The Money Mustache Community
General Discussion => Throw Down the Gauntlet => Topic started by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 30, 2024, 03:47:22 PM
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It's the last month of the year! What do you want to accomplish as you close out 2024?
Here are my goals:
Financial:
Savings goal. Goal is to save $2000.
Mini freezer clean out:
-1/2 of the pizza in the freezer -
- Use up a bunch of tater tots from the restaurant sized bag DH found on super mark down. ;-)
-Use up package of naan bread
Sell fitness watch
Sell/give away all expiring travel rewards
Family:
Finish all holiday shopping/wrapping/baking
Have a fantastic holiday season with the family
Book travel for spring girls trip & trip to Spain with DH
2 dates with DH
Fitness:
15 strength workouts -
Follow the No S diet 15 days & track calories daily
Have eye exam
Maintain my weight during the holiday season
Personal:
Complete daily tasks 20 times (meditate, language, journal) -
Get together with friends
Declutter 25 items
Network 2x -
Continue exploring jobs -
Spent time on volunteer role -
Come up with more structure in my daily routine -
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So, things have been a little rough recently, so I fell off my goals for last month. I want to do better this month, but it's also probably going to be a stressful month, especially the first two weeks. So we'll see.
Also, @MaybeBabyMustache I think there are casseroles that are based on tater-tots. That might help use up a good bit quickly.
Work Related:
-Apply for the two interesting looking PT remote jobs DH found for me
Creative:
-Finish embroidered ornaments
-Figure out present for mom, embroidered or not (I already got dad's)
-Finish art swap projects-dice bag and framed hoop-Dice bag is done and the hoop is planned.
Health:
-Do a few minutes of deep breathing every evening
-Exercise at least once a week
-Schedule at least one hangout with a friend, or at least try in case people are busy and no one can.
-Follow No-S diet for 15 days
-Count calories for 15 days
Household:
-2 sessions of decluttering the basement, 20 minutes minimum each time
-Make all school lunches, no buying without planning in advance (pizza days)
-Do more than half (5/9) of the monthly chores, focusing on ones that haven't been done in a while
-Do 4 (out of 6) Seasonal chores
-Make cookies for the boy scout troop
-Decorate for Christmas
-Plan, buy and wrap presents as needed.
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Walking 20k steps a day every day!
Yesterday evening I decided on this goal, realized it was 6:30 pm and not late at all, and walked the dogs to their heart’s content! Day 1 complete!
Also finishing some creative projects.
Trying for no Reddit/reduced screen time, which is part of why I’m doing the 20k steps… I don’t use phones or screens when I’m outdoors.
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Onwards to December, even if I'm a bit late. Main goal is that I want to finish this year feeling better than I did in November.
- As usual: sleep more.
- Drastically reduce time spent on stupid things on my phone.
- Continue getting rid of stuff/sorting out the apartment.
a) I need to take care of all the stuff from my bedroom to be. Trash or find the place for it.
b) Built in wardrobe in DS1 room.
c) Built in wardrobe in DS2 room.
d) Cleaning cupboard. - Continue with my bedroom. Plan for December: decide on flooring and wall colour, buy wall paper, trip to IKEA to buy bed.
- Eat better. Inspired by @MaybeBabyMustache, I will set this as Maintain my weight during the holiday season. I'm now at 79,7 kilos, I really don't want to go over 80. My foot is hurting, and I know losing weight would be a good thing, but menopause hormones are no joke.
- Go to the gym once a week.
- Sort out the mortgage situation. Either refinance or change mortgage company.
- Continue planning and focus on doing. Sort out all of December this weekend. During the month, I want to make plans for next year (in various areas of life).
- Do one thing a day instead of procrastinate. I will continue the list of one-time tasks I want completed during the month.
- Do not book any travel! Only exception is if I get a real deal on a trip w/the kids.
- Plan Christmas holidays so kids are not on screen all the time, and that we visit relatives w/o me breaking apart.
I track with colors:
Green: completed
Blue: progress/on track
Orange: at risk/behind
Red: did not complete
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Walking 20k steps a day every day!
Yesterday evening I decided on this goal, realized it was 6:30 pm and not late at all, and walked the dogs to their heart’s content! Day 1 complete!
Also finishing some creative projects.
Trying for no Reddit/reduced screen time, which is part of why I’m doing the 20k steps… I don’t use phones or screens when I’m outdoors.
Walked 20,000 steps per day for five days in a row! (I started Nov 30).
Hoping to get better at doing my project work, however…
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I barely been actively thinking of my goals, but in going back over them I have made a bit of progress.
Work Related:
-Apply for the two interesting looking PT remote jobs DH found for me
Creative:
-Finish embroidered ornaments-need to knock some of these out this weekend
-Figure out present for mom, embroidered or not (I already got dad's)-got mom's! Now on to the in-laws!
-Finish art swap projects-dice bag and framed hoop-Dice bag is done and the hoop is planned.
Health:
-Do a few minutes of deep breathing every evening-completely forgot this one
-Exercise at least once a week-actually did twice so far!
-Schedule at least one hangout with a friend, or at least try in case people are busy and no one can.-had friends over for dinner and hopefully will have another hangout
-Follow No-S diet for 15 days-4 so far, need to pick up pace to hit this one
-Count calories for 15 days-only 2 so far, need to do much better. December may have been the wrong month to start this one
Household:
-2 sessions of decluttering the basement, 20 minutes minimum each time
-Make all school lunches, no buying without planning in advance (pizza days)-so good so far
-Do more than half (5/9) of the monthly chores, focusing on ones that haven't been done in a while
-Do 4 (out of 6) Seasonal chores
-Make cookies for the boy scout troop-done and over with! Did about 12 dozen cookies in 2 days, thankfully relatively easy ones
-Decorate for Christmas-did a bit, and all of the advent stuff is out
-Plan, buy and wrap presents as needed.-bought/wrapped one
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Walking 20k steps a day every day!
Yesterday evening I decided on this goal, realized it was 6:30 pm and not late at all, and walked the dogs to their heart’s content! Day 1 complete!
Also finishing some creative projects.
Trying for no Reddit/reduced screen time, which is part of why I’m doing the 20k steps… I don’t use phones or screens when I’m outdoors.
Walked 20,000 steps per day for five days in a row! (I started Nov 30).
Hoping to get better at doing my project work, however…🦵
11 days in a row! 💪 🦵
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That is amazing @Fru-Gal ! Well done. I hit 22k today, but there was some dedicated effort in there. My normal target is 12k.
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11 days in a row! 💪 🦵
That's really impressive! Well done!
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So, I'm not reflecting and reporting as much as I want to...
Also this report will not be that positive.
However, I wrote that "Main goal is that I want to finish this year feeling better than I did in November." And really, I have no idea what has happened, this is normally the worst time of the year for me, as I dread the cold. Living in sweden, we have snow now, but very little, which I like, much easier to walk and drive. It is not very cold, about 20 degrees Fahrenheit during daytime. It could be much worse :-). But it could also be better.
But anyway, I actually have more energy than I been having the last few months. It's as I had a very mild depression or burnout and have moved to feeling better - can't really say how or why. It feels a bit strange and very nice.
Well here's the report for almost first half of December. I have been really busy with work and fun stuff but the weekend will be better and I hope for some progress.
- As usual: sleep more.
- Drastically reduce time spent on stupid things on my phone.
- Continue getting rid of stuff/sorting out the apartment.
a) I need to take care of all the stuff from my bedroom to be. Trash or find the place for it.
b) Built in wardrobe in DS1 room.
c) Built in wardrobe in DS2 room.
d) Cleaning cupboard.
There is very little progress here. Hope to work on this during weekend. - Continue with my bedroom. Plan for December: decide on flooring and wall colour, buy wall paper, trip to IKEA to buy bed. Handyman was here, seems nice and had a couple of very good ideas, has given a quote that is reasonable. I have accepted. Unfortunately he can't start until mid January but good enough. Also, I went to IKEA, have decided on bed but did not buy as nowhere to store it at the moment. I think I will buy after New years eve. Depends on how much I can get rid of this weekend.
- Eat better. Inspired by @MaybeBabyMustache, I will set this as Maintain my weight during the holiday season. I'm now at 79,7 kilos, I really don't want to go over 80. My foot is hurting, and I know losing weight would be a good thing, but menopause hormones are no joke. Tiny progress, but it can easily go the other way as Christmas comes closer. I am weak :-).
- Go to the gym once a week. Not once... Tomorrow we will go the indoor pool so I will swim at least.
- Sort out the mortgage situation. Either refinance or change mortgage company. Absolutely progress here and it will be sorted.
- Continue planning and focus on doing. Sort out all of December this weekend. During the month, I want to make plans for next year (in various areas of life). Some progress but not a lot. But I have started to think about priorities for 2025. Health, family, home are my top ones. Will think more about this.
- Do one thing a day instead of procrastinate. I will continue the list of one-time tasks I want completed during the month.
- Do not book any travel! Only exception is if I get a real deal on a trip w/the kids.
- Plan Christmas holidays so kids are not on screen all the time, and that we visit relatives w/o me breaking apart. Progress. Their dad is an idiot at the moment, but I have now told him that I need a schedule/need to know any changes now and then told him that was has been said today will not be changed any more. I am very pleased with myself and how it turned out.
I track with colors:
Green: completed
Blue: progress/on track
Orange: at risk/behind
Red: did not complete
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It's mid month and I would like to join in a manageable way :)
1) pay off LOC or be very, very close (borrowed a bit to make tax payments)
2) stay off of social media (except for a holiday post)
3) start reading War & Peace ..am 1/5 of the way into it and have neglected it for months
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I have been busy, and then I ended up w/a slight cold, but I am still walking around feeling rather happy. Working from home tomorrow and then I will be off for over a week, which makes me even happier.
- As usual: sleep more. Not really, but will try during holidays.
- Drastically reduce time spent on stupid things on my phone. This is turning into a problem, it has been good as a pause at work, but now it takes way too much time at home. I will change this for the rest of the month, starting now.
- Continue getting rid of stuff/sorting out the apartment.
a) I need to take care of all the stuff from my bedroom to be. Trash or find the place for it.
b) Built in wardrobe in DS1 room.
c) Built in wardrobe in DS2 room.
d) Cleaning cupboard.
I can't say if this is going well or horribly wrong :-) At the moment the place is a mess, but I think there is also some progress. - Continue with my bedroom. Plan for December: decide on flooring and wall colour, buy wall paper, trip to IKEA to buy bed (decided but will buy after holidays). Handyman will start mid January. I have not decided on floor or anything else yet.
- Eat better. Inspired by @MaybeBabyMustache, I will set this as Maintain my weight during the holiday season. I'm now at 79,7 kilos, I really don't want to go over 80. My foot is hurting, and I know losing weight would be a good thing, but menopause hormones are no joke. Being sick, I'm eating and not moving. This morning was 79,4. But I didn't go overboard with office candy so that's good anyway.
- Go to the gym once a week. Not once... I have been swimming once at least.
- Sort out the mortgage situation. Either refinance or change mortgage company. Absolutely progress here and it will be sorted.
- Continue planning and focus on doing. Sort out all of December this weekend. During the month, I want to make plans for next year (in various areas of life). No progress on 2025 yet. Health, family, home are my top ones.
- Do one thing a day instead of procrastinate. I will continue the list of one-time tasks I want completed during the month. Absolutely progress. New wave of energy is helping.
- Do not book any travel! Only exception is if I get a real deal on a trip w/the kids. This is hard, but I am working on it by looking at apartments and houses. DS2 said he really wants to go to the Maldives at some point in his life. We looked at trips, and let's just say I need to win a lot of money for this.
- Plan Christmas holidays so kids are not on screen all the time, and that we visit relatives w/o me breaking apart. More progress. I am not realy happy about trip to relatives but it will be ok.
I think focus for the rest of the month will be sleep, moving, 2025 plans, make some decision regarding bedroom and have a nice holiday w/the kids.
I track with colors:
Green: completed
Blue: progress/on track
Orange: at risk/behind
Red: did not complete
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@LinneaH ---that's wonderful that you are feeling contented/uplifted/whatever the shift in emotions has been :)
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1) pay off LOC or be very, very close (borrowed a bit to make tax payments) : PAID OFF TODAY
2) stay off of social media (except for a holiday post) : Medium level success
3) start reading War & Peace ..am 1/5 of the way into it and have neglected it for months : Found it upstairs and brought down but haven't cracked into it again.
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Final report for December. Good progress, even though some of it is 'Good enough'.
It has been lovely to be off work, still have two more days, then working Thursday-Friday and then a long weekend bc Monday is bank holiday. Kids are here until Saturday so I will have a couple of days on my own as well. We made a visit to relatives, it was good, but I have been a bit tired after (long drive, not sleeping well and a bit of a psychological strain w/my parents). Kids were great though.
- As usual: sleep more. I did not, but hope to get to an earlier bed time after New years.
- Drastically reduce time spent on stupid things on my phone. Not perfect, but the deleted the stupid game app and it is better. Will have to do even better when back at work but for now it's good.
- Continue getting rid of stuff/sorting out the apartment.
a) I need to take care of all the stuff from my bedroom to be. Trash or find the place for it.
b) Built in wardrobe in DS1 room.
c) Built in wardrobe in DS2 room.
d) Cleaning cupboard.
Progress in the boys' rooms, good enough for now. Managed to sell an item for $15. For my bedroom, there has been progress but still a long way to go. So much stuff as part of it (a big part) has been storage. Quite a lot already sorted to go to charity shop and dump, but will be after holidays. Some of it already in car :-) . Cleaning cupboard is better so good for now. - Continue with planning my bedroom. Plan for December: decide on flooring and wall colour, buy wall paper, trip to IKEA to buy bed . Handyman will start mid January. Painter friend will come by then as well, will discuss wall colour w/him then. Wall paper bought. Floor almost decided but need to look at the three options for colour, when at work as there is a shop less than 10 minutes from the office. Will go to IKEA probably Monday.
- Eat better. Inspired by @MaybeBabyMustache, I will set this as Maintain my weight during the holiday season. I'm now at 79.7 kilos, I really don't want to go over 80. My foot is hurting, and I know losing weight would be a good thing, but menopause hormones are no joke. Ended at 78.8.kilos. Have not been strict but have not overeaten during Christmas. Yesterday I went back to logging food on MFP, I know this helps w/'I am bored-eating' and unnecessary snacking.
- Go to the gym once a week. Not once. I have been ill part of Dec but I could have gone... I have been swimming once.
- Sort out the mortgage situation. Either refinance or change mortgage company. Not completed (holidays) but will be in the next few days.
- Continue planning and focus on doing. Sort out all of December this weekend. During the month, I want to make plans for next year (in various areas of life). Not good enough.
- Do one thing a day instead of procrastinate. I will continue the list of one-time tasks I want completed during the month. Not perfect but good enough.
- Do not book any travel! Only exception is if I get a real deal on a trip w/the kids. This has been a bit hard. I really want to travel with and w/o the boys.
- Plan Christmas holidays so kids are not on screen all the time, and that we visit relatives w/o me breaking apart. Good enough.
What do I take with me to January?
- Continue w/bedroom planning and needed actions.
- Continue declutter. Take all the crap to the dump and charity shop first week.
- Weigh less end of Jan than start of Jan. Preferrably continue w/logging food.
- Sleep.
- Plan.
- Complete mortgage company change and end the extra insurance.
I track with colors:
Green: completed
Blue: progress/on track
Orange: at risk/behind
Red: did not complete
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I did it! 20,000 steps a day every day this month. Well, I was 700 steps short on Christmas Eve. It was pretty funny, walking madly back-and-forth across the house and in the backyard from 10 pm until midnight. But I came close that day.
Also completed a big project on deadline.
I don’t know if I will continue to do the 20,000 steps a day but I think it’s a really great baseline for me.
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I did it! 20,000 steps a day every day this month.
That is seriously impressive. I am currently struggling w/10 000 steps a day. You are a real inspiration!
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Happy New Year to all!
As I am a few hours ahead of at least some of you, I started the January thread.
I based my goals loosely on what I have so far in the 2025 goals thread.
Now off to cook dinner, then a short walk. Snow and darkness here.
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This month kind of got derailed by getting very sick in the middle of it. I'm hoping next month I can get back on track.
Work Related:
-Apply for the two interesting looking PT remote jobs DH found for me-nope just couldn't get the motivation
Creative:
-Finish embroidered ornaments-did this one, just need to finish up one before I see dad next month
-Figure out present for mom, embroidered or not (I already got dad's)-got this one and did figure out presents for everyone else
-Finish art swap projects-dice bag and framed hoop-I have the pattern for the hoop, planning to finish it this weekend
Health:
-Do a few minutes of deep breathing every evening-completely ignored this one
-Exercise at least once a week-only did twice in the month, but I was very sick for a week and a half
-Schedule at least one hangout with a friend, or at least try in case people are busy and no one can.-didn't end up having a second hangout, since I was sick, but still accomplished this one
-Follow No-S diet for 15 days-4 so far, need to pick up pace to hit this oneI stopped tracking this one, I probably didn't do too well
-Count calories for 15 days-only 3 days total
Household:
-2 sessions of decluttering the basement, 20 minutes minimum each time-only did one, but DH did some too, so there was decent progress
-Make all school lunches, no buying without planning in advance (pizza days)-made it, no bought lunches!
-Do more than half (5/9) of the monthly chores, focusing on ones that haven't been done in a whilegot this one done, though I didn't focus on anything in particular
-Do 4 (out of 6) Seasonal choresdid one, I really need to catch up on these next month
-Make cookies for the boy scout troop-done and over with! Did about 12 dozen cookies in 2 days, thankfully relatively easy ones
-Decorate for Christmas-did a bit, and all of the advent stuff is out-DD ended up doing most of this
-Plan, buy and wrap presents as needed.-did pretty well, only wrapped a couple on Christmas Eve
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I was too optimistic with December, unsurprisingly. ;-)
Financial:
-Savings goal. Goal is to save $2000. - no, and we depleted our savings by about $9k for our property taxes. It’s not that I forgot about them, just about the timing as it relates to the goals ;-)
-Mini freezer clean out:
-1/2 of the pizza in the freezer - nope
- Use up a bunch of tater tots from the restaurant sized bag DH found on super mark down. ;-) - yes, used lots of them
-Use up package of naan bread - no, but saw this failed goal & this is on the menu for tonight!
-Sell fitness watch - nope, although January is a good time to sell
-Sell/give away all expiring travel rewards - I have one more award that expires at the end of January. Otherwise, yes.
Family:
-Finish all holiday shopping/wrapping/baking - yes!
-Have a fantastic holiday season with the family - Yes!
-Book travel for spring girls trip & trip to Spain with DH - Yes!
-2 dates with DH - Yes!
Fitness:
-15 strength workouts - 14/15
-Follow the No S diet 15 days & track calories daily - 6/15
-Have eye exam - yes
-Maintain my weight during the holiday season - oof. Nope, and haven't weighed in yet. Saving that "fun" for Monday.
Personal:
-Complete daily tasks 20 times (meditate, language, journal) - I got in maybe 10 days
-Get together with friends - yep. Hiking, coffee, Christmas fun
-Declutter 25 items - yes
-Network 2x -yes
-Continue exploring jobs -yes, but stopped mid December
-Spent time on volunteer role - yes
-Come up with more structure in my daily routine - nope
On to January & 2025!