How is it possible that 1/12 of the year 2009 has already passed us by? January spelled ballgames and sickness for our family. Not a great combination for my New Year’s Goals. Here’s my update, and you can see how others are doing on their goals over at The Happy Housewife.
- Keep my home “company ready.” I’m not talking super-clean at all times, I just don’t want to panic when the doorbell rings.
I’m feeling pretty decent about this in the living room/dining room/kitchen areas, but please don’t ask to use my bathroom on a surprise visit! I’m still working on that one. It helps so much when I stay off of the computer first thing in the morning and get my rooms under control. - Spend time in daily personal devotions/quiet time/prayer time. This is definitely a “goes in spurts” thing for me. Looking for consistency here. Daily is not happening yet. I need to realize that first thing in the morning isn’t the only time I can do this. If it doesn’t happen then, I could always have some quiet time before heading to bed. I just need to make it happen.
- Continue to double our house payment (making many sacrifices along the way!) in hopes of having our home paid off in 3 years. (translated = 15 year loan DONE in under 6 years!!!) I feel good about this one. We’re doing it! Knowing that we will save 10 years and $9,000 is a huge motivator!
- Exercise four days a week. Again, more consistency needed. We’ve spent the last two weeks being sick with colds and a stomach virus. Not an excuse, I know, but the motivation sure isn’t there when I’m shlupping through my day. And, yes, I do know that regular exercise will help keep those sick bugs away, too!
- Continue to fund IRA and “vehicle fund.” (We add to our savings automatically from our checking each month. Works like automatic bill pay. We’re MUCH happier paying our savings for a future vehicle rather than paying interest on a current one. Interest = GAG) Good to go. The automatic savings makes this an easy one. Our tax refund has gone straight to the IRA accounts for the last 10 years, but we are seriously considering dropping it on the house payment this year.
- Increase charitable giving by $50 per month. We give, but I’m not sure that we give sacrificially. We’re doing this, too. It takes the right frame of mind, knowing that all gifts come from God in the first place, and realizing that we live in abundance. This is definitely one where we can’t worry about what everyone else has or what everyone else is giving. We’re only accountable to Him.
- Nail down a specific budget. I know, I know. *GASP* How God stretches my hubby’s teacher salary to do what we do each month is beyond me. When we’ve tried to budget in the past, it just never stretches on paper like it does in reality. Strange. I REALLY would like to see it on paper, though, so we’re gonna give it a shot again. (our current strategy — don’t spend money — really works pretty well!) I got this set up early in January. I’m finding it both incredibly cumbersome and fascinating at the same time to try to track every penny. Not easy, and a huge time sucker for me right now, but we want to keep plugging away at it to see what we learn.
- Limit my computer time. This one hurts. I’m going to shoot for 2 hours per day. Or 3. Hmmm, I will say my computer time has been more purposeful. I’ve done much better at staying off of the computer in the morning. That’s when I try to plow through the house stuff. I do as much blogging as I can during my youngest’s nap time, but I still need to reduce the time I spend in the evenings.
- Begin taking the 8 hours of classes that I’ll need to renew my teaching certificate in 2010… and decide exactly what classes I want to take. Haven’t even given this one a thought. Probably won’t in February, either.
- Write in my kids’ journals once a week. I have thought about this, but it hasn’t happened. We didn’t do any journaling at all in January. That must change, because there are so many things I want to be able to share with my kids about their childhood!
- Continue to research what healthy eating really is. Look into local sources and prices of raw dairy and farm fresh eggs. Not yet, aside from learning so much from a few favorite blogs that I read daily. I wish those ladies would just come to my house and do my shopping for me!
- Find a piano for our home and re-learn how to play. I used to really play. Then I got all busy and sassy in high school and quit. Big mistake. Use it or lose it… I lost it. I want it back. I’ve got some feelers out but haven’t purchased one yet.
- Do something with our bedroom. It’s clearly not been updated since way before we moved here. It’s a pit. An ugly soft green pit. Not very calming, or fun, or romantic… it needs help. It still needs help. Too often I neglect our bedroom because there are so many other things that need to be dealt with. Not an excuse. It needs to be done.
Not terribly encouraging, but I do have hope for February! How are you doing with your 2009 goals?
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Hey Amy,
Thought I would jot down that my husband introduced me to brussel sprouts, I just boil mine like I do with broccoli or cauliflower with a little butter, salt and pepper. I might add, I do not like brussel sprouts, but my children and hubby think it’s christmas everytime I fix them so I usually give in once a month.
I also thought about the fact that I receive a magazine from kraft foods called food and family, lot of really quick net recipes and it usually has a lot of kraft coupons. I didn’t know if you knew about it or not.
As for your new years resolutions, have mercy girl, you make some tall orders for yourself. I wish you luck on that!
I am impressed with the financial stuff! You are a rock star!
I wouldn’t call that a slow start… I would call it a great start! (And that’s even without dealing with the sickness you guys have had.) I think you’ve set some great, challenging goals for yourself. Me? The whole “New Year commitment” thing is too daunting to me. I tend to commit to things for Lent. If the 40 days goes okay, well, then I consider trying it for 365.
You’re doing great and you have some awesome goals. Don’t get discouraged by small set backs.
I’ve used Quicken to track and manage our finances for 13 years – whew! At times I’ve questioned the time it takes but we’ve paid debt off, saved and managed to stay afloat during hard times tracking this way. God has always been there for us. I loved reading your goals.
great goals…encouraging to me. i really resonate with numbers 7, 8 and 10.
Focus on the Family did this series once, not sure the title but it had to do with 2 degree changes, setting goals and then little by little make changes that steer you in the right direction. I have also found out that when I stay off the computer, SO much more gets done in a day. Stay motivated!!! Oh yeah, I also heard about this pastor who in the mornings would not eat breakfast until he had spiritually fed his soul, he said it was a great encouragement, lol.
you’re doing a good job and are off to a really great start!! thanks for motivating me to stay on top of my goals, as well as gauge where i stand at this point in relation to them. it’s all about accountability!!
You have definitely gotten a lot accomplished and working towards. That is awesome!!
What great goals you have for yourself and your family…there are many here I think about doing, too, but struggle to be consistent with. I love your take on frugality especially with being a SAHM and working on one income. I’m in the very very very beginning stages of working on our own frugal living in hopes of becoming a SAHM someday. However, it is a ton of work…hats off you !
I’m doing well on my goals. I do a weekly update every Sunday. Right now I’ve got 4 completed and 23 in progress (I’m doing 101 Things in 1001 days rather than New Year’s Resolutions).
I use Mint.com to track all my spending. It has helped me create a budget and will give me warnings via email if I exceed any budget categories. Great job with your goals!
Sounds great! I’m interested in knowing more about #10-the journals for your kids…are your children writing in them or are you writing something for them when they get older? This is a great idea! When I was teaching my students would journal every day and I would sometimes read them and comment my own thoughts…I thought of doing something like that when they got older. But I never thought of starting a journal by me for them. What a beautiful idea. If that’s what you do, I just may “steal” it from ya!!
Way to keep accountable! Sounds like you are doing pretty good too!!
I have a dream of keeping my house “company ready”, but with all of the homeschooling stuff, many people in a small space and small children, it is but a pipe dream. Sigh. LOL
Love your list and keeping yourself accountable with it.