31 Days To Fix Your Finances, Day 9: Cleaning Up Your Expenses
Today we are supposed to evaluate our expenses with an eye toward cutting them down.
Honestly, there is nothing I'm willing to cut down or out. We've cut to the bone on most items. The only thing that is significant is our cable bill with is cable and internet and we got so much out of it, I can't see cutting it out and there's no real way to cut it down (darn packages that make you pay for channels you won't watch just because you want to get another channel).
The examples are:
Conserve energy by installing energy efficient items like CFLs, programmable thermostats, and intelligent power strips.
Buy fewer books by spending more time at your local library.
Buy less music by listening to music in your collection that you’ve never spent the time to appreciate.
Buy fewer clothes by selecting items that go well with much of the rest of your wardrobe.
Eat out less by buying a good cookbook that starts out at a beginner’s level and stocking your kitchen well.
Reduce insurance by calling your insurance carrier and looking at raising your deductible.
Reduce your credit card payments by calling your credit card company and requesting a reduction in your interest rate.
Reduce your bank fees by looking into no-fee or low-fee options at your bank - or at other banks.
Reduce your cable bill by eliminating unwatched premium channels or looking at other basic package options - or even consider eliminating it altogether.
Reduce your car payments by ending the leasing cycle and buying late model used cars instead.
We've already done all of this, a long time ago. I think they're good tips, they just don't apply to us right now.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Update on Day 3
Previously on Day 3 I set up a time line that included things to be done in the next 3 days. Umm, yeah, I kind of forgot about it, but here's my update:
1) Complete the Texas Master Naturalist course.
In the next 3 days I will confirm that they received my background check form. This is done, I've received my confirmation and even got the class list. It's 27 people - 14 women, 13 men.
In the next week I will find the schedule and get it added to my calendar. This is done as well, although it's Mr. Gaia that added it to the calendar.
Every week I will plan our family schedule to allow me to have the evening free. I've checked for conflicts so far and only have one conflict that will require either hiring a babysitter or taking the kids with me (with their DSs they should be fine)
Next month I will actually start the classes (yay!) Classes start February 6, I can't wait
In the next six months I will complete the classes and figure out the schedule to complete the necessary volunteer hours.
2) Complete Certified Arborist certification.
In the next 3 days I will find gather all of my study materials together. This is done
In the next week I will find a test date that works for me and register. My test date is April 18. I'm not registered yet because they don't have the registration forms available.
Every week I will study planning my time to study and have review before the test. I need to set up a schedule but haven't done it yet. Sigh.
Next month I will evaluate my study plan and make sure that I am studying the material as quickly as necessary to be ready for the exam.
In the next six months I will complete the exam and become certified (yay!)
3) Start a 529 plan for each of the boys.
In the next 3 days I will research the plan that will work for us (with an emphasis on social responsibility investments) and determine how much we will need to save for their education. Mr. Gaia has been researching plans (he's a wonderful man) and has decided that since Texas has no income tax, there's no real benefit to us if we keep the investment in Texas, but since the grandparents all live in Oklahoma, if they choose to contribute, they'd be better off if we set it up in Oklahoma. There's no social responsibility fund, but we can do community bonds.
In the next week I will evaluate the budget to figure out how much we can save. Mr. Gaia and I are working on this, I did get a small raise and his car is paid off next month. The plan is to figure out how much we will want to save for them (he believes strongly that they should have to use some of their own money) and how much we are willing to divert from debt repayment.
Every week I will put aside money to invest.
Next month I will evaluate if we are saving enough to actually cover most of their needs.
In the next six months I will have the plan started and have saved at least $1,000.
4) Continue to eat healthful and organic foods and lose this extra 20 pounds.
In the next 3 days I will list the vegetables and fruits I like. I haven't done this yet.
In the next week I will buy one new vegetable to add to my diet. Nor have I done this. Mr. Gaia has been doing the shopping
Every week I will track my calorie intake and nutritional value of my diet. I'm using fitday.com for this and so far it's going really well.
Next month I will figure out if I've managed to cut enough calories to lose weight.
In the next six months I will lose 10 pounds.
5) Grow a garden to provide at least 50% of our vegetables this year.
In the next 3 days I will make an inventory of my current seeds. Not done at all
In the next week I will clear a small area and plant one variety. Mr. Gaia suggests using containers and he's supposed to help me pick which ones and the potting soil.
Every week I will clear another small area and plant another variety.
Next month I will figure out a plan to grow all year round (yay! subtropics).
In the next 6 months I will supply at least 25% of our vegetables for our table.
Those are the short term goals. And now for the long term goals:
1) To work full time as a naturalist in a state or national park.
In the next week I will explore spanish lessons. I really need to do this. Mr. Gaia and I had talked about buying a program but we didn't and I don't know why we didn't. I'd rather do something at home than a formal class.
In the next month I will start working on my Master Naturalist and Certified Arborist certifications.
Every month I will learn about a new bird, animal, plant or tree and give mini lessons to my kids and any other kids around.
In the next year I will complete my Master Naturalist and Certified Arborist Certifications.
In the next 3 years I will learn spanish and at least be moderately conversant in it.
2) To provide financial and emotional support to my boys as they complete their college education.
In the next week I will work evaluate my budget with an eye to saving for college. We are working on this.
In the next month I will start funding their 529 plans.
Every month I will invest money in their plans.
In the next year I will invest $1,000 for each child.
In the next 3 years, I will make sure that each child has enough money saved to pay for at least one year of college (including books and housing expenses).
3) To find a meaningful and effective organization to work with as a volunteer and donor to work to achieve social justice.
In the next week I will seek to educate myself about the pressing issues in my area. Right now the most pressing issue is the border wall. I've found out that my work is apparently representing one of the landowners so I may have a chance to get involved in the lawsuit.
In the next month I will figure out what skills I can provide.
Every month I will donate at least a token amount to a worthy charity.
In the next year I will begin volunteer work with a worthy charity.
In the next 3 years I will involve my family in volunteering.
4) To maintain and healthy and active lifestyle including hiking and biking regularly.
In the next week I will figure out an exercise routine I can maintain. Other than walking to the school, I haven't figured this out. I'm making a conscious effort to have good posture which pulls in the abdominal muscles and speed walking.
In the next month I will start biking again.
Every month I will bike at least 10 miles.
In the next year I will figure out a way to bike to work.
In the next 3 years I will join a biking group.
5) To be financially independent and only work when and where we want.
In the next week I will make a list of all of our debts and liabilities. This is done
In the next month I will make a "snowball" schedule. Figuring this out - Mr. Gaia suggests we might want to invest while the stock market is low and our only debts are low interest.
Every month I will evaluate our expenditures versus our investment income.
In the next year I will figure out how much money we need to have invested to provide enough income to meet our current needs.
In the next 3 years I will pay off all debts except my mortgage and pay enough on my mortgage to have 75% equity.
1) Complete the Texas Master Naturalist course.
In the next 3 days I will confirm that they received my background check form. This is done, I've received my confirmation and even got the class list. It's 27 people - 14 women, 13 men.
In the next week I will find the schedule and get it added to my calendar. This is done as well, although it's Mr. Gaia that added it to the calendar.
Every week I will plan our family schedule to allow me to have the evening free. I've checked for conflicts so far and only have one conflict that will require either hiring a babysitter or taking the kids with me (with their DSs they should be fine)
Next month I will actually start the classes (yay!) Classes start February 6, I can't wait
In the next six months I will complete the classes and figure out the schedule to complete the necessary volunteer hours.
2) Complete Certified Arborist certification.
In the next 3 days I will find gather all of my study materials together. This is done
In the next week I will find a test date that works for me and register. My test date is April 18. I'm not registered yet because they don't have the registration forms available.
Every week I will study planning my time to study and have review before the test. I need to set up a schedule but haven't done it yet. Sigh.
Next month I will evaluate my study plan and make sure that I am studying the material as quickly as necessary to be ready for the exam.
In the next six months I will complete the exam and become certified (yay!)
3) Start a 529 plan for each of the boys.
In the next 3 days I will research the plan that will work for us (with an emphasis on social responsibility investments) and determine how much we will need to save for their education. Mr. Gaia has been researching plans (he's a wonderful man) and has decided that since Texas has no income tax, there's no real benefit to us if we keep the investment in Texas, but since the grandparents all live in Oklahoma, if they choose to contribute, they'd be better off if we set it up in Oklahoma. There's no social responsibility fund, but we can do community bonds.
In the next week I will evaluate the budget to figure out how much we can save. Mr. Gaia and I are working on this, I did get a small raise and his car is paid off next month. The plan is to figure out how much we will want to save for them (he believes strongly that they should have to use some of their own money) and how much we are willing to divert from debt repayment.
Every week I will put aside money to invest.
Next month I will evaluate if we are saving enough to actually cover most of their needs.
In the next six months I will have the plan started and have saved at least $1,000.
4) Continue to eat healthful and organic foods and lose this extra 20 pounds.
In the next 3 days I will list the vegetables and fruits I like. I haven't done this yet.
In the next week I will buy one new vegetable to add to my diet. Nor have I done this. Mr. Gaia has been doing the shopping
Every week I will track my calorie intake and nutritional value of my diet. I'm using fitday.com for this and so far it's going really well.
Next month I will figure out if I've managed to cut enough calories to lose weight.
In the next six months I will lose 10 pounds.
5) Grow a garden to provide at least 50% of our vegetables this year.
In the next 3 days I will make an inventory of my current seeds. Not done at all
In the next week I will clear a small area and plant one variety. Mr. Gaia suggests using containers and he's supposed to help me pick which ones and the potting soil.
Every week I will clear another small area and plant another variety.
Next month I will figure out a plan to grow all year round (yay! subtropics).
In the next 6 months I will supply at least 25% of our vegetables for our table.
Those are the short term goals. And now for the long term goals:
1) To work full time as a naturalist in a state or national park.
In the next week I will explore spanish lessons. I really need to do this. Mr. Gaia and I had talked about buying a program but we didn't and I don't know why we didn't. I'd rather do something at home than a formal class.
In the next month I will start working on my Master Naturalist and Certified Arborist certifications.
Every month I will learn about a new bird, animal, plant or tree and give mini lessons to my kids and any other kids around.
In the next year I will complete my Master Naturalist and Certified Arborist Certifications.
In the next 3 years I will learn spanish and at least be moderately conversant in it.
2) To provide financial and emotional support to my boys as they complete their college education.
In the next week I will work evaluate my budget with an eye to saving for college. We are working on this.
In the next month I will start funding their 529 plans.
Every month I will invest money in their plans.
In the next year I will invest $1,000 for each child.
In the next 3 years, I will make sure that each child has enough money saved to pay for at least one year of college (including books and housing expenses).
3) To find a meaningful and effective organization to work with as a volunteer and donor to work to achieve social justice.
In the next week I will seek to educate myself about the pressing issues in my area. Right now the most pressing issue is the border wall. I've found out that my work is apparently representing one of the landowners so I may have a chance to get involved in the lawsuit.
In the next month I will figure out what skills I can provide.
Every month I will donate at least a token amount to a worthy charity.
In the next year I will begin volunteer work with a worthy charity.
In the next 3 years I will involve my family in volunteering.
4) To maintain and healthy and active lifestyle including hiking and biking regularly.
In the next week I will figure out an exercise routine I can maintain. Other than walking to the school, I haven't figured this out. I'm making a conscious effort to have good posture which pulls in the abdominal muscles and speed walking.
In the next month I will start biking again.
Every month I will bike at least 10 miles.
In the next year I will figure out a way to bike to work.
In the next 3 years I will join a biking group.
5) To be financially independent and only work when and where we want.
In the next week I will make a list of all of our debts and liabilities. This is done
In the next month I will make a "snowball" schedule. Figuring this out - Mr. Gaia suggests we might want to invest while the stock market is low and our only debts are low interest.
Every month I will evaluate our expenditures versus our investment income.
In the next year I will figure out how much money we need to have invested to provide enough income to meet our current needs.
In the next 3 years I will pay off all debts except my mortgage and pay enough on my mortgage to have 75% equity.
31 Days To Fix Your Finances, Day 8
31 Days To Fix Your Finances, Day 8: Breaking Down Your Expenses
Today we're listing expenses that are not related to work. So my list:
Mortgage - $6,660
Phone - $840
Electricity - $900
Gas - $180
Fuel - $2,100
Water/Trash - $600
Student Loan - $2,160
Car Insurance (not actually monthly) - $960
Car Tags - $190
Inspection stickers - $20
Car Maintenance - $150
Home Insurance - $600
Property Taxes - $1,800
Maintenance Fee - $360
Groceries - $3,600
Kids' activities - $240
School lunches - $350
Car Payment (February is last payment!!) - $180
Paper products/cleaning supplies - $120
Gifts - $1,500
Cable - $1,560
Entertainment - $60
Clothing - $200
Eating out - $720
Medical costs - $300
Total - $26,350
I feel like I must have left something out because that doesn't seem high enough. If I figure it out, I'll edit this.
Next step is to add 10% to that number for incidentals. New total = $28,985Weekly total = $557.40
Final step is to divide that by our true hourly wage to figure out how much we work just to pay the standard bills - $557.40/$12.59/hour = 44.27 hours
Of course, this is double counting the fuel, so it's not perfect.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
31 Days To Fix Your Finances, Day 7
31 Days To Fix Your Finances, Day 7: Work For Your Dreams, Not Your Money
Forgive me - I'm really tired tonight. We had some amazingly strong south winds last night and they kept me awake. I would never have survived on the plains in the pioneer days - strong winds make me restless and irritable. And I awoke today with a scratchy throat and not much voice (a smooth, mellow voice though, it's not unpleasant to my ear), I'm wondering what kind of pollutants blew in on the wind - so much agriculture to the south and then Mexico beyond with its American factories that moved there so they wouldn't have to worry about cleaning up their pollutants.
That said, on with the exercise. Okay, this one is confusing for me in my sleep deprived state. So, I'll take it step by step:
1) list your ten goals
1) To work full time as a naturalist in a state or national park.
2) To provide financial and emotional support to my boys as they complete their college education.
3) To find a meaningful and effective organization to work with as a volunteer and donor to work to achieve social justice.
4) To maintain and healthy and active lifestyle including hiking and biking regularly.
5) To be financially independent and only work when and where we want.
6) Complete the Texas Master Naturalist course.
7) Complete Certified Arborist certification.
8) Start a 529 plan for each of the boys.
9) Continue to eat healthful and organic foods and lose this extra 20 pounds.
10) Grow a garden to provide at least 50% of our vegetables this year.
2) Under these goals, make a list of each of your debts as well
Car - $182.69
Student Loan - $10,425.96
House - $64,684.95
CC (0%) - $615.94
3) add one last item: living expenses
$3500/month (average includes car payment, etc)
4) At the very bottom, write TOTAL and then over on the far right, write the total amount of hours you work in a week
Total - 82 hours
5) First thing, until you’re sure how your life will be rebalanced, include 60% of the total hours under the item “living expenses.”
Living Expenses - 49.2
6) If you have debts, you should spend 25% of your hours on paying off the debts. Note that this is extra debt payments; your basic minimum debt payments are included in the living expenses. When (or if) you have no debts, all of the time going into your debts can go straight to your dreams.
20.5 hours
7) The remaining 15% should be assigned in equal pieces to your dreams.
12.3 hours - total 1.23 each
I'm thinking this is not going to go so well in the next few days. Our living expenses are going to be more than the 60%.
Forgive me - I'm really tired tonight. We had some amazingly strong south winds last night and they kept me awake. I would never have survived on the plains in the pioneer days - strong winds make me restless and irritable. And I awoke today with a scratchy throat and not much voice (a smooth, mellow voice though, it's not unpleasant to my ear), I'm wondering what kind of pollutants blew in on the wind - so much agriculture to the south and then Mexico beyond with its American factories that moved there so they wouldn't have to worry about cleaning up their pollutants.
That said, on with the exercise. Okay, this one is confusing for me in my sleep deprived state. So, I'll take it step by step:
1) list your ten goals
1) To work full time as a naturalist in a state or national park.
2) To provide financial and emotional support to my boys as they complete their college education.
3) To find a meaningful and effective organization to work with as a volunteer and donor to work to achieve social justice.
4) To maintain and healthy and active lifestyle including hiking and biking regularly.
5) To be financially independent and only work when and where we want.
6) Complete the Texas Master Naturalist course.
7) Complete Certified Arborist certification.
8) Start a 529 plan for each of the boys.
9) Continue to eat healthful and organic foods and lose this extra 20 pounds.
10) Grow a garden to provide at least 50% of our vegetables this year.
2) Under these goals, make a list of each of your debts as well
Car - $182.69
Student Loan - $10,425.96
House - $64,684.95
CC (0%) - $615.94
3) add one last item: living expenses
$3500/month (average includes car payment, etc)
4) At the very bottom, write TOTAL and then over on the far right, write the total amount of hours you work in a week
Total - 82 hours
5) First thing, until you’re sure how your life will be rebalanced, include 60% of the total hours under the item “living expenses.”
Living Expenses - 49.2
6) If you have debts, you should spend 25% of your hours on paying off the debts. Note that this is extra debt payments; your basic minimum debt payments are included in the living expenses. When (or if) you have no debts, all of the time going into your debts can go straight to your dreams.
20.5 hours
7) The remaining 15% should be assigned in equal pieces to your dreams.
12.3 hours - total 1.23 each
I'm thinking this is not going to go so well in the next few days. Our living expenses are going to be more than the 60%.
Monday, January 28, 2008
31 Days To Fix Your Finances, Day 6
31 Days To Fix Your Finances, Day 6: Your True Hourly Wage
Okay, today we take the last 2 days and use them to figure our true hourly wage.
So mine is - $21,905/1,700.5 hours = $12.88/hour
Mr. Gaia's is - $31,740/2,562 hours = $12.39/hour
I find it interesting that our wages work out the way they do. A lot of it is his commute and the fact that he takes an hour long lunch. I'm not sure that I think the hour long lunch should necessarily be included since he uses his lunch hour to do shopping and run errands, stuff one of us would have to do anyway, but for the purposes of this exercise, I'll leave it as it is.
Our combined hourly wage is - $53,645/4,262.5 = $12.59/hour
Sunday, January 27, 2008
31 Days To Fix Your Finances, Day 5
31 Days To Fix Your Finances, Day 5: How Much Did You Work Last Year?
Today we're figuring out how much time we spend at work and on work related activities. This will include our lunch breaks, overtime, commute, business travel, business dinners/parties, etc.
This is fairly easy for me. I have no business travel and no business dinners. I also don't take a lunch break or work overtime (much).
So mine looks like this:
6.5 hours/day for 46 weeks of the year.
8 hours/day for 4 weeks of the year.
Total time paid work - 1,655 hours/year.
My commute is 20 minutes per day.
Total time spent commuting - 83 hours
Lunch - 1 hour/day for 4 weeks = 20 hours.
Comp time. This is a bit harder, but basically has worked out to about 10 hours this year.
I need to subract out the 9 holidays I get each year - so that's 61.5 hours (regular work days and commute)
So my total time spent at work is 1,700.5 hours/year.
Now, Mr. Gaia's is much harder to figure out. He works odd hours and does have some business travel, but generally his odd hours are worked out with comp time. He also gets more vacation than I do, but I'm not sure how much - 3 weeks I think.
So here we go
8 hours/day for 49 weeks each year - 1,960
Commute - one hour/day - 245 hours
Travel (figuring that he averages travel one night/month) 16 hours *12 = 192 hours
Lunch - 245 hours
Minus his 10 holidays = 80 hours
Total time he worked this year - 2,562 hours.
Today we're figuring out how much time we spend at work and on work related activities. This will include our lunch breaks, overtime, commute, business travel, business dinners/parties, etc.
This is fairly easy for me. I have no business travel and no business dinners. I also don't take a lunch break or work overtime (much).
So mine looks like this:
6.5 hours/day for 46 weeks of the year.
8 hours/day for 4 weeks of the year.
Total time paid work - 1,655 hours/year.
My commute is 20 minutes per day.
Total time spent commuting - 83 hours
Lunch - 1 hour/day for 4 weeks = 20 hours.
Comp time. This is a bit harder, but basically has worked out to about 10 hours this year.
I need to subract out the 9 holidays I get each year - so that's 61.5 hours (regular work days and commute)
So my total time spent at work is 1,700.5 hours/year.
Now, Mr. Gaia's is much harder to figure out. He works odd hours and does have some business travel, but generally his odd hours are worked out with comp time. He also gets more vacation than I do, but I'm not sure how much - 3 weeks I think.
So here we go
8 hours/day for 49 weeks each year - 1,960
Commute - one hour/day - 245 hours
Travel (figuring that he averages travel one night/month) 16 hours *12 = 192 hours
Lunch - 245 hours
Minus his 10 holidays = 80 hours
Total time he worked this year - 2,562 hours.
31 Days To Fix Your Finances, Day 4
31 Days To Fix Your Finances, Day 4: How Much Did You Earn Last Year?
Okay, first we are supposed to state how much we made last year at all of our jobs. I have no record of how much I made at mystery shopping - I think it was around $100, but I don't know so I won't count it. So I have the one job.
Part time I made $26,000 with withholdings of $3,800 for a grand total of $22,200.
Next, we are supposed to list the costs associated with working:
Childcare - $10/year (Boys and Girls Club rocks!)
Driving to work, gas - $150 (figuring 2.80/gallon)
Driving to work, maintenance - $0
Wardrobe - $100 (this is probably an overestimate, I rarely buy clothes, my mom gives me so much)
Meals - $10 (rare occasions do I buy meals)
Gifts - $25
My salary after all expenses - $21,905
Mr. Gaia makes $36,600 with withholdings of $3,160 for a total of $33,440
Childcare (already accounted for in mine)
Driving to work, gas - $1,050
Driving to work, maintenance - $500 (an overestimation but the best I can do)
Wardrobe - $0 (uniforms are great!)
Meals - $150 (again, a guess, it's probably less)
Gifts - $0
His salary after all expenses - $31,740
Our total together - $53,645
We're in great shape since we are careful with our money. If I were to work full time, I wouldn't clear much more than I do now because of additional childcare expenses, that and the opportunity to shop over a lunch hour.
Okay, first we are supposed to state how much we made last year at all of our jobs. I have no record of how much I made at mystery shopping - I think it was around $100, but I don't know so I won't count it. So I have the one job.
Part time I made $26,000 with withholdings of $3,800 for a grand total of $22,200.
Next, we are supposed to list the costs associated with working:
Childcare - $10/year (Boys and Girls Club rocks!)
Driving to work, gas - $150 (figuring 2.80/gallon)
Driving to work, maintenance - $0
Wardrobe - $100 (this is probably an overestimate, I rarely buy clothes, my mom gives me so much)
Meals - $10 (rare occasions do I buy meals)
Gifts - $25
My salary after all expenses - $21,905
Mr. Gaia makes $36,600 with withholdings of $3,160 for a total of $33,440
Childcare (already accounted for in mine)
Driving to work, gas - $1,050
Driving to work, maintenance - $500 (an overestimation but the best I can do)
Wardrobe - $0 (uniforms are great!)
Meals - $150 (again, a guess, it's probably less)
Gifts - $0
His salary after all expenses - $31,740
Our total together - $53,645
We're in great shape since we are careful with our money. If I were to work full time, I wouldn't clear much more than I do now because of additional childcare expenses, that and the opportunity to shop over a lunch hour.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
31 Days To Fix Your Finances, Day 3
31 Days To Fix Your Finances, Day 3: Create A Plan For Each Goal
Today we are defining 5 specific actions for each goal.
For the short term goals our action plan should follow this format:
I will do this in the next three days.
I will do this in the next week.
I will do this every week.
I will do this in the next month.
I will do this in the next six months.
For our long term goals our action plan should follow this format:
I will do this in the next week.
I will do this in the next month.
I will do this every month.
I will do this in the next year.
I will do this in three years.
And awaaaaay we go ...
1) Complete the Texas Master Naturalist course.
Today we are defining 5 specific actions for each goal.
For the short term goals our action plan should follow this format:
I will do this in the next three days.
I will do this in the next week.
I will do this every week.
I will do this in the next month.
I will do this in the next six months.
For our long term goals our action plan should follow this format:
I will do this in the next week.
I will do this in the next month.
I will do this every month.
I will do this in the next year.
I will do this in three years.
And awaaaaay we go ...
1) Complete the Texas Master Naturalist course.
- In the next 3 days I will confirm that they received my background check form.
- In the next week I will find the schedule and get it added to my calendar.
- Every week I will plan our family schedule to allow me to have the evening free.
- Next month I will actually start the classes (yay!)
- In the next six months I will complete the classes and figure out the schedule to complete the necessary volunteer hours.
- In the next 3 days I will find gather all of my study materials together.
- In the next week I will find a test date that works for me and register.
- Every week I will study planning my time to study and have review before the test.
- Next month I will evaluate my study plan and make sure that I am studying the material as quickly as necessary to be ready for the exam.
- In the next six months I will complete the exam and become certified (yay!)
- In the next 3 days I will research the plan that will work for us (with an emphasis on social responsibility investments) and determine how much we will need to save for their education.
- In the next week I will evaluate the budget to figure out how much we can save.
- Every week I will put aside money to invest.
- Next month I will evaluate if we are saving enough to actually cover most of their needs.
- In the next six months I will have the plan started and have saved at least $1,000.
- In the next 3 days I will list the vegetables and fruits I like.
- In the next week I will buy one new vegetable to add to my diet.
- Every week I will track my calorie intake and nutritional value of my diet.
- Next month I will figure out if I've managed to cut enough calories to lose weight.
- In the next six months I will lose 10 pounds.
5) Grow a garden to provide at least 50% of our vegetables this year.
- In the next 3 days I will make an inventory of my current seeds.
- In the next week I will clear a small area and plant one variety.
- Every week I will clear another small area and plant another variety.
- Next month I will figure out a plan to grow all year round (yay! subtropics).
- In the next 6 months I will supply at least 25% of our vegetables for our table.
Long Term Goals
1) To work full time as a naturalist in a state or national park.
- In the next week I will explore spanish lessons.
- In the next month I will start working on my Master Naturalist and Certified Arborist certifications.
- Every month I will learn about a new bird, animal, plant or tree and give mini lessons to my kids and any other kids around.
- In the next year I will complete my Master Naturalist and Certified Arborist Certifications.
- In the next 3 years I will learn spanish and at least be moderately conversant in it.
2) To provide financial and emotional support to my boys as they complete their college education.
- In the next week I will work evaluate my budget with an eye to saving for college.
- In the next month I will start funding their 529 plans.
- Every month I will invest money in their plans.
- In the next year I will invest $1,000 for each child.
- In the next 3 years, I will make sure that each child has enough money saved to pay for at least one year of college (including books and housing expenses).
3) To find a meaningful and effective organization to work with as a volunteer and donor to work to achieve social justice.
- In the next week I will seek to educate myself about the pressing issues in my area.
- In the next month I will figure out what skills I can provide.
- Every month I will donate at least a token amount to a worthy charity.
- In the next year I will begin volunteer work with a worthy charity.
- In the next 3 years I will involve my family in volunteering.
4) To maintain and healthy and active lifestyle including hiking and biking regularly.
- In the next week I will figure out an exercise routine I can maintain.
- In the next month I will start biking again.
- Every month I will bike at least 10 miles.
- In the next year I will figure out a way to bike to work.
- In the next 3 years I will join a biking group.
5) To be financially independent and only work when and where we want.
- In the next week I will make a list of all of our debts and liabilities.
- In the next month I will make a "snowball" schedule.
- Every month I will evaluate our expenditures versus our investment income.
- In the next year I will figure out how much money we need to have invested to provide enough income to meet our current needs.
- In the next 3 years I will pay off all debts except my mortgage and pay enough on my mortgage to have 75% equity.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
31 Days To Fix Your Finances, Day 2
31 Days To Fix Your Finances, Day 2: Defining Your Goals From Your Values
Today's exercise is to figure out our goals in life based on our personal values.
Recap of my personal values:
1) The environment
2) Family
3) Social Justice
4) Health
5) Self Sufficiency/Financial Independence
First we are supposed to define our goals for the next twenty-five years.
Longterm Goals:
1) To work full time as a naturalist in a state or national park.
2) To provide financial and emotional support to my boys as they complete their college education.
3) To find a meaningful and effective organization to work with as a volunteer and donor to work to achieve social justice.
4) To maintain and healthy and active lifestyle including hiking and biking regularly.
5) To be financially independent and only work when and where we want.
Then we are supposed to define our goals for the next year.
Shortterm Goals:
1) Complete the Texas Master Naturalist course.
2) Complete Certified Arborist certification.
3) Start a 529 plan for each of the boys.
4) Continue to eat healthful and organic foods and lose this extra 20 pounds.
5) Grow a garden to provide at least 50% of our vegetables this year.
Today's exercise is to figure out our goals in life based on our personal values.
Recap of my personal values:
1) The environment
2) Family
3) Social Justice
4) Health
5) Self Sufficiency/Financial Independence
First we are supposed to define our goals for the next twenty-five years.
Longterm Goals:
1) To work full time as a naturalist in a state or national park.
2) To provide financial and emotional support to my boys as they complete their college education.
3) To find a meaningful and effective organization to work with as a volunteer and donor to work to achieve social justice.
4) To maintain and healthy and active lifestyle including hiking and biking regularly.
5) To be financially independent and only work when and where we want.
Then we are supposed to define our goals for the next year.
Shortterm Goals:
1) Complete the Texas Master Naturalist course.
2) Complete Certified Arborist certification.
3) Start a 529 plan for each of the boys.
4) Continue to eat healthful and organic foods and lose this extra 20 pounds.
5) Grow a garden to provide at least 50% of our vegetables this year.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
31 Days To Fix Your Finances - Day 1
31 Days To Fix Your Finances, Day 1: Your Five Main Values
Define the values by which we live our lives. This step challenges us to name and define the 4-6 main values that guide our lives.
1) The environment. It is very important to my family to consider the environment and live in a way to have the least impact on the environment and hopefully allow us to leave a better world for our children and grandchildren.
2) Family. Mr. Gaia and I are committed to raising educated and socially aware children. We are interested in them having the standard knowledge set but we are also very interested in making sure they have a deeper understanding of the shades of gray in life.
3) Social justice. I think this and our commitment to the environment go hand in hand. We desperately want to make this world more even and fair (I don't want to hear "no one ever said life was fair" I know that but can't see any reason why we can't work toward making it more fair).
4) Health. We work hard to make sure that what we eat is as healthful as possible and that our kids are being brought up to get enough exercise. We do this by trying to be the best models possible. We're human, though, so we do fail. But we are trying.
5) Self Sufficiency/Financially Independent. The plan is to be debt free and to be able to survive no matter what the economy does.
Define the values by which we live our lives. This step challenges us to name and define the 4-6 main values that guide our lives.
1) The environment. It is very important to my family to consider the environment and live in a way to have the least impact on the environment and hopefully allow us to leave a better world for our children and grandchildren.
2) Family. Mr. Gaia and I are committed to raising educated and socially aware children. We are interested in them having the standard knowledge set but we are also very interested in making sure they have a deeper understanding of the shades of gray in life.
3) Social justice. I think this and our commitment to the environment go hand in hand. We desperately want to make this world more even and fair (I don't want to hear "no one ever said life was fair" I know that but can't see any reason why we can't work toward making it more fair).
4) Health. We work hard to make sure that what we eat is as healthful as possible and that our kids are being brought up to get enough exercise. We do this by trying to be the best models possible. We're human, though, so we do fail. But we are trying.
5) Self Sufficiency/Financially Independent. The plan is to be debt free and to be able to survive no matter what the economy does.
New year, new financial you?
It's been a while since I posted. Largely because when I diet I hate life and don't want to do anything. Sigh. But I'm close to being back in some of my clothes I outgrew over the last year and a half. I realized it was either lose 20-30 pounds or go buy new clothes. But I have clothes that are classic styles and aren't outdated, so it seemed like such a waste to buy new clothes. Plus, if I lose weight the clothes I knit will use less fiber and with fiber prices, that's a good thing!
Mr. Gaia and I also ended up having a crisis. We got into a fight about the kitten (still not 100% on his litterbox, but he's getting fixed tomorrow) and we both ended up being fully open about our disappointments in life. He's disappointed because he wants to go to grad school at Cornell, but I won't move where it's that cold. I'm disappointed because I desperately want to have a baby girl but he won't have another child (which I do understand and get) or consider adoption (which I don't get). I've been having a hard time with the whole thing lately because several girls have given birth to baby girls lately - girls that didn't want to be pregnant and aren't that happy about having a kid at all. So I have had a bit of depression lately.
Anyway ... I've decided to funnel some of my energy into focusing on something I can change and make better. Our finances. An online community posted this article 31 Days To Fix Your Finances and then challenged us to try to follow the steps. So I thought I would do that here.
Mr. Gaia and I also ended up having a crisis. We got into a fight about the kitten (still not 100% on his litterbox, but he's getting fixed tomorrow) and we both ended up being fully open about our disappointments in life. He's disappointed because he wants to go to grad school at Cornell, but I won't move where it's that cold. I'm disappointed because I desperately want to have a baby girl but he won't have another child (which I do understand and get) or consider adoption (which I don't get). I've been having a hard time with the whole thing lately because several girls have given birth to baby girls lately - girls that didn't want to be pregnant and aren't that happy about having a kid at all. So I have had a bit of depression lately.
Anyway ... I've decided to funnel some of my energy into focusing on something I can change and make better. Our finances. An online community posted this article 31 Days To Fix Your Finances and then challenged us to try to follow the steps. So I thought I would do that here.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Adventures in knitting
I got some amazing yarn for christmas. Mr. Gaia got me some 100% alpaca wool and organic cotton from Diva Knitting and my mom got me some lionbrand wool.
So, I'm searching ravelry for the perfect pattern to show off my new yarns. Meanwhile, I decide I need to work on my skills so I decided entrelac was just the thing. I grabbed a ball of some kind of dk acrylic in pastel variegated and cast on for Quant.
Mr. Gaia was offended. He couldn't understand why I would use crap from my stash rather than my wonderful new yarn. He doesn't get the idea of searching for that perfect pattern. Besides, I'm waiting for Drops to release some of their new patterns. There are some that might be perfect.
That and I'm going to work on losing some weight so I'll use less yarn and have enough to make a (fitted) sweater.
So, I'm searching ravelry for the perfect pattern to show off my new yarns. Meanwhile, I decide I need to work on my skills so I decided entrelac was just the thing. I grabbed a ball of some kind of dk acrylic in pastel variegated and cast on for Quant.
Mr. Gaia was offended. He couldn't understand why I would use crap from my stash rather than my wonderful new yarn. He doesn't get the idea of searching for that perfect pattern. Besides, I'm waiting for Drops to release some of their new patterns. There are some that might be perfect.
That and I'm going to work on losing some weight so I'll use less yarn and have enough to make a (fitted) sweater.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Childbirth in the US
Amanda at Pandagon has a post up about a review of a childbirth video: Midwives and the cult of perfection.
She mentions that the review is very defensive and how sad it is that it has to be so.
As someone who has had a natural childbirth I find myself constantly being put in the position of defending my choice - no, I'm not crazy, no, I don't like pain, no, I'm not a masochist. Yes, it hurt but not as much as I thought, etc. I also hear rude things like "you don't get a medal, you know!".
It's very frustrating to me that women feel I'm going to attack their hospital birth just because I had an unmedicated birth so they attack me first. At one point, I knew a lot of women with unmedicated births and they all said all they had to do was say they'd had one and people started attacking them. None of them attacked the women or their choices, but they were attacked for theirs.
I hear a lot of people say they're just attacking first because they're always attacked. Hmm, can I use that as an excuse? No? I know, I won't sink to that level, but if they're "always attacked" I have to wonder what they said first. I've known some very rabid natural childbirthers and none of them attacked women. They told them the information they had been given was in error and peer reviewed studies have proven it and I guess that was attacking them.
She mentions that the review is very defensive and how sad it is that it has to be so.
As someone who has had a natural childbirth I find myself constantly being put in the position of defending my choice - no, I'm not crazy, no, I don't like pain, no, I'm not a masochist. Yes, it hurt but not as much as I thought, etc. I also hear rude things like "you don't get a medal, you know!".
It's very frustrating to me that women feel I'm going to attack their hospital birth just because I had an unmedicated birth so they attack me first. At one point, I knew a lot of women with unmedicated births and they all said all they had to do was say they'd had one and people started attacking them. None of them attacked the women or their choices, but they were attacked for theirs.
I hear a lot of people say they're just attacking first because they're always attacked. Hmm, can I use that as an excuse? No? I know, I won't sink to that level, but if they're "always attacked" I have to wonder what they said first. I've known some very rabid natural childbirthers and none of them attacked women. They told them the information they had been given was in error and peer reviewed studies have proven it and I guess that was attacking them.
Still having kitty problems
So Ronnie is still peeing outside of his litterbox. Sigh. He does great for a few days and then slips.
From what I can tell, I might have too much litter in his litter box, so I emptied it down to just about an inch to an inch and a half deep. I also added a liberal amount of baking soda to help neutralize any odor. Then I mopped the floor he tends to use the most and moved the box over it.
Now, he is going to spend most of his time locked in the bathroom with his food and water bowls and his litter box. It's not my first choice, by any means, but Mr. Gaia is really fed up. I'm going to give him liberal praise every time I hear him scratch in his box and will put him in his box and praise him while he's there.
I did switch litters and it helped for a time, so I'll stick with it for now.
From what I can tell, I might have too much litter in his litter box, so I emptied it down to just about an inch to an inch and a half deep. I also added a liberal amount of baking soda to help neutralize any odor. Then I mopped the floor he tends to use the most and moved the box over it.
Now, he is going to spend most of his time locked in the bathroom with his food and water bowls and his litter box. It's not my first choice, by any means, but Mr. Gaia is really fed up. I'm going to give him liberal praise every time I hear him scratch in his box and will put him in his box and praise him while he's there.
I did switch litters and it helped for a time, so I'll stick with it for now.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Grapefruit!!
In case you are trying to eat in season and don't know - citrus is in season now. Oranges are starting to get a little past their season, it started about November. Grapefruit, though, are in full prime right now. They start in late November and really come into their own in early January.
Our tree is COVERED. Yummy grapefruit!
I'm back to tracking my eating on fitday.com. And while I knew I wasn't eating much, I didn't realize that most days I wasn't breaking 1200cal if you left out the candy (which I didn't each much of in the first place). So, it appears I've totally screwed up my metabolism by not eating enough and exercising too much (not this year, this is past damage). Sigh.
Our tree is COVERED. Yummy grapefruit!
I'm back to tracking my eating on fitday.com. And while I knew I wasn't eating much, I didn't realize that most days I wasn't breaking 1200cal if you left out the candy (which I didn't each much of in the first place). So, it appears I've totally screwed up my metabolism by not eating enough and exercising too much (not this year, this is past damage). Sigh.
Monday, January 07, 2008
One week update
I'm happy to say that so far I've flossed every night and have been making the pitcher of tea last 3 days (I suspect Hyperion is drinking some of my tea, so this is an especially big victory).
I've been sucking at getting to sleep by 2am. Saturday night/Sunday morning it was almost 6am (yeah, exactly). Last night, Mr. Gaia woke up whimpering right at 2 - right as I was about to turn the light off. He managed to pull a muscle or something Friday night while sleeping and has had a horrible week. Last night was apparently the worst yet (of course, he refused to take the pain killer like I told him to). So, I got up and found the heating pad and got him set up out in the living room. I finally turned the light out at 3. At 3:20 I thought I smelled smoke and got worried about the heating pad (it's really, really old) so I had to check on him, it wasn't the heating pad, probably somebody burned trash or they're burning the fields or it was just my imagination. I think I probably got to sleep around 3:45.
I've been sucking at getting to sleep by 2am. Saturday night/Sunday morning it was almost 6am (yeah, exactly). Last night, Mr. Gaia woke up whimpering right at 2 - right as I was about to turn the light off. He managed to pull a muscle or something Friday night while sleeping and has had a horrible week. Last night was apparently the worst yet (of course, he refused to take the pain killer like I told him to). So, I got up and found the heating pad and got him set up out in the living room. I finally turned the light out at 3. At 3:20 I thought I smelled smoke and got worried about the heating pad (it's really, really old) so I had to check on him, it wasn't the heating pad, probably somebody burned trash or they're burning the fields or it was just my imagination. I think I probably got to sleep around 3:45.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Spring day
Today was one of those wonderful spring days that most people get in April or May. It was around 80F and breezy as all get out.
Perfect day to do laundry. I did one load, hung it on the line and it was dry long before the other load was finished washing. I only did the 2 loads and really should have done a couple more to take full advantage of the weather, but I have laundry on my couch from before Christmas (I, apparently, am the only one capable of sorting it for putting it away - yes, my kids are spoiled).
Some time back, Sally spoke of her adventures with sour dough bread. At the time I was working with amish friendship bread - which I've since killed. Yeah, I suck that way. But, I got a sourdough starter from a friend and decided to try it. I've kept it alive for well over a month (divided it once) and today I baked my first loaf. I was really afraid it would be VERY sour because it traveled to Oklahoma and back with me and wasn't refrigerated during the trip. But it turned out really well. Next time I do it, I'll plan to let it rise overnight and put it in the solar oven. I half wanted to do that last night, but we were out of flour and Mr. Gaia didn't want to drag out the grain mill while we were trying to get the kids settled down for the night (it is rather loud). I feel like we really wasted the sun today.
Hopefully tomorrow will be as sunny and breezy and I can get another load of laundry done. I'm not sure if I have anything to be cooked in the solar oven or not, but I'll ask Mr. Gaia to think to see if there is anything we can do.
Perfect day to do laundry. I did one load, hung it on the line and it was dry long before the other load was finished washing. I only did the 2 loads and really should have done a couple more to take full advantage of the weather, but I have laundry on my couch from before Christmas (I, apparently, am the only one capable of sorting it for putting it away - yes, my kids are spoiled).
Some time back, Sally spoke of her adventures with sour dough bread. At the time I was working with amish friendship bread - which I've since killed. Yeah, I suck that way. But, I got a sourdough starter from a friend and decided to try it. I've kept it alive for well over a month (divided it once) and today I baked my first loaf. I was really afraid it would be VERY sour because it traveled to Oklahoma and back with me and wasn't refrigerated during the trip. But it turned out really well. Next time I do it, I'll plan to let it rise overnight and put it in the solar oven. I half wanted to do that last night, but we were out of flour and Mr. Gaia didn't want to drag out the grain mill while we were trying to get the kids settled down for the night (it is rather loud). I feel like we really wasted the sun today.
Hopefully tomorrow will be as sunny and breezy and I can get another load of laundry done. I'm not sure if I have anything to be cooked in the solar oven or not, but I'll ask Mr. Gaia to think to see if there is anything we can do.
Cool site
"The Most Comprehensive Carbon and Lifestyle Calculator Available."
You can make different pledges and it will recalculate your carbon footprint automatically. It also offers lots of information to reduce your footprint as low as possible. But only up to 20/month. What sucks is that I'm already doing a lot of these things, but they don't have an option to just say "already doing it".
Mine is 245 with a carbon output of 9.3 right now. It will go down as soon as I can confirm some of my pledges for things I've been doing for years. It also compares your usage to your city, state, etc. So mine looks like this:
You can make different pledges and it will recalculate your carbon footprint automatically. It also offers lots of information to reduce your footprint as low as possible. But only up to 20/month. What sucks is that I'm already doing a lot of these things, but they don't have an option to just say "already doing it".
Mine is 245 with a carbon output of 9.3 right now. It will go down as soon as I can confirm some of my pledges for things I've been doing for years. It also compares your usage to your city, state, etc. So mine looks like this:
MY SCORE 245 9.3It helps me see how far I've come (comparatively speaking) and how far I still have to go. The cool thing is that it provides information to help you get even better numbers.
MY CITY 362 16.3
TEXAS* 381 17.2
UNITED STATES 351 15.1
WORLD 335 13.9
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Totally missing the point department
Mayor Mick Cornett of OKC has decided OKC needs to go on a diet. Full story is here.
Okay, if you read the story you'll see that they came up with their rankings by looking at: "lifestyle factors in each city, including fast-food restaurants per capita and availability of city parks, gyms and bike paths".
I doubt they are going to close any fast-food restaurants (and there are a TON in OKC).
Bike paths are almost non-existent, there's one (I think it's probably completed since it was close to being done when I lived there 3 years ago) that goes from "Hotel Row" on Meridian to Bricktown, I didn't know of any others and it wasn't exactly useful for anything other than going to Bass Pro Shop. But even if there were bikepaths, none of the stores have bike racks and even a lot of the libraries and schools don't have bike racks - so there's no place to park a bike when you take one. Motorists are downright hostile to bikers (driving as close behind as possible and honking and yelling at them - even when they could go around).
Sidewalks are almost nonexistent in most of the city. And you can't walk ANYWHERE. Most roads have no shoulder/breakdown lane and many are along unmown fields that probably have venomous snakes and certainly have ticks (so it's not safe to walk in the field).
Mayor Cornett would do better to plan and implement some bike paths, add sidewalks and bike racks and do a public campaign encouraging biking and educating motorists about bike safety (and ticketing the idiots that are hostile to bikers). Going on a diet will not address the things that got them on the fattest city list. It's another example of placing the blame solely on the individual and refusing to look at the community's culpability.
Okay, if you read the story you'll see that they came up with their rankings by looking at: "lifestyle factors in each city, including fast-food restaurants per capita and availability of city parks, gyms and bike paths".
I doubt they are going to close any fast-food restaurants (and there are a TON in OKC).
Bike paths are almost non-existent, there's one (I think it's probably completed since it was close to being done when I lived there 3 years ago) that goes from "Hotel Row" on Meridian to Bricktown, I didn't know of any others and it wasn't exactly useful for anything other than going to Bass Pro Shop. But even if there were bikepaths, none of the stores have bike racks and even a lot of the libraries and schools don't have bike racks - so there's no place to park a bike when you take one. Motorists are downright hostile to bikers (driving as close behind as possible and honking and yelling at them - even when they could go around).
Sidewalks are almost nonexistent in most of the city. And you can't walk ANYWHERE. Most roads have no shoulder/breakdown lane and many are along unmown fields that probably have venomous snakes and certainly have ticks (so it's not safe to walk in the field).
Mayor Cornett would do better to plan and implement some bike paths, add sidewalks and bike racks and do a public campaign encouraging biking and educating motorists about bike safety (and ticketing the idiots that are hostile to bikers). Going on a diet will not address the things that got them on the fattest city list. It's another example of placing the blame solely on the individual and refusing to look at the community's culpability.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Iowa caucuses
Can I say that the whole caucus process looks like pure hell to me? I HATE crowds. I can't stand the noise and the lack of space. I got itchy just watching it on TV and Mr. Gaia had to turn the sound off because I was going nuts.
If that was the process in my state, there is no way I could participate which would really bug me. I think I much, much, much prefer the way Oklahoma and Texas do it - just wander in and vote - seldom any crowds and NO noise.
I'm conflicted about my choices this term. I like Obama, but I'm not sure he's ready. I'm not sure I know enough about him, either. Hillary is simply not liberal enough AND she voted for the damned war. Edwards I liked until he rolled over and fired his bloggers just because of one little scandal - that is NOT a sign of a strong person, IMO.
In other news, Megan had her baby. She had her at 12:16am New Year's Day. The first baby born in the county in 2008. I'm still not sure about the whole "bedrest" thing. I am surprised that she wasn't induced by 12/20 but I wonder how much of what Megan said was actually truly what her OB said.
If that was the process in my state, there is no way I could participate which would really bug me. I think I much, much, much prefer the way Oklahoma and Texas do it - just wander in and vote - seldom any crowds and NO noise.
I'm conflicted about my choices this term. I like Obama, but I'm not sure he's ready. I'm not sure I know enough about him, either. Hillary is simply not liberal enough AND she voted for the damned war. Edwards I liked until he rolled over and fired his bloggers just because of one little scandal - that is NOT a sign of a strong person, IMO.
In other news, Megan had her baby. She had her at 12:16am New Year's Day. The first baby born in the county in 2008. I'm still not sure about the whole "bedrest" thing. I am surprised that she wasn't induced by 12/20 but I wonder how much of what Megan said was actually truly what her OB said.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Happy New Year
Our New Year started with a fight. Sigh.
My new dishwasher got here! Yay! But Mr. Gaia read the directions to say NO plastic at all on the bottom rack and was mad at me for putting them there and refusing to handwash the ones that wouldn't fit in the top rack. I read the directions, read them to him and he still refused to believe me. So I ran it anyway and of course the plastic is fine. Sigh.
New Years Night we walked around the neighborhood watching the fireworks and then decided to have our own countdown (since the only time pieces we had were our cellphones) when we saw the fireworks increase.
So today was a better day. LOL.
So resolutions. I like Sally's take on resolutions. Goals are a much better term. I also like her idea of taking it month by month and just starting a plan. I've combined that with the idea that you should add one good habit and drop one bad habit. The problem is, I long ago gave up the bad habits I am willing to give up. So I'm modifying that one a bit.
January:
Good habit - floss every night. I rarely floss and I should really start doing it. I have to go to the dentist this year (I'm paying for the freakin' insurance, I need to make sure I use it) and I would love to be able to say "Every night" when asked whether I floss or not. Being that this is a big change, I will give myself a break if I'm not perfect. No thinking I already blew it so don't worry about it.
Bad habit - one less glass of sweet tea/day (give or take). Right now my half gallon pitcher lasts me 2 days. I want it to last 3 days. And instead of replacing the tea with juice or milk, I'm replacing it with water.
February:
Good habit - Go to bed earlier
Bad habit - Stop staying up late
So this is the same thing. This is huge for me. I haven't gotten to sleep earlier than midnight in years. The only time I've done it since high school were the months when I was pregnant. I'm going to start slow. I've already set a goal of being in bed, lights out, by 2:00am. I'm going to work on that through January and in February I will work on refiguring my nightly routine to be in bed, lights out by 1:30. I will continue this and by the end of February I will be aiming for 1:00. It's still not enough sleep, but it's a start.
March:
Good habit - At least one vegetarian meal each week
Bad habit - stop eating out because it is convenient.
March is the month when soccer season is in full swing. Plus we have spring break (Mr. Gaia and the boys are talking about traveling to Oklahoma for this time, so it will be very tempting for me to eat out).
The family goal for January is to not eat out. We're recovering financially from traveling and the new dishwasher and presents.
My new dishwasher got here! Yay! But Mr. Gaia read the directions to say NO plastic at all on the bottom rack and was mad at me for putting them there and refusing to handwash the ones that wouldn't fit in the top rack. I read the directions, read them to him and he still refused to believe me. So I ran it anyway and of course the plastic is fine. Sigh.
New Years Night we walked around the neighborhood watching the fireworks and then decided to have our own countdown (since the only time pieces we had were our cellphones) when we saw the fireworks increase.
So today was a better day. LOL.
So resolutions. I like Sally's take on resolutions. Goals are a much better term. I also like her idea of taking it month by month and just starting a plan. I've combined that with the idea that you should add one good habit and drop one bad habit. The problem is, I long ago gave up the bad habits I am willing to give up. So I'm modifying that one a bit.
January:
Good habit - floss every night. I rarely floss and I should really start doing it. I have to go to the dentist this year (I'm paying for the freakin' insurance, I need to make sure I use it) and I would love to be able to say "Every night" when asked whether I floss or not. Being that this is a big change, I will give myself a break if I'm not perfect. No thinking I already blew it so don't worry about it.
Bad habit - one less glass of sweet tea/day (give or take). Right now my half gallon pitcher lasts me 2 days. I want it to last 3 days. And instead of replacing the tea with juice or milk, I'm replacing it with water.
February:
Good habit - Go to bed earlier
Bad habit - Stop staying up late
So this is the same thing. This is huge for me. I haven't gotten to sleep earlier than midnight in years. The only time I've done it since high school were the months when I was pregnant. I'm going to start slow. I've already set a goal of being in bed, lights out, by 2:00am. I'm going to work on that through January and in February I will work on refiguring my nightly routine to be in bed, lights out by 1:30. I will continue this and by the end of February I will be aiming for 1:00. It's still not enough sleep, but it's a start.
March:
Good habit - At least one vegetarian meal each week
Bad habit - stop eating out because it is convenient.
March is the month when soccer season is in full swing. Plus we have spring break (Mr. Gaia and the boys are talking about traveling to Oklahoma for this time, so it will be very tempting for me to eat out).
The family goal for January is to not eat out. We're recovering financially from traveling and the new dishwasher and presents.
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