No Spend January?

I don't think I've blogged much about this, but after a lengthy hiatus between me and the budget, I've finally got our finances back on track.  Not that we are in financial ruin or anything like that...but I just slacked off on keeping track of our spending and saving.  Well, the saving part was pretty easy because we didn't...hence the reason for getting back on track.  You have to be intentional with saving money or it just doesn't happen.  End of story. 

So I'm pleased to announce that our budget is DONE!  At least for the next couple of months.  Instead of doing a budget for the entire year, I am going to take our budget month by month.  Mainly because it's nearly impossible to account for everything that comes up.  For example, I just set up our Jan and Feb budgets, and then my kids come home from school with yearbook order forms that are $15 each...so that could potentially put us $30 over budget.  We do a zero-based budget each month, which means we tell every dollar where it's going.  After listing our bills for the month, I decide where our surplus (anything left over) will go...savings, entertainment, etc.  By doing our budget monthl-by-month, it will helps us take into account those unexpected expenses.  It also helps me to not feel overwhelmed or like we're getting behind with each unexpected expense.  

Ok, where was I?  Oh yeah, No Spend January.  I just came across a blog post about this.  (You can find it here:  http://halfdozendaily.blog.com/no-spend-2012/.  She actually calls it No Spend 2012, but I think the challenge is only for January, so to me, it's No Spend January.  Anyhoo, I'm contemplating doing this challenge for a couple of reasons.  

1.  I've heard about people going on spending freezes and thought it would be interesting to try one.

2.  Due to my lack of budgeting in 2011. it has made for a tight-spending month anyways thanks to a couple of larger bills that will need paid.  (Our 6-month car insurance policy to name one)

3.  This may be a great way to get creative with entertainment. 

4.  This would help to teach our kids that you control your money...it doesn't control you and I could even see this becoming sort of a family challenge where the kids help us in finding ways NOT to spend!

5.  Since we won't be bringing anything into our house (besides groceries), it would be a great time to focus on decluttering and purging what is already here.

Alright, I'm gonna do it.  There, I said it. 

So at the end of this month, I will hopefully look like this:

Ok, not really. But I hope I will be smiling like she is (minus the braces...been there, done that!) at the amount of money still in my wallet (or trendy change purse) at the end of the month!

Anyone on board with me?  I would love to have a shoulder to cry on when the going gets tough and I really want to buy something! 

Happy Saving!  :)

And #10 is...

Alright...I gave in to my needing-to-have-a-10th-goal-to-complete-the-list syndrome.  So here is #10:

10.  I want to log a total of 800 miles from my running workouts.  This may not all be miles that I've actually RAN, but if I head out on a 6 mile run and end up walking 1 mile, I'm still logging 6 miles.  Honestly, this goal seems harder to me than the rest.  Or maybe intimidating is the word.  I was trying to come up a with a number that would be achievable, but still challenge me (but not kill me).  I figure I normally run a total of 10 miles per week (give or take a few), so that would be 520 miles per year.  But I also know that I will rack up some serious mileage while training for the half-marathon, (I ran 397 miles during the training alone!)  So I think 800 is a reasonable goal.  (even though I'm intimidated by it royally!)  This is going to be challenging since I'm currently going to the gym 3 days a week instead of running, which will cut down my mileage...and that means I will have to ramp it up on my off-days from the gym.  My running buddy Jenny has committed to this goal also, which will be fun!

I will be keeping track of my mileage via http://www.dailymile.com/ and you'll be able to see my current totals on the right hand side of this blog! 

Here's to a GREAT 2012 full of lots of accomplishments!!

Two More!

I need to add two more things to my list of goals for this new year! 

8.  I want to be consistent with my devotion and prayer times with God.  I do good for a few days, then get busy or sidetracked and slack off.  I know devotion time isn't absolutely necessary in order for growth with God, but it is something I want to do.  I need to overcome my fear of lack of confidence in this area.  My plan is to start gettng up earlier in the morning to spend 20-30 mins in devo and prayer. 

9.  I also want to be more intentional about family devo time and teaching my kids more about the Bible and character qualities.  I'm not exactly sure how I will do this, however I will start with a few children's devotionals and probably pick one character quality per month from The Duggar Family's website.  You can see and/or print this character quality list her:  http://duggarfamily.com/content/character_qualities.  I could always look ahead for devos that pertain to that month's character quality.  I have to admit that I feel very unprepared for this task.  I know I need to teach my kids about God, but I never really had that modeled to me and neither did my husband, so I've sort of slacked off in this area.  I want to use our day-to-day life circumstances to teach my kids about God's love and grace that He has freely given us.  If you have anything that you with your family and children, I would love to hear about them!

I think that is all for now...however my OCD tendancy makes me think there should be 10 goals on my list.  So I may be back with one more!  lol

I hope you all have had a Blessed New Year!  I'm excited for what God has planned for me and my family in 2012!