Comments on: Goals and Plans for 2009

By: Mike McMahon

Mike McMahon — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:58:04 +0000

From someone who did that 100 Life Goals list thing in his early 20s which included: Run for public office I would offer the following: Precison is the key in goal setting. Your current stated outcome is: get more involved with local politics. Nothing wrong with that provided you decide how you plan to measure it. For me, I ran for public office in the 90s (hence being able to check of the goal) but was not satisified. After two more unsuccessful attempts at being elected, I was finally elected to a local school board in 2002. My advice for more involvement, check your local governmental agencies and find a commission that requires community members to serve. A great way to start.

By: Joyful Abode: Domesticity by Trial and Error

Joyful Abode: Domesticity by Trial and Error — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:30:03 +0000

1. Complete the Couch-to-5K program (hopefully also shed some extra pounds in the process).
2. Pay off our last debt. We are “overpaying” on our loan right now, and rent (no mortgage) so we will be out of debt by May or so.
3. Max out 2 Roth IRAs.
4. Simplify/focus my business. I’ve been “dabbling” in a lot of different things in 2008 and want to focus on the illustration aspect of it.
5. Develop wholesale relationships with at least 3 military spouse clubs for fundraising.
6. Start a military blog and an in-home preschool/homeschool blog.

By: Elisabeth

Elisabeth — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 05:15:22 +0000

I’d imagine you already thought about this, but I agree with comment #1. I bet you’ve got enough readers that if you did a small tour, people would definitely come out to see you and buy a copy of your book. I’m guessing you would rather spend time with your family than go out on the road, but maybe you could make a road trip out of it.

By: Sara

Sara — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:46:39 +0000

For losing weight, I highly reccomend two free online resources: http://www.sparkpeople.com, and Podrunner Interval Podcasts. Sparkpeople is like a college course on how to transition to a healthier lifestyle including nutrition, motivation, and fitness. You really really really should check it out. The Intervals podcast is a special mix designed to help you being running. The first series is called First Day to 5K. I’m on week six out of ten now, and I can’t believe that I am actually enjoying running! It’s not a workout, its a personal challenge. Its a skill. It’s more motivating to try to go a longer distance, or a faster speed, than to slog through another 30 minutes of motion for the sake of exercise.

By: Marcia

Marcia — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:39:01 +0000

Oh, and if you’re more of an “on-line” person than a “in-person” person. I also know of an on-line dietitian (a group of them).

http://www.reallivingnutrition.com

It’s a company started by a very good friend, that has expanded to include other dietitians. You get a personal review of your diet and your goals. They were very helpful at adjusting my diet post-baby.

By: Laura in Atlanta

Laura in Atlanta — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:01:21 +0000

Goals for 2009:
1. Create a CD ladder with an $11,000 CD that matures in February.
2. Save $3000 to Emergency Fund, currently at $1000. (Preferably $5000, but I’d be happy with $3000)
3. Add additional CDs, laddering them. Goal: 6 (new)$1000 CDs, maturing every other month.
4. Continue 10% contribution to 403B, 6% contribution to TIAACREFF, $200/month contribution to ROTH IRA.
5. Simplify, simplify, simplify . . . I’m finding I’m happier with ‘less’ clutter in my life. Continue with donations to Goodwill/Salvation Army and unloading things on Ebay.
6. Read 100 books. For the past 8 years, it’s been my goal. I’m a big reader anyways, and routinely read 85 to 90 books a year. Never made it to 100, but I want to! I’m SO close!
7. Do not buy a ‘new’ book until all the ‘unreads’ on my To Be Read shelf are read. It’s about 20 books, I really want to finish them prior to adding new stuff to my library!

By: Ellie

Ellie — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:53:09 +0000

1)continue losing weight (52 lbs gone, thank you sparkpeople.com!)
2)save 2000 bucks for my first car
3)pay off what little debt I have (besides student loans)
4)create 1K emergency fund
5)NOT use financing to buy anything besides a car
6)Be totally amazing at my first post-graduate job, with the goal of moving safely up the ladder instead of being at the bottom where people are more likely to get chopped!

By: Goalhunter

Goalhunter — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:32:50 +0000

My goal is:

1) Qualify for the Boston Marathon
2) Earn more from my businesses than from my job
3) Get a six-pack by July 1
4) Teach my 4 year old how to read any Robert Munsch book by July 1.
5) Teach my 2 year old how to add and the alphabet.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:04:44 +0000

My goals are:

1) Cut our spending by 10-15%
2) Keep saving at least 20% of our income
3) Consider moving into a new, but modest home
4) Keep enjoy my wife and son and not get too stressed about work
5) Determine our “crossover point” and start a savings plan to get there in a reasonable amount of time
6) Try to find my “higher purpose” in life

By: Jessica

Jessica — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:00:07 +0000

Well, my husband and I just bought our first home last week, so I move on in my money goals!

1. Increase emergency fund from 6k to 17k.
2. Save 10k for next car.
3. Pay off husbands 4k loan.
4. Yoga 2x week (currently at 1x/w)
5. Rountine dance practice.
6. Maintain healthy fitness level.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:48:07 +0000

Finish my dissertation. I’ve been floating around in ABD world and realized that I am wasting a lot of money paying tuition every semester.

Thank you for the inspiration!

By: DivaJean

DivaJean — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:47:17 +0000

My goals for 2009?

1) Maintain employment/income.

2) Keep out of debt. (I have only my mortgage- its paid 2 months ahead & I always pay $100 more towards the principal every month).

3) Provide for family.

4) Raise my kids in a respectful, meaningful way.

All the goals about weight loss might be so much pipe dream if things continue to tank. I’m thinkin’ potatoes, carbs, fats etc might not seem so bad if they keep me & mine going.

I will similarly not make sweeping goals for exercise- since keeping goal #1- employment- might mean way more hours at work.

By: Roomfarm

Roomfarm — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:28:45 +0000

Great list of goals. I am still working on mine for next year. I think the point about telling people who are important to you that they are is a critical one, and I intend to adopt it as a goal. Thank you for that inspiration. Fostering connections with people in our lives, and acknowledging their gifts, especially in hard times, is so important.

By: Battra92

Battra92 — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:24:08 +0000

@leslie: Thanks for the encouragement! My parents do charge me rent but it is much much less than anything out there ($200 a month plus I buy/cook food sometimes) Part of what has kept me home is that there is no decent housing on the market right now, it seems. Just crappy apartments and houses or stuff outside my price range. Prices are coming down, though so it’s only a matter of time.

Neighborhoods is the biggest area of my life where I am a snob. In some ways it’s the only area where I am a snob.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:10:44 +0000

Trent, at a $1200/month savings and $700/month food bill, that’s >$30K/year gross income already. You must be making some pretty good money!! :)

My goals are to:
1.) Save tons of money, to pay for lawn, sprinklers, landscaping, paint, etc for our new house :)
2.) Save for our wedding and honeymoon this coming October.
3.) Lose weight. Preferrably 40 lbs, but I’d be happy with 20lbs.

Trent, are you going to keep a weekly journal of your weight loss? I’d love to try keeping stride with you, it’d be good motivation for me.

By: Studenomics

Studenomics — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:55:02 +0000

My list for 2009:

1. Physical- continue putting on muscle
2. education- continue working hard in my undergrad studies with the end goal of getting into a MBA program.
3. hobby- Work on my blog and try to spread its popularity

By: Broke M.B.A.

Broke M.B.A. — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:29:45 +0000

Hi Trent,

I just wanted to say hello! I enjoy reading your blog on a daily basis and must say that you have inspired me to begin blogging myself. I will soon be purchasing your “Build A Better Blog” e-book and look forward to reading your tips and advice.

I relate to your content and find that a couple of my 2009 goals are in-line with some of yours. Can’t wait to get rid of those student loans.

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:25:10 +0000

Good article,

1) Pound a week sounds like a great idea
2) continue 10% into 401(k)’s (evil rich people can’t use Roth’s)
3) $7800 into 2 kids 529′s
4) $13000 to pre-retirement taxable accounts
5) Save for 20′th anniversary in 2 years, need $7000
6) Give to Charity (Having a lot trouble with this one, just not a giver..)
7) Drink less
8) Win the battle with moss in the yard (Oregon)
9) Kill that f*nking mole in the front yard!!!!

I really admire your drive to serve locally, I was moved last election, when 3 office’s no one ran. That can’t be a good solution.

By: Derek Kay

Derek Kay — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:27:39 +0000

@Comment #6 – 5 pounds a week is not healthy. Careful with your goals guys. Shoot for one a week.

By: SS

SS — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:57:28 +0000

Hi Trent,
I am making my list now. I have had it in my mind.
Thank you. It is that time. I am use to making my
goals in december for the new year.