A Thread for After Debt?

Little_bit_dizzy

How much of your tapestry is left to do rising?

I'm three quarters through the cross stitch but it's by far the most tricky one I've ever tackled. It's on linen too which taxes the eyes...

rising_from_the_ashes

Little_bit_dizzy wrote: »

How much of your tapestry is left to do rising?

I'm three quarters through the cross stitch but it's by far the most tricky one I've ever tackled. It's on linen too which taxes the eyes...

Ohhhh probably around 60 - 70%:o ETA that's what I've done - sorry.... so prob 30 - 40% left!

I inherited a load of tapestry threads when an aunt died and bought 2 printed canvas' that would use some of them up (needless to say, the other one is twice the size and still untouched:o:o).

I will need to get a few threads very soon (there's a few bits that I've nothing close enough) but I've been really struggling with the light since Autumn hit. It's quite an intricate picture and many of the colours overlap / change slightly and I just couldn't see these well enough once the evenings got dark:( - and I don't want to ruin it.

Another resolution for this year - I will finish it!:)

Little_bit_dizzy

Ok, well I'm aiming to finish mine this year too, so can you spur me on if I spur you on?

Who knows, maybe we'll both actually get them done...

It'll be a 'free' Xmas gift for Mama Diz too, which would make it doubly good.

JulieGeorgiana

Dizzy yes it’s been a rough ride. I have been poorly since week 7, full bed rest at week 10 and had to give up work… I was so poorly that I couldn’t even watch TV, Read on come online! Came off bed rest about week 34 but have to take it easy!!! But it’s all worth it in the end

Well done on keeping in your grocery budget this week

I started a cross-stitch of a photo of my Nephew (Godson) when he was born (March 2008) and said it would be done by Christmas… I am 3/4 of the way there… I don’t think it’ll ever get done (30,000 cross stitches and it’s so detailed so you don’t have blocks of colour!!!)… I also have 1/3rd of a scarf I’m knitting for my DS!

Rising dinner sounds lovely…! Hope your foot feels better now… and don’t forget to do your spreadsheets today…!

JulieGeorgiana

I am due tomorrow

DH says that Roo will come tomorrow because I am so organised there is no other option! HAHA!

Anyway, we are off to Church today and then having a restful afternoon (and a walk in the park)!

Speaking of new years resolutions, I don’t do them but I have a few goals for the year to come, I have been thinking of writing them down somewhere… so will list them on here and see if you guys can keep me on track

1. Weight

I started out in 2009 with a BMI of 47.2 and have lost so far 2st 11.5lbs in 2009, 2st 13lbs in 2010 and 2st 3.5lbs in 2011 which is a total of 8 stone. I have 1 stone 2lbs to get to my ULTIMATE goal I set in 2009!

• Lose 1 stone 2lbs by April 19, 2012 (My Birthday) BMI 30.
• Lose 2 stone 3lbs in total in 2012 BMI 28!

2. Money

• To fill my ISA to the limit by April 5, 2012
• To fill my ISA to the limit by April 5, 2013
• To re-start my Regular Savers Account
• To start DH a Regular Savers Account
• To have £15k in the house deposit fund (ISA and RS) by April 5, 2012
• To have £20k in the house deposit fund by April 5, 2013

3. Holiday

• To save for my Holiday to Norway in July 2012 >>> See this thread for my Challenge and this post for my latest figures!

4. Groceries

• Stick to my budget of £200 per 4 weeks (this will start January 20, 2012).

5. Other

• Complete DS Scarf for Christmas 2012
• To sell my car and get enough for the deposit on a 3 bed house (rent) and moving costs

QueenB.

Hello lovely people:)

I didn't manage to get online yesterday as had so much to to and in the evening I got so engrossed in my new book that I just couldn't put it down. I really didn't think I would enjoy this book but I thought i would give it a go (I'm doing the buy no books until you have read all the ones unread in your house challenge) and by the second chapter I was hooked:D

JulieG. I had similiar problems with DS1. There are 6 and a half years between him and his sister. I fell easily with her but the birth was very complicated and once she was almost 2 we had started to try again. After 4 and a half years we had almost given up and had been for countless tests. Then I feel really ill and couldn't move for nearly a month and it turned out I was 4 months gone and no sign except major illness. I spent most of the pregnancy in hospital or bed and the birth wasn't great:( Even my midwife was worried if we would both get through ok. I had decided on no more just because I was so put off and he had other complications but then it took one unplanned night and well along came DS2:eek::D. Not even a full 2 years between DS1 and DS2. DS2 pregnancy was wonderful but a c-section and me having other health issues that resulted meant that me and OH took the snip road He would have liked 4 kids but he had got so worried about me that he said no way he would risk another birth that he went and had it done when DS2 was 4 months old .

Excellent news about the ISA JulieG. and the house fund I have started to look at houses but know that realistically we can't even start to think of saving for one for at least another year or two but no harm looking.

Rising Hows your foot today? I hope the twisty roads didn't take too much of a toll on it.

Well my task today is to plan tomorrows weekly shop which means meal plan/research and list. Then make my weekly to do list and then my daily one, i do love a list:rotfl:

After all that, if i can resist opening my book, and getting all school stuff ready, I also have some stitching to do. I Had started a piece last year for a friends birthday but nver finished in time so I have picked it up again and I'm determined to finish it in time this year (march) the main problem is that all thats left is lots of white and pale grey and its really boring so I find it hard to motivate myself. But a little a day is my motto.

rising_from_the_ashes

Just a quick visit from me as I really must do those spreadsheets!

Foot's slightly better today but still not very happy ..... a few more days & it'll hopefully go totally numb which will bring relief for a while:D

Just back from Mr A and quite pleased as I totted up in my head asa I went around - I had a £5 off £40 spend so wanted to get as close as poss to that - came in at £42 so not too bad! Some of that was cat food (seperate budget) but it was on offer and was really struggling to get to the £40 as really don't need any meat etc.

So.... spends spreadsheet updated and still on track for this month (fingers crossed) - quite high for where were are in the month, but that's my "big" shop done & it had a fair bit of household cleaning stuff in as I'm getting low on this so ......hopefully!

Dizzy - would be delighted if you can spur me on to finish the tapestry!:D I'm itching to start the other one (my usual trick) but am determind not to until this one is finished!

JG - any signs yet? I'm very impressed with your goals .... must think about doing something similar too but atm concentrating on re-building the recently cleared out emergency fund!:eek:

QueenB - I love lists too! I now use them for everything as I'm very forgetful and I find having something to work to / aim for IYKWIM keeps me on track.

I'm a bit of a bit of a book worm too and got a Kindle fairly recently - I've set myself the aim of only downloading free ones and if I want a not-free one, then I've to pay for it out of survey money (not doing to well on this front yet tho'!). Loads of "real" books lying around in the house too so I'm not buying any more till their read!

Well, must go and dig in the freezer to get some mince out for later - not quite sure what it'll be yet - was thinking Spag Bol but I've quite a lot of veg to use up so it may well just be mince & veg .....

JulieGeorgiana

I had been thinking about things I wanted to do this year and I am hoping that by writing down my goals I am more likely to actually achieve them…! I just hope I haven’t set myself up for a fall.

I feel lucky Ref my savings, I spent all the time since I got debt free working, and after I paid child expenses and petrol for my car every penny I earned went into savings (I was very strict). DH also lost his Grandad which meant a small inheritance.

Now the only money going in is my Maternity Allowance, as I didn’t expect to get it after giving up work at 10 weeks it was a surprise, so no use wasting it away it will go in DH Regular savers and mature in Feb ’13 so then both RS will be emptied into the ISA to hit the limit. After that we won’t have any spare money to put into savings, as our outgoings = income! But we have been lucky so far and hope £20k is enough to get us on the housing market (DH parents are paying all fees as a wedding present, so I don't need to worry there either)

You should all join in and set personal goals

QueenB I’m sorry to hear of all the trouble you’ve had. Roo is my 8th Pregnancy and I completely sympathise, but I am glad it all worked out in the end

I am also glad I am not the only one who likes to plan my food shop to military precision… and I LOVE lists too!!

Rising Nope, No signs yet!

Well done on your shopping! I always love it when it works… I also use a calculator if I don’t have a list with me… people may think I’m mad!!!

I always add veg to my spag bol, what veg do you have?

Little_bit_dizzy

Coutesy of the Azzy 10% cheaper promise I now have a £2.40 voucher winging it's way to Dizzy Towers. That will come in handy on the next shop :j scheduled for Tues 17th...

Hope those spreadsheets are coming on nicely rising... My plan to cross stich fell apart, but I have tidied up the office room and chucked a load of rubbish out.

DH's business paperwork all up to date and chqs written for bills, inc HMRC (daren't be late with that one - they scare me, fill me with utter dread and I hate their envlopes coming in the post :eek:)

Just have to light the fire in a bit as it's getting a tad chilly, pop the beef in, peel the spuds and parsnips. Frozen veg will have to suffice after that, it's a day of rest after all

rising_from_the_ashes

Little_bit_dizzy wrote: »

Hope those spreadsheets are coming on nicely rising... My plan to cross stich fell apart, but I have tidied up the office room and chucked a load of rubbish out.

I'm thinking ........ something occurred to me earlier - when I get the cc bill, I transfer money back from the various pots to my main account to cover any spends for that budget IYSWIM:o

Will add here - that this was the 1st month I've actually done it:o but it worked well and want to continue with it.

Last month's was easy as only spends from those budgets were easy to identify eg £X @ PAH for the cats, £X at garage for the car etc but this month, I've spent money in with the grocery shop for the cats...... these are recorded on my spreadsheet separately - I'm just trying to figure out a way to remember when the bill arrives that part of the costs for Mr A need to come out the cats budget .......

Ohhhhh, my brain hurts!;)

JG I usually put onions / mushrooms and occasionally carrots into my Spal Bol ... but I've loads of swede / leeks as well which I think would "go" better in mince?

Lots to do ...... still got osme ironing to catch up on (not done for 3 weeks:eek:)