My Goals and Realities for 2013

goals1

My niece said is perfectly on New Years Eve. She said “New Years Eve is not a life changing event. If your life sucked last year, it will suck tomorrow”…This can be taken many ways, but the way I took it was that you can’t sit back and expect “magical” things to happen. You have to work hard and be dedicated if you want things to change and you want to see your goals become realities.

With that being said, I am going lay out some goals for each month that I would like to accomplish, and then do a weekly update of how things are coming along. I encourage you to do that same. It would be great for you to even comment and keep me updated so that I know you are there working on your goals too!

My monthly goals chart for 2013:

January	Set up a budget Balance my checking Set up a debt payoff schedule Setup savings accounts Inventory stockpile Clean out and organize kitchen pantry Stock up on “Staple” items for pantry Go through all kitchen cupboards and drawers and remove unwanted items to sell or donate Rearrange and redecorate living room Minimize eating out to 2 times per month Cut grocery spending to $150/mo Get creative and cook 5-6 dinners a week (make a weekly menu) Use shopping lists and only go shopping once a week Use crock pot at least 1 a week Read scriptures every morning Read 2 books a month Spend time with kids doing crafts, games, activities, etc Teach my 5 and 8 year old the piano Move oldest daughter to her own room and reorganize bedrooms and toy room Eat less junkfood and drink more water Start doing situps and stretching Lose 5-8 lbs this month (total weight loss goal is 50 lbs)
February	Continue with the budget and make adjustments to what works and what doesn’t Keep checkbook balanced Review debt payoff schedule Review savings plans Review stockpile inventory and make a list of what we need to stock up on and what not to buy Clean out bathroom closet and get rid of unwanted items (shampoo, soap, etc that didn’t like) Clean and organize bathroom drawers Redecorate bathroom Continue to only eat out twice a month Review grocery budget and see how much was spent Review menus and shopping lists Make more crock pot and freezer meals Continue reading scriptures every morning Read 2 books a month Make creative homemade presents for my husband and kids for Valentines day Start home pre-school with my 3 year old Continue piano lessons for my 5 and 8 year old Spend time with my kids doing crafts, activities, games, etc Set up chore and rewards chart for kids Eat less sugar Keep drinking more water Keep doing situp and stretching, and start walking Lost another 8-12 lbs this month (total weight loss goal is 50 lbs)
March	Continue with the budget and make adjustments to what works and what doesn’t Keep checkbook balanced Review debt payoff schedule Review savings plans Review stockpile inventory / shopping list Organize hallway closets Rearrange and redecorate family room Review grocery budget and see how much was spent Review menus and shopping lists Make more crock pot and freezer meals Continue reading scriptures every morning Read 2 books a month Make creative homemade presents for my husband and kids for Easter Continue home pre-school with my 3 year old Continue piano lessons for my 5 and 8 year olds Spend time with my kids doing crafts, activities, games, etc Review chore and rewards chart for kids Shop winter clearance for coats for my kids for next winter Shop winter clearance for clothes for my kids for next fall/winter Eat more fiber Keep drinking more water Do situps, stretching, walking and add light weight Lose another 8-12 lbs this month (total weight loss goal is 50 lbs)
April	Continue with the budget and make adjustments to what works and what doesn’t Keep checkbook balanced Review debt payoff schedule Review savings plans Review stockpile inventory / shopping list Review grocery budget and see how much was spent Review menus and shopping lists Make more crock pot and freezer meals Continue reading scriptures every morning Read 2 books a month Continue home pre-school with my 3 year old Continue piano lessons for my 5 and 8 year olds Spend time with my kids doing crafts, activities, games, etc Review chore and rewards chart for kids Eat more fruits Keep drinking more water Do situps, stretching, walking, weights and add lunges Lose another 8-12 lbs this month (total weight loss goal is 50 lbs)
May	Continue with the budget and make adjustments to what works and what doesn’t Keep checkbook balanced Review debt payoff schedule Review savings plans Review stockpile inventory / shopping list Review grocery budget and see how much was spent Review menus and shopping lists Make more crock pot and freezer meals Continue reading scriptures every morning Read 2 books a month Continue home pre-school with my 3 year old Continue piano lessons for my 5 and 8 year olds Spend time with my kids doing crafts, activities, games, etc Review chore and rewards chart for kids Fun and frugal birthday party for my 5 turning 6 year old Eat more vegetables Keep drinking more water Walk the kids to school and walk to pick them up (continue situps, stretching, weights and lunges) Lose another 8-12 lbs this month (total weight loss goal is 50 lbs) Work in the yard and garden for at least 30 minutes a day
June	Continue with the budget and make adjustments to what works and what doesn’t Keep checkbook balanced Review debt payoff schedule Review savings plans Review stockpile inventory / shopping list Review grocery budget and see how much was spent Review menus and shopping lists Make more crock pot and freezer meals Continue reading scriptures every morning Read 2 books a month Continue home pre-school with my 3 year old and do summer school with 6 and 8 year olds Continue piano lessons for my 5 and 8 year olds Spend time with my kids doing crafts, activities, games, etc Review chore and rewards chart for kids Plan a mini family vacation to the Grand Canyon Eat more whole grains Keep drinking more water Play outside with the kids, sports, etc (continue situps, stretching, weights and lunges) Lose another 8-12 lbs this month (total weight loss goal is 50 lbs) Work in the yard and the garden for at least 1 hour a day (M-F)
July	Continue with the budget and make adjustments to what works and what doesn’t Keep checkbook balanced Review debt payoff schedule Review savings plans Review stockpile inventory / shopping list Review grocery budget and see how much was spent Review menus and shopping lists Make more crock pot and freezer meals Continue reading scriptures every morning Read 2 books a month Continue home pre-school with my 3 year old old and do summer school with 6 and 8 year olds Continue piano lessons for my 5 and 8 year olds Spend time with my kids doing crafts, activities, games, etc Review chore and rewards chart for kids Go camping / fishing Eat more fish Keep drinking more water Go on hikes with my family (continue situps, stretching, weights and lunges) Lose another 8-12 lbs (total weight loss goal is 50 lbs) Work in the yard and garden for 1 hour a day (M-F)
August	Continue with the budget and make adjustments to what works and what doesn’t Keep checkbook balanced Review debt payoff schedule Review savings plans Review stockpile inventory / shopping list Review grocery budget and see how much was spent Review menus and shopping lists Make more crock pot and freezer meals Continue reading scriptures every morning Read 2 books a month Continue home pre-school with my 3 year old old and do summer school with 6 and 8 year olds Continue piano lessons for my 5 and 8 year olds Spend time with my kids doing crafts, activities, games, etc Review chore and rewards chart for kids Frugal back to school shopping Go camping / fishing Eat more protein Keep drinking more water Goal weight loss should be met so maintain weight loss Work in the yard / garden for 30 minutes a day (M-F)
September	Continue with the budget and make adjustments to what works and what doesn’t Keep checkbook balanced Review debt payoff schedule Review savings plans Review stockpile inventory / shopping list Review grocery budget and see how much was spent Review menus and shopping lists Make more crock pot and freezer meals Continue reading scriptures every morning Read 2 books a month Continue home pre-school with my 3 year old Continue piano lessons for my 5 and 8 year olds Spend time with my kids doing crafts, activities, games, etc Review chore and rewards chart for kids Fun and frugal birthday party for my 1 turning 2 year old Start making or getting items for the kids Halloween costumes Eat more natural foods, foods from our gardens Keep drinking lots of water Goal weight loss should be met, so maintain weight loss Work in the yard/garden for 30 minutes a day (M-F)
October	Continue with the budget and make adjustments to what works and what doesn’t Keep checkbook balanced Review debt payoff schedule Review savings plans Review stockpile inventory / shopping list Review grocery budget and see how much was spent Review menus and shopping lists Make more crock pot and freezer meals Continue reading scriptures every morning Read 2 books a month Continue home pre-school with my 4 year old Continue piano lessons for my 6 and 8 year olds Spend time with my kids doing crafts, activities, games, etc Review chore and rewards chart for kids Fun and frugal birthday party for my 3 turning 4 year old Fun and frugal birthday party for my 8 turning 9 year old Finish Halloween costumes Start working on Christmas gifts and making homemade Christmas eve pajamas Can and preserve fruits and vegetables from the garden Keep drinking lost of water Goal weight loss maintained Work in the yard / garden for 20 minutes a day (M-F)
November	Continue with the budget and make adjustments to what works and what doesn’t Keep checkbook balanced Review debt payoff schedule Review savings plans Review stockpile inventory / shopping list Review grocery budget and see how much was spent Review menus and shopping lists Make more crock pot and freezer meals Continue reading scriptures every morning Read 2 books a month Continue home pre-school with my 4 year old Continue piano lessons for my 6 and 8 year olds Spend time with my kids doing crafts, activities, games, etc Review chore and rewards chart for kids Organized and frugal Thanksgiving dinner NO black Friday shopping – start a family tradition of setting up the Christmas tree and decorating this day instead Continue working on Christmas gifts and making homemade Christmas eve pajamas Hang Christmas lights and winterize yard before it gets too cold Clean up garden area and store gardening supplies Keep drinking lots of water Maintain weight loss
December	Review the budget for the year and see how we did Keep checkbook balanced Review debt payoff schedule Review savings plans Review stockpile inventory / shopping list Review grocery budget and see how much was spent Review menus and shopping lists Make more crock pot and freezer meals Continue reading scriptures every morning Read 2 books a month Continue home pre-school with my 4 year old Continue piano lessons for my 6 and 8 year olds Spend time with my kids doing crafts, activities, games, etc Review chore and rewards chart for kids Plan fun family activities for Christmas break Do a thorough deep clean of the house Keep drinking lots of water Maintain weight loss

This is still a bare minimum list of goals that I have set for myself each month. You have to have goals in order to move towards something. So take the time now and sit down and write out your list. It will literally take less than 10 minutes and you will feel so much better knowing you have something to work towards and accomplish! Even if I don’t get everything on my list done, I like to know that I am still accomplishing something and that things are moving forward!

Now I have my yearly list done, with goals for each month, I am going to break them down into the individual months and try and set deadlines so I can really get myself motivated.

I will keep you updated on this and share my ideas and experiences with you. Feel free to share yours too!