Well another year is about to bite the dust.
2010 was a tough one for us personally. My father-in-law passed away after a valiant battle with cancer, and we’re still dealing with a lot of the legal and financial ramifications…not to mention the emotional ones. We also had a few unexpected expenses that set us back a bit financially so we have our work cut out for us.
But I’m ready to turn the page on 2010 and start thinking about how to make 2011 a good one! Here are some of the goals I hope to achieve in the coming year.
Lose 15 Pounds – Our lives were really turned upside down with my father-in-law’s illness (and my mother-in-law’s before that) and it was very hard to stick to any kind of routine. We had a lot of last minute calls to China Garden or the diner for quick meals. Combine that with having less time to exercise and I packed on some extra weight in 2010.
My checkup last week put me at 194 pounds, which is the biggest I’ve ever been. I’m determined to not only avoid the big 200, but to reverse the trend and drop 15 pounds. Dropping the extra weight will make me healthier and give me more energy.
Kick the Soda Habit - My name is Mike and I am a Coca-Cola addict. There I said it. I love Coke, especially when combined with Captain Morgan. But it’s really bad for you and I need to cut it back from a daily habit to an occasional treat.
Double my online income – My long term goal is having the freedom to quit my day job and support my family with my online income alone. So far my online income can only replace about 15% of my regular income, so I have a way to go. Doubling may seem like an aggressive income goal but I think it’s pretty reasonable if I continue building up Saving Money Today, as well as a handful of smaller niche sites. And once you factor in my new site which is just getting started I think it’s very doable. Discipline and perseverance are key.
Spend More Time With Family – I think I’m actually pretty good with this one, but there is always room for improvement. Example – while I was writing this my daughter came and asked me to play with her and I kind of blew her off. Then I felt bad and went to play a round of CandyLand and a couple of puzzles. Life is short. Family has to come first.
Get Out of Debt…and Stay Out – We’ve been struggling with debt for years now. It seems like every time we start to get ahead we get hit with something else. But once we sell my father-in-law’s house we can clean the slate and hopefully afford a bigger house too. The key is to stay on target and avoid getting back into debt all over again.
Learn to Speak Italian - My wife had no other family in the US other than her parents. Now that they are both gone she is feeling really lonely and a trip to Italy to see her family would be the best thing I could give her. I’m thinking we take some of the proceeds from the sale of her dad’s house and put it toward plane tickets for five. And I’ve always wanted to learn a second language so this is the perfect excuse…plus it should make the trip a lot more enjoyable if I actually understand what people are saying. (Hopefully it will turn out better than the Griswold’s trips! )
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Those are good goals. For me the hardest one would be giving up soda. I know I should, but it’s not on the list for this year.
I would love to go to Italy and that’s a great motivator to learn another language.
Soda is a tough one for me too, but I have to do it for my own health.
Mike, love your soda habit resolution! Sugar and soda are KILLERS to the body buddy! Get rid of that and you’re health will go way up I believe in the long run.
Sorry to hear about your father in law passing. Let’s cherish all of life, forever!
Financial Samurai´s last [type] ..Financial Samurai Goals And Resolutions for 2011
Yea, it’s stupid to continue doing something that you know is unhealthy.
And thanks for the kind words.
Mike,
Check out LiveMocha for the language goal, I would LOVE to learn another language (Greek specifically) but it takes so much time to learn…
Evan´s last [type] ..Updating My Dividend Portfolio For 2011
Thanks Evan, I’m going to check it out! We have friends in Greece so that would be a good one to learn too.
I am putting together my 2011 goals and some of yours make me think about mine. This is a good way of keeping your accountable. Good luck.
krantcents´s last [type] ..What is your New Year’s Resolution
Wishing you the best with these goals Mike. They are definitely all reasonable and attainable. I applaud you on the quitting pop habit. It is so bad for you…I don’t think there is one natural ingredient in it. I also commend you on your goal to lose 15 pounds. Losing weight can be tough and can get discouraging. The key is to work on eating healthier and getting more active. In a short time you will be feeling better and enjoying how you feel…the weight loss is just a side effect of the positive changes. If you are ever looking for some recipes or workout tips, let me know since both my husband and I are passionate about living healthy too.
Miss T @ Prairie EcoThrifter´s last [type] ..Guest Post- Are “No Preset Limit” Credit Cards Really Better
I was just commenting on how much I enjoy Coke also. Today I started my resolution to just kick it, except once in a blue moon. (Like Superbowl!) I decided an occasional coffee would be a better idea if I get one of those awful headaches instead of drinking all that sugar and phosphorus and everything else.
Sorry about your father in law. “Life” can certainly get in the way of attaining many goals, and you just can’t plan for everything. One thing that has helped me is accepting help instead of trying to do everything myself. My kids are all teens now (almost), and they are a tremendous help to me when life gets crazy.
I can’t even count how many games of Candyland I have played, and how many times I set up the cards so oldest son (who was 2 at the time) could win. Somehow I always ended up hanging out with Plumpy just when I thought I would win…
Good luck with your resolutions. You can do it!
Everyday Tips´s last [type] ..Bad Eating Habits- and How To Break Them
I would like to increase my website income by over 10 times! Considering that I have made about $40 thus far, this shouldn’t be all that difficult for 2011. Good luck to you and your goals!
LifeAndMyFinances´s last [type] ..Life on a Budget Am I Too Strict
I used to drink soda (we call it “pop” here) like crazy. When I went to lose weight it was the first thing to get cut. Now I stick to diet soda’s (Coke Zero being my current fav).
Jaymus´s last [type] ..Launch of RealizedReturnscom
Sorry to hear of your loss. I think the trip to Italy sounds like a nice idea.
I quit drinking Coke twice, once for about 2 years, and the 2nd time for good. (Knock wood, it’s been 12 years now.) I was actually addicted to it, so I found it (slightly!) easier to quit by going cold turkey. I threw out a can mid-drink and that was my last one.
Jackie´s last [type] ..The Miracle of Enough
Mike!
Totally feel you on the coke. That stuff is sooooo good (for burboun as well), but giving it up is as simple as replacing it with water! I had to quit caffeine all together last year.
Good luck with the debt as well – I still need to finish that.
The soda habit is on my list too — way to much sugar, not enough water. That ones the hard one to do, where I tend to beat it for a few months, then slip up and back on it… This year, I’m hoping its different, where I SIGNIFICANTLY reduce my soda intake and increase my water intake.
twentysomethingmoney´s last [type] ..Gift Cards- Show Me the Money!
Sorry for your family’s loss. My husband’s grandma passed away last May, so you have my complete sympathy.
My goals are very similar to yours this year on weight loss and blogging. Hubby and I just joined Weight Watchers Online…feel free to see how it treats me when I post about it every Saturday at Crystal Clear Thoughts, lol. We’ll see if I can lose my 26 pounds by December 31st or not…
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