It’s that time of year where everyone talks resolutions, and I’m no exception! While I believe that you can resolve to make major life changes at any time of year (see going gluten-free over 18 months ago-BOOYAH), it really helps to have the motivation of a brand new year to get you going in the right direction.
Sp, viva la resolutions! I’m starting 2012 with some major resolutions/goals. By sharing these in a very public place my aim is to keep myself more accountable, and celebrate the start of something new.
FAMILY
Invest in Family:
There’s a lot of discussion in circles I belong to about investing in your business, and investing in general ;), but no one really talks about investing in your family.
Readers often ask me about paying off debt (since that is why I started this blog way back in January 2009), and how I did it. The truth is we haven’t completely dug our way out of debt (more on that in a minute). Instead we occasionally make very personal decisions like taking a trip to DisneyWorld with our kids, or updating our family room to make our lives better and more balanced.
This year I’m starting off 2012 with a vacation with just my husband and myself. We’ll be away for 6 days, and it’s the second time in our 14 years of parenting that we’re doing something that’s just about us. Well worth the expense as an investment in my marriage (something that will be around a lot longer than any house purchase, clothing, or debt!)
MONEY
photo credit: danesparza
Debt be Gone:
We still have debt to pay off. We make progress every month, including paying off my car, and we’ve been able to pay cash for many unforeseen emergencies that have come up. The flip side? We still have debt. This year I will refocus my time and efforts by using them smarter. I’ll let you in my plans, the success and the failure as I go, because keeping myself accountable (again) is a huge motivator for me and hopefully will help you my readers as well. Look for weekly posts, as well as more money series.
Work it, girl!:
I also plan to work harder and smarter this year to earn more money from my business. The best way to counteract debt is earning more money after all.
LIFE
Make Me Time:
I need to make more time to take care of myself. I used to be super fit and an exercise fanatic, eat extremely healthfully, and generally move a lot. In the last year as my online business has grown I’ve spent less time taking care of me. I plan to use my time more effectively so I can make me time happen more often. This will include regular checkups, plenty of rest, time with friends and family, as well as daily exercise.
Make Meal Planning Priority:
I’ll be sharing my grand plan to have 365 days of meals at my fingertips in 2012 early next week, but in the meantime I can say meal planning will be a huge priority for me for both health and cost savings.
WORK
Continue Working with Amazing People & Companies:
This is going to sound gushy and mushy, but I mean it. I’ve been wonderfully blessed this past year to work with amazing friends (see Splash Creative Media, and Just Centsible), as well as some pretty awesome brands (Kidworth, Upromise, Bill My Parents, Kmart, Chevy, PopSecret, and so many more) and look forward to continuing to work with them. It’s my passion, and I adore what I do.
Grow Centsible Life in a BIG Way:
I have some grand plans in my head for what I want 2012 to look like for the Centsible Life, but since you are the bread (gluten free of course) to my butter, I would love your feedback in the form of the anonymous, and quick survey below to make sure my direction is the same as yours. If you can’t view the survey in your reader or browser click here.
In agreement here, too, especially with the family and the better health. I’m tired of being tired. I also want to make the most of the time I have left with my ds3 who will be in school too soon. We have my dh’s car loan to pay off, and our home equity loan. Yes, in agreement. Here’s to a fantastic 2012!
Nodding my head in agreement-on pretty much every single one of your resolutions. Cant wait to see what you have in store for 2012— (and um that posse of yours: love, love, love!!) 🙂