Looking for the silver lining

Sun_Addict

Well the last day of 2014 and at least this year has been a good one (mostly) - Mr SA has stayed in remission, the birth of our grandaughter in July, we've had three good holidays and the debt will be cleared in January. Fingers crossed 2015 will be a good one too and not just for me but for everyone who reads my diary.

Anyway my thoughts have turned to what I would like to achieve in 2015. I feel loathe to call them New Year resolutions but they are areas I want to make changes to, some very minor things, but some more important, and the New Year seems like a good place to start. So I'm going to list them below, so apologies in advance for the very long post but I'm on my own at work again and got my hands on a keyboard so it seems like a great opportunity to do this. I will remember also to print off my list otherwise I'll probably forget what I said and at the end of every month I'll look back on where I am with each mini plan. Here goes:

1. Pay off debt - the plan is this will be gone on 19 January. The 0% finishes on 28 January so have no choice really but I just want to see the back of it now.

2. Lose weight - I really want to get back to my WW goal weight. I kept it off for years until this past year when I've become slack and it's crept back on. Not happy about this, I feel sluggish and my clothes feel tight. Bought a few clothes in the next size up just to tide my over and they don't feel at loose as I'd hoped. So time to do something about it. The plan is to go back to following the WW plan, which I know works if you follow it properly. I need to meal plan and point ahead or it won't work. I plan to weigh myself on Monday 5 January and start from there. If I don't lose it in the next 12 weeks I'll rejoin WW classes. No point joining this time of year it'll be manic.

3. Exercise - I already walk to work and back everyday and this I'll keep up. I need to get into a routine of doing some toning exercises about 3 times a week. Ideally I'd like to go back to doing classes at a gym but I'll struggle to fit this in time wise. All the classes I've looked into seem to be around 6pm and I'd like to go straight after work at say 4pm. Something to look into anyway.

4. Budget - once the debt is paid off my attention is going to turn to sticking to a budget. I always start off well and then go "free range" when I get bored of it. It's a matter of getting into the habit of doing it and it becoming second nature. I will never stay debt free unless I do something about this area.

5. Savings - I need to accumulate some savings. We have a small amount of money in an ISA but a pitiful amount to say we've both been working for so many years. The money I used to pay towards debt will now become savings. I've seen a challenge where you save £1000 for an emergency fund so this will be my first step.

6. Alcohol - I got into the bad habit of having a glass of wine every night when Mr SA was in hospital and have struggled ever since to break this habit. I try not to drink when I have to get up for work the next day but in reality I've done well if I've managed 2 alcohol free days a week. Ideally I'd like to go for 4 dry days a week. I've considered the Dry January challenge but I enjoy a drink at the weekend, it's the only chance I get to put my feet up in front of the TV at night, so I'll try for the 4 dry days a week and see how that goes. Plan to start off with 2 then add another day on until it becomes a habit not to drink in the week. Sorry if I sound like a louche!

7. Water - I used to religiously drink around 3 litres of water a day. Somehow I've got out of the habit and I'm struggling to drink 2. Only a little niggle though but I want to aim to have drunk 2 litres before 5pm and then anything else is a bonus.

8. House - I seriously need to think about what is going to happen with my house. It needs a lot of work doing to it. I need to see if I can feasibly borrow the money to do it up or whether to sell up and let someone else have the expense/hassle. The problem with the latter is how much would I get for the house and what could I buy? The plan is to firstly find out how much I could borrow and take it from there. Of course I'd be back in debt again but for a good reason.

9. Work - although I'm settled more at work at the moment, I still think I need to keep an eye open for something better. I don't want to bore you all with the details but I'm starting to think it's time to move on. My contract is up for renewal in May and that might be the time to make a move. Watch this space.

10. Driving - I know I need to re-learn to drive. As I've said before I failed my test many years ago and never went back to it, I don't know why. The thing putting me off is time, expense and most of the time I'm not that bothered about it. But if Mr SA doesn't get the go ahead to drive in autumn 2015 I need to have another think. Something to put on a back burner until later in the year though.

11. Books/magazines - I've got a massive pile of magazines and about 45 books to read. Just don't get much time to read these days but will start chipping away at the mountain.

12. Fly Lady - I want to get back into this again. Trying to get Mr SA interested too as it's about time he helped around the house.

I think that's more than enough to be going on with! Sorry if I've bored you all to death but if I don't put my thoughts down in writing I won't take action. So I'll print this off and update at the end of every month to see where I am.

Mr SA had another fall yesterday. His carer took him out for a coffee then after he'd gone he went into the garden with the dog, lost his balance and fell. It shook him up and it's made him disappointed with himself. He's stressing about the scan on Monday too. Tonight we're off to the local pub for a meal and there's a band on so should be a good night. Hopefully we'll be ok on the icy pavements, it's only a 10 minute walk.

Happy New Year to you all!

Bubblesmum

What a great idea...... A lot on my to do list myself...... Permission to copy titles later

I just love lists ...... Great motivating tool

Have a lovely quiet morning,...,.,...

Sun_Addict

As you can see I love lists too BM you can copy the titles any time.

Only did 6 hours at work, a few more people came in later and there was a lovely atmosphere. Got loads of tidying up type jobs done and I now have the cleanest keyboard in creation!

Walked home from work then took the dog out as Mr SA hasn't been able to. It was so cold and slippy that I began to regret booking our night out tonight. It's paid for already so we'll still go and I know we'll enjoy it once we're there.

I haven't been sales shopping, partly because I don't want to spend any more money, partly because I haven't had time but mainly because I can't be bothered to rummage through the leftovers. I picked up a few bits from Mr S for next Christmas but that's all.

Buffythedebtslayer

hello Lovely XX


Just dropping in to say happy new year love the list XXX


Love buffy XX

Sun_Addict

Happy New Year to you too Buffy x

aandrea

Happy New Year to you all and stay safe:j:beer:

Sun_Addict

Happy 2015 New year new start I love it.

Had a great time last night at the local pub. We had no idea Mr SA's brother and OH were going and they invited us to sit with them and a couple of their friends. So there was a big happy table of us and one of their friends was so entertaining and had brought party poppers, tiaras, bubbles and quizzes so before we knew it midnight came. I haven't laughed so much in ages. Unfortunately there is a downside. Mr SA had too much to drink (for him) and it took three of us to get him home, undressed and in bed. He wet himself and the bed - the best case scenario here is that the drink caused this. I'm cross with him because he ruined a good night, he knows he can't drink much his brain can't cope with it, he got carried away. Now I feel embarrassed about the ordeal he caused getting him home. But thank goodness his brother was there - although his brother thought he wouldn't have drunk so much if he hadn't been there. At the moment he's fast asleep, snoring loudly and laying on towels. First job when he emerges out of his pit is to strip the bed and wash the mattress. I could throttle him.

Bubblesmum

Sending loads of hugs,

I appreciate the end of the evening wasn't great, and your cross. I would be embarrassed too...

When he wakes he will be too.....

Try to not let it ruin your day today and remember you still have him with you warts and all x

SENDING MORE HUGS

Sun_Addict

Thanks BM. If he doesn't get up soon I'm going to start hoovering!

millionaire_in_training

Loving all the plans SA. Shame about DH last night but I agree don't let it spoil what was otherwise a great night x