With retirement in just 2 1/2 years away decided to get serious about living on a reduced budget and be prepared for less frivolous spending. We have a few bills to pay off. That will be easy to get done. We decided we needed to be in a habit of less spending simply because we have a house in Virginia that Skip purchased as a fixer upper. He lived in it for less than a year before being stationed in Korea and then being sent to Colorado. By the time we actually move into it he will have owned it for 10 years without having really fixed up anything. We have a lot of work ahead and its going to cost a lot of money. So we have just decided to set forth a serious plan of action to prepare for that. Maybe should have thought about it a while ago, but better late than never and we really did try to sell it.
This is what we are adjusting for. I love it.
Currently we live in a 3 story, 2400 square foot home. Unreal. Given when we met we could fit all we owned in a 500 square foot apartment! Then we moved into a 980 sq ft home and had lots of room. From there we moved onto Kansas to 1400 sq ft and had a TON of room. I have no idea how we end ed up here with all this crap, but it has to go. So we are going to be doing some serious downsizing of stuff. The house in Virginia is only 1400 sq ft. All this junk isn't going to fit. I am most excited about this part of things. There is so much here that we just aren't using and really doesn't need to be wasting all this space.
And last, but definitely not least is health. We do try to be as healthy as possible, but a lot of things have been put on the back burner and we need to make more effort bringing forth healthy habits. Things like gluten, sugar and overindulgence have made their ways back into our lives and it's not working out for us. We have some more family plans, hiking and a big camping trip planned and we really need to get in gear. I have serious personal goals that I simply must meet as putting them off or being fine with not doing them can no longer be an option. I will keep this subject updated on as I make progress. I am 7 days into making a habit of doing better. So I think I am on top of it this time. Time is going to pass whether I do something about it or not, so I better just get it done.
It's all very exciting for us this year. I am very much looking forward to progress. I hope whatever goals you have set yourself to treat you well and you have the encouragement and drive to achieve them! Here's to 2014.
