I cannot believe it is going to be 2012 soon. Where have this year and all the years before it gone??? I feel like it's the year 2000 and not 2012!

The New Year is sneaking up on me, but I thought I better put some thought into some goals or else I'll just be floating-- which is never good financially.

So, it's pretty much the same as last year, only maybe not as ambitious. I'm not giving up, I'm just being more realistic. Last year we had a paid off house, this year we have a mortgage of about $1700 a month (thanks public schools!), and this year's goals reflect that. Plus, I have a lot of personal goals this year, that will I think impact our financial lives, but also my mental life, which needs some tending.

I posted the financial goals in the sidebar.

On the other goals front, I REALLY REALLY need to free up time to finish my novel. It just needs a rewrite. I think this is a top priority.

I am also going to do at least one more serious Weight Loss Club at the Y (starts Jan. 7) , in an effort to lose 15 pounds this year. I may do the cheaper option, which is $35 vs $190. It doesn't include personal training, but I still have 3 unused training sessions from last time, so I may use those instead of paying for more. I did lose 14 pounds this year, one short of the goal, but I'm not crying over that last pound! I'm thrilled!

Here are some of my other goals. I hope they don't seem weird.

-Write thank you notes. Kind of gotten away from doing it consistently since the kids were born.

-Socialize more often. Hubby and I dropped off the earth when we had kids, and it's time to give all the people we never see a call. I'm thinking occasional girls' nights, poker nights in the basement, and reviving stitch n bitch craft nights. We used to do all of those, and now we don't.

-Lose 15 more pounds. This would put me in the super thin and healthy zone!

-Cook healthier and more economical meals at home, for us and the kids. And, more variety of food. I'm in a rut.

-Stop buying stupid stuff. If it isn't planned or on the list, skip it. And, don't go to the grocery store without coupons. I frequently pay too much because I lack the time to plan.

-Make fewer trips to the store. I'm putting my foot down. I end up going to the store too frequently because we forgot this or that. Better planning!

-Organize coupons better- to take advantage of unadvertised sales and so I can find what I need even if I don't plan.

- Try to buy used before automatically buying new.