Lotti's Marathon Challenge: One year, £10,000, 26 miles!

Nicky_Noo_Na

Hi Lotti - was just thinking about you today and if I'd missed a reply!? How is the running and spending/saving going?

lotti379

trishx wrote: »

Hi Lotti,
1. Also you might be spending £130 on a holiday this month but do you spend £1560 over the whole year?

2. How come you've included business miles? I'm assuming you get reimbursed by your employer (if you're self-employed it should really come out of your business accounts).

3. It's a tricky one though, like you say, so many of your costs are fixed that you don't have a lot of room to manoeuvre... You should definitely start with working out where the entertainment / miscellaneous money - I was amazed what a difference it made to me once I got a grip on the fritter. I found that easier than doing most of the stuff on the OS boards - great tips but most of them are very time consuming. Simply not buying something doesn't take any time at all

4. Is the family loan really at 0%? Are they really ok with waiting 7 years to get all their money back or are they expecting you to up your payments when you can afford it? It's fine if they are happy to wait (especially considering inflation) but I'd be worried that it might cause strife if they get wind of the fact you're setting up an ISA before paying them back. Personally I'd want to be making extra payments whenever possible just to show good will (private loans are always awkward), of course it depends on who the loan is from and their situation. Also watch out for overdrafts - banks are known to take them away.

5. Have you heard of Park Runs? Free weekly timed 5K runs. See if there are any in your area, that might help you get your "race fix" and reduce your entry fees. Plus it's all training

Well done for doing your SOA though. Good luck. xx

I hope you don't mind my numbering your points! I really must learn how to do multi-quotes. Can anyone help?

So:

1. This is the amount I need to put by between now and crimbo for a specific holiday in Feb, so will change after that.

2. Well, the reason I included business miles is because my reimbursed expenses often don't make it to their proper place...

3. Yes, absolutely right. I do value my time, so there is a limit to what I'll do to save a few pence. Obviously in the case of bigger expenses, the time is justified. I already meal plan like mad, but I do buy "treats", usually alcohol and meat when OH comes to visit. Don't buy much meat when it's just me and am quite happy to eat liver and other cheap cuts when I do get the urge!

4. Family loan. Well this is a bit complex, but basically I helped out with my little inherited nest egg when we were in a tight spot, so in return my family helped me out when I was broke. Now don't panic anybody, I haven't spent that loan and the inherited dosh, but the ID is tucked away and I can't get to it for another couple of years. Probably no bad thing, given how imprudently I have been spending. However, I want to pay back the family loan from my day-to-day money and keep as much of the ID as possible, rather than wipe out a hefty chunk. Which will be what happens if I don't get the loan paid back by then, so basically, I have a couple of years. My family are very understanding about it, but as you say, these things can get awkward. The point of the ISA was to pay the regular monthly amounts back then any surplus can be PADded aside and extra chunks paid once or twice a year - only a problem with the ISA allowance to do if I seriously exceed my expectations and stash £480 per month. I know it sounds a bit illogical.

5. I have heard of park runs, yes! My nearest is about 40 minutes away, and I'll definitely be getting involved come September. As you say, all training!!

lotti379

Nicky_Noo_Na wrote: »

Hi Lotti - was just thinking about you today and if I'd missed a reply!? How is the running and spending/saving going?

Nope, I'd just been quiet!

Running - ok, very modest miles over the past couple of weeks though! Taking my shoes and some electrolytes out to Greece, and really really hoping I might get a GPS watch for my birthday...

Spending/saving - off for a two-week holibob with OH's family tomorrow, bought the sun cream 1/2 price and piggy banked the spending money. Two whole weeks... not been away for two weeks for years! Quite reasonably priced though, OH's parents are covering a lot of the cost, which is absolutely wonderful of them. :A:A:A.We're on a boat so will definitely be self-catering breakfasts and lunches, and a few suppers too.

On another note, my sister and I are off to a cousin's wedding in September, and they've given people the option of B&Bs or camping in the garden of the house they're having the reception. So we have decided we will - as soon as I'm back - locate our tent and all my camping accoutrements, which means no B&B and no 1am taxi (or probably, as this is the celtic side of the family, more like 4am) to pay for! Just a bit of petrol and a wedding present. Got to see if any of my dresses fit now..! :eek:

Right well, that is my self-imposed lunch break up, so time to get back to it! I will be signing out now for the next couple of weeks, but I'll be back!

lotti379

:hello:

I'm back, waiting for outl00k to get its act together and update the emails (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!).

So I spent 100 euros less than planned, mainly due to OH's pa's extreme generosity . Had a wonderful time and really miss being on the boat!

Need to really knuckle down now though, lots of car expenses due and the bank have finally noticed they shouldn't still be giving me a 0% overdraft... My decision now is whether to go for the paid-for package account with free RAC and mobile insurance, or the basic account. I already pay for RAC but this runs out two weeks after I would need to switch accounts, I save about £6 having it through the bank account vs organising privately. However, I can share my membership on the deal I'm on now. Decisions, decisions...

lotti379

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I have done it.

I have applied for a marathon place.

Scared, me?!

Well I was inspired by someone's t-shirt actually, which said something along the lines of "in the year before a marathon you wonder if you will ever be able to run one, but in all the years after a marathon you know you have"... or something. It was more inspiring on the t shirt! :rotfl:

In other news, payday today! Got car tax to pay for tomorrow, and lots to organise over the next couple of months. Good thing I'll be running to ease the stress!

lotti379

I spent a LOT at the weekend

Car tax and new running shoes all paid for

Bought some olives as contribution to supper - fair
Dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds for porridge (£1.65 for 5 brekkies, fair)
New l00k gift card for my sis' birthday
£1.78 on toiletries for me (toothbrush, anti-stink)
£16.28 on toiletries and anti-pain stuff for Mr L as my present to him for the start of his military training.... :eek:
Also bought stamps so I can send Mr L cards while he's away :cool:

So, I don't think that is too extravagant, however it is still more than I really wanted to spend in one day!

Food shopping tonight, I have a list and a plan, and a budget for the month. Will report spends later!

lotti379

So

Food shop came to £27.85 - veggies, eggs, beans, some cheese, a few baking bits to use up the plums Mr L's mama gave me (plum and almond tart, anyone?). Nothing too extravagant I think, apart from proper coffee (£2.32) and the 2 for £3 blocks of cheese (would probably have been better to just buy the one really which was my intention).

So as per the September Step Up challenge, I am on:

Food spends £33.95/£100
Toiletries £1.78/£10
SFDs 1/18

Not too bad! :cool:

lotti379

Greetings one and all!

Well it felt like a long time since I'd updated this, but apparently not! I thought it was time for an update anyhow.

Running - went for a 5 mile jog on monday evening, slightly unintentional but my new, hideously expensive shoes felt great and I was just having such a good time!

Did a quick almost-2-miles last night, the idea was to run up to the train station to pick up the form for a new 16-25 railcard for my journeying tomorrow so I wouldn't risk holding up any busy-busy commuters. However, the ticket office is only open 06:00-11:00, so that put paid to that idea! Nevermind, have found a photo at least so it shouldn't be too painful a process. Fingers crossed.

Moneysaving - not spent a single penny since Monday's food shop. :j Next week I think I shall buy a courgette and some plain yoghurt. And possibly a loaf of bread. We shall see! In other news, I am thinking of switching banks to f!rst d!rect's current account, good customer service record and £125 for switching is v tempting. Also I earn enough to be over the no-fee threshold so could (if they allow it) hang on to up to £250 overdraft for emergencies for nowt. Rather than the current situation which is £7/month or no overdraft as of 21st Oct.

[EDIT: Just to be clear, I don't mean I'm not trying to clear my overdraft, I am! That is in fact the main focus at the moment which is why I've stopped PADding and gone for just NOT SPENDING instead]

Money earning and decluttering - have sent off for a label/jiffy bag to send the old, dead ipod. Potential £8 when that is organised. I have been through my wardrobe and assigned a few carrier bags of stuff to the clothes recycler, they are going tonight. I have a pile of other clothes which are in ok condition which I might ebay? Trouble is they are 2nd hand, so might not sell. Part of me wants to try and get a bit of cash, however small, but the other part thinks "just donate the lot and clear the clutter".

So what to do?

lotti379

Well I've just been silly.

Went on AS0S. Ordered shoes (work shoes have holes in), a cardigan (replaces most-worn one with yes, holes in) and some black work trousers as have a super duper development session with the company board next week and then I'm off to a sister company for a week. Good impression combined with practical attire and all that.

Now it turns out the development session is casual wear. :cool:

Feeling like I'm swimming against an ever-strengthening current of stuff to do, not just work (actually, mostly not work. Work is ok, when I have the concentration levels to actually be efficient). Not sure how to claw my way back to feeling capable.

lotti379

Yo diary.

Well, last month was better than expected. Not fantastic by any means, I completely lost the plot with NSK's September challenge, but I have finished up having paid off about half the overdraft, even with paying for car tax and running shoes. It gives me some hope actually! Perhaps this isn't such an insurmountable task after all...

Spent £16 in the c0-op on saturday which should make tasty, healthy meals for the week. Blackberry picking yesterday which will create pud for the house - my housemates fed me roast lamb on saturday which was deeeelicious so my turn I think!

Picked up my online German language study again yesterday, I got a deal at the beginning of the year and as I love visiting Austria I thought I'd get my teeth into some German. I love learning something which isn't totally work focussed too! But I have been neglecting it in the belief I "don't have time", which is a waste of the money I spent in January and a total waste of the chance to learn a new skill. So, I have decided yoga classes are going in favour of it. I'm still very much at the "Hallo, wie geht's?" stage though! :rotfl: