Ultimate Challenge. 457 days / £16600!!!

startingtogetoutofdebt

hope you all had a good christmas and new year - it feels like months since i've been on here so i'm going to take the time later to sit down and catch up with everything thats been going on.

I've had my money head stuck in the sand through most of December and have now decided its time to drag myself out and start getting organised for 2013.

Am lying in bed as the kids are still asleep at 10am! and have just gone through MSE budget planner for this year. Although I've made lots of cut backs it appears I'm still overspendingn (although not sure how as I have no credit!) so time required later to sit down with receipts and bank statements and work out where I'm going wrong. I'm also going to update my signature on here so that I can see that my debts are going in the right direction.

Also decided 2013 is the year that my house becomes decluttered and organised in the hope that my mind will feel the same. 5 hours spent yesterday sorting things out and that was just some of the kids toys - I've got a long long way to go but know the effort will be worth it in the end!

Christmas was a debt free zone all things paid for with cash. I got a lovely pink filofax to get myself organised- lots of note paper to write down what I'm spending each day so there is now no excuse for this not to be done.

I'm off to get up and get ready as I can hear a child stirring - at last !!!!

Happytogetdebtfree

Wow sio that's amazing what you have paid off?!? Keeps us all motivated. I'm watching more Harry potter :-) a nice Sunday. Happy Sunday to everyone else x

NinjaSavingKat

Good Morning to you ALL!

I feel guilty having been away from this thread so long and this wonderful stuff being posted. January's challenge just thunders through 2-3 pages a day and its so hard to keep on top of to ensure everyone knows I have my beady eyes on them and am watching their progress.

Speaking of progress Siouxsie your post answered all those questions I sent in my message to you! What superb numbers you now have! This is awesome really! :T:T:T.. I am very proud!

Abundant I think what you and Happy are discussing is so important. I have prayer time to my God but whatever we do - switching off from the "big wide world" sitting quietly and either praying or meditating can help while away stresses that others are oblivious to know what to do with. I am seriously considering not replacing my TV when its taken from me in February. Even no FB time is therapeutic so far and I really don't miss it!

StGood - great to have you back in here!:T The turn of the new year has proved a learning curve for many folk. I know you will achieve what you set out to do and especially like the de-cluttering thing you are doing! I know it's all psychological but clearing out what we are looking at on a daily basis allows us to breath mentally... like when you are in a building with very high ceilings you feel free than if you were in a cottage with a low ceiling. Getting rid of clutter / mess / unwanted and unused items give you more head space to get on top of the important things - debt busting!!! ..and especially since you got a new Filofax to REALLY plan!!...

Now what a gorgeous picture of baby Inuit! :rotfl:Lilt that made me laugh!! The buggy looks amazing and she is bound to be super snug in there. And bless her little teeth! ... My friends baby is half English and half St Vincent ( Grenadines I think ) and he looks Chinese / Mongolian / Inuit... makes us chuckle when she is asked where "they got him from" by complete strangers...However may I congratulate you on what was a superb FREE day out you sneaky beaky! I LOVE days like that and they just make you realize that you are doing things your way and someone is looking after you and your plans...:T:T:T..work today or tomorrow..? You need to tell us all how that went - especially your walk into work!

Twiddler those figures look good - we can smash that this year! Are you on this thread to join in the "frolicking good fun" or are you aiming to have your debts gone by the end of the year? I think you could do it??

Peaty-Pie ( I like this name:p) - where have you been. How are you??
_________________________________________

Now then... I am going to have a rant. A good rant. But I thought I would do it here so you can all benefit from my wisdom...:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:..okay serious stuff now...

I have stopped eating sugar. In most forms. I only use natural runny honey in my mint tea. I have also stopped drinking caffeine.

1. No white food ( pasta, rice, bread ),
2. No desserts ( cake, muffins, pastries, ice-cream)
3. No tea. (I couldn't drink it without sugar )
4. No condiments and crisps ( Hidden sugars even in ketchup )
5. No cereal other than porridge ( Hidden sugar even in "natural")
6. No milk ( We are the only mammals that drink another's milk )

I have only been going a week and feel amazing. I have no other way to convey how my energy levels have soared. My skin on my back has been bad for months - nearly cleared up now!

I snack on apples with natural nutty sugar-free peanut butter ( yummy together ) or nuts and dried fruit, breakfast is a banana squished in 100g porridge oats that have been soaking in water for 5 minutes and a grated apple mixed in... no milk required...eggs are now poached in a pan of boiling water instead of fried, herbals teas are "nice" with my new palate being discovered... bread is limited to 1-2 slices a day ( mainly because I am not hungry ) and only one slice with my egg instead of wasting the second I can never manage to eat...

Now - its only been a week and the first 3-4 days were full of headaches, the ice-cream in my freezer was calling my name but remains untouched... and now, day 7 I am full of beans. Full of energy it's unreal.

So I beg of you - are you willing to try maybe a smaller not so intense regime?

Like StGood I am de-cluttering... everything. My lifestyle of unwanted and unnecessary distractions, I am honing my spiritual life, encouraging real friendships with people and building on ones I have already, I am seeing items I no longer use or giving them away ( 14 books last week and smashed up the bookcase that Tabby features destroyed ) .. I am refining everything I have to only needed and necessary items! Lilt you said people have noticed a change in you - you feel in control don't you? that's how I feel, although I know I have a stressful period coming up ( holiday and a house move to fund ) I know I am well ahead of the game with planning it..... now BRING IT ON!!!

Onwards and Upwards!!!

his_missus

Morning all (just)!

Hope you're all well.

Siouxsie - well done on the debt payments, your hard work is clearly paying off :T

NSK - we've given up alcohol this month in our household. Not sure about giving up sugar though, a step too big for me I think Glad you're feeling better for it.

Twiddler - your cat has a look of mine, hope s/he's not as mischievous as mine

his_missus wrote: »

I am going to feel sooooooo smug tonight when I show him how much is left in my account even after a second payment of £200 to the CC (that he doesn't know about yet) and he is going to be ASTOUNDED!:rotfl:

Well, hubby was impressed when he saw how much was left in my account. He was all, "oh you'll have plenty left by payday, fab!" He hasn't even noticed the extra £200 CC payment. I think I'm cracking this budgetting malarkey at last

Still full of a stonking cold so haven't done much exercising but did manage to go and play badminton yesterday morning, in fact it was the only time I left the house this weekend :rotfl:

abundant1972

Hey All...

WOW - Kat! Am seriously impressed with your dedication and will power!

I have done parts of your food challenge at different times - never all together though!!! This is going to sound incredibly vain - but I'd toyed with the idea of getting my teeth whitened (stay with me lol!) - not because they are really yellow or anything - just because my sister is a dentist and she'd do it on the cheap ha ha - plus - I'd like them all sparkly (I am a bit vain!). However - thought there is NO point if I'm going to keep drinking gallons of tea and coffee (and red wine!) so I gave them up, and stuck to water/herbal teas. I got the obligatory headaches - but the energy buzz was not forthcoming! Am back guzzling tea at the moment and gave myself a talking too - teeth can wait until *after* I'm debt free!!!

Looking back - I am a stodge (carbohydrate) fan... and I notice if I'm feeling low it's the first thing I crave. I also know it leaves me feeling sluggish and tired (especially white bread). I only eat brown rice/pasta nowadays.

Milk I can substitute for soya milk - no problem - although couldn't get on with rice milk - think it was called 'Rice Dream' but was anything but ha ha! Same with oat milk.

Cakes, biscuits and pastries - easy peasy for me. Made the switch to apples and bananas and nuts a while back... although at work we always have a steady stream of chcolate biscuits which sometimes tempts me!!! However - my downfall - crisps and sweets (like midget gems and stuff) - therein lies my nemesis ha ha! I tried rice cakes (*still* 3 left after 3 months!!!) which I struggle with - ok with houmous I guess, and the flavoured ones are ok if you can find them without MSG and all that. Sweets - gawd - I'd have to go over to blueberries and grapes...

It's all do-able though I might need to tackle one at a time, month by month maybe? You could suggest maybe a couple of days a week to begin with of 'healthier eating' or just give up one for the month. It's easier for me as am single - but if you're cooking on a budget for a family - it could become quite expensive - even if you know it's good for you... I guess like debt clearance - any change - no matter how small - is of benefit... So I say - throw it out there - and see what reception it gets.

We were talking about viewing life spiritually earlier - and I guess I see that way of living as another form of decluttering and clearing... only this time it's your body, emotional, mental (and spiritual) being too. We only get one body and who else is going to look after it if we don't.

I am not a great role model at the moment - and am currently coming up with all manner of excuses for *not* exercising/eating well... I'm tired... new job... dark nights... but if I was 100% honest - I know that I'm just in a 'can't be bothered' frame of mind - I want a quick fix and don't want to have to put in the hard work. Giving up a lot of these foods (vices) feels like living without the safety net. Even though these foods are not that 'safe' (as in they are unhealthy) - I guess I mean emotionally they are a crutch... I have a bad day - I eat comfort food and momentarily feel better and indulged... Later though I feel worse for eating them (guilty - plus the sugar/caffeine highs leave me with no energy) - and it can be a bit of a spiral. I think I've got it to the 'it's a treat' stage with most things (other than tea and coffee) rather than eating stuff everyday - and for me that was the only way I could do it and sustain it...

So - that was a *VERY* long winded way of saying YES - great idea!!!

:cool:

Happytogetdebtfree

I think january brings out the healthy eating in all of us im eating less and moving abit more haha I love all the spiritual talk it cleansing hehe . Anyway im off to watch tv xx

Sholly

abundant1972 wrote: »

I am not a great role model at the moment - and am currently coming up with all manner of excuses for *not* exercising/eating well... I'm tired... new job... dark nights... but if I was 100% honest - I know that I'm just in a 'can't be bothered' frame of mind - I want a quick fix and don't want to have to put in the hard work. Giving up a lot of these foods (vices) feels like living without the safety net. Even though these foods are not that 'safe' (as in they are unhealthy) - I guess I mean emotionally they are a crutch... I have a bad day - I eat comfort food and momentarily feel better and indulged... Later though I feel worse for eating them (guilty - plus the sugar/caffeine highs leave me with no energy) - and it can be a bit of a spiral. I think I've got it to the 'it's a treat' stage with most things (other than tea and coffee) rather than eating stuff everyday - and for me that was the only way I could do it and sustain it.../QUOTE]

This is exactly how I feel at the min, especially with exercise, I know what I need to do, I just cannot find the motivation. Same with uni unfortunately, and I'm angry at myself for getting so behind but at the same time, I'm so behind that I'm burying my head in the sand which will never make things better - and what's worse is that I know all of this and I'm still not doing anything about it imagine how much debt I'd be in if you could buy motivation!!!!

Sholly x

NinjaSavingKat

Morning one and all.... Sholly what are you studying? Degree or MA?.. I don't envy you. I have toyed with the idea of further study but am very skeptical that I could keep at it unless it's something that would further my career.. this is the career I am not sure I want to stay in.. hence the trepidation.. how long have you got left though?..

Abundant I think it's hilarious you STILL have rice cakes left.. slather the thing in butter and honey and get it done!!

Speaking of exercise I went to view the "grunters" gym last night. This is seriously no frills, all weights machines and kettle-bells and a lot of men. £45 a month is a little steep for me.. or £35 on a years contract 5 months before I have to move. Might leave it for now.. but I do need to do something...

Now then - the question of my finances and the theme of this thread is worrying me. I have

• £1555 left on my bike loan,
• Around £1906 on my student loan and
• £8413 on my land.

I wanted rid of the bike loan by the end of March..... but now I have to accrue £379 to cover my hotel in Italy and at least £500 spending money ( to cover all eventualities ) AND £1000 to move house three weeks later.

I know if the landlady had told me that I had to move BEFORE I booked my holiday I would have not bothered - but its my 30th, no one else is going to treat me so I have to look after myself in that respect. The rest of the year is going to be long and hard - this is the one thing keeping me sane...

So..back to the drawing board I think..........

His_Missus - I don't think giving up sugar can be something you can do on a whim. It takes stamina and as much determination as you can muster ( especially when I walked past the yellow sticker fresh cream eclair last night a Mr T's ).... I was just feeling awful and new it was down to the amount of sugar I was taking in. In saying that jelly-babies talk to me in my sleep...:p:p:p.... well done on no -alcohol. It is proving hard or not so bad..? Love the fact you are getting seriously ahead of the money saving malarky ... :T:T:T

Right I am off to have a home-made sugar free fresh blueberry and banana muffin... that's right. It's tasteless! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Onwards and Upwards!!

Sholly

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

Morning one and all.... Sholly what are you studying? Degree or MA?.. I don't envy you. I have toyed with the idea of further study but am very skeptical that I could keep at it unless it's something that would further my career.. this is the career I am not sure I want to stay in.. hence the trepidation.. how long have you got left though?..

I'm studying for a BSc/BA in Criminology & Social Policy through the Open University. That's the kind of career I want eventually but not sure exactly what I want to do - maybe forensics. I've got about two years I think, the good thing aout the OU is that you can take breaks from it when you need/want to but I'm hoping to just power through to the end now! I've been really lucky, a lot of my study has been funded due to my circumstances when I first started. I think, in total, the course will cost me about £4k by the end but as you pay as you go I won't have any student debt at the end (unless I choose to pay by CC which I WILL NOT DO!!)

Sholly x

NinjaSavingKat

Ooooh I did Criminology and Psychology. Very interesting! Are you choosing forensic's module etc... That's fantastic about the funding. I was part funded with a grant as I went from country-bumpkin land to London.. make the most of it for sure. But yes hands clear of the CC and you will be better off - although it is hard I know! Well done for pushing yourself forward. I am all for self development.