"The best way to get something done is to begin"

Domayne

How about lose weight and then learn to drive ( Or vice versa) You don't have to do them both at once, Then that way you can throw more at your debts...but not feel like your depriving yourself? Or get a friend to go to the gym with you for motivation and support? Afraid I can't help with a recommendation for a personal trainer though, I've never had one, Though I do need to lose a stone myself...or 6!
Though I want to say if a girl likes you...she will like all of you - spare tyre included! Some girls like a cuddly guy anyway, not all of us WANT a six pack! Personally I prefer meat rather than bones digging into me, but each to their own...if you want to lose it do it for you and your health, not a girl!
Just made a tray of brownies, now they are cooking in the oven - omnom! Not really helping my own cause over here, but I will worry about my weight after the new year! :rotfl:

Non_compos_mentis

I guess you are right I don't really have to do the two of them together but I do need to start exercising regularly. So I guess, the priority is getting into an exercising regime but I have committed myself to driving by easter... oh the dilemma, to drive or not to drive that is the question!
In terms of your comments about girls liking me, more girls are inclined to like me with the six packs lol. Jokes apart, I am doing it for me. I need to look like a 28 year old guy who is in reasonably good nick!
Brownies... yummy... I have an absolutely sweet tooth... I have just polished two chocolate chunk cookies (albeit reduced fat) which means 12% of my daily fat intake and more importantly 25% of my sat fat intake plus 11% of my calories plus shed load of carbs! This is a day after I resolved to eat healthy and cut out junk from my diet!!

heyjude2013

I know how you feel about the starting and then giving up exercise. With the running I found something that worked though! I signed up for a half marathon when I could barely run down the road. That way I had to keep running as I committed to raising money for charity!

You've already mentioned your commitment to charitable giving, could this be an alternative to a pricey personal trainer? Just a thought!

Non_compos_mentis

Jude,
That is an excellent suggestion. It has been on my mind for a while but there have been 2 things that I have been stopping me - 1) there seems to a lot of requests for charity, I seem to be receiving one virtually everyday. I, therefore, tend to prefer giving up my time and my own money. 2) Most importantly, the fear that I will not be able to complete the race!
Having said all that, I am definitely going to look into running a half marathon or a marathon by the end of 2014.
NCM

Non_compos_mentis

10 days to payday! It's going to be the biggest payday of my life. However, come 21 December I will be totally broke as most of the pay has already been allocated (travelcard renewal, debts etc) - not sure how I am going to survive to the end of Jan. Only comfort is that I am still bang on target in terms of spending money this month! So we will see how it goes.

Time to get back to slavery.

Domayne

Hi NCM! Good luck in those 10 days of waiting for payday! Are you paid monthly? Try not to give yourself too little to live on so that it feels like a huge stretch to the next payday - Don't want you to feel deprived and go flying off of the deep end! :rotfl:

Non_compos_mentis

Hi Domayne,

Thanks, I need the luck! I am indeed paid on a monthly basis, I give myself an overall monthly budget and then split it by week. I am actually giving myself a budget which is in many ways generous but stretching at the same time (I know that's a bit of an oxymoron!!)!!!

I will have a bit of this months budget left to carry forward and then next months budget.

Kind regards,

NCM

heyjude2013

I do the same!

I budget by pay-month for things that I need during the month, but the also have a weekly budget for 'spends' which I take out in cash. Once it's gone, it's gone until the next week!

That way it helps me plans - ie each month I know if I've got special events such as birthdays, etc and I feel it gives me a bit more control.

Why don't you use that money for a payment off a debt, rather than rolling it forward onto next months budget?

Jude x

Non_compos_mentis

Thanks Jude.

I am glad to hear that my system is not an odd one.

I roll it forward some months when I know I have a longer month coming up or more expenses etc. Additionally, it is also to do with how my mind thinks - if I go overbudget, I try to make up for it in the following month but inevitably I will fail and then get even stricter and then fail yet again then I will just give up due to constant failures.

NCM

heyjude2013

Yes it can be a viscous cycle in that sense!

Maybe consider some kind of 'holding budget'. That way instead of automatically rolling it over to spend you could see if you need it for spends? I don't know about you, but I feel if I've got the money I will definitely spend it!

Jude x