22 Comments

  1. Happy New Year Penny! If I had to pick one word for my goals for 2018, it would be “health.” The twins really wore us down and I still have some weight to lose. Along with that, there are other types of health, like financial and family . . . working on a post to explain it all.

    I think you’ve got some great goals for this year. It’s great that you’ve been doing so much freelance writing. Will you continue tutoring as well?

    • I can’t wait to read the post! I am trying so hard to work some of that back into my own life. It’s hard to believe HP is five months old, and I’m still not back to working out consistently. It’s just been so cold, and he is so bad at playing on his own.

      I am going to continue tutoring. I won’t be as busy now that the second semester is starting. Parents don’t tend to panic (and reach out for help!) until a little later in the semester. I’m still hoping to cover the cost of babysitting with side hustling, so I’m going to have to get creative!

  2. Your number one goal is by far the most important as a fellow first time parent. How are you holding up? Because I swear, my body and mind broke at least a couple times in 2017, despite my wife being a FT stay at home parent. I really need to let go and not try and do too much.

    Did you have any breaking point moments where you couldn’t take it anymore and had to just give the little one over to your partner?

    I’m not sure why I put myself through so much pressure to perform. Will have to write a post about it haha.

    I hope things go swell for y’all in 2018!

    Sam

    • Thank you, Sam! I would say I have those breaking points more often than not. My kiddo is a delightful baby–all smiles all the time!–until about 4 PM, not too long after I pick him up. He melts down for 1-2 hours, and then by the time my husband gets home, I’m all, “Here. He’s yours!” Aaaaaand of course, he’s totally chill or even napping by then.

      Maybe it’s me 😉

  3. Much of the same for me 🙂 As hard as toddlers are, JB is also pretty fun to be around too if I remember to relax a bit and that’s easier to do when we remember that each day is a gift. (Their viruses notwithstanding). And as I’m being summoned now, I’ll stop here and wish you a very happy start to the new year!

  4. Greetings and Salutations, Penny! My goals are similar to yours, tilted slightly in favor of my “Oldster” status. My 14 year old daughter asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I told her from here on out, for holidays and birthdays, what I want from her is time. A day out. A movie. A daddy/daughter date lunch. I don’t need things, but time is precious and fleeting and I want to have as much as I can. (keep that in mind for your parents as well).

    As for goals (I’m more of a systems guy than a goals guy – thank you Scott Adams), my efforts will be in the health direction. I’m within easy sight of 60 and I want to be able to do stuff. So I’m going to work on sloughing off the 25 years I’ve sat behind a desk and put myself in a position to more fully enjoy my time once I’ve put the law behind me (still a few years on that one – because I enjoy it).

    Happiest of New Years to you and your family and I look forward to reading of your adventures through 2018.

    • That is a wonderful request, Oldster. I will remember that for my parents AND for my son! Your idea of operating with systems is wonderful. I hope you’ll share more about it!

  5. I need to prioritize better in 2018, as well. It’s too easy to try to do everything that comes your way. We’re only here for a limited amount of time and we never know when it will end, so we need to make sure we’re spending our time well.

  6. Saying no without apology is a supremely useful skill. I believe you can do it!

    My goal is to finally switch to the lucrative gig, and then work less after building up reserves/defeating the debt piles.

    • Awesome, ZJ. I hope the switch happens and happens smoothly. Though I know you will be able to weather any of the bumps, I wish you nothing but the smoothest of transitions.

  7. Sean @ FrugalMoneyMan

    Happy New Year!

    I am a BIG fan of the saying “NO” resolution. I have always been really good at saying “no” to people and not feeling bad about it. It may have made me come off as rude, but it has always benefited my families bottom line. All that matters at the end of the day is making sure you and your family are happy and planing for your future!

    Good luck to you and all your resolutions!

  8. Karen

    My word for the new year is S T R E T C H. I need to physically stretch more often, cause I’m getting older, need to financially, cause I’m close to reaching some big milestones (one more year of college tuition to save up for my kid, so close I can taste it), need to stretch emotionally by reaching out more to friends and family, and lastly, stretch professionally by trying some new ideas/programs to make life a little more interesting.

    Enjoy your blog and trust me, that “witching hour” will not last forever, but I sure was glad when she outgrew it!

    • I’m so relieved to hear other people call it the “witching hour”. It is amazing and terrifying and totally delightful when it’s over! I love that your word is stretch. I need some flexibility in my life in more ways than one.

  9. Essie Jenkins

    Hello enjoyed reading your blog!!! I’m retired and enjoying it but I’m also serious about my saving and spending. The reason i’m writing is you said you had designer bags for sale!! I’m interested in knowing what you have. Please email me.

  10. Over apologizer here, too! I’d say I regret being so slow to clean out my closet in 2017, but then…

    Your numbers are crazy encouraging, though! I have one bag in with ThreadUp. Will have to fill up some more.

    • ThredUp annoys me now. Actually, they always have. I feel like their payouts get lower and lower and their prices get higher (not that I’ve ever shopped from them). I’ll be curious to hear your take!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.