2015: The year of pursuing happiness

debtfreeby30:S

What better time to start a fresh new diary than as the start of a fresh new year approaches?!

2015 is the year I am in pursuit of happiness.

Over the last two years I have paid off over £8k of personal debt and bought a house with my fabulously patient and lovely BF. My previous diary, mainly from 2013, is a bit of a rollercoaster varying from me being highly motivated to being incredibly demotivated and everything in between.

Back to now and the reason for my new diary is that I've noticed myself feeling quite grumpy, short and snappy over the last few months. Especially when we were going through the house purchase and then a couple of stressful months at work over the festive season. I want to fix this! I want to take stock and be content with what I currently have and happily work towards what I want to have. I plan to take each month at a time and make mini resolutions on the 1st of each one which will hopefully create some good habits throughout 2015 that aid me in my quest to be happier!

So first things first I need to sort out my money situation. I need to be completely honest with myself as I have spent far too much since we've moved. I've used 0% deals to buy a new dining room table set and our curtains (aaaargh such huuuuge windows). This doesn't worry me too much as unlike previous debts I can see what I've actually bought but it still needs accounting for.

What does bother me is that I've been generally been overspending as well so my CC bills have been getting larger and larger (I use a cash back CC for my spends and clear in full every month). Back in my motivated debt free wannabe days I was living off £300pm (including food for two) but this has gone out the window recently and it's coming in at £500+ Not. Good. I must sort this out. I shall add everything up and see where I am for the new year. Money doesn't buy happiness but not worrying about it will mean I'm far more content each day!

laurag89

Hi debtfreeby30!!!

Well done on the progress made so far! Do you have any good tips??
I have motivated and un-motivated points too, but seem to be getting better since realising how much debt I need to shift!

I'm subscribing

beanielou

Happy shiny new diary for 2015

debtfreeby30:S

laurag89 wrote: »

Hi debtfreeby30!!!

Well done on the progress made so far! Do you have any good tips??
I have motivated and un-motivated points too, but seem to be getting better since realising how much debt I need to shift!

I'm subscribing

:hello: LG

Thank you for popping by and well done on your DFW journey so far!

I'm a sucker for writing things down and having lists to tick things off (I have a list now for my table payments!)

I also used to use a version of the 1% grid where I had a 10x10 grid of small squares and each square was the equivalent of 1% of my targeted debt. I'd get to colour in squares each time I made payments and it was great tool for me!

I snowballed as well and used an app called debt manager on my phone which was great for seeing how overpayments affected my final debt free day.

NSDs were key too and I had a few months of doing really well at them, I think I managed 26 in one month and always aimed for at least 20, that coupled with my spending diary meant I was hyper aware of where my money was going. That's a must while you're paying down debts!!

Looking back, my DF journey started with a complete change of mindset to how I lived before. If your head isn't in it you won't get anywhere fast. Since we've bought the house my mindset has changed again so now I need to give my head a wobble and get back into my money saving habits rather than thinking I want pretty things for the new place before I can properly afford them!!

debtfreeby30:S

beanielou wrote: »

Happy shiny new diary for 2015

Thank you Beanielou!! Best wishes for the new year to you

WifeandMummy

Hiya!!


Must be that time of year for new diaries... I have just this minute started one (again!) after going AWOL from my last one - ooppps!


Look forward to catching up and following your journey again.


*subscribes*

debtfreeby30:S

WifeandMummy wrote: »

Hiya!!


Must be that time of year for new diaries... I have just this minute started one (again!) after going AWOL from my last one - ooppps!


Look forward to catching up and following your journey again.


*subscribes*

Hello W&M!

I hope you're keeping ok and have had a lovely Christmas and New Year! I think it's definitely that time of year for brand spanking new diaries! I shall pop along and have a mosey at yours soon

Here's to plodding along to happiness in 2015

debtfreeby30:S

Righto,

Hello to 2015! I had a fab NYE with good friends and thoroughly enjoyed myself although I paid for it all day yesterday! Me and drinking just don't mix well anymore Onwards and upwards though!

So I've joined the aims for 2015 thread and I'll pop across there every month to update my progress. Here I will post my general ramblings which will probably go on a bit so I apologise now to anyone who reads them! I haven't had time to total up my current money situation but I promise I will soon.

My mini goals for this month for the moment are:

1. Drink 1L of water every day
2. Start back at the gym - I need to go 10 times in January. That's only twice a week plus a couple of extra visits. Should be easy (she says!)

I feel my health and fitness (or lack of) has really got me down over the last couple of years and has knocked my confidence massively throughout 2014. I am the only one who can do anything about this so I have no excuse but to get my tush moving. I know it will make me feel better in the long run it's just one of the hardest habits to start!! I have done half marathons, mile swims and even a full marathon in the past so I know it can be done! Come on happiness!

laurag89

Thank you for your tips, I have been unwell .... Think my health has also been the least of my worries till now.

Happy newyear!! Hope you had a good one, liking your plans for this year so far!!! I need to get some in place

debtfreeby30:S

laurag89 wrote: »

Thank you for your tips, I have been unwell .... Think my health has also been the least of my worries till now.

Happy newyear!! Hope you had a good one, liking your plans for this year so far!!! I need to get some in place

Planning is the key!

I have managed to drink a litre of water for the past couple of days (must celebrate the small victories ey?!). I don't know how people drink over 2Ls every day

I am just about to jot up my current money situation so I'll be back soon...

laurag89

That's really good I'm trying to drink more water too I have no where near enough!! Do you feel better for it?

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