Since it is a brand new year, as usual, I have some "goals" for myself. It was brought to my attention that calling them "resolutions" is more setting up for failure, so I'm choosing to call them goals. Maybe if I post them on here, they will be easier to achieve? I certainly hope so, anyways.
1. Stop eating out as much, cook more, eat healthier. About four years ago, I began a very healthy diet, was exercising about 4-5 days a week and I felt AMAZING! It wasn't just the exercise, it was putting HEALTHY food in my body and eating steadily throughout the day (five smaller meals) that kept me going. Unfortunately, when I began working in Gastonia, and constantly had to drive around the county all day, I had no choice but to eat fast food. I didn't get a lunch hour, and I didn't have anywhere to store a lunch. I have plenty of healthy recipes from fitness magazines--the tip is to just work on incorporating it into my routine, and working on my portion size.
2. Exercise!! And by exercise, I mean exercising on a regular basis. I used to work out all the time, eating up the Zumba, step aerobics, kickboxing, and spin classes at the YMCA. Sadly, I have gotten out of the habit of this, and desperately need to jump back on the bandwagon. I've felt particularly drained of energy lately, and not to mention I have packed on a few pounds within the past few months. Hopefully, once I move, I will be able to join the YMCA, and get back in my Zumba classes. I want to walk more. I bought some Fila Fit (which are similar to Sketchers Shape Ups) for $30 last week (they were normally $80--score!!), and I can tell that they make a difference. I also want to get back in my Wii Fit, as well as get the Just Dance 2 for the Wii. I did that the other day with my good friend/sister Krystal and her sons, and we spent about thirty minutes dancing and got a GREAT workout!! I know that I will feel better about myself, have more energy, lose a few pounds, and be able to fit in my wedding dress.
3. Get "financially fit". I am fortunate and blessed to own my car outright, and not have ANY student loans. While I do have some debt, it is fairly manageable in that it is relatively low compared to what most people my age have. I am VERY happy not to have student loans, especially since I was in school for 6.5 years!!! :) However, I would like to have my laptop computer that I opened up a Best Buy account for completely paid off. I also would like to have my credit card balance down to about $200-400. That is reasonable for me. I would like to completely pay it off, but I'm not sure that that will happen...BUT I am hoping to at least bring my balance down considerably. Not only that, I would like to SAVE, SAVE, SAVE, SAVE, SAVE as much as I possibly can, and hopefully even begin to plan for retirement. I want to have money saved up in case of emergencies, so that I don't have to go into debt. I also would like for Matt and I to pay for our honeymoon, which we hope to take this year (we are thinking Disney World!), which hopefully we can save for. In addition to saving, and paying off debt, I'd like to learn how to live more frugally.
4. Try something new. I am thinking about selling Avon in order to make some extra money that can go towards my wedding, honeymoon, etc, etc. We will see how that goes! I did try to sell Mary Kay this past summer, but that didn't pan out, ultimately because of the person that I was with at the time. Avon is a little bit cheaper to start up, and it seems like it would fit my lifestyle a little bit more. I hope to start that up within the next couple of months. I've discussed it with Matt, and he (as always) encouraged me to go for it, because as he said, even if I just made a couple hundred extra a month, it's still extra money. We will see where it goes.
5. Get a job! I'm almost there :) I just had a job offer yesterday for a place in Winston-Salem, had a job interview in Waynesville today, and had a place in Statesville ask what my "plans" were, job wise. So the job part is almost there :) Hopefully, it will be a job that I will feel isn't JUST a "job" but one where I can feel comfortable in, knowing that I am making a difference in the lives of others, and where I have a positive impact on the world. THAT is important to me (as most of you who know me know!) I hope that I can find satisfaction in this job, and leave everyday feeling good about myself, and a job where I gain more confidence on a daily basis. I think that's really important, being able to feel confident in the job that you are in.
6. Buy a house! Since Matt and I have four cats and a dog between us, renting no longer makes sense. I have wanted to buy for YEARS, and the time was never really right, obviously. I had looked into buying this past summer, but as you all know, things didn't work out with the relationship or job that I was in. (so thank God I didn't buy or I'd be in trouble!) The plan is to find something short term to rent (maybe 6 month or even month-to-month), possibly even a rent-to-own. Matt will be finishing his semester up in May, and his lease is up at the end of June, so he will be joining me in June at the latest. IF I work in Winston-Salem, I'll look at buying in Kernersville or Clemmons (and probably renting there too--I've heard to stay away from Winston-Salem as there are many undesirable places to live there!)
7. Get married! Obviously, as I'm engaged, this one is already in the works :) In fact, I am going to Swannanoa (near Asheville) tomorrow to check out a potential wedding venue. Pray that it works out for me, this place looks great online and is all-inclusive and we'd get a GREAT deal on it, so yay!:) We are still shooting for late September for the wedding. I'm very much optimistic about what this year holds: this will be the year I get a new job, relocate to a new city, and hopefully buy a house. This will be the year that I begin to be more budget conscious, hopefully pay off 90% of debt, and save for a future, including retirement. And this will be the year I marry the love of my life, my best friend, and my soul mate, Matthew Jones and become Courtney Jones! :)
May all of you have a blessed and wonderful 2011!
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