New Blog Feature: Summary Saturday

If you read my last post about my 2019 New Year’s resolutions, you might remember that one of my aims this coming year is to post quality content on a regular basis. The reasons behind this resolution are twofold.

The main reason is that, as a new blogger, I really want to grow my blog and reach more people. I started this blog because I felt driven to write about my financial successes (and failures) and because I believe that others may find value in what I have to say.

The other reason, a bonus really, is that sharing these successes motivates me to continue. In just the few short weeks that I’ve been putting my ideas out there, I have felt a strong sense of purpose and drive. Before this, I was really struggling to stay on budget and was allowing my financial goals to stagnate after years of diligent saving and paying off debt.

For years, I have been thinking, “I should start a blog”, without ever allowing this seed to come to fruition. Now that it’s done, it sort of feels like it’s always been here. And I want it to stay that way.

So, to begin moving toward this resolution, I’ve been brainstorming to come up with ideas for weekly features. I have a zillion thoughts, but I am hesitant to over commit myself in the beginning. After all, I do have a full time job. And a threenager. And perfectionist tendencies. So, for now, I plan to move from one post per week to two, with a third post every other week.

So, without further adieu, I give you my new biweekly feature, Summary Saturday! (Stay tuned for two additional features, Tuesday Tips and Frugal Food Fridays, this upcoming week.) I hope you appreciate alliteration as much as I do!

I mentioned in my New Year’s resolutions post that sharing my goals with others helps keep me accountable. And because I think we could all use a little help sticking to our goals, I thought I’d provide a biweekly update on how I’m progressing toward mine. On Summary Saturdays I plan to break it all down by resolution and update you all on my successes and missteps. Public reflection may just be the motivation I need to keep my promises to myself. It’s worth a shot!

So, as the first installment of this new feature, I give you my first update on the progress I’ve made toward my 2019 New Year’s resolutions. Yes, I know it’s only December 15th, but when the mood strikes, you just have to go with it!

1. Prioritize family time. I’ve been doing well with this one. I created an actual paper schedule for myself outlining when I plan to manage all of my commitments, chores, and so on, as these are the most common offenders for hijacked family time. This step might not be necessary for most people,  but for me, it’s peace of mind that there will in fact be time to complete those necessary tasks when I make the choice to be fully present with my family.
2. Exercise 4 or more times per week for at least 30 minutes. Dudes. I don’t know where this motivation came from, but I’ve exercised 4 times between Monday and Saturday this week. Anyone who knows me can account for the fact that I have seriously slacked off in the exercise department over the years. But a few things have happened lately. First, I joined two dance classes (hip-hop and tap), which have rekindled my appreciation for physical activity. Second, the paper schedule! Maybe because I wrote it down, I felt like I actually had time to do it. Usually, I think of reason after reason for why I don’t have time to exercise. But, when it’s all laid out in black and white, with all of my priorities taken into account, it’s pretty clear that I do have time.
3. Stop eating after 8:00 PM. Nope.
4. Stick to our budget categories. On track here!
5. Channel as much money toward our emergency savings account as possible until we hit our target. At the end of the month, we’ll take any extra income and transfer it to our savings account.
6. Build up our travel fund. We’ll tackle this once our emergency fund is where we want it.
7. Establish and stick to a consistent schedule for blog posts. Starting today!

There you go! Thanks for reading. I’d love to hear from you about your own New Year’s resolutions and any progress you’ve made toward a personal goal as of late. Share in the comments below!