I have a dream...to be a MFW

ajmoney

Just been doing some quick sums. I have 3 mortgage neutral dates, July 2021, September 2021 and September 2022. Based on my current OP and savings schedule I need to save an extra £54 a month for the last date and between £300-350 a month for the other 2 dates as I am not counting my S&S ISA payments from now, just the current total. The last date is when my current employment will end and I am not sure what I will do when I finish, whether I will need to retrain etc so want to know we could clear the mortgage if we wanted to. The earliest date is our 10th wedding anniversary and it would be the most amazing present to know we could clear our mortgage if we wanted to. Obviously to clear the mortgage would clear out all my savings which is not something I want to do but the advantage of the earlier date is I could save for the extra year. I know I should be able to find the extra £54 a month without trying so might increase my monthly savings to that.

I think I need to set small targets to keep my interest but am not sure what these should be.

ajmoney

Just been for my final run of my 10k training plan and my santa suit is ready...next stop is my 10k santa run tomorrow. I am really looking forward to it and have so much motivation at the moment for it all. I have some times in my head that I would like to run in tomorrow but most of all I want to enjoy my first ever event, soak up the atmosphere and run the whole of it, the time will be a bonus (or that's what I keep telling myself). Off to work out my next 4 week training plan of running as my next planned event is the great edinburgh winter run 4 weeks today.

Still trying to work some money goals in my head, if I was better at spreadsheets I would play about with one and see what can be done but for now I will go with old fashioned pen and paper :rotfl:

5 days until I go home and 7 until Mr AJM and I go to Berlin for Christmas, I am so excited :j

ajmoney

Did my santa 10k this morning in just under 64 minutes, I wanted to get under 70 and close to 63 so have done well. I am so happy with myself although it was rubbish not to be able to share it with anyone when I crossed the line. I have had so many running and injury problems over the years but I have finally found a training schedule that works for me and have also learned to stop listening to other people and to do what my head and my body want. I WILL NEVER BE RUNNING IN ONE OF THEIR SANTA SUITS AGAIN, it was so hot and kept falling off so I will either find something that fits or ask my mum to make something that is better suited for running.

My next event is a 5k run in Edinburgh in 27 days, I won't have anybody with me again and will need to get the train back after so need to plan some warm layers that I can leave somewhere but at least I will see Mr AJM when I get home that time.

I am talking to a PT about sessions tomorrow. A friend of mine told me about him a while ago, he works at my gym but will do sessions privately (not through the gym's books) and he will be ideal for my fitness plans for next year. As much as I would like to go it alone if I am to complete what I want to do I will need some help. I am going to his aqua workout to see what he is like from a PT angle. before I talk to him.

My plans for next year so far are:
January Great Edinburgh Winter 5k This is the only one booked so far
February Glentress 10k
March 5k Swimathon
April Sprint Triathlon
May Colour run
June Triathlon
September Great North Run
September-December Aspire Channel Swim (double distance)

I would also like to do the Yorkshire 3 peaks challenge.
I am still thinking about doing a blog but don't know what domain to use so might just use a diary, we shall see.

Money wise
I am still doing well with the cash in my wallet but not so well with the spending from my bank account. I will see if I can do better this week.

ajmoney

I have just posted 2 parcels of Christmas presents so everyone can open them on Christmas day but forgot to put the cards into my sister's so need to send those tomorrow :mad: I have had another list of things to work from today and am nearly at the end of it, ironing and a bit of a tidy up left to do.

Went to aqua workout this morning thinking it would be relatively easy...who was I trying to kid my arms are killing me. Spoke to the new PT about training, he has asked me to go away and keep a food diary until I see him and then we are going to talk through it and sort out a training plan. Part of me wants to eat as I normally do as I am mostly good but it is not at all sustainable for the exercise I do but I know there are going to be so many treats around and I am an all or nothing sort of person...I am not very good at having one of anything! I will see how I go but as I have 4 weeks until I speak to him again and he has only asked to see 2 weeks worth I might be able to pick and choose my weeks :rotfl:

Only 3 days until I go home :j I am really looking forward to having a lot of time with Mr AJM

ajmoney

I have a meeting to discuss my course/career at 11 today, a little nervous but I will have a line manager with me. At least I should get some answers.

muddywhitechicken

I hope that you get the answers you want and that promotion is still a possibility going forward.

MWCx

ajmoney

muddywhitechicken wrote: »

I hope that you get the answers you want and that promotion is still a possibility going forward.

MWCx

Thanks. I am not too hopeful knowing how things work in my world but at least I will have an answer either way.

ajmoney

I had my meeting, I guess I am no better or worse off but have a more definite idea of how they want me to proceed if I am to get put on the course in the future. The result is I will definitely be working in Scotland from September for a maximum of 2 years but hopefully less if I can show them enough to put me on the course in 2017 or 2018. I will need to be very motivated and keep pushing for what I want but from the people I have already spoken to I believe I have plenty of support.

End of term carol service with the cadets before a meal out with some work colleagues. I have a lot to do in the next 2 days but I will be in Scotland this time on Thursday and I can't wait!

ajmoney

I have been home for 2 days and Mr AJM finished for Christmas yesterday. We are organised for Christmas, I just need to put some cards through the neighbours doors before we leave at lunchtime today to go to Berlin for Christmas We normally take loads of clothes but only booked one hold bag for both of us this time and it is nowhere near full! I still think we will come back with clean clothes. We are leaving 2 hours to get around to the airport as we are not sure how the Forth Road Bridge closure will affect our journey. We don't have any true plans for our time away, a bit of touristy stuff and looking around the Christmas markets...and eating far too many goodies.

I know we are still 2 weeks from the end of the year but I have been reflecting on the past year. Although I have been away from Mr AJM I have had a great year. I have learned a lot about myself and am ending the year fitter, healthier and far more positive. I am excited about the year ahead and am ready for all the challenges, planned and unplanned, that it may bring.

We have a week together after our holiday before Mr AJM is back at work and I have another week after that so I am hoping to get a couple of things done in the house. Our plans for the kitchen shouldn't cost too much money so I am hoping to do what we need to in there. I also need to get in touch with a local charity to give our old sofa away. We got new chairs a year ago and the old sofa is still in the living room too but it is so uncomfortable that we don't even use it! It will be amazing to see the space once it has gone. I am hoping to have the rooms organised before I come back up to work in September so when I am here I can enjoy my time and not constantly see what we need to do!

Not sure if we have internet access while we are away so I hope you all have a lovely Christmas x

Goldiegirl

Have a lovely Christmas!