Goals for 2010!

Financial:
1. Emergency fund of $1000.
We recently have found the magic of Dave Ramsey, and his Financial Peace University. We haven't taken the class, maybe that would have motivated us a bit more, but we are happy with the way things have gone thus far. We have payed off both of our cars and have no credit card debt. Now we we need to build up an emergency fund and then make sure we don't tap into it unless it is an ACTUAL emergency!
2. Pay off Genny’s two smaller school loans.
FYI- school loans are debt!! Ours seem like such a mountain to climb that up until a few months ago I didn't even want to try. But we are breaking them up into smaller amounts and hopefully after a while we will be able to see actual progress. Baby steps up a mountain...
3. Save for special events; Kaela’s wedding, Colorado trip, cash only.
This is a big one for us because we never really paid much attention to Dave Ramsey's rule about cash only, we have put things on interest free credit cards and paid them off as soon as we could, tv, snowblower to name a few recent things. We never really saw it as a big deal until now. We know we have some pricey things we want to do in 2010 and for once we are going to try to do it without accruing any debt. I am sure we will spend our cash on hand more wisely with the idea that we can't do things we want to do if we don't have the money to do it. What a concept!
4. Start saving for a 20% down payment on future house by paying extra money to our current home loan.
Ever since we had Veronica's fifth birthday party in our house it has been clear to us that this house doesn't meet all of our wants. It fits our needs ok, but we like to throw parties and I like to be able to send the kids to a play room when they have friends over or I just need a break. Our home will work for us for now while we really try to pay off some school loans and save for a big down payment, but this is definitely a goal I would like to work toward more seriously.

House:
1. Finish all misc projects, before any new projects can start.
2. New shelving units in the basement.
If we are going to live here for any extended amount of time we need to have a place to put things. My new motto, a place for everything and everything in it's place! It has worked pretty well in our new bedroom but the stockpile of coupon items seems to be taking over the basement- we need to do something to manage this better!
3. Move Veronica and Felicity into same room and Peyton into his own.
4. New Shelves in closets.
The kids are starting to really grow into their own interests. Some of them are (like momma and daddy) board games and computer games, and we just need a place to put them all!
5. Seriously consider insulation in attic and back room.
The other night after a shower in the freezing cold basement, I went into our bedroom and the temp said 45 degrees, that is just too COLD! This goal needs to be moved to the top of the list!

Personal
1. Eat healthier meals
During our first biggest loser competition (we are currently in our second- and hopefully the message will resonate a bit better and this will be our last) my sister and her husband and our family would get together for Healthy Mondays! This really helped get our week started out on the right foot and we really enjoyed this time together. My husband got me a Biggest Loser cookbook for Christmas so hopefully we can start this tradition again and I won't have to search nearly as much for some healthy recipes!
2. Start a regular exercise routine, time to tone!
It doesn't do a person much good to lose weight if they are still really flabby and aren't seeing much difference in their waistline. I really hope to rectify this in the coming months!
3. Swim in a triathlon.
My cousin and I are talking about teaming up with another friend and doing a team triathalon, where one persona rides the bike one person swims and the other person runs. I think this would be a lot of fun and a good way to acheive some goals- such as becoming a more fit person!

Familial:
1. Family Date nights!!!
We have done this a few times and each time we do we enjoy it. I don't know why we don't do it more often, probably just laziness and a lack of a routine. If I were to really rate my goals, this would be number two, right below the part where I talk about not freezing to death in my room at night!
2. Home school 4 days a week.
We have started this already and so far so good.
3. More family prayer time.
I have a plan to incorporate this more into our daily life. It seems to me the things that are best for us are the things we are most willing to brush aside. I know God's promises, and I believe them, still it is hard to give up what I want to do for what HE wants me to do, even though in my heart I know I will be better off!


My friend published goals of hers last year and then did an update midyear. I was amazed to see all she accomplished with the passing of (not very much) time! This blog post isn't really for any of my faithful readers (do I still have faithful readers after two posts in the last six months?) it is for me, something where I can see what I have said is a goal and then in a couple of months come back with an update and (hopefully) see tangible results!