A new year

It's that time of year again. Time to reflect. Time to plan. Time to feel hopeful about what is to come.

I tend to turn inward around the holidays and keep it until the new year. I don't know if it's the busyness of the season or the shorter days or both. It's not all bad. I use it as time for personal reflection, thinking on the person I have been this year, the person I want to become over the next year.

It's not all "lose 20 pounds, organize the house, read a book a week" (though all of those things would be nice). It's about relationships, personal goals, growth, grace -- giving and receiving. It's about intentional living.

I want to be more intentional with my family and in my homemaking. I want to challenge myself more in the kitchen, try new recipes. Explore, have fun. I want to have a date with my husband regularly. It doesn't have to be a date out. I'm good with a Netflix show or movie on the couch but without the glow of iPhones lighting up our faces. I want to create a chore / commission system for our kids. Y'all, they're old enough to help out.

I want to be more intentional with my personal goals. I want to read more (read 30 books in 2015). I want to continue my pursuit of personal finance education (love it!). I want to earn more money (more than $3 surveys here and there). I want to ask for help more often. I want to continue to build healthy, loving relationships with friends and family.

2016 is my year of living with INTENTION.

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What are your goals for 2016? (Besides not writing 2015 for the first two months.)

2012 Goals - Review

Since we're almost a week into 2013, I thought it was time to review 2012 goals. We didn't accomplish everything, but we made pretty good progress.

FINANCIAL:
Monthly budget/financial progress meetings with J-bird -- This happened for a few months and then fizzled out. We got busy with my school, J's work, and life with two little kids.
Plan and realize another income stream -- didn't happen
Invest set amount in J-bird's Roth IRA (by end of January) -- done
Medical savings = $4,000 max out of pocket - $1,000 flex spending account balance = $3,000 -- didn't happen, but thankfully we didn't need it!
Emergency fund- hit set goal by May, it's 5 months of living at our current (with extras and savings) or 8 months of barebones living -- done!
Pay down balance on car loan -- woot! We're doing it and hope to have the car paid off in the next few months.
Fund kids' college savings-- $100 for each month of age for each kid by end of year -- totally didn't happen, but with grandparent gifts and a few deposits here and there, we're closer to the goal.

HOUSE
Emergency Preparedness Kit - assemble by March -- done!
Fence Repair - we decided to repair the hole in the fence for now (by June), and will replace the fence next year -- done! We had originally estimated $200 to repair it ourselves but realized how little time we have and paid professionals to do it in an afternoon for $400.
Trim Trees - we don't really want to spend money on it but it's a necessary part of homeownership (by March) -- done! $785 with a coupon
Paint Entry, Shoe Storage (February to April) -- done! Again, we paid someone to paint, especially the wall above the stairs, and it was done in an afternoon. Shoe storage from IKEA. Under $500.
We also opted to have the exterior (trim, doors, and shutters) painted professionally. It was worth every bit of the money we spent and will help to protect our home.

PERSONAL
Potty train Goose -- done, done, done!
Build a new computer (J-bird) -- done and he's so happy with it.
Move Baby Boy to his own room - he's practically ready now -- done
Scrapbook the kids' lives (really just use up what supplies I have so I have more space at my desk) -- yeah, right. I had no time for anything in 2012. Maybe next year...?
Work on improving blog -- right... life is so much busier with 2 kids than we had imagined.

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How did you do on your 2012 goals? Did you set goals for 2013? We're working on ours now and hope to have them finalized soon.

Goals- April Update

Here's a review of our goals for 2012 with notes on our progress. How are you doing with your goals?

FINANCIAL:
Monthly budget/financial progress meetings with J-bird -- January, February, March, April

Plan and realize another income stream

Invest set amount in J-bird's Roth IRA (by end of January)

Change auto deductions from J-bird's paycheck from his Roth IRA to mine

Medical savings = $4,000 max out of pocket - $1,000 flex spending account balance = $3,000

Emergency fund- hit set goal by May, it's 5 months of living at our current (with extras and savings) or 8 months of barebones living

Pay down balance on car loan

Fund kids' college savings-- $100 for each month of age for each kid by end of year Depositing a set amount each month to hit our annual goal

HOUSE
Emergency Preparedness Kit - assemble by March We already have a lot of supplies, need to review and complete. 

Fence Repair - we decided to repair the hole in the fence for now (by June), and will replace the fence next year.

Trim Trees - we don't really want to spend money on it but it's a necessary part of homeownership (by March) Done and I even had a coupon for our cheapest quote. Yes! $785 for two trees removed, a giant branch threatening our shed, and the bradford pear trimmed by an arborist.

Paint Entry, Shoe Storage (February to April) We've gotten a quote for painting the entry ($240 not including paint), up the stairs and the landing. We would do it ourselves if it didn't involve above the stairs. We don't have time for injuries. We don't have time for much of anything, with the kids as young as they are. 

PERSONAL
Potty train Goose

Build a new computer (J-bird) Poor guy, he has it all planned out and he has shopped the heck out of it. I think the summer is the time to pull the trigger and let him go for it. I'm not as concerned about the cost as I am the time to do it. 

Move Baby Boy to his own room - he's practically ready now. Done! And I didn't even cry.

Scrapbook the kids' lives (really just use up what supplies I have so I have more space at my desk)

Work on improving blog Working on it, I've got some tabs (thanks hubs!) and I've spent some time thinking of new content... now to find the time to post. 

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What are your goals for 2012? What do you hope to accomplish? We're making progress, but life with 2 kids often gets in the way of best laid plans. 

Goals- March Update

Here's a review of our goals for 2012 with notes on our progress. How are you doing with your goals?

FINANCIAL:
Monthly budget/financial progress meetings with J-bird -- January, February, March

Plan and realize another income stream

Invest set amount in J-bird's Roth IRA (by end of January)  By end of February instead of January. We got busy.

Change auto deductions from J-bird's paycheck from his Roth IRA to mine

Medical savings = $4,000 max out of pocket - $1,000 flex spending account balance = $3,000

Emergency fund- hit set goal by May, it's 5 months of living at our current (with extras and savings) or 8 months of barebones living Woot!

Pay down balance on car loan

Fund kids' college savings-- $100 for each month of age for each kid by end of year Depositing a set amount each month to hit our annual goal

HOUSE
Emergency Preparedness Kit - assemble by March We already have a lot of supplies, need to review and complete. 

Fence Repair - we decided to repair the hole in the fence for now (by June), and will replace the fence next year

Trim Trees - we don't really want to spend money on it but it's a necessary part of homeownership (by March)

Paint Entry, Shoe Storage (February to April)

PERSONAL
Potty train Goose

Build a new computer (J-bird)

Move Baby Boy to his own room - he's practically ready now

Scrapbook the kids' lives (really just use up what supplies I have so I have more space at my desk)

Work on improving blog Working on it, I've got some tabs (thanks hubs!) and I've spent some time thinking of new content... now to find the time to post. 

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What are your goals for 2012? What do you hope to accomplish?

Goals- February Update

Here's a review of our goals for 2012 with notes on our progress. How are you doing with your goals?

FINANCIAL:
Monthly budget/financial progress meetings with J-bird -- Yes, we've had meetings for Jan and Feb, and we planned the budget together. Big progress.

Plan and realize another income stream-- not yet. We're doing well to make it day to day with both kids, J-bird's new role at work, and my grad class this semester. My survey earnings were all of $94 last year, and I can't count on winning blog and twitter giveaways as a source of income, though I did win quite a few last year. Lucky year, I guess.

Invest set amount in J-bird's Roth IRA (by end of January)-- It's on my list for this week! No reason for delay, except that it keeps getting moved to the next week and the next. This week.

Change auto deductions from J-bird's paycheck from his Roth IRA to mine

Medical savings = $4,000 max out of pocket - $1,000 flex spending account balance = $3,000-- I'm hoping to use some of our tax money for this goal.

Emergency fund- hit set goal by May, it's 5 months of living at our current (with extras and savings) or 8 months of barebones living-- We're on track to finish this by the end of February!

Pay down balance on car loan-- no progress yet

Fund kids' college savings-- $100 for each month of age for each kid by end of year-- We've made set deposits for January, and have more money set aside in the February budget.

HOUSE
Emergency Preparedness Kit - assemble by March-- not going to lie, haven't even thought about it

Fence Repair - we decided to repair the hole in the fence for now (by June), and will replace the fence next year

Trim Trees - we don't really want to spend money on it but it's a necessary part of homeownership (by March)

Paint Entry, Shoe Storage (February to April)-- we got the shoe storage from IKEA and took down some pictures, and we know what color we want. Now just to find time to paint... sleep less?

PERSONAL
Potty train Goose-- DONE! Brilliantly and without the anticipated fighting. She loves her big girl underwear, mostly Jesse from Toy Story, and has only had a few accidents. This will help the budget too, only having one in diapers now.

Build a new computer (J-bird)

Move Baby Boy to his own room - he's practically ready now-- I'm almost ready, maybe by the end of this month.

Scrapbook the kids' lives (really just use up what supplies I have so I have more space at my desk)

Work on improving blog-- I can't improve until I find time to write more. Again, sleep less?

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What are your goals for 2012? What do you hope to accomplish?

Goals for 2012

I have been reading Money Saving Mom's blog for quite a while now and she is such an inspiration. I've decided to take her lead on goal-setting and be more intentional about our goals this year. J-bird and I met and set our family goals for 2012.

Here they are if you want to help keep me honest. I plan on posting regular updates to let you know how much we've accomplished, or haven't.

FINANCIAL:
Monthly budget/financial progress meetings with J-bird
Plan and realize another income stream
Invest set amount in J-bird's Roth IRA (by end of January)
Change auto deductions from J-bird's paycheck from his Roth IRA to mine
Medical savings = $4,000 max out of pocket - $1,000 flex spending account balance = $3,000
Emergency fund- hit set goal by May, it's 5 months of living at our current (with extras and savings) or 8 months of barebones living
Pay down balance on car loan
Fund kids' college savings-- $100 for each month of age for each kid by end of year

HOUSE
Emergency Preparedness Kit - assemble by March
Fence Repair - we decided to repair the hole in the fence for now (by June), and will replace the fence next year  
Trim Trees - we don't really want to spend money on it but it's a necessary part of homeownership (by March)
Paint Entry, Shoe Storage (February to April)

PERSONAL
Potty train Goose
Build a new computer (J-bird)
Move Baby Boy to his own room - he's practically ready now
Scrapbook the kids' lives (really just use up what supplies I have so I have more space at my desk)
Work on improving blog

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What are your goals for 2012? What do you hope to accomplish?

Planning for 2012

I can hardly believe that Christmas has come and gone again. We were blessed with great time with family and lots of (too many?) gifts.

My favorite gift-- my beautiful and adequately nerdy Erin Condren Planner. I am in love! I'm using it to plan my daily life at home and our family schedule. I'm writing my to-do list for the day, what we're having for dinner, appointments, birthday reminders, anything my crazy little mind can think of. It perfectly satisfies my office supply and list-making obsessions.  

This weekend, J-bird and I are taking a few hours for ourselves (thankful for grandparents!) and planning 2012 goals for our family. Instead of resolutions, we will decide and write down our family goals for three major areas-- Financial, House, Personal. For example, last year two of our goals were to have a baby and pay off the car. We accomplished both of those and so much more. 

Here are some prelim goals for 2012:
Financial-- finish emergency fund, max out one of our Roth IRAs
House-- replace fence
Personal-- potty train Goose

Those are just a few of our goals. We have to decide on the rest of them together, as partners and leaders of our family, and assign priorities to each of them.
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What are some of your goals for 2012?