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urg’s Happy, Healthy and Wealthy 2011 Diary
urg123
Posts: 1,997 Forumite
Well I have decided that I need to start a new chapter to my old diary. I have had such wonderful support and advice from many lovely people on these boards – I really want to start by thanking you all for being there.
At its worst and before I found MSE, my debt was around £24000 – some of the debt was a personal family loan but a lot of it was due to poor budgeting, spending willy nilly on the credit cards and not having any sense of the value of money. It has been a hard slog to get debt free but I could have done it a lot quicker if I was more disciplined and organised.
2010 is a year I am really looking forward to saying goodbye to. The year has had highlights but the joy of each of these has been affected by the loss of my mum in January. This new diary is about moving forward to help me to get towards my 2011 and other life goals. But first, I think it’s only fair that I look back to recognise what I have achieved.
In 2010 I:
1. Got married to my lovely DH
2. Got a new permanent job
3. Became debt free (twice)
4. Have been there for my family in some very tough times
5. Became an aunt (twice)
6. Started to learn to cook properly
7. Started to lose some weight and review the way that I look
2011 is the year that DH and I will set the foundations for our future together. We would like to start a family and move from my flat to a house. I would rather we move to a house first but finances are unlikely to allow for that in 2011. As I have accepted that we need to stay here, I also know that we need to update the flat – I have ‘made do’ for long enough it will be easier to sell. The first part of the house update was to get double glazed windows; the next stage is to get a new kitchen and bathroom which DH and his dad will fit for us. I have estimated that it will cost about £10K and am putting money aside for that. I am also determined to overpay on the mortgage while we can.
I have been thinking about other goals – there is always so much to do and achieve! I have decided to break this into themes: money, relationships, home and me!
So my goals for 2011 are:
MONEY
I am going to be better at posting on my diary too so I hope you will pop by and give me a kick up the rear end if I start to falter or just go AWOL for a bit too long!
Gosh what a long post! I better get on with it! Hope you can join me for the ride!
Urg x x
At its worst and before I found MSE, my debt was around £24000 – some of the debt was a personal family loan but a lot of it was due to poor budgeting, spending willy nilly on the credit cards and not having any sense of the value of money. It has been a hard slog to get debt free but I could have done it a lot quicker if I was more disciplined and organised.
2010 is a year I am really looking forward to saying goodbye to. The year has had highlights but the joy of each of these has been affected by the loss of my mum in January. This new diary is about moving forward to help me to get towards my 2011 and other life goals. But first, I think it’s only fair that I look back to recognise what I have achieved.
In 2010 I:
1. Got married to my lovely DH
2. Got a new permanent job
3. Became debt free (twice)
4. Have been there for my family in some very tough times
5. Became an aunt (twice)
6. Started to learn to cook properly
7. Started to lose some weight and review the way that I look
2011 is the year that DH and I will set the foundations for our future together. We would like to start a family and move from my flat to a house. I would rather we move to a house first but finances are unlikely to allow for that in 2011. As I have accepted that we need to stay here, I also know that we need to update the flat – I have ‘made do’ for long enough it will be easier to sell. The first part of the house update was to get double glazed windows; the next stage is to get a new kitchen and bathroom which DH and his dad will fit for us. I have estimated that it will cost about £10K and am putting money aside for that. I am also determined to overpay on the mortgage while we can.
I have been thinking about other goals – there is always so much to do and achieve! I have decided to break this into themes: money, relationships, home and me!
So my goals for 2011 are:
MONEY
· Set a monthly budget and stick to it
· Pay off £10000 capital from the mortgage
· Save/Pay off house improvements (£10000)
· Use challenges to help make up the shortfalls and get the most out of the budget
· STOP using the credit card
RELATIONSHIPS
· Pay off £10000 capital from the mortgage
· Save/Pay off house improvements (£10000)
· Use challenges to help make up the shortfalls and get the most out of the budget
· STOP using the credit card
· Spend quality time with DH
· Spend quality time with other family and friends
HOME
· Spend quality time with other family and friends
· New kitchen and bathroom
· Declutter, declutter, declutter!
· Meal planning
· Cook one new dish per week
ME
· Declutter, declutter, declutter!
· Meal planning
· Cook one new dish per week
· Be healthy – 10000 steps per day
· Lose weight (4 stones in 1 year!)
· Do one thing for me every week
· Continue to do well at work and pass my probation
Our finances are also going to change this year as my lodger will be moving out this summer and DH may also have to take a pay cut. If we can do well with the budgets and challenges we can to manage the ups and downs that these changes will bring. · Lose weight (4 stones in 1 year!)
· Do one thing for me every week
· Continue to do well at work and pass my probation
I am going to be better at posting on my diary too so I hope you will pop by and give me a kick up the rear end if I start to falter or just go AWOL for a bit too long!
Gosh what a long post! I better get on with it! Hope you can join me for the ride!
Urg x x
0
Comments
-
I'm on board
Successful women can still have their feet on the ground. They just wear better shoes. (Maud Van de Venne)Life begins at the end of your comfort zone (Neale Donald Walsch)0 -
So - on to get started with those goals I better write my list of things to get done!
- Washing
- Ironing
- Put away clothes that are taking over the living room!
- Return shoes back to Amazon
- Return library book and pay fine!
- Decide on the length of new jeans so I can get them altered
- Walk 10000 steps
- Visit Gran and aunt
- Tidy kitchen
- Wash kitchen floor
- Put another coat of top coat on nails
- Start new thread on MSE
- Walk through flat and make a list of all the areas that need decluttering
- Clear bedside table top
- Clear dresser top
- File for 10 minutes
- Pay TV license
- Meals at home before I head out for the afternoon and evening.
Better get started - catch up soon!
urg x x0 -
Hi Urg,
well done for starting a new thread for 2011! Good luck for your journey in the next year and I wish you loads of personal and financial luck! I'm subscribing! I started my own diary recently and found it so helpful to keep focused! I've also joined WW to shift a few excess pounds/stone too! In my heart it seems so ridiculous to pay to loose weight when people in the world are starving, but something's gotta give so I've invested (that's how I like to look at it!) £30 in myself.
All the best for the new year!
PxVIRGIN £1336.00 EGG £1759.58 HSBC £2177.39
Total=£5272.97 (£250 Nov £250 Dec VIRGIN) Promotions 5/5 Oct 2/6 Nov
Total at start of renewed effort = £5395.98
Total at start of Diary 6th Dec 2010 = £5812.730 -
Hey urg *suscribes to new diary*
We've become twins again, although I am still behind you in the debt race. If you get your house decluttered first can you come and help me??? xx0 -
Swinstie73 wrote: »Hey urg *suscribes to new diary*
We've become twins again, although I am still behind you in the debt race. If you get your house decluttered first can you come and help me??? xx
the chances of me managing to declutter before you is absolutely laughable - I have so much stuff:o!
Right off to do some ironing - I really would like to not have an ironing pile as we see in the New Year!
urg x x0 -
So - on to get started with those goals I better write my list of things to get done!
- Washing - now hanging up.
- Ironing
- Put away clothes that are taking over the living room!
- Return shoes back to Amazon TOMORROW
- Return library book and pay fine! TOMORROW
- Decide on the length of new jeans so I can get them altered 2 pairs sorted - will do more tomorrow
- Walk 10000 steps
- Visit Gran and aunt
- Tidy kitchen
- Wash kitchen floor
- Put another coat of top coat on nails varnish is peeling off so need to remove it
- Start new thread on MSE
- Walk through flat and make a list of all the areas that need decluttering
- Clear bedside table top
- Clear dresser top
- File for 10 minutes
- Pay TV license
- Meals at home before I head out for the afternoon and evening.
Better get started - catch up soon!
urg x x
Some things will have to hang on for tomorrow. I've decided to take the amazon parcel and book back tomorrow as there is another parcel that also needs to be returned. Right will have some lunch and then maybe off to see gran if she is well enough for a visitor. If not, I'll attack more on the list.0 -
Managed to get some walking in as i decided to go to the library before my voluntary shift. Didn't take pedometer but don't think I managed anywhere near the 10000 goal.
I also managed to finally get don't to calling the mobile phone company and reduced my iPhone contract by £5 per month. It all helps! I wonder if this would cOunt towards my 'make £5 Per day' challenge?
In bed - very tired. It's been a busy day. I will carry on with the list tomorrow and go and visit my gran tomorrow as I didn't get to go today.
Night!
Urg x x0 -
great new diary and I'm here with you too.
great start on the list as well0 -
Evening All
Happy New Year to you all - here's to a fab 2011!
Last night was a lovely way to see out the end of 2011. DH and I stayed in and had a home cooked lasagne with a bottle of champagne. We played board games and card games and then headed off to bed a little while after midnight.
Today, I met my dad and went shopping with him. We had a good time and he managed to get two new coats which he wanted. I then stayed on in town and did a bit of my own shopping! A new handbag which I have been needing for a while, some posh make up remover which I really like (paid for with points), a couple of pressies and other bits from Boots and finally two lovely fresh facemasks from Lush along with a new solid shampoo. Not the cheapest of days out but nice nonetheless.
I have got round to updating my signature with all the challenges that I have joined so far or plan to achieve. I am sure that some of these will be harder than others but I plan to at least give a good going.
My mortgage goes out on Tuesday so will update when that comes out and any extra payments that I make. In terms of savings, I plan to save £10000 over the next year to help toward the house improvement costs. Last year I managed to put aside £1750 a through monthly saver which will be released in April (I think).
Right, the flat is in a bit of a mess so I am going to get a few things done and declutter 10 items.
Dinner tonight will be leftovers from last night along with cheesecake that i bought on whoopsies!
Catch you later.
urg x x0 -
Hey urg, sounds like a nice day with your dad and a great way to spend NYE, wish I had stayed in, ha!
Here's to a fab 2011 and may all your dreams come true xx0
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