I’ll tackle my resolutions for the family first. I am sure Melisa has a few to add, but I’d like to see us focus on these this year:
- Continue on the budget path – in 2008 we created a budget and have done a decent job sticking to it, however we can do better and this really needs to stick as the #1 family goal for the future.
- Pay down our debt – we are making a concerted effort to get completely out of credit card debt as soon as possible. We are using the debt snowball method to focus a majority of our budgeted resources on one credit card until paid off, then directing all of the budgeted resources to the final credit card until paid off. It’s going to take some time (i.e. will not be done this year), so discipline is a must.
- Reduce clutter and organize – we have a lot of stuff we don’t use any longer, will most likely never need again, or never needed in the first place. First step will be to get rid of (donate, sell on eBay or Craigslist, throw out) the excess, then step two is organize what we have left. Pretty much a year long process to do this well (given our abundance of free time!), so we’ll most likely tackle an area of the house at a time.
On to my personal resolutions:
- Read more – like actual books. I’ve got the whole RSS/feed reader thing down pretty pat and can digest an enormous amount of information. But actual books are important too. I plan on frequenting the library often this year and even take in an audio book from time to time, as well. Not to mention, reading with the girls too!
- End the year weighing 175 pounds – that means I have about 20 lbs to lose. My plan is to eat a little better, exercise more frequently, and spend a lot of time with the girls outside once it’s nice again.
- Blog on this site more – I’ve neglected the site in the past and Missy has taken up a good deal of the slack, but I need to contribute if this is going to be a meaningful conversation.
I could probably come up with a dozen for each list, but I’m going to stop at three in order to focus my efforts. All of these resolutions come down to the basics anyway: health (mental and physical), wealth, and family/friends.
Anyway, best wishes to all of our family, friends and readers in 2009!
Your resolutions are much better than mine: http://www.therealbrayfamilyblog.com/2009/01/new-years-resolutions-2009.html
One hint on the money stuff. What my wife and I do is we each have an allowance of $20/week for personal stuff during the week (we are much more frugal than most). This is Tim Horton’s, new DVD, useless knick-knack money, or (if we drank) bar money.
We also set aside $15/week for our monthly date-night and $10/week in daughter’s college fund.
Every other purchase, besides weekly grocery shopping, is discussed ad nauseum. We seem to do okay with that.
We are probably more frugal than that!
Our budget is set up pretty similarly, though.
One thing we definitely need to do more of is save for the kids… however, I’m still going to push the girls toward free tuition at Stanford!
The biggest challenge of the year financially will be figuring out child care when Melisa goes back to work in the Fall. It really added up quick when Lucy went, so I can only imagine trying to pay for three. We’re hoping a combination of family, adjusting my work schedule, and daycare will cover us without much of an increase over last year.