It's a new year, which means kicking things off with a clean slate! I, for one, am terrible when it comes to keeping new year resolutions, but I do enjoy writing them down anyway! I had such a good year last year - with moving to the Sacramento area, celebrating my 5th wedding anniversary, and having my first child - and I hope that this year will be even better.
While I don't have any huge goals I want to accomplish this year, there are so many little tweaks I would like to adjust in my life to become a better person in general. And I think sharing these little tweaks of mine can help keep me accountable for them. So without further ado:
Becky's 2015 New Year Resolutions
- Marriage - Our marriage is pretty wonderful, actually. But, with Emma in our lives now, the focus has constantly been on her and barely on each other. I would like to make it more balanced this year, and I am going to do that by following the love calendars by the Dating Divas! It's so easy - once a day you just do or say one kind thing for your spouse. And on Fridays, you go on dates - whether it's out and about or free at home. I love how they have these daily suggestions for a full year! I think it will do wonders for our relationship!
(I know this is from last year, but it still applies! Find more at www.datingdivas.com.)
- Finances - Last year, we successfully met our goal to stop using credit cards. But, we still have a long way to go. We are still in a lot of debt, we have no savings, and some of our bills are going up, so we need to review our budget and see what we can change or cut. Thankfully, we have a couple of resources that will be so helpful in achieving these goals. Have you heard of Dave Ramsey, the financial guru? Apparently, he is amazing and his advice really works! So we are going to be following the plan below:
Another resource we have found are the finances calculators on www.providentliving.org. (There are 15 different ones!) According to this calculator even if we stuck to paying the minimum each month, then snowballed the payments (after paying off one debt, put the payment you would have used on said debt on top of the payment of the next debt), we would be completely debt free in less than 5 years - and that is including Phil's student loans. After we have paid off all our debt, if we put the money we were using towards the debt into a savings account every month, we would have enough money for a down payment on a house after another 5 years. And, boy, am I ready to settle down in a house! Obviously, this resolution isn't going to be completed in one year, but the plan is to at least set up the emergency fund and pay off one (if not two) credit cards.
- Church - We currently live in an amazing ward and, for the most part, are very involved. But, there is so much that we can improve on. A big one for me is going visiting teaching. I had only done it once last year. Being a full tithe payer is another (need to work it in our budget a lot better). I would also like to be more active in volunteering in the ward - whether it's to read a scripture aloud in Sunday School, pray in Relief Society, or make dinner for the missionaries. There is always something more I can contribute in the ward. And, of course, I can always improve at home too. Such as having Family Home Evening every week (even if it isn't on a Monday night!), and having daily scripture reading and prayer with Phil.
Suggestions on how to the accomplish the above goals are appreciated - and I hope that the listed resources will help you out too! But, enough about me, though - What are YOUR New Year resolutions???
