New Year, New Me

A question about : New Year, New Me

I am going to set myself a target to improve certain areas of my life in 2014.

I am in my 30s, Married and currently on adoption leave after adopting a toddler earlier this year. My DH is self employed and his earnings vary month to month.

My Goals are as follows

Pay Ј500 extra off the mortgage
Pay off credit card debt of Ј375
Save Ј2000 in various accounts
Generate Ј2000 additional income from vouchers, cashback etc
Lose 1 stone
So far for January 2014 -I am slightly ahead as I have been paid early - I have

Paid Ј35.50 off the mortgage
Saved Ј171
Anyone with me?

Best answers:

• Hi Mennie,
  Just wanted to say 'good-luck' for achieving your goals & congratulations on becoming a mummy (i have a 21 month old son). You've certainly made a great start
  I'm thinking of doing the 52 week save money challenge where in week 1 you save Ј1, week 2 = Ј2 etc until you're a week 52 = Ј52. This should equate to Ј1378 in a year.
  Have a great 2014!
• Thanks Flamingo
  I hade made a start towards my goals by listing 7 items on ebay yesterday and this morning I will be visiting to cashback sites to do the free clicks
  I am doing the weekly shop today and have a grand total of Ј0.91 of vouchers to use.
  I wont be able to save as much or throw as much at the mortgage for Jan and Feb and I need to pay off the credit card debt. From March until my adoption pay decreases I should be able to save more.
  The weight loss goal will not begin until 4 January after all the nice booze and chocs are gone
• Hello Mennie,
  I loved your old diary, you are an inspiration. Have subscribed to the new one. Congratulation on your little person and I look forward to reading the back on the wagon version for 2014.
  LGP
• Paid Ј24.50 off the debt
• Congrats on becoming parents I am planning on saving as much as possible in 2014 too..bring it on!
• I have one 99p bid on an ebay item. Every little helps
  I have done all available surveys and free clicks the last few days.
  So far Ј2.00 seems to have tracked.
  I know this doesn't seem a lot but my earnings/saving potential is limited so the only way I will achieve my goals is small amounts trickling in......
• Not too much to report
  I have a Ј10.00 mystery shop scheduled for Monday, have Ј1.54 in ebay bids and have been doing my daily clicks and surveys and averaging about Ј1.20 per day
  So far I have ....
  Saved Ј171/Ј200
  Paid Ј35.50/Ј500 off Mortgage
  Made Ј0/Ј2000 in additional money
  Paid Ј24.50/Ј375 off Credit Card
  Out of little acorns.......
• Not entirely very MSE, but spotted a topcashback offer Ј10.10 when you deposit Ј10 at sun bingo. 10p profit
  I played slots and won and just deposited Ј200 into my bank!!!
  very happy
• So far I have ....
  Saved Ј517.08/Ј2000
  Paid Ј71/Ј500 off Mortgage
  Made Ј227/Ј2000 in additional money
  Paid Ј225/Ј375 off Credit Card
  LOST 6LBS
  So far going great guns!!!
• Hi Mennie,
  That is a great update Well done on the money saving, paying off debts and also the weight loss!
  I have one question. Your credit card, is it at 0%? If not, Martin often advises paying off such high interest debt with savings as you could actually be losing money.
  Keep up the great work!
  MM x
• Yeah it's 0% We are stoozing Ј10K we normally transfer the money immediately from our bank account but we had a few unexpected things pop up.
  We have until April before the 0% ends
• Saved Ј540.08/Ј2000
  Paid Ј71/Ј500 off Mortgage
  Made Ј240.11/Ј2000 in additional money
  Paid Ј232.71/Ј375 off Credit Card
  LOST LBS - Scared to go on the scales
  The CC balance will be cleared in full next month, with one of my council tax free months.
  I also won another Ј100 on the slots using a cashback offer. Gamble Ј20 for Ј50.50 cashback and I also won Ј100!!
• Update for end of March - My April begins tomorrow due to pay months
  Saved Ј1106.16/Ј2000
  Paid Ј107.5/Ј500 off the Mortgage
  Made Ј538.55/Ј2000 in additional Money
  Paid Ј363/Ј375 off the Credit Card
  Lost 8lbs/14lbs
  Very happy with my progress one quarter way through the year.
  I am on target to meet and exceed all goals!!!
• April update
  Saved Ј1560.07/Ј2000
  Paid Ј144.00/Ј500 off the mortgage
  Made Ј538.55/Ј2000 in additional Money
  CREDIT CARD PAID OFF
  8lbs/14lbs lost