25 for 2025

DundeeDoll

Went to Aida 'live from the met' so that's my 2nd ballet / opera ticked off. Had kedgeree made with smoked mackerel yesterday so that's 5 different types of fish already took Moomin out at the library (it'll be my 3/25 translated books, almost finished 'Alone in Berlin') - the librarian loved the idea of this group and that most (all?) of us had a book-related challenge. 

eltee2

Morning all

Updated list - a couple more books read & films watched and been to see a local band.    Also finished clearing out the ottoman so we can now use it to store bedding👍

• 25 books - 6/25
5. Just One Thing, Dr Michael Mosley
6. Joan, Joan Hannington
• 25 CS volunteering sessions - 0/25
• 25 deep clean/declutter sessions - 3/25
3. Ottoman clear out - now used to store bed linens
• 25 films - 9/25
8. Escape Plan 2
9. Freaky
• 25 live bands - 1/25
• 25 me-time activities - 1/25
• 25 mins weekly meal planning - 4/52
• 25 gardening sessions - 0/25
• 25 new recipes - 3/25
• 25 NSDs per month - Jan 20/25
• 25 post-SW WI sessions - 4/25
• 25lbs weight loss - 4.5/25

El

thechubbyunicorn

Week 4 update...
This week I almost talked myself out of a lovely little day out I had planned but in the end I went and it ticked off a few things for this week. Having a plan at the beginning of the week has helped me work towards 13 of my goals this week which I'm very pleased about

4. Go to Slimming World 25 times - Went this week 
5. Walk 2025km - Walked 45.91km
6. Buy 25 gift cards for Christmas - Next 
7. Save £2025 - Saved £4.95 this week 
9. Lose 25lbs - Lost 0.5lbs 
12. 25 things that make me look / feel better about myself - Properly measured for a bra 
14. Try 25 new restaurants / cafes - Hatch, St Andrews 
15. 25 solo days out - Shopping, lunch, beach walk and ice cream in St Andrews 
16. Post 2025 photos to Instagram - 13
19. Listen to 25 audiobooks - The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman 
20. Walk along 25 different beaches - Lunderston Bay & West Sands Beach, St Andrews 
23. Try 25 foods I've never had before - Pistachio ice cream 
25. Save 25 of each coin / note (£1 to £20) - 1x£5, 1x£10, 1x£20 

DundeeDoll

gonna switch one of mine/ "5. Just One Thing, Dr Michael Mosley" was on my list of possibles so switching that for family whasapps - getting them all on line at the same time is too difficult!
Finished my 2nd translation "Alone in Berlin" and now listening to Monkey (Chinese classic) - bonus is it's read by Kenneth Williams!

thechubbyunicorn

I can't believe we are at the end of the first month already. I'm really enjoying this challenge, it's making me think more about the fun things I want to do and I get such joy from plodding away at this and achieving something each week. This update is from 1st January to 26th January as I don't want it to mess up my next Sunday update. 

1. Read 25 books (0/25) 
2. Make 25 crafts (0/25) 
3. Explore 25 villages / towns / cities I've never been to (1/25) 
4. Go to Slimming World 25 times (4/25) 
5. Walk 2025km (152.89/2025)
6. Buy 25 gift cards for Christmas (5/25) 
7. Save £2025 (£420.19 / £2025) 
8. Try 25 new recipes (0/25) 
9. Lose 25lbs (2.5/25) 
10. Create 25 (positive!) habits - (0/25) 
11. 25 outings / experiences with DH (0/25) 
12. 25 things that make me look / feel better about myself (2/25) 
13. 25 different training courses / books etc relevant to my job (0/25) 
14. Try 25 new restaurants / cafes (1/25) 
15. 25 solo days out (1/25) 
16. Post 2025 photos to Instagram (44/2025) 
17. Watch 25 movies I've never seen before (2/25) 
18. Tick 25 things off my master to do list (0/25) 
19. Listen to 25 audiobooks (1/25) 
20. Walk along 25 different beaches (2/25) 
21. Be able to run for 25 minutes (0/25) 
22. Tick 25 things off my bucket list (0/25) 
23. Try 25 foods I've never had before (1/25) 
24. Watch 25 documentaries (1/25) 
25. Save 25 of each coin / note (£1 to £20) (5/£1, 6/£2, 4/£5, 1/£10, 1/£20) 

The bold ones indicate which ones I'm on track with (8)...so not many then! I am pleased with my progress though and look forward to ticking off even more things soon. 

 

Smudgeismydog

Morning all,

Following thechubbyunicorn’s update, I’ve highlighted where I am on track, and can clearly see some patterns on the ones I am not yet hitting. 

1) Lose 0.5lb 25 times - 0/25
2) Go on 25 day trips - 1/25
3) Sell 25 items on Vinted - 7/25
4) Try 25 new recipes - 2/25
5) Maintain regular contact with 25 people - on track
6) Complete 25 random acts of kindness - 3/25
7) Walk for at least 25 minutes every day - on track
8) Drink at least 1 litre of water a day for 25 days each month - 22/25
9) Walk 25,000 steps in one day each month - 1/12 (4 times in January)
10) Charity shop or skip 25 items - 4/25
11) Reduce monthly grocery bill by £25 - 0/25
12) Acknowledge 25 things I’m thankful for - 1/25
13) Work in the garden 25 times - 3/25
14) Spend 25 minutes every month reviewing our household finances - 1/12
15) Volunteer for 25 hours - 3/25
16) 25 Zumba sessions - 3/25
17) Say “no” 25 times to things that don’t give me joy, are not good for me, or things I don’t want to do - 3/25
18) Reduce petrol bill by £25 per month by consciously using the car less - acheived this month
19) 25 minutes of ‘pamper time’ every week - 3/25
20) 25 Yoga sessions - 0/25, waiting for sessions to restart
21) Reduce electricity bill by £25 per month - waiting until Spring to discuss with provider
22) Eat 5 portions of fruit & veg a day, 25 times each month - 20/25
23) Switch off tablets at least 25 minutes before sleep every night - achieved so far
24) Watch 25 films - 1/25
25) Read 25 books - 2/25

I am also still enjoying this challenge, it is making me more aware of the things I’d like to do that are important to me, so onwards and upwards!

tinkerbelluk

I can't believe we're at the end of month one already! Sorry I've not been on much but life has got in the way this month.

I've just caught up and a massive welcome to all our new starters and congrats to those coming along for another year What amazing progress has already been made although the Zulu made me laugh @lilian1977 but I'm seriously impressed.

@Nintud great idea about the 25 money/thrift/budgeting books, feel free to send any recommendations.

@eltee2 - I'm struggling with films as I don't know why, just nothing is taking my fancy! I may have to go looking today (not procrastinating at all! for some inspiration). I'd not heard of Due Justice @sams247 so I've added that to my list  

@FlowerPot - I can't believe I missed the window cleaning one on your list, what a great idea. This is something I hate doing so I've already banked the idea for next year (I need a year to work up to the thought of cleaning 26 windows! 😱) 

@DundeeDoll and anyone else doing a crafty type one (or for that matter, any of your challenges, feel free to share pics as I know I for one love a good nose 🤣)
@Smudgeismydog - I love that people are thanking you for keeping in touch. I think this goes to show that even if someone only manages one thing off their list this year it can make all the difference to them or someone else. @thechubbyunicorn you put it beautifully when you said it's about the joy of achieving something and that is exactly what was the idea behind this challenge originally.
@IrishRose12 - You've made amazing progress, hope the recovery is going well  💖

Right, with catch-ups done I can put it off no longer! I've made great progress on some of mine, others not so much. But at the end of Jan here's where I stand:

• Answer 25 journal prompts of self-discovery and awareness - 0/25
• Celebrate 25 things e.g. National / Awareness Days etc. - 1/25 - Need to plan this one a bit better to make sure we do this)
• Complete 25 hobbies that make me happy - 1/25 - Finally making some headway on a massive cross stitch project I'm working on that contains 21 different patterns ( I've posted the pic but didn't realise until after I'd moved on to the next one and I had already rolled up the spare fabric as it's huge!)
• Complete 25 things off the master to-do list - 1/25 - Need to re-do the list as some things aren't needed any more so that's a job for this weekend!
• Deep Clean / Declutter 25 areas around the house - 0/25 - Need to get cracking with this one as we're having a massive downstairs knock-through and a new kitchen starting in the spring and I don't want to leave things until the last minute.
• Do 25 things with family and friends - 2/25
• 25 Donations to charity - 0/25 - I've got bags in the hallway ready to go, just need to pop them in the car and drop them off.
• 25 Donations to food bank - 1/25 - I'm going to start adding things to my shopping list and dropping them off on the way out or I feel I'm not going to remember this one
• Enter an average of 25 competitions per day - 1/12 - Still enjoying this one as it's a nice little escape for me in the morning before everyone's up.
• Get rid of 25 items from loft/garage - 0/25 - Need to book in a tip run, so that's next on the list of things to do today (well maybe after looking for films 🤦‍♀️)
• Have 25 fun family adventures / day's out etc. - 2/25 - Finally got to see Hamilton this month after waiting 5 years as we were due to see if for our youngest daughter's 8th birthday the day after they announced the lockdown!
• Learn / Do 25 new things - 0/25 
• Listen to 25 new to me albums - 2/25 - Need to explore of Spotify and see what I fancy as opposed to listening to playlists
• Lose 25lbs - 6/25 - Great start with this one for Jan. We're away in Feb / March so I want to get at least another 6 off before we go
• Play 25 Games - 0/25 - We were supposed to have a games session last weekend with friends, but we spent time chatting instead
• Practice 25 mins of mindfulness each week - 5/52
• Read 25 Books - 2/25
• Save £2025 over the year - £1,304.32 / £2025 - Amazing progress with this one helped in a large part by selling a comp prize I won last year that I didn't know I'd won until after I bought the same item for my DH at Xmas!
• Sell 25 things on ebay / booty sites - 9/25 - Procrastinated over this too much last year so hitting the ground running this year
• Spend 25 mins each week budgeting / planning - 5/52
• Spend 25 mins each week organising photos - 5/52
• Treat / do something for me 25 times - 6/52 - Mostly little things, but I'm getting more used to the idea that it's ok to treat myself
• Watch 25 new to-me documentaries - 4/25
• Watch 25 new to-me films 0/25 - I've already checked the in-flight entertainment and there are a few I wouldn't mind watching so hoping to tick some of these off next month.
• Walk 10,000 25 times - My hips still playing me up and I know exercise will help, so I'm going to make sure I knock one of these off this weekend
  

Right, after that HUGE catch-up, I'm off to look for films and albums book a tip run 🤣

IrishRose12

Posting my updates for the end of the month. 

I've decided to change 1 or 2 of mine as I'm trying to be realistic lol. That weighted hoola hoop is still sitting in a corner and I've accepted I have no intention of using it as often as I should
I've also got a box of crafty bits and pieces, like diamond art, colouring books, and I received new jigsaws, puzzle books etc at Christmas, So I'm going to merge them all together as just Chill Out activity as I'm finding them relaxing.

The water/coke thing well I've stopped drinking coke completly, so thats out the window lol. I might switch to 25 glasses of water a month, as I'm really not a fan of water,  I prefer milk or tea.

1. Clean 25 cupboards and corners in the house. (3/25) 2 corners and 1 cupboard cleared and cleaned. 
2. Do 25 fun activities with family. (2/25)
3. Go out for 25 walks per month. (3/25) 
4. Lose 25lbs. (8/25) 
5. Read 25 books. (1/25)
6. Save 25 of each domination of coin (if I can find £2's lol) 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 £2, £5, £10, £20
7. Treat myself 25 times this year. (2/25)
8. Watch 25 new to me films (1/25)
9. Chill Out activity (2/25) completed 2 diamond art activities.
10. Declutter 25 bags or boxes of unwanted items from the house. (2/25)
11. Knit 25 items. (0/25)
12. Spend 25mins sorting out my emails and photos. (2/25) have unsubscribed from a lot of places
13. Make 25th of the month a "me" day. (1/12)
14. Complete 25 DIY jobs in the house. (0/25)
15. Make 25 visits to the local church. (3/25)
16. Make 25 extra payments to my debts. (5/25)
17. 25mins of Gardening per week. (1/25)
18. Use up 25 toiletries from the stash. (2/25)
19. Tell myself "NO" 25 times. (4/25)
20. Make or bake 25 items. (2/25)
21. Sell 25 pins from my collection. (5/25)
22. Learn 25 new things this year. (0/25)
23. Drink 25 glasses of water a month (0/25) 
24. Listen to 25 pieces of classical music. (2/25)
25. Purchase 25 items to prepare for unexpected events (2/25) bought 2 light bars that have been charged up already - Well this one came in handy for the storm last week! 

It's great to see so many of us all working towards better things, new things or just old style things.  

It's also good to hear that others are appreciating our challenges.  The one who said thank you for keeping in touch.  I love this.  This is the exact reason why I still send Christmas cards every year, as you never know who needs that pick me up.  To know that someone has taken the time to write a card, and address it, can put a smile on someones face, or change their mindset for the day.  That to me is charity.  That is showing someone you know personally that they are worth something. 

I'm now off to start a bit of housework.  I've already added them to my tally up above so I've gotta do it now lol.

easyasonetwothree

This is a great thread, thank you for your ideas! Can I ask a question - why is "Buy gift cards for Christmas" on some people's list? Purely intrigued!

IrishRose12

easyasonetwothree said:

This is a great thread, thank you for your ideas! Can I ask a question - why is "Buy gift cards for Christmas" on some people's list? Purely intrigued!

To give as gifts for Christmas.  Well that's what I do with mine anyway so I'm assuming that's their reason for buying them. Or depending on the store it can be a way to save money each month and use for Christmas spending on gifts or even for the sales. 

I buy 5 lush gift cards in January and top each one up with money each month, then the kids have a field day in the lush sale lol.