1. Pay Down the Mortgage
We were able to knock 8 payments off our contract in April {1 regular payment and 7 extra “principal” payments} thanks to the HH earning extra last month. If all goes well and I’m finished with dental work {other than cleanings} for the year I’ll be able to move the unused money budgeted from that category towards paying down the principle. Fingers crossed!
2. Buy Nothing New for 1 Year.
It was a good week and I had absolutely no desire to buy anything. Well, other than a pint of Chunky Monkey ice cream. 😉
3. Track Spending and Figure Out New Ways to Cut Spending Even More.
- The HH gave me a 2″ trim {because really, who would pay big bucks to have someone cut a straight line across their back?} Keepin’ it simple. That’s how I roll.
- Moved furniture and knick knacks around rather than buying anything new
- Decided to do a “spend free” grocery month for April
- Paid bills online
4. Try 52 New Recipes.
I came up with a new lentils and rice recipe and it’s pretty AWESOME if I do say so myself.
5. Keep My Grocery Budget Under $100 a Month.
I’ve decided to do a no spend grocery month for April and so far so good!
6. Go on 52 Dates with the Handsome Husband
The HH took me to The Tides for lunch for our date day this week. I had a bacon cheeseburger {delish!} and he had fish and chips.
So far this year we’ve gone on 12 dates and spent $172.60 out of pocket for our “dates.” We are a little over budget right now {I have $520 budgeted for “dates” this year} but I’m confident things will balance out in the end.
7. Turn My Wool Stash into $5,000.
I didn’t add any new inventory to my Etsy or Ebay “shops” this past week because I’ve been busy working on some fall/winter pieces. Once my listings on Ebay end in a few days I don’t think I’ll be adding anything else until late summer/early fall. Spring and summer is usually pretty slow in terms of selling finished rug hooking pieces so I’m just concentrating on hooking new pieces right now and tucking them away.
In March I sold $799.53
In February I sold $1077.27
In January I sold $1563.92
8. Get Rid of 1,000 Things.
This past week I went through the Kitchen again and got rid of everything but the necessities and let me tell you Bob, it feels good to open the cupboards and only see things I actually use on a regular basis. I plan to go through the garage this week to tidy up and hunt for more junkity junk.
9. Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
I listened to Seaworthy this week on audiobook while I painted and worked on hooked rugs. I put The Farmer’s Wife 1930s Sampler Quilt on request at the library and I am still waiting for The Rainbow Comes and Goes and A Man Called Ove to come in.
10. Track Hours Spent Working on My Vegetable Garden and do a Cost Analysis at the End of the Year.
Lucy and I just puttered around the vegetable garden this week, nothing too exciting. On friday the HH picked up 2 yards of mulch for the front beds. Last year I planted the front yard with edibles but this year I was looking for something very low maintenance {or rather NO maintenance} simply because I don’t plan to be here as much this summer {more about that in a later post}.
So far this year I have harvested 6 pound 2 ounces of fresh veggies from our backyard.
Time spent working on Vegetable Garden in 2016: 6 hours 30 minutes.
11. 52 House Projects in 52 Weeks.
Yesterday I finished painting the dining room as well as painting the other side of the hallway upstairs. Next on the to do list is to paint the trim. 🙂
12. Make all Birthday and Christmas Gifts This Year or Acquire Them for Free.
I cashed in some hotel points for a $25 Amazon gift card that I’ll gift to one of the kids. My goal is to earn enough points through various programs to gift them each $100 Amazon gift card this Christmas.
How about YOU? Did you set any goals for 2016? How are they coming along?
~Mavis
Read About My 2016 Goals HERE.
Leave a Reply