2 months down, 10 to go

Time to update with progress on the New Years Resolutions.

1) The resolution to save money is currently not a goal. Financially it is not possible until either our income gets bigger or our necessary expenses get lower.

2) As of right now I have submitted 4 out of the 10 layouts that I'm going to submit this year. None have been published, but one of these days that might change...

3) Scrapbooking 2007 - I'm working through last summer so I'm making progress but I still have a TON of pictures. Hey, at least I'm actually SCRAPBOOKING! I finally finished up all of my Branson pictures.

4) Woo-Whoo! Our combined credit card total for the month was not only less than $1500 it was less than $1100! Go Us! Due to our financial situation right now we really need it to be less than $1000 rather than $1500, but getting it to $1100 is such a huge improvement over last month.

1 month down, 11 to go...

Well, it's the end of January which means it is time to look at how I'm doing on my goals for 2008.

1) I set up the automatic savings thing. But then due to Ruben being taken off workmen's comp and not getting paid, I had to cancel it after one transfer and will possibly have to take some out of savings. But that's why it is called an emergency fund - for when unplanned on things happen - like someone no longer making money.

2) I've submitted THREE layouts to Creating Keepsakes, 2 for Becky's June sketch and 1 for Becky's July Sketch. I have all the pictures printed and cropped for another layout for Becky's July Sketch, but I haven't put it all together yet.

3) Scrapbooking 2007 - well, for the June Sketch I did father's day and a Branson vacation overview page. For the July Sketch I did when Red and I went to HSM: The Ice Tour. And I've ordered pictures for 2007 up through November. Still need to order December ones, but I'm waiting on that.

4) Completely failed on the credit card balance for Jan.

Obligatory New Years Post

It's a new year which means it is a good time (or at least as good as any other time) to start make a few goals. Every year I half heartedly make goals which I usually fail at by February. I really do better with goals that I set around August. Don't ask me why, it's just the way it goes.

However, I have found the trick to setting goals.
1) Goals must be measurable. Which means no "I want to exercise more" because what exactly is more? A measurable goal would be to exercise 30 minutes per day 3 days per week.

2) Goals must be realistic. Saying you want to go from no exercise to 30 minutes (or more!) 7 days a week just isn't realistic. You're setting yourself up for failure.

3) You must allow yourself a little failure without calling it a complete failure. So, if you're goal was to exercise for 30 minutes per day, 3 days per week and you get ill and don't go for a week, or you get busy at work and can't make it to the gym. That's OKAY. Just start over the next week, don't try to make it up by vowing to exercise more the next week, just let it go. Otherwise you will constantly be behind.

4) Have a plan for how to accomplish your goal. For exercising does that mean walking around the block, joining a gym, or some kind of exercise/workout video at home. Define not just what you want to accomplish, but also how you intend to accomplish it.

Now that I've explained how I make goals...here are my goals.

1) Put $200 in my savings account every month. - I'm actually well on my way to succeeding on this goal because I set up an automatic savings plan at my savings bank that will withdraw the money on the 15th and the end of the month.

2) Submit at least 10 layouts to magazines or websites for possible publication. - I've already submitted 2 to Creating Keepsakes and have 3 more in the works.

3) Finish scrapbooking 2007. - This one may or may not be realistic but I'm hoping by submitting layouts to CK for Becky's Sketches it will keep me motivated to work my way through the year so that I'm working on August 2008 sketches with pictures from August 2007.

4) Keep combined credit card amount due under $1500 except in the case of 0% cards and emergencies (such as needing to get new tires on my car). However, still need to pay off 0% cards before they come due.

Also, I would LOVE to make an exercising goal such as those in my example. However, I know me, and I know it is cold outside and I know I don't have a gym membership and will not be getting one. So, my best bet for exercise is playing Wii Sports for at least 30 minutes 3 times per week. But again, I know me, and I know I'm lazy so we'll see.