One Hundred Dollars a Month

1. Pay Down the Mortgage

We were able to knock 8 payments off our contract in April {1 regular payment and 7 extra “principal” payments} thanks to the HH earning a extra last month. We didn’t have any surprises in our budget {yay!} and I was also able to use my “rug hooking money” to go towards the extra payments in April as well.

The inspiration for this goal came last fall when I was pestering the HH about moving {for the millionth time}. I jokingly asked him “What about if we paid off the mortgage. Then could we move to the east coast?”

“Ya sure, whatever,” He said.

Dear husband, if you are reading this…  You should know by now that you should NEVER underestimate your highly motivated wife. 😉 Eye on the prize people. Eye on the prize.

2. Buy Nothing New for 1 Year. 

It’s amazing. When you have a crazy goal like paying down your mortgage, your wants suddenly decrease. HOWEVER, these chicken prints on Etsy and the most amazing handmade teapots by Sarah Pike caught my eye this past week. If it was a spending year… I’d totally be buying.

3. Track Spending and Figure Out New Ways to Cut Spending Even More.

• I mended one of my Gap tees {why do the underarms always tear?!}
• Decided to do a “spend free” grocery month for April
• Paid bills online
• Borrowed books from the library
• Cleaned the living room and dining room carpets with our carpet cleaner

4. Try 52 New Recipes.

Oh my word. Last night I made the best chicken lasagna on the planet. I’ll share the recipe with you on Tuesday… but man oh man was it ever good.

5. Keep My Grocery Budget Under $100 a Month.

Since I’m a little over budget for the year I’ve decided to do a no spend grocery month for April. Hopefully it will get me back on track.

6. Go on 52 Dates with the Handsome Husband 

No date with the HH this week… He was too busy with work.

So far this year we’ve gone on 10 dates and spent $109.52 out of pocket for our “dates.”

7. Turn My Wool Stash into $5,000.

I didn’t add any new inventory to my Etsy or Ebay “shops” this past week because I’ve been busy working on some fall/winter pieces. Plus, late spring and summer is usually pretty slow in terms of selling finished rug hooking pieces so I’m just concentrating on hooking new pieces right now.

In March I sold $799.53
In February I sold $1077.27
In January I sold $1563.92

8. Get Rid of 1,000 Things. 

This week I went through a bunch of magazines I’ve been holding onto and stuck them in the garage sale pile. I figure if nobody buys them at the yard sale, I’ll just donate them to a Doctor’s office or something.

9. Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.

I didn’t read any new books this past week {just magazines mostly} and I’m still waiting to read A Man Called Ove and I am currently #43 of 56 in line on the library request list.

10. Track Hours Spent Working on My Vegetable Garden and do a Cost Analysis at the End of the Year. 

Lucy and I puttered around the garden this week setting out lettuce starts and planting carrots and beets. You can read about my latest gardening adventures HERE.

So far this year I have harvested 6 pound 2 ounces of fresh veggies from our backyard.

Time spent working on Vegetable Garden in 2016: 6 hours 30 minutes.

11. 52 House Projects in 52 Weeks.

Yesterday I went around the exterior of the house and touched up a few spots that needed a little paint. I think I might tackle the office french doors this week {a total pain if you ask me}.

12. Make all Birthday and Christmas Gifts This Year or Acquire Them for Free.

I didn’t make anything new this week to give as gifts but I am still looking into ways to earn some free gift cards for the kids.

How about YOU? Did you set any goals for 2016? How are they coming along?

~Mavis

Read About My 2016 Goals HERE.