Goal Update
First, here's how I did on my last set of goals:
1. Write up a master account/password financial list.
Done. Since some of you asked how I was going to go about this, I'll share my not-earthshaking method. I simply wrote the names of all the financial institutions we do business with and I also made a list of the regular bills that need to be paid. Underneath each institution or bill, I wrote the username and password for the account and when applicable, instructions about how to pay that bill (due on the 20th of each month, automatically deducted, etc.)
I also included a list of important information like birthdates and social security numbers for all six of us. I plan to revisit the list at least once a year to make sure that all the information is up to date.
I'm so glad to have this checked off because it's been on my mental to-do list for a long time!
2. Sell my broken camera lens on Ebay.
Nope. I did take pictures for the listing, though!
3. Update Quicken.
Yes! I did it twice since my last goal post.
4. Start on our tax return.
Yes! I'm so happy I got started on this. I use Turbo Tax and I've gotten almost all of our return done. It's no small feat, since my income is kind of complicated (Mr. FG's is so simple...a W-2 and I'm done!)
I'm still waiting on some forms related to my blogging income, and once I've got those, I can finish it up in a jiffy.
I'm really pleased that I will end up owing only a little bit for my self-employment taxes. Deductions are always a little tricky to plan when you have an ever-changing income, and I was worried I'd cut it a bit too close (if you owe too much, you have to pay underpayment penalties.)
5. Combine two credit card accounts for easier online access.
I tried! I really did. But unfortunately, since Mr. FG is the primary on one and I'm the primary on another, we have to close one account and re-open it with him as the primary so that we can combine the two accounts.
I did spend quite a bit of time on the phone trying to get this done, so it's not like I blew this goal off. 😉
6. Finish editing a photo session, burn the CD, and deliver it.
Done!
And that means I'm all caught up with paid photo sessions. I just need to get the photos from Callie's birth edited and burned now.
7. Plan and schedule music and musicians for February
Done!
8. Launch Lisey's secret project (which will then not be a secret)
Done! and in case you missed it, she and I are doing a baking blog together, called Baking With Lisey. You should go check it out!
9. Plan my 14 Days of Valentines for this year.
I have all but one day filled in, so I've got time to think of one last idea. 😉
10. Exercise 4 days a week.
Yup! I did. And knowing I'd have to tell you about it made me get out the door to go exercise.
You guys help me so much just by showing up here. Mwah!
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Ok! Here's the new set of goals for this week:
1. Update Quicken.
I'm on a roll and don't want to mess it up!
2. Exercise 4 days.
3. Write a letter to my grandpa.
My grandpa lives in a small town in the Midwest, and he doesn't "do" the internet. So, I've been trying to remember to send him real, paper letters, since he's not privvy to all of my online activity!
4. Sell my broken camera lens.
Now that I have the photos, this should be pretty easy.
5. Take care of the credit card situation.
This involves phone calls, which tempt me to procrastinate. And that's why I'm putting it on this list!
6. Make a birthday present for Zoe.
Just in case she happens across this post, I won't tell you what it is. But of course I will show you once I give it to her!
7. Declutter the office bookshelf.
I'm hoping to find a few things to sell, but at the least, I want to donate/recycle some things. I want some space, thank you very much.
8. Finish shopping for Mr. FG's and Zoe's birthdays (they share a birthday, which is in a little over a week).
I have a number of things for Zoe already, but I need to figure out exactly what I want to get for Mr. FG.
9. Get my email inbox down to white-space level every day.
I go in such spurts with this...for a while, I do really well at clearing my emails out, and then I miss a day or two and then find myself snowed under. So, I'm going to try to keep my inbox cleared out enough for there to be a bit of white space in my Outlook inbox!
10. Make a blog plan for February.
I know. February already started, so I'm a little late with this. But hey, I can make a plan for the rest of February!
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Today's 365 post: You know who that kid in the foreground is, right?
Joshua's 365 post: Name the Beast!
My husband and I just started a blog in January called http://www.sixandahalfdays.com and are starting out with three articles a week for now. We just got our Feb plan done too. It's nice to know a more experienced blogger as yourself has the same plans. Thanks for the encouragement and sharing.
One thing you might want to keep in mind about the credit cards: if there are two names on the account, only one builds credit for using the card (this is the case in Canada, anyway), so you may want to keep the card that is in your name if you think you will ever need to apply for a loan in your own name (probably unlikely, but I know people that have been unpleasantly surprised by this so I thought I should mention it).
I believe it's the same case in the US. My husband and I each have cards in our own names to establish our own credit. Just something to consider.
That has not been my experience. We have one account where my husband is the primary account holder. All four of us have cards on that account with our own names on the cards. When I pulled our credit report recently, I found this account on the reports for all four of us. Maybe it is different here in the U.S. than it is in Canada.
Hmm. I don't know how that works, but you'll be happy to know that I do indeed have a credit card where I am the primary, and I'm not closing that one.
Here in the U.S., you can build credit by having your name on a mortgage, even if you're not the primary, so perhaps it is that way with credit cards too?
I don't know, but I do know I have a marvy-fab credit score. Hee.
Why is it we get more done if we write it down? I have started a new business so I've been reading and listening to online mentors/business coaches. I write daily lists of things to do (helps tremendously). I also wrote my financial goals down with the added umph of writing it on a post it note and posting it on my mirror where I get ready for the day. Jump start, indeed! Happy mark-off-the-to-do-list-ing 🙂
Kristen, I wonder if you've ever seen "Goals for the Week" (www.goalsfortheweek.com). Your post reminded me of Anne Marie's writing. She lists her goals in different areas (wife, mother, self, health, personal growth, etc) each week and shares them as a way to stay accountable. I love that it's all different dimensions of her life. I think your list will inspire me to finally make a master password list for myself! Cheers!
I haven't! I should go check her out.
Wow! Really productive! I'm about halfway through my list (good thing since this is a short month :0))
I can totally relate to the email clearing thing. I recently did that with folders I have in my email and found things I saved 4 years ago!! Needless to say, a lot of deleting went on that day! 🙂
One of the things I have been most thankful that I got off my butt and did was write weekly to my no-computer-either grandmother. She died at 99 and 11 months, with it to the end, and I feel a great deal of satisfaction that I helped myself stay connected with her and her stories, and that she received contact and real mail once a week. Now that she has gone, I selected a teacher from high school (a very long time ago!) who is ill and in a nursing home. I started with a thank you letter detailing all the ways her modeling has influenced my life and when she answered and I realized she was in a home, I put her in grandma's letter timeslot. I think it makes her happy, but the real payoff is for me---I feel genuine happiness when I do this task each week. I think of it as praying for her, when I write the letter.
Beautiful idea. Thank you.
Hay about the credit cards. Do not combine them. I know you are very careful about finances but emergencies do pop up. Also this establishes credit in your name only. If you husband passes, God forbid, you will be able to have the credit you need for yourself. Not dependent on him. This happened to me.
I wholeheartedly agree. It's important to have established credit in just your name. Great advice.
Yup, I do. I've got credit out the wazoo, so to speak, and even when I close the one account I mentioned, I will still have another one where I am the primary.
Even if you have another card in your own name, try not to cancel any cards. Cancelling a card means that you lose out on a section of your credit history. Opening a new card is a hit (even briefly) on your credit score. Having a card open for a long time is better for your credit rating than one for a shorter time.
Did you and mr. fg ever get a new budget for groceries and other things? I know you wanted to add a bit more for groceries. Just curious as I am doing the same thing.
Josie
Way to go on your goals! I love how you are setting weekly ones, I may have to borrow this idea.
I also tend to procrastinate when it comes to things that deal with the phone, I think it's because I spent so many hours as a teenager on one that I really can't stand the thought of being on one at all now.
Good luck on this next weeks goals, you can do it!
I am so totally stealing your idea of outlining a week (or month) of goals - love it! I'm a HUGE list maker, and I love nothing more than checking things off of my lists, but making myself accountable to something other than myself to get the things on my list done will probably give me the kick in the pants that I need on slower days 🙂
I hope that the "Why do I Homeschool?" post is on your February blog plan, because I have been anxiously waiting since you announced it in December/January (don't remember exactly when!). Thank you! 🙂
Yes! It is. 😉
I love a good "to do" list and especially one that has items crossed off! Well done! Kristen, I've noticed you and I share a love of this interjection, the !!!!!!!!!!!!! 😉
Seriously. Does it get any better?
Line-crossing is so fabulous.
I have my user names and passwords on a password protected Excel document. For years I kept a handwritten list (like you made), but then it got really wrinkled up and I misplaced it and then that was a mess!
I'm trying to get better about using different passwords since I started blogging. I used to like to use the same one so it would be easier to remember--but now that I'm out in the blogosphere I figure I better be a little smarter!