Happy New Year!
Oh my gosh. I can't believe it's been almost 2 months since I last blogged. That's EMBARRASSING. Seriously.
I blame life.
I'm going to try (operative word there, try) to be more regular and better about blogging. I feel so out of touch when I don't! And there's so much going on that I want to share with ya'll. So I'll be spending the next month or so trying to get caught up on some great things that have been happening, are happening and will be happening.
But first things first, Happy New Year! I know, I know. We're almost 3 weeks into 2017, but I haven't blogged since last year, so I'm gonna say it anyways. I've been really trying to think of what my resolutions are this year, but it's hard!
I mean, I know I learned so much last year and grew a ton as a person and business, but this year I'm having a hard time honing in on that and making it tangible lessons. But I do have a few resolutions to share.
You know all those memes or resolution quote thingys that say, 'a year from now you'll wish you started today?' I definitely had that thought last year at this time. I remember thinking how a year from then felt so far away, but in the back of my head I also knew it would fly by as every year does.
Last year, I had two really big resolutions/goals and while I did well, I know I could have done better. The first one was (as almost everyone's is) being healthier and working out more. I definitely did more this past year than I had the year before, but I know I can still do better. And I wish I had pushed myself more.
The second one was paying off my debt. And the same thing applies here. I did really well, but I could have done even better. Now, I will celebrate some good here. I paid off quite a bit of the debt, but I still have a ways to go. And I want to really hunker down and kick the rest of it in it's butt this year.
While those still apply for this year, I have a few more 'day-to-day' resolutions/goals that are little things I can do to help the BIG goals.
Eating Out | For the month of January, Joe and I are not eating out and trying to cut back on alcohol. It hasn't been the easiest. We LOVE eating out. And I LOVE wine. Typically, if we're tired or just a little bit lazy, we go out or order in because it's just too easy. And we get a drink. And perhaps an appetizer or dessert. And before you know it it, you just spent $100 on accident. And same goes for lunches.
Spending | I don't know about you, but for us, eating out is almost second nature. It's just so easy to grab a quick lunch or be lazy and go out to dinner. But then when the month is up and you realize you spent (this isn't an actual number, just for the blog) $800, you can't believe how much you spent on eating out that month. It adds up SO QUICKLY.
So to stop this expensive habit, we've been planning ahead, stocking the frig, and trying to hold each other accountable for not eating out. I'm hoping to make it a routine to pack lunches and meal plan, and I want eating out to be a treat, not something to do because I don't feel like cooking.
Budgeting | So this leads to another spending resolution: budgeting. I've tried. And tried. And tried. And while I do watch what we spend, we aren't the best at keeping things to an overall limit. So I've set up more savings plans and budgeting this year both for me personally, and as a business.
Why is it important? I've been in this job full-time for almost 5 years now, and I've owned this business for 7 years. I have debt because of a few reasons, 1. I made some mistakes when I first started my business by not budgeting, and 2. I made some investments in my business along the way. When people say it can take 2-3 years to break even on a business, they're not just saying that to say it. It's true. I'm so thankful for this business, and it's been the best decision I've ever made, but it hasn't always been the most profitable. There were months I couldn't make rent. There were times I had to rely on my parents to help. But in the past 2 years, it's finally started to pay off and I found a good stride. And that's awesome, except now I have to make up for those mistakes I made when I started out.
Staying Active | The hardest part I've found about eating out, is that it's a cultural thing. It's a social activity that we do with our friends. And if I think of times I do things other than grab a drink with friends, it can be hard. Ever notice that our typical response (or maybe it's just me?) to hanging out with some one is 'Let's grab a drink' or 'Let's grab a coffee?' I'm one of the first to say that...and I'm going to start changing that. We (most of us anyways) talk about wanting to be healthier or more active, so my new goal is instead of spending that $10 on happy hour drinks, why not spend it on bettering ourselves at a barre or yoga class with a friend. Or, better yet, save the $10 and take Grohl for a walk downtown or join me at the gym. My gym allows free guests! I can take anyone I want, whenever I want. And Grohl loves a good walk.
That said, in all seriousness, if you want/need a workout or walking buddy, PLEASE reach out to me! I'm so there!
Celebrate More | This year is gonna be a big year for me. First thing (and much more on this later), it's my five year anniversary of going full-time into Twila. And I can't believe it. FIVE YEARS. And we're gonna be celebrating in a really big way...but that's all I'm going to say for now! Just keep an eye out.
This year is also a big birthday year for me...I'm turning 30! Ah! Okay, so that's weird.
So this year, I want to remember to celebrate. Celebrate this amazing business that has given me more than I could have ever imagined. Celebrate the amazing people who have come into my life in so many different ways. Celebrate others who have been there for me through this journey and who have also achieved so much. I want to remember to celebrate life. And what better year to do that than with some exciting milestones?!
So here goes nothing!
Because a year from now, I'll wish I had started today.