New Year's Eve is Approaching!! 2020 Resolutions!

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Have you starting thinking about these?

How did you do with last years?

[thyme4change]

I am going to bake 40 new baked items and cook 40 new dinner recipes.

I find putting fun things that I really want to do on my resolution list makes the whole process more enjoyable, and actually achievable.

On our fridge, I put a piece of paper with the goal and boxes, and when I do it, I check a box. That way I am reminded that it is something I want to do, and if I am keeping up with it all year.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Financial Goals


Savings

• Max 401k plus catchup (26k)
• Max HSA plus catchup (8.1k)
• 10k EF (5k money market, 5k Market)

Debt Pay Down

• Pay off highest interest student loan       
• • 7,184.59
• Get below 100k in SLs overall
• Check into a refi via sofi

Home Improvement

• Refi and catch up on big ticket items
  
• • Porch repairs
  • Flood Control
  • Exterior painting
  • Window repairs/replace
• Garden hardscaping and Fence replacement
• • Gardening and veggie beds
• Continuing room staging project

Charity/Societal Contributions

Household

• Finish the paperwork and filing revamp
• Weekly chores consistency
• Look for cost cutting measures

Family/Social

• Start planning vacation!
• Do monthly event more regularly - maybe add some museum or other cultural outings
• Monthly lunches or drinks with Friends

Career

• Maybe a job search
• Develop and send out research manuscripts related to dissertation research by June 1st.
• Continue to build Rukh, Inc.

Health Fitness


ok - lifting heavily from 2019 to get this started.......some bullet points to be developed later.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Dec 7, 2019 13:37:14 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I am going to bake 40 new baked items and cook 40 new dinner recipes.

I find putting fun things that I really want to do on my resolution list makes the whole process more enjoyable, and actually achievable.

On our fridge, I put a piece of paper with the goal and boxes, and when I do it, I check a box. That way I am reminded that it is something I want to do, and if I am keeping up with it all year.

Love this!!

[weltschmerz]

I never make resolutions.

[giramomma]

I didn't make any last year. (I thought I did). I won't make any this year.

I'm pretty content just surviving now.

[TheOtherMe]

I'm in survival mode.  I can't remember the last time I made resolutions.

[Deleted]

Next year is going to bring a LOT of change to my household.  Child support ends in July which is like 30% of my income and DS (hopefully) heads off to college in the Fall.   Those two things alone are going to really rock the boat, but I want to set some goals to focus on.  I have some basic financial ones I want to meet,  but I need some more to keep from obsessing on those.  I'll have to think about it some.

[Blonde Granny]

I want to do a little better in my spending and try again the Inflammation meal planning that my Dr. suggested. This summer I was quickly sidetracked with a nasty little case of cancer, but since thats over, I want to try her plan again.

[pooks]

2020 is going to be a year of big change in the Pooks' household, so I don't really know how everything is going to go.

Financial Goals

Savings
-26K in the 401K
-26K added to savings
-2.4K to the Grandkids 529's
-10K for DD college

Spending
-DD starts college, so start paying for that
-DSS will be in semester 2-3 of college, but paid for mostly with scholarships and benefits. 
-A vacation to Europe would be nice, but probably a dream for another year

Health and Wellness
-Travel.  
-lose 4 lbs.  Manageable goal.  I already joined a gym.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I do not make resolutions, therefore nothing to break.  

[Bluerobin]

I did well with my resolution and will do so again.  I resolve NOT to make any resolutions!!!

[Cookies Galore]

I'm just going to continue to be proud of the person I've been and the person I grow into each year.

And to stop talking and start doing.

[NoNamePerson]

Think I’ll pick just one from Rukh O'Rorke list and maybe I will improve over last year! 

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Dec 7, 2019 18:42:13 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Think I’ll pick just one from Rukh O'Rorke list and maybe I will improve over last year! 

I like to try to keep myself on task!!

Just considering some resolutions on fitness led to some yoga

[Deleted]

Mine are a lot more simple than  Rukh's.

• Have the kitchen cabinets painted.
• Continue decluttering.  Make a second and third go-round if necessar y.
• Be more social and active.  Go to the rec center or join Silver Sneakers.  Find a church I like and go regularly.  Try out the senior center to see what kind of activities they have.
• Be more involved with my kids' kids.

I have started doing some of these.  I am visiting churches.  I am picking up one of my grandsons on Tuesdays and taking him home.

I don't really do resolutions either.  I do more like lists of things I want to accomplish next year.  What I don't accomplish I move to the next year.  It is sort of like the daily "To Do" lists that I do.

However, I am at a different place than Rukh and many of you.  Starting in January, I can no longer save for retirement.  I have no student loans.  I have no career aspirations.

By the way, I truly love being retired even though I try to accomplish several things every day (the "To Do" list mentioned above).

[giramomma]

Dec 7, 2019 19:27:02 GMT -5 @bamafan1954 said:

Mine are a lot more simple than  Rukh's.

• Have the kitchen cabinets painted.
• Continue decluttering.  Make a second and third go-round if necessar y.
• Be more social and active. 
  

These are high on my list, too.

The decluttering is the only one that's realistic. Which is very unfortunate.

[giramomma]

OK. So I did think of one resolution: Making sure my husband is completely sterile.

He's getting the other half of his vasectomy done right away in the New Year.  Then we get to start the checks. At the rate we're going, we'll have been mucking around with his vasectomy and subsequent checks for at least 9 months. I really hope we don't have a year anniversary for that.

[thyme4change]

Dec 7, 2019 16:16:55 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

I do not make resolutions, therefore nothing to break.  

That is why I create measurable goals. Sometimes I do it at the beginning of the school year. Sometimes the beginning of the calendar year. Sometimes, random mid-year goals, with specific completion dates. Goals are good.

[tcu2003]

Commenting so I remember to circle back later. And mine are more goals, not resolutions. Though I haven’t figured out what they all will he for 2020.

[tcu2003]

Dec 7, 2019 13:37:14 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I am going to bake 40 new baked items and cook 40 new dinner recipes.

I find putting fun things that I really want to do on my resolution list makes the whole process more enjoyable, and actually achievable.

On our fridge, I put a piece of paper with the goal and boxes, and when I do it, I check a box. That way I am reminded that it is something I want to do, and if I am keeping up with it all year.

Love this idea! I might do something similar, but significantly less than 40. 😉

[jerseygirl]

One of my secretaries once said her resolution was ‘to have fun’
Think this is a good resolution!

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Dec 8, 2019 16:34:37 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

Commenting so I remember to circle back later. And mine are more goals, not resolutions. Though I haven’t figured out what they all will he for 2020.

This confuses me......I'm not sure why there is a definite anti-resolution contingent on the board - but there certainly is!  

Resolutions are goals you make for New Year's 

[tcu2003]

Dec 8, 2019 16:54:08 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Dec 8, 2019 16:34:37 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

Commenting so I remember to circle back later. And mine are more goals, not resolutions. Though I haven’t figured out what they all will he for 2020.

This confuses me......I'm not sure why there is a definite anti-resolution contingent on the board - but there certainly is!  

Resolutions are goals you make for New Year's 

I equate resolution with a firm decision to do or not do something. Goals are less strict/firm, at least in my head. So no beating myself up if one of my goals is a miss.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Dec 8, 2019 17:09:31 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

Dec 8, 2019 16:54:08 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

This confuses me......I'm not sure why there is a definite anti-resolution contingent on the board - but there certainly is!  

Resolutions are goals you make for New Year's 

I equate resolution with a firm decision to do or not do something. Goals are less strict/firm, at least in my head. So no beating myself up if one of my goals is a miss.

Without resolve, a goal is but a dream!


Looked into the origins on this, kind of interesting:

Religious origins

Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.


The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named.


In the medieval era, the knights took the "peacock vow" at the end of the Christmas season each year to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry.


At watchnight services, many Christians prepare for the year ahead by praying and making these resolutions.


This tradition has many other religious parallels. During Judaism's New Year, Rosh Hashanah, through the High Holidays and culminating in Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), one is to reflect upon one's wrongdoings over the year and both seek and offer forgiveness. People can act similarly during the Christian liturgical season of Lent, although the motive behind this holiday is more of sacrifice than of responsibility. In fact, the Methodist practice of New Year's resolutions came, in part, from the Lenten sacrifices. The concept, regardless of creed, is to reflect upon self-improvement annually.



Participation

At the end of the Great Depression, about a quarter of American adults formed New Year's resolutions. At the start of the 21st century, about 40% did. In fact, according to the American Medical Association, approximately 40% to 50% of Americans participated in the New Year's resolution tradition from the 1995 Epcot and 1985 Gallop Polls. A study found 46% of participants who made common New Year's resolutions (e.g. weight loss, exercise programs, quitting smoking) were likely to succeed, over ten times as among those deciding to make life changes at other times of the year.

I do hereby align myself with my ancient and medieval brethren and resolve to have goals.

[Deleted]

My only resolution for 2020 is to take better care of myself. One resolution, but many details. Take better care of myself physically, mentally, and financially.

Physically- get back to practicing yoga regularly and riding my bicycle. Both also help me mentally. Ideally, I’d like to do some strength training, but realistically, I’d only be able to fit that in during the seasons I can’t ride my bike. Riding my bike is fun and a stress reliever, I have to talk myself into strength training exercises. Get back to and stay on track with healthier eating habits. And schedule and keep all my preventive care appointments, especially since I have health insurance and they’re covered 100%.

Mentally- Continue setting boundaries and learning to not let other people and stupid shit stress me out. Stop letting other people’s problems (usually self-inflicted in one way or another) becomes my problems. Retire the stupid Superwoman cape for forever..... and remember that this is MY life and I get to make the rules and live it how I want to.. Practice self-care, do more of the things that soothe my soul and make me feel good about myself and my life.

Financially- Accept that helping is one thing and enabling is another, and get it through my thick skull that just because I “have it”, doesn’t mean I have to give it when asked, and that my first responsibility is to ME since my kids are adults now. My needs and even my wants come before what anyone else wants me to do for them. This one will probably be the most difficult.

2020 will be all about Pink and what she needs and wants. DBF will be fine with it, because he wants me to be happy and doesn’t ask for more than I can/am willing to give. And the life I have with him is part of what I want and need anyway. It’s some of my blood relatives that won’t be happy.

[mollyanna58]

I have to get past Christmas before I start working on New Year's stuff.

[thyme4change]

Dec 8, 2019 16:35:15 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

Dec 7, 2019 13:37:14 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I am going to bake 40 new baked items and cook 40 new dinner recipes.

I find putting fun things that I really want to do on my resolution list makes the whole process more enjoyable, and actually achievable.

On our fridge, I put a piece of paper with the goal and boxes, and when I do it, I check a box. That way I am reminded that it is something I want to do, and if I am keeping up with it all year.

Love this idea! I might do something similar, but significantly less than 40. 😉

12 and 24/25 are great goal numbers. Easy to gauge how you are doing at any time of the year. And doing something once or twice a month is usually do-able.

One year one of my goals was to read ONE book. It was honestly a challenge for me. So, I won't judge if you decide to do try and go hiking 5 times, or whatever. It's all good.

[Deleted]

Dec 7, 2019 13:37:14 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

On our fridge, I put a piece of paper with the goal and boxes, and when I do it, I check a box. That way I am reminded that it is something I want to do, and if I am keeping up with it all year.

I'm totally stealing this.  

Of course, I'm going to have to have my first goal of the year to be to clean off my fridge because there is so much stuff hanging on there my resolution check boxes will get lost.  

[wvugurl26]

I got a printable grid online and used that earlier this year at work. I can't remember what the third goal was. One was fill my water bottle before 9am, the second was take the dang antibiotic and I'm blanking on number three. I like marking things off.