What Are Your Goals or Challenges for 2014

Downsizing__for_sanity

Maybe this will be the year I write out all the birthday cards for the family in Jan (like Nan used to do!) and stash them away in the diary for when due. A good job for a wintry night methinks

[Deleted User]

I love list making (I know bit sad aren't I ) but I do find that it motivates you into doing things more.I have a to-do list thats by my kettle and in the morning when I am having my first cuppa I will add or tick off what needs to be done that day.I find as I am retired its all to easy to think Oh I'll do that tomorrow and then nothing gets done.I like to think of my to-do list as my jobs that must be cleared then the rest of the day I can please myself what I do:):)
I also have lists inside my food cupboards which tell me at a glance whats in there and another on the outside of my freezer for the contents.It does make life easier as I then know what's in there and I can plan my menu's (another list ) around the contents.
I have yet another one for essential shopping I don't go to the shops for just one or two items if I can help it there has to be around 7-10 at least ,that way I don't have spur-of -the moment spending.
My cleaning routine is usually Saturday morning as I live alone but i'm very busy during the week looking after my four grandsons before and after school so I use Saturdays as my catch-up days.De-cluttering isn't too much of a problem as I am a great recycler and like to find a home for things if I can that are of no further use.I am at the moment decluttering four large boxes of books that I had been given.I have found various folk who want different books from there.my DDs ma-in-law has had a dozen biographies that she likes and I have some for one of my friends husbands who like military history.They will all be found new owners and the residue will go to the charity shop.My sis-in-law was going to tip them and there's nothing wrong with them she just wanted some room!!!The thip is the last resort for stuff for me I can usually find a home for almost anything.:):)
Great idea though you list...now where's my pencil and paper :):)

Eyeore

Great list FlowerPetal! thanks for posting. Mine would look very similar and yes I must stop procrastinating too! Also want learn to use my sewing machine like Drinkupretty.

Good luck to everyone - perhaps if we check in occasionally we can see how we are all doing?

JackieO you are a legend!

jim-jim

Update on my challenge

£1 supermarket saving stamp for xmas 2014
I think I'm sorted with pressies for this year, so what money I've got left, will roll over to next years stash

Merry christmas and a happy & healthy 2014

lessonlearned

Well last night I made a start.

Nothing on TV so I switched it off and sorted through some paperwork.

I think for me my new mantra will be No More Junk TV. It can be such a time waster, so from now on I will be a lot more selective with my TV watching. I might dig out some batteries and set up my radio instead, or play some of my CD's.

I agree about lists. I've also bought two new diaries, a small handbag size and a page a day desk diary.

I'm a bit of a technophobe but am thinking of asking Santa for a tablet. Does anyone have one and are they useful….or am I better sticking to my £1 diaries:rotfl:

I'm another one that wants to get sewing.

kacie

Save will be the main one, once I start work again that is.

Also to get out of the cooking rut that I've got into this year

FlowerPetal_2

Well I've made a start on my list and defrosted the freezer and made an inventory of what's in it. Lots of soft fruits from the allotment that will need using over winter. So tonight we are having plum pudding and custard. I also cleaned the fridge out and organized it better.

[Deleted User]

Well I dug some rhubarb out of the freezer this morning that someone had given me from her allotment a few months ago and I gently poached it in a little brown sugar and the tailend of a jar of clear honey that was crystalised in the back of the cupboard (I nuked it in the microwave to get it runny again:):)) It mad a decent sized bowl which I topped with some thick gloopy custard.Several puddings from that bowl at least and no spending required :).I am going to try and use up some of the bits and pieces in the cupboards before I buy anything else.I had some crackers in the tin that were still fairly crispy so they are getting used up instead of bread at lunchtime with soup.
I also had some peeled potato's in water that I boiled and mashed with some herby butter from the freezer and once cold rolled into balls and returned to the freezer and I have made six good sized herby potato balls to use when I need some mashed spud with my evening meal.definitely no going to buy anything in until I have run down the cupboards a bit:):) Far too much food just sitting there in stock, and its money thats just there doing nothing.I managed to get a run over to a clothing cetre this afternoon and had a bagful of warm jumpers that no longer fit me (I have been dieting) .They will all be passed on to folk in Eastern Europe via The Blytheswood Trust,gets pretty nippy in the Ukraine in winter and if they don't fit me someone will be glad of them shortly.Its definitely going to be a year of finding a good home for the odds and ends and using up what I have indoors before buying any more.I may have some odd meals but the food will get eaten:):):)

Julie67

Great idea for a thread, I'm hoping to achieve lots next year

Financial
Continue to up the payments on DMP until the house is sold and we can make full and final offers to be shot of it completely (long term goal as we can't move until youngest finishes 6 form in 2015)

Make as many meals from scratch and be more careful about buying extras without checking if we really need them.

Find a new income source. I'm having a knee replacement on 6th Jan so need to recover first but hoping to have some extra money coming in ASAP next year even if it's just from eBay sales.

Save up for a replacement car. Ours is on its last legs, dh can't do his job without a decent car.

Personal

Get fit and healthy and get out walking with my new knee. Also continue eating healthily instead of falling for faddy diets, lose some weight.

Get better at crochet and make time to do this.

I'm another one who is trying to be a lot more selective about what rubbish I watch on TV.

Decorate the stairs and landing and the upstairs bathroom needs to be spruced up before the house goes on the market.

I'm sure there are lots more, but that will do for now:)

lessonlearned

Julie67 wrote: »

this.

I'm another one who is trying to be a lot more selective about what rubbish I watch on TV.

I've managed to stick with this for a few days now - it's amazing how extra time I have:rotfl:

Good luck with the knee op.

Sounds like 2014 is going to be busy….

I'm really looking forward to it.