Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans .......

seahorsey

Morning! Can’t believe it’s 5 days since I last checked in. It’s been manic here. Just trying to catch up on all the pre Christmas jobs, but I’ve now finished work until the new year so plenty of time to focus.

Money wise, no movement. Just trying to plod on until payday (which is technically tomorrow but given that it’s coming very early, we’re trying not to touch it for another week or so). December has deliberately been a fairly expensive month food wise as we’ve done the Morrison’s more Christmas offer (£90 a week in 5 of 6 weeks to get £34 back). Since we typically spend £80ish a week, it’s not been a huge amount more and we’ve used it to stock up on staples. The £34 will be handy post Christmas when we’re no doubt feeling the pinch.

I’ve worked out how much each of my pots need to be paid each month - I’ve split it over 11 months rather than 12 to allow for a long January and so that the focus in January isn’t taken away from the OD.

Right as I’ve nothing exciting to report I’m off to get ready to face the day. Have a good one x

seahorsey

Happy Twixmas everyone!

Hope you’ve all had an amazing Christmas! We’ve had a lovely one in the Seahorsey household. Spent time with family and friends, eaten far too much and been well and truly spoilt! Feeling very blessed to have another week before returning to work.

The last few days have seen me indulge in some enforced self care - I could get a taste for it to be honest! I got struck down with the lurgy Boxing Day so have been forced to take some time out and relax. I’ve dusted off the Kindle and have lost myself in a couple of good books - I’d forgotten how much I love reading. Will definitely be doing more of it in 2020.

Our 5 week financial January has begun - going to be a long challenging one! I’ve serviced all the debts and have budgeted extra for fuel and food. Fingers crossed it sees us through.

In terms of the goals, I’ve entered the 10k. I had a discounted entry offer via my running club (that I haven’t been to since sept :cool:) so have used some Christmas money to enter. Best crack on with the couch 2 5k.

Christmas / birthday shopping has been started for 2020. £48.98 spent from the present pot to get 10 presents - I’m very pleased with that as have got some lovely things - including a charm from the pandora website for £8 for my friend’s birthday.

Right I’m off to have a look at some of the 2020 challenges on the DF boards - have a fab day x

savingholmes

Lot of shiney new goals. Like the sparkle ones. You will get it sorted - you can do anything you put your mind to I'm sure.

jwil

Glad you had a good Christmas xx

TravelGirl84

Hi Seahorsey :hello:

Just wanted to wish you well on your journey, will be following along.

Love the 3 goal types, especially the Sparkle!

I'm looking to do a 10k too this year. I did a couple of 5k Parkruns last year and although my 5k was slow, about 38 minutes, I'm pleased with that as a start and I think I can build to the 10k.

Happy 2020!

seahorsey

Happy New Year! Wish everyone a very happy and healthy 2020 :beer:

Last day of the Christmas holidays here - they’ve been lovely (and slightly lazy - but I think that’s done us all some good!)

Not much to report on the financial side - we’ll just be keeping our heads down and ploughing on for the next few weeks. Did an online shop this week for the essentials which saved a few ££ - really need to get a grip on our food shop this year.

Managed to get some new shoes for DS for preschool for £10 reduced from £40 in the Clarks sale - very pleased with that as he was beginning to get desperate. Also had a stroke of luck - was given 2 scratch cards in a Christmas card - won £2. Cashed them in for 2 more and won £19 :j not to encourage gambling or anything but it’s essentially £19 free since I didn’t buy them in the first place

Project sparkle in underway. I went to my first yoga session of the year last night. Started weekly beginners classes just before Christmas and so far am finding them really beneficial. I have also booked a doctors appointment to request some blood tests. I’m long term vegetarian (25 years +) and although I try to eat well and supplement as needed I feel as though I’m constantly running on empty and can literally fall asleep at the drop of a hat. Therefore want to get any deficiencies sorted to give me the best chance of getting that sparkle back.

Nice cheap day out with DS yesterday - we have passes to a local kiddies theme park (Black Friday bargains - only have to go twice before it’s paid for itself and we’ve done that already :rotfl:). Took sandwiches with us so only spend yesterday was filling the car with fuel.

Better get cracking - have a good day all x

seahorsey

Morning!
Yesterday was day 1 back at work and preschool - what an effort! Work was very quiet so used a bit of time for some personal planning on the project sparkle front. I’ve worked out my training plan for firstly the 10ks booked for March and then the half marathons. One was booked last May for this May and the other (so far) is in October. I have a charity place for this and don’t have to pay entry as long as I can raise £100 for them so it’s a win win situation. I also took the first all important steps back out running and did 2.7k on the treadmill. Not much but I’m so pleased with it considering I haven’t run since September and have put on a fair bit of weight since then!

Money wise, nothing to report really. Had a couple of small eBay sales but other than that all is quiet.

I’m consciously trying to limit my screen time as I find I spend so much on eBay on “stuff” that in reality we don’t need. I’m also trying to not buy any clothes certainly until qtr 1s done (hopefully longer) as again I spy bargains and have to have them but again do not need them! Once I’ve shifted a bit of weight I’m hoping I’ll fit back into some of my old stuff and have a ready made new wardrobe :T

In an attempt to get me off the internet I’m reading at times that I’d usually be browsing - much better use of my time and I’m really enjoying it. The BorrowBox app means it’s not costing anything and I also have a load of books at home and on my kindle that are so far unread.

Better go and jump in the shower before DS wakes - have a good day x

seahorsey

Morning,
Wow - nearly 2 weeks since I checked in.
I guess in part it’s due to the fact that I have very little to report. Still 10 days until payday, so trying to be on best behaviour until then.

I tried to cancel audible but they lured me back with half price for 3 months, I have also returned the audiobooks I won’t listen to again and have received credits to my account. I have used some of these credits to listen to a couple of personal finance books (Dave Ramsey and Pete Matthew - Meaningful Money Handbook) both have really helped gee me up and feel remotivated by the journey ahead. If anyone has any other recommendations please let me have them! I much prefer listening to self help type books but will be cancelling audible when the offer period ends.

Failed on the no clothes front - work trousers needed replacing as were faded and too tight and I had one pair of jeans that currently fit. I ordered 1 pair of each in the next sale (along with a pair of Adidas trainers for DS for £12) so next account has temporarily crept up. Currently standing at £88 but will clear one way or another once we’ve been paid. I’m hoping ebay / fb sales may cover it before then. Going forward need to budget for clothing for DS as he’s growing at a rate of knots. Up to now I’ve managed to source most for him second hand but good quality, good condition boys clothes seem to be hard to come by in his size at the charity shops at the moment. Can’t wait for local car boots to restart!

Did a freezer audit last night and hopefully have enough for my meals for the next 2 weeks and most of DSs. Unfortunately I end up cooking 2 different meals each night - I’m veggie and OH is fussy (staple diet of meat and veg, plain pasta or jacket potatoes!). I have managed to wean him onto frozen veggies which has cut down waste and spend but beyond that I’m struggling! I came to terms along time ago that we’d rarely eat the same. I batch cook a lot for myself and DS which makes things cheaper and easier.

I used to shop at Aldi a lot but stopped as I found we were still going elsewhere and ended up giving in to 2 lots of temptation! However, I’ve realised that saving 50p plus per item on our staples such as washing gels, lemonade, rice, yogurts etc quickly adds up, so I’ll be heading back there on probably a fortnightly basis. I’ll just need to be disciplined!!!

Right I’m signing off for now - have a great day x

seahorsey

Morning....
Not been posting much on here, but have joined the 1 debt v 100 days challenge which is helping keeping me focussed. My challenge is to clear £1002.45 (Very, Next and £850 overfdraft) - I’m up to £64.53 so far. Doesn’t sound a lot but considering this has been made up of eBay sales I’m pretty pleased with it! The very account has been cleared!

I’ve gone back to basics with birthday / Christmas savings and allocated each recipient an envelope with their pressie budget on the front. I’m filling these with any £2 coins I get and spare change. This will run along side a monthly payment into the present account which will be used for bigger purchases (i.e DS’s pressies and birthday party and Christmas trips /food). I wasn’t organised at all for this Christmas and it cost us far too much through poor planning so determined to be better this year.

The last couple of weeks I’ve had a mind shift with regards to spending and I’m really hoping it lasts. We’re undergoing some massive changes at work at the minute and it’s been a bit of a wake up call. Fortunately my job is safe at the moment but the next couple of years who knows. Need this debt gone and a safety net in place.

Plan for today is drop DS at preschool, sort ponies, walk dogs and then give the house some TLC.

Best go wake DS up - have a fab day x

seahorsey

Happy Monday!
Can’t believe the weekend’s gone already. Been a relatively cheap one here. Only really foodshop and fuel spent on, and managed to get foodshop down to £65 thanks to meal planning mine and DSs meals out.

Payday on Thursday - may pop to Aldi and stock up on what I can from there and see if that helps us out through Feb.

Bit of a wake up call on the project sparkle front. I completed a personal analysis tool which asked me to rate various areas of my life such as environment, mental health, physical health, finances, relationships, career etc and found I was marking myself low in all aspects. Yes, I’m eternally grateful for my good health and comfortable house but I’m also aware of how I’ve let these things slip over the last few years and know they could be better. So time to pull the socks up and put plans into action.

Did a 5k yesterday - it was slow and after the half way point I tired and took more walking breaks than I wanted, but on the plus side 1. The route was hilly 2. It was my legs rather than my lungs that were the issue (and being asthmatic this is a big bonus!) so plenty to build on. 5 weeks until the 10K, so need to build myself up. Even if I only get out for 15 minutes it’s all helping.

Right off to jump in the shower before getting DS up. Have a great day x