Setting and Meeting Your Goals

I set a goal for myself to make $10.00 a day or $300.00 for the month of August. It's a small goal, but one that is attainable. So far, I have exceeded my goal with a little effort and it feels great to say that I reached my goal.

It's also a little like making a "to do" list each day. Each morning I try and make a "to do" list of things that need to be done during the day. It serves two purposes. One, it keeps me from going in 10 different directions at one time. I use to have the habit of starting one thing, then I would see something different that needed to be done. I would drop the first thing and start the second thing. Then before that got done, I would think of something else that needed to be done immediately. So before you knew it, I had spent the whole day trying to get things done only to end up with 20 things half done. So now, I use my list and a schedule. As I work my list, I cross things off. So, secondly, my list gives me a feeling of accomplishment. As I reach the bottom of my list and see what has been crossed off, I have accomplished what I set out to do, or you can say that I reached my daily goal.

The great thing about goals is that there are short term goals and long term goals. For many of us the planning of long term goals can be extremely overwhelming. So my challenge to you is to set a short term goal for yourself. It doesn't matter what it is. Maybe your goal today is to spend less time on the T.V.; maybe it is to get out and pay your bills. Or maybe you can set a goal for the week, such as "I'm not going to spend any money eating out this week". What ever your goal is, find a way to reach it. You will be amazed at the confidence you will have once this is done. It will spur you on to making more goals and even long term goals.

If you want to post some of your goals that you have set and how you plan to reach them, please send me a comment.

GOOD LUCK!!

My First Paying Article

Forgive me for blowing my own horn, but I just received my first paid offer from Associated Content for an article I have written. I have just written the one article, just to see what I could expect. I received $4.01 for the article, and would have received more if I had submitted it as exclusive in lieu of non-exclusive. Now, that I know I can make a little money at this, I will be submitting more articles for publication. Please check out Associated Content below and visit my content pages - under momto3boyz2000 or Angela York

PAYING OF A CREDIT CARD - PRICELESS

I know you have seen the credit card commercials that end with something wonderful they have charged and the words that follow it - "priceless". What a bunch of hooey!!! What's priceless is being able to pay for that wonderful thing in cold hard cash and the knowledge that it won't affect your ability to pay your regular household bills. That being said, as you can see from on the side, we just paid off one of our Wells Fargo credit bills! It has been a long time coming, as I have been paying on it for three years. I called Wells Fargo and asked for the pay off amount. I then told her that I wanted to pay off the account and she offered to waived the over the phone fee if I wanted to do it then. Man, I jumped at the chance! I explained to her that my husband and I are following Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover and we have a goal to be out of debt. She told me congratualtions....and then proceeded to ask me to call if and when I needed to borrow some additional monies as they have an excellent home equity program. I wanted to say...No way, Jose!, but instead just told her I would keep in mind if the need arose.

This is the 5th account we have been able to pay off since March, and I must say that the feeling is PRICELESS!!!

How to Eat out without it Taking a Bite out of Your Budget

My husband and I have a weakness....we like to eat out. While I love to cook, we also enjoy going out to a nice restaurant and eating a good meal (and I love not having to clean up afterward!). However, what we don't like is the bill that comes at the end. It's just the feeling of ...hmmm... I could have made this at home for a fraction of the cost that puts a damper on the evening.

In my quest of saving money, I have learned that we can still go out for a nice meal occasionaly and stay within our budget. Think of some of your favorite restaurants, or even restaurants in your area that you haven't been to. Go online and see if they have a website. Many have websites where you can sign up for the "club" or promotions. We have received many free meals from signing up on the websites. Some meals would have cost us at least $50.00 if we paid out of our pocket. I must remind you, although your meal is free, please remember to tip your server.

Another way, sign up or fill out a card that is requesting feedback about your visit when you are there. Be honest. I have received coupons for free or almost free meals by doing this.

Lastly, keep those coupons you get in the mail. There are many buy one get one free offers.

Let's face it....what have you got to lose? Bon Apetite!

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Today, my husband and I returned from our mini vacation. We won two tickets to Six Flags. We headed out yesterday and returned today. It was a nice get short get away without the kids. But, whew, it was HOT! We spent 4 1/2 hours at Six Flags. That's about all of the 100 degree heat we could take. We took a cooler of food and drink so we did not spend any money while we were there.

Returned home and picked up my sons. I was too tired to cook. The kids ate whatever they could find in the freezer. My husband wanted to order from Dominos....so I gave in :)

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Today I feel much better than I did yesterday. O.K.....let's backup. My husband and I have been very dilligent in following a budget, paying all bills on time, etc. However, in June, my husband was off for 11 days and that put us behind and we are still trying to catch up - ugh!!
On this site, I'm going to be honest about our bills and debt. We became a month behind on our house note (which I absolutely hate). So last week, I mailed in our July payment. Whew, what a relief for me. However, yesterday, we received notice from our mortgage company that they want July and August payment paid in full and will not accept a lesser amount. I tried to call yesterday and explaing (which is great improvement from my old ways of sticking my head in the sand and hoping the problem would just go away), but they were closed already. So, I decided there wasn't anything I could about it then and I would deal with it Monday. I dreaded having to tell my husband, but I did so anyway. And just be telling him made me feel so much better and that a huge weight had been lifted from me. I am hoping that they will either accept the payment that was mailed to them, or send the check back to me. Either way, we have budgeted in the August payment to be paid this month....so I am not worried that there will be a problem.

Well, I am off to try and come up with some extra money. My goal is to make at $10.00 a day. That would give me an extra $300.00 a month. Wondering how I'm going to do that? Well, hopefully soon I'll be able to post my links, etc.