One Hundred Dollars a Month

My goals for 2017

Get 7- 8 Hours of Sleep Each Night

I did a really good job getting plenty of sleep last week and even squeezed in a few naps. Well, until last night. 😉 I ended up staying up until 2 am working on the computer and listening to 80’s music. I must be getting old because staying up past midnight is a once of year thing for me these days.

Now… If I could just feel motivated to get dressed before noon, that would be something. What is it about summer and wanting to stay in my pajamas all the time? Is it because it’s so warm and cozy inside as opposed to the winter when the temperature indoors is cooler? Maybe I’ve got my seasons backwards. Who knows. But I have an inkling I should feel embarrassed about gardening in my pj’s. And yet I don’t.

Make Saving a Priority, Not an Idea

Well, there was that sticker shock at the optometrists office episode that rocked my frugal world last week. But other than that, things have been pretty mellow around here spending wise. I’ve started to work on next years budget {it’s going to take me awhile} and it’s something I look forward to every year. I feel like if I can get our household budget done well before the end of the year, I can go into the new year nice and calm because I have a solid plan for our spending/savings goals.

Live a little

No hot pants or clubbing this past week. There’s always next week.

Visit 52 REAL Bakeries

So far this year I’ve blogged about 20 of the bakeries I’ve been to {and have been to another 4 that I won’t be blogging about} plus one I’m waiting to tell you about until this fall {because the pictures have snow on the ground and wouldn’t that be weird to see on the blog this time of year?!}. So if my math is correct, that means I’ve been to 25 bakeries so far this year. And I can still fit into my pants. HEY, that’s not to shabby if you ask me.

So far the best lemon tart I had was from Coyle’s Bakeshop in Seattle, and best overall bakery food/experience was Mike’s Pastry in Boston. But hey, the year isn’t over yet and I still have a list of places to try. So stay tuned.

Have 1 “no spend” week each month

I had a no spend week earlier this month and was planning to do another one this past week but then I was over by Winco yesterday and I decided to pop in a pick up a bunch of fruits and veggies. I have absolutely nothing on the calendar for next week so I think I’ll try again for a second no spend week in July. I’m way over budget for groceries for July and if I stay home, I won’t spend.

Start a Line of Rug Hooking Patterns

Instead of working on patterns, I’ve been dying wool this past week. {Which is weird, because only a crazy person willingly turns on their store in the summer time.} So far I have 8 rug hooking patterns listed in my Etsy shop with 3 more drawn out but not completed. I’m finding it hard to get much done right now {the weather is so nice!} and that’s okay. As long as I get 12 patterns done by the end of the year I’ll be able to mark this goal off my list.

Turn My Wool Stash into $2,500. Mission Accomplished

Last week I sold $152 worth of patterns and sunflowers in my Etsy shop and Ebay store. That brings my total to $4831.76 for the year. I’m hoping to get some pumpkins and other fall items listed online by next weekend. Normally I wait until around mid-August to do this but people seem to be buying earlier this year so I think I’ll give it a try.

If you are at all crafty, I highly recommend setting up an Etsy shop. Seriously, what do you have to loose? I’ve earned enough so far this year to nearly pay for my property taxes. DOING SOMETHING I LOVE… in the privacy of my own home. Hobbies are cool, especially when you earn money from them. And you won’t know if you’ll do well if you don’t try. SO JUST DO IT.

Purge 250 Items Including Selling Larger Items We No Longer Feel We Need

After purging 223 items and selling them along with last years leftovers at the neighborhood yard sale last week {and making $704!} I am enjoying a break from finding things to get rid of. I do have my eye on a few more things around the house to donate, but I’m going to need to find 27 more if I plan to hit my goal of getting rid of 250 things this year.  27 things might not seem like a lot to you… but things are pretty bare bones around here these days {and I’m loving it!}.

Learn to Crochet Mission Accomplished

Dote on My Husband Even More Than I Do Now.

I made dessert 3 nights in a row this past week {a rare treat around here} and last night the HH asked what was for dessert and I felt totally bad because I hadn’t made anything. Poor poor husband. I guess it means I’ll need to come up with something special for tonight.

Lose the Muffin Top. {again}

I was craving something sweet yesterday so I made a pan of Rice Krispies treats {which apparently don’t count as a dessert according to my husband}… And before I realized it I had circled the pan a few too many times. 😉 Ha! I will NEVER stop loving sugar. I’m convinced of it. But if I could just curb my enthusiasm for sweets just a little…. that would be nice.

Wear out {most of} the clothing I already own.

Working on it. Although if I’m totally being honest here my favorite blanket is getting more of a workout than my clothing lately. I just LOVE to be snuggled up in it. Even if it is 80 degrees outside. 😉

Try 52 New Recipes

Last night I tired out a new quinoa salad recipe and let me tell you Bob, it was delicious! I’ll share the recipe on Tuesday. It’s a good one.

Read 52 Books

I need a new {audio}book. I’m thinking about listening to Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe. Have you read it?

Give Back to 12 Different Organizations in My Community

January – Donated to Quilts from the Heart in Memory of my brother.
February – Donated to Empty Bowls Fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club.
March – Donated to my daughter’s mentor who was in a horrible car accident.
April – Donated again to my daughter’s mentor who was in a horrible car accident.
May – $100 Tip to a waitress on Mother’s day.
June – Started collecting men’s shirts to donate this winter.
July –

And then, there’s those top secret goals we’re not talking about yet.

• Secret Goal #1 Sell East Coast House Mission Accomplished
• Secret Goal #2 Chickens! Mission Accomplished
• Secret Goal #3
• Secret Goal #4

How about YOU? Did you set any goals for 2017? How are they coming along?

~Mavis

Read About My 2017 Goals HERE.