I’m not the type to make “New Year’s Resolutions”, there will be no “new me”, I will not be turning into some magnificent & completely different person. What you see, is what you get. *wink*

However, I do have a handful of meaningful goals that i’ll be trying to achieve!

Financial Goal #1: Save double our mortgage payments to put down as a lump sum payment on our mortgage in January 2024.

We purchased our home almost one year ago. Actually, in a little under 3 weeks, it’ll be exactly a year since we closed! Because i’m late 40’s, and my husband is early 50’s, I feel that we’re “late to the house buying game”, and I know people buy homes at all ages, but all the same, that’s how I feel.

My husband & I have a goal to pay off our mortgage in less than half of our term, ideally before he retires! So we are aiming to save the same amount that we pay on our mortgage each year. Thus, doubling our mortgage payments and paying that on a lump sum at the end of each year.

We managed to save *almost* enough this year, even with sinking thousands & thousands into upgrades & improvements into our home since we purchased it. Since we were *so close* to reaching our goal, my grandma gifted us enough to reach our goal for the year!! So, we have our first lump sum sitting in the bank, waiting for the first year to be up so we can slap that cash down on our mortgage!!

Personal Goal #2: Read my collection of paper books!!

I have a rubbermaid bin FULL of books which i’ve purchased, mostly used at thrift stores and library sales, but a few new ones as well. When we moved here I promised myself that i’d read them and not just let them ‘sit’. Well, they’ve sat since January, so it’s time to make good on that promise!

I’ve cancelled my Kindle Unlimited subscription until further notice and will not be buying any books this year, not new, not used. Between the ones sitting in my bin & on my Kindle, and my amazing library here, i’m set! I will drag that bin upstairs and share what i’ll be reading this year, I remember some of them, but definitely not all, so it’ll be a surprised for you & me! I hope they’re good ones! lol!

Community Goal #3: Donate food/pantry items to the food bank every month.

I won’t commit to a certain dollar amount as funds are tight for us, but I will be aiming to donate some food/pantry items once a month. I feel it’s important to give what you can, even if it’s only one item that you’re able to give, it’s still something! I should make a date for this goal, perhaps at the beginning of each month, and i’ll share what we’re able to donate each month. I’m sure some months it’ll be more, some months less. And that’s ok!

Within the first week sounds good to me, and I can repeat it in my phone calendar so I don’t forget, which means, I need to figure out my first donation ASAP!

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These are the main things which have been placed on my heart, so they will be my focus for the year! I’m not going to overload myself or make impossible goals that stress me out for the year ahead… I feel that these are achievable goals and i’m excited for the year ahead!

Thriving simply, that is my goal.

Are you making, or have you made any goals/resolutions for the year ahead? If so please share!

Out with the old, and in with the new! Except I don’t really want anything ‘new’! I love my minimalist type home, I find having a tidy, clutter free home gives me the peace & calmness I desire in my life. It gives me a clear mind & spirit. It also makes it very easy to keep the house clean, which is a huge bonus, because who wants to spend hours & hours cleaning their house!? Not I!

I’m going to start the year off with a little self-challenge; to gather a minimum of 100 items to either donate or toss, whichever is the more suitable option within the next week! Between myself, my husband and our daughters, we should be able to do this!

My plan is to go through every room of the house to see what we don’t use, don’t need or can do without! I tend to not keep duplicates and have long stopped “shopping for fun” at this point in my life for a few reasons. Firstly, our finances don’t allow for it and secondly, i’d rather enjoy & use up what we already own and have purchased. Kind of like the Velveteen Rabbit, I want my belongings to be well loved & well used!

Do you care to join me in this decluttering challenge?

It doesn’t have to be 100 items, nor does it have to be within a weeks time, just challenge yourself to something which is reasonable and achievable! I’ll update with my results next Sunday!

Leave a comment if you’ll be joining me, i’m excited to see what we can do!