Hello 2010!

We have some big goals and resolutions for 2010! I'm really excited, as well all are at the start of the year... I just hope we can keep our motivation. As you read our list, you will see why.

We have done really well these last few years on keeping, or at least making progress on, our resolutions. 2007, 2008, and 2009 have had us making some improvements in our carbon footprint and our diets, finishing some big projects, and doing things that make us happy. We are going to continue the good habits we've started and add to them.

So for 2010, here's what we are going to do...

1. Pay down $40,000 in debt. Mr. Savvy and I have been talking and scheming for the better part of a month on how to do this. We started 2010 with $46,000 in 0% credit card debt (half of which is a second mortgage we paid of with a 0% credit card, the other half is left overs after paying off the garage project and two other home improvement projects). We are going to do this this year. We are postponing Roth IRA contributions for 2010 until the first three months of 2011 in order to enable us to do so. We are also selling stocks, taking money that was ear marked for other things, and making due in order to do it. We are continuing my 401(k) contributions for the time being, but may reduce them if we start slipping on our monthly goals.

2. Declutter. This is a re-resolution from 2009. We did do some of it (our garage was spotless this summer!), but the amount of children's items we accumulate is just huge (our kids are the only grandkids on either side of the family, so they get a LOT of gifts). We really need to keep on top of it.

3. Grocery shop with a purpose. I typically shop for the items we know we will use and then meal plan from what is available in the house. This works okay, but requires a large pantry and leads to extra waste. Instead I'm going to start pre-determining three meals or recipes a week, make a list, and stick to my list. The rest of the week can be "on the fly". As I get better at this (and our pantry gets smaller), I will make it four meals, five meals, etc.

4. Bring our own food (ie - stop eating out). This includes stops at gas stations for snacks, stops for coffee, the cafeteria at work. This is part of #1, we need to do it in order to pay off our debt, but it will also help us be healthier. We've noticed that as Baby Savvy gets older (and presumable our second baby will do the same), our stops for snacks and lunches have gotten more and more frequent and expensive. We need to plan ahead and bring our own healthier and cheaper food.

5. Make-due. This is also part of goal 1, and a re-resolution. We need to be better at it. I was listening to a podcast the other day about making-due and realized we have never, ever had to do without anything. For the most part, even though we occasionally make-due, we don't do it often enough. For the sake of our kids we need to become more resourceful.