It’s true, we’re all blogging about New Year’s resolutions today cuz we just can’t help ourselves. Fresh starts are so refreshing! Lots of hope and lots of opportunity just waiting for us to take hold and run with it. The only sad part is that we get all revved up and then slowly burn out after week 3. (boooooooo)
I think I know how to fix this, though ;) Instead of trying to change a hundred things with our lives each year, how about just 1? Like, one MAJOR awesome CRAZY thing that if you could pull off at the end of the next 12 months you’d be one HAPPY mother f’er?! Know what’ I’m saying? If you could ask for just 1 thing, what would it be? (“ask” as in “ask of yourselves” btw – not like a magical genie where you can ask for 100 more wishes to game the entire system, you sneaky bastards ;))
I think it would work. Focusing all that energy into one main goal for yourself. Would require lots of mini-steps to reach the final outcome, of course, but it’s still all going toward one ultimate success. I think we can do it!
Here were my resolutions last year:
- Max out my 401(k)s AND Roth IRA again. (Completed!)
- Help Mrs. Budgetsaresexy max out HER Roth too. (Not even close)
- Reach a Net Worth of $200k. (YES!!! Although you haven’t seen yet ;))
- And lastly, to better manage my time! (HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA)
And here they are THIS year:
- Work for myself for 12 months straight.
That’s it – plain and simple. I don’t want to save a bazillion dollars this year, I don’t want to run for office or meet a celebrity, and I certainly don’t care about my hand writing any more (I’ve had that on my list for a solid 25 years already – I don’t think it’s going to happen! haha….).
The one and only thing I genuinely want to work on this year is my lifestyle. Just me and all my blogs and projects and Love Drops and who knows what else that will soon be coming. If I can manage to sustain this dream life for one entire year, we’ll call it a success. And the first time ever I actually resolve my Resolutions ;)
What could your 1 goal be? Eliminate all debt? Buy a house? Start an empire? I wanna know. And at the end of the year I’ll be coming around to each of you to make sure you accomplished it . So no pressure at all ;)
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I want to save $10k. I have a specific purpose for the money, but the purpose is really besides the point. It’s having enough discipline to do it that will signify the accomplishment to me.
Of course this is outside of my normal retirement contributions, it is $10k straight up cash money :)
One thing!! This is harder than actually completing the resolutions. Let’s see. I would like to write a post every business day of 2011. Barring some unforeseen circumstance, like me losing my fingers, I should be able to do it!
After consistently using our budget spreadsheet this year (for the 1st time), we’re challenging ourselves to take it up a notch. For two years, we’ll aggressively pay off debt while limiting our 401k contribution to 6% (company 100% matches up to 6%). So for 2011, the one goal is to save $15,000 cash for which $5,000 will stay in savings and the other $10,000 will pay off 4 accounts in full :-D
1) Meet V, aka J$! :)
2) Hit seven figures in net worth and yearly gross margin. Should be doable.
3) Get in better shape. Maybe a side hustle in landscaping will help?
This is an interesting question. I haven’t come up with my resolutions yet and plan to this weekend. But if I had to pick one thing I hope to accomplish this year it would be…
Learn to let go of things I cannot control. This will be hard to quantify, but if I end up with more ‘inner peace’, then things will be good. I tend to somewhat obsess over things, much of which I cannot control. I need to step back and let life happen a little more.
I’m not a huge maker of resolutions, but there are two things that are standing out from the crowd that I want to work.
1. Think about what I say before I say it. (Coming from a small town where pretty much anything goes to a big city where a lot more people are PC – there’s a transition period there).
2. Improve on my skills needed for work. A few extra hours each week working on a few things here and there will really help and pay off at the end of the year. I’m tired of the newbie role I play at work.
My resolution for 2011 is get rid of my credit card debt and lower my university loan.
At this point I lowered my credit card to the following
card 1 = empty! (paid the whole debt last month)
card 2 = empty! (paid the whole debt this month)
card 3 = 500 dlls debt (I’m planning on paying 300 today)
loan = 8,000 dlls left (I want to lower it at 4K this year)
I know it doesn’t sound like a lot of debt but I don’t live in the US and even though I do really good money where I live, I make 12K (after taxes) per year.
Wish me luck I’ll need it :)
I want: a J, J$ and Nate reunion!!!
LOVE your goal – you got this. No doubt!
(Mine is similar – to make enough income to support myself without selling stocks while I’m on my 3.5 month leave from Google)
My goal is to enjoy my life more in 2011 than I did in 2010. Since 2010 was a great year for me, this is a tall order.
The rest of my goals are insignificant compared to my happiness.
My goal is to save up 25K for a down payment on a house.
I have a number of goals posted on my site, but if I had to pick one goal out it’d be to break even on my blog! I’ve spent around $200 and have earned about $28, so I have a ways to go ;).
My one goal this year is to leave my disordered eating behind! Yes, I know it’s not a financial goal (and trust me, I have plenty of those.) In 2010, I realized I needed to re-evaluate my health priorities, and I did it! I look forward to a healthy and happy 2011.
I published my resolutions today as well.
If I had to pick one, it would be to complete my basement finishing project. I started this over 10 years ago, doing a bit, then taking a break to work on other projects. I’m finally at the point my daughter can make use of a dance studio down there, and I’d like to bring in more gym equipment. Just over a year ago, I started going in earnest, pulled a permit, and am now drywalling, the electrical wiring all done and blessed off by the inspector. The assessor already told me it looks to add at least $40K to the house value and makes nearly 1200 sq ft more livable.
I admire your savings savvy SO MUCH.
In 2011, I’d like to put $2500 toward a Roth IRA. I have a retirement fund through work but they don’t match my contribution and I know I’ll need more to live on when I’m OLD.
Happy new year, doll!
I’ve got two resolutions this year. Resolution #1 is to pay down my mortgage by at least $40,000. Resolution #2 is to better control my temper/emotions. The second won’t be easy because I’m flush with pregnancy hormones which are making me do silly things like cry at the end of sitcoms. But, hey, it’s worth a shot.
I’ve got one big multi-parter. :D I’d love to pare down my stuff to the bare essentials, put most of it in storage and fit whatever is the most important into a suitcase so I can focus on saving money and preparing for the next stage of my life. I’ve been happily working right out of college but I want to have money saved for something bigger: world travel or grad school. Perhaps a combination. Good luck with your resolution!
Get a new wheelchair.
An easy one will be to get back down to 220 lbs., which is a monetary thing, because health is money!
Continue with current financial plan, and not get any farther into debt, due to special schooling needed for my son (it’s gonna break us if we are not careful).
Pay off all debt by 2012 (with some savings for emergency and school).
wow a little scary writing it down, but I want to put everything I can into getting rid of the biggest problem in my life.
I don’t make resolutions; I just do stuff. I love the fresh start feel of a new year coming. Since your question allows me to want only one thing, I want to remain as happy/exhilarated as I am right now. That doesn’t sound very goal-like, though. To have one goal for the new year would be to move into a new and upgraded residence.
I have 2 resolutions, 1 for business and 1 for fun! (Sorry, I’m not following the rules exactly):
1. Get my new company off the ground.
2. Save enough money to live worry free in Kauai for 3 months.
Happy New Year!
The only thing I want to do this year is find a new job so I can see my family more. 3-4 yrs as a corporate slave with 12 hr+ days and traveling is long enough.
Max out our ROTH ira’s–$5,000 for both my wife and I. Last year was to pump up our emergency fund to $25,000 we met that so time to move on to Roth this year.
My one resolution is not money related. Simply, it is to love people that are hard to love. ie, fake it till I make it. The people that I’ve had drama with, the people that are just socially awkward, the people that lash out at other people for no apparent reason, essentially the people I can’t stand…I want to try to love them better. This can take shape in any of the 5 love languages forms, but I really want to try, because I’ve noticed that once I start trying to love someone and I start thinking of things that would really bless them, I actually being to WANT to love them better and make them feel cared for.
Call me naive or a dreamer, but if I want to see a more loving world, I guess it’s gotta start with me.
don’t you hate it when you don’t read what you write and then you find random words that render your sentences nonsensical? sigh.
“This can take shape in any of the 5 love languages forms, but I really want to try, because I’ve noticed that once I start trying to love someone and I start thinking of things that would really bless them, I actually WANT to love them better and make them feel cared for.”
I resolve to shake your hand in 2011.
and – I resolve to be awesome – wait… I already am ;)
My goal is to finally eliminate my student loan… gone once and for all, will make me one happy camper! My other goal is to build a small business on the side focused around a couple of my websites.
Happy New Years!
Pay off those CC’s finally! I’ll definitely be rid of those, hopefully by May if all goes well. If the Tax Man would have let me keep my quarterly tax payment instead of paying him just now, I’d be a good bit closer. But life’s good, so I’m willing to share :)
I want to increase my net worth by $30,000 :) The assorted smaller goals I’ve laid out for myself this year will help me reach that goal :)
I listed about 10 goals for 2011 but the number one goal is to pay off all non-mortgage debt. It will be a stretch but I think quite achievable.
I’m getting back in shape, in time for warm weather, and keeping up with it. Period.
I certainly appreciate the idea of having one major goal to conquer! Being able to solely focus on one goal will make your resolutions seem much less daunting. I think that my goal this year is to focus more on improving myself. Yes, it is a broad goal, but I have lofty aspirations!
2011 is going to be the year I am happy with myself, time to make moves!
My goal is to remain dedicated to my goal of a) feeding my family more beans and rice, and b) blogging about it. I really, really do not want to be one of those bloggers who quits after 2 or 6 or 13 posts.
My one goal is to acquire an investment property in 2011. Going to be tough, but I’ll try my best and figure it out somehow.
To pare it down to one goal is difficult. So I think my one goal would be to improve my financial situation. The way that I will know that my financial situation is improved will be that I carry no balance on my CCs, my student loans are payable, and my consulting business will be bringing in money.
I am not only going to write some resolutions, but I also just read your life list and have one of my own in the works. It’s even more exciting than yours ;)
I will be debt free this year. Completely. WOOHOOOO
You guys are on a mission! Although I see some of you still cheated and wrote down mulitiple goals ;) I’ll forgive you this time.
Some (all) responses. It’s a whopper:
@Steph – “It’s having enough discipline to do it that will signify the accomplishment to me.” YES! Good observation :)
@Investing Newbie – Hahaha… yes, you can do it! (write posts every day, not lose your fingers. scary!)
@Shelly – Nice! Never get tired of hearing people using budget spreadsheets! It’s what got me hooked.
@Too Funny – haha… a) you will be meeting me soon (lucky you!), b) 7 figures is crazy awesome, and c) I will join you in the landscaping gig. I need to work out more and I’m curious as to how landscaping works :) Luckily I’m a fast learner.
@Everyday Tips – The interesting part there is that you usually can’t control that you obsess a lot ;) Well, at least if you’re my brother and/or if you have OCD. I hope you find a way though!
@Bobby – Hey, you cheated! only one thing :) I like both of them though. The 2nd is much easier to do in my opinion. I forget to think until after I’ve said it! Could probably get better at it though.
@m1n4 – Wow, yeah well first- that is a lot of debt! at least to me. I think that’s awesome you’re paying it down so aggresively!! esp w/ your income :) Keep it up! You can do it!!!
@Jenny Blake – Oh, you will GET that reunion, and you will like it missy! Perhaps when you go solo and then it’ll be a party full of self-employed people :) In the meantime, working for the best company in the world and publishing books is pretty damn nifty. See you soon my dear!!!
@Bret @ Hope to Prosper – I like it :) Nice & simple, and super important. I hope you enjoy your year better too, sir.
@Jennifer – Damn, good for you. VERY smart too – we bought $0.00 down. Crazy looking back on that.
@Jonathan – Yes, but once you get going, you’ll be more than satisfied ;) Just takes that initial hump to really get at it.
@Meredith – Good job! If you figure out a smooth way to do that, let me know. I’m still eating dinner at 2 a.m. and skipping breakfast. #Fail.
@JoeTaxpayer – NICE!!!! Man, that is great. Funny it’s taking 10 years so far, but hey – gotta prioritize, right? It’s too bad you live so far away from me – I need a home gym I could just walk into.
@Clare – Well, we’ll see what happens in 2011 with my savings ;) but yeah, when you’re on fire you’re on fire. I wish you nothing but success on your $2,500 goal my friend!
@Jennifer Lissette – Haha… at least you’re keeping it real with yourself ;)
@Misha – The minimalism route – I like it! I’m totally on your side with it – good luck!
@RICHARD W. WERT – Oh man, I hope you do! That doesn’t sound fun :(
@Big Cajun Man – Oh yeah, health is a big one to watch for. Improves so many diff. areas, I could get much better too. I never prioritize though, so proud of you that you are :)
@LB – GOOD JOB! Yes, it is scary saying/writing it, but the good thing is you only have to get over that once ;) As soon as you start working on it, it’s just a matter of time until you knock it out! And that will be a HUGE feeling of success. Don’t give up!
@Yana – Hahah… well I like your mentality. “I don’t make resolutions; I just do stuff” That’s good :)
@Ashley Jacobs – Ooooh that would be nice. I used to live in Hawaii, but I was pretty young and don’t remember much. Hope you get there!
@Sarah – Ouch. Yeah, I hear ya. There’s something to be said for enjoying your job too. I’ve been putting in 15+ hr days this week but I don’t mind it at all. The wife prob. does though ;)
@Brian – Good job! $25k e-fun is hot man, well done.
@Sarah – Awwww that is a great resolution :) I really like that. It is true – you have to start with yourself. Just like Michael Jackson sang.
@RAW – Hahahhaha… omg, I think I responded to you on email on this right? (I was drinking when I did, haha…) You are hilarious. I love it.
@twentysomethingmoney – I like the website building one :) if you need any help with any of it, give me a shout.
@Brian – Haha, that’s always good.
@Cassie – Sounds like a plan! A NICE one too.
@Kay Lynn (Bucksome) – And I’ll be seeing you at Blissdom! :)
@Karmella – You can dooooooooooooooo it!
@Cassandra – Haha, hey – that works. It’s your world, right?
@Doctor S – Moves are key! And you know I’ve got your back bro :) Don’t be a stranger.
@Kate – It’s def. hard not to get burned out, but if you are passionate and just keep having fun with it, you should be good :) And if not, at least you gave it a decent shot! Most people give up before trying.
@retirebyforty – Ooooooh big one. I don’t think my minimalism will let me do that anytime soon. That, and my lack of cash flow ;)
@Charlie F – Money goals are good ones!
@John @ The Best Money Blog – Hah! Is that possible? :)
@saro – Wooooooooooo!
@J – the full basement is 1600sq ft. The first 8 years was just bringing in the subfloor (50 sheets of plywood and over a hundred 2x4s.) I did this a few sheets at a time when I felt like it. The big motivator was to get that dance studio created. Can’t use her tap shoes in the family room!
We would like to pay off our debt and start paying down our mortgage.
1. Create and sell online a product that I have already designed and
2. Work on my mental health.
ChristineWithRegence, your post was offered like a spam post. Too bad, because the health care situation in America is my #1 concern. That website sucks in my opinion, because it won’t even load on Firefox, and it chokes Google Chrome. Things like paying people to stop smoking are stupid. The only solution is single payer, and anything else is a battle that will end there anyway. For-profit insurance companies are non-sustainable and should be entirely eliminated, because without that, no real reform is possible. Reform includes slashing many medical charges by 90% and outlawing pharmaceutical ads targeting consumers.
My one goal is to start my empire (which is why I’m glad you included it). I’ve been trying to do this and adding more and more things on it. Now I just want to get it started!
For 2011 my goal is to pay off all credit card debt. Made all my Christmas purchases with cash, so I’m off to a good start.
@JoeTaxpayer – haha… that is awesome. you’re a good dad :)
@Miss T – very valiant goal!
@Quest – if you can create a killer online product you’d be golden. lots harder than it looks (as I’m sure you’re already aware of) but once you get on track it can really work!
@Yana – Oops, i didn’t catch that one. yeah, ChristineWithRegence was totally spam. like seeing you all passion’ed up though ;)
@Briana @ GBR – haha, i’m here for you.
@Techbud – wowwwww, good one!!
Goals:
Run a 5K with my dog
Side hustle $50 per month
Be a better giver
1. Make AT LEAST $15,000 through blogging – my more unrealistic target is $25,000. I started February 20, 2010 and was able to make $5800 last year. :-)
Pay off car loan $13k
YOU. CAN. DO. IT!!!
All of you.
SO DO IT!!!! :)