Hunker Down: Plan It Out

2011 is going to be a big year. It is a year that requires a lot of planning with big payoffs at the end. We are getting married. We are moving. We are going back to Australia.

My friend Sam is also planning for a big year so we keep each other in check. We are helping one another remember our goals, the things we want to save for, the big picture. If I pick up a shirt in Target, she says Australia and I walk away. It makes it so much easier when the ones around you are on board with your plans.

Hunker Down January: I did not want to write about this until it was over. It is what Sam and I called this past month. Our goal was to spend less money and work out more.

December always leaves me feeling drained. It gets so expensive between buying gifts and plane rides home and it gets unhealthy with all of the busyness and holiday parties.

We started 2011 with a reset button.

I am pretty happy with how we did. My spending on restaurants, fast food, and shopping went down significantly. We also have been going to the gym regularly and I am starting to see results. I have lost a few pounds but more importantly, I can run longer and stretch further. Getting my feet flat to the ground during downward dog is no longer a challenge. (Did you hear that Erica??) It is the personal victories and an encouraging buddy that keep me going back.

Now that we have balanced ourselves out with a month of cutting back, we are moving into Plan It Out February. We can maintain our controlled spending and regular exercise but with birthday extravaganza approaching, we need to anticipate going out three weeks in a row! Ohh February is going to fly by (I hope)!

It is the time of year that I start itching for warm weather. Oh how I miss flip flops and tank tops.

Here's to Plan It Out February... Wish us luck!