I need to get my act together - anyone else?!

[MillieMoodle]

I really need to get my act together - my house is a mess and needs a bloody good clean, I don't look after myself properly so always feel scruffy, I'm overweight since having 2 DC and I permanently feel stressed and like I have no control over anything.

So I am going to take back control. I would like to be an oasis of calm and serenity, preferably 2.5 stone lighter, obviously much slimmer, with decent hair, nails and eyebrows, a lovely clean house and the ability to turn down a chocolate bar once in a while. I also want to be able to wear a bikini on holiday next year without feeling quite so wobbly. It starts today!

Anyone else up for it?

Well I feel like today is already more successful - I’ve made the curry (after having to go back out to the shop to buy more chicken as mine had gone out of date 🙈), I’ve tidied the living room, showered my youngest and I’m just having a quick 15 minute break then I’ll do the small pile of ironing I have that I’ve been putting off for a good week or so then it’s off to work for me.

I had no breakfast, Mcdonalds for lunch, pringles, hummus, Haribo and chocolate for dinner, then thought I might get scurvy so ate an apple!

@flowerstar19 I think we would get on very well IRL 😂

Not a bad day here today. I managed to get out for a walk at lunch time and then went for a long walk this evening with DH and DC. Have done almost 17k steps which is a first for me! I did eat a Krispy Kreme doughnut at work but haven't snacked this evening which is another first.

17k steps is fantastic, I've probably managed 700!
I'm a dog groomer so stand in the same spot all day, I work from home so my commute is around 20 steps, I'd planned to walk the dogs after work but it was pouring down so I didn't go, no excuse really as I have the means to dry them easily.

Food wise though I've done ok, I had around 1300 calories which is much lower than before.
It feels good to have a couple of days done.

I've just applied for a 0% interest balance transfer credit card and been accepted.

We've had a shocking financial history and are slowly rebuilding our rating, but every month over £100 in interest is added to my credit card bill, BUT NO MORE!

Admittedly I was more excited about choosing the design of my new credit card, rather than the potential grown-upness of the situation, but it's still a start

Gosh and me again). I only have one room to clean (perhaps why I am not bothering??). need to lose weight, get myself smarter looking, more organised, budget properly.

Well done @treacherouspissflap
I know that feeling very well. I have downloaded my bank app for the first time and actually looked at my statement properly for the first time in a long time.
I found a shop has taken a payment twice from me last month which I have rung up about.
And my gym membership was ridiculous. We had a family one which is pointless as I am the only one who goes.
So I have been in and changed it saving myself 50 pound a month.
They also hadn't been given me the discount they promised so my next step is to email and ask for that back.
So far so productive !
Next step is a shower and laundry (always sodding laundry)
Then I am meeting a friend for a walk and a lunch.

@Gertie75 my friend has just re-trained as a dog groomer (she loves dogs but can't have one in her flat) but is having to do it as a sideline only, can't afford to give up her (very well paid!) IT job as it's a bit of a saturated market round here. She'd love to do that and/ or dog walking as a career though. Must be lovely working with doggies all the time!

Credit card design is very important @TreacherousPissFlap my financial history isn't great either - went on a debt management plan some time back - everything is now paid off though and actually my credit score isn't that bad, surprisingly. I'd like to take out a credit card to improve it but don't trust myself not to (over) use it yet.

@Howlongtillbedtime brilliant productivity!! I took the DC to the park this morning and they crashed out on the way back, still fast asleep as they'd been up since 6.30 this is good in one way as it gives me time to arse about on MN do some tidying, but it also means I'll have to take them out again later to tire them out for bedtime..... sigh!

I’ve just invoiced for some work I did in December last year! It’s been sitting at the top of my to-do list for 8 months.

Thanks @Gertie75 ! I sit in an office all day so if I don't go for a walk I end up with less than 3000 steps.

@TreacherousPissFlap well done you! And the design of the credit card is important, I always wanted one that was covered in smarties.

Sounds like there is lots of motivation which is great.

I managed a walk at lunch time and am about to go for another walk. Currently on 5,929 steps. Aiming for at least 15k today.

Lots of bags to the charity shop today.

RubySlippers77 Yeah I do love my job, dogs are so much friendlier and easier to be around than a lot of humans, I don't think I'd cope in a work environment surrounded by lots of people and politics!

How's everyone got on today? It's lovely reading about all the positive things people are doing to make their lives a bit happier.

I've done well again, only 3 days in and my stomach feels flatter already, I know 3 days isn't much at all but I've struggled to do 3 hours this year and so it feels like a big achievement, it's also bought it home how much my rubbish diet affects every part of my life, it brings my mood down so I don't take care of my appearance, I lose interest in going out so friendships suffer, I then get down and so can't be bothered with all the housework so do the minimal.

Good to hear everyone’s progress. I’ve had a good week on the home front as OH and dd have been away camping. I’ve still been to work but the house is much calmer. Completed a huge declutter and took 6 massive Ikea blue bags to the charity shop. Did 2 weeks worth of ironing yesterday and changed the beds.
Had a bit more time so did my hair and wore some brighter coloured clothes and 2 people commented so that was nice.
I’m doing less well with the diet, exercise and budgeting!
Need to sit down and work out what I want to eat and then shop for it. Still can’t decide whether to join a gym to go swimming. It’s £20 a month which is cheap but worried I just won’t get time to go! Maybe I should try it just for 6 months.
Budget wise - I’m skint! I did a really good budget last month that we stuck to and it worked! Stupid that we didn’t do the same this month. Going to sit and try to work it out, ready for when we get paid on 15th.

We're in month 2 of our budget joyful and I have to say it's faintly addictive

I'm still getting to grips as I'm paid monthly, DH weekly and a small pension payment 4 weekly so it's not been as straightforward as I'd imagined. Think we're nearly there now and I feel like a proper grown up! It's also scary to see how much money we must have wasted by not meal planning - my weekly budget is £100 (there's only three of us so that's still generous) When I looked back I realised we spent almost double that some weeks

@Joyfulincolour brilliant decluttering!! I have several bags ready for the charity shop too, getting them collected this week. The DC are back at school Tuesday and I'm going to make a massive to do list..... the house is an absolute tip, tons to sort/ organise/ clean, and don't even start me on my (lack of) a budget and meal plan.....

How are you doing your budget @TreacherousPissFlap? I still haven't found a way I like/ can stick to - paper/ spreadsheet/ app etc. Really must start though as September will be a tight month, have to pay up front for a term of swimming for the DC.

I think we spend too much money on food too - but I watched this episode of EWFL and felt positively frugal!! www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/tv/documentary/viewers-slam-eat-well-for-less-stupid-family-22000-year-food/

(The BBC website has some handy bits about food shopping too: www.bbc.co.uk/food/diets/eat_well_for_less_game#sa-link_location=programmes_superpromo_image&intlink_from_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fprogrammes%2Fm0005xp9&intlink_ts=1567377600141-sa)

joyful have you thought about doing Couch to 5k instead of the gym? Saves you the £20 a month and it'll give you an idea whether you've got time for the gym.
I've signed up to ours a few times and lasted about a month

I'm being more dedicated with walking the dogs, I'd become lazy and lately seem to drive them somewhere then throw the ball and watch them exercise while I amble slowly around the park.
This week I've been walking over our local common which is quite hilly and making sure it's a brisk walk, I can really feel it on my legs.

My diet fell apart a bit this weekend, dh & I are going through a bit of a sticky patch and spending two days together has driven me to the biscuit tin a few times.

@Treacherouspissflaps - what's the secret to the budget? How are you doing it?

My bank account allows me to have all these additional saver accounts bolted on, so I have one for groceries, one for the car, one for the freeloaders pets etc.

When the pension comes in it is distributed immediately to the saving accounts.

The weekly things like fuel (£30 a week) I add up what we've spent at the end of the month, and take that away from however many Fridays have been in the month. The excess goes into the "car" savings account.

I don't think mines as organised as it should be but it's been really useful nonetheless, and I have a supreme feeling of adulting when I see my savings pots with money in them

Hello! Am I too late to join this lovely thread? Are you all skinny vegan millionaires already, just chatting about the stress of booking helicopter Ubers in LA?

If you’re not all finished yet, I’d love to join you. After a really slothful summer, I’m feeling fat, out of control, skint, ashamed and lazy!

I’ve bought that CGD London planner (the discount code CASSANDRA15 gets you 15% off) and so looking forward to DC going back to school and Sixth Form this week.

My goals:

• Lose 3 stone
• Exercise every day, for health as well as beauty
• Do a beauty thing every day. Self care is so important; without it, I get all grumpy and take it out on everyone.
• Give up booze Mon-Fri
• Work 5 hours a day, minimum. I’m freelance and could be earning really well if I just put my mind to it. I went for a lovely job interview last week, but even then I was thinking that I could be earning the same money from home if I applied myself. DS2 starts secondary this week so I’d really like to be here for him when he gets home.
• Cook healthy meals - I’m paying for the WW online program and really like it, so I just need to use it!
• Keep us to a family budget

My goal for feeling a bit better is DH’s birthday party at the end of September. I’d hate to be there feeling fat and frumpy.

Me too? Have a stone to lose, and a pretty humongous debt to tackle. Also need to keep on top of housework and home improvements whilst working full-time. Could do with the support!

Getting my act together starts shortly. For now I am utterly exhausted and counting the minutes hours until the DC go back to school tomorrow. The house is an utter shit tip and I have zero energy to do anything, it's all been sapped by relentless toddler moaning and squabbling. The new (hopefully improved!) me will be here soon...

Today I have mostly been sitting on my arse watching day time tv ! Not quite what I had in mind for my last day of the holidays.

Back to school tomorrow and I am hoping the routine will help.

I am going to write down everything I spend this month and look at trying to save money. My oldest ds seems to always be needing / wanting something.

Yes I’ve had a lazy / unproductive day today too! I’m hoping to look at the finances when school restarts.

My life is basically on hold until school restarts!

Can i just placemark for tomorrow

Back to normal today , looking forward to getting back into routine.
Does anyone have any good soup recipes? As a money / calorie saver I am looking at healthy lunches. Any other lunch ideas appreciated.
Bullet journal (fancy notebook really) all set up for the week.
I did get put for an hours walk yesterday after being so lazy all day. The less I do the less I am motivated to do.

I hope everyone has a productive day.