The Money Mustache Community
General Discussion => Throw Down the Gauntlet => Topic started by: acroy on December 14, 2017, 09:22:13 AM
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'tis the season to plan 2018 Badass Mustachian Muscle Building. I am trying some of these now and plan to hit'em heavy Jan 1. OK ok, Jan 2. I'm stoked, been doing these off&on for a while, but inconsistently.
Life Ownership
- up 5.30am vs 6.15
- weights, stretching, cardio minimum 5 days a week instead of 4
- turn off phone wifi. Use by exception only.
- Intentional discomfort: 36hr fast 1/week. Swim minimum 2/week (pool gets into the 40's in the winter, brisk!). Stop using pillows.
Financial
- End stock picking. Many hours, 2% marginal gain over S&P index
- Close separate brokerage account & roll into Vanguard
Food & Bev
- Scale back pizza&beer to 1 cheat day per week
- 6 days a week: veg, meat, fruit, water
- scale back to 1 cup coffee/day (currently 2-4)
Learning
- focus harder on 2nd language (Portuguese)
- learn a dam instrument even if it's a rubber band
- No more reading brain sugar. Good stuff only.
- learn how to heel/toe smoothly (driving skill)
- build a set of bike wheels
Fam
- weights, stretching with the kids minimum 3 days/week
- compliment DW more frequently (she LOVES this and I forget)
- Teach gun use/safety to MMM's age 8+ minimum 2/month
Yours???
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I like this. I’m in.
Life ownership:
• Wake up at 6:00 daily.
• Stick to FlyLady for keeping house.
• Fight the good fight every day.
Health:
• 24h fast weekly.
• No food past 18:30.
• Walk around lake 3x week at work.
• Get back into regular exercise.
• Bring food from home always.
• Only exception to above: grocery store trips during lunch (we do this about 1x week).
Finances:
• Get 100% out of debt by 12/31/2018.
• Max out HSA before March 1.
• Travel hack a domestic trip (Vegas!)
• Travel hack an international trip (JPN)
• Max out Roth IRA
• Make 7.5k outside of salary
• Find more free stuff to do
Brain:
• Read/audiobooks/podcasts
• Less time online
• Complete CBT Course
Relationship:
• Set concrete goals for partnership
• Go on more frequent frugal dates
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Nice idea. This is my list:
Life ownership:
Wake up at 6:30 daily.
Doing a better job at keeping the house neat and clean. Not let it be a full time weekend chore.
Doing a intentional good deed each week.
Health:
Go back to a regular fitness 'regime'. Used to work out at least twice a week, want to get it back to 3 times a week.
Less snacking
Lose at least 10 kg's, to get back to a healthier weight.
Finances:
Paying at least 10,000 down on our mortgage next year.
Keeping our savings at the level it is at now.
Start learning about investing for 2019.
Keep better track of refunds and any profits my job offer.
Brain:
Read at least 20 books.
Less time online
Start improving my french again.
Relationship:
More quality time with my boyfriend
Getting together with friends (at least) once a month.
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Love the categories and the format. I'm in! Looking forward to a great 2018!
Life ownership:
Wake up at 6AM
Do dishes as they get dirty, don't let them pile up throughout the day to be left for the evening or worse the next day.
Don't look at social media first thing in the morning
Continue to Donate/Sell one thing per day of the year.
Health:
Get back into running and yoga. 2x a week for each
No added sugar for Jan-Feb. (I did this last year and made it through Jan)
Take my vitamins
Finances:
Pay off all remaining Consumer Debt
Pay off $10,000 in Student Loans
Get 401K contributions up to 25% by year end
Have 120 no spend days (10 per month)
Brain:
Read at least 2 books a month
Complete the French Module in Doulingo
Complete Excel course to get certification
Practice the flute 10 mins a day
Relationship:
Mediate to reduce stress (so I don't take it out on DH, also a Health goal)
Getting together with friends (at least) once a month. (I'm copying this one)
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Life ownership:
Speaking aloud a gratitude every day
Living in the moment, aka no screens when we're having family time
Health:
Just joined a gym, so cardio 2x/week (Zumba and spin classes) and strength training 2x/week
Add in more protein, either shakes for breakfast or something else (eggs?)
Finances:
Stay FIREd and on budget to keep withdrawals nominal
Get a college savings thing started for the babboo
Brain:
Read 52 books (one a week)
Work on a crossword every day
Subscribe to a math puzzle per week to recoup my old skills
One art project per month
Relationships:
Host dinner/drink dates at least twice a month
Meet up with mom friends at least once a week
Go to at least one homeschooling meetup to meet people in the community
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I plan to lose 5kg and be under 90 for the first time rhi5s century. I was over 115 a while ago, got down to 91, but back to 95 again. I will see 89 next year.
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I have high hopes for 2018...
Life Ownership:
Get up earlier (in 15 minute increments per week) ultimate goal is 6am
Keep an immaculately clean and clutter free house via pick-up-as-you-go daily effort and a thorough cleaning every other week (just canceled housecleaning service)
Drive less through coordinating errands and better planning
Eliminate all complaining and negative commentary (this will be very challenging)
Volunteer in my community at least 1x/mo
Health:
Maintain current exercise level: weights 3x/wk & cardio 3-4x/wk (even if only 20 minutes!)
Yoga 1x/wk most weeks
Enjoy a green breakfast smoothie 5x/wk
Eat vegetarian (clean, whole foods) most days of the week
Get family outside more regardless of weather
Finances:
Stay within grocery budget - $175/wk
Limit dining out to 1x/wk (this will take a HUGE effort)
Limit personal shopping (clothes mostly) to $500 total for the year
Brain:
Increase Excel efficiency: both process efficiency and personal productivity
Increase SQL proficiency (certification?)
Complete a few financial modeling CPE courses
Math refresh to prep for calculus sequence in 2019 (always wanted to take Calculus!)
Read 26 books
Relationships:
Be more present with DD: resume bedtime reading, have more patience when teaching math, play more board games, and start running together at the track regularly (1x/wk?)
Have way more sex with DH
Plan 2 romantic weekend getaways with DH
Be kind, supportive and forgiving to DH I need to stop being such a jerk!
Cook 1 extravagant (effort, not necessarily cost) meal per week DH loves nice, hot-cooked meals
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I like this! Stealing some resolutions from above folks.
Health:
24h fast weekly & shrink portion sizes (plate "just enough")
No food past 7:00pm
Exercise @ 1X group class & 2X independent (mix of cardio and weights)
Sugar on weekends only (and sub with maple syrup/honey when possible)
Finances:
Debt destroyed by June 2019
Minimum $300 per month in side hustles (hopefully more)
Make travel hacking plan for 2019 trip
Max out Roth & 457
Set limits for hedonistic adaptations like taking Uber
Brain:
Read before bed (bonus of helping me avoid screen time)
Paint more
Try to read more long form news instead of short articles
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^^ good ones! I may have to edit my list!
Life-hacking tip I found that works really well:
I printed & hung a similar list on the wall right where I get dressed in the AM. This forces me to review it *every*single*day*. I roll out of bed, brush my teeth, glare at the list for a couple minutes, and determine to go kickass. Really helps kick the mindset into the right gear for the day.
DW started this a few months back and it has been an enabler for her as well.
YMMV!
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2018 resolution. To give a lot less fuck!
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Life-hacking tip I found that works really well:
I printed & hung a similar list on the wall right where I get dressed in the AM. This forces me to review it *every*single*day*. I roll out of bed, brush my teeth, glare at the list for a couple minutes, and determine to go kickass. Really helps kick the mindset into the right gear for the day.
DW started this a few months back and it has been an enabler for her as well.
YMMV!
Great idea! I will try this myself.
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I'll start by stealing the Brain:) activities from Mrs. Whipple.
Brain:
Read 52 books (one a week) ... - ... adapt to - if I read one fun but brainless romance I will read a good book before I am allowed to read another "trash" novel:)
Work on a crossword every day - naw, but I'm considering starting a blog
Subscribe to a math puzzle per week to recoup my old skills ... - ... there are math puzzles? I have no skills in that area, but hey math skills are a good thing:)
One art project per month - oh yeah - I am so on board with that, in fact, I will up the ante to two art projects a month
Health:
No food past 6:30 and no alcohol past 8 pm
Join that walking group or leave the house every morning by 8 am to walk in the park or on the beach
Get those tests - brain scan, colonoscopy - find a way to overcome my anxiety
Talk to my doctor about a couple of concerns, get referrals to a specialist
Finances:
Stick with my plan - no new credit card debt, pay it all off each month
Save every penny of my SS each month
Bring in $300 a month extra every month
Stay on track - save up for that big trip
Don't worry about that car pmt - just follow the plan and do not pay extra to see the car loan gone until I've enjoyed that trip on my bucket list.
Life - choices:
Call my friends more often - at least once every three weeks
Stay in touch more often - ditto
Re-evaluate my lifestyle choices and make changes as needed
See a performance or go to an event or a festival - once a month - life is short and my time on this earth is running out - let's do a few more fun things before it is all over.
Make a will etc in 2018 - it is time to get my shit together!
Relationship: Pay attention and make things happen - instead of just talking about it.
Do something good for someone else - as often as possible. Get involved in that local program I've been thinking about.
Keep on de-cluttering again and again - it is a freeing experience.
Turn that shed cum studio into a truly functional and pleasant space to be.
Tackle that last backyard project as well as that last bathroom renovation - it will be awesome!
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- Keep my spending under $20k again for the year;
- Finish a half marathon without cramping/walking/collapsing*
Make a will etc in 2018 - it is time to get my shit together!
Ahh Stealing that one - I need to do this.
- learn a dam instrument even if it's a rubber band
Stealing this one too - this will be the year I start to crack keyboard.
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I'm in.
Brain:
Read 12 books (one a month) that are not rereads of old favorites or kids books.
Refresh Spanish and learn French (with the kids!).
Do a self-study course on drawing (one/day for 30 days) then practice 2x/week.
Restart study course I dropped mid-stream.
One art project per month. I love this one...it'll be in addition to the art I do with my kids for their school and the drawing.
Health:
Experiment with intermittent fasting (considering eating every other day). Switch to much less processed food.
Keep up running through the winter to maintain and retrain for a half marathon in October. Finish this one by actually running, not walking, most/all of it.
Stay off caffeine. It wrecks my sleep!
Experiment with reducing eliminating sugar to find the sweet spot (pun intended).
(Edited to add) Walk dog 3-5x per week.
Finances:
Stay out of credit card debt.
Calculate our FI number.
Build emergency fund to $10k of easily accessible money.
Build our home business.
Stretch: restart contributions to IRA.
Reevaluate budget and stick to it (revisions allowed).
Relationships:
Write my friends more often - at least once every month.
Complain less...practice optimism.
Visit a few people that we haven't seen for a long time. Set up special budget contributions so this can continue.
Read one classic kids novel per month to the kids. Resume playing board games at least once a week. Continue to do art projects alongside them.
And household, I'm going to steal from Rosy:
Keep on de-cluttering again and again - it is a freeing experience.
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Great thread, I love reading everyone else's resolutions! Mine are:
Life ownership
-Aim to get up at 6am so can walk before work
- Get to bed by 10pm every night.
- Walk to work with DS 1x a week.
- Cut down on internet and tv watching on weekdays
-Read 52 books in 2018 (I started this one this week - have read two already!)
- Take lunch to work every day for a year.
-Complete an odd chore or home improvement each week
Health
-Keep up 3x a week crossfit-type workouts
-Run once a week
-Walk 3x a week before work.
-Healthy breakfast smoothies 4x week
-Keep up salad Sundays, add in another salad/veggie night each week
-Minimal processed sugary crap.
-Alcohol only on weekends
Finances
-Stick to mortgage repayment schedule - under $300k by end 2018!
-Aim to get $10,000 into investments in 2018 (bit of a stretch but we will see!)
-Make extra money (aim $5k) from 5 projects / side hustles in 2018 (two already planned, another hopefully sorted)
- Be stricter with 'spending' and 'ft expense' columns of budget - this money just disappears on crap.
Career
-Check weekly for jobs within my field (I need a change), polish resumes and criteria responses.
- Volunteer/actively seek out opportunities at work that will meet selection criteria for jobs I hope to apply for in future
- Figure out plan for long service leave (considering using it to transition to a new career)
- Find casual/PT work in an alternate field, or volunteer to brush up on skills.
Brain
- Continue learning Spanish
- Continue with advanced Math course - Khan Academy
- Apply for scholarships for backup study in Accounting - undertake only if scholarship success (ie free)
- If time, volunteer in Math/Sci capacity (such as tutoring)
Relationships
-Play a board game, take a walk, and go to the gym with DS weekly
-Encourage/engage with DS with homework and regular reading
-Don't be snappy with DH
- Date night/time together weekly with DH
- Catch up with friends 4x a year.
-Catch up with family at least monthly
-Take each niece out for the day 2x next year
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Well this is fun!
Life
- Leave work at work. Only work on my time if I need to - max 3x/week.
- In bed by 11.
- Read 52 books in 2018. Let go of the judgment around what kind of books.
- Practice daily gratitude with the gratitude list I've had going for years.
- Tell or show someone I appreciate them every day.
- Build up crafting skills. Always have one creative project on the go.
Health
- Work out 3x/week.
- Get into nature 1x/week.
- Meditate 3x/week.
- Go to an AA meeting 1x/week. (Long time recovery makes it harder to make this a priority.
- Only eat junk/high sugar food when it's made with love (no more processed crap.)
Finances
- Save $4K/month.
- Pay off credit card without fail every month.
- Max out RRSP and TFSA.
- Make plan to (and sell?) sell second property.
Career
- Secure at least one professional speaking engagement.
- Take on a volunteering or mentorship opportunity.
Relationships
- Catch up with core friends at least monthly.
- Invest time in new relationships.
- Talk to distant friends and family at least monthly.
- Weekly date night with DH.
- Get pregnant. :D
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Life
- Read more of the philosophical works and letters of Bruce Lee
- Build better personal relationships with my difficult students
- Get to sleep by 10
- Reduce time on Facebook (delete for lengths of time/indefinitely)
Health
- Continue wheat/dairy free
- Continue low caffeine consumption (1 cup of coffee & 1 pre-workout shake daily)
- Eat more fish
- Sign up for 1 triathlon and 1 road race
- Grow a garden
Finances
- Pay extra 1k/month toward mortgage principal
- Earn 10k from Handyman side hustle
- Dump side hustle earnings into aftertax brokerage
- Purchase 1 rental property
- Roll old 401ks from old jobs into a Vanguard IRA
Career
- Automate classroom as much as possible (Grading, planning, lesson presentation etc)
- Build more engaging STEM lessons for students
- Sneak in some mustachianism
- Build up Handyman side hustle
- Drive for Lyft on Friday nights?
Relationships
- Join a community of cyclists
- Invite neighbors over for BBQ
- Get married (5/27/18)
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Thinks for thread! made me do some real thinking though my list might not reflect it
Life Ownership/Health
- get my hours adjusted mentally so I fall asleep at the right time to wake up around 4:30. Cant stay awake at night , fall asleep in chair and have been up around 3am. Time change made it worse.
- Complete my fourth year of keeping the 60lbs off and maybe lose a little more like 5 more.
- Get the knee transplants I need this year as the pain has just gotten to a point its constant and wearing me down. Its time!
- Continue finding ways to accept me for who I am and adjusting to being fire'd with no guilt and few other issues along those lines.
-Work on balance, core and stretch everyday.
-Since its been a year taking over all the cooking , work on even making more healthy
-Do more for me and not feel guilty about it
Financial
- Continue to learn as much as I can so this year I can be free of My Vanguard advisor though hes been great
- Have my DW's entire payroll put into tax defered accounts 401k, HSA etc.. and anything left over put into other deferred accounts like 529's.
-Lower my Investment withdrawls by 25% and replace/burn 25% of my cash surplus I have built up
-Keep looking and trying to find my first rental property or home to flip. Been looking for 4 years to no prevail for another form of income
-Make 100$ a week cash doing stupid stuff for spending money and or?
-still find areas to shave a few bucks here and there but that make sense and not freak out if I dont.
Relationships
-say yes more to people when they ask to do things so I don't become this hermit or feel the loneliness I do at times.
- continue to be an active part in my 4 kids lives.
- try to talk to one or two new people a day and even if they spew crap from there mouth give them the time to listen.
-Be nice to find that one friend I can talk to and share things with (Man stuff) that I use to always have till my life got so busy really sacrificing for everyone else in the house.
Learning
- keep reading the forums on the blogs I follow
- keep challanging myself to learn to fix things I use to not have the confidence to do. Have remodeled alot in the last two years and now have a 3 piece bath I need to gut to studs and re-do so starting that mid January when kids go back to college
- read more books and less stuff on internet
- CC churning is something I want to learn and get good at
- patience always more patience
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Here is my list
Exercise every morning before everyone gets up. 20 minutes.
Gym 4 times a week.
Swimming 3 times.
Fasting once a week.
3 meals a day. No snacking. (This is the hardest I guess)
Learn Italian every day (on the train). I want to be fluent by the end of 2018.
Teach the kids the secondary language.
Do crafts with kids 3 times a week.
Read every evening with the little one.
Write down the mouse stories.
1 craft project every month.
Improve my photography.
Get a new job!!!
Stop criticising my husband in front of others.(poor thing).
Write to friends and family more often.
No clothes shopping in 2018 for myself and husband (unless i lose 10--15 kgs).
Save 85k.
I am excited about it now 😍
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For me it's it mostly one biggy:
As soon as the roads stop being icy (somewhere in spring after Easter): start running again.
I have been a runner. Have run a marathon in 2010. But I have been a bit on and off. But I generally feel good when I am running. It's just the getting started that is hard. Last year it was in my to do list almost all the time, to go training three times a week. And I still didn't run more than twice this whole year.
It will be the first thing I'll do after Easter, from the beginning of April.
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Oooh I like this! Here's mine:
Life ownership:
Shift sleep hours - go to bed and wake up earlier, and KEEP that schedule during the weekends
New rule: Go to bed with a neat house (ie pick up the daily clutter so it doesn't accumulate too much)
Thorough deep clean the apt every other week
Own the cooking 1x (meal)/week (DH is the house cook, and I'd like to increase my confidence in this area)
Practice daily gratitude
Health:
Prioritize fitness: energizing yoga in the morning, and alternate between seasonal heart healthy activities and strength training every day after work
Take my vitamins!
No sugary snacking. Snacks should be fruits/veggie/protein, not cookies or candy
Phone reminders every 20 mins for posture and myofunctional exercises (I have weak oral/throat muscles)
Practice daily mindful meditation in the morning along with yoga. Start the day on the right foot.
Finances:
Continue maxing out 401ks, IRAs, HSA, and everything left over into a taxable brokerage
Student loans will be paid off May 2019, so continue making major progress in this area in 2018
Travel hacking/CC churning - we can optimize more in this area
Brain:
Read before bed - related to better sleep hygiene but also reading more often. Two birds one stone!
1-2 creative projects per month
Continue my Swedish modules in Doulingo
Relationship:
Organize/plan sex with DH - When I get into bed and there's a choice between sleeping and sex, I generally want sleep! But if I plan for it, I'm more likely to intentionally go to bed earlier and leave time for this.
Do more acts of service for DH (his love language, which is at odds with my lazy personality. I always forget to do this
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Getting together with friends at least once a month
Say yes to more activities I am invited to. I'm introverted and my default is usually to decline invites because of the hassle factor. Netflix and ice cream vs dealing with people? But it's good for me to get out of my comfort zone)
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No ambitious resolutions here. We're all different, and I accept that I'll never become a morning person or voluntarily restrict my food intake and won't have time in 2018 to learn to play a musical instrument or write a publishable novel.
I have one new plan for 2018, which was prompted by the thread asking how much we spend on hobbies. I added up our 2017 vacation spending. Having estimated £5000, I added in other associated costs such as airport parking, and it's a little over £6000. Ouch! And I suspect it was more in 2016. This will be difficult to sustain on our retirement budget. I'm going to see if we can cut it in half. If we can limit our overseas travel to one trip near the end of 2018 and spend our other vacations (two individual weeks and one fortnight) in self-catering cottages in the UK, it's doable.
Not badass, but meaningful and achievable for us.
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Here are my 2018 Goals so far:
FINANCES:
Run Free Annual Credit Report
401K - Contribute 15%
Emergency Savings (Cash only Reserve) - $3000
Car - Pay Off
Refinance and Paying on Student Loans
CAREER:
Start a side income business...?
HOME:
Declutter Challenge (I host this once a year if anyone is interested!)
Replace Kitchen Faucet
Replace Toilet Seat
Minimize Living Room Furniture Set for Better Fung Shui
Hand Wax Car X 4
TRAVEL:
Dream: LA - Price is Right
Work: Seattle - MozCon
Low Budget: Road Trip 2018
Beach
See Family
READING LIST: This list is a list of books outside of my normal genre.
Classic - undecided... Any suggestions?
Fiction - Origin by Dan Brown
Biography - Elon Musk Biography
Self Improvement - The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck
Finance - You Are a Badass with Money
HEALTH:
Whole30 Challenge
Drink less Booze :(
Get back to the gym
I have a few more things to finalize but I am getting there.
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Life-hacking tip I found that works really well:
I printed & hung a similar list on the wall right where I get dressed in the AM. This forces me to review it *every*single*day*. I roll out of bed, brush my teeth, glare at the list for a couple minutes, and determine to go kickass. Really helps kick the mindset into the right gear for the day.
DW started this a few months back and it has been an enabler for her as well.
YMMV!
Dang powerful idea. May try that for 2018 myself!
I'm telling you, that was a game-changer. I've not had an 'off' day since starting that practice. Really kick-starts the day. good luck!
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Generally speaking I never make resolutions. They are almost certain to fail in that regard.
All I wish for 2018 is more good luck, and good health. My life isn't going to change much, as I am already very disciplined.
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READING LIST: This list is a list of books outside of my normal genre.
Classic - undecided... Any suggestions?
From your other titles I'm guessing you're not going to go for Edith Wharton or Henry James on this one ;) How about Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle to get you into the swing of things? What is your normal genre? Could you read some classics inside of that genre to get started?
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I like it... Since hope is not a plan, here's the plan:
Life Ownership
- Stop trying to "fit in" with a crowd of self-absorbed people in my HCOL neighborhood.
- Focus more on neglected relationships with good friends (inverse of first item above)
- Be an ambassador to help my college age kids become truly independent citizens.
Finances
- Downsize house to be debt free
- Redeploy equity to deliver passive income
- ACHIEVE FI!
- Buy a mid-size truck that meets my and family's needs.
Brain
- Change jobs from a toxic situation. The silver lining is it's kicked me into gear to build FU money big time.
- Take a healthy vacation to Glacier National Park.
- Avoid the booze fest vacations we've had with friends lately.
Health
- Do 50 push-ups in a single set and 50 double-crunches on my 50th birthday.
- Go to bed & wake up earlier so I can make my 15 minute yoga/strength regimen daily (versus just workdays)
- Eat half as much every dinner to get to a healthier weight (including taking home doggie bags every time eating out). My body will tell me what the weight needs to be.
Relationship
- Take some pressure off my wife on the chores at home.
- Be patient as the transition to empty nesting happens in August.
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Thanks for this idea! I'll keep mine fairly simple to start with, as it will evolve over time.
Life Ownership
- wake up by 6.30am for work each day, instead of 7-8.30am. Get to bed by 10.30pm each night to make this happen. Work on this incrementally so that its a solid habit by the end of the year. Allowed to stay up later and sleep in if being very productive on PhD, or money making badassity, or actual work.
- plenty of weight training at the work gym to make use of my membership by the time it expires on the 16th of June. Hit 2x BW Deadlift at the minimum by then. Hit 300kg x10reps leg press minimum.
- build built in chin up bar or climbing hold board/hang board inside at home prior to gym membership expiry. Get back to at least 10 full strict overgrasp chinups with no rest before end of year.
- get myself the last two kg down to get below 80kg
- at least 20 stair runs this year with my mate Stephen
- Turn off phone wifi and data at least one morning/afternoon per week (excepting to add goodbudget data).
- Intentional discomfort: at least one cold shower per week, or, one bucket wash.
Financial
- Budget and use Goodbudget for entire year.
- Cut down food budget from 140 to 120 per fortnight.
- Save for and install solar panels on home.
- Make a $5000 ETF payment after solar panels are installed.
- Make at least $2000 selling off things I don't need (kitchen knives, photography gear, bike parts, clothes)
Food & Bev
- eat oats for breakfast all year (big challenge, requires organisation to not miss occasional random days!)
- no work espresso coffee past midday
- no work tea past 2pm (water only)
- At least one night per week with no hot drinks except green tea.
- learn to make own Peach Sencha
- don't buy bottled water; be prepared
- plant at least one more fruit tree at home
- plant at least one crop of vegetables at home
Learning
- finish and submit 2nd paper of PhD
- build a poncho from materials, do at least two wet weather overnight hikes with it (solo).
Fam
- take daughter on at least three overnight hikes in bushwalking season
- spend time with Nanna at least once every four weeks (take daughter)
- finish daughter's bedroom renovations with Dad
- babysit new Niece/Nephew for my sis/BIL at least twice
...this format is fantastic! Thanks so much for starting this! What I needed :-)
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Can you help online?
Online help is negotiable. Please reply.
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This will be edited, but a first stab
Life Ownership
- Go to bed by 10:30pm each night - Unless being productive (cleaning house, working on art)
-Walk to and from work on days do not need to commute kids in (2-3 x a week).
-Walk up and down office building stairs every day (5x a week).
-make short (15 minute routine) can do at home after work, most days of week.
- at work no internet surfing except 15 min at lunch! At home 20 min for internet stuff daily.
-one day a week no internet for everyone at home (Monday or Tuesday).
-work on divorce agreement 1/wk with ex.
Financial
- pay down debt from new furnace by November (March-Nov 600/month).
- build up efund (add 1K to efund).
Food & Bev
- have something to eat for breakfast every day! even if it is leaving bread, yogurt at work.
-limit drinking, snacking in the evening. 3 x a week (rest days skip).
Learning
-work on art project so ready by sept 2018 (2-3 pages a month). Delegate at least 1 day a week on art project (still can't figure out when this will be. Friday pm or Sunday am?).
Fam
-Create and delegate achievable house chores to kids, to reduce workload and increase life skills.
-work on having youngest ready earlier for school. Organization the day before.
- work on multiplication table with youngest
-de clutter youngest bedroom, with actual place to sit down/draw, write.
- ex promises to have weekly music sessions with youngest
-involve oldest in meal prep or creation, with aim 1/wk she is responsible or co-responsible for dinner meal
house
-continue decluttering!
-work on house list
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Life Ownership (Fade in one per week)
- Awake at 6:30 rather than 7 (6 by July)
- Limit 1 snack at work per day
- One gallon/day water requirement (16 oz before coffee)
- 24oz/day coffee limit
- Read at least 4 books this year
- Easier on myself with spending money on things I need or really want
- Meditate 10-15 min per day (morning, lunch, or after work)
- Classical music >15 min/day
Fitness
- Start running 2x week
- Continue lifting 3x week
- Yoga/Stretching off-days
Financial
- Leave 3-fund portfolio. No more individual stocks.
- Max 401(k)
- Max HSA
- One extra stream of income by July
Career (Fade in one per week)
- Train brain to not use mouse
- 1 algorithm question per day
- Into work at 8:30am (8:00 by July)
- Start reading high-scalability or other recommended tech blogs in the morning
- Online CS course (two chapters /month)
- 2 certifications (cloud and web)
-
Life Ownership
- NO MORE SNOOZING up at 6
- yoga everyday/ jogging 4 times a week
- Accept yourself
Financial
- Figure out studio landlording hustle and then make it happen
- Find cheaper apartment/ figure out a way to reduce living costs.
- Generate a passive income stream of 500$/month within the year.
Food & Bev
- Substitute pot for beer as much as possible (makes you feel much better)
- eat more fresh vegetables
- NEVER BUY COFFEE OUT (now do it like 1 every other week to be social with coworkers)
Learning
- Make art at least 10hrs per week
- Learn about real estate investing
- Spanish
- Learn to drive truck (work)
- Basic bike maintenance
- Read five books you own (and haven't read)
Relationships
- Call relatives more
- Be at peace being single. DO NOT RUSH INTO SOMETHING
-
Life Ownership
- Implement schedule on non-part-time-job days
- Create sustainable schedule that allows me to get 2-4 hours of business work done on part-time job days (5:30 - 1AM)
- Continue 5 days a week of working out (lagree, indoor row, dance)
- Continue good sleep hygiene (bed before 9; up at 4:30)
- Increase consumption of "brain candy" books; reduce amount of business books read
- minimum of 1 day ACTUALLY off each fortnight
Financial
- Save $10,000
- Earn enough to save $10,000 (~$35,000 gross)
- 5x over 2017's charitable giving
- Switch to New YNAB
- Pay quarterly taxes for business (did not earn enough this year to need to)
- Publish monthly expense reports
- Sell things (vintage dresses, electronic and camera parts)
Food & Bev
- Meal planning + grocery shopping weekly
- 1 month of grocery tracking (individual categories) to observe
- Track treats & coffee separately in budget from groceries
- Reduce caffeine consumption
Learning
- continue daily German practice
- find German conversation group
- log on and teach English several times a month
- continue daily Russian practice
- choreograph & film a dance video
- create and release 10 year data memoir
Social
- 3 hours of social time per week (156 hours per year)
- Signal boost the work of others
Career
- Increase radio syndication to 15 cities
- Appear on local TV
- 35 speaking gigs
- Sell out of first print run of book
- get carried in 10 retail locations
- Teach >200 low-income folks financial literacy
- Begin publishing transcripts of each show
-
Life Ownership
- Wake up at 7AM (I do not like waking up early and will not( (Be in bed by midnight)
- Work out 3 hours a week
- Drink minimal coffee
Financial
- Get savings to $5000
- 401K to $13,000
- Pay of credit card debt
Food & Bev
- 3 days a week of not eating out. (Being single, I find I don't save that much on food)
- Eat more fruit
- Expand recipes
Learning
- UP studying time until exam. Stop procrastinating!
- Get to playing melodies on saxophone
- Read newspapers in French and maintain level
Fam
- Call family more often.
Work
Pass certification
Network my way to a better position
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Life-hacking tip I found that works really well:
I printed & hung a similar list on the wall right where I get dressed in the AM. This forces me to review it *every*single*day*. I roll out of bed, brush my teeth, glare at the list for a couple minutes, and determine to go kickass. Really helps kick the mindset into the right gear for the day.
DW started this a few months back and it has been an enabler for her as well.
YMMV!
Dang powerful idea. May try that for 2018 myself!
I'm telling you, that was a game-changer. I've not had an 'off' day since starting that practice. Really kick-starts the day. good luck!
I like it! I have a little journal i write in every morning but this "in your face' is a tool i am going to add as well
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I like this, especially as I am in a funk due to a hectic life.
This is my list:
Life ownership:
Wake up at 6:00 daily.
Have the house be tidy at all times.
Actively seek happiness, not entertainment.
Go active duty military
Health:
Get back into modeling shape, 6 pac, muscles, the whole bit, while having 10% body fat.
Fruits, veggies, meat and protein shakes.
Finances:
Get back to "2 comma club".
Max out 401K
save 40% of pay
Brain:
Grow knowledge via reading more
Relationship:
AH HA HA HA HA
Find friends.
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Love this format and challenge- I have big goals this year. Kinda freaks me out.:
Life ownership:
Wake up at 5AM, write for 40 minutes before going to work
Strip social media to those things which enrich my relationships or materially further goals
Health:
Complete a half marathon every month in 2018 (6 virtual, 6 live)
- spring for monthly massage because it helps my performance and lowers the crazy
- start 24 hr IF 2x/ week
- give up sugar (my worst addiction)
Finances:
Save 150k (aaaah! We don't even make that. Gonna figure out how to do it though)
- Stop fucking eating out (2nd worst addiction)
- Get a promotion at work
Brain:
Read 100 books during the year
Learn how to make FB ads (ugh)
Relationship:
Getting together with friends (at least) once a month. I'm a natural introvert and often live in my own head. Gotta get better.
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Exactly what I needed but revised after some reflection:
Life Ownership
o Spend 365 hours learning and practicing Spanish
o Read books26 a year (13 fiction/13 non-fiction)*
Finances
o Invest 75% of income by 1 Jan 2019
Career
o Develop on online advice businesswith 1 free and 1 revenue generating product by end of 2018
o Write 1 book1st draft by 1 July 2018; final draft by 15 Dec 2018*
Health
o Eat 90% vegetables, eggs and fish/fowl 300 days of the year*
o Perform 156 hours minimum of strength-based working out a year*
o Walk for 365 hours minimum for the year
Relationships
o Create memorable moments with SO outside the house24x a year
o Experience 26 quality interactions with family/friends a year
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Tips:
1. Create a draft, reflect and reduce to your top 2, 3 max in a critical areawhatever doesnt make the 2018 list can be pushed to the bonus or 2019 list
2. Share with a close friend and get some feedbacklet them challenge you
3. Make it measurable and something you can easily track
4. Change daily/weekly/monthly to actual # of times
5. Use the 80/20 rule. So, if you want to workout an hour a day for a year, make it: 292 hours of working out a year (80% of 365). This way you have some flexibility to make up missed days, you still have a high success rate and youve reduced the pressure without reducing the commitment
6. Use multiple systems to trackset calendar dates, use reminders and check in on yourself daily to see what progress youve made
7. Avoid using negative motivations, such as: no more X or stop doing/reduce X
8. Use positive motivations around what you want to do more of, let that be your focus
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This is a good idea and I'd been kicking some resolutions around for the last while.
Life ownership:
- Use my time in lieu days to take one day off work in each fortnight
- More quality time with the people in my life
- Headspace session each working day
Health:
- 250 exercise sessions in 2018
- Sugar under 250g a week (tracked in MyFitnessPal)
Finances:
- Continue to max my tax-deferred retirement account
- Track expenses and keep them under EUR18,000 (excluding accommodation costs)
- Invest all other income according to my IPS
-
Life Ownership
- Get up at 6:30 am so I'm at work by 7.
- Use the planner I got for Christmas to organize and reflect.
- Read / listen to 50 books.
- Replace Reddit time with said books.
Pet Ownership
- Fresh water in the morning instead of the afternoon
- Play with the cat when I get home
- Scoop even more poop
Health & Fitness
- Overnight Oats for breakfast every workday, no exceptions.
- One cup of coffee per day.
- 64oz of water per day.
- Continue exercise classes 2x week, running or cycling the other 3 days per week. (Planning to build this goal gradually to help make it a habit.)
- Run 5k in March.
- Bike Tour De Whidbey 70 mile edition in Augustish.
Hobbies
- Keep up with the monthly squares of my knitted Afghan quilt club.
- Finish or destash existing knitting projects (1 pair of gloves, 1 hat, 1 pair of socks, 1 shawl, 1 mostly complete sweater).
- Finish sewing two dresses I have materials for.
- Finish quilt in progress.
Finances
- Max 401k, Roth IRA, and HSA.
- Work towards 5k in the emergency fund.
-
Below is a start. I am a tax accountant, so busy season throws a wrench into goals due to insane work hours. Still, I will do my best and bend where I can during busy season but maintain resolve to get back on the wagon as soon as my schedule normalizes in April/May.
LIFE OWNERSHIP
Get serious about the CPA Exam, embrace the hardship!
Start and keep up with bullet journal
Less time on phone, particularly in the morning
Wake up at 5 AM every weekday, 7AM every weekend (Get a pass on Sundays during Tax Season)
Prevent procrastination, take action immediately
FINANCIAL
Keep track of every expense in 2018
Reduce food & beverage expenses in 2018
Avoid "hobby" traps
Increase net worth (despite impending baby)
Ebay at least $1,000 worth of stuff by end of year
Max out HSA again
Determine best course of action on Student Loans
Increase 401K contributions to 18% by year end (15% at YE 17)
LEARNING
CPA!!!!!!!!!!
FAM & FRIENDS
Support Mrs. Fiction as she prepares for the birth of our first child
Have a conversation with core friends at least 1x a month
Have "difficult" conversations with parents
HEALTH
Maintain 2x a week at gym during Tax Season
Increase HDL levels by next physical
Increase to at least 3x a week at gym outside of Tax Season
Lose (and keep off) at least 20 lbs
Find a Dentist closer to home
Figure out abdominal Issue
Meditate at least once per week for 10-15 mins
Find an Optometrist closer to home
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Did a little edit of my list..mostly the same but wanted to edit for clarity & brevity :)
Life Ownership
-daily meditation practice (track with Insight Timer App)
-household no-shopping year
-practice art/drawing 3x/wk
Financial
-track spending (in day planner & highlight no-spend days)
-build a $10,000 EF
-contribute $5000=RRSP (increase amount as possible)
Health
-walk/run 3x/wk (track with Insight Timer App)
-winter: ski 2-3x/wk (already have a pass)
-aim for 90% veggie/vegan
Adventure
-1-2 longer canoe trips
-weekly hikes during the summer
-complete AST1 (Avalanche Safety Training), minimum 3 ski touring trips
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- Keep my spending under $20k again for the year;
- Finish a half marathon without cramping/walking/collapsing*
Make a will etc in 2018 - it is time to get my shit together!
Ahh Stealing that one - I need to do this.
- learn a dam instrument even if it's a rubber band
Stealing this one too - this will be the year I start to crack keyboard.
Marty; I'm impressed that you are sub $20k! I'm assuming you've paid off your home in Sydney?!?!
EDIT: Actually I just went to my current budget and removed the mortgage and child-related expenses. $19666! There you go :-)
(This bodes well for FIRE of course. All my plans so far I've assumed $25k in FIRE).
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I'm in: here are my initial 2018 goals.
Life Ownership
- Back into the habit of getting up at 6am (which means lights out at 10pm)
- Reduce wasted time - surfing net, attending events due to FOMO
- Enjoy my last few years working
- Holiday Purposefully -enjoy seeing new countries
Financial
- Keep on track with the plan - 80+% savings rate
- Keep spending under £20k (stretch goal with inflation)
Health/Fitness
- Get weight back down under 55kg
- Get to 100 parkruns
- Do 2 marathons
- Beat marathon PB
Learning
- Chinese - pass basic HSKK
- Chinese - pass HSK3
- Chinese - pass HSK4 (stretch goal)
- Spend time on MOOC's that interest me
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- compliment DW more frequently (she LOVES this and I forget)
This is the most badass resolution on your list!
I'm going to stick with eating out less and buying less clothes. I already was strong . . . relentless pestering yesterday to go out for Mexican food was resisted!
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Good morning - happy New Year to y'all!
LET IT BEGIN!!
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Happy New Year! Got my Resolutions taped up by my sink so I can read through them while brushing my teeth. Great tip!
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I tend to have too many goals, so I have tried to simplify/consolidate (therefore these are going to be kinda vague but I'm thinking of joining the Monthly challenge for the specifics).
Financial:
-Improve financial management. Three key areas: track spending/budget, get on top of the rental income/expenses, minimize taxes
Relationships:
-Quality time with DH (date night/conversations/etc)
-Build/Rebuild my network (old friends/old coworkers/new people/etc)
Learning:
-Foreign language (Portuguese)
Business:
-Try 1+ side hustle ideas
Personal:
-(Re)define me (make sure where I am spending my time reflects who I am/want to be)
Kids:
-Plan/seek out more activities/growth/learning for after school/weekends
Adventure:
-Do one hike/bike to camp with kids during the year (training for longer term trip)
Health:
-Get body fat down (estimating 16%)
-Improve flexibility (shoulder, hips focus)
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Nice idea. This is my list:
Life ownership:
Wake up at 6:30 daily.
Doing a better job at keeping the house neat and clean. Not let it be a full time weekend chore.
Doing a intentional good deed each week.
Health:
Go back to a regular fitness 'regime'. Used to work out at least twice a week, want to get it back to 3 times a week.
Less snacking
Lose at least 10 kg's, to get back to a healthier weight.
Finances:
Paying at least 10,000 down on our mortgage next year.
Keeping our savings at the level it is at now.
Start learning about investing for 2019.
Keep better track of refunds and any profits my job offer.
Brain:
Read at least 20 books.
Less time online
Start improving my french again.
Relationship:
More quality time with my boyfriend
Getting together with friends (at least) once a month.
If you want to learn about investing, I highly recommend the Bogleheads Guide to Investing. Once you learn the fundamentals of the three fund portfolio you will kick yourself for not understanding it sooner. The book is also an excellent guide to financial planning overall. I became a Boglehead about six months ago, broke up with my "financial advisor" and my net worth has improved substantially as a result. Good luck!
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Finance:
- FIRE, both of us, in May, no matter what.
- $24,000 in 401Ks.
- Explore 401K via our real estate investment company.
- Refurbish rental #3 and rent it.
- Refurbish flip #1 and sell it.
- Find cheap health insurance.
- Total spend, not counting refurbishing property, <$75,000.
Health:
- Bicycle to work 3 days a week once the weather warms.
- Bicycle 7 miles, 4 days a week, once FIRED.
- Walk 3 miles, 3 days a week, once FIRED.
- Lose 40 lbs.
Mind and Heart:
- Master silver-soldering for jewelry making.
- Master fusing of enamel to meta.
- Master polishing enamel.
- Design 3 product lines of metalwork items.
[li]12 public blog entries on topics financial, political and artistic.
[/li][/list]
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Revisiting the Resolutions
Life Ownership
-daily meditation practice (track with Insight Timer App)--so far, so good. 17 days straight
-household no-shopping year --also on track with this, had to buy a safety air cartridge, but agreed that was a necessary purchase
-practice art/drawing 3x/wk--thanks to this resolution, I am spending more time consistently in my little studio, feels great (albeit slow progress)
Financial
-track spending (in day planner & highlight no-spend days)--we actually found an app to use & so far I've had 10 no spend days
-build a $10,000 EF --at $2000
-contribute $5000=RRSP (increase amount as possible)--will start this after contributing more to my '17 fund, which I've put $3000 into
Health
-walk/run 3x/wk (track with Insight Timer App)--yes, sortof. More like 2x big walks/wk, approx 1-2hrs
-winter: ski 2-3x/wk (already have a pass)--averaging 2-3 days/wk & a storm blowing in
-aim for 90% veggie/vegan--yup, on track
Adventure
-1-2 longer canoe trips--we have picked one that we plan to do in the late spring
-weekly hikes during the summer
-complete AST1 (Avalanche Safety Training), minimum 3 ski touring trips--taking AST1 course this weekend, 1 touring trip planned with friends Feb1-2
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Progress Update
'tis the season to plan 2018 Badass Mustachian Muscle Building. I am trying some of these now and plan to hit'em heavy Jan 1. OK ok, Jan 2. I'm stoked, been doing these off&on for a while, but inconsistently.
Life Ownership
- up 5.30am vs 6.15 this was an arbitrary aggressive number without much thought put into it. I did it a couple times and went back to 6.10, which gives me time to get the morning routine done and into work at a perfect time
- weights, stretching, cardio minimum 5 days a week instead of 4 done
- turn off phone wifi. Use by exception only. done. this is GREAT. FYI we also do not have data plan on the phone, so the majority of the time it is a dumb phone/camera/memory stick
- Intentional discomfort: 36hr fast 1/week. Swim minimum 2/week (pool gets into the 40's in the winter, brisk!). Stop using pillows. Fasting: check. This is awesome. Swim: check. Pillows: down to 1. if I lie flat I drown in my own snot (not nice)
Financial
- End stock picking. Many hours, 2% marginal gain over S&P index done
- Close separate brokerage account & roll into Vanguard in process. Looks like it'll cost money to close the account, which sucks.
Food & Bev
- Scale back pizza&beer to 1 cheat day per week done, this is awesome especially because today is CHEAT DAY
- 6 days a week: veg, meat, fruit, water Cut carbs 80-90% and living on veg, meat, fruit, dairy products. Feel great and slowly loosing the midsection
- scale back to 1 cup coffee/day (currently 2-4)about 80% compliance; never more than 2 cups
Learning
- focus harder on 2nd language (Portuguese) not started
- learn a dam instrument even if it's a rubber band bought a harmonica
- No more reading brain sugar. Good stuff only. done. Darwin's House of Cards is currently on the Kindle. Human Smoke next.
- learn how to heel/toe smoothly (driving skill) not started
- build a set of bike wheels not started
Fam
- weights, stretching with the kids minimum 3 days/week adjusted to 2/week, DW teaches a family yoga/stretch/tai chi class for an hour. 3/week was a bit much
- compliment DW more frequently (she LOVES this and I forget) sporadically
- Teach gun use/safety to MMM's age 8+ minimum 2/month gun class every 2 weeks. they love this
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February check in!
Life
Leave work at work. Only work on my time if I need to - max 3x/week. -- YES! Finally got a work laptop.
In bed by 11. -- YEP!
Read 52 books in 2018. Let go of the judgment around what kind of books. -- YES! Currently 13 down.
Practice daily gratitude with the gratitude list I've had going for years. -- 50/50. Need to be more diligent.
Tell or show someone I appreciate them every day. -- Need to work on this.
Build up crafting skills. Always have one creative project on the go. -- YES! Batch of soap curing. Scarf in process.
Health
Work out 3x/week. -- YES! Doing pretty good here, despite getting the flu.
Get into nature 1x/week. -- NO. :( Need to make this a priority.
Meditate 3x/week. -- NO. Need to create the time.
Go to an AA meeting 1x/week. (Long time recovery makes it harder to make this a priority. -- Went to one so far this year... :S
Only eat junk/high sugar food when it's made with love (no more processed crap.) -- NO. Definitely eating too much chocolate.
Finances
Save $4K/month. -- Will hopefully average up to that. Currently around $3100-$3500.
Pay off credit card without fail every month. -- YES.
Max out RRSP and TFSA. -- On track.
Make plan to (and sell?) sell second property. -- Won't happen in 2018.
Career
Secure at least one professional speaking engagement. -- Got the offer! Free trip to NYC if I can get the boss to approve.
Take on a volunteering or mentorship opportunity. -- Still to do.
Relationships
Catch up with core friends at least monthly. -- Making more of an effort here.
Invest time in new relationships. -- In progress.
Talk to distant friends and family at least monthly. -- In progress.
Weekly date night with DH. -- Need to refocus.
Get pregnant. :D -- In progress. ;)
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Financial:
-Improve financial management. Three key areas: track spending/budget, get on top of the rental income/expenses, minimize taxes. In progress. Spending will be weird this month bc of travels, taxes are on hold bc of it, latest problem rental almost finished so we can focus on bigger picture.
Relationships:
-Quality time with DH (date night/conversations/etc). On track
-Build/Rebuild my network (old friends/old coworkers/new people/etc) on track/in progress. Hosting visitors, lunch with new possible friend with follow up set, reached out to try to plan visit with out of town friend, need to send sympathy cards to a couple others, need to reach out to new neighbors.
Learning:
-Foreign language (Portuguese). Erg
Business:
-Try 1+ side hustle ideas double erg. Having to focus on existing, side business now and some issues with rentals. I have at least been talking about some things i'd like to try with others to get some feedback
Personal:
-(Re)define me (make sure where I am spending my time reflects who I am/want to be). On track. Have been prioritizing my activities, but less so in learnings.
Kids:
-Plan/seek out more activities/growth/learning for after school/weekends. Found a great option for one kid, just waiting to start....probably Monday
Adventure:
-Do one hike/bike to camp with kids during the year (training for longer term trip). Currently hosting a bike traveling family and getting to see what it's like for them, how they've managed. Fascinated.
Health: have been doing the work on this (diet, stretching and workouts....results not on scale yet, flexibility might be improving as some things don't seem to hurt as much.
-Get body fat down (estimating 16%)
-Improve flexibility (shoulder, hips focus)
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Progress update - meant to do this at the end of Jan but it looks like I forgot;
Life ownership:
Wake up at 6AM - Been getting up earlier but more like 6:30, not quite able to do 6am but getting better.
Do dishes as they get dirty - Very good at this one. Only left them overnight a couple times (ok maybe 3-4)
Don't look at social media first thing in the morning - Doing really good with this one. Only failed 1-2 times and it was on the weekend when I didn't need to get up and go to work.
Continue to Donate/Sell one thing per day of the year. - Dropped off a box of 31 items in January and have a box of at least 28 items for this month ready to go.
Health:
Get back into running and yoga. 2x a week for each - Terrible - Ran once and did yoga once this year!!!
No added sugar for Jan-Feb. - only lasted a couple weeks :'( may try again in April and do this as a quarterly challenge or something.
Take my vitamins - I take vitamins in the morning and evening. In Jan I was really good about the morning ones but not so much with the evening. Feb I have taken both everyday so far!
Finances:
Pay off all remaining Consumer Debt - $4,800 remaining should be knocked down to $3,500 at the end of the month
Pay off $10,000 in Student Loans - Paid off $1,200 so far this year
Get 401K contributions up to 25% by year end - currently focusing on Credit Cards so this wont go up until the second half of the year.
Have 120 no spend days (10 per month) - 10 so far this year
Brain:
Read at least 2 books a month - Read 5 books so far this year
Complete the French Module in Doulingo - half way done
Complete Excel course to get certification - Have not been working on this, working two jobs and not really feeling like getting on the computer more than necessary but I do have to finish this before the course expires.
Practice the flute 10 mins a day - practiced the first week or two in January and haven't picked it up again.
Relationship:
Mediate to reduce stress (so I don't take it out on DH, also a Health goal) - been off an on with this. 6 times in Jan and so far 3 this month
Getting together with friends (at least) once a month. - went out with DHs friends in January who I hadn't met before. Very nice time. Went out for Trivia this month with my friends but also want to try and go out with another couple of DHs friends.
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Progress update. As expected tax season has taken a toll on my goals with a mixed bag of successes and failures. Fortunately the financial ones are mostly on track.
LIFE OWNERSHIP
Get serious about the CPA Exam, embrace the hardship! Busy season, precious little time
Start and keep up with bullet journal Did not wind up starting this, have been better with organization overall though, so that is a plus
Less time on phone, particularly in the morning Ebbs and flows, but overall improvement
Wake up at 5 AM every weekday, 7AM every weekend (Get a pass on Sundays during Tax Season) Nope
Prevent procrastination, take action immediately I'm putting off preparing a tax return to post in this thread
FINANCIAL
Keep track of every expense in 2018 I've been bad with recording my exact gas purchases, but I used guesstimates so am probably pretty close. It helps now that I am using my card now due to a 5% bonus point promotion
Reduce food & beverage expenses in 2018 Been good except for beer
Avoid "hobby" traps Beer has been an issue
Increase net worth (despite impending baby) So far so good
Ebay at least $1,000 worth of stuff by end of year Have a few piles of stuff waiting to be listed
Max out HSA again Plotted on and on pace
Determine best course of action on Student Loans Determined to pay off this year
Increase 401K contributions to 18% by year end (15% at YE 17) Already bumped to 16%
LEARNING
CPA!!!!!!!!!! On hold for tax season
FAM & FRIENDS
Support Mrs. Fiction as she prepares for the birth of our first child She says I'm doing a good job
Have a conversation with core friends at least 1x a month Been texting more, should still make an effort to call
Have "difficult" conversations with parents after tax season
HEALTH
Maintain 2x a week at gym during Tax Season nope
Increase HDL levels by next physical probably not on track (see gym goal directly above)
Increase to at least 3x a week at gym outside of Tax Season We'll see
Lose (and keep off) at least 20 lbs holding steady
Find a Dentist closer to home not done
Figure out abdominal Issue Have a referral to a surgeon for a consult, just need to schedule an appointment
Meditate at least once per week for 10-15 mins did it once so far
Find an Optometrist closer to home not done
[/quote]
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Since almost 6 months have passed, since I made this list. I thought it was about time for an update. So here goes...
Life ownership:
Wake up at 6:30 daily. Hahahaha, yeah, not happening daily. Still working on this one
Doing a better job at keeping the house neat and clean. Not let it be a full time weekend chore. considering that we are remodeling our house, I'm doing a fantastic job at this. Most of our stuff is in boxes and everything we use, we wash almost immediately. Now I only have to keep this up after we're done remodeling and start really living in our house again.
Doing a intentional good deed each week. Did some good deeds, but not intentional every week. So I'll still have to work on this one.
Health:
Go back to a regular fitness 'regime'. Used to work out at least twice a week, want to get it back to 3 times a week. I blame the house on failing spectacularly at this. Although, is knocking out walls, bringing a 1000 stones to the container or sanding and painting also considered a work out? If so, I've met this goal by far and work out 5 times a week ;)
Less snacking I could do better, but I've seen an improvement. I'm much more mindful about what I eat, so this one is progressing nicely
Lose at least 10 kg's, to get back to a healthier weight. stress is not helping. Down 2 kilo's, 8 more to go. Not a great score in 6 months.
Finances:
Paying at least 10,000 down on our mortgage next year. on our way with this one, we are on schedule
Keeping our savings at the level it is at now. surprisingly, we are still at the same savings level, even though we are remodeling the house. Some hefty expenses are to be expected (new kitchen for example), but so far so good.
Start learning about investing for 2019. Did this, read a lot of blogposts and halfway through the first book on this.
Keep better track of refunds and any profits my job offer. Still losing money on this one. But I did apply for a reimbursment for next year.
Brain:
Read at least 20 books. Unless I catch up the next 6 months, I'm probably not going to make this one. Currently on book 2/20.
Less time online I don't keep check, but I think I could improve on this one.
Start improving my french again. I did this un petit peu, watched some french movies and have read some easy french texts again. Really should put more effort into this.
Relationship:
More quality time with my boyfriend We do this. It's going great.
Getting together with friends (at least) once a month. Also met this goal, I've seen my far away friends already a couple of times this year. So doing great.
How are your goals progressing? Any other updates?
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Good Bump @littlelykke :)
Mid-way re-visit
Life Ownership
-daily meditation practice (track with Insight Timer App)--was doing this then stopped, restarted recently. Makes such a big difference in my day
-household no-shopping year --on track with this, we are still sticking to it with only a few work-related exceptions so far
-practice art/drawing 3x/wk-haven't been keeping up with this as much as I would like
Financial
-track spending (in day planner & highlight no-spend days)--did initially,now we're only buying groceries so aren't tracking
-build a $10,000 EF --at $4500
-contribute $5000=RRSP (increase amount as possible)--working on it
Health
-walk/run 3x/wk--was off due to hip injury..restarted recently and completed a straggly half-m :)
-winter: ski 2-3x/wk (already have a pass)--done
-aim for 90% veggie/vegan--have gone off a bit but still pretty high 80-85%
Adventure
-1-2 longer canoe trips--have one rafting trip planned
-weekly hikes during the summer-completed a few day hikes & one 4 day trip this spring
-complete AST1 (Avalanche Safety Training), minimum 3 ski touring trips--did course & only one overnight trip last winter
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I haven't actually looked at how I'm doing on these Resolutions in a few months so it's a good time to revisit and refocus;
Life ownership:
Wake up at 6AM - Closer to 6:30-6:45AM lately. I need to set an alarm that tells me to go to bed!
Do dishes as they get dirty - This one is going fine. There have been a few days here and there that the dishes are left but over all the sink has been clean.
Don't look at social media first thing in the morning - Fell off the wagon a bit. Need to refocus on this one.
Continue to Donate/Sell one thing per day of the year. - I've dropped off donations through March and I'm currently working on my "April" box. It's starting to get tough to find things to get rid of.
Health:
Get back into running and yoga. 2x a week for each - I've got the running part down just not the yoga.
No added sugar for Jan-Feb.
Take my vitamins - Been pretty good lately, not perfect but only missing them here and there.
Finances:
Pay off all remaining Consumer Debt - Done
Pay off $10,000 in Student Loans - Paid off $6,268.13 so far this year. I should have no trouble reaching this goal.
Get 401K contributions up to 25% by year end - I'm up to 10% as of June will increase again in July to somewhere between 12 and 15%
Have 120 no spend days (10 per month) - I've totally lost count but my guess I'm close to 5-8 a month.
Brain:
Read at least 2 books a month - Doing well. I'm up to 15 books this year (I think).
Complete the French Module in Doulingo - Still hovering around 50%
Complete Excel course to get certification - Not even close to done and I really need to finish up soon. I am only working on the basic course right now and I still have the advanced course to complete. I have to check to make sure this isn't expiring.
Practice the flute 10 mins a day - Been very inconsistent lately.
Relationship:
Mediate to reduce stress (so I don't take it out on DH, also a Health goal) - Terrible at this! I need to set an alarm to remind myself.
Getting together with friends (at least) once a month. - I'm very good at this, though the plan was to spend more time with DHs friends and we have only done that a couple times. I told him to get in touch with someone for June. I can't really help that we're hanging out with my friends can I? :)
Plan for June and going forward;
-Set alarms for going to bed, Practicing the Flute and French, and to Meditate.
- Make Yoga more of a priority.
- Spend time each day completing 1 or 2 excel modules.
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I think this is going to be ugly. But here goes:
Financial:
-Improve financial management. Three key areas: track spending/budget, get on top of the rental income/expenses, minimize taxes. Tracking spending: nope; Rental expenses mgmt: nope; minimize taxes: tried for 2017 but was a bit late, Will attempt to get DH on board for this in 2018.
Relationships:
-Quality time with DH (date night/conversations/etc). Nope, did a couple but fell off the wagon
-Build/Rebuild my network (old friends/old coworkers/new people/etc). Nope
Learning:
-Foreign language (Portuguese). Well, this has become a yes
Business:
-Try 1+ side hustle ideas. Nope, though i did try listing some stuff on the ebay.
Personal:
-(Re)define me (make sure where I am spending my time reflects who I am/want to be). Kinda doing this now
Kids:
-Plan/seek out more activities/growth/learning for after school/weekends. Kinda doing this now
Adventure:
-Do one hike/bike to camp with kids during the year (training for longer term trip). nope
Health: big fail lately...I did well for about 4 months
-Get body fat down (estimating 16%)
-Improve flexibility (shoulder, hips focus)
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No ambitious resolutions here. We're all different, and I accept that I'll never become a morning person or voluntarily restrict my food intake and won't have time in 2018 to learn to play a musical instrument or write a publishable novel.
I have one new plan for 2018, which was prompted by the thread asking how much we spend on hobbies. I added up our 2017 vacation spending. Having estimated £5000, I added in other associated costs such as airport parking, and it's a little over £6000. Ouch! And I suspect it was more in 2016. This will be difficult to sustain on our retirement budget. I'm going to see if we can cut it in half. If we can limit our overseas travel to one trip near the end of 2018 and spend our other vacations (two individual weeks and one fortnight) in self-catering cottages in the UK, it's doable.
Not badass, but meaningful and achievable for us.
Not working out quite how I planned. We are having three separate weeks in the UK but one will be in Northern Ireland, which still involves significant travel costs. In March, when winter was dragging on and on, I booked a summer vacation somewhere guaranteed to be warm and sunny (just returned, no regrets) and we'll go away again during low season in early December.
We'll come in around 90% of last year's expenditure.
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I like it... Since hope is not a plan, here's the plan:
Life Ownership
- Stop trying to "fit in" with a crowd of self-absorbed people in my HCOL neighborhood. Good changes happening here connecting and reconnecting with people with more common interests.
- Focus more on neglected relationships with good friends (inverse of first item above)
- Be an ambassador to help my college age kids become truly independent citizens. So far, this means patience with my youngest daughter over the summer.
Finances
- Downsize house to be debt free Big house on the market... working the plan!
- Redeploy equity to deliver passive income Next step... see status immed. above!
- ACHIEVE FI!
- Buy a mid-size truck that meets my and family's needs. Done! Loving the flexibility it adds to life in general!
Brain
- Change jobs from a toxic situation. The silver lining is it's kicked me into gear to build FU money big time. Not doing well on this one. Too much focus on downsizing/income stability for college expenses. As Thoreau said, a life of "...quiet desperation" for now, but other changes will set the stage here.
- Take a healthy vacation to Glacier National Park. Heading to Florida Keys this winter.
- Avoid the booze fest vacations we've had with friends lately. The Keys ain't gonna help with this one...
Health
- Do 50 push-ups in a single set and 50 double-crunches on my 50th birthday. At 30 pushups and 50 double crunches easily in one set... Gonna take 2 pushup sets on the birthday to avoid injury, but will call it a win.
- Go to bed & wake up earlier so I can make my 15 minute yoga/strength regimen daily (versus just workdays) Fell off the wagon on this... good reminder!
- Eat half as much every dinner to get to a healthier weight (including taking home doggie bags every time eating out). My body will tell me what the weight needs to be. Fell off the wagon on this... good reminder!
Relationship
- Take some pressure off my wife on the chores at home. Doing more... not qualifying for saint-hood, but better.
- Be patient as the transition to empty nesting happens in August. Just got here... treading lightly, but it's going to be a tough transition.
Updates thus far in bold above... Some big changes done... more to come!
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August update
Life ownership:
Wake up at 6AM - This was not a very good idea. I don't know what I was thinking. 6:30 is the earliest I've managed and even that is few and far between. but I will keep "trying"
Do dishes as they get dirty - check, I have been very good with this.
Don't look at social media first thing in the morning - Continue to fall off the wagon. I am thinking of uninstalling Facebook from my phone.
Continue to Donate/Sell one thing per day of the year. - I'm up to May 5th. Need to catch up to August.
Health:
Get back into running and yoga. 2x a week for each - Nope has not happened. I've been a lazy bum pretty much all year. I was running more in the first half but it's been a while
No added sugar for Jan-Feb. May try again at the end of the year (not during the holidays though!)
Take my vitamins - Very good the last couple months.
Finances:
Pay off all remaining Consumer Debt - Done
Pay off $10,000 in Student Loans - $Paid off 7,669.10 so far
Get 401K contributions up to 25% by year end - I'm up to 15% so far
Have 120 no spend days (10 per month) - Still haven't been keeping track but my guess is it's about 5ish a month. Since I walk to the supermarket on my lunch break to pick up a fresh tomato and avocado for my salad I end up spending a couple dollars almost every day.
Brain:
Read at least 2 books a month - Up to 18 books
Complete the French Module in Doulingo - Still hovering around 50%
Complete Excel course to get certification - Done with course, turns out it was not complete, that's what I get for trusting Groupon. Will look for a new one, maybe my work will pay for it.
Practice the flute 10 mins a day - Been very inconsistent lately.
Relationship:
Mediate to reduce stress (so I don't take it out on DH, also a Health goal) - Terrible at this! I need to set an alarm to remind myself.
Getting together with friends (at least) once a month. - Done every month at least my friends, not too much with DH's friends.
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Progress update. As expected tax season has taken a toll on my goals with a mixed bag of successes and failures. Fortunately the financial ones are mostly on track.
LIFE OWNERSHIP
Get serious about the CPA Exam, embrace the hardship! Busy season, precious little time I changed jobs, my current employer doesn't put any emphasis on the CPA exam, so its on the backburner for now
Start and keep up with bullet journal Did not wind up starting this, have been better with organization overall though, so that is a plusStill haven't created this but did create a joint google calendar with my wife, which has been helpful
Less time on phone, particularly in the morning Ebbs and flows, but overall improvement Overall better.
Wake up at 5 AM every weekday, 7AM every weekend (Get a pass on Sundays during Tax Season) Nope While I technically up around that time virtually every day is because of the baby, not through any choice of my own and I typically go back to sleep afterwards
Prevent procrastination, take action immediately I'm putting off preparing a tax return to post in this thread Mild improvement.
FINANCIAL
Keep track of every expense in 2018 I've been bad with recording my exact gas purchases, but I used guesstimates so am probably pretty close. It helps now that I am using my card now due to a 5% bonus point promotion Busy season hurt, then having the baby through things into a chaotic state, have been better the last few months.
Reduce food & beverage expenses in 2018 Been good except for beer This ticked up a bit with the new job as I have wanted to get to know my co-workers a bit better, going to start reining back in
Avoid "hobby" traps Beer has been an issue Beer still a bit of an issue
Increase net worth (despite impending baby) So far so good Happy with my progress
Ebay at least $1,000 worth of stuff by end of year Have a few piles of stuff waiting to be listed Piles still remain, did sell a video game a few months back for $20, so $980 still to go.
Max out HSA again Plotted on and on pace Happening
Determine best course of action on Student Loans Determined to pay off this year Student loans are toast as of September
Increase 401K contributions to 18% by year end (15% at YE 17) Already bumped to 16% Changed jobs, got a pay increase and promptly set my contribution percentage to max.
LEARNING
CPA!!!!!!!!!! On hold for tax season On hold indefinitely
FAM & FRIENDS
Support Mrs. Fiction as she prepares for the birth of our first child She says I'm doing a good job Baby came in April. According to my wife I am still doing a good job helping out
Have a conversation with core friends at least 1x a month Been texting more, should still make an effort to call I've texted more frequently.
Have "difficult" conversations with parents after tax season Had conversations, while receptive parents have been slow to change
HEALTH
Maintain 2x a week at gym during Tax Season nope Nope, even with tax season over I have found this rate difficult to maintain. I have been working out somewhat regularly at home though over the last few months.
Increase HDL levels by next physical probably not on track (see gym goal directly above) Probably same as before
Increase to at least 3x a week at gym outside of Tax Season We'll see Nope
Lose (and keep off) at least 20 lbs holding steady Nope
Find a Dentist closer to home not done Done, just need to setup an appointment
Figure out abdominal Issue Have a referral to a surgeon for a consult, just need to schedule an appointment Went through appointment and tests, which were inconclusive. I've been recommended for physical therapy but haven't started yet.
Meditate at least once per week for 10-15 mins did it once so far baby has usurped most of my free time.
Find an Optometrist closer to home not done done
[/quote]
Been way to long since I updated this. Lots of life changes, most for the better. I way underestimated the impact having a baby would have on my free time!
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Good reminder--my last update was in June.
Will look forward to setting up a new list in 2019 :)
Life Ownership
-daily meditation practice (track with Insight Timer App)--YES! Even just completed a massive meditation retreat, which has cemeted this habit further
-household no-shopping year -- Less than two months to go, it's been a huge success--our clothes are getting a bit scruffy and we both need new underwear and socks but this was a fantastic experiment
-practice art/drawing 3x/wk-haven't been keeping up with this as much as I would like
Financial
-track spending (in day planner & highlight no-spend days)--nope, since I'm not really spending money except on groceries, household items
-build a $10,000 EF --at $7000
-contribute $5000=RRSP (increase amount as possible)--at $2800 so far
Health
-walk/run 3x/wk--bought a gym pass and am using it
-winter: ski 2-3x/wk (already have a pass)--waiting for the upcoming season to even start
-aim for 90% veggie/vegan--we are probably at 70-75% due to cheese consumption
Adventure
-1-2 longer canoe trips--recently did a 9 day rafting trip
-weekly hikes during the summer-completed many day hikes, a bunch were brand new destinations for me & one 4 day trip this spring
-complete AST1 (Avalanche Safety Training), minimum 3 ski touring trips--did course & only one overnight trip last winter
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Updated
Here is my list
Exercise every morning before everyone gets up. 20 minutes.- nope, was sick for 7 weeks this year.
Gym 4 times a week- not quite, but when I was well I managed to go 2-3 times. Will keep this up
Swimming 3 times.- as above. Usually 2 swims
Fasting once a week. - nope, too hard
3 meals a day. No snacking. (This is the hardest I guess)- down to 4 meals. Finally got rid of the morning snack.
Learn Italian every day (on the train). I want to be fluent by the end of 2018.- not fluent yet, but much much better. I understood everything when we went to Italy this summer. I just did not have the confidence to talk much. Will continue learning. I really enjoyed this challenge.
Teach the kids the secondary language. - sort of. Made progress.
Do crafts with kids 3 times a week.- we took up painting together
Read every evening with the little one.- most evenings
Write down the mouse stories. - gotta do it next week. I want to give the story collection as a xmas present
1 craft project every month.- wasn't that structured, but made a lot of things
Improve my photography.- yesssss. Much, much better.
Get a new job!!!- nope. But negotiated one more year of part time hell.
Stop criticising my husband in front of others.(poor thing).- yesss. Winwinwin
Write to friends and family more often.- yes, done
No clothes shopping in 2018 for myself and husband (unless i lose 10--15 kgs).- failed this, but didn't go overboard, I bought only necessary clothes.
Save 85k. - this is the biggest surprise, if we count the invisible savings (traditional retirement accounts incl employer contributions) we made this goal. And of course we lost a chunk in the past 2 months.
How did you guys go?
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* Did not learn keyboard this year
* May have kept my spending below $20k. Don't really know because I've stopped tracking (I'll just hand back my MMM credentials now as I leave the building tonight)
* Have not made a will, but will be going at end of Jan 2019 to enquire about one
* Have not finished a half marathon race without cramping/walking/collapsing (I did another 3 in 2018) but did complete one subsequently in training at a slightly slower pace. I think if you finish a race still standing then you probably haven't gone hard enough!
Goal for 2019 is a full marathon... my long runs are up to 25k now, and hopefully will be 30k by the end of January.