I'm not really a New Year's Resolution kind of gal. I mean, it's a nice idea and all, but hey, let's be real. Who really sticks to their resolutions? They're so last year!
The last few years I've ditched the whole Resolution thing and decided to focus on goals instead. I've always been a girl with a goal (or three), so this was very easy for me to do. So, what I did was buy a very pretty notebook. This is key, because I kept it out where I would see it often and it's so pretty, I couldn't help but want to pick it up. Inside, I wrote down my goals for the year. But more importantly, I wrote down just how I'm going to achieve those goals.
Lovelies, now is not the time to be vague. You are not to write down "Lose 20 pounds." Instead, exactly what are you going to do differently in order to lose 20 pounds? Or whatever it may be.
Last year my goals were mainly of the financial nature. I had some tidying up to do. Pesty divorces. And guess what? I did it.
I've been thinking a lot about 2010. Well, actually, I've been thinking a lot about the fact that I still feel like I am waiting for summer to start since we here in the Midwest never really had one this year, and here we are, almost January 1st. I feel so jipped. Anyway.
My personal goals for 2010 involve two F's: (get your mind out of the gutter!)
Fitness and Finance
To kick start the fitness goal, Country and I went and signed up a gym in our town last night. We are both super excited. I just know there is a hot body underneath the 20 lbs I've gained in the last 2 years (coincidence that I've been dating Country for 2 years as well, LOL?). I am so ready to fit in my clothes again. The last 6 months especially have been really annoying in regards to anything in my closet. I have been reduced to 2 pairs of jeans that actually don't cut off my circulation and a variety of sweaters that I would rather shrink and cut up and make into cute felt items than wear. Get out the violins.
So, yes, yes, we have joined the gym. Together. And I think that together part is going to be key since now I feel accountable. I was very consistent with my workouts for a long time and for a variety of reasons (bad reasons) just got lazy. I can't wait to feel strong again. . .to feel sore after a good workout. . . .and to feel in awe of what my body is capable of. I'm not gonna lie, I also can't wait to fit into those awesome jeans that came with holes already in them even though they cost me a ton of money. I LOVED those jeans and sadly haven't been able to wear them in quite awhile.
We're starting small. Baby steps. Go to the gym 3 days a week. Work up to where we want to be instead of crashing and burning. I won't bore you with anymore.
Second goal--Finance
This goal is two fold. First, I plan to pay off my car in 2010. I have my car payment set up so that I make a payment every week. I also have it set up so that the payments are a little more than they should be. So, every Friday, if I make an additional transfer, 100% of that amount will go towards the principal. By doing this, I will be paying it off 2 years early. Then, I plan to take what I would have paid towards my car payment and put that in an account so I can actually pay cash for my next vehicle somewhere down the line. Or have a baby. Are you paying attention?
Secondly, I have been thinking about all of my coupon stuff lately. Since I’ve been doing this “couponing thing,” it’s been difficult for me to translate my savings into actual money in the bank. I mean, my cabinets, fridge and freezer are busting at the seams, I donate tons of food & household stuff to the pantry, and I have a huge stockpile to sell at next summers garage sale (you go ahead and laugh---you won't believe how much of this I will sell!). I know I am getting so much more for my money. But, I believe I am probably spending about the same amount of money as before. So in 2010, here's what I plan on doing:
**Keep picking up the free stuff but be a little more selective about everything else—don’t chase as many deals just because they’re “hot” and run myself ragged.
**For the first couple of months, eat some of the food that has been in the house for awhile. Put in another way; shop my store instead of a bricks & mortar store. Continue to buy fresh produce, fruit, milk, eggs, etc, but actually put that stockpile to use before anything goes bad, which is the ultimate waste of money.
**During these next 2 or so months, put the money I am not spending on all those other deals into the bank. How much, I haven’t totally decided yet, since it is just Country and I and not a family of 4 or 5, but commit to sock away, at the very least, $100 each month.
So, what are your G-O-A-L-S for 2010?
Showing posts with label Coupons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coupons. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Some Thoughts on Couponing
It's no secret to my friends and family that I am Crazy for Coupons. I've always been a smart shopper, looking for bargains, stocking up on things I like when they're on sale, yada, yada. But this couponing approach that I've been doing the last 8 or 9 months has totally changed my way of thinking about shopping.
Each week it's a little challenge. I think, "What can I get for free or for pennies this week?" Thankfully, I am a really organized person and I probably spend an hour or two on Sunday mornings clipping my coupons, looking at the weekly deals, and getting organized for the week ahead. That may sound like a lot of time to some of you, but I can assure you that the savings are so huge that I wonder how I could not spend this time every week. I don't know for sure, but I would estimate that my savings are at least 50% and actually probably higher than that. We have never had more food, dog food, household products, and toiletries in the house than we do now and I spend waaaaay less than ever before.
Okay, enough about that. What I wanted to talk about is something I think is very important, not only at this time of year with winter looming ahead, but year round. And that is donating to your local food pantry.
I feel very blessed to have a good job, a steady paycheck and the organizational skills to be a crazy coupon lady. And I feel it's important to "spread the wealth" a little bit. Sometimes people just need a helping hand to get back on their feet again.
Some info from a local food pantry:
• Some are two-income families suddenly reduced to one income or no income due to loss of work
• Or they are working but struggling to pay bills and provide food for their families. Others are trying to cope with the break-up of a family or they may be single parents receiving little or no child support.
• Many are senior citizens having to choose between buying medication, paying utility bills or purchasing food
• They are your neighbors, co-workers, friends and, perhaps even, family
On Friday, I took a few minutes to call the township office by my house and ask some questions about their food pantry program. I had a really interesting conversation with the woman who answered my call and I asked her, "I assume you get a lot of canned goods like veggies and soup, but what would you say are some food items that you never seem to have enough of? That people always ask for?"
She told me there are three items that they would love to have more of. They are tuna fish, spaghetti sauce, and peanut butter. I asked her why she thought that was and her opinion was that because they are more expensive than canned goods. Plus, this is my own thought here, with those three items, a little goes a long way.
The ironic thing is that on any given week, I can get peanut butter and spaghetti sauce for pennies and sometimes free by shopping the way I do with my coupons.
As soon as I got home, I loaded up a box with all kinds of goodies, including pb and spaghetti sauce and I am so excited to drop it off on Monday morning.
So, I ask of you; next time you're out grocery shopping, or rummaging around in your pantry or cabinets, please take a minute or two to set aside some food staples to donate to your local food pantry.
Each week it's a little challenge. I think, "What can I get for free or for pennies this week?" Thankfully, I am a really organized person and I probably spend an hour or two on Sunday mornings clipping my coupons, looking at the weekly deals, and getting organized for the week ahead. That may sound like a lot of time to some of you, but I can assure you that the savings are so huge that I wonder how I could not spend this time every week. I don't know for sure, but I would estimate that my savings are at least 50% and actually probably higher than that. We have never had more food, dog food, household products, and toiletries in the house than we do now and I spend waaaaay less than ever before.
Okay, enough about that. What I wanted to talk about is something I think is very important, not only at this time of year with winter looming ahead, but year round. And that is donating to your local food pantry.
I feel very blessed to have a good job, a steady paycheck and the organizational skills to be a crazy coupon lady. And I feel it's important to "spread the wealth" a little bit. Sometimes people just need a helping hand to get back on their feet again.
Some info from a local food pantry:
• Some are two-income families suddenly reduced to one income or no income due to loss of work
• Or they are working but struggling to pay bills and provide food for their families. Others are trying to cope with the break-up of a family or they may be single parents receiving little or no child support.
• Many are senior citizens having to choose between buying medication, paying utility bills or purchasing food
• They are your neighbors, co-workers, friends and, perhaps even, family
On Friday, I took a few minutes to call the township office by my house and ask some questions about their food pantry program. I had a really interesting conversation with the woman who answered my call and I asked her, "I assume you get a lot of canned goods like veggies and soup, but what would you say are some food items that you never seem to have enough of? That people always ask for?"
She told me there are three items that they would love to have more of. They are tuna fish, spaghetti sauce, and peanut butter. I asked her why she thought that was and her opinion was that because they are more expensive than canned goods. Plus, this is my own thought here, with those three items, a little goes a long way.
The ironic thing is that on any given week, I can get peanut butter and spaghetti sauce for pennies and sometimes free by shopping the way I do with my coupons.
As soon as I got home, I loaded up a box with all kinds of goodies, including pb and spaghetti sauce and I am so excited to drop it off on Monday morning.
So, I ask of you; next time you're out grocery shopping, or rummaging around in your pantry or cabinets, please take a minute or two to set aside some food staples to donate to your local food pantry.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Garage Sale Success!
So I was a little reluctant to have another garage sale since my last garage sale ended in divorce. Seriously. That was the day that Fargo told me was movin' back home for the summer because we "needed a break. "
But, with all of my coupon craziness, my house was beginning to look like a store and I thought it was time to clear some of it out. I'm glad I did! Sister-in-Love came over with some of her cast-offs and we had a fun day and made some money to boot. Success.
It always amazes me though, how incredibly balls-y some people can be. I mean, it's a garage sale, the stuff is alreay cheap to begin with, and then you tell someone, "That'll be $10 please," and they ask if you'll take $2. Really? Seriously? And someone stole some stuff, which is a real bummer. For that person's sake, I'm glad I didn't see it and I'm glad Country wasn't home at that time.
About an hour before quittin' time, Country came out and told me he'd be happy to go out and gather the signs when the sale was over. How sweet. I asked him, "So, you're not going to break up with me?" He was confused. Once I explained, he laughed and smiled and said, "No baby, I'm not going to break up with you."
So I still have a boyfriend and more room in the house.
But, with all of my coupon craziness, my house was beginning to look like a store and I thought it was time to clear some of it out. I'm glad I did! Sister-in-Love came over with some of her cast-offs and we had a fun day and made some money to boot. Success.
It always amazes me though, how incredibly balls-y some people can be. I mean, it's a garage sale, the stuff is alreay cheap to begin with, and then you tell someone, "That'll be $10 please," and they ask if you'll take $2. Really? Seriously? And someone stole some stuff, which is a real bummer. For that person's sake, I'm glad I didn't see it and I'm glad Country wasn't home at that time.
About an hour before quittin' time, Country came out and told me he'd be happy to go out and gather the signs when the sale was over. How sweet. I asked him, "So, you're not going to break up with me?" He was confused. Once I explained, he laughed and smiled and said, "No baby, I'm not going to break up with you."
So I still have a boyfriend and more room in the house.
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