2009 Goals

[SeekingHeaven2]

Goal #1- Read my Bible everyday!
Goal #2- Start teaching my children "Couponing 101" (they like coupons--they need to know how to utilize to the best of their ability---and it'll be like FUN homeschool math, LOL)
Goal #3 - Successfully accomplish my JANE4girls 2009 budget challenge--$1400 for a family of 7 with 3 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 fish.

[lovelace]

I would like to pay my house off.

[skyyblonde]

I always like to set goals, also. OP....Am i reading that correctly...you spent NO MONEY for food, etc? That is truly amazing! How do you do this?

My budget is $150.00 every 2 weeks...I do my budget with our paychecks. this needs to include all HB or medicine products, too. One thing i have stopped doing is picking up things that i do not need just because they are "almost" Free...such as toothpaste. I found that i was spending more money, then i was actually saving and then going over my budget to get the things i really did need.

My biggest problem is things without coupons....chicken, meat, milk and buying things that we like, as oppose to things i buy, just because they are on sale and i have a coupon.

My Goals:
~~Keep to my budget and reduce it
~~Only use coupons for things i need/like
~~Hunt for more non insert coupons
~~Make lists Before i go to the grocery store
~~And, of course, Always shop alone

[mama22qts]

OP, you spent -0- on groceries for the whole year?

[Luckymama]

In 2008 I concentrated on paying next-to-nothing out of pocket at drug stores (Walgreens, RiteAid, CVS), while learning about rolling catalina deals at grocery stores and waiting for triples.

In 2009, I'd like to keep track of my % saved at the grocery stores. One of my three stores gives me a running total of dollars saved at the bottom of my receipts but I want to expand that to all 3 stores and include percentage saved. Guess I'd better figure out an Excel document before I go shopping this afternoon!

Other goals:
--finish coursework at Longwood Gardens in Ornamental Plants (I've been part-time for three years)
--take half the coursework at Longwood Gardens for Landscape Design
--landscape front and side yards

[hubbardscubbard]

I have two goals this year.. 2009!

First goal - spend $75 a week on all groceries, HBA, and pet supplies. (family of 4 with two boys who eat all the time):hectic1:

Second goal - send in as many rebates as I can and use these to start a Christmas fund. By December 2009 I would like to have $300 in a Christmas account. Is this too high? or is this too low? I have already sent off for $25 in rebates.

[jjrogers]

1)No whining. I want to be more of an upbeat person
2)100 dollars a week for grocery and household goods. (we have 8 people in our family, the youngest is in diapers and eating formula. Plus 1 cat and 1 dog)
3)Lose the 25 pounds I need to for the final time. (Doing t-tapp and God's food for 4 days to man made food for 1)

[cashqueen]

1. Keep the checkbook balanced. I am usually so good about that but now I'm 3 months behind. I'm going to catch up this weekend and keep it current!
2. Keep track of coupon savings and rebates.
3. Lose 15 lbs. My 'baby' is 13 months now, I guess I can't use him as an excuse anymore.
4. De-clutter and get organized.
5. Pay off cc that we used this year after we had to deplete our Emergency Fund for some critical work to our foundation.

[Cathy]

Like everyone, I want to save as much as possible but I have a question of you all.

I have a normal size stockpile (we live in an apartment so it's not huge) and I'm wondering, in these bad times, should I continue to stockpile because things will probably get more expensive in the future, or should I be using my stockpile up and hoping things get cheaper???

I rarely end up tossing anything out...I routinely go through my cupboards to be sure things are getting used, but I just don't know if I should buy 5 + pounds of hamburger when it's on sale if I already have 10 lbs in my freezer? I don't have much freezer room, just the one on top of my fridge and a small chest freezer that is full. Meat is my big question...do I continue to load up on it (as much as possible) or use what I have???

[soapstone]

1. Max out IRAs.
2. Budget $200/month for groceries, etc.
3. Walk the dogs each night.
4. Lose a few pounds.
And the biggie:
5. No fast food for an entire year. Anything with a drive-thru is out!