track first, budget second

Because we haven't been tracking our expenses lately, it's hard to tell what a realistic number is to budget.  For instance, I would think that about $500 would be a good amount for us to use each month for groceries.  After doing some  homework though, I found that we spent almost $1500 at the grocery store in December alone.  Add to that $425 that we spent eating out and we're at nearly $2000 in food for the month!  While $2000 in food is an ungodly amount for a family of four...even with 3 different sets of guests during the month, it's a real number and shows what we spent.  $500 wouldn't have been realistic to budget for food last month.

I'm realizing that one reason I get frustrated with my budget is that I tend to budget what I think is a reasonable amount.  When we are unable to meet these numbers, I get frustrated and my husband wants to know why we're over budget.  But...the budget wasn't necessarily realistic.

So, over the next couple of months, I'm not going to be budgeting per se, but tracking our spending.  Beginning April 1st we'll have our budget in place with a new system of paying bills.  More about that later.

But, just for fun...I'm joining Sharon in her February No-Spending Month.  The rules will be posted on January 31st.  I'm participating, but won't be doing it at 100% like others.  We have a vacation planned for the 3rd week of February.  So, while there will be spending going on with that, my goal is to have a "no spend" month for items that were not already in the budget.

repeat post

I realize after posting my goals that this post is very similar to my post about being intentional.  I wish I could say it was "intentional" but it wasn't.   More than anything I wanted to write my specific goals down so that I could post in the future what steps I'm taking to meet these goals.

goals for 2011

I have been thinking of my goals for a while now and need to get them written down.  More than ANYTHING, I want to "have a plan and work my plan".  It's something my husband says to me over and over again.  And you know what?  It works!

Finances -
Make a budget & work my budget.

Save 15% towards retirement.

Health-
Eat cleaner. 
Since this is something we have always wanted to do, but just haven't turned it into a lifestyle, I'm starting with a smaller goal.  Eat "clean" at least 50% of the time.

Lose weight. 
I need to lose 15 pounds.
I want to lose 3 by Winter Break (that is in 4 weeks)
Lose another 8 by Easter. (that will be a total of 11 pounds in about 3 months)
Lose the last 4 pounds by Memorial Day.
That's a weight loss of 15 pounds in 4 months...a definite challenge, but possible IF I have a plan and work my plan. 

Drink less wine.
I love to have a glass or two...sometimes three (I'm being honest here...) at night.  And when the one glass turns into 3, it's because I might have a glass while I'm cooking, a glass with dinner and then a glass with a piece of chocolate after the kids go to bed.  Drinking more than a glass of wine a night is definitely not helping me lose weight.  So, my goal is to open a bottle of wine on Monday night and still be drinking from the same bottle on Thursday night.  (DH will have to have his own bottle.  :)  ha, ha!)

Get outside more!
I absoltutely love where I live.  There are trees, trees and more trees.  We have both paved and non-paved trails through our woods.  I need to get out and enjoy it more.  My goal for this is to start by going on a weekly walk.  Once I get into the habit of truly getting out, then I'll change this goal to get out more than 1x/week.

Family & Personal-
My main goal here is to be intentional with my time.  When my husband and kids are home, I want to be in the moment with them.

And the same with me.  When I have the house to myself during the day, I want to be intentional with my time.  Do housework and desk work when it's time to do that, but when I have "free time", I want to use it wisely.

So - that's it for my goals.  How about you?  Have you made all of your goals for the new year? 

jane eyre

I just finished this book last night!  And...wow!  I absolutely loved it and could not put it down.  I joined a Book Club last month and this was my first book to read.  I don't remember ever having to read it in High School.   I'm glad to have joined the Book Club group and am looking forward to reading some good books.  Next on the list is Still Alice. 

Have you read any good books lately?

i resolve to be intentional in 2011

Do you ever feel like you're doing too much "stuff" and not getting done what (1) needs to be done and (2) what you really want to get done?  I feel like I've been in this rut for the past year.  I hate to complain too much about it because I'm doing fun things with my time, but these fun things aren't necessarily what is most important to me.  Curious?  Well...I play on a tennis team.  If you have ever played team tennis you know that it's fun AND it's competitive.  AND....it can be a bit more expensive than what one would like.  I enjoy tennis, but I've gotten to the point where it's taking up too much of my thought process.  I plan my week around lessons and matches.  If one of those days gets rained out then they have to get rescheduled.  So...something that I wanted to do (like go to the gym, go to lunch with a friend, take a walk, try out a new Farmers Market, etc.) all of a sudden gets bumped due to tennis.    You can see why I've not complained too much about this...it seems a bit petty.

Here are some things that I've neglected this past year and I'm taking a stand in 2011 to do my best to make some changes.

#1 - Our Finances - We continue to be debt-free (except for the house), which I'm very happy about.  But...we lost some momentum in saving money in 2010.  We were able to get several things accomplished (like getting our wills completed and getting the correct amount of life insurance for me and my husband), but we didn't save near as much money as what we would have liked.

So - after years of wanting to do this, I'm finally taking the Financial Peace University classes at our church.  Classes start this Sunday!  I think starting off the year with this class and having people to hold ourselves accountable to, will really help get us back on track.

#2 - My health.  I have struggled with this for the past couple of years.  My health is okay, but my weight is higher than what it should be. I need to lose 15 pounds.  We purchased an elliptical and home-gym and my goal is to exercise.  Note that I didn't say "exercise more", as I'm not really exercising at all now.  (I don't count tennis as exercise...)

I've also started going back to my Tuesday Weight Watcher meetings, and my husband and I have agreed that we need to eat more "clean foods" and drink less wine during the week.

#3 - Things that bring me peace - Often times I feel selfish doing things that clear my mind.  Whether it's taking a walk through the woods, scrapbooking, or sitting on the back deck and reading a good book.  Since I'm not being productive while doing these things, I rarely take the time to do what really makes me happy.  This year I'm changing this.  I realize that I can't do these things 100% of the time (or even most of the time) because our laundry would never be clean, the house would be a wreck and my children wouldn't ever be fed.  But still...I REALLY like to scrapbook and when I'm wanting a "break", wouldn't my time be better spent scrapbooking than playing Internet Spades on the computer?

This is enough for now.  I'll be playing less tennis in 2011, and focusing on what is truly important to me in my family.  As a result, I expect to be much more INTENTIONAL with my time.  And with that said, I'm now going to get on the elliptical for 30 minutes, as tennis was rained out today.

project 365

I have been spending some time dusting the cobwebs out of my mind and really think about the priorities in my life.  I'll be pack to posting...soon!  In the meantime, I've started a 365 project.  Many bloggers have them and I have been envying those who do, as I LOVE to take pictures and do so almost every day.

If you're interested, check it out steady plodding 365!