December New Year's Goals Check In

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It's that time of the month... time to check in on goals you know? :) Have you been sticking with it or have your goals fallen by the wayside? Here's where we at Thriftism stand:

1. Take 6 Courses Online (4 of 6)

  1. Teach English: Foundational Principals (Completed FEB 2016)
  2. Teach English: Theories of Second Language Acquisition (Completed MARCH 2016)
  3. Teach English: Lesson Design & Assessment (Completed MARCH 2016)
  4. Seeing Through Photographs (Completed NOVEMBER 2016)
  5. Check out Coursera for a wide variety of free courses or Duolingo for language learning.
2. Install Kitchen Backsplash and Cabinet Pulls✔

  1. INSTALLED!!! We finally put our backsplash up in May. We have to grout one more section, but it looks pretty sweet. See the how-to videos below if you're looking to put up backsplash in your home.  We also put in all the cabinet pulls. It sure is nice to have a handle on the drawers. :) 




           

            
3. Construct Captains Bedframe
  1. The main frame and drawers have been constructed. Now we just have to add the facing and get drawer pulls. I'd say about 60% done. This is the same as in April, but I did purchase handles.
4. Read 12 Books
  1. Down by the River - Robyn Carr  
  2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
  3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
  4. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  6. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  7. Happy Potter and the Half Blood Prince
  8. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows
  9. Another View
  10. Alan-Grant - Nora Roberts (25% complete)
  11. Friday Night Lights (30% complete)
  12. ~10 magazines/month (Want to get free magazines? Try out rewardsurvey to earn your favorite magazine as a reward
5. Visit London✔
  1. We did it!!! We were able to spent a delightful three weeks in England. Talk about our thriftism lifestyle paying off. We were able to spend a week in London, a few days in Bath and Bristol, a week down in Cornwall/Devon area, visit the Peak Disctrict/Sheffield, and run down to the cliffs of Dover. Be sure to follow us on YouTube, Twitter, or Instagram for videos from the trip, pictures, and travel advice. We have quite a few videos giving you thrifty options of attractions while you're on vacation. While we did save a lot for our trip, we ended up spending less than half of what we planned. We tried to take advantage of any free attractions, cheap (but delicious) food, and cheaper accommodations. We were even able to stay in a few 4 star hotels and a B&B built in the 1300s for under $80/ night because we search for deals and tried to be flexible on the trip! Watch for more travel posts throughout the next year.
6.  Paint Office✔
  1. Done! We are about halfway through putting up trim. I am in the process of assembling the first bookshelf. Who knew furniture took so long to assemble?
7. Workout 4 Days/Week
  1. I might not have reached 4 days a week, but I have had a fairly consistent 3 days/week in November. 
8. Save $10,000 Save 50% of our income

  1. Right now we are around 46% of yearly income saved. I don't know that we will make it to 50% in the last month, but we will come close. I'm especially proud of this because we were able to save a lot this year even though we had to buy a car and we also went on a three week trip! This isn't me trying to brag, it's me trying to show that no matter what your circumstances, there are ways to save money.  
9. Lose 10 Pounds

  1. Back to zero. šŸ˜¢ Thanksgiving was a doozy, but I've still been trying to stay active.
10. Knit/Crochet 10 Projects✔
  1. Soap Saver, Will be creating a DIY post of this soon!
  2. Owl Bib, Pattern taken from Lions Brand Yarn website
  3. Frog Bib, Pattern taken from Lions Brand Yarn website
  4. Shamrock Headband, Instructions on how to make on our blog!
  5. Soap Saver
  6. Soap Saver
  7. Soap Saver
  8. Doggie Blankie - half way done
  9. Soap Saver
  10. Jellyfish Soap Saver
  11. Soap Saver
  12. Soap Saver
  13. Soap Saver
  14. Wash cloth - in progress
11. Publish Blog Posts Twice a Week
  1. We posted more content in November, but we will continue to make an effort to publish more thrifty content. In the meantime, be sure to subscribe to Thriftism's Channel to get the latest money saving tips/tricks, as well as some DIY projects, yummy recipes, and travel tips. 
12. Learn How to Can Vegetables✔
  1. We have canned 12 quarts of green beans, 4 quarts tomatoes, 2 quarts salsa, 1 pint of jalapeƱos, and 12 quarts of pickles. See our video below on how to can green beans. We also blanched green beans and peas. 




We have accomplished 5 of our 12 goals and should be able to complete more than half by the end of the year. How are your goals coming along? What are you doing to stay motivated? 

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