Order for the New Year

Okay- my resolutions this year revolve around "order"( finances in order, house in order, life in order :)

almost two weeks in and we are doing okay...

Strict cash only budget.

- this is harder than it seems.  No debit cards, no credit cards.  Until last year -we had never used our credit cards or had credit card debt.  then came the house...with so many purchases I got dizzy...then we just used them for extras we always wanted...( ummmm my treadmill as an example..and btw I do love it)

anyway so the cards are currently sitting in a frozen pool of ice in our freezer- not to be used for the year.

-planning grocery store trips is percise.  No extra cash means no extra stuff....I am proud to say I was 5$ under budget last week

-getting gas is the major downside.  hate having to go in to prepay especially when its 12 degrees outside and any time spent running around is too much in my opinion.  also trying to guess how much you need to fill up is kinda lame.  so ive been at the pump more as my 20$ or 40$ at fill up doesnt quite do it for the week.

-rethink EVERY minor purchase...from a book for Elijiah,( scouts and leisure)to the redbox movie...we have a personal spending limit for the month and once its gone- NO more until the next month! this is where our budget has always been blown...we tend not to think twice about date night, bday presents, lunches out, random clothing and tech purchases etc....it was amazing how much we spent each month.  im looking forward to seeing how much a difference this might make.

There are always things we cant count on- house stuff breaks, car repairs, medical expenses( all which tend to be huge for our family every year) but im super optimistic that our lives this year will become more organized, and general chaos will be diminished! So heres to 2012 - year of ORDER!

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We were late in getting our family photo out this year...we had some last minute change of plans with Noel at Chrismas time and really wanted her to be in this years pic.  So between the holidays and the late start, cards were not sent.  But never fear...here is our annual family photo.( and I thought last years photo session was hard...this year took the cake- but the talented Emily Lesher pulled out a miracle- Thanks Em!!