I spent most of January thinking about my New Years resolutions, and I've got my work cut out for me. I'm already working on some things with emotional stability, jealousy (as in, have less), and independence, but those are my constant life's work. Ditto with trying not to plan the future so much that I ignore the present. (If that were a marketable skill, I would have my pick of the job market.) Here are the things that are going to be my real things this year:
-Reduce/eliminate overdraft fees. This is embarrassing as hell, but in 2008 I lost about $3,000 to overdraft fees. Last year was less, but was still over $1,000. Some of this is bad bank practice, but if that was the only problem, I'd be under $100. I'm good at budgeting, but I get avoidant when I think my balance might be getting low. Time to keep to my budget instead of just having one, no matter how pretty the budget is.
-Keep up with birthday and special occasion cards. I have a slew of cards that I've gotten from work over the last few years, and it's time that I start keeping up with my cousins and good friends. Got the first two done -- my friend Brooke and my cousin Cheryl both had birthdays in January. I asked for addresses when I was doing holiday cards, and I've been putting birthdays in my calendar.
-Make more bread. I learned to make bread about a year ago, but I want to be able to do it regularly and with variation. I don't have a bread machine, but maybe I'll ask for one for my birthday. Ditto a standing mixer.
-Perfect a vegetarian version of Italian wedding soup. Chickpeas, fake meatballs, vegetable stock, fake-beef stock, fake-chicken stock, whatever. I got close a few years ago, but I really really want to figure it out. And when I do, I'll make it for the holidays this year!
