2025 - Reset, Refocus, Remortgage!!!!

Taking_back_control

I’ve decided now is the time for a new diary. My previous had lost its way a wee bit, but it’s time to draw a line.

My mortgage is up for renewal in 24 months, so I’m using the next 2 years to clear as much debt as possible so that the undoubted increase in mortgage payments won’t cause too much stress.

This last year I admit my focus hasn’t really been driving the debt down. I’ve been trying to simplify my life to enable me to stop feeling like I’m fire fighting all the time. I’m getting there and a lot of progress has been made and my mental health has been so much better. So now I feel it’s time to give my finances the hyper focus treatment!

My 12 month plan…….

1. Finances
Pay off £8k. Sounds a lot but should be doable. 

2. Health and fitness
Lose 3 stone (in addition to the 9lbs lost already). Run London Marathon 😳

3. Home 
Redecorate living room. This is unfortunately in need of complete overhaul (carpets, furniture, curtains- the works!) as not been touched in the 10+ years we’ve been here 🫣

4. Mental Wellbeing 
Maintain the calmer, simpler life that’s gradually coming to fruition. Take time to work on my plan b work wise (not sure what this looks like at the minute!) as there are a lot of changes happening at the minute and I’m not sure they’re for me! 

Will post more on my plans and strategies for achieving them in the next couple of days. Time now to get ready to face today! 

basketcase

Dropped in quickly to wish you luck.

Sarahwithlove

Good luck! 

_Dolly_Rocker_

Happy new diary!

Think I'm gonna have a reset and a new one for 2025 too. 

Looking forward to seeing you tick them all off.

FootyFanDan

Happy New Diary and good luck

Taking_back_control

Happy Twixmas! 

I realise I’ve been awol since I started this diary. It has been kind of intentional as I wanted it I get Christmas done so the focus can be turned to driving the debts down.

As lovely as Christmas has been, I do sigh a breath of relief when it’s over! I sound like a right negative Nelly but there is only so long I can deal with the hype before craving normality! Unfortunately this year, Christmas prep didn’t  fit into my calm, simpler lifestyle. I felt rushed and panicked and out of control. This was partly due to being wiped out with the flu in the run up and the fact that school seemed to finish so late for DS. Must do better next year. 

A massive focus for this year is to try and drive the food shop down. For a family of 3 and one dog, we’re spending £600 a month 😩. This does include all dog food, cleaning stuff and toiletries but is still way too much. Will pull together an inventory before I do the next food shop and meal plan from there. I’m hoping not to have to shop before the weekend and that we can live off left over party food a little longer! 

Need to sit and go through the debts over the next couple of days and decide where the first focus will be. I’ve got a few BT with various end dates, so it may be that I target clearing chunks of the card rather than the whole card if that makes sense.  I will also be putting some of my Xmas money towards it, so need to plan best use. 

Marathon training is underway, although I had to amend the plan slightly as missed a couple of runs because of the flu. Confident I can get back on track though as it’s only early days and the plan is still at mileage that I’m comfortable with. Weight loss was at 12lb although I know a few lbs have crept back on over the festive fun! Need to shift these asap. 

Plan for today….
1. Run - 3.75miles
2. Find living room again! 

3. Get beds changed 
4. inventory of freezer and cupboards
5. Meal plan
6. DFW planning

Taking_back_control

Morning, 
Slowly feels like we’re returning back to normality here. Need to get the tree down this weekend, but given the forecast snow I doubt we’d be doing much else anyway! 

 

Started the new year off by sitting down and going through what I owe with a fine tooth comb. First target is a balance transfer of £1027.93 which ends on 1st April. This will be my targeted debt for the first quarter of the year, whilst keeping the others ticking over. 

Need to get out for a 3.25 mile run over the weekend. May head out shortly for this or potentially wait and use the treadmill at the gym later - depends how icy underfoot it is (I daren’t look outside yet!)

DS is back at school next week. Need to utilise my non working days to the max in order to get on top of things. Planning to use one day on housework / decluttering and the other for my marathon training long run and listing on Vinted.

Freezer inventory was completed, meal plan done and shopping list created accordingly. Food shop yesterday came in £11 under our usual for the week - not much but it’s a start. I buy supermarket gift cards through work as I earn cash back on them. It’s not much, but adds up over the course of the year and was a big help with the Christmas shopping. 

Jobs for this weekend:
1. Batch cook 
2. Christmas decorations down
3. School stuff sorted

Right - time to think about braving the outside world. Have a great weekend. 

Taking_back_control

Morning, 
A very, quiet, chilled weekend here. Just what the doctor ordered. Tree is down, house has been tidied  throughout. Just need to hoover and dust today - then I’ll be happy! Start as we mean to go on! 

Flooding is out in force near us - was supposed to be doing a 6 mile long run, but doubt I’ll find 6 miles that’s not under water! Will push it back to later in the week and get some strength training in today instead. 

I’ve got a big box of stuff for Vinted that I need to start listing, will aim for little and often and see  where that takes us. 

Plan for today

1. Hoover and dust
2. 2-3 items on vinted
3. Strength training
4. Work and school stuff sorted for week 

Taking_back_control

Morning,
Please tell me it’s almost the end of January  🤦‍♀️ 
This month genuinely seems never ending! The countdown to payday has started even earlier this month (12 days and counting 🙄). January catches me out every year - I guess it’s all part of the poor financial planning that got us in this mess. Anyways - less of the woe is me! 

In other news - making the most of my stupid brain kicking in at 3am, rather than sitting scrolling for hours, I’ve leapt into action and started listing on Vinted - upto £120 in sales so far and only listed a fraction of the stuff. Would love to send this directly to towards the debt but it may have to help plug the payday gap - especially considering OH car is in for a service next week 🙈. 

Only managed 1 x run so far this week - I’m feeling exhausted (thank you 3am wake ups!) and have listened to my body. Will hopefully get out over the weekend. 

Right, best get started - the sooner I’m in work, the sooner I’m home! Have a great day 

Sarahwithlove

I'm counting down to payday as well! Is the vinted sales how much you have already made or value of what you've put up for sale? Either way it would be good to have that money in your budget for the rest of this month. 

Taking_back_control

@Sarahwithlove, it what’s been made so far! I’m really pleasantly surprised as I’ve procrastinated over listing for so long. That said, after the first 24 hours things have slowed significantly, I guess that first day is the golden window!