The '101 days to change our lives' challenge

Karmacat

Me too, notanother, sorry its been bad.

The thread may have gone down the list, but its still occupying my head. This is day 30 from when I signed up!! It doesn't feel like its occupying my head *enough*, but I also feel like I'm doing as much as I can. What I'm finding is that a weekly update here is best for me - these are longer term goals, and there are lots of daily threads to do the minimal stuff on. So, my goals for last week were:

1. Finances. Finance practice and matched betting study.
Not bad on the matched betting study - did two hours cutting and pasting, getting the information I need together in one place. The finance practice - I *really*need to get my act together on that and start *doing*. But I'm not sure I can do it this week - I've got a series of late finishes and early starts, its a bad combination. So, for this week, the plan is to get completely ready on both these things: my finance work and the matched betting: the first full week in June sounds good for these. If we're genuinely talking about changing our lives, this section is the one that will do it. If I'm out of debt, this money will go back to what it used to be used for, savings and holidays (and trainers that don't leak).

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.
Hmmmm. I finished the renovation spec, but haven't managed to get it to a builder yet. The weather knocked all the garden plans straight on the head, and this week I have a full week's work in four days, plus hopefully a course on Saturday. I think the most I can do isn't new work, but keeping it all under control, not letting it get any worse. I did have one little victory: two of the plants I'd bought were completely eaten by slugs, but now I've put them on a table out of the way, they're growing again - so glad I didn't throw them! Pretty little things....

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.
Aargh. I forgot to go to my appointment to give blood! I feel bad about this, I'd changed it already to suit my schedule. Eating - not great, nor exercising with the weather and the need to relax. Two pieces of good news for me - I went to see a friend (2.5 - 3.5 hours each way, more "aargh"....) and I used her scales while I was there - and I weight more than half a stone less than I thought I did. So the exercise is really about aerobic capacity and toning.

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.
Background admin accomplished, and a bit of my work accounts for last tax year. The website is essential, I notice that my business partner and I are starting to mock it when we talk, but I just don't have time this week. Next week looks a lot clearer in the diary, I'll book mark it for then.

elantan

ive seen this thread a good few times but never got round to reading it thanks to karma cat though ive had a wee peak and am thinking about getting a list up will read the full thread and get back with my list ...will it be ok to start on june 1st?

hypno06

hypno06 wrote: »

My goals for the next three months are to:

- complete my assignments that I should have done weeks ago.....!
- get on top of the housework
- ditto re the garden
- increase business turnover
- get my Egg card under £1000
- start claims for all OH credit card charges
- enjoy life and to appreciate what I have, rather than to hanker over what I haven't

Good luck to everyone on this challenge x

OK, so one month in and I have done some, not others -

- I am not on top of the housework - nowhere near.
- My garden looks a whole lot better, stuff planted, and grass kept short. I think I am succeeding with this one.
- increase business turnover - hmm, need to work on this one.
- Egg card is well and truly under £1000 :j
- claims for all OH credit card charges remain on my "to do" list. Has been taken over rather with the Barclays case.
- enjoy life - I am trying, but have no energy

so, I think I am getting there. Still a lot to do, but plenty of time to do it in!

Hope everyone else is doing well x

hypno06

Oh, and assignments conveniently forgotten for the time being

notanothergreyhair

elantan wrote: »

...will it be ok to start on june 1st?

Of course it is, the more the merrier...

I look forward to seeing the challenges you set yourself

taxi73

Hi everyone..not had time to catch up yet...
My challenges were to pay off halifax card ....paid another £99.66 today and will clear the balance by next week..and have paid £111 off my barclaycard...
To lose 2 stone...none lost so far!!
Can't remember if I set any others will have to look back on here...

Callisto

Lose weight, aiming for 1/2 a stone, anything above that will be a welcome bonus, as have over three stone to lose altogether.

Not making any effort regarding losing weight really, haven't been near my exercise stepper for a week. Don't know what's wrong with me at the moment, I seem to be sabotaging myself, but I don't know why!? I really want to lose some weight for the summer, otherwise I will just feel fat and uncomfortable and hot and I will be annoyed because yet again I won't want to buy any new summer clothes because I feel I will look awful in them... One good thing is that my Mum has offered to go cycling with me once a week when I go to visit her, although won't be visiting again until 10th June, as have to work this weekend!

Move out of OH's Mum's house and into our own flat.

Have seen a flat we really like, so went to get forms to apply and have paid 170 pounds administration fee/credit check/holding deposit :eek: , getting the flat is subject to successful credit check (which should be ok!) and employment references. However I've only been in present job for 10 months, and was unemployed for several months before that, so hope they don't see me as a risk, will offer a guarantor if need be! Absolutely desperate to move out now as hope it will give me the psychological boost I need to get more active and get rid of my clutter!

Find additional ways to raise money for wedding.

Still responding to surveys and collecting 2 pound coins to save towards wedding as well as regular monthly deposit of 50 pounds to be paid into ISA on 1st June. Was looking at possible castle venues last night and one in Scotland was absolutely gorgeous, you can hire it for a week self catering for three grand and it sleeps 20 people, would love that as a venue! MUST THINK OF MORE MONEY MAKING IDEAS!


5 - Research new careers.

Seem to have hit a brick wall here, have been recommended a career book called 'What Color Is Your Parachute?' Going to see if library have it next time I go in. May go and see careers counsellor if get much more desperate, but going with no idea of what to do will not be much help!


New short term job - Update CV, register with agencies, read jobs paper each week and look on Job Centre Plus website.

Have seen one job to apply for, but person specification and job description are a bit vague, but it is more money than I'm on now and more of an admin role which I prefer, so going to apply anyway!

tigtag02

notanothergreyhair wrote: »

I just thought I would bounce this up to the top. I have had a very testing bank holiday weekend and haven't felt strong enough to post an update; I will do later on though.

Let's keep the energy going!

Hope your feeling better soon NAGH :)

Ingela

yay.. paid £700 off my barclaycard today! :j only £80 to go. :beer:

nickelodeon

Hey everyone, seems like everyone is quite busy at the moment.

I'm doing well with two of my targets but not so well with the other two.

Really got on with sorting the flat out at the weekend, most of the stuff that didn't sell at the carboot has gone to the charity shop and we are slowly finding places for everything else. Have also bought the wood needed for the wardrobe but won't be able to put it up for a couple of weeks as we need my dads help and tools and he is away. But really feel we are making progress.

Not doing so well on the losing weight and exercising, haven't done any exercise for the last 2 weeks. Weighed myself yesterday and I have lost 1lb which is good but I think I would have lost more if I'd done some exercise. So the plan for the next week is to do some exercise, the weather is too miserable to go running so I'm going to do an aerobics class tomorrow and another two next week!!