Michelle's Big Push to Christmas Challenge

gratefulforhelp_2

Oh dear my performance is not great...

wealth -buy nothing unless we really need it until Jan sales.

Have bought two new sheets - the old ones had gone into holes.

health - lose 2 stone 5/28, walk 40 min min weekd.

walking not too bad, scared to get on scales, though.

up the ante-alcohol fridays and saturdays only, no excuses.

Sundays are creeping in too.

frugal fun - shave £100 off food budget each month.

Failed miserably here, but we have food stockpiled, need to live out of the pantry for a week...fortnight.

Must do better.

misscousinitt

Where does the time go? I've been so lax lately with keeping up with diaries etc...

Health - still having seeds with my breakfast. Had gone a full 8 weeks without a cup of tea, but caved in last night as I had just had a long afternoon with my dad at the hospital and my back was killing me! Back off it now. Drank wine last week when I was on holiday, but not excessively - back to being much more frugal with that now.

Wealth - still got to sort out savings accounts etc...

Have sorted out presents for one of my friends now - ordered one off Amazon today and have decided to get her a subscription to either good food or olive with some of my clubcard vouchers.

Going to go to boots next week and spend my points on some stocking fillers while they have a good selection.

Can't remember what else I was supposed to be doing???? Will have to go back along the thread and have a look...

findingmyfeet

congratulations bjd :j

well not the best first week at a challenge but achieved some small things

WEIGHT-that went immediately out of the window and i have gained a pound!!!!!:mad: rarely go out but got invited to 3 things this week all with food, so terrible start.
EXERCISE- managed one walking session only, but off for half hour on the treadmill in a mo to get this week off to a good start

WEALTH-first £100 mortagage overpayment ready and waiting to be transfered to mortgage account , on target

UP THE ANTE- decluttering off to a flying start, really impressed myself this week, never stopped. managed to go though one bedroom entirely and am 3/4 of the way through another. also washed thorws, cushion covers and curtains etc. hoping to paint the downstairs loo this week too.

FRUGAL-christmas list made, budget for everyone set. got xmas cards and wrap out of loft so i know i have enough (bought for pennies in januray). got one nephew sorted-horrid hen=ry dvds and annual from the works total £9, budget £15 will get some sweets too but will be well under my estimate.

so not a bad week just need to get my big bum in gear and tackle the weight.

hope you all have a good week too. keep going everyone

Little*Miss

Hello lovely people!

Your all doing well keep going!

Quick update on my goals:

Money
• Save or OP £1,000 by the end of December 2011. Have received £40 Quidco payment, will OP more when I get paid too. Going to find out how to OP this week!

Health:
• Getting off the Mac by 9pm every night! This is going quite well not managing this every night but most.
• Get into bed by 11pm every night. Again most of the time I can do this need to be in bed on a work night by 11pm!
• Book an hour out for me each day. I'm starting to get more of a work, life, friends, family, OH balance, I realize now I'm not super woman (even if no one else does.)
• Get back to my goal weight of 8 stone and get toned. I need to get on this! I aim to at least weigh myself this week!!!- This still applies!

Up the ante:
• Have 3 NSD’s a week. Completing this still.
• Complete all surveys sent. Always complete OP & YouGov I need to get back into GTM.
• Continue working at my second job till Dec if I can. Still doing this although I'm getting so tired, but I'm going to stick it out! Won a bottle of wine last week for completing a staff quiz too!- I still haven't received this!
• Household- Decorate and furnish the lounge, study, bedroom and bathroom all by xmas. This is going ok, have painted the study although I'm now not sure of the colour! Half way through painting the lounge. Other rooms just need decorations added.

Frugal Fun:
• Stick to a £50 food budget a week.Completing this so far! Although I think I need to create a spending dairy.
• Set a budget for Christmas and stick to it (try and get as many gifts for charity shops car boot etc.) Have created a budget for everyone I need to buy for and have started to look around for things on ebay etc.

I have a list of things I need to do by Friday so if I could do this and a bit of the above I will be very happy.

liuhut

wow guys, just saw the thread...fantastic idea. Looks like your all doing great! Ive been doing a few of the things already (great minds and all that!). Ive lost a stone in the six weeks, I've stopped drinking coke as I had a bit of an addiction going on and have been trying to limit the amount of junk in my diet! Its helped me spend less as well which is an added bonus! OH has a month where he stopped drinking, again saved money and better for his health.

Have picked up some good ideas while I've been reading through so will try and put a few into practise. Good luck with the goals

L x

findingmyfeet

liuhut-well done on the weight loss thats fantastic-any tips? and well done on getin started on this challenge-im new at it too

themadvix

Another quick update:

Health: Weight is going down again :j probably to do with eating healthily rather than exercise, although not too bad. Mini challenge this week is to book badminton and go - we haven't been for weeks!

Wealth: Work still busy, so on target for saving £2000. Must try to keep Christmas within budget. Work is still busy but waitressing has dried up at the moment.

Up the ante: Invoicing still on target, haven't rung accountant yet.

Frugal fun: Went to a free screening of 'the Help' this week with fiance - which was really good (and snuck food in of course). Will be looking out for more free screenings as it was a nice cheap way to go to cinema.

Have a good week everyone!!

ETA: Christmas target for this week met - now know what I need in way of cards and have a list of people I need to buy for!

Brodiebobs

*sneaks in sheepishly*

I have this month due to the multiple job situation paid £500 of the credit card and £100 from the mortgage. yay! one target hit.

Weight loss and time management are rubbish at the moment, just getting everyone organised and to the right place is draning me but this is the last week of the long hours so hopefully this should improve next week.

misscousinitt

Quick Update:

health - still eating breakfast...walking is about the same as before - need to increase this.

wealth - 1) OP target for 2011 has been surpassed!!!!! 2) still haven't started putting anything into my own savings - job for this month.
up the ante - 1) doing quite well on the wine front, 3 glasses in the last two weeks....(since coming back off holiday) 2) ate out twice in October and had a takeaway last night...better, but still not quite good enough.

frugal fun - 1) although haven't made a list yet for Christmas, we have talked about it and I have bought a couple of bits. 2) meal plans are going OK (apart from takeaway last night) 3) veggie waste hasn't been too bad, but need to make a squash soup this weekend to avoid some waste 4) veg plot plan is out of the window at the moment since getting the allotment

greent

greent wrote: »

OCT Targets:
1 takeaway & 1 meal out (DH's birthday) (Obv not including DLAnd Paris!) - 1 meal out for DH's bday (with a voucher ) but several takeaways :o
List 25 things on ebay - 20 listed on FLW, 3 sold. Didn't list any more because of going away
Stick to grocery budget £400. No food waste (plate scrapings not included - I mean things mouldering in fridge etc) - think I was just over at about £420 - due to a £70 approved foods order... ONly food waste was unexpectedly mouldy 1/2 loaf of wholemeal
Lose 2lb - no chance with the amount we ate in Disneyland P!!:o
Pay an extra £100 OP off mtge - £165 extra paid off:T
Ensure at least 2 rooms sorted/ decluttered before Xmas - 2 bathrooms done, but only because of the refitting. Lots still to do! Garage also decluttered - stuff to charity/ recycling/ tip.
Label at least 80 things for sale at NCT NNS - appx 150 items sent for sale, sold vast majority - 1/2 box of items left in loft for next time:T:j Also sold a few books and an unwanted plant pot at WI
Go through presents under bed and see who can have what for Xmas/ pre Xmas bdays - not yet done - am finding it hard to get things like this and total-room decluttering done with various workmen around - I want my house back!!
Check HM presents (chutnies and jams) and make more (soaps and bath salts and body butters) - jams and chutnies checked and most labelled. Few soaps done

OOps!

November Targets:

Health:

• lose 3lb (might help if I actually get around to weighing myself first, though!!)

Wealth:

• Pay £100 extra in OPs
• Sort tax returns for accountant to do (think there may be a small refund...)
• Stick to (reduced) GC budget of £375 for Nov (will allow £50 extra for any Xmas food purchases if I ever make room to buy anything early!!)
• List 20 things on ebay (urgh.....)

Up the Ante:

• 1 takeaway (we have SO much food in the house, we really need to eat some!)
• Max 1 meal out (for friend's bday)
• 2 rooms gone through for tidying/ decluttering/ cleaning

Frugal Fun:

• Go through presents under bed and sort out
• Make list of who still needs stuff and compile budget