lionheartedgirl promises to let it shine :)

thrifty_fifty

Merry Christmas Lionheartedgirl.

Hope you have a fab one.

xx

lionheartedgirl

thanks both

Christmas was lovely in the end, had fun at my mum and dad's, dinner was lovely. we put a film on after the Queen, and by 3.30, 4 dogs and both parents were snoring away :rotfl:

today has been very chilled, and I have felt like I am starting to unwind and get my priorities in order. Lots to think about as ever, but this has to be my year to really change things and make them the way I want them to be.

the social stuff has definitely dipped in recent months and my confidence has taken a dive as well. so need to sort this out and get on with things, and get out and about :cool:

I have a harp gig with my singer and guitarist friends on 21st Jan, I've not so much as touched the harp in ages and have a rehearsal tomorrow night so must do some practice in the morning. I was dreading the gig but am starting to really look forward to it.

I feel like lots of things are slipping into place, and am hoping that going back to work doesn't spoil the sense of perspective :rotfl:

Hope everyone has enjoyed their break

PS Spending has been all over the show as I have been fixing the house up.... _pale_ so need to pick up the bits from that. It's not horrific but certainly a couple of unnecessary bits have ended up on the CC so need to tackle this.

girlwiththesuninherhead

Hi LHG,

A belated Merry Christmas to you!

Good to hear that you've got your new babies and you had a good day on Christmas Day.

After reading your last post, it's another case of a very similar situation over my way.

My spending has also gone a little overboard recently but I have no regrets because I have thoroughly enjoyed myself without excesses.

I have just updated my snowball, paid my credit card bills and other bills for the month (oops just remembered I must get onto Giffgaff to update my phone!) and I can see approximately how much I am left with for the rest of the month.

I have a three big birthdays at the end of January and will need to get my hair dyed but that's not for weeks! I will look a complete mess but who flippin cares?

I am mentally preparing myself for a very difficult time over the next few months with work situations getting very tense and my back being a bit annoying but at least that's all part of the plan. I also realise that I am not able to create long term plans for my future due to the fact that my future always seems to through big spanners in the works so I have decided to make short term future plans and hopefully include a Plan B too!

Unfortunately I have to go to work tomorrow but I'm only in the office for a couple of hours and I will be working alone! Yay!!! So that's breaking up my lovely long break but it's making me appreciate the free time I do have. Every cloud and all that!

If I don't get the chance to beforehand, I want to wish you a successful and happy 2012. Look how far you've come this year (me too) and with this being our practice year, we'll definitely crack 2012 - just you watch!!

Take care, enjoy the rest of the hols!

girlwiththesuninherhead

x

lionheartedgirl

aww thanks GWTSINHJKLKJLKJLGK etc :rotfl:, what a lovely post. I love the idea that 2011 has been just practising for 2012 I definitely feel like I have learnt SO much this year and can't wait to begin again with a different outlook and very different priorities :j

Today is my first day of having been out at work and come home to doggies being here. Mum came to do some painting so I could leave them without worrying. Yesterday I met my new dog sitter - he seems lovely, Ronnie is very nervous about strangers being in the house but he came round a treat.

I have loved having the company here - we've done dinner and walk etc and now one is flaked out on the sofa enjoying wrapping himself round my leopard print cushion, and the other is enjoying her choice of dog beds

I'm gradually settling into the new layout - it's taken a bit of getting used to, and for a while I wasn't sure if it was quite right, but i think it was just everything being different as it is such a change.

I'll be cracking on with the painting in the harp room over the weekend with my mum's help, so I'm looking forward to getting things straight very soon and feeling ready to tackle 2012 head on, as flamboyantly as I can :cool:

Haven't done the sums yet but have been thinking an awful lot about money and where I am financially. I am covering my costs and the important things, but there's not much left for the extra 'living' I would like to do. The good news is that I wouldn't need that much more to make the difference, and I hope to approach work re. my pay which is below the market rate for the job I do.

This has to be a year of focussing a bit more on money as and where I can - as I've been going through all my junk while decorating, I have found lots of books I can pop on Amazon which should give me a handy few quid to put in a little Souk-esque buffer. I have a few bike bits to tidy up too.

There's not much room to overpay in the next 3 or 4 months, but my minimum payments are quite healthy and my debt is definitely moving in the right direction. Old credit card debt will be sub-23k (only just!) at the end of January which is fantastic :j I am carrying a little extra but this should be very short term.

The separate savings account for my harp income has worked brilliantly for me, so much so that I am hoping to start another couple as well, just to have some extra pots. Hopefully one will be for non-bill money - so food, diesel, monthly spends. I'd like another one for chucking spare cash in - e.g. any savings I make on other bills, cashback, ebay/Amazon sales etc, then I can clear this down regularly.

I'm feeling in control for 2012 - this has to be the year of really moving forwards and making things count. Can't wait :cool:

hypno06

lionheartedgirl wrote: »

I'm feeling in control for 2012 - this has to be the year of really moving forwards and making things count. Can't wait :cool:

Me too - and is a good feeling, isn't it!

Here's to us :beer:

lionheartedgirl

definitely - I am raising a glass as I sit here! mmm Baileys!

btw - saw this today and may have found my vocation :rotfl:

Hypno I think you will approve

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16201140

hypno06

oh yes, I certainly approve of that one!!!

gottogo

Heres to a positive fun packed 2012

lionheartedgirl

I am knuckling down and taking myself off to Ikea at the crack of dawn tomorrow..... heaven help me.

my wonderful mum is coming to help with the painting though, so by the time I am back at work, my current lounge/new harp room-to-be will be all set and I *should* be all straight and ready for the new year :j

it is going to be a rather fetching shade of green and I have just realised how close it is to the colour of the MSE banner at the top of this page :eek: the transformation is complete!

(it will be offset by LOTS of white and some hot pink too, but just wanted something zesty and energising and inspiring!)

Shoe_Gal

Happy New Year :j