How to fall in love with saving money

Lomcevak

My calves and hamstrings tighten up too and I think that's been a good deal of the problem - they "pull" in a painful way if I run too far or hard, and then I can't keep going and am limping for the next few days.

That's very similar to what I used to suffer from; the thing to remember is that you don't have to 'keep going', it is much better to aim for longer, lower-intensity exercise so 30-60 minutes of gentle run/walking + stretching is far better than a 15-20 minute blast that ends up with you being sore for days afterwards. A good rule of thumb for both getting started and for increasing the distance above what you normally do is that you should be at an intensity where you don't hurt (even if that means walking and/or stretching for a while) and could easily hold conversation with a friend.

Unsure of what a decent 5/10k time is for 22 yo male non smoker with a pysical job?

Varies a lot. If you're new to running then a 30 minute 5k or 60 minute 10k is a good target to work towards, while getting under 25 minutes for 5k and 50 minutes for 10k are both often quoted as milestones. But don't get too hung up on targets, it varies massively from person to person - one friend of mine ran a sub-24 5k the first time he went running, another (very fit) friend can't run a 30 minute 5k.

For whatever it's worth as a fairly fit almost-40 bloke I generally do a 22-23 minute 5k once a week as part of my training plan, but i'm more of a distance runner really so more happy at 25-27 minute pace.

cathybird

Lomcevak wrote: »

That's very similar to what I used to suffer from; the thing to remember is that you don't have to 'keep going', it is much better to aim for longer, lower-intensity exercise so 30-60 minutes of gentle run/walking + stretching is far better than a 15-20 minute blast that ends up with you being sore for days afterwards. A good rule of thumb for both getting started and for increasing the distance above what you normally do is that you should be at an intensity where you don't hurt (even if that means walking and/or stretching for a while) and could easily hold conversation with a friend.

.

Thanks for the advice, Lomcevak I'll start off with the shoes - will try to get to the running shop later this week or early next week. I'll report back here when I've got them.

cathybird

well won't be getting to the running shop today, am off work with a stomach bug (and a cold, which is not a good combination) I'm not often sick but there it is. Feeling rather miserable. At least staying in bed is quite moneysaving, I suppose.

WantToBeSE

Hiya Cathy, i hope you are feeling better today?

cathybird

hi WantToBeSE, alas, still sick Past the worst but very wobbly and can barely crawl out of bed. I'm currently on the sofa wrapped up and trying to get a coffee down me while looking at MSE. Will probably retire back to bed before too long. Thanks for asking

cathybird

This morning I moved another £500 into the pot for January. So that's my savings goal for January met. It's easier this month as it's not a big bills month. I do have the council coming today to shift two wasp nests out of the loft, which cost £70 ... I had a live wasp bumbling round my bedroom two weeks ago and another in my kitchen this week, so it appears that the nests are live, which just goes to show what a mild winter it's been so far, because they should all be dead as a doornail at this time of year. Good news for heating bills, I guess.

Stereophonics

Hey everyone!

Hope you are all on target for your savings goals?

I've made an big error with my tax calculations.. I've been self employed for 3yrs, 1st year = No tax due, 2nd year tax is due at the end of this month and I'd worked it out at around £2,000.

Turns out it is £2,000 but I have to pay an extra 50% to cover next years bill, and the other 50% in July.

So, all my cash is going on that. Really bad planning on my part, and too much silly spending in the last 2yrs. I could kick myself.

Anyhow, doesn't look like my January savings will be anything, but at least I can afford to pay the tax due.

Spending my time making more money now and spending nothing.

As for the running discussion, I've become very unfit in the last 2yrs as I finished Uni this summer just gone, and still haven't got back into my snowboarding or anything. Gained loads of weight and need to pull my finger out!

Big changes this year lol.

Hope you got that wasp nest sorted Cathybird?

cathybird

Bummer about the tax error, Stereophonics Still, at least you've got the money to pay for it, and it doesn't add to the amount of tax that you will have to pay overall.

I feel very unfit myself, which I absolutely hate - I've always exercised. As soon as I am over this bug, which I hope will be soon, I am getting back into it.

cathybird

Re the wasp nests (thanks for asking, Stereophonics) , the guy from the council came this morning. He initially told me the wasp nests were almost certainly dead at this time of year but I said I'd had two live wasps in the house in the past two weeks so he went up the ladder into the loft and found five or six nests. They were indeed all dead though. So, it remains a mystery as to where the wasps came from. Anyway, he cleared the nests out, so that's good at least.

Stereophonics

Oooh, can you prevent them coming back next year?

Fitness is on my 2014 plan! Easier to plan it than do it though, I vow to never let me health slip this far into the lazy zone ever again lol.