New Year's Resolutions

I'm happy that I didn't choose to include "Do not Procrastinate" as one of my resolutions for the year, since I have been procrastinating on putting the resolutions in print. Something about that makes it real, and almost as if I have to complete it, which, when you see the resolutions, you will understand, just may not be possible.

Here goes:

1. I am going to lose weight. Specifically, I'd like to lose 50-75 pounds over the course of the year. Since I don't have a scale, I am actually making my goal in terms of clothing sizes. My stretch goal is a size 8, but I'd be really happy to wear a 12 by the end of the year. I am doing this in small steps, starting one new habit per month. In January, I am going to be working on eating a portion controlled healthy breakfast and morning snack. In February, I will be starting to do cardio exercises for 90 minutes per week. In March, I am going to add lunch and an afternoon snack to my portion controlled meals. The other months are still to be determined, but I plan on controlling all meals, snacks, and working out 5 days per week. After those are accomplished, I will work on toning exercises for the remainder of the year.

2. Yarn diet. I have fairly substantial yarn stash, and I am going to knit with it, before buying new yarn. Once the stash is gone, all bets are off, and I can re-build again, if I so choose.

3. Get us out of credit card debt. We are currently carrying a balance of $13000. It may take more than a year, but we are going to work very hard at getting out of this in one year. That is a little over $800 dollars more per month that we have to find in our already tight budget, but after we are out of it, we should be in a much better position to go forward. We will be controlling spending in all categories, have refinanced the house to lower the payment, planning grocery bills and medical expenses, forgoing a new car, etc. I am not sure we will make it, but we have to try.

4. Figure out a way to not owe the IRS money at tax time ever again! Based on my Bible reading, I try not to complain about paying taxes, however, I do feel that taxes, at least in our current tax law, are a game, and those who figure it out get to keep more of their money, and those who don't get suckered. We will be honest about income and deductions, but I am absolutely going to find every deduction that we are entitled to. Part of the reason we are in credit card debt is paying income tax each year at tax time, in addition to what we have already paid in, and it can't continue, if we are going to meet our goals.

So, this is going to be a challenging year, but I am motivated to accomplish these resolutions. I keep imagining how it will feel when we turn the calendar to 2011, and we are in much better physical and financial shape because of our resolve.