All the small things...

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

I hope all goes well for you in your new home, good luck,

Squirrel x

FlacosFloozie

Thank you, guys. It's bringing forward our timescale a bit which is scary but in a good way.
The music streaming did make me think of you, Alex. I'm not sure I would pay extra for it but I already get value for money with amazon and there is so much music available it's a handy bonus.

Its a low spend day today. Up here its a bank holiday and I've had the day off. I spent a produtive morning clearing out my wardrobe- mostly stuff for charity shops but one or two bis might be worth ebaying. This afternoon we went out for a woodland walk at one of the local estates and spent £3.50 in their cafe on hot chocolate afterwards.

I went to the supermarket and petrol station yesterday and came in under budget. Had a money off voucher for £1.96 so that's gone in to savings. Dinner tonight is cottage pie- using up some of the leftover spuds and veg from last week. Should do as a quick and easy tea tomorrow too.

FlacosFloozie

I've signed up to some of the debt free challenges below for the year to keep me on track.

Extra Payment a Week- this is a great challenge for me. I think having to find a little extra keeps me focused on money saving and the payments do add up. I'd love to beat previous years totals :rotfl:.

Crazy Clothes Challenge- I always start this well and fall off the wagon. Aiming to keep it under £400 this year. I've said nothing for the next three months but then found myself thinking of a new pair of running shoes....

Save 12k a year- found this really good last year. Signed up for 5k this year. That should be doable with a little stretching. When Mr F gets a job then I'll revise the target.

FlacosFloozie

This challenge is the biggie. It's the What do you want to acheive in 2016? I didn't do great on this last year so room for improvement. I've carried some goals forward and added others. My plan is to have monthly targets on this diary to try to keep the momentum up. In the meantime, here's the full list on the next post.

FlacosFloozie

1) Stay debt free
2) Save 5k towards house deposit and £500 emergency fund
3) Start investing for long term
4) Run 5k in 30 minutes
5) Run 10k without stopping
6) Run in an organised race
7) Keep the house in a fit state for visitors
8) Declutter the house
9) Try something new once a week
10) Do something sociable at least once a week
11) Look more put together
12) Finish my course module
13) Start my next course module
14) Update course log monthly
15) Be healthier
16) Buy a house :eek:

FlacosFloozie

So, my January mini goals are

Save £500
Run 5k without stopping
Clear out my wardrobe
Clear out the study so I can get into it
Meet up with friends at least once
Submit the first two course modules
Drink more water
Eat fewer takeaways
Get a haircut

HappyNow

Hello FF, I had no idea you had a MF diary! I've just read back about Mr FF's health scare last year. Awful for you and I'm so pleased it wasn't as serious as you'd feared.

Loving your goal list - especially the way you've casually slotted 'Buy a house' in at Number 16!:rotfl:

FlacosFloozie

Thanks, Happy, nice to see you over here. The house is indeed sneaked in at the bottom, somehow it seems less scary that way. I'm not sure I'm reday to be a proper grown up just yet .

Progress to date on savings, £173.60 saved with another £275 at the end of the month so I need to find an extra £51.40 to make my target this month.

I managed a run of 3.5k before stopping, walked for 2min then did another 1k before my knee got the better of me so I'm on track there.

I've cleared a pathway into the study and got 2 bags for the charity shop but a bit more to go til I can get into my desk. That's the aim for the weekend.

FlacosFloozie

Time for an update on January's goals then. No change in running or savings since my last post. My wardrobe has been cleared out and 2 bags are off to the charity shop. The study is fully decluttered and accessible- just need to get down to some work Managing to drink more water and only 2 takeaways so far.

FlacosFloozie

So, January savings are up to £218.64. Still a bit to go but looking promising. Healthwise, I almost managed the 5k without stopping but picked a route that involved running up steps and had to walk for a minute at the top. Yesterday I managed a 6.5k total run but walked twice during it- the joys of Scottish hills.
I'm managing to keep up the water intake but did succumb to a takeaway after a late night at work on Friday- that makes 3 in total for January.
The study remains clear and I managed to get back to waorking on one assignment. Don't know if I'll get finished both before the months end but will try. Am going to have to spend money on printer ink though- i only have yellow left now.
Have plans to go out next Saturday to the pub for a friend's birthday.
Have se money aside for a haircut but need to find a hairdresser- may be into February by the time I get an appointment.