2017 Financial Resolutions (post your resolutions & updates) All welcome!!!

With the 2017 days away, instead of the usual personal/self new years resolution I thought it would be spectacular to continue onwards with the 3rd year of Financial Resolution thread.....that we could cheer each other on through encouraging words, suggestions or just thumbs up and accountability :).

You could have 1 resolution or several again it's up to the individual.

Let's motivate each to pursue our financial goals and celebrate the milestones along the way.

The possibilities are endless, could be not purchasing that hot beverage in the mornings, saving for a vacation, renovations ------ the sky is the limit and the possibilities are endless as these are individual FINANCIAL Resolutions:top:

My 2017 Financial Resolutions are

1. Continue to save up PC plus points, sdm points, leger web survery $ and swagbucks for Christmas.
IN 2016 we had $880 in pc points, 3x 95K redemptions & 1x 50K at sdm, $40 in legerweb surveys

Update Feb. 10th/2017 - we have enough for
1x 95K redemption

2. Continue to meal plan and take meat out the night before.

3. Continue to price match and use as many coupons as possible.

4. Purchase a 2nd vehicle. (see #5) - DONE (January 11, 2017)

5. January through June put all of dh's pays aside to rebuild bank account(s) after purchasing Vehicle
Feb. 10/2017 we have repaid 2 out of the 4 accounts we borrowed from
Feb. 23/2017 transfer dh's pay to repay $ borrowed for car.

6. Continue to save before we buy, it makes such a difference and makes us accountable for our spending and future goals

7. Put in new powder room downstairs

8. Set up a new account for family vacation (smaller trip in 2017 and hopefully a larger (winter getaway in 2018) - Put all medical/dental reimbursements into this account going forward as savings
Feb. 10, 2017 update - we have started putting the reimbursements into a family vacation acct.


Cottage Goals (after May/June)

1. Have an electrician do the wiring at the cottage which will be ran off a generator.

2. Hire someone to close in the cottage, including facia and balcony.

3. Hire a drywaller for the upstairs loft at the cottage and have laminate flooring installed (flooring is already purchased)

4. Continue to post items for sale and tuck the funds away for designated project

5. Build a main entry way (enclosed) at the cottage.

Not really big goals for me, but nonetheless...

1. Continue my ways of Price Matching, Couponing, Cash back, PC Points, etc.

2. Continue to save a large portion (90%+) of my CPP Benefit into my saving account

3. While at home, continue to help my parents with saving money on grocery shopping

4. Look into new and creative ways to save money for school, car and other

5. Keep on my school grocery budget of $50/ month

Good goals. I always look forward to a new year. A fresh start!

My main focus for 2017 is to gain better control of our Grocery budget. This is really the only area of our budget where we are overspending. Our grocery budget includes groceries, paper products, vitamins, personal care products, cleaning products, etc. I'd like to spend 30% less every month. I'm going to try cash-only spending/tracking on groceries, and try incorporating more grains/fresh veggies into our meal plan.

Our mortgage is up for renewal in 2017, so we will be making an aggressive push to pay off the remaining balance on our vehicle loan before we sit down with the mortgage broker in September. It will be a great feeling to only have the mortgage debt left.

2017 will be our 5-yr wedding anniversary, and 10-yrs of being together, so I'd like to save up to do something special. Not sure what that will be yet. We just took a big trip together, so my priorities are going to be the top goals and we will see what is left-over.

I am thinking about doing that 52 week challenge for 2017 from my pocket money. I have also stopped spending big bucks on cosmetics and skin care and spend as little as possible in this category. I will try to use up my stockpile of skin care and cosmetics this year.

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Originally Posted by johnb56789

Not really big goals for me, but nonetheless...

1. Continue my ways of Price Matching, Couponing, Cash back, PC Points, etc.

2. Continue to save a large portion (90%+) of my CPP Benefit into my saving account

3. While at home, continue to help my parents with saving money on grocery shopping

4. Look into new and creative ways to save money for school, car and other

5. Keep on my school grocery budget of $50/ month

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Fantastic goals

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Originally Posted by Frugalbigmama

Good goals. I always look forward to a new year. A fresh start!

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I completely agree, can't wait to see yours

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Originally Posted by beckie.c

My main focus for 2017 is to gain better control of our Grocery budget. This is really the only area of our budget where we are overspending. Our grocery budget includes groceries, paper products, vitamins, personal care products, cleaning products, etc. I'd like to spend 30% less every month. I'm going to try cash-only spending/tracking on groceries, and try incorporating more grains/fresh veggies into our meal plan.

Our mortgage is up for renewal in 2017, so we will be making an aggressive push to pay off the remaining balance on our vehicle loan before we sit down with the mortgage broker in September. It will be a great feeling to only have the mortgage debt left.

2017 will be our 5-yr wedding anniversary, and 10-yrs of being together, so I'd like to save up to do something special. Not sure what that will be yet. We just took a big trip together, so my priorities are going to be the top goals and we will see what is left-over.

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You did so amazing this year, I really enjoyed seeing your updates.

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Originally Posted by amira84

I am thinking about doing that 52 week challenge for 2017 from my pocket money. I have also stopped spending big bucks on cosmetics and skin care and spend as little as possible in this category. I will try to use up my stockpile of skin care and cosmetics this year.

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Quite a few people do the 52 week challenge and it's amazing how much they save during the year, great idea. I'm sure you have a lot of beauty products stock as you are such a smart SDM shopper. I've learned so much from you re: sdm points, coupons ++++ thank you

Simplify y entire life

Still thinking about this but going to make 2017 a less is more year.

1.Really going to concentrate on my house- updating/upgrading etc.
2. Continue putting away money monthly in Christmas/RRSP/TFSA/RESP/Summer Camp/Grade 8-2018 Grad & Trip for DS/Vacation
3.Getting rid of junk. Save cash in "Summer fun fund" This was awesome last year. Anytime we were doing something- flea market/festival I just took cash from the jar. It made the event even more enjoyable since it felt like free money.
4. Plan our summer ahead of time. (book vacation) We have family out town wanting us to come for week at a time (they have pool and lakefront!) So will be a fun and cheap summer for sure!
5.Keep eye open for deals on little things/stocking stuffers for Christmas box. (this really made a difference this year. For me it is the little stuff that cost so much but since I was smart and picked up stuff as I found deals/ideas I had it all in my bins when I was ready to start Christmas shopping so it saved me lots of time/$)

Really the same old goals but they work for me :

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Originally Posted by Frugalbigmama

Still thinking about this but going to make 2017 a less is more year.

1.Really going to concentrate on my house- updating/upgrading etc.
2. Continue putting away money monthly in Christmas/RRSP/TFSA/RESP/Summer Camp/Grade 8-2018 Grad & Trip for DS/Vacation
3.Getting rid of junk. Save cash in "Summer fun fund" This was awesome last year. Anytime we were doing something- flea market/festival I just took cash from the jar. It made the event even more enjoyable since it felt like free money.
4. Plan our summer ahead of time. (book vacation) We have family out town wanting us to come for week at a time (they have pool and lakefront!) So will be a fun and cheap summer for sure!
5.Keep eye open for deals on little things/stocking stuffers for Christmas box. (this really made a difference this year. For me it is the little stuff that cost so much but since I was smart and picked up stuff as I found deals/ideas I had it all in my bins when I was ready to start Christmas shopping so it saved me lots of time/$)

Really the same old goals but they work for me :

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Great goals

bumping

Goals:

1. Pay off my student loan. I hope to make my final payment in Dec 2017!
2. Ask for (and get) a raise.
3. Do side jobs more consistently (this will help with goal #1)
4. Continue monthly contributions to retirement savings and kid's education savings

Hi all: My goals are fairly simple but I think simple things sometimes have the most profound effect.

1. I will get over my shyness about SCOPing because there are at least two stores I visit regularly -- yep, Walmart is one -- that are bad at mismatching shelf prices to cashier ones.
2. I will keep a binder to record every cent that comes in and every one that goes out. In a separate column, I'll record coupon savings and 'loyalty' savings, like SDM.
3. I will get back on a moderate and livable exercise program because I can't afford -- or I don't want to afford -- getting ill and onto medications. But I'm not going to make the bar too high. Just doable.
4. I will cadge every Tim Horton's and Starbuck's GC I can because DH's vice is coffee, which he often gets on the road. (Thermos not always feasible.) I don't want him to give up this guilty pleasure so I'll figure out how to get it gratis.
5. I will pursue what has become an avid interest in "depression cooking" and other means by which people coped in the Great Depression. I'm really enjoying the dive into this stuff...and I'll share it here.
6. And yard sailing at the crack of dawn (or it feels that way) when the snow is finally gone.
7. Otherwise...stay the course. Eat at home. Coupon. Buy gently-used goods. Network with my neighbors.

If you are interested in budget cooking I just ran across this blog and I really enjoy it. She has an eat on 40 cents a day per person segment that is probably not doable for most because she is from the USA but I enjoy her posts and she has some great points for cutting down on food costs.
http://www.theprudenthomemaker.com/c...40-cents-a-day

Thanks TG-very interesting!

Happy New Year Everyone and all the very best to you and yours in 2017 :)
My Goals for 2017:

1. Look After My Health:
Walk Everyday except Sunday
Eat Oatmeal every morning except Sunday when I will make Brunch using a different Menu each week. These Menus will depend on the deals I get with coupons :)
Take time for me and my family

2. Look After My Finances:
Pay bills as soon as they come in
Do the 52 week challenge to use at Christmas Time
Start a Summer Fun Jar ( Great Idea )
Add a little to my savings each month

3. Look After the House Plan :


4. Coupon Plan:


Will keep adding to this but.....a start :)

Thank you, thriftygranny. The site was a good read and I'll be going back to it. I like her goals for the first month of the year http://www.theprudenthomemaker.com/b...th-of-the-year because they are very specific and doable. Part of the doable bit is that she is chunking the resolution into 12 parts so that she wants to lose 2 lbs this month rather than saying "40 lbs this year -- or bust!" The 2 lbs are not as intimidating.

Great goals everyone, all the best in 2017.

January will be a "no-spend" month so my points won't be building much but wanted to see where I start for the year.
As of today:

502 Airmiles ($50 Foodland/Metro)
550,000 PC Plus #1 ($550.00)
13,375 PC Plus #2 (13.00)
219,734 Shoppers Optimum (370.00)
$21.25 CT $ on the card
$20.00 Plus Paper CT $

My most successful financial resolution has been "if you think you are poor, you save more." It sound quirky, but it works because if you get it into your head that you don't have any extra money to spend, you are not tempted to spend what you in fact do have.

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Originally Posted by mulock

My most successful financial resolution has been "if you think you are poor, you save more." It sound quirky, but it works because if you get it into your head that you don't have any extra money to spend, you are not tempted to spend what you in fact do have.

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I live my life by this moto, when I was a young child 5 my parents went bankrupt, we had to move in with my grandmother on my mother's side. Anyways my parents and my 2 brothers lived on the rental side BUT I lived on my grandma's side. She raised her kids during the depression and a hard life, if she had $1 she would save .50 cents for another day, I was around her so much because I lived with her for 4 years and she inspired me as a child. My dh is more of a spender than I am. I like to budget on the grim side (not much wiggle room) so that we have to be accountable for every cent in the budget/bank. It's served us well BUT at times people think we're cheap BUT we don't do without anything at all, we just choose what is important to us AND we definitely don't keep up with the Jones.

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Originally Posted by jasperandchar

I live my life by this moto, when I was a young child 5 my parents went bankrupt, we had to move in with my grandmother on my mother's side. Anyways my parents and my 2 brothers lived on the rental side BUT I lived on my grandma's side. She raised her kids during the depression and a hard life, if she had $1 she would save .50 cents for another day, I was around her so much because I lived with her for 4 years and she inspired me as a child. My dh is more of a spender than I am. I like to budget on the grim side (not much wiggle room) so that we have to be accountable for every cent in the budget/bank. It's served us well BUT at times people think we're cheap BUT we don't do without anything at all, we just choose what is important to us AND we definitely don't keep up with the Jones.

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Yeah the people that think we are "cheap" will be wishing they were smart like us when they are old and can't work and have no money trying to live on Government. I am cheap where I have to be and we live a good life. It's all about priorities :)

Great thread. I really dropped the ball last year, faced some personal issues and I'm really not quite back to feeling like myself but I want to try to get things back on track.

Therefore my financial goals for this year:

1. Coupon and sale planning better. I easily get overwhelmed with coupons because they can get out of hand so fast. I am going to only take and collect what I need so organization won't be a nightmare, but I want to make a solid effort to get better at this again to save our family some money.
2. Tighten the purse strings. I really stopped tracking our budget in the middle of last year. I have a hope of possible moving to a new house this year (probably a pipe dream, but one can dream nonetheless). Plus there are a bunch of other big changes coming for our family this year so I really want to start saving, paying down our debt and putting money away for things we will need.
3. Purge the house and sell whatever we can. This money will all go towards debt repayment. I feel like I am drowning in my own house, so this will potentially be a win win situation if I can find the time/energy to achieve this.

I really hope that I can get back on track. Last year was rough and I'm having a hard time getting back to me. Being in control of these things and reaching goals helps me feel better so I'm really going to push for this this year.

FBM-IMHO I would consider spending your points first-in case any of the programs devalue them- or perhaps if they plan to you will get some warning and can spend them quickly!

I agree with many of you-watching the day to day spending as closely as possible which hopefully leaves more to save or spend on bigger things you may want/need such as travel, house rennovations or whatever.

I enjoy reading everyones goals and don't normally post but wanted to say that ever since DH and I have been actively pursuing the vegan lifestyle I've noticed the drastic savings in our grocery bills. Almost half I'd say. Atleast 1/3 for sure in savings!

So my suggestion is to cut out meat more often in your weekly menu. Its really more easy then one would think. For breakfasts there are pancakes, cereal, smoothies, oatmeal, fruit, toast. For lunch you can make egg salad instead of deli meat. For dinners it is easier then you think - replace meat with beans, rice, pasta, tofu (once you learn to cook it then it tastes good) which is $1/lb. Where can you get meat for a dollar a pound?!

Anyways just some suggestions.

my financial goal for 2017 is a few points
-continue to use coupons and price match and do checkout51 and caddle -as I have couponed for 30 some odd years and I will try to beat last years coupon usage -oh and ebates too-oh and I never pay shipping online -I haven't yet -I buy the amount they want like the bay has 45.00 with my credit card or wait til free shipping days
-buy used as I did today I got 3 ladies lovely tops for 11.97 at value village after 50% off with my saver card -still buy new but always on sale or some kind of discount
-every month save a $100 or more for that rainy day
-but still treat ourselves the odd time in life -if its eating out or something new in clothing

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Originally Posted by juliemadden

Simplify y entire life

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That's a super goal