2012 ‘should’ have been my MF year…..something got in the way…

Tesco_points_addict

This is my forth diary, up until August 2011 we were well on track to being MF by my 40th (July 2012) then hubbies car decided to go ‘pop’ and a brand new 4x4 somehow found its way onto our driveway!

Our new aim, is hubbies 40th (September 2014), I’m not sure how realistic this is but we can only but try!

A short roundup for those that have missed my previous efforts: My family: Me, hubby, cat and two rescue dogs.:D We both have mothers who are disabled in some way, hubbies mum is a full 10 years younger than mine, but is still struggling with a debilitating disease. We are lucky, in that my Mum lives about 3 miles away and hubbies brother lives about the same distance from his mum, I must say, we do not spend enough time with hubbies family, this is something we should try and address, they are only 15 miles away but we see much more of my family than his......oh pants, i'm waffling already!!

2011 was a bit of a pants one; my lovely Mum ended up in and out of hospital for numerous things, she spent her birthday, my big brothers 50th, Christmas and New Year in different hospitals! Then to round off the year my much loved rescue dogs decided they hated each other, ending up with one of them in the vet surgery L:(

We are all hoping 2012 will be a good one.

So what did actually happen in 2011?

• We started 2011 owing £21,707.98, this being the mortgage figure minus any savings.
• We ended 2011 owing £25,359.99 OPS!:eek:

• I gave up working weekends when Mum got poorly about June time, haven’t gone back to it as have realised how much I value my time.
• My one evening a week work dried up, not something that I can replicate elsewhere; miss the money but not the stress that went with it!
• I kept my ‘normal’ job of 4 days a week (couldn’t give up everything up could I??!!)
• Kept up mystery shopping, as and when I could fit it in, didn’t do much for a few months when mum was in hospital 30 odd miles away (time just disappeared on me!)
• We gained a second dog, another naughty but loveable rescue, cross breed
• Ended 2011 with both rescue dogs deciding they hate each other and not knowing what the future holds for them, or us as a family:( I know that sounds dramatic, but our pets are our family.

So what will 2012 bring? Sometimes I think its best not to know. However I will do what I can to get back into MFW ways, we were very lax last year, got complacent and lazy and let money run from our bank accounts!

So a few aims for this year:

• Less alcohol, only for me this one, hubby doesn’t drink! It’s a re-occuring theme but one I should concentrate on for health and money reasons.:o

• Healthier eating, hubby and I are both obese, this needs to be sorted! Saying ‘healthy eating’ rather than ‘diet’ seems less daunting.:o

• De-clutter, this house is a small three bed that is full to bursting with clutter, I did start at the end of 2011 and threw away a lot of stuff and sold a load of stuff via facebook, through the local selling pages, my SIL pointed me in the right direction for this, you just type in ‘items for sale in and around (then add your area), we have three different ones all fairly local. I sold £465 worth of stuff in the week before our holiday!:D

• Take lunches to work, I have been quite good this year but hubby has been pants!:cool:

That’s enough to be going on with for now.

TPAx

Tesco_points_addict

Monthly money updates: Figures = mortgage - savings.

January 2012 - £25,359.99
Feb 2012 - £24,531.41
March 2012 - £22,877.70
April 2012 - £20, 763.10
May 2012 - £16, 572.12
June 2012 - £14,815.02
July 2012 ***my dream MF date **** Ops!
August 2012 - £11,674.54
September 2012 - £9,817.82:j
October 2012
November 2012
December 2012

Tesco_points_addict

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Radish72

:wave: subscribes

Health
Defo for me that thinking healthier, is better than "dieting" and making 1 huge change, no crisps but everything else has been gradual

White bread = brown bread
Chips = baked spud
Mayo = Barbecue sauce or honey mustard salad dressing
Pizza = half a pizza and salad

TallGirl

Hi TPA lovely to see you are here with a new diary will defo subscribe. Need to get myself back on the MSE track and also so need to loose some weight be getting on with the gym an eating healthy. Good luck look forward to reading more.

Tesco_points_addict

Spent £25 today; on the dog trainer (actually should be called 'dog owner trainer') as it's us that need training more than the dogs.

Outcome is, for now, we are still a family of 5 (me, DH, cat and 2 dogs!) The dogs have agreed to an uneasy truce for now. We have had some guidance and are hoping for a positive outcome over the next few weeks. Both dogs currently have muzzles on for their own safety.....I don't like it but the alternative is not worth thinking about:(

So today I have put a load of things in the loft, including suitaces from holiday (been back almost two weeks and they were still on the landing!) New suitcases that we bought with Christmas money from the inlaws and a load of mystery shopping paper work.

We also have new towels and bedding thanks to inlaws kind Christmas gift.

Towels are all washed and dried, they are lovely and fluffy!

We are still waiting for the new bedding to be delivered from House of Fraser (awww, listen to me, I feel posh!)

I have persuaded hubby that we can sell the bread making machine, it is lovely but we rarely use it, might as well get some money for it and clear some kitchen work top space at the same time.

So this week my aims are:

Tuesday, take dog back to vet to check him over, visit mum in hopsital, get some ironing done.

Wednesday, work (boo!) wash and dry new bedding (if it's arrived), sort through my wardrobe and throw away, sell or charity shop anything that hasn't been worn in over a year - as I have varing sizs in there this will be quite a lot!

Thursday, buy new works lottery tickets (numbers bound to come out if I forget!) sort out hubbies wardrobe, has the same problem as mine! Advertise some stuff for sale on the local facebook page. Visit Mum if she is still in hospital. DO TAX RETURN:eek:

Friday, work (boo!) sort at least one drawer in 'office'. Visit Mum, Relax with wine:rotfl:

Saturday, take dogs to training class, sort out a further two drawers in 'office'. Maybe some wine:o

Sunday, organise Decembers mystery shopping paperwork, sort out drawers in bedroom and the stuff on the bed in the spare room.

If I don't type it, it probably won't get done, if I do type it, it might get done:p

TPAx

*Jellie*

I hope the dog trainer helps sort them out.
The local facebook selling pages sound interesting and well worth checking out. I will have to try and find them!

Tesco_points_addict

Today has not gone quite as planned.

The hospital phoned last night and asked me to go and stay with Mum has she had become very upset and frightened. So, a not very comfortable time was spent trying to sleep on a hospital chair! Mum was pleased to see me, and calmed down fairly quickly, so it was worth it.

She has been in hospital for two weeks now and still not seen a doctor about the problem that put her in the in the first place. An official complaint is underway:mad:

Needless to say I am feeling a bit 'shapeless' today!

Took dog to vets, all ok with his wound (cost £18 to be told that:eek:), behaviour is not improving though:(

The new bedding arrived so has been washed and is currently drying in the tumbler:eek:

I did a mystery shop on the way home from the vets, pays for the petrol!

I don't think I will have the energy to iron later so I am already behind on my aims for this week.

All in all, its been a pants start to 2012!

TPAx

Radish72

That is terrible that your mum hasn't seen a Dr in 2 weeks, I would be complaining, as even as busy as they are that is taking the p*ss

Move the ironing till tomorrow, as you ahead with the washing/drying of new bedding

Good tip from Jellie on wardrobe sorting, turn all the coat hangers the wrong way round, when you wear something put the coat hanger the correct way back in the wardrobe, after a set time any coat hangers not the right way means that the items hasn't be worn so can be disposed off.

But still do a good sort out first as it is on your list

Lois_E

I'm so sorry to hear your mum is having such a pants time - and you too. What on earth have they been doing with her in hospital if they haven't got a doctor to see her yet? Hope things start looking up SOON.

TallGirl

Sorry to hear your mum is still no better sounds like the hospital needs to get their act together. Also sorry to hear the dogs are still not getting on must be difficult for you. How's the cat handling the fights?