Welcome to 2009...

I can't believe I'm up already...the first day of 2009!  Liberating in a way, isn't it?  Time for a fresh outlook on things, on life, on what direction we want to take.  I used to be big, I mean BIG on New Year's resolutions.  Not so much anymore.  A few years ago I realized that those fizzle in a month, maybe two.  Just go to the gym tomorrow.  You'll be hard-pressed to find a machine to work out on.  From 5am - close it'll be busy. Then, go back in March.  You'll have your pick of treadmills!  Promise. 

To combat this self-disappointment, a few years ago I decided to go with annual themes.  Something I could hold myself to for a year.  A YEAR.  Twelve months.  52 weeks.  365 days.  Not of perfection, but progression.  Sometimes I fall off the horse, but this blog here keeps me honest, on track, focused.  And people help me to stick to my guns with occassional comments or emails along the way.  And that's why it works for me.  Because I take it public.  And because I write it down, I learn, and grow, and review, and tweak.  And things stick.  Like, I still ride my bike, and swim, and well, for part of the year anyway, I walk/jog/run.  And I still 'tri'...what I learned in 2007 stuck.  I'm moving into 2009 a Pescitarian.  A moderate fish-eater/mostly vegetarian.  In review, those were pretty easy changes.  Pretty easy lifestyles to adopt.  This year?  This year will be the challenge to meet all challenges.  This will be a personal struggle and challenge and committment like none other.  Budgeting. 

Well, budgeting won't be the challenge.  I'm a master budgetter.  No, really, the discipline of learning to obtain only what we (me and my family) really NEED.  Not just want.  Or better yet, think we need.  I am committing to three things this year.  Just three.

1. Living very carefully on a budget.

2. Living at 20% BELOW what we make.

3. Buying NOTHING that doesn't fit into FOOD, Need-based-CLOTHING, or SHELTER.

Now...I'm not a crazy shopper.  I don't particularly enjoy shopping.  Its just in the last few years, especially with working, I just haven't thought much about money.  When it comes in, we tithe (and we'll talk about this principal: the idea of giving money "away" throughout the year), we save, we pay the bills, but we don't much account for what's left over. 

Its more a "detachment" issue for me.  Its like living in a state of...Vegas...its not real.  Its not that I don't understand the worth of it.  If you told me the shampoo cost $40 I'd tell you to go jump.  No, I can negotiate and understand the importance of doing so (really, take me to buy a car sometime...), but I believe, or have come to believe, that the purpose of money is two-fold. 

First, money buys choices.  Not happiness, but choices.  I'm a master at teaching my children this principle, but somehow the lesson became less personal along the way.  I want to reverse that thinking and get back to my original desire of early retirement.  The second principle -- STEWARDSHIP. 

I touched on a talk that was given some months ago in our Ward...I cannot for the life of me remember who gave it.  Cindy Remer I keep thinking (now THERE is a powerful teacher for me...she probably has no idea...note to self: note to Cindy).  Anyway -- she said near the end of her talk that two things we would probably be questioned on when we arrive on the other side would be a) how did we spend our time; and b) how did we spend our money.  Ouch. 

This year I'm going to focus on my (and my family's) stewardship of money.  I know a lot.  Once Frank and I dug ourselves out of over $20,000 in debt.  It was the first real counsel I was given by my Bishop when I joined the Church.  Budgeting is a powerful tool.  But there's a lot I don't know.  The simpler things.  Like, holding myself really accountable.  Not spending just 'cause I can.  And that choosing is not the same as denying. 

Which is the other point.  This is not about denying ourselves for a year.  What's the point in that?  How depressing.  A year of denial.  Ugh.  I'm exhausted already.  This is really a year of empowerment.  Learning about the power of choice and using my free agency to become a better steward of the money we are granted and blessed to have.  Especially in these times.  By doing so I know that we will grow closer as a family, and bring further security to ourselves and our children. 

So, we have a few things on the horizon this year that will be interesting for me to use as a learning tool.  One of those is that we are taking a Disney Christmas vacation.  We are going to the land of spend-spend-spend.  Ordinarily, I would just set a ridiculous amount of money aside and we would spend and have fun and not give budget another thought.  This year will be a first for me.  Frank grab your tissues...I will not only budget, but work to find deals, discounts, and yes honey, even coupons.  (insert 1930's tension music here). 

There's a dirty little secret.  I NEVER use coupons.  Something my mother passed down.  If its "B" brand it can't be good...this goes for just about everything from generic drugs to off-name brands.  My mother had champaign tastes and indulged in them often.  Never carried a lick of debt, but never sacrificed either.  Its had its good and bad impact on me. 

This year I'll be exploring, learning and applying all in pursuit of better stewardship.  Please, feel free to teach me along the way.  It'll be interesting to see what this brings by year's end.  Its why I don't ever shape my annual themes too tightly.  I try to keep it simple.  No more than three restrictions.  Doing so gives me the opportunity to be flexible as I learn.  Readjusting my perceptions and my application as I go.  It also makes changing something more doable.  For me, anyway.  I'm not big on "rules" (which is why this one will be a little more challenging than the last two years...for once there really are rules). 

So, here goes another year...I'm feeling more empowered already!

Comments

[Robin]

Wow...not sure what to say except that I look forward to learning from you...I always do. You're such an example to me when it come to setting goals. Hope this is year brings as much satisfaction as last year. Happy 2009 Shay!!

[Alyssa]

I can't wait to see what you come up with, it will be inspiring to me! I admire your commitment to improving your life in whatever way you want. My theme is also somewhat openended and that makes me nervous-- I don't want to forget about it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts-- they really do help!