My 12 Goals for 2016 : Week 36 of 52

1. Pay Down the Mortgage

We were able to make 2 additional payments towards the principal for August.

2. Buy Nothing New for 1 Year. 

I had zero desire to buy anything this past week. 😉

3. Track Spending and Figure Out New Ways to Cut Spending Even More.

Netflix.  I hadn’t really looked at this monthly expense before {probably because my husband set up the account years ago} but after coming across an article on Kiplinger’s Finance a few days ago where it said the cost of the average Netflix account was $8-12 a month I was stopped in my tracks.

Why? Because our last credit card statement said our bill for Netflix was $21.56. So I investigated.

The plan my husband signed us up for {years ago}: $19.98+ a month

• Streaming on 2 Screens $9.99 HD a month
• Blu Ray DVD rentals $9.99 {+$2.00 for any blu ray rentals} a month

What I changed our account to: $7.99 a month

• Streaming on 1 Screen $7.99 Standard definition
• DVD subscription – CANCELLED

I can’t remember the last time someone in our house borrowed a dvd from Netflix so that was pretty much a no brainer. Having Netflix stream on 2 screens? Well that was an easy one too. I’m the only one who watches movies during the day around here. And at night? It’s Monkey Boy. So why on earth pay the extra $2 a month?

Old plan $239.76 a year
New plan $95.88 a year
Savings $143.88 a year.

Go fight win!

4. Try 52 New Recipes.

I tried a new zucchini casserole recipe and holy cats. It’s awesome. I’ll share the recipe on tuesday.

5. Keep My Grocery Budget Under $100 a Month.

In August I spent $111.42 on groceries. Hopefully in September I can cut that in half to stay on track. We’ll see.

6. Go on 52 Dates with the Handsome Husband 

We didn’t get a chance to go on any dates this past week but do have a date planned for Labor day weekend. 🙂

So far this year we’ve gone on 25 dates and spent $394.44 out of pocket for our dates.

7. Turn My Wool Stash into $5,000.

I’m back on Etsy and Ebay and this past week I sold $154.80 worth of my hooked rugs. That brings my “craft money” total up to $4018.96. Only $981.04 left to reach my goal.

So far in September I’ve sold $$154.80

In August I sold $329
In April I sold $29.99
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 week I set aside a sequined pillow, 5 rollaroaster sticks, a colander, strainer, seed tin and 2 books for next year’s garage sale.

So far this year I’ve gotten rid of 1067+ things.

9. Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.

This week I’m listening to The Light Between Oceans on audiobook. The movie came out on Friday but I’m one of those nerdy types who likes to read {or in this case listen to} the book first.

10. Track Hours Spent Working on My Vegetable Garden and do a Cost Analysis at the End of the Year. 

This week I picked harvested a bunch of cherry tomatoes, beans, zucchini and a wee bit of chard {for smoothies}. So far this year I have harvested 89 pounds 3 ounces of fresh veggies from our backyards. I spent $19.40 at the greenhouse and about $16 on mulch. You can read all about my gardening adventures at Dig for Your Dinner.

Time spent working on Vegetable Garden in 2016: 19 hours 45 minutes.

11. 52 House Projects in 52 Weeks.

Yesterday I reorganized the kitchen pantry and moved the dinner plates and glasses around. A totally boring task but the cupboards look much better now.

12. Make all Birthday and Christmas Gifts This Year or Acquire Them for Free.

I didn’t make anything this past week but I did score a free Carmex from last week’s Fred Meyer freebie and I plan on putting it in The Girl’s Christmas stocking. 😉 Last year I filled the kids stockings with Fred Meyer freebies and I’m hoping to do it again this year. So far I’ve collected 2 bottles of gum and the Carmex. 🙂 Because really, why pay for stocking stuffers when you can get them for free?

How about YOU? Did you set any goals for 2016? How are they coming along?

~Mavis

Read more about my 2016 Goals HERE.