Getting Ready for 2011

I don't make "resolutions." I never really have. I think about things that I want to do, figure out what I need to do, and then make the plans accordingly. I have some friends who are really detailed about what they are going to do. They journal, make vision boards, and sometimes blog about their plans. I like to read and then watch them accomplish what they set out to do.

Me, personally? I don't do all of that. I already know what I need to do next year, and it revolves around 2 things: my finances and my fitness. I've already met with the financial planner to get the ball rolling. As soon as my physical therapy eval is done today, I'll have a better idea of what types of work outs I can do over the next week. I've already done my research about alkaline diets. As much as it pains me to give up my beloved sweet tooth, I will have to drastically cut back.

So, those are the things I'll be working on for next year. We have our family reunion in July (on my mom's side), and I think we're going to try and take my mom on a cruise. She doesn't know that yet. :) The problem is, figuring out which cruise, how long to go, etc. She's always wanted to go to Hawaii, but with her back problems, I can't forsee her making it through the 8+ hour flight to get there. I really wish she could. We could get a travel agent to plan it for us.

My biggest wish for 2011 is for LDR to get his job transfer here. Good employers are hard to come by, so we both would rather he get a transfer, then have to start all over somewhere else. We're just gonna keep hope alive on that one.

So how do you get ready for the next calendar year? Are you very detail-oriented, or do you go with the flow? Or somewhere in the middle?

Gotta Love Rewards

Happy Friday!

I logged in to Cha.se to pay my bill, and decided to see how many points I've earned on my Free.dom card.

Now, the history on this card is that it USED to be my beloved Duetto Visa. Those bamas discontinued the program. The hawra! I pay my rent, cell phone, power bill, and cable bill on that card and then pay it off after the statement cuts. So I was earning myself a nice little treat at Starbucks every now and then.

Imagine my face when I got that notice in the mail that they were discontinuing the program, and converting my card into a Cha.se Free.dom card. Um. What the deuce? I want my Duetto Dollars! :::shedding a tear now at the memory:::

Sigh. So anywho, the rewards points have been building up, but I honestly haven't been paying them much attention. 'Cause you usually need about 1 billion points before you can get anything decent. Like with the airline miles. That's some shullbit.

Today, I checked the balance. Say word? :::goes shopping at Cha.se::: Some time in the next 7-10 days I should be receiving $75 in gift cards to use at O.ld N.avy. I needed some new jeans, so that will come in handy. And all from paying my bills.

Happy Friday indeed! Well, except for the part where I paid my bills online and my account balance will be awefully anemic by the time all the monies are withdrawn. Oh well. Still happy! :lol:

2011 - The Year of Minimalism

I've got to get my spending under control and reduce debt. This year I was just all over the place. The trip to Vegas, Jazz Fest with my sisters, my trip to NY...just too much going on. Add to that extraneous spending on dumb isht...so, yeah.

Next year is going to be really minimal. I'm already warning my friends and family. Ain't no extras. I will probably register for very few races, if any. I'm not going to be doing a lot of extra traveling or eating out. It's time to get this mess under control!

LDR and I were discussing random wedding plans (no, we're not engaged - yet) last night and I told him whatever it is, it has to be SIMPLE because I don't have the cash to be throwing some extravaganza. Somewhere in that convo, two tired and delirious people were discussing dancing like Turbo and Ozone at the reception...and something about a dress with fall colors. Which I don't know why 'cause he knows my favorite color is blue so he just needs to get with the program. :lol:

So, anyway...I give my blog friends/TwitterFriends/FBFriends permission to go slap off on me if I'm talking about shoes and clothes and a bunch of stuff that are wants and not NEEDS. Really. Just go slap off. Cuss me out. Well, not on FB 'cause my nieces and nephews are on my friends list. But you know what I mean.

My last hurrah for 2010 is the Frankie Beverly concert at the end of this month in VA with my sister (I already paid cash for the ticket) and my trip home to NY for Thanksgiving.

After that, I'm in chill mode. I feel like, if I type it here, y'all will hold me accountable. So, yeah. That's what I'm doing. :)