The '101 days to change our lives' challenge

tigtag02

notanothergreyhair wrote: »

mmm...yummy!

People think I subscribe to Men's Health for the exercise tips...nothing to do with the semi-naked scrummy men inside it

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Well today has NOT been a good day - OH has been made redundant AGAIN :mad: :mad: nothing but a poxy weeks notice and a *here's a list of contacts* - barstewards!!!

Soooooo......

my 101 day challenge has been revised!! Will sick with the weight goal but two additions:

• Get a BETTER paid job

• Get OH back in employment for the sake of his self esteem, my sanity and the bl00dy windows

Will be needing lots of DFW support as my wage just covers bills (and always has) so frugal may have to become our new name

tigtag

oops_a_daisy

sorry to hear about your OH TigTag hope he manages to get something else soon - fingers crossed.

tigtag02

Thanks oops how the no smoking going?

andan

Sorry tigtag to hear about your partner being made redundant, it's probably the last thing you need.

Am doing ok with my challenges and knowing that i'm going to post on this thread helps to keep me motivated.

My goals for the 101 days are:-

1) Finally pass my driving test (Been learning for almost two years and still rubbish) Feel I've been doing quite well with this one, although my driving instructor had to cancel one of my lessons and i wanted to ask him about booking my test. Have taken my own car out a few times this week though (only had it a couple of weeks but it's much harder to drive than my instructors so was avoiding it. But took it out and definitely feel I'm making progress:j

2) Make some new friends (am new to the area and don't really know anyone) Have posted an ad on gumtree and have replied to a few people so just waiting to hear back from them

3) Tone up this wobbly body of mine. For the first time in ages i got up early! I decided to go for a little jog, have never been jogging before but actually quite enjoyed it and felt better afterwards knowing i was doing something good for my health.

4)Learn to swim. Waiting to hear back from someone regarding cheaper classes, a perk of working for the council. You can only go at set times and have to book in advance which is great for me as i feel I'll have to go then instead of being lazy and not going!

5) De-clutter my house. Have started in the bedroom first and have started throwing out loads of rubbish.

6) Get my finances in shape. This is also connected to 5 as my finances aren't too bad but i just have statements and documents all over the place so have started filing them away.

7) Read a book a month ( have been reading the same book for almost two years now!) No progress here yet, but as soon as I've posted this I'm going to get my book out that I've been reading for two years, a perk of getting up so early!

Well done to everyone so far, it's great to see people making so much progress.:T

tigtag02

Thanks andan

Have you thought about ebaying your *clutter*?

One mans rubbish and all that

andan

Oh yes!

Thats exactly what i plan to do with whatever is worth sticking on there, somethings i've had so long though that their only fit for the bin!:o

Karmacat

Sorry to hear about your OH's redundancy, tigtag. Hope he can find another job in not too long a space of time.

About the challenge, I've found it really helps to have this "area" thing - work, finances, human activities, admin, whatever, because when I really go for something, I overbalance, spend all my time in one area, so every single other area really gets mucked up. Not going to do that this week. Looking back over what I've done, the area I've neglected most is the one that can bring me most income in the future, I've been spending time on every goal but that, tho I *thought* I was doing it. Have to really take notice and redress that balance next week. I'll post a proper update when I do next week's plan, but just really wanted to put that in now.

Can I just check about ebay with people? I have a whole stash of things that I've decluttered but not taken to the charity shop yet, because I might ebay it, but its all pretty low in value - except for the books and CDs, I'm putting them on Amazon cos there's no fees upfront. What do other newbie ebay sellers do, do you take a loss at first? I'm really unsure as to whether to just put it all to a charity shop and have done with it.

Tete_en_l'Air

Karmacat - eBay is all about marketing: something isn't old, it's "vintage" or "retro"; it's not ugly, it's "kitsch"; etc, etc. Try doing some searches on the kinds of things you're looking at selling to see how other people are describing them, the kinds of keywords to use and how much the going rate is. Also- make sure you don't underestimate the cost of P&P - I've done this a couple of times and ended up PAYING the buyer 50p or so to take the item off my hands!!! :mad: As long as the P&P is covered, then whatever you sell the item for is a profit, and if you sell a lot of things, it all adds up! Good luck with it!

Day 11 update:

1) I want to get my overdraft down to £1000.

Ooh, not going well at all! Since I've started this challenge I've spent upwards of £600! Eeks! I've had a few large outgoings (driving lessons and quarterly fuel bill), but I've been good at keeping my spending diary and there are still quite a few unnecessaries - buying lunch at work instead of taking something in, buying a scone mid-morning when I've got an apple in my bag, etc. REALLY going to try hard this week with this one - avoiding shops in my lunch hour, etc, etc.

2) I want to swim at least twice a week, preferably three times.

I said it was my intention to go every night after work unless I have other plans - "none of this not-feeling-like-it business!", but have only managed once this week. Have genuinely been busy though. I would go on a weekend to make up for it but I can't bear all the divebombing kids and their inflatables!

3) I will pass my driving test.

Doing better on this. Managed to persuade poor Dad to take me out even in the rain and I was ok-it's all feeling much more natural now. Had another mock test yesterday and, after failing the first one last week, I knew what my weak points were and passed with 7 minors! Hopefully this will give me the confidence to know I CAN do it and might help my nerves! I know there's someone else on this thread who also wants to pass their test (can't remember who, sorry!) - I'll be interested to know how you're getting on! Any tips for nerves??

4) I will get a secure job.

Day 3: "Well I had my PDR on Friday and boss said that they've asked for a permanent post to be created doing basically what I'm doing now, only getting about four grand a year more for doing it. Once they've had it approved they'll be putting it through as quickly as possible and I've been encouraged to apply, which I will. I plan to put my CV up on Monster this week as well as I know a few people who have been contacted in this way."

The post has been approved so we're just waiting for it to go to advert, my boss's boss had a word and said he'd be delighted to see and application from me, so that sounds promising. Still haven't put my CV on Monster :rolleyes: Maybe I'll do it now - my CV is nice and updated so it won't take long, just being incredibly lazy!

5) I will cleanse my face every night before bed.

100% record on this, even with a couple of tipsy evenings! Still got teenage spots though!

Overall, not brilliant but not too horrendous either. Am off now to plant my poppies in the garden - this thread is inspring me to do much more than just my own challenges. Hope everyone else is doing ok!

Karmacat

Karmacat wrote: »

1. Finances. All I've done is leave a message as to which mortgage offer I'm going to accept. Since I'm not going out tonight, I might potter onto some of the threads on matched betting, do a bit more learning, its quite relaxing doing it that way.
The mortgage is all done and dusted. Still haven't looked at the matched betting, so matched betting and my finance practice are my priorities for the next week.
2. The house and garden. Just been out there weeding and pulling things up. I'll have to do the same tomorrow with the other patch I've done, which is in a lot more trouble, its further away from the house and looks pretty bad actually.Well, I did a couple of sessions, and cut the grass on another part, thats not bad. As I was typing this just now, had a knock on the door. My neighbour was cutting back the leylandii taking over the boundary line between us (neither of us planted them, lol) and he nearly cut himself to ribbons - bad enough so that he's referred to a specialist tomorrow, an hour's drive away. Horrific.
3. Me. Cutting sugar not too bad, just done my stomach exercises while I waited for the computer to come on, ha!, and thats it for now. Okay.
Ha - there's an army exercise takes place in our park, and I saw a particular type of stomach exercise, been doing it a little bit. Wow!
4. Work. Nope. Nada on this part, which was updating my website and getting my accounts done, haven't got it planned in for next week either. Maybe June, thats still within the challenge, it would be good to focus like that.Ooh, this has been good - caught up on admin, checked out obligatory training, kept up membership of local organisation, hurray. Nothing about the website and the accounts, tho.

So, taking the same headings, here's my plan for next week:
1. Finances. Finance practice and matched betting study.
2. House and Garden. Weeding, and planting of the little ones I've already bought. I'm finalising the spec for the renovation I'm planning in autumn, which is quite fun, actually.
3. Me. Continuing the eating plan and exercising. Had a good long walk today, that was a nice start. Am giving blood next week, after a gap of many years, so I *have* to look after myself.
4. Work. More background admin -couple of phone calls, writing a questionnaire. I'd *like* to start on updating the website, but I have my doubts. Its definitely next in the queue, put it that way.

Swishter

Hello everybody!

I'm sorry to hear about your OH tigtag, i'm sure things will look up. Everythings crossed for you.

A big hello to the newbies and congratulations to all of you who are doing so well!

I've had a big week this week and have only been online in dribs and drabs, not done much toward my goals.

Biggest news is that I don't have a boyfriend anymore thats because I have a fiance instead!! :j He did the whole bended knee thing and asked my Pa! I have a lovely platinum and diamond ring but I'm a bit scared to wear it, not used to having something so pretty and expensive! Very pleased and giddy and happy!!

I have cracked on with the declutter and one of my sofas is now piled with stuff for e-bay, i've also filled two boxes which are in the cupboard for car booting.

I've set myself a little challenge within a challenge. From today I am going to list 5 things per day on ebay, so in 30 days that 150 items. I should have cleared a fair amount of space and made quite a bit of cash in that time me thinks! Also, as I need to go to the post office daily it will keep me out of mischief, also known as the shops...

Must crack on - NOW!!

Swish
xx