Diary of a 30-something idiot

Debsnewbudget

Happy Birthday x

SuzeQStan

Happy days - and a very Merry Christmas to you and family Fox 🥰👍🏻

Valli

SuzeQStan said:

Happy days - and a very Merry Christmas to you and family Fox 🥰👍🏻

ditto ditto

foxgloves

Fab news about the job, @foxandflowers. What a cracking start to the New Year!
F

dawnybabes

That’s brilliant news, well done you ! 

Four_Seasons

Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄 

foxandflowers

❅Happy Holidays❅

I have totally overspent, again. But the kitchen is finished, and Christmas is over, and aside from food, and the pre-planned trip to Harry Potter on the 4th Jan, and bills there isn't anything I need to spend money on. I have lots of stuff to list for sale and should be able to raise some funds, and will be interested to see how much money can be saved by doing a total No Spend Month (aside from HP - shhh).

So its only a few days from 2024 and I think the time has come to set some goals. I was going to create a budget, but I think I will hold off until the end of February for that, as that is when my first paycheck from my new job will come through. I have a rough idea of what my wage will be, but I want to know for sure before I set myself up...

GOALS then. 

• 100 No Spend Days in the year
• Try 3 new free active hobbies (*)
• Reduce my phone related screen time dramatically
• Make £600 decluttering (and also get rid of at least 288 physical items (24 things a month)
• Save £250 in the cat head moneybox
• Stick to a fortnightly meal plan (!!!!) and hopefully reduce grocery spends
• Don't buy any clothes (I have plenty - **except 1 purchase of a Dry Robe and must be Secondhand)

* sea swimming, running & paddleboarding. I already have a paddleboard & wetsuit, so want to actually use them, and doing the couch to 5k app is also free. I have cheated slightly and went for my first swim on the 23rd December, and very much enjoyed it. The ladies I swam with were lovely and really welcoming, and I will definitely be going back (aiming for at least one swim a week) which leads me nicely to the following
** absolutely needed purchase as it is bitterly cold when exiting the sea in winter, and I want to keep going with it as a hobby and therefore I need to be properly equipped to stop getting ill. One of the ladies is selling a robe for £50 secondhand, so I may take her up on that. 


What about you folks? Any fun plans for 2024? I hope it is kind and prosperous to you x

stymied

Very inspiring! I shall borrow reduce iPad related screen time dramatically, and add complete at least 2 house projects and 2 already started craft projects, meal plan at least a week in advance to reduce child squabbles, clear surfaces weekly and keep going to on coach to 5k until I can actually do the 5k in 30 mins or less.

Are yours individual or family goals? X

foxandflowers

Ooh @stymied - forgot about using up craft stashes - I have LOADS of cross stitch projects (including one of the inland waterways of the UK which I wanted for the one day in the distant future when I live on a narrowboat haha) and haven't started any of them in almost a year. 
I shall add on 

• complete four craft projects (cross-stitch & diamond painting (stabbing things is v therapeutic))

kayannie

@foxandflowers Would you be willing to share a photo of your new kitchen? I'm working hard to convince my OH that ours is in desperate need of being replaced! KA