Frugal Patti

Many of us are so busy doing things for others that we forget about ourselves. This category of goals will deal with that issue. Think of the things that you want to accomplish around your house, in your personal live, and with your hobbies. Remember to have each of your goals meet the SMART criteria we discussed on 12/28/08. I will present some major categories and examples of goals that some may want to have under each category. Everyone’s personal goals will be so different, but this will give you some ideas to start with.

Around the house:

• Plant a vegetable garden by x date
• Build a deck by x date
• Paint the kitchen (or another room) by x date

Personal life:

• Go to the gym (or another form of exercise) 3x per week
• Go out with friends each week (or month)
• Make a family sit down dinner each week
• Read 1 book a month
• Lose 25 pounds by EOY
• Eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day
• Quit smoking

Hobbies / Entertainment:

• Go fishing 10 times by EOY
• Make a quilt by EOY
• Take a stained glass class by EOY
• Run a Marathon (1/2 marathon, 10K, or 5K) by EOY
• Take a cruise by EOY

Tomorrow: Putting It All Together…

Today we’ll identify and document your work and career goals for 2009. These will vary greatly between people and careers. As yourself questions like: :”Do I like and want to stay in my current job?”, “Do I want to work toward a promotion?”, Do I want another job in my current career path?”, and/or “Do I want a new job all together?” The goals you set will depend on how you answered these questions. Remember to have each of your goals meet the SMART criteria we discussed on 12/28/08. I will present some examples of goals that may assist you further your career.

Complete x online courses covering x subject by EOY

• Complete x course(s) toward x certification by EOY
• Complete x course(s) toward x degree by EOY
• Read x book(s) on x subject by EOY
• Attain part time job doing x to get experience in x

Tomorrow: Setting Personal/Household Goals…

Your financial goals will depend on what your financial situation is currently, and what your future goals are. Remember to have each of your goals meet the SMART criteria we discussed on 12/28/08. I will present some major categories and examples of goals that some may want to have under each category.

Reduce Debt (every bit helps):

• Pay $x extra on mortgage each month
• Pay $x extra on car loan each month
• Pay $x extra on credit card x each month

Increase Income (assists with either debt reduction or savings):

• Make $x extra per month by working overtime
• Make $x extra per month by getting part-time job x

Short Term Savings (savings that you will spend in under/about a year):

• Save $x per month to start a Christmas/holiday fund for 2009
• Save $x per month for a new sofa
• Save $x per month for 2009 vacation

Long Term Savings (savings for the long term):

• Increase 401K contributions by x% (or $x) per month (or pay period)
• Increase retirement savings in x account by $x per month
• Increase college fund savings in x account by $x per month

Tomorrow: Setting Work/Career Goals…

Today we will review criteria for writing our yearly goals (or New Year’s Resolutions) so that they can be easily tracked and achieved. SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely) is the acronym that will help us in our writing. Each of the goals we set will meet these five requirements.

Specific: The more specific you are in your goals the easier it will be to accomplish it. Getting healthy or enjoying life sound nice, but they aren’t specific enough to track or know if you accomplished it. How do you want to get healthy? Add 1 yoga session to your weekly routine? That is something that you can track.

Measurable: Each goal needs to be measurable. The typical New Year’s Resolution of “lose weight” is not measureable. But, if you reword it to “lose 10 pounds” does meet the criteria.

Attainable: Each goal needs to be attainable. Do you have all the resources that you need to meet this goal (such as time or money it may take)?

Realistic: Each goal should be realistic. Are you (or anyone) really able to accomplish this? I don’t think losing 100 pounds in 1 month is realistic for anyone. The typical person can’t complete a 4 year degree in 1 year. You just need to be realistic here, and many New Year’s resolutions don’t meet this criterion.

Timely: This is a rather easy one. You just have to set a time to accomplish the goal by or a deadline. Do you want to lose 5 pounds by June 1st?

Tomorrow: Setting Financial Goals…

Over the next few days, I’ll be discussing goal setting. These are goals to assist all of us to be more productive, and not the generic “lose some weight” New Year’s resolution that most people set and aren’t able to keep. This initial planning for next year will allow us to prepare for a more organized, healthy, financially fit, productive and prosperous 2009. By really considering what you want out of life and what is important to you, goal setting is the best way to get you there. We will first discuss how to write goals, and then discuss different categories of goals for next year. I’ve found that having goals in different categories allows me to be a more balanced person.

Tomorrow: How to set SMART goals…

Today (and during the next week) is a great time to pick up some things (at highly reduced prices) to use in the next months or year. Many regularly shop the day after Christmas for next year’s Christmas ornaments, decorations, wrapping, cards, etc.

By thinking more creatively, you can make these saving go even farther. Many nice gift packs (that are only out during the holidays) are now at least 50% off. Depending on the items they contain, these make great gifts during the next months and years. Grocery stores will be liquidating there remaining baking items they stocked up on for the holidays. This is a great time to stock up on them. Also, think of stocking up on solid colored items. Red wrapping, candles and candle holders can be used for Valentine’s Day. Red paper plates are great for summer BBQ’s. Also, green decorations can be used for St. Patrick’s Day. And, any solid wrapping paper can be used for birthdays

On this wonderful and festive of all holidays, I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Each family has every unique holiday traditions. Christmas Eve services, that special traditional meal with the family, a special recipe or Christmas cookie, and/or opening presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, just to name a few. These traditions are so important to us, and as we get older they mean even more to us. The people in our lives and these cherished traditions are what’s important not the materialistic holiday of “things” that we often lean toward.

The real meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The Christ child came to us in a manger. He came to the poor and everyone, not just the rich or royalty. And, yes there were gifts, but those original ones were symbols and didn’t put the wise men in debt. On this Christmas Day, I want to thank God for his most precious gift of his son Jesus.

All the shopping is now done, including all grocery shopping. I have wrapped all the gifts, but still have to add bows and name tags on some of them. I plan to do this between batches of cookies. That should be doable. And yes, I did follow my own advise by downsizing the batches of cookies for the year. I polled the family members and was happy to find out that all agreed on Snickerdoodles, Short Bread and Oatmeal Cookies. Will be making those today, then make the cranberry sauce for tomorrow. I just have to get that done before our first family get together tonight. I always work better with a deadline anyway.

With only 1 day left before Christmas, I want to leave you with one additional last minute tip. If you find that you receive a card from someone you didn’t have on your card list, or for some other reason want to send someone a card at the last minute, ecards are a great way to fit that need. [I also like sending them throughout the year just to remind someone I’m thinking of them, or if they need to be cheered up for some reason.] Hallmark is my favorite site to send ecards from, although there are many others out there. Hallmark, as many sites, does charge for some cards, but have others that are free to send. It’s always nice to have a free way to let someone know you’re thinking of them.

All my shopping is complete. There is still wrapping and baking to do, and oh yes I still have at least one more trip to the grocery store to go (expect to be more than one trip). Although I’m still quite behind compared to most years, I’m sure I’m ahead of schedule compared to some.

I keep reminding myself that it’s family and friends getting together that really matters. Those people in our lives and memories with them are the only things that can’t be replaced. Now is the perfect time to think back on your holiday goals (and maybe reconsider some of them). Make a list of what needs to be completed before Christmas. [You may want to also have another page for To-Do’s by the end of the year, since some will come to mind in this process anyway.] Just getting everything on paper will make you feel more organized. Next, place a #1, #2, or #3 by each item. 1 is for those that have to get done, 2 is for things that really should be done, and 3 for those that you’d like to do, but can be put off. Now, try to cross off all you can. If you can do without something, cross it off your list immediately. Are there any short cuts you can take to reduce the time for other items? Gift bags can save a great deal of time at this point. Do you plan to make 5 batches of cookies, but 3 batches will do? Now start with your #1 items and just start plugging away. You will accomplish more than you think, now that you’re organized. Being overwhelmed is just a waste of time and energy, and you end up completing less tasks in the long run. Just remember, if you aren’t rested enough or are too busy, you may not be able to have that special memory with a special loved one that could last for a lifetime.

Yesterday I braved the rapids and actually headed to the mall for a few last minute gifts the weekend before Christmas. This is something I rarely do, since I typically have everything wrapped and am enjoying filling the house with the smell of Christmas baking. I was pleasantly surprised to find both stores that I planned to visit were offering great sales. At Godiva, everything I bought was on the 25% off table of Christmas gifts (they don’t want to be left with any Christmas decorated boxes after the holiday is over). I was able to buy more and larger gifts than I normally would, and still spend less. As an added bonus, I also received a $10 gift certificate to be used in January. At Bath and Body Works, the sales on gift baskets were great also perfect for my needs. I had two remaining gifts to buy and these were exactly what I needed at 30% off. I left the mall in far less than an hour, gifts in tow, and money saved.