It's that time of year again...

I sit back and think about the year we've had... there have been ups, thankfully quite a few of those and also the dreaded downs, not so many but perhaps the worst kind possible this year...

The year started with my hubby and I sitting smug, sticking to our 5 year out of debt plan, we'd made it, all the scrimping and going without was worth it. We'd survived our first Christmas without the dreaded bills popping through the door in January. It felt fantastic.

We enjoyed our first ever holiday, we went to Mayblethorpe with the kids, a place very close to both our hearts, we enjoyed it immensely. We're very much looking forward to booking again for another holiday. I think Wales is on the cards next year.

We had a few ups and down car wise, it was costing us a fortune to keep bangers running, parts, failed MOT's and stress constantly meant us sitting down and working things out so that we could be definate that we could afford a newer car but on finance. We found a car that my hubby loved and went for it. It's our one bit of debt but I don't really think of it that way. The money we spend paying it off monthly, we have saved by way of parts and re-tests etc in the bangers that we were trying and failing to keep roadworthy in the first place....also it is a very pretty little red number ;-)

I had a bit of a think this year too, about what I would like to do, it's hard because we can't really afford for me to go out to full time work too, with bus fares, childcare etc we would pay out almost as much as I'd get in so it makes more sense for me to be at home looking after my disabled mam, while my dad is at work, being there for school runs and bringing up the monsters and making sure there is a hot meal on a clean worktop when the hubby gets in from work on a night. But to be honest sometimes the same 4 walls drive me around the bend. I'm a bit crafty and love to keep busy so I decided to start my own small business, nothing too big, something to keep me busy on a night when the hubby works shifts or a weekend when all the jobs are done. I started off a scented candle making business. I'm never going to give Yankee a run for their money but it's going well. If anything I've saved a fortune because I no longer have to buy them myself and the house always smells great!!

We come to the lows... my mam found out this year that she has breast cancer, I don't even like to write the word, it's hard to even say it, I can honestly say that in my whole life I have only ever felt as scared, when the drs told me my daughter wouldn't make it (she did thankfully and so will my mam if we all have anything to do with it). It puts everything into perspective, you hear about it happening to others and think 'oh thats awful' but it never really hits you until it directly affects someone you love. My mam has had an operation and is awaiting appointments for chemo and radiotherapy, then she'll be fine, I don't doubt it.

That just about brings us to the here and now, xmas has passed in a blur, we have tins of sweets and leftovers coming out of our ears. Kids are happy, hubby has another week off work and I'm looking forward to 2013, another January without the debt letters dropping on the mat. A trip to London in July with my sister to see Michael Buble and another family holiday to look forward to. I'm lucky really. My new years resolution this year, same as every other, lose weight, try not to nag as much and learn to say no.... one year they might stick...here's hoping..

Happy new year!!