Let's start off with financial responsibility. Did I get out of debt? Sort of. Do I still owe large sums of money? Yes. I am trying not to rely on income taxes to alleviate the stress I feel from financial woes, but let's face it... thousands of dollars in one lump sum really, really helps. My goal is to be 100% debt free in 2010, again with the help of my taxes. However, with the loss of my job a few months ago, I fear that my taxes will not be what I am accustomed to and my goal is going to be prolonged farther out than hoped for. Even with that little set back I am following my motto, "Expect the worst and hope for the best." Pay what I can and figure out the rest as I tackle it.
I attended an amusing and informational sermon spanning 3 Sundays, courtesy of Dave Ramsey (http://www.daveramsey.com/). He had everything, then lost it, only to build himself back up debt free and a whole hell of a lot smarter. He just reminded us that everything you need to know about debt, money and life is in the bible. Who knew? Even though he covered things that are common sense like, save your money, was brought to the table in a format that made you really stop and think for a second. No credit cards? But what if....? No, but what here! If you do not owe on credit cards, think of all the money you can put into a savings account and if something happens, you do not have to rely on interest rates or over draft fee's. It is all sitting in the bank quietly earning YOU interest.
I decided to apply this "new found" information to my every day financial life and revive my resolution for financial responsibility. I intend to lose my credit cards in a deep abyss somewhere in my Mom's house, and make my monthly payments (I always pay more than is due anyway), and if it works out, pay off the remaining balances with my taxes. Yeah, I went there again. Even though my credit card debt is not nearly as high as most Americans, it is definitely more than I want to pay or even owe. I am a slave to financial institutions and I am going to break the chains!

Car payment, where? Credit card bill, where? Collection agencies calling my house 24/7? No More!

Another year down, and if I am lucky 70 more to go.

I typically do not set New Year's resolutions, in fact I do not think I have ever until last year. Why set myself up for disappointment? Of course if I set achievable, realistic resolutions, then there should not be a problem. Okay, let's try that. Last year, I knew not to set the obvious and cliché "I will diet, I will lose weight, I will exercise and eat healthier" resolution, although I did keep that in the back of my mind. Hello! I had 2 kids in 2 years and time is ticking away and the weight keeps going up! Instead, I stuck with something a little more fitting and relevant to my life, a change that needed to happen for preservation of happiness. How about, try to be nicer to people? Apparently, I come across as being a bitch and some other not so nice words. In my head, I think I am quite pleasant with my friends and acquaintances. I am known for my straight forward and blunt approach, but that is also part of the definition to honesty in the Ker-ictionary; right where you see my picture. Last time I checked, honesty was a value and a hard to find one at that in humans anymore. With that being said, I just need to take the time and evaluate my words and how they come across. Keep in mind, it is not always what you say, but how you say it. I like to believe I was partially successful with that resolution. I cannot please everyone and if I pissed you off, I am sorry.

So, let's move forward to 2009. Our key goal this year ... Financial responsibility! I buy something and I say I am going to do this and do that and I will pay on time, even early and more than I am supposed to! I never do. When I bought my car last year, I swore up and down that I would make sure to keep the oil changed and check it constantly and I would never let the gas gage go below 1/4 a tank. Uhm, I ran out of gas 3 times and my oil has not been changed since I bought it 20,000 miles ago. I am hoping I finally learned my lesson once I am out of this financial pickle, with help from my long awaited income taxes.
With my schedule it was hard to make time for the girls to get to their WIC appointments. I figured it did not cost that much for milk, eggs and cheese so I would just get it with my food stamps. Now food stamps do not go as far as they used to and I made it a point to get the girls back on WIC. Whatever I can save, helps, a lot. Heck, I am even going to clip coupons and use those from now on. Coupon clipping party anyone? I have been online doing some grocery price comparison and I am not going to shop only at Wal-Mart anymore. It's convenience no longer counts when I need to be price savvy.
I want this to be my turn around year. The year Keri grows up and fully embraces motherhood and adulthood. If I do not have the money to buy it in full, then I do not need it. I want to better the lives of my children and of course my own, but the first step to that is having security. I am stressed and unhappy because of said stress. Right now, the leading cause of said stress is money. I feel better knowing a great big chunk of this will be erased and I can breathe easier, and if I am lucky grow some more hair and not so many gray ones. Maybe after that, if you can cross your fingers for me, I can save the money I need and move up the "East side", or is it the west?

I hope we have all learned something from 2008, and can take those lessons and apply them this year and hope for better outcomes.