Life gets in the way...

LittleMissDetermined

Lunchtime update from me whilst I eat my handmade ham sandwich

Not managed to have NSD in November yet but high hopes for the remainder of the week as I have no plans at all. Hoping to catch up on some TV and sleep!

The weekend just gone was fab, despite cleaning on Sunday we still managed to go out for a carvery lunch which was delightful and well earned as the house is sparkly clean now :T

Being the counter-upper for the PAD thread is keeping me motivated as I don't want to let anybody down.

Christmas presents have been bought, and hubby's birthday pressies too... My aim is to have all the presents bought and sorted before December starts... Should be doable as PS4 comes out on 29th November and I already have quite a few

Still plugging away at the debts with a £200 PAD to credit card this morning, nobody can say I'm not a trier!

Very positive still, I feel like a new woman compared to 6 months ago.

LMD x

LittleMissDetermined

It's been a while since I updated as I seem to have been super-busy recently... I'm very proud of myself today though as I have ordered my last Christmas present. It should be here on 25th November and then I can relax knowing that it's all taken care of.

It does however mean that I have had an expensive November, but I just cannot leave Christmas shopping to the last minute as I end up buying rubbish or spending twice as much as I planned to.

Everything this year has been meticulously planned and carefully executed to the last gift, hurrah for me! :T

So, now that the gifts are bought I can start getting rid of the debts again. Little by little, it doesn't matter if it takes me a bit longer than I originally planned as I know I will get there. And then... I will blitz our mortgage, hubby reckons we can clear it in 7 years after debts are gone - that would be amazing.

My PPI claim was rejected due to 'all paperwork terms and conditions were sent out to you' ... still not sure and will be having another look into that one.

Today's PAD was a small round-down, I'm enjoying being the counter-upper on the thread too

A day of cleaning was on the menu today whilst hubby is at work, almost done it but wanted to take a little break lol

Have fun everyone

LMD x

Eyes_wide_open

Hi hunny

Fantastically well done on getting all your Christmas shopping done. I am very impressed. I'm like you I like to get it done early. Was majorly struggling with nephews gifts so ended up with vouchers for them (cinema and TGIs ) I'd be very happy with it so hope they will be contented with it.

Don't worry about it taking a bit longer - like you say life gets in the way at time and in November and December it certainly does.

Really sorry about your ppi claim. Have you considered referring it to the FOS? I know they probably have guidelines but if you read the ppi threads they don't seem very equable.

Glad you okay ... Don't work too hard.

MrsSmith2013

Hi LittleMissDetermined, well done on getting the christmas shopping sorted, thats great! I will still be getting bits and pieces in December but started a lot earlier this year. Maybe next year I will be done by 1st Dec!

Wow - if you could me mortgage free in 7 years that would be brilliant!! That would be a massive motivation to get it cleared. Would you just be using the money that was going to debts to overpay?

Hope you have a good weekend!

Mrs S x

LittleMissDetermined

Hiya, yes the overpayment would just be what we are paying off the debts so it would be a great place to be in

I am really pleased that my Christmas shopping is sorted, I even bought some wrapping paper today... Might make a start when hubby is next on nights.

This weekend will be fairly spendy as we have out first Christmas meal and are staying overnight in the hotel. Will be fun though and now that hubby is working again we don't need to be quite as frugal!

LMD x

MrsSmith2013

Ooh the start of the christmas parties! I saw a Christmas tree in someones livingroom window here last night, thats the first one I've seen!

Enjoy your night out and your night in the hotel!

Mrs S x

Eyes_wide_open

Hi hunny,

Just thought id pop by and wish you a very merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous new year.

Xxx

LittleMissDetermined

Hiya sweets, a good Christmas so far and a festive day planned for tomorrow. Hope you are having a lovely time too x

Not been on here for a while although I have still been padding. My New Years resolution will be to get back in track with this thread and stay focused.

Have a merry Christmas x

LMD x

LittleMissDetermined

Oh my.... thank goodness 2014 is here! Last year was an absolute shocker for us, especially the first 6 months before I had my LBM.

The year has started well, with our first holiday in a long time and I feel really relaxed and refreshed. I had been squirrelling money into savings for the holiday so nothing went on the cards :T Hubby really enjoyed it too and we have already booked to go again in October when the debts are cleared. I realised that I really enjoyed having something to work for and count down to, I can also pay little chunks of the holiday off as part of my PADding so that will be fab.

So, what's in store for 2014? I'll list my resolutions or 'smart objectives' as my friend has referred to them...

1 - Get rid of the debt in 2014 - It's do-able despite the boiler set-back and I know I will feel 100 times better when it's gone.

2 - Lose 4 stone in 2014 - This is totally achievable and I neeeed to get fitter. I relish the day I can walk into any clothes store and it doesn't matter what I like the look of, I will fit into it! I have a new app which is tracking my food and exercise so I can keep an eye on what I'm doing.

3 - Healthier cooking - soooo many recipe books for Christmas to add to the pile we already have so we have decided to cook everything from scratch and try new recipes instead of having the same old same old... So far so good; the shopping bill was less than normal, we already have meals in tubs in the freezer from batch cooking and there's hardly any waste as it's all planned and accounted for.

4 - Packed lunches - This is a hard one for me as I start early and never seem to have much time, but I'm going to make a more determined effort and pack my lunch at least 4 times a week. (I'll aim for 5 but nobody's perfect)

Finally I want to forget the mess of 2013... live more, laugh more and love more! Cheesy but true

And how have I been doing so far? Well I decided that it starts from 13th Jan as that's when the holiday ended. I couldn't possibly diet on holiday! So yesterday morning I duly weighed in and registered it in my app... packed lunch, lots of fruit and drank water all day. Hubby cooked dinner from scratch which was lovely. And although I'm boring it's the same lunch today but dinner of a different variety - he's making a pie bless him!

Packed lunches mean no spend days which is another added bonus

I hope you're all having a great new year so far

LMD x

LittleMissDetermined

Another lunch time update as I enjoy the fruits of my early morning labour! Today is another spend free and diety day with a weightwatchers meal for tea as hubby is working nights. On offer at Mr T's though for £1 which is a bargain.

PAD today was a little off the holiday balance, still very excited!

Tonight is a swim and then I think an early night with my book, making the most of having the bed to myself!

This one's just a quickie as I go in search of recipe ideas for next week

Have fun and stay positive!

LMD x