I have a very strong belief in using written goals to make progress towards whatever it is you want to achieve. I have been writting goals for myself since I was 15.

I also believe in writing goals that are slightly beyond what I think I can reach. This pushes me to accomplish more. I may not make the goal, but I get a lot farther ahead by trying to reach a goal slightly out of reach, than making a goal that requires very little effort.

I mis-stated one of my goals from 2006. My goal was to have the stock portion of my networth increase by $60,000. My total networth went up by $75,000

Goals for 2007

Fully fund 401K - $15,500 - the company got so many complaints about not being able to fully fund the accounts last year that they changed the rules so we can do it again this year.

Save $5000 for the 2008 Roth IRA

Pay down my mortgage by $20,000 to $100,000

Add $3000 to my savings funds.

Increase stock networth by $70,000 - this is mostly dependant on the stock market and my asset allocation plan.

The total is about $3600 more than I can easily do. It's partly dependant on the company coming through with the bonuses they promised.

walked with mom at WalMart for 37 min. We went around 5:30 after the Bronco's game and it was almost empty. Good for walking.

I find it very strange that many of the financial web sites would close down at the end of the year, when it seems like people would most want to find their totals. I haven't been able to gather all my December numbers together because many of them were closed. I did make money, just don't know how much yet.

My financial goals for 2006 were:

Fully fund 401K - 15,000 - I didn't make this, but it wasn't my fault. My new company changed the rules on how much of your salary you could put in and it meant I couldn't max out. I'm not sure how much I finally did get to put in because many of the financial websites are closed.

Save 4000 for 2007 Roth IRA (already have the money saved for 2006 investment in January) - Done plan to transfer it next week.

Pay down mortgage from 135,598.11 to 120,000.00 - Done, but the last pre-payment check I sent for $1000 looks like almost $500 of that went to interest. I will have to call next week and find out what they did.

Put 5000 in I-bonds for girls college. Done

Put 4000 in emergency fund - Done acually put $5000 in

Go on Canada train trip and spend < 3000.00 (I have 2500.00 of this already saved) - Done but spent closer to $3500

Save 1800 towards new car fund - Done

Increase net worth by 60,000 - this will be tricky because it mostly depends on the stock market. Done, from preliminary numbers it looks like I am $7-8K ahead of my goal.

All in all a very good year.

Finished reading the library book DarkFever by Karen Marie Moning. Supernatural. OK

Didn't walk yesterday or today. Had to go back into work again yesterday, my computer still wasn't fixed. Finally got it at 3:45 and it worked! YAY! Worked until 6:30. Got a free Blimpies sub on the way home. Buy 7 get one free.

Went to lunch with co-worker at Black-Eyed Pea and spent $8.

Got gas at $2.02/gal had a 10 cent off from King Soopers. Spent $19.25

Today was freezing. 22 degrees and wind-chill so no walking, but computer worked from home all day, so was happy about that. Had to work thru 200 emails from 3 days without computer though.

Got an email from the boss who asked me to work my vacation this week. She went to Florida on vacation for the week. Ok - whatever.

Did my networth which made me very happy. Went up 3.13% for the month. Getting closer to my goal.

My goals for October were:

1. walk with mom at least 25 days
Done

2. work less hours and catch up with my life
Yeah, right! - Missed this one big time.

3. Put $1000 in savings
Done

4. Put $500 in an I-bond
Done

5. Start xmas shopping, buy at least 2 presents
Didn't do this one either. I did get two ideas though, so maybe when I go on vacation next week I can get some of the xmas shopping done.

Finished reading The Last White Knight by Tami Hoag. Romance. OK

Walked with mom for 55 min

Went into the office today because I had an eye appt after work. Co-pay was $30. Left eye is going far-sighted. I had my RK surgery 12 years ago this year. Still think it's one of the best things I ever spent money on. My right eye is still 20/20 and my left eye is 60/20, it was 600/400 before the surgery. I still don't need glasses because between the two eyes I see 25/20

Met a friend for lunch at Ruby Tuesdays. Spent $11.

Got gas for $2.85/gal. Spent $26.39

HBAs = Household basics

Aug goals are:

1. walk at least 25 times for more than 30 min

2. Put $1000 in savings for next years Roth IRA

3. Buy $500 I-bond for girls college fund

4. Spend $450 or less on household expenses - groceries, gas, etc.

5. Post budget.

6. Close one of my bank accounts that was opened for the bonus.

7. Get new tires.

walked with mom for 50 min today

Had pizza at mom's with sister and her family.

Sold a book at half.com for $2 today.

My July goals were:

1. Walk at least 25 days for 35 min
Because of rain and vacations we only walked 19 times. I think that's the first time I've missed this goal in more than a year.

2. Put $1000 in emergency fund. - Done

3. Put $500 in college fund - Done

4. Spend $450 or less on household items.
Way over on this - $520.11 - mostly because of niece time. But don't regret that, some months are higher than others.

Groceries - $191.30 - this was higher than usual too
Fast Food - $51.61
Restaurants - $28.19
Nieces - $102.09
Clothes - $29.26
Books/Newspapers - $30
Gas - $27.38
HBAs - 416.70
Other - $43.01

5. Get tires replaced

Not done - too many hours working

6. Set up new budget

Done - will try to post next weekend.

Finished reading my book Born to be Wild by Catherine Coulter. Romance. Good.

worked this morning. Took a nap to make up for not getting to sleep in. About halfway through we had a huge thunderstorm that woke me up. Oh well, it was great while it lasted and the rain was needed and cooled things down.

Went to the library and picked up my holds and paid my late fee.

July goal are:

1. Walk at least 25 days for 35 min

2. Put $1000 in emergency fund.

3. Put $500 in college fund

4. Spend $450 or less on household items.

5. Get tires replaced

6. Set up new budget

Finished reading the library book Full Scoop by Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Huges. Wacky Romance. Very good.

walked with mom for 55 min

I knew my parents were really busy today getting ready to go camping so I took over the ingredients to make chili pasta and fixed dinner for them.

I'm really irritated tonight. All week I've been dreaming about sleeping in tomorrow. Every morning when I wake up, I think I can sleep in on Saturday. Well, because other people can't get there work done on time, I have to work tomorrow morning. Stinks!!!

My goals for June were:

June Goals are:

1. Walk at least 25 days for 35 min
Done

2. Pre-pay mortgage - $4000 this will meet my goal for the year of $12,000. Will use all of my 3rd paycheck to help meet this goal.
Done

3. Spend $450 or less on household items.
Done Spent $435.94

Groceries - 155.09
Fast Food - 42.65
Restaurants - 26.61
Nieces - 42.20
Clothes - 25
Books - 20.80
Gas 59.73
Entertainment - 15
Other - 48.83

4. Close the Virtual bank account that I opened for a bonus
Done

5. Get tires replaced - not done, no time

6. Set up new budget - not done, decided to wait after I heard about the changes to our 401K. I will be getting more money back in each paycheck so will wait till I know how much it is before I redo the budget.

My net worth went down 1.35% and that was after putting in a larger than usual amount towards the mortgage.

Finally finished reading the library book Engaging the Enemy by Elizabeth Moon. Sci/Fi. Good. I started this book on Monday and it took me all week to finish it. Probably the least amount I've read in a week since I learned how to read which was age 3 according to my mother. Not sure I believe that. But since it took me so long, I now owe .60 cent late charge. If I had finished it Tuesday like I planned I would have been ok.

walked with mom for 55 min

Sold 4 books at half.com today. All from the same series. Spent $4.14 for postage. Had to mail two packages since I didn't have a mailer big enough for all 4 books.

Forgot to do the May Goals update yesterday so I'll do it today

Goals for May were:

1. Walk at least 25 days for 35 min
Done

2. Pre-pay mortgage - $1500
Done

3. Spend $450 or less on household items
I think so, but lost the form I was keeping the data on and don't feel like going back through all reciepts to redo it.

June Goals are:

1. Walk at least 25 days for 35 min

2. Pre-pay mortgage - $4000 this will meet my goal for the year of $12,000. Will use all of my 3rd paycheck to help meet this goal.

3. Spend $450 or less on household items.

4. Close the Virtual bank account that I opened for a bonus

5. Get tires replaced

6. Set up new budget

walked with mom for 50 min. They invited me to stay for supper and play games so I did that after the walk.

Got 2 free samples of Pantene Pro-V shampoo and conditioner for frizzy hair from WalMart. Will give them to my niece. She's always worried about frizzy hair. I'm so glad I'm not a teen-ager anymore

My goals for May are:

1. Walk at least 25 days for 35 min

2. Pre-pay mortgage - $1500

3. Spend $450 or less on household items

Not a lot of goals this month, since I won't have a lot of time to meet them.

walked with mom for 55 min

Went to the grocery store this morning. Spent $41.39. $8 on a book and 2 newspapers. Got 3 large tubes of Aquafresh toothpaste for free. Plus each tube gets 3 free music downloads. I'll give them to my niece. I also got 2 free packs of Dentyne Ice Gum.

My goals for April were

1. Walk at least 20 days for 35 min

Done

2. Pre-pay mortgage - $1500

Done

3. Spend $450 or less on household items

Spent $510.37 went way over. Partly on groceries because I did a lot of stocking up and also because I shop on Sundays and it was a 5 Sunday month. I also overspent on gas and I'm not sure why it's $35 more than I expected. I know it went up, but not that much and I didn't drive more than normal. This is a bit of a mystery right now.

4. Get my mutual fund paperwork from last year updated and organized in their binders.

Not done, worked too many overtime hours this month to fit this in. I know it won't get done next month either because of my vacation. Will put it back on the list in June

5. Re-do budget.

Not done. See excuse for goal 4.

Not a great month goal or budget-wise.

Net worth increased by .99% at least it's an increase

Sold a book on half.com it's been over a month and a half since my last sale so that was nice, even if it was only $2

Ordered a miniature camper kit for my niece for her bday. $24.94

Free things this week

Schick Midnight Razor
Glad Flex bag
Wendy's Frescetta sandwich
Dentyne Gum and mints
2 packages of Dentyne Gum
3 tubes of Aquafresh toothpaste
9 music downloads.

Finished reading the library book Lara Croft Tomb Raider The Cradle of Life by Dave Stern. Sci/Fi Adventure. Ok

walked with mom for 55 min

My goals for April are:

1. Walk at least 20 days for 35 min

2. Pre-pay mortgage - $1500

3. Spend $450 or less on household items

4. Get my mutual fund paperwork from last year updated and organized in their binders.

5. Re-do budget.

Finished listening to the library book on tape Dark Paradise by Tami Hoag. Mystery. Very good.

walked with mom for 55 min

DirectTV has a free Showtime movie weekend. So far there hasn't been anything I want to see. It seems like they've had a lot of free movie weekends lately.

My goals for March were:

1. Pre-pay mortgage by $2000.00. I increased this because I am expecting my computer rebates and tax returns this month so should be able to come up with another $500.

Done

2. Walk 20 times for at least 35 min

Done

3. Spend $400 or less for household items. Since I've stayed under $450 for the last 2 months, I'm lowering this goal.

Almost. Spent $413.96

Groceries - 123.06
Fast Food - 44.20
Restaurants - 54.59
Nieces - 32.95
Books - 13.17
Gas - 43.7
HBAs - 46.53
Entertainment - 17.97
Other - 32.79

4. Lose 5 lbs. - This is a financial goal as well as a health goal, since it will save me money.

Only lost 3 lbs, but it's progress.

My net worth increased by 3%

Got the Travel Cancellation insurance policy today. Spent $90 for this.

Finished reading my book Partnership by Anne McCaffrey and Margaret Ball. Sci/Fi. Ok

walked with mom for 35 min

Sold two books at half.com for $1 each

My goals for March are:

1. Pre-pay mortgage by $2000.00. I increased this because I am expecting my computer rebates and tax returns this month so should be able to come up with another $500.

2. Walk 20 times for at least 35 min

3. Spend $400 or less for household items. Since I've stayed under $450 for the last 2 months, I'm lowering this goal.

4. Lose 5 lbs. - This is a financial goal as well as a health goal, since it will save me money.

I'm still reading stuff in the evenings, but it's requirements documents, design docs and technical stuff - no fun

Walked with mom for 35 min.

Got two computer rebate checks in today's mail, one for $20 and one for $40.

Did my monthly net worth calculations and it went up 1.17%. Not as good as last month, but still very good. If I could get this every month I could retire now.

February Goals were:

1. Pre-pay mortgage by 1500.00 - DONE

2. Walk 20 times for at least 35 min - DONE

3. Spend $450 or less for household items - Only spent $334.54, partly because it's a short month and partly because I've been so busy at work, there's no inclination to go anywhere and spend money.

Groceries - 160.30
Fast Food - 24.63
Restaurants - 44.46
Clothes - 15.00
Gas - 41.89
HBAs - 18.96
Misc - 30.20

4. Try to follow Glycemic Index eating plan. Hit and miss on this, getting better, it's a learning process.

5. Go to Dr and get checkup on Diabetes numbers as well as Cholesterol and Triglycerides. - DONE

6. Finish taxes. - DONE

I made 5 out of 6 goals and partially made the 6th one.

went into work today. I needed to go inside the bank so I went on my lunch hour. I only make drive-through hours if I go before or after work. Picked up Wendy's to eat going and returning. Spent $4.70

Went to the bank and deposited $44.75 in rebate checks, pinecone checks and $15 in loose change. All went to my Extra Fund

After work went to Staples to return the unneeded printer cartridges that I bought last month and now have a new printer, which needs different cartridges. They let me trade and the new cartridges were $18.25 cheaper so they put that money back on the card.

Next I got gas at King Soopers where I had a 10 cent/gal disount. Paid 2.12/gal and spent $22.01

Went to Border's where I had a 20% off coupon. Bought 1 book for $7.25 and used my rebate card from Discover.

Next went to Barnes and Noble and bought one book for $7.72. Had my 10% off membership and used my CC rebates.

February Goals are:

1. Pre-pay mortgage by 1500.00

2. Walk 20 times for at least 35 min

3. Spend $450 or less for household items

4. Try to follow Glycemic Index eating plan.

5. Go to Dr and get checkup on Diabetes numbers as well as Cholesterol and Triglycerides

6. Finish taxes.

walked with mom for 35 min

I thought this week would be better than last week, but so far it's been just as long. It's not quite as stressful and I've only been working 10 hour days instead of 12 hour days

My goals for January were:

1. Pre-pay mortgage by 1500.00 - Done

2. Walk 20 times for at least 35 min - Done

3. Spend $450 or less for household items - Spent $397.81

Breakdown was:

Groceries - $146.32
Eating Out - $75.91
Books/Newspapers - $41.71
Gas - $27.37
HBAs - $29.36
Entertainment - $5.50
Other - $71.64

4. Try to follow Glycemic Index eating plan - probably about 80%, could improve here, but lost 6 lbs so must be doing something right.

5. Work on taxes, try to have ready to send by Jan 31 - didn't make this one, because of extra work load and new computer. Will try to finish these next weekend.

My networth increased by 5.01% for the month. That's very good.

Finished listening to the library book on tape A Stroke of Midnight by Laurell K. Hamilton. Supernatural/Romance. Very, very good. Very sexy.

Goals for January are:

1. Pre-pay mortgage by 1500.00
2. Walk 20 times for at least 35 min
3. Spend $450 or less for household items
4. Try to follow Glycemic Index eating plan
5. Work on taxes, try o have ready to send by Jan 31

Went to King Soopers for groceries, spent $56.09, but 16.32 of that was for 1 book, 2 magazines and a newspaper. I planned to buy the newspaper and book, but the magazines were impulse, one a financial mag and one a recipe mag.

Total spent this month = $56.09

Finished reading my book Taliesin by Stephen R. Lawhead. Sci Fi. Very Good. I always love the Arthur story. I've probably read 20 versions of it. This is a very good one.