So its that time of year when you start looking at yourself and planning

olibrofiz

This year I'm going to watch what I spend and save up to buy things rather than buy them and pay afterwards. And also

1. Loose weight, then stop smoking
2. Save up and get the kitchen windows and door double glazed by next christmas - it's like living in the arctic at the mo
3. Do some serious dog training with the maddest of my two dogs
4. Develop coping strategies with DD treating the house like a hotel and me like a taxi service

geminilady

twirly09 wrote: »

Im a recovering gambling addict, and my aim is to make 2012 completely gamble free, also lose about 3 st over the year, and mend my broken heart.

I had a bit of a gambling problem myself but have started doing online competitions instead.It is free and you can win prizes, had a few wins myself:) and it fills the time you would have spent gambling.

dirtysexymonkey

lady1964 wrote: »

We've got a huge changes coming next year, stemming from 2 big changes to our lives this year. OH left his job at the company he'd been at for 32 years and I was made redundant 5 months ago. We also paid off our mortgage - yay, that's a wonderful feeling

OH secured a new job in September, which means us moving to China for 3 years initially. Sadly, our dd's x 3 aren't moving with us but they are all adults and will remain in our home. We did a trial run in China for 4 weeks and they managed brilliantly with their shopping etc and it helps that 2 of them have lived away from home for 3 & 2 years respectively.

We fly out early Jan and will take ourselves to the apartment we found during our 4 week trip taken earlier this month.

We both like it there, OH loves his new job and living overseas is something he's wanted to do for years. It's a fab challenge for us and one will intend making the most of, both financially and socially. We also intend to travel as much as we can but plan to return to the UK every 3 to 4 months - at least I will (already have flights booked for mid April for 3 weeks here).

So, huge changes coming but one we are both looking forward to, although we wish our dd's were coming too but we understand their reasons for preferring to stay here. We both appreciate how fortunate we are to have this wonderful opportunity to enjoy time together as a couple and to experience a new culture

your dds will be fine. im in the same situation as your daughters at the moment (though everyones back for xmas and ny!). from september ive been looking after my brother and from next sep my sister will join too.

if theres a bit of advice i can give its please explain to your neighbours that your dds will be in charge while you are away, because im about to level one of mine who refuses to speak to me about the !!!!!!!g fence despite it being made crystal clear that my parents wont be living here properly again for at least four years. literally within a few minutes of everyone arriving back from the airport he turned up wanting to speak to them.

*and breathe*:D

determined_new_ms

I hope you all get what you hope for in 2012 - the old adage anything worth having is worth working for springs to mind!

My 2012 goals:

1. Give up smoking (did this for 6 1/2 months this year, next will be the last giving up I do!)
2. As of tomorrow start training seriously for the triathlon I am doing in June
3. stop throwing away food - I have pledged today was last day I throw away anything! Will check fridge/cupboards every other day
4. Learn about foraging and eat as much free food as possible
5. Put some serious thought/effort into gaining some different skills to go into a different field. I have just given up my secure job where I ave been for 7 and a bit years to take on an 18 month contract. Want to gain some additional skills so I can transfer my experience to a different area
6. Visit Brazil. My oh is Brazilian and we hope to move there in the next couple of years

Ishtar

A few changes need to be made - not making resolutions as such because I don't keep them!

1. Lose the 9lbs I have accumulated in the past 12 months.
2. Get serious about getting fit - used to run a lot earlier this year but somehow fell out of the habit. (Probably the cause of the 9lb gain!)
3. Decorate throughout.
4. Finally get a handle on the clutter and deal with it (we moved here from a larger house almost 4 years ago and have still not managed to make everything fit!)
5. The gardens (front and back) need a serious amount of sorting. They are seriously embarrassing at the moment.

All for review in six months!

Fizzpop

Careful_with_that_Axe wrote: »

I am going to start decluttering my home and my life. I am tired of carrying around baggage, physically and metaphorically.
I will no longer bite my tongue in order to keep the peace. My family have a tendency to verbally bully me and I fall into the trap of trying to justify myself to them. Not anymore. I'll tackle the behavour not in an agressive way but in an assertive way. I wouldn't want a friend in my life who behaved like that with me, so I shall no longer put up with it from my family.

I will continue to do everything I can to help people, but on MY terms. I will stop re-arranging my schedule to fit round theirs. I'll do it, but in a way and a time that suits me.

I have far too much "stuff" in my house that I neither need nor really want any longer. I have been ruthless in getting rid of the larger items like furniture I no longer need, but now I'll start with all the small stuff. Less things to dust or wash and iron!

They're all positive things to do and I'll do them in a positive way.

Snap... i could have written your post.

Its time to stop allowing my mother bully me into living my life according to her.

So huge move on the cards for us (a bit drastic yes but its probably the only way)

Then i really have to work on loosing this baby weight and rediscovering my body, enough is enough my youngest is 8 months now and there wont be anymore children i want me back now.

sweetme

I am pretty content with life just now so won't be making any changes. I do, however, hope to sit and pass my driving test before the summer. Good luck everyone with your plans!

twirly09

geminilady wrote: »

I had a bit of a gambling problem myself but have started doing online competitions instead.It is free and you can win prizes, had a few wins myself:) and it fills the time you would have spent gambling.

Thats a good idea tho i fear if i do that it will still distract me from my uni work lol.

well done on your wins!

lady1964

dirtysexymonkey wrote: »

your dds will be fine. im in the same situation as your daughters at the moment (though everyones back for xmas and ny!). from september ive been looking after my brother and from next sep my sister will join too.

if theres a bit of advice i can give its please explain to your neighbours that your dds will be in charge while you are away, because im about to level one of mine who refuses to speak to me about the !!!!!!!g fence despite it being made crystal clear that my parents wont be living here properly again for at least four years. literally within a few minutes of everyone arriving back from the airport he turned up wanting to speak to them.

*and breathe*:D

Thank you, I really appreciate your comment.

Our neighbours both know we'll be away, the ones directly next door have very kindly offered to look out for my dd's, have said they are to call them at any time if they need anything, day or night, which is lovely of them.

My dd's also have a list of my friend's numbers they can call for a variety of different support, from just a chat to borrowing a husband to fix something! Both sets of parents, although not local, will be here as soon as physically possible should they be needed. So lots of support for them in almost every way. We will skype weekly, more when time differences/working patterns allow, they can phone us at any time and we will constantly exchange emails.

It's very exciting but as the day draws nearer that we go, I'm getting a bit tearful and emotional so advice is very welcome!

Good luck to everyone with their positive changes in 2012

Winter_Jasmine

Snap with Ishtar - going to lose the 9lbs that have crept on! I'm going to combine this with another goal - to complete a couch to 5K running program

I also want to do much more of the things I love with the people I love. Most of my friends and family live 25+ miles away so it's easy to let things slip and not see each other as much as we'd like. Two of my besties are feeling the same way so we've already started making plans for cheap/free meet-ups