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Goals for May 2012: The Full-fledged Budget

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Angie Torres)

Though some of these goals are a real pain in my side, I made these goals after lots of thought and planning. Just because they get hard means I need to find a way to keep them.

The financial budget is really hard for me. I do not find budgeting a gateway to freedom – yet. I love my food budget, but that emotion has not transferred into our entire budget. Maybe with some practice I will get there, but for now, I am at the beginning.

I have based my goals on Crystal Paine’s book The Money Saving Mom’s Budget, where Crystal breaks down the steps to reach your financial goals.

I have included my financial and other goals as I seek to change and improve. Though I do not meet every goal, I am plugging along. Progress, no matter how small, is still moving closer to my goals.

Physical

Drink 2 glasses of water per day.  Success! When the ice melts in my cup, I keep refilling ice and water. Many days I am drinking 3 or more glasses, so I am increasing this goal to 3 glasses of water per day.

Eat breakfast each morning. Yeah! I found a little secret that is working. When I make my son’s lunch in the morning, I make myself a peanut butter and honey sandwich to eat on the way to school. I know a peanut butter sandwich is usually a lunch option, but it works for me. Keeping this goal since summer is around the corner, and I might need to adjust my routine.

Exercise for 20 minutes at least 3 times a week. Fantastic progress! For two weeks I was very consistent before getting sick. After taking 2 weeks to fully recover, I am back to exercising. Designating a time for exercise has been the reason for my success this month.

Family

Plan at least one family outing/activity each week. Definitely accomplished! With 4 soccer games a week, we have spent lots of time together as a family. Love this goal, and keeping it all year.

Spend 10 minutes with each child each day. Still need more work on this goal. Recovering from my illness, I had much to do. With this goal, I will make this time a priority as I begin planning our summer routine.

Allow children to help with a household task each week. Paul and I are discussing adjusting our allowance system. Now that our children help more, we will be creating a chore list for each of them. Some chores help keep our household running and are done as a member of the family while other chores earn privileges, games, or money. This goal is a work in progress.

Financial

Follow Crystal’s year-long plan to reach my goals. On track. Our bare-bones budget continues. This month, I need to create a full-fledged budget which I have never done. Giving myself some grace, I may take a little more time with this goal. Though I am concentrating on the budget, I have chosen not to use cash. Having used $60 in Discover rewards to grant graduation gifts, our Discover Card (which we payoff every month) continues to serve our family well. I am not ready to lose these benefits.

Purchase dressers for my daughters’ room. This goal is ongoing. No progress made on this goal for April.

Purchase upgraded computers for hubby and me. This goal is also ongoing. We received the laptop for parts, but the seller did not include all the pieces advertised. This purchase was a $30 gamble. We learned, and continue to save for another upgrade.

Business

Write posts one week in advance. Bombed this one! With the illness, I fell behind, but I am almost caught up. Having my monthly blog schedule saved me from falling further behind. In fact, I adjusted the schedule by adding a Quick Tip Week, and this change worked beautifully. Thanks for sticking around during the lack of posts. My readers encourage me every day! You still read even when I post late. Thanks! I am keeping this goal and will continue to strive for one week of posts written and scheduled.

Make one improvement to the blog this month. Accomplished updating Using Time Wisely’s Facebook page! I hope you like the uniform look. I still need to work on the landing pages, so I will keep this goal for another month.

Read two chapters of blog book each month. Failed this goal in April as I did not read any business books. I did read my first Boxcar Children book and loved it. My son read it on his teacher’s recommendation, and I wanted to learn about the series. I really like this series, and I hope my son becomes a fan because it will make summer reading a blast. 🙂

My goals are working for me. With some easy and others challenging, the goals keep me on-task. By plugging along slowly and steadily, I am making progress. If you are struggling with your goals, then adjust. Small steps are still steps in the right direction. Keep going!

Question: How are your goals coming along?

3 Tips to Overcoming Writer’s Block

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Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

As a blogger, I write often, and I enjoy it. Some bloggers struggle with writing (i.e., Blogging with Amy – love her site) but need to get the ideas on the page.

If you choose to write, then you have probably experienced writer’s block. It happens. During those times, I find helpful the following 3 tips to overcoming writer’s block.

Setting a Posting Schedule

At Using Time Wisely, I began the blog by setting a posting schedule. With seven days in the week, I chose six categories with a miscellaneous day for my daily posting schedule.

Knowing the category helps narrow the topics for my blog posts. Having a posting schedule framework can focus your thoughts to one category at a time.

Choosing Topics a Month in Advance

After setting a posting schedule, I plan by choosing topics a month in advance. I use this calendar to jot down my ideas for next month’s blog topics.

Keeping paper and pen handy allows me to jot down ideas as they arise. I get ideas while driving, chatting, cooking, cleaning, organizing, and even using the restroom. (Hey, it’s quiet in there, and usually I am alone. :-)) Focusing your attention on your planned topic will keep you on track and help in creating patterns, series, and/or chapters.

Writing on a Full Page

When I open up a blank document, I have a tendency to stare at the white space. I think, “Wow, I’ve got to fill up this space for my next post.” Not sure if this next tip is just psychological, but it works for me. I write on a full page of text.

When I need to start another blog post, I open up a previously written post and begin. Somehow seeing a full page of text does not overwhelm me with white space to fill. I just press the ENTER button a few times to give some space between the new and the old and begin.

Just making this slight change to writing has increased my productivity. I open up the document and start. I know the category and a chosen topic from my earlier planning. With a full page of text, I just add more text. When I complete my new post, I delete the rest of the previously used text and select SAVE AS to rename the new post. Ta da, my post is finished!

Since writer’s block is bound to occur, consider setting a posting schedule, choosing topics a month in advance, and writing on a full page. Even with these three tips, you may not deter writer’s block completely, but you can overcome the blank stare at a large white space. 🙂 Happy writing!

Question: What tip helps you in overcoming writer’s block?

2012 Quick Tip Week: Power Off Your Phone

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Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Hope you are enjoying this week of quick tips to using time wisely. Time constraints arise that limit our choices.

By choosing time-saving strategies, we can coast through the busy times until we make through to the other side. Then we can take the time to catch up and plan.

If you have missed any tips, here are the links to each tip: #1 – Designated space for “to be filed” paperwork, #2 – Use disinfecting wipes for quick cleanings, and #3 – Keep your brainstorming notes. The next tip comes from the miscellaneous category, specifically time management.

Quick Tip #4: Power Off Your Phone

Really?! How can I go without my phone? I understand. When you are in the midst of a big project, you need to stay accessible. However, when you need to get that project done and have a block of time to work, power off your phone and start. Without your phone, you can concentrate and produce without distractions by the texts, rings, and beeps.

Besides my phone, I also close out my e-mail and Google Reader on my computer. Seeing the tabs update at the top of the screen tend to distract me. With time to work, I prefer to cut the distractions by closing the extra tabs on my computer and turning off my phone.

In using time wisely, power off your phone and increase your productivity. Set the timer, power off your phone, and work. When the timer ends, check your messages, and examine your work. As I cut distractions, my level of productivity rises. Try it. This tip works for me, and it may work for you. Happy productivity!

Question: How often do you power off your phone?

Using Time Wisely: Counting my Blessings (49 – 62)

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Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

April came and went without a counting my blessings post. Though it was not written, I have much for which to be grateful. My children went through an illness resulting in a round of antibiotics.

While playing nurse and cuddling, I chose to let everything go. I rested and concentrated on my children. In continuing where I left off, I spent time counting my blessings.

49. Caring pediatrician, who listens and seeks to help our family.

50. Immediate access to qualified professionals to process lab work.

51. Available medication for a short wait.

52. Free medication through programs like Publix’s Free Medications Program.

53. Hours of watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with my toddler tucked in my arms.

54. The iPad.

55. Reading an e-book on the iPad while my toddler slept in my lap.

56. Toddler, who wanted to rock. My 2-year-old has decided that she does not like to rock before bedtime anymore. But when she is not feeling well, she wants to rock with Mommy while watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

57. Rest.

58. Pre-school daughter, who understands she just needs to sleep. When she gets sick, she likes to crawl in my bed and sleep.

59. Energetic son, who helped retrieve needed items and played quietly while the girls slept.

60. Hubby taking shifts and cleaning up the illnesses when the smell got to me.

61. The healing of my girls.

62. Spending lots of time with my family at home.

Life with little ones is tough. Remembering that these times pass quickly, I take a deep breath, pray for strength, dive in, and count my blessings while using time wisely.

Question: What blessings are you counting today? 

Earth Day Giveaway – Winners?

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Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Sometimes along this blogging journey, I take a chance to see what happens. For the Earth Day giveaway, I used Rafflecopter to funnel all the entries. Anytime you try something new, you never know what’s going to happen. In this case, I had no entries from my readers.

Since I had not used Rafflecopter, I wanted to confirm that the widget was working properly, so I entered the contest. Well, my entry was the only one counted. So, I am evaluating to see what happened. Here are the possible reasons I came up with for why no one entered:

Rafflecopter Widget Did Not Work

I received notification early in the contest that the Facebook link was not connecting to Using Time Wisely’s page. The link connected for me, but then I am the administrator. I reloaded the widget, logged out, checked, and it worked. So, the Rafflecopter issue may have deterred some of you at the onset of the giveaway. Again, I apologize if you got frustrated.

Confused about the Giveaway

Maybe I did not explain the giveaway clearly. Even if you were already a Facebook fan, you could still enter. The giveaway was open to everyone, and you would have had 10 entries automatically because you are a Using Time Wisely Facebook fan. You did not need to be a new fan to be entered.

Already Own a Green Bag Tag

Another reason for not entering may have been that you already use a green bag tag. Only needing one, you bypassed this giveaway to give others an opportunity to win.

Missed the Announcement

If you were handling other issues, you may have just missed this giveaway. I understand how life happens, and you just need to get back on track.

Not Worth your Time

The last reason I came up with was that the green bag tag was not worth the minute of your time to enter. If you don’t live near a CVS, shop at CVS, or need another item to remember when you go shopping, then you passed over this opportunity.

Though I understand all these reasons, I really want to make Using Time Wisely useful to you. Though it is easier for me to bypass the giveaways since it takes time to create the posts, pack the products and ship the items, I want to help you save money, energy, and time while using time wisely. When I find items that can help my readers, I want to share with you by offering a giveaway.

Thank you for reading and for your patience as I continue to learn. If you feel comfortable doing so, I would love to hear why you did not enter. You can leave a comment or send me an e-mail at usingtimewisely.com (at) gmail (dot) com. Grateful for each of you. ~ Tracy