paid half for the crown My boys ate the whole shoulder of lamb I cooked yesterday so no leftovers there :T

Feels good to be organised for a change

I'm off to update my new signature!

Buffythedebtslayer

Hi SnowdonLily

I have spent some time this morning reading your old diary, very chuffed for you and all the changes that have been going on. I always saw the title of your diary as inspiring but never had the chance to read it till today.

Just wanted to say thank you and well done.

Happy new diary

Buffy xx

Snowdonlily

Thanks Buffy thats a really nice thing to say. I can see you're really well too.

The support on here is fab

I've thought of another couple of "things to do"

1. Read all my "unread" books. To be fair, they're not all new, some are, but most are from charity shops. I've only been in this house since August and already have a pile building in the corner (not to mention the hundreds of books I still have in my old home).

2. I have some leftover wool from knitting gifts for DS1's girlfriend and a pair of half knitted socks. I need to finish the socks and knit myself a pair of wrist warmers out of my leftovers.

I'm going to catch up on other people's diaries now

nattypants

Hey Snowdonlily

Brilliantly positive first post on the new diary - I look forward to the successes that 2011 will bring you:D:D:D

NPX

maman

Snowdonlily wrote: »

and a pair of half knitted socks.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Just calling in to wish you luck with your new diary;)

Snowdonlily

Hi nattypants and maman thanks for saying hi!

The bubble & squeak was lovely

Made another £8.03 on ebay this evening and have been filling in surveys on Toluna till I'm cross-eyed

I hope they pay out!

The man at my local PO will love me on Wednesday morning when I roll up with all these parcels :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

beanielou

Happy shiney new diary

maman

Snowdonlily wrote: »

The man at my local PO will love me on Wednesday morning when I roll up with all these parcels :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

And so he should, helps keep him in work!:rotfl:

Snowdonlily

Its back to work for me today. I'm not complaining though 'cos its double time and time off in lieu today. I have four days to work, then its two days off, back in for Bank Holiday Monday (more double time) then I have 15 days off (loads of toil I need to use or lose!).

I need to try and keep away from the shops so the plan is to do some low level walking around Snowdon (I'm too unfit to tackle any serious walking just yet, but I'm hoping I'll get there by the time the weather improves enough to get to the top ). I don't know if even the lower level walks are feasible at the moment though, as the snow has yet to disappear.

One trip to the shops will be unavoidable. DS3 is going skiing to Italy in Feb on a school trip so I need to kit him out with all the equipment. Don't know if you've heard of Cheshire Oaks, but its a huge outlet village about two hours' drive from here. I'm hoping I'll get some bargains there .

I'm hoping for a NSD day. I've just dug out an old magazine I haven't read yet ( I know, thats bad!), so that'll keep me occupied in my lunch hour and make sure I don't need to venture out to the High Street.

Right, I'd better get moving or I won't have a job to go to

Have a good day everyone x