10 week Christmas countdown!

gien

I just realised today that there are 10 weeks to go until christmas.:eek: Given that spending for the festive season is a massive weakness for me I think it'll be a good idea to keep track of myself in a diary here - feel free to join in and we'll find a bit if will power together!

I've also started watching what I eat more closely and doing some running so I'll focus also on keeping myself physically stromg and healthy - again, the run up to christmas is usually one big booze and food fest so it'll do me good not to indulge.

Financially we're really hard up for the next few months - we did some work on the house and and the bills have come in we've realised that we've speng more than expected and more than we have! So all spare cash is being given to plumbers and joiners at the moment and I'm having to watch the purse strings. It's not helped by the fact that we live somewhere really expensive although I do as much as I can to find some bargains.

To start off, I didn't spend any money today, cleverly improvisef a dessert out of frozen fruit, meringues and ice cream, and ran 3 miles with the dog and my DS.
Hoping tomorrow will also be non spend, so long as the kids don't drink all the milk.

CandyCupcake

Hi Gien!

Hope you don't mind that I have *subscribed*. I am also planning to be frugal & organised this Christmas (for a change!)

Candy

NewLeaf_2

I am on this with you. I am aiming to lose 2lbs a week in the run up to chrimbo x

gien

Hi Candy, Hi Newleaf - nice to see you!
Candy, I think the key to being frugal is to be organised - the amount of money I've over spent in the past because I'm scrabbling to get stuff last minute is huge.
Newleaf, I'm planning just a pound a week, using my fitness plan and following the slimming world thread on the forum - do you have a dayshen you weigh?

Good start for the day today - went to body pump and DH (who's at home thisweek) went and picked up milk and bread so no spending for me so far!
Got to take the dog out now!

gien

Fantastic walk in the sun, frugal soup lunch. 2.40 in the sealed pot.
Going to do a bit of baking now

NewLeaf_2

morning. I have had my healthy breakfast and lunch. i have had a small walk and will ride my exercise bike for 30 min this afternoon. x

wannabee_in_credit

Oh, I'm in, if you'll have me?
You're doing exactly what I want to - watching the pennies and the lbs in the run up to Christmas. The more help and support I can get the merrier.

gien

Welcome aboard Wanna Be. As you say - the more the merrier . DO you have any particular goal for your weight loss? I just know that Iusually arrive on Christmas day feeling tired, fat and slightly toxic. Would be nice this year to have everything slimmed down a bit, whether that's my hips or the present pile!

I have already got and delivered some presents for family who don't live near me - my in laws came to stay and took a load away with them. Saves on postage too.
The next big 'organisation' expense thing is DDs halloween party next week. It should be great fun but I need to get all the food etc, and we only have 260 left for this month it's going to be tight!

at least today has been non spend for me, and we probably have enough to keep us going at least until Friday, when I shall next go shopping.

HeadAboveWater

I'm gonna subscribe pwetty pwease

Attempting to keep crimbo spending to a minimum this year! Have told siblings not to buy me anything as I won't be buying them (harsh I know! )

Will only be buying for mum and dad, niece, nephew, OH, OHs DD1, 2 and 3, and 3 friends, which isn't tooooo bad!!

So far so good!!

I'm bidding on matching (male/female) things from ebay for my niece and nephew, plus I've already got niece one wee thing

Have told OH I want us to go away for a night so that should save any hassle with actually figuring out what to buy him (and vice-versa!)

I got 2x body scrubs and lotions from Organic Surge after reading a thread on here, so that'll do for 2 of my friends

Got an idea for DD2 so trying to source it now as it's out of stock on main site (ebay here we come!! lol)

Christmas cards are the other thing. That list is waaaaaaaaaaaaaay shorter than it used to be!! Probably seeing as I'm not buying siblings a pressie, I'll get them a special card instead, eg. 'sister' etc etc. Spend a wee bit extra that way.

Glad I've managed to get started at least. Takes a weeeeee bit of pressure off! I spose I should aim to get one thing a week between now and Christmas and I should be well sorted!!

gien

Hi HeadAboveWater - sounds like a good plan you have there for Christmas. I followed the Flylady plan one year and it turned out to be excellent as my little one ended up in hospital the week before christmas, but everything was al prepared. Never been that organised again though.

Just having frugal risotto dinner tonight!

amr547

Now I've got over my exam stress (I was eating choccie to aid memory recall, honest!) I'm hoping to kickstart a healthy eating plan. We've got a rowing machine nd an exercise bike so I'll be using those I think.

One pay day til Xms and I haven't done ANY shopping yet!!! Eeekkk..