2025 Resolutions

It is 2025 and I need to put my resolutions in writing to keep me honest: 

1. Get out of debt…. I let myself use a credit card for a holiday and things snowballed. I am in debt AGAIN for the first time since 2017 when I retired my consumer debt. It is unacceptable and I need to start all over again with the baby steps. AGAIN. I cannot be trusted with credit.

2. Manage my weight… I need to be at a healthy weight, and I am nowhere near this goal- I have gained over 30 pounds since Summer 2023. I am eating every fear and emotion. It stops now. 311 pounds is not healthy for anyone of my height.

3. Exercise more… I joined a gym on my birthday last year and now they are closing up shop, so I need to do things in a proactive way.

4. Creativity needs to happen every day. I need to write every day. Read every day.

5. Spend more quality time with my children… This goes with the condition “provided they let me” as family time to a teenager can be seen as a punishment, defeating the whole purpose. I would love to have weekly family game night… Wish me luck…

6. Cook at home more often… AKA, eat out less. Shopping at home first needs to be my new mantra

7. Spend less and save more… More on my spending fast later

8. Lower my expenses…  which means creating a budget and living under my means.

9. Work on my retirement fund and paying down my mortgage… with the pension changes, I need to be more frugal now in order to meet my financial obligations in retirement, which is only seven years away, God willing.

10. Declutter my house… My basement most closely resembles a storage container. I need to do better. And the Vets pick up. My first pick-up of 2025 is tomorrow.

There you have it. A sizable list to be sure. And I have had an almost identical list for more years than I want to acknowledge.

But the big one is my debt- I am ashamed to be in debt again.

I need an all- new spending fast. I have done it before with mixed results but it is the first of the year and so here we go:

Items I need to spend money on:
Mortgage/Home Insurance/Escrow: Not optional!

Urgent Home repairs… I don’t even want to write it down, it’s like asking for something to go wrong.

Utilities (keeping lights and water off as much as possible; keeping the thermostat at 65 and wearing a sweater when the cold comes)

Internet/ Cell Phone- because as much as I need to pay my debt, I need 911 ability and Amazon/Netflix and Disney so I am entertained while staying home.

Food (and I need to shop in cupboards and freezer first)

Doctor Dentist and Medication co-pays- cause healthy is happy

Car insurance/maintenance/gas/oil- I don’t have a car payment but need to keep my car road worthy

Birthday and Christmas gifts for my children: but simple is going to be it moving forward.

Debt repayment and emergency fund...


What I'm NOT spending money on:
Books… painful even to list… but I own a bunch I have not read so enough is enough

Cards - truth be told, I probably have enough cards in the house to last years

Clothes/Coats/and any other thing worn on the body.

Trinkets…AKA crap...There is a great deal of stuff that fits in this category...

New make-up, hair stuff- bands, elastics etc… I barely use the stuff and don't need any more

Bed linens/Towels/Houseware items…I have more than enough- as long as the coffee maker keeps working.

Decorative house stuff- I am done for now

I need to limit Amazon.com to needs, not wants- no more instant gratification