NST January: Health, Wealth and a Life Well Lived

greent

DancingDragons, please don't feel downhearted - as it says in your signature, you can do this! We are behind you! (Oh no we're not! - Well, it's still just about panto season! )
Seriously, we are - this is such a supportive group - my 2nd favourite place after the MFW board (where I've been hanging out for years, so it's really comfortable there )
x

Chloris

Hi. I was lurking last month and would love to join in for January. Please can I be added to the list. Xxxx

greent

Thank you, apple, for January's challenge (and December's! ):T

2018: Health, wealth and a Life Well Lived

Janus So this is a time to look forwards - where do you want to be in 12 months from now? 5 years? 10 years?
12 months: debt free (exc BTL mtge) A decent no of jobs completed from our 'to do' list for the house (some are small, some are big/ long term/ expensive) Fitter. Hopefully with 2 children at uni. Pensions sorted.
5 years: Still debt free. Still fitter/ healthier. More jobs completed. One child still at uni, hopefully one employed!
10 years. Seriously thinking about retirement and have plans in place as to when/ how (we will both be 58) BTL paid off. 2 children in employment, another in uni and another doing A levels (or whatever exists by then!) Ideally we would like a property abroad (dream big!)


Activity. This is a BOGOF one. Take up a new hobby or resurrect an old one. ALSO, be active. Keep moving. - Re-start Zumba

Non-negotiables:
-18 NSDs (if not, why not?)
-your budgets are set by the start of the month and are fixed.
Food - £400
Fuel - £65
Toiletries - £10
Household - £20 (I know we need loo rolls and plan on spending c.£10 on them alone)
Clothes - £60
Social - £100 (includes takeaway for DS2's bday, as opposed to going out for meal)
Gifts - £50
-£5 to foodbank / charity - have a DDR for £7 going out to a charity, so that is taken care of. Will likely do something else
-pay money to your debts FIRST - do not wait to see how much is left at the end - and live within your budget - OH's car is dd. We have to pay out for kitchen and tradesmen this month (and next) so will be making minimal payments to 0% CCs in meantime until they are paid for (some of the trades are estimates as there are possible problems which we know of and it depends how bad they are and how easy they are to resolve) Money has been set aside for known spends and a contingency - but not sure if enough of a contingency... I also have my tax bill of £565 to pay by 31/03 (have the money). Day to day spending CCs will be paid off in full by 05/01 (latest due date) January is a heavy month for money going out!! Once kitchen/ workmen paid for (all done by end of Feb) then 0% CCs will be targeted with extra monies (eg: cashback, fleabay etc)
-meal plan - I don't do this. OH hates meal planning with a vengeance and the hassle it creates as a result is honestly not worth it for our house. However, because of the new kitchen we will be targeting food to use up (less to pack away!) Also, he will generally be staying away for work 1/ 2 nights per week, so that's when I plan to use up stuff which he won't eat.

Unabashed, unambiguous, unconditional, undaunted, undivided, unerring, unshakeable devotion to your goal(s). [more on this later]

Always plan your meals; always take a shopping list; always take your lunch to work and drink + snacks when out and about; avoid all coffee shops, vending machines, work canteens... - should be ok for me - am only at work 4 days!

Reduce, re-use, repair, re-gift, recycle, recover, refuse! And read. ok!

You are the key to reducing your debt, living modestly, keeping as fit and well as you can. So look after yourself - physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

Stretch challenge - aim to get extra money of £50. Aim to declutter 50 items.
Have joined pay off all your debts by Xmas 2018, MFW 2018 (looking to OP £4k on BTL mtge), Declutter in 2018 (aiming for 2018 items!:eek:)

I also want something Joyful in Jan, as it can be such a dreary, dull month after Christmas. The days are getting longer (joyful) but I also want to do something fun - money isn't necessarily involved - may be a free outing and (possibly car) picnic - but something! May also plan at least 2 games evenings with smalls - they love them (so = joyful) and we have been guilty recently of being caught up with the busy-ness of life and not doing them enough. Comes under my number 1 goal for the year of 'Making Memories' - they grow up so fast. We are busy dismantling the old kitchen later in the month, but I don't want them to lose out on too much family time (I know it's short term) We also have DS2's bday in week 1 (also joyful) - and then DD is going back to uni (along with a LOT of food from our kitchen!!)

frooglefraggle

Add me in I need to take control again!

x_raphael_xx

Janus is the god who looks both backwards and forwards. A new year can be a time to look back over the previous year (but we turtles have already done this in December). So this is a time to look forwards - where do you want to be in 12 months from now? 5 years? 10 years?
12 Months - Mum paid off. I owe £3000 (she helped towards the house deposit) Mum is happy with £100 a month, but this will take me over 2 years. So I want to pay it off this year. Looking at my budget I can achieve this in July if I don't spend anything other than budgeted essentials :rotfl:
I do have a couple of weekends away this year, so I will be very pleased if I can get to £2000 by this time.

5 Years - I would like my Emergency Fund full (mum comes first)
10 Years - Best scenario - Mortgage paid off in full. Worst scenario - Large chunk paid off of mortgage.

Activity. This is a BOGOF one. Take up a new hobby or resurrect a new one. ALSO, be active. Keep moving.
Last year I had plans to crochet a load of blankets to donate to the cats & dogs home. I failed. So I want to complete that this year. I'm aiming to use up all my balls of wool by doing at least a little bit each night.
I also need to lose 50 lbs this year. Last year I lost 22.2lbs which was a good start. I am planning on keeping up with my running, PT and boxing sessions, and the odd spin class.

Non-negotiables:
-18 NSDs (if not, why not?) I want 25 at least.
-your bugets are set by the start of the month and are fixed. Budgets are set. I have a spreadsheet that runs to the end of the year :rotfl:which I update daily/weekly as needed.
-£5 to foodbank / charity
-pay money to your debts FIRST - do not wait to see how much is left at the end - and live within your budget Mums money comes out by DD on the 1st. Any extra I have I will stash into a pot until I have a chunk to pay in one go. Either £500 or £1000
-meal plan Done for this week.

Unabashed, unambiguous, unconditional, undaunted, undivided, unerring, unshakeable devotion to your goal(s). [more on this later]
2018 will be my year!

Always plan your meals; always take a shopping list; always take your lunch to work and drink + snacks when out and about; avoid all coffee shops, vending machines, work canteens... On it!

Reduce, re-use, repair, re-gift, recycle, recover, refuse! And read. I want to keep my spends to the essentials. As a test this month, if I want/think I need something not in one of my allocated pots (Gifts (for others not me)/ Fitness (my PT & boxing etc)/ House (decorating & repairs etc) /Holiday) then I will wait until 1st Feb to see if I can source an alternative or if I do need it.

You are the key to reducing your debt, living modestly, keeping as fit and well as you can. So look after yourself - physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally.
Health is my main aim this year. I want to lose 50 lbs and get down to a healthy weight.

I want to re-introduce Bob's s t r e t c h challenge for January: how much extra an you earn / save off your food shop / move / remove.
Any extra I earn will go into Mums pot. I want to do at least one survey a night. I want to declutter and sell as much rubbish as I can get rid of. Luckily 99% of my xmas presents were useful and needed (new phonecase, housey bits we wanted) or use-up-able, like food. So the house hasn't been filled up with nonsence.

DawnW

January 2018: Health, wealth and a Life Well Lived -

Janus So this is a time to look forwards - where do you want to be in 12 months from now? 5 years? 10 years? Hmm, looking forward to hopefully better health for both OH and I in 2018. I am currently awaiting an operation, and OH has a very painful slipped disc which will need an expensive course of physiotherapy, so must watch the pennies very keenly this month! :eek:
Activity I already avoid taking the car on short journeys wherever possible (though I have a small business which involves a fair amount of carrying stuff about, in which case I do need the car!) Looking forward to starting off my vegetable garden again - probably a bit too early do do much in January but there are a few things that will need to be done And I need to lose some weight

Non-negotiables:
-18 NSDs (if not, why not?)
-your budgets are set by the start of the month and are fixed.
Food, household and toiletries - £240
Fuel - £65
Personal spends (covers clothes, hairdressing, social etc) - £100
Gifts - £150 - my two daughters and my best friend all have birthdays this month, plus assorted other birthdays and occasions that will require cards and / or small gifts :eek:
- £5 to foodbank / charity - will do
- pay money to your debts FIRST - we are lucky in that we no longer have debts However, our income is small, so we have to be careful not to end up there again :eek:
-meal plan - I tend to plan for a few days in advance, starting with what we already have

Unabashed, unambiguous, unconditional, undaunted, undivided, unerring, unshakeable devotion to your goal(s). [more on this later]

Always plan your meals; always take a shopping list; always take your lunch to work and drink + snacks when out and about; avoid all coffee shops, vending machines, work canteens... - Not a problem for me, as I am semi retired and run a tiny business from home. Hardly ever go to coffee shops etc, probably count on one hand over the whole year.

Reduce, re-use, repair, re-gift, recycle, recover, refuse! And read. Sounds good to me

You are the key to reducing your debt, living modestly, keeping as fit and well as you can. So look after yourself - physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

Stretch challenge - I will think about this one!

abundant1972

Thanks Apple for running the challenge this month! Please sign me up on the dotted line...

mrshubbard

Can I join please?

Not been on here since July I think. We let things get on top of us after having baby Fluff and got stressed and reverted back to the old habit of feeling we should treat ourselves as we were having a rough time. I’m now due back to work after maternity and kicking myself we didn’t concentrate on those debts so I could stay off a bit longer. Though to be honest we really want to move by summer so going back onto a full wage is the sensible thing to do. After a fair few emotional conversations I feel like hubby’s finally on the same page and ready to knuckle down with me.

Janus In 12 months from now I want to have moved house and paid off at least a quarter of my debt ( just over £5000 :eek:) In 5 years I want to be debt free and have an emergency fund and be in a new job or up the ladder in this one. In 10 years I want to be building up savings for when we retire and to help our boys out if they need it.

Activity I started learning knitting so would like to relearn that. Have also discovered I enjoy seeing so want to work on that too. I’ve download the active 10 app and want to do 10 minutes of brisk walking every day. I also want to do 3 lots of 30 minutes each week of something more strenuous.

Non negotiables 18 NSDs - eep! I will do it. Will do my budget with hubby tomorrow night. That’s how rock n roll we are on NYE! I do payroll giving to charity already. I am going to set my direct debit higher to my highest interest cc and then when we do the budget each month put the spare straight on it too. Meal plan - I’ve been doing well with this in December and will continue.

Unabashed, unambiguous, unconditional, undaunted, undivided, unerring, unshakeable devotion to your goal

Always
Plan your meals - usually do and buy emergency ys ready meals just in case for the freezer
Take a shopping list - we do this but I need to stop all those little extras that sneak in
Take your lunch to work - I did this before maternity except Saturdays which were butty shop days but not any more
Take drinks snacks when out - this is where we fail badly but will be more prepared from now on
Avoid coffee shops, etc - also used to fail on this as a nice cup of coffee was my treat on a bad day but hubby has bought me a press and some nice ground coffee so now I just wait till I get home and the little uns are asleep.

Reduce, reuse, repair, regift, recycle, recover, reuse and read. Will have a ponder on these and how to apply them. Reading sounds especially good. My mums lent me a book I’ve got into it’s just finding snippets of time to read it.

You are the key I know looking after myself and reducing stress will also reduce my debt. I need to make the time for me and not feel guilty about not being with my little uns all the time

S t r e t c h I need to get back into doing surveys, make sure work know I’ll still do overtime and declutter books, dvds, baby clothes and sell what I can.

Chloris

I am a big fan of new years resolutions, monthly goals and weekly challenges. Just need to follow through! I am inspired by all your ideas and I love seeing your progress.

2018: Health, wealth and a Life Well Lived

Janus is the god who looks both backwards and forwards. A new year can be a time to look back over the previous year (but we turtles have already done this in December). So this is a time to look forwards - where do you want to be in 12 months from now? 5 years? 10 years?
12 months - over paid mortgage again. I did well this year with this target. Save regularly to build emergency fund. Build up my side hustle and stash the extra cash for home improvement.
5 years - mortgage free! Side hustle being main income source
10 years - home improvements really on top off.
Activity. This is a BOGOF one. Take up a new hobby or resurrect a new one. ALSO, be active. Keep moving.
Hobby - painting and reading - often! Aiming for 1 drawing/painting and 1 book a week. That is a challenge but it's time to face up to it.
Moving - swim/gym twice a week,my daily walks to paid work and I would love to start walking over the local hills on weekends again. We have fallen into the default of town visits on weekends which is annoying and costly.

Non-negotiables:
-18 NSDs (if not, why not?) Up for this
-your bugets are set by the start of the month and are fixed.
They are done. Set and ready to go.
-£5 to foodbank / charity Yep
-pay money to your debts FIRST - do not wait to see how much is left at the end - and live within your budget
Don't have debit so savings transferred and will do the mortgage over payment later in month.
-meal plan
Just done it! Yay me.

Unabashed, unambiguous, unconditional, undaunted, undivided, unerring, unshakeable devotion to your goal(s). [more on this later]


Always plan your meals; always take a shopping list; always take your lunch to work and drink + snacks when out and about; avoid all coffee shops, vending machines, work canteens...
Always bring my own food to work. I have got a very small daytrip budget because I can be too strict with myself and budget out the fun. It rarely gets used which says a lot.


Reduce, re-use, repair, re-gift, recycle, recover, refuse! And read.

You are the key to reducing your debt, living modestly, keeping as fit and well as you can. So look after yourself - physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally.
I am turning my attention to selfcare this year. I have not been good in this area, ever! Looking for ways I can address needs and respond positively to them. Started this process in 2017. Would love some ideas which are cheap, alcohol and sweet food free! Maybe its about honouring the need to listen and be present with my messy self.



I want to re-introduce Bob's s t r e t c h challenge for January: how much extra an you earn / save off your food shop / move / remove.
Hoping to bring down grocery budget. Always.

Such a lot of goals. Feels a bit scatter gun but I'm sure there is a logic and some strong connections if I can get the perspective!

Kerry_Woman

Janus is the god who looks both backwards and forwards. A new year can be a time to look back over the previous year (but we turtles have already done this in December). So this is a time to look forwards - where do you want to be in 12 months from now? 5 years? 10 years?
12 Months – Do some decorating in the flat. To get my head around spending/finances.
5 Years – To move from the area where I currently live.
10 Years – To have a good amount of money saved for my whenever I retire.

Activity. This is a BOGOF one. Take up a new hobby or resurrect a new one. ALSO, be active. Keep moving.
Going to start doing cross stitching again. I have already things that I can start to do.
During January I am already doing a challenge for a mental health charity to be active each day of the month and to raise money or donate to the charity. I am going to go for a walk each day.
Non-negotiables:
-18 NSDs (if not, why not?) Will do.
-your budgets are set by the start of the month and are fixed. My budgets are set for the month. Notebook already set up for the month and rest of the year.
-£5 to foodbank / charity Will do
-pay money to your debts FIRST - do not wait to see how much is left at the end - and live within your budget Do not have any debt but will be more mindful of spending and save money where necessary.
-meal plan Usually do this each week. First week of January I am using up what food I have already in.

Unabashed, unambiguous, unconditional, undaunted, undivided, unerring, unshakeable devotion to your goal(s). [more on this later]

Always plan your meals; always take a shopping list; always take your lunch to work and drink + snacks when out and about; avoid all coffee shops, vending machines, work canteens... Will be working on this.

Reduce, re-use, repair, re-gift, recycle, recover, refuse! And read. Will be working on this during January to see how I can achieve. Also to starting reading books I have already in.

You are the key to reducing your debt, living modestly, keeping as fit and well as you can. So look after yourself - physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally.
Going to start 2018 with self-care. Have to put time aside each day to do this.

I want to re-introduce Bob's s t r e t c h challenge for January: how much extra an you earn / save off your food shop / move / remove.
Looking to save money off my food shop – buying only what I need. Also to do some declutting.