New Year, New me

bigbeff

OMG getting so near now. Loan is finally under £1k. I think I’ll probably actually be able to get rid of it next payday if I keep up this momentum as one lot of marking money still due 😀 I’m going to keep plodding with it now… I could pay off with savings, but I am trying to remain disciplined… it’s not that far away. And that’ll have been my focus for nearly 2 years. I look at how much I have put in, I’m not sure I’ll know what to do with myself with all the spare income.

LittleMissDetermined

You really are on the home stretch now! 
x

bigbeff

Wow, so I have had my last marking payment through, apart from the odd pence they seem to give months later. Although I have not added to the loan yet - just making sure I don't need it this month first, it does mean my payment on 1st September will be my last ever loan payment! That is 23 days! I'm going to keep on plugging and seeing how much I can reduce that last payment by, it is quite difficult having it sat in my account and not putting it onto loan, but I don't have much tutoring this month so I need to be careful. 

Off to the gym now. I've been really good with my running and training for last 3 weeks, but no weight is falling off, think I need to look at my diet again, I thought it was quite good, obviously not... maybe that should be my next focus! 

Then I need to get sewing, doing a craft fair on Sunday - got ipad cushions and phone cushions to make. I am fully prepared to sell nothing! 

CRANKY40

I found that running didn't help with weight loss, it just made me hungry. Check your portion sizes if you think your diet is already healthy. Your last loan payment - how exciting 😊

joedenise

I'd be trying to up the amount of veg you eat.  My plate is usually about half veg, 1/4 meat, 1/4 carbs.  I only lose very slowly, no more than 1/2 or 1lb a week but as I'm around where I need to be it's not really surprising it's so slow.

bigbeff

@CRANKY40 I think you are right. Just got on machine at gym which told me my body fat percentage is down on last month so something going right 🙂 Got to run, half marathon in October - but I do need to control portion size I think. It would be easier if I lost even half a stone! 

@joedenise I think you are right, I changed to a veggie diet 4 days a week at beginning of the year and shifted about 10lb. Kept that off but diet crept back... might try that again 🙂

bigbeff

Plodding along, quite literally. Leg muscles are super tight and have big pain in my heels. I think I maybe need to look at new running shoes. But exercise plan is going OK. Off to gym today to do some strength training - take the weight off my heels. I've ordered some ankle supports because I think it's all related and plan to sit on foam roller later. 

With regards to money - no spend day yesterday and may be the same again today, although I might go to Lyme Regis for a browse around the shops - mix it up a bit. Oh and lidl shop, but that is budgeted for so doesn't count! £5.04 cashed out from prolific yesterday. 

LittleMissDetermined

New running shoes could well be the key to relieve the pains, it's amazing how impactful they can be.  Keep at it, you're doing amazing 
LMD x

bigbeff

All still going well here. I put some of my marking money onto my loan leaving a final payment due of £572. I'd love to get that final payment to under £500... not sure how I'll do that in 2 weeks but we will see.. not much coming in until September now. I'm going to aim for stopping myself spending £5 a day and put on loan.. problem is I don't spend that much on unnecessary items anyway! We'll see. I like a target! 

Been to the gym this morning, now got to do a 4 mile run according to my plan so heading out now to get it done... I think I prefer exercise in the morning, I can't make excuses!

bigbeff

£6.06 cashed out from prolific yesterday and £8 day before.

started to think about what to do next, I’ve opened a regular saver at 6% that I’ll put £250 a month in once I’m free, it’s locked away, but that’s fine, I have been paying triple that on debt each month. I can also top up my other regular saver at 5% which has about 5 months left to maturity. I was thinking of overpaying mortgage a bit, but my rate is fixed at 2.5% for another year - I think if I save, I’ll get more return and will then be able to pay off a chunk before remortgaging next year… so that’s my plan. With those two savings, I’ll still have a bit to play with for me 🙂