New Year's Resolutions for 2018

To talk about resolutions, I need to consider where I am right now as well as looking back at 2017.

In October 2016, I made the decision to get a “Dave” job to help me get out of debt. Dave Ramsey has some principles about debt elimination and cash flowing life and I wanted to get to that point. I signed up for Care.com and started babysitting for two families. 

In November 2016, I made the last payment on my car and started the process to work per diem for Maxim as an RN- the pay isn’t great but the hands on complex care gives me the opportunity to keep those skills current. And the extra money doesn’t hurt. 

In December of 2016, I remortgaged my house to a 15 year loan that I pay in biweekly payments and finished payments on braces for my child. But I had to put in a new HVAC system that added to my debt. 

In 2017, I moved up my retirement contributions- … I am at 15% on my 403(b) withholding.  But I had significant medical costs related to a medical complication that I needed to address urgently. Most of those bills have been paid now, but I still carry a small balance and have new charges coming soon. 

I paid cash for a bathroom repair, but still need to save the money for a new hot water heater.

October 2017 saw the end of my credit card debt- a journey that started in September of 2014. Which was AMAZING!!! I also cash flowed not one but two trips to NYC and a trip to Orlando in a five week time span. Sometimes you just have to go and reconnect with people. It was totally worth it. 

I also cash flowed Christmas and kept it on the simple side, but I wrote Christmas cards to everyone- a tradition I had stopped a few years back. It was time to jump back in. 

All in all, a solid year of mostly responsible behavior. 

And 2018? Well- many things I want to do I have tried before and some are change-ups from years past...

Cooking at home and packing my lunch to save money and eat better.

Minimizing buying this year- Spend less and save more… I want to really try and make do with the stuff that fills my house instead of looking for newer and better. 

Downsize my belongings: On February 14th, Ash Wednesday, 40 bags begins again at my house. I will reduce the amount of stuff around me that really doesn’t contribute to my life…

Do a better job of being a positive person: As “Dear Abby” says, “What is the kindest, most loving thing I can say or do at this particular moment?" 

Take a sewing class with my aunt and my child: I want to learn how to hem pants- learn to use a sewing machine and who knows, copy my favorite dress.

Grow a vegetable garden. But not a small one. One that will really produce food for my table.

 

Support charity more: I am going to do 4 volunteer weekends with RAM and I am going to try and get as many of my nurse friends to join me as possible. I keep complaining about what isn't done for our poor and vulnerable in this country. Time to put my money where my mouth is!

Spend more quality time with my children… possibly family game night…  We had good fun playing Quelf the other night.

I want to learn how to be content with where my life is at the moment- be in the moment instead of wistfully wishing for a better past/future life.

What will you try to accomplish this year? I wish you luck with it.

Happy New Year!