Michelle's Big Push to Christmas Challenge

ajmoney

I have been feeling rubbish with a cold so I haven't been doing well. I am going to postpone thinking about it until next week and concentrate on getting better instead.

Dragonrider

OK, I am going to join my first ever challenge as well...

Health: We don't have a pair of scales in the house on principal, so I have no idea what I weigh. However, I would like to lose the very saggy tummy from baby number 2 and the extra roll around my lower back. I went back to work about 6 weeks ago, and have cycled to the station for about half that time - I wimped out this morning because of the weather and was late! So I want to
- sort out my wet weather gear and use the bike rain or shine
- go to the gym! It's the classic, isn't it? Having a gym membership and not going!

Wealth:
- Continue to work towards my target of OP £1200 this year.
- Start saving for when OH gets a pay cut next year
- Try to bring some more money in through ebay (have yet to try it!)
- Continue with surveys

Up The Ante:
- I am going to attempt to create a massive 9 week meal plan!! Will keep you posted...

Frugal Fun:
- Get the kids to help me with making cards and cakes for Christmas presents
- Plan for growing more vegetables next year but in bigger quantities so that I have a useful amount of each for a meal. Also want to buy an apricot tree, and some raspberry canes
- Make sure we go for family dog walks at the weekends

I'm liking this a lot! Just what I needed to keep spirits up now that the days are shorter, colder and darker....

Dragonrider

newgirly

All of my lots are back to school today, so I am fully up for a challenge now. The diet has been going ok this week, weigh in on friday, no exercise though, but I have builders in so don't want to exercise in the house

Finances, cut to the bone at the moment, with not a lot of hope of saving until october really.

Xmas, I have spent a while this morning listing how much there is left to buy, plus debating whether to "do" boxing day for all my family and the outlaws.

Mse bits, I have made homemade leek and potato soup, 2x veggie curries, aquired some handme down georgeous dresses for dd, made a list of homemade bits i want to make for the kids for xmas- sock monkeys and sweetie layered jars so far.

plans for sept are:

Buy presents for brother/dad and mums 60th

try and do a monthly meal plan and have plenty homemade freezer meals

use a lot less petrol now I have no school run

keep heating off

make sure kids have some new warm clothes

make a bit more progress with xmas shopping .

pavlovs_dog

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

Health
1. Maintain my new sleep routine (bed by 10, lights out by 10.30) at least 5 nights a week.
2. Get weight back down to 9 and a half stone
3. Eat better (more water, fruit and veg, less junk, take aways, meals out etc).

I'm on my second week of the bedtime routine and feeling better all the time for it. Another pound has disappeared so far (2lb so far), again with no huge effort in my part beyond making more sensible food choices. The fitness side of things is going to be a focus for the new year (seeing as I make that resolution every year anyway :doh: )

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

Up the ante
2) Organised head, organised home, organised life
Use my beautiful new moleskine diary and 'to do' list book to keep on top of things

This is becoming second nature now :j I'm feeling much less frazzled and more on the ball than normal (although that could be something to do with it being the honeymoon period of the new school year :rotfl:).

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

Frugal Challenge
1) Lunch for work at least 4 days out of every 5
2) Grocery budget from now - december 31st £650 or less (get a firm grip on it, with a view to reducing it from January).
3) Work out a budget for Christmas presents and stick to it

all works in progress. I've eaten LOADs of fruit this week because of my packed lunch, so it's helping with the health challenges too.

remote_control

I like the idea of sweets in jars. Think I might do this for Christmas.

I haven't done very much that is useful this week but I did apply for a job so that is good.

puddle96

Thought i better do a weekly update to try and keep on track so
Wealth: Knew it would be a poor (by my standards) OP month but still have some money in housekeeping purse and plenty of food in. Extra not sent to mortgage yet - will take out less house keeping in coming week and try to add to my OP at end of month.

Health: 4 days off work and have rambled and hill walked on all of them - just haven't managed to do "my hill". Normal 30 mins very brisk walk to and from work on remaining other 3 days so am happy with that.

Up the ante: Wine - 2 bottles both shared with friends - one a belated birthday drink and other to celebrate the fact I'm going to be a nan again (Am sure that will cost in long run!). In best Bridget Jones style this was very very good (and probably accounted for wealth report)

Frugal fun: Failed miserably on the NSD. Knew that earliest that this might have happened was Tuesday and arrived at work to be confronted by at least 4 collections for leaving the job, leaving to have a baby and a wedding present. I'm the boss of these staff so it was very difficult to avoid. Tried again today and completely forgot window cleaner was due. Must try harder in coming week

Buffythedebtslayer

Hello,

Can I join in please? I am mortgage free but that is only cos I don't own a house yet I am saving for a deposit and need a serious kick up the bum re being MSE again. When doing the debt free thing I was prettty good there for a while but have taken my foot off the pedal and am kinda coasting and going through money like no one's business. This will not help with with my house owning aims.

Health - Exercise dvd. at least three days a week. 3 portions of fruit and veg - I struggle with this! and once a week either exercise bike or water aerobics.

Wealth - By Christmas having 3000 in the Savings. I may pay for dental work which could put a spanner in the works but we shall see.

Up the Ante - Get back to doing surveys, cashback, having packed lunch, making a budget, . look for extra ways to earn money.

Frugal Fun - Christmas is very much on the mind here, going up to the loft and see exactly what I need to buy. Lists and all the jazz, selling on e bay, to try and make Christmas "free" using sales money and vouchers.

phew it is getting late here so I am off to beddy byes

see you all tomorrow? or at some point

Buffy

Hurdler

Health oh carp-doodle ... I have been doing reebok step sessions and crunches etc most days as well as being a lot better attendance at the gym - and yet I am stubbornly stuck at 11st 2lbs for weeks on end.

Maybe I should concentrate on inch-loss around the weight and the comfortability if my work togs instead.

That and running for the bus ... Like ... NOW

gratefulforhelp_2

Not doing so well...only target met so far is the alcohol one. Next week will be easier as DD2 will be at school for longer.

eta anyone know when Christmas stamps go on sale?

Brodiebobs

gratefulforhelp wrote: »

Not doing so well...only target met so far is the alcohol one. Next week will be easier as DD2 will be at school for longer.

eta anyone know when Christmas stamps go on sale?

I've just had a look in my stamp box (geeeekk!!) and theres a leaflet from 2010 saying they go on sale on 2nd Nov.. so probably about the same time this year!?

I'll sneak off now, as the wealth seems to be going ok but my health leaves a lot to be desired, gained 1lb this week
I'm my defence i've hurt my back so exercising has been shelved, but i have been walking as much as i can without it being painful, also watched what i've been eating and no alcohol!!! :A