New Year, New Job, New Start for Ruby in 2014

ruby_eskimo

Hi everyone! My name is Ruby (well it isn't in real life, but you know what I mean) and this is my new diary for 2014.

I'm 26, engaged and just about to start a new chapter of my life in 2014; I've got a new job. I'm taking this opportunity to revamp my life.

Recently I found myself having what can only be described as a nervous breakdown. Changes at work meant more pressure was being put on me, things with the other half were falling apart and I just wasn't happy. It all culminated in me walking out of work and practically running away to my best friend in the North for a few days. After a break from it all (plus copious amounts of wine, tears and girl time) I came back feeling a lot better about things. It gave me the push I needed to get a new job.

Now that's in the bag, I can focus on paying off my debts which have started to creep up after taking my eye off the ball for a while.

My goals for 2014 are:

- Pay off my Natwest overdraft (will update the total here on 1st January 2014)

- Pay off my Tesco credit card (will update the total here on 1st January)

- Lose the weight I need to: Two years ago, I weighed the heaviest I ever have done. 13 stone and 9 lbs to be precise. I'm only 5 ft 2 so that's a lot of weight for someone my size to carry around. Since then I've managed to get down to 12 stone exactly but I need to make a conscious effort to get down to around 10 stone 7 lbs, maybe a bit less.

- Use up all my excess toiletries: this is an area I have a real problem with. I'm setting myself the goal of only spending £100 on toiletries and makeup over the year which I think I'm definitely capable of doing

- Reduce my weekly food shop

- Keep to a budget

- Save, save, save!

So there you have it. That's my goals for the year. I might try and add to it over the year but these will do for now!

[Deleted User]

Hey Ruby,

My name is Dolly(well it isn't really either haha)

Congrats on getting your new job!

Looking forward to sharing your journey with you.

I have recently been made redundant & will be able to pay off my debt by the end of this year.

I want to save to buy a house, lose weight & also stop wasting money on toiletries so we could do that together!

Anyway catch up soon.

Dxxx

ruby_eskimo

Hi Dolly! Thanks for stopping by! Sorry to hear that you've been made redundant, but it sounds like you're coping well with it. I think a lot of people have the same kind of goals for next year so I guess we're all in it together.

Just got back from a weekend away with friends in Bristol. Will update properly tomorrow, I'm so tired I think I need to go to bed!

[Deleted User]

ruby_eskimo wrote: »

Hi Dolly! Thanks for stopping by! Sorry to hear that you've been made redundant, but it sounds like you're coping well with it. I think a lot of people have the same kind of goals for next year so I guess we're all in it together.

Just got back from a weekend away with friends in Bristol. Will update properly tomorrow, I'm so tired I think I need to go to bed!

Yeah I am coping ok, stress just makes all these things to much worse plus its almost Christmassssssssssssss so nothing is gonna ruin it for me.

Oh I love Bristol my mate used to live down there its been years since I have been.

Have a nice sleep, catch up with you tomorrow.

Dxxx

Jonesy88

Hppy shiny new diary and good luck with your plans!

(I'm also trying to shed ££ and lbs - i'm 5ft 3 and used to weigh 13st 6, hoping to be under 12st by NYE).

Fmess

Hi, just stopping by to say that I'm subscribing, if that's ok?

Loving your list of goals. I'm also petite (5'0") and looking to lose weight (currently 10st 11lbs), my diet has started today

Good luck in 2014

Buffythedebtslayer

Hello


I just wanted to say My name really is Buffy


and good luck with you goals


*wanders off to stake some vampires *

ruby_eskimo

Hey everyone, Bristol was pretty good. Very tiring (I think I may have only just recovered from the early starts / late nights) but a really good time with a group of girls that I am happy to call my friends now. I think I'll definitely be back to visit at some point next year when the weather is nicer and I can really appreciate this pretty city.

Since then I've been really busy at work and I've been making a few people unhappy but a) it's not my fault I'm just following the relevant procedures and b) I'm leaving soon so my levels of caring are reducing all the time.

Today is pay day so I thought I would do a kind of 'State of the Nation' update and continue this once a month just so I (and you if you want to subscribe and read along) can keep track of the progress that I've made.

Money: I had some money left over this month so I bought myself a copy of You Need a Budget. It's some really nice budgeting software that I've seen being used in the past and even had the free trial myself. It's nice to see exactly where everything is going and if I stick to my budget I may have a couple of hundred pounds at the end of January to play with. When I say play, I mean use to pay off debt.

Speaking of debt I've paid £100 off my credit card and £50 from my overdraft today. Totals now look like this:

Credit Card - £100 / £345.56
Overdraft - £50 / £603.34

Weightloss: This is definitely not really happening till the new year. All the Christmas parties around here make it very difficult to stick to any kind of plan. I'm trying to be sensible but will definitely be making a conscious effort on this front from January 1st.

Toiletries: I'm going to stick to £120 for the entire year on my spends (or £10 a month if you want to break it down). I'll be posting my UU's on the 'No Buying Toiletries' thread. So far I haven't bought anything but I might need deodorant and shampoo in January.

Saving: Managed to put £10.71 so far in the Virtual Sealed Pot and put a few coins in the sealed pot as well.

So that's it for now. I'm off to cook some risotto for dinner - baking it in the oven because I'm lazy!

[Deleted User]

ruby_eskimo wrote: »

Hey everyone, Bristol was pretty good. Very tiring (I think I may have only just recovered from the early starts / late nights) but a really good time with a group of girls that I am happy to call my friends now. I think I'll definitely be back to visit at some point next year when the weather is nicer and I can really appreciate this pretty city.

Glad you had a good time & you defo need to go back when the weather is better it is such a lovely place.

Since then I've been really busy at work and I've been making a few people unhappy but a) it's not my fault I'm just following the relevant procedures and b) I'm leaving soon so my levels of caring are reducing all the time.

Meh don't let it get to you like you say you are leaving soon.

Today is pay day so I thought I would do a kind of 'State of the Nation' update and continue this once a month just so I (and you if you want to subscribe and read along) can keep track of the progress that I've made.

Money: I had some money left over this month so I bought myself a copy of You Need a Budget. It's some really nice budgeting software that I've seen being used in the past and even had the free trial myself. It's nice to see exactly where everything is going and if I stick to my budget I may have a couple of hundred pounds at the end of January to play with. When I say play, I mean use to pay off debt.

Speaking of debt I've paid £100 off my credit card and £50 from my overdraft today. Totals now look like this:

Credit Card - £100 / £345.56
Overdraft - £50 / £603.34

Well done on the money front, I have no money left at all this month!

Weightloss: This is definitely not really happening till the new year. All the Christmas parties around here make it very difficult to stick to any kind of plan. I'm trying to be sensible but will definitely be making a conscious effort on this front from January 1st.

Me too I have been up & down like a yoyo so 2014 is the year to get it sorted.

Toiletries: I'm going to stick to £120 for the entire year on my spends (or £10 a month if you want to break it down). I'll be posting my UU's on the 'No Buying Toiletries' thread. So far I haven't bought anything but I might need deodorant and shampoo in January.

I am gonna hope for the same amount for the year, it is amazin how much money you can waste on stuff you don't really need.

Saving: Managed to put £10.71 so far in the Virtual Sealed Pot and put a few coins in the sealed pot as well.

The only thing I have saved this month is £25 which goes straight to my Credit Union account.

So that's it for now. I'm off to cook some risotto for dinner - baking it in the oven because I'm lazy!

Enjoy you're risotto.

Dxxx

ruby_eskimo

:xmastree: Just popping in to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! :xmastree:

ruby_eskimo

Well I hope you all had a brilliant Christmas. I managed to somehow trap a nerve in my back while wrapping presents so I've spent the past couple of days sitting on the sofa with a heat pack on. Other than that we've had a really nice relaxing time with the family.

I must admit I've been spoilt a little bit by my parents but then I spoilt them too because they've been so supportive this year.

Anyway onwards and upwards ready for 2014; I'm avoiding the sales, not that I usually go mad or anything but I making a conscious effort to not buy anything I don't need.