13 coronacoaster weeks to Christmas 26 September 2020 at 3:14PM edited 25 October 2020 at 10:59AM in Mortgage-free wannabe 30 replies 1.6K views

birdofpassage

Hi. I used to frequent the forum several years ago and managed to escape credit card debt mostly by doing debt free challenges and reading debt diaries. Things have changed a lot since then, in good and bad ways. I am now debt-free, except for my mortgage BUT I became a single parent since then I'm finding the 2020 coronacoaster quite hard to deal with: one week I'm hopeful and motivated, running 5k, cooking healthy, being frugal, and grateful for everything, then the next week I am feeling miserable, lonely, anxious, eating too much chocolate, spending too much money and binging on Netflix. Therefore, I thought setting some short-term goals and keeping a diary would help me keep on the positive side of things more often. I'm actually not good at keeping diaries, so that is a challenge in itself. I realized we have 13 weeks left to Christmas day and came up with a symmetrical challenge (- can you tell I'm slightly OCD? ). The countdown starts today and ends on Christmas day, but obviously I'd like to keep the good habits after that. The challenge:

• overpay the mortgage by at least £1,300
• save at least £13 each day (total £1,183)
• spend no more than £130 weekly (total £1,690) - excluding bills and regular stuff.
• lose at least 13lbs
• run at least 130km
• (NEW) 13 NSDs from 25 Oct to 24 Nov, and another 13 between 25 Nov and Christmas Eve

Please wish me luck and thank you for any words of encouragement or nudging! 

kaycastle

Good luck birdofpassage! I started running during the proper lockdown - I ran every day for 50 days so hopefully reading about all your running will inspire me to get back out there as I've been a bit more lax since my challenge :P 

birdofpassage

Thanks, feel free to join in! I plan to run 5k at least twice a week. I ran 300km from January until end of August then fell off the wagon in September, barely did 5k a week. 

birdofpassage

Just came up with an extra challenge, to save £13 each day until Christmas day so that's £1,183 total, including xmas day.That shouldn't be that hard as I already save £350 / month through standing orders but my child's getting dental braces and the initial payment is due in November, followed by 10 monthly payments. I created a signature and added all targets so that I can record progress. Feeling excited, hopefully this lasts
 

beanielou

Hope your challanges go well.

Ponylover

13 weeks til xmas?! Eeek 😮😮😮
I think it may be s slightly different one this year to the christmases that we are used to.
Love the 13 week challenge. May just join you.
Lose 13 pounds. Declutter 13 items a week. 
Will follow!

birdofpassage

Thanks both! @Ponylover glad you're joining! Could've added decluttering myself, but to be fair I only have one room to declutter. The lockdown did help with some things. I'm off to run the first 5k of the challenge before it starts raining. Have a lovely day everyone! 

birdofpassage

Good weekend, apart from the fact that I spent £64 in total yesterday and today: on groceries, in a café, and on Amazon. £66 left to spend until Friday. (bills not included). Ran 5km today and played doubles tennis, despite the 'lovely weather'. Signature updated. 

bigbeff

Oh can I join you in this? You have got my thoughts going! I am going to pay £1300 off my cc. I'll join you trying to run that far. And I could definitely do with losing 13lbs! Good luck 😃

birdofpassage

@bigbeff: you're very welcome! We can all motivate and cheer each other. 

becky170

Wow that's a great idea birdofpassage! Can't believe it's only 13 weeks until Christmas. Your description of the coronacoster is spot on. I hope your challenges help