Encouragement

A Satisfactory Step!

I took a big step tonight- I told GI Joe "no" for the first time in 2013, and I meant it!
No! Not like that, silly!
GI Joe has a tendency to be impulsive. He also has an extreme addiction to tattoos. Throughout the years, we've spent thousands and yes, I said thousands, of dollars on his tattoos. Granted, he has about 2 dozen and they pretty much cover his entire body, but still. I don't have any, so I don't get the fascination. I never had a problem with GI Joe spending money on his tattoos. It is something he loves and is passionate about, and to be honest, it's his hard-earned money to spend. Either way, today, GI Joe got a call from his artist that he'd be in the area at a convention and wanted to do a tattoo for him at a discounted price for the competition. Now anyone with ink knows that tattoos can typically cost anywhere between $50-$1000, depending on the size, color, the artist, etc. His artist wanted $200 for a $400 tattoo. Good deal, right?
Wrong answer.
$200 is a chunk of money that I could very well use in quite a few of my 2013 goals. It could go into savings, or towards a portion of debt. Either way, something extraneous like a tattoo, is not in the plan.
So I said "no".
And you know what? I don't feel guilty. I don't feel like I'm in the wrong. I feel like I am doing what I need to do to make sure my family stays on track and is more successful in the future. I made a promise to myself and to my family that we would not flounder in debt. We will flourish as long as we have the self-discipline and motivation to get out of the hole that we're in. It will only guarantee a better future for all of us.
Someday, I want to be able to send our children to dance class, or soccer camp, or piano lessons. I want to be able to give them the things that I had and more. I know that in order to do that, we need to get out of the financial place that we're in, and move on to higher grounds. I know the only way to do that is to keep practicing "no". "No" to things we don't need, "no" to impulsive spending, "no" to GI Joe, and most importantly, "no" to myself. I know it takes a lot to get to where I want to be, but I'm willing to put in the effort to get there! Cheers to 2013!

Small steps...

In the spirit of a new year, I've begun taking small steps towards my goals. I paid the bills for the month, set up our budget, and got to thinking about how to save here and there. I first started by removing my payment info from accounts like iTunes, xbox live, among others. I've found that it is just too easy for GI Joe and I to rationalize small purchases like a song here, or an app there and before we know it, we've spent $50 a month in the apple online store. I am also in the process of contacting my cell phone provider to adjust our plan. We have SO many anytime minutes that never get used, so I am going to lower the plan in hopes of saving a few $$$. It is amazing how much small savings adds up overall- so I'm going to do what I can to pinch pennies where ever there may be room!

2013 Goals

Every January 1st, I try to write down my resolutions and goals for the year. I'm a list person by nature, and it also helps to keep me accountable. I am realistic enough to realize that I may not accomplish my goals, but I always set them for the sake of motivation to better myself and not become stagnant in my ways. This year, the first portion of my goals follows a sequence of "5".  So here goes!

• Save $5k (This was a goal that I also had last year. It was derailed by a PCS move and a baby, but this year, I'm determined.)
• Run 500 miles. (To some, this seems like a lot, but if you break it down, it's less than 10 miles a week. I know I can do that.) I will be keeping a mileage tracker here, so you'll be able to follow my progress!
• Try 50 new recipes. (There are 365 days in a year, and we eat three meals a day, I can definitely do this!) I'm going to do my best to share them here!
• Workout 5 days a week/Run 5 races

I do have a few other goals that I'll b working on that don't follow my "5" rule:

• STICK WITH THE BUDGET! The only way I'll reach my savings goal is to follow the budget.
• Pay off a chunk of debt. I know it's a slow process, but this year, I'm determined to make more progress.
• Drink water! At least 64 ozs a day- 32 oz in the AM, the same in the PM. 
• Coupon. Another way to reach my financial goals is the save where I can- groceries are a great start!
• Meal plan. I did this is 2012, and the results were amazing! We were eating healthier, and saving a ton of money!
• Send cards/gifts/letters.
• Correspond in a timely fashion! Yikes-I am terrible with returning calls/texts/messages within a reasonable amount of time. I'm working on it.
• Finally, blog. I'd like to say I want to blog every day, but I really don't. I'm going to try more for 3-4 times a week.

I'm sure there are more, but these will do for now. I don't think I'm reaching for the stars this year, as much as trying to just better my life and my families'. With the help and support of GI Joe and the rest of our family and friends, I am certain that all of my goals are attainable. I'm going to go work on our budget now, and hopefully tie up any loose ends from 2012. I'll keep you posted on the progress of my goals!