It's snowing outside which blankets everything in crisp clean white stuff which reminds me of New Year resolutions. Resolutions I don't believe in. But I do believe in goals, and writting them down so that you can have a constant reminder of what they are.
It is the beginning to a new year. My question for you is, What's new with you? By that I mean what are your goals, plans for the new year? Everyone starts new and fresh when the new year comes along. It's normal and natural to want to start a new. I have come up with some HUGE goals for this year. But what else is new?
My first goal is to become debt free. We have a little bit of debt left over from last year and I will have that paid off by March but what I mean by debt free is also the two cars we finaced years ago and our mortgage. My husband and I want to pay off his car this year which still has two and a half years left on the loan and then start paying double on my car. Which I think has three years on it. Once those are paid off we will be attacking our Mortgage. We have a lovely home and when we purchased it we knew it would be our one and only purchase. We intentionally bought a home that we could live in for the rest of our lives. The problem is I don't want to pay for it for the rest of our lives. I hate debt. It keeps me up at night.
Due to the economy, our income is down around $700 a month. We have tightened our belts and have been living with this new reality for about a year. It was tough at first but now we are use to it. So, if our income does go back to "normal" we will be using the $700 for extra savings and paying off the mortgage quicker.
To some people this may sound wierd, or even stupid. I would like to challenge their thinking. As a stay at home mom, it is a blessing that I can stay home. I take my job seriously and watch and strech our money as far as I can. My husband and I have long term goals like retirement and the best way to do that is by living a frugal, simple, meaningful life :O)
GOD, does not want us to be in debt either. In Romans we are given sound advice about debt.
Romans 13:8 (NIV)
Love Fulfills the Law
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
in otherwords, owe no one anything but love.
So this year I want to do a few things:
1. Get closer to GOD
2. Get out of debt
3. Become a better wife and friend to my husband
4. Become a better servant
5. Teach more classes on Frugal living, simple living ( Have two seminars booked so far!)
6. Grow relationships
What are your goals?
Hope you all have a blesssed week!
Chella