Since I have already shared some blogging goals ^[1] with you, I want to get into the *meat* of my 2010 Goals on everything else. They are very similar to last year and I’m excited about this year and finally getting a few marked off the list!

Financial

This one is simple. We have consumer debt still. Consumer debt will be gone by March, 2010. What are we going to do specifically…

:: Eat from the Pantry

Specific to these goals, we are eating from our pantry this month. I planned using the recipes I have found throughout the year and entered in my Virtual Recipe Box ^[2]. Paul said he wanted potato soup this week. I told him I’d make him some instead of buying it. I did have to buy the potatoes though since we rarely have those on hand (they grow ears really fast in our house). So, I’ll be trying a new recipe that *hopefully* he will like :)

I am going to be more conscious of using our pantry items through this year too. While I do intend to stockpile on the necessities for our family, I will also be challenging my own processes ^[3] and thinking. I’m even going to make the boys’ birthday ^[4] cakes again ^[5] this year! I really did enjoy doing it (after the stress of getting it done was over).

:: Cut current grocery budget by 50%

I realized last year that I was shopping every few weeks, rather than weekly. I know that shopping weekly to hit all the deals is a great way to save even more. But, when I shopped every few weeks I would end up spending the weekly budget and maybe a little more. Seeing that I was doing that made me realize I needed to reduce the grocery budget.

Andon is still in diapers and drinks formula (milk allergies stink). I can at least get diapers at the drugstores while they are available with a reward. But, I can’t really save much on the formula since he already drinks an off-brand. He doesn’t drink as much since he’s older. I am going to try rice milk, I just have yet to find it in the store! But, he is very stubborn so that one will be interesting to see how he reacts to it.

With all of that (why do I always feel like you need all the details :), our new grocery budget is $200 for the entire month. That amount will include everything: Diapers, Formula, Food, Hygiene. We typically eat out once a week so the $200 will cover meals or food for at least 6 full days a week. I will be using my Savings Trackings Files ^[6] to track all my mad savings this year!

:: Weekly Cash

This year we will be more conscious about using cash for allowance items (lunches, coffee, etc). We will each have our set allowance and have it in cash each week. That way, if Paul wants to buy me a super special secret gift, he can save his allowance and surprise me (HAHAHA). Just kidding :)

Another aspect to this will be the allowance for our boys. We have always given our boys allowance, but never actually gave them the cash each week. We just kept a tally in our head and if they were out and wanted to spend their money, they knew how much they had. We are changing this aspect in that they are getting cash each week and will need to save. I think it will be good for their personal financial management learning too.

:: Cash Only Month

We will be doing another cash only month. We did this twice back in 2008 ^[7] {gah..I can’t believe we didn’t do this last year}. It was a great way to really just go without certain things for the month. I don’t know for sure what month (or months) it will be, but I will share when it comes around to it in case others want to join in too.

Savings

We are going on another Disney Cruise next year. I am going to start a Vacation account just for our Disney trip. The plan is to just have our account auto-deposit funds to the savings account. The goal is to have the entire trip fully funded before we go (and possibly even before we book it – crossing fingers).

We both will need new (to us) vehicles this year. We haven’t decided yet what we will purchase as we have a few months to figure that out. We will be saving each month in hopes that we can at least pay the majority in cash for at least one vehicle. We may potentially lease another vehicle even though I know Dave Ramsey despises that (and so do many others). However, if there is a financial benefit to doing that, we’re keeping the option open.

Weight Loss/Fitness

Yes, it’s still here! But, this year it’s going to be gone and then next year will hopefully be about maintenance. I still have 10 pounds to get to my official goal weight. Who knows, when I get there, I may even post my actual weight before and now…and possibly pictures! While it is annoying that I’m not there yet, I look back at the progress I’ve made and know that 70 pounds isn’t too shabby for anyone!

The other huge accomplishment I am going to do is run my first ever Half Marathon. By the time you read this, I will be getting ready for the gym and hitting the treadmill (I don’t do running in the cold at all). I am both excited and anxious about this. Excited for obvious reasons – to be able to achieve such a huge endeavor I have wanted to do for a while now. But, I’m anxious because it is a huge endeavor I haven’t yet achieved. I guess it wouldn’t be worth going for if I wasn’t a little nervous, huh?

I will continue to share my Fat Burnin’ Friday when I can. That kind of fell off the radar because of time. As I get into my training more and when I have time, I will be sharing with you here.

Organization

This is one that I will forever be challenged with. But, I am going to focus more on the domestic side and organization of our home. Part of this includes me managing my time better overall. I find that if I hop online at all before I get my day started, that puts me back an hour, or even more. I’m not going to get online and check email, deals or any social media sites until I have my exercise done, laundry started and a general quick pick-up of the house (at least once…the kids will likely destroy it multiple times as they normally do).

I will still refer to my Household Cleaning Task List ^[8] as I do weekly cleaning. If you have other ideas or tips in this area, I’m all ears :)

Faith

Last year, I joined a virtual book club, Bloom ^[9]. The first book we read was Crazy Love ^[10] and I would highly recommend it. I feel like that book was a way for me to look at my relationship with Christ and how I’m not totally crazy as I once was. Don’t get me wrong, I (and we) are seeking Him and listening in all things still. Last year just knocked us off course a bit. I am glad to start a new book with the book club called, Same Kind of Different as Me ^[11]. I’ve heard it’s another fantastic book so if you are interested in joining in, please visit Bloom ^[9]!

I also was contemplating reading the Bible in 90 days that many of my bloggy buds are doing. But, since I’m reading the above book, I think I may do that when I’m finished. I’m not going to buy the special Bible that breaks up the days. I plan on using my Bible and dividing the pages by 90 and read that many each day.

I am also going to start back again with sharing the song on Saturday. I have gotten out of that and my husband actually noticed. I didn’t stop for any particular reason, it was just merely time. I realized when I shared a song I would often look up scripture to reference and it became a quiet time for me.

Of course, part of the Faith part would be about being the wife, mother, friend, daughter, {fill in the blank} that God wants for me. Not my own desires, or others’ wishes – whatever God’s will is for me. I will, however, choose ^[12] and allow it to happen.

So, that’s what I/we have on the agenda for the year! It’s a lot and it kinda isn’t. I definitely see my biggest challenge being the domestic stuff (no big shocker there). But, I am going to do it and be glad in it (and all that stuff).

What are you goals this year?

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