Day 13

I've started Weightwatchers again. I was so narked with myself last time I gave up on it. It felt like an enormous waste of money when I wasn't committing. This time I've committed, but it hasn't stopped me gaining 5.5 pounds. Iconically, that has cost me £5.00 in membership fees. So it's expensive gaining weight.

I worked out that if I keep going to WW for nine months, that would both take me to my birthday, and cost me about £150. Nothing like seeing it in currency to leave a mark.

That, plus the fact that I've joined the swimming pool for the princely sum of £19 a month (that's about £1.70 a throw, for those playing at home), should get me moving.

Skinflint? Me?

Debt free by 35

I've found it quite hard to face up to what I owe. Mostly, it's because I'm annoyed that I owe anything at all. But that's done. I am where I am, and am just going to have to deal. I'm really chuffed, though, that I can look at my spreadsheets and money diary (God help me, I have a money diary) and know that I will be DEBT FREE BY 35.

And it's a long way from 35 to 65, or whatever the hell the government decides pensionable age will be in the future.

I really wish there was a magical bullet, that would get me to zero in a day. And I wish I didn't feel such shame at being where I am. But there we go. My Protestant work ethic comes with a side order of Protestant shame.

Promotion

So the thing that I've been working towards has come to pass - I've been promoted to project manager for a 6 month contract.

It's very exciting, but also scary and sad, because I need to leave my team and go down to one of the faculty teams, who do more conventional media production, and I'm worried that I don't know enough, won't know enough, and that I'll basically found out to be a fraud.

Like so many things, the thing that you want turns out to be bittersweet. But I'm looking forward to trying it out - I might really love it, and the bump in salary won't hurt.

Things done today to further the 'I am a functional adult' agenda

Finally contacted the pension scheme I had with Evil Magazine, to see if I can roll it into my university pension scheme. I can. They're sending forms. Yay.

Look at me, preparing for the future. I'd much rather have the £3000 now, thanks.

It's a fiscal plan, Charlie Brown

I've just spent a very happy hour doing a chart prediction of how much I could save by this time next year, by incrementally increasing how much I save. I really, really want to get up to saving that magical 10% of my yearly salary number. I'm realising that this is not out of the realm of reason. I just have to stick with the budgeting, no matter how crabby and sobby it makes me. Having my calculations work out - that will be a great reward. Even if Murphy's Law says I will end up putting my precious savings into something annoying, like fixing my car or finally going to the dentist.

My point is, if I can just get into this habit now, I will a) be in a sensible place that means I'll never have to start OVER; b) never be rich, but always have a cushion instead of hording coppers; 3) have a good 30 or 40 years of saving time left.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

This year was supposed to be the magical threshold year, that gets me from managing, kind of, to financial confidence. It's so bloody boring, but it HAD to be done.

And the fact that I know for sure I won't have to change jobs and therefore salary any time soon? A sweet, glorious relief.

Adding it all up

This is making me epically grouchy but also determined. I've been forking over £20 a month to Weightwatchers since July 2010, so that's £340 for gaining and losing the same m*****f*****g 5 pounds.

This ends straight after Christmas. I'm going to get to goal and then Weightwatchers will be FREE FOREVER.

£340!

£340!!

I'm horrified.