I really like the 'goals in the sidebar' thing, so I decided to give it a whirl. I still have my long-term goals on a separate page under 'Goals'.

Plus, a lot of things flit through my mind and then I forget about them. This blog is becoming like my life organizer.

Financial is easy.

At minimum, want to put $5k to savings this year. Contribute $200/month, add interest, and the rest will be covered by credit card rewards and overtime.

ROTHS - $2500. I wanted to double our contributions to $200/month this year. We can scrounge up $100 to round up to $2500 for the year. (May not seem like much but it is double 2008 and quadruple our 2007 contributions. Slow and steady...)

Mortgage - I want to increase prepayments from $10 to $30, monthly.

Umbrella insurance review - had been meaning to get together with insurance broker after he sent me a note mid-year. So, something to work on in 2009. WE also WAY upped our home insurance coverage in 2006? with skyrocketing build costs. So I want to discuss with him replacement cost again. Wondering if it went down, though I want to be cautious and not lower it too much. If it's a significant decrease though... I just want to discuss further.

Close balance transfer credit cards. Just a chore I have been dreading. My personal experience is you have to talk to 10 people in "retention" and then they offer to give you the moon. Even for cards I NEVER use. They hold out to hope that you will cave and run up huge balances, I guess. But yeah, my personal policy is to close unused cards. This is particularly important to me with my recent bouts of ID theft. These are not cards I pay attention to and I may not notice fraudulent charges, etc. Better to close them. So I have closed a lot of cards before. I will report the outcome. (I look forward to a "we thought you'd never ask, it's taken care of" experience).

I think my mortgage is the biggest piece of my FICO pie. Whatever I do with the credit cards doesn't seem to make a difference to my FICO.

I usually sick dh on annoying customer service calls, but since the cards are only in my name, these are all on me.

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As far as the house... We made a lot of progress this year, but much more to go.

Fix Gutter - probably 2008. We just noticed a hole.

Have Trees Trimmed - been meaning to talk to the gardener - the trees are growing and some are pushing on the fence. Certainly before spring.

Plant Fruit Tree - this is dh's idea. We were told by the local nursery that February was the time to plant (tail end of winter I guess). I think we decided on a small apple tree. (I forget the name - but you know - the small ones. We don't want a GIANT tree).

Fix Tile/Sealing - long overdue. Some sealing repairs on some of the sinks. All of the tubs/showers. & the tile in the showers needs some repair (well, the grout. Sealing more than anything. We want to pay someone to do it right. I am not a fan of DIY). IT is so bad in the Master Bath that we have not used that shower in years. I doubt it will cost that much - just was more luxury than need before. (since we could just use the other shower). But I am ready to get it taken care of.

Clear junk from Master Closet - since we have done so much clearing out for 2008, I am making this my 2009 goal. I have a few odds and ends in there to get rid of.

Buy Mattress/Bedding for LM - maybe by summer. Will buy him a bed in 2010. Just spreading out the costs.

Paint BMs room - an idea. I think it would be a nice/frugal enough thing to do. Aim for next fall.

Price Stucco Repair - something we have put off a while - we believe it is cosmetic only (a crack). BUT I am curious to price it this year. We will paint so soon it may make more sense to do when we paint the exterior (2010?). I noticed a lot of painters offer repairs as well.

Price Security Screen Door - Our HOA is very picky but some of our neighbors have been getting them recently. I Think it would be awesome for security, and also for summer nights. The days get hot but the nights are very cool - so can save on AC costs downstairs with a screened front door. Get a breeze going throughout the house...

On a whim I priced some online today and they don't look that expensive. My dad could help us install it. BUT we have an extra large door. Any time we buy anything for the house it is always "custom order." So maybe we will price them this year and see when we can swing it. IT could be VERY expensive with the unique size. *sigh* Will also talk to the neighbors, see where they got their's.

With the foreclosures up, crime has been increasing, so I would consider buying this year and re-arranging priorities.

Along the same lines, we have put off other security upgrades that I think we should reconsider doing sooner rather than later. It's just not a safe time with the economy. Our city has been hit really hard.

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I don't have any other particular goals. We want to get BM into some organized sports. I want to bike ride more and read more. But nothing very large and exciting.

I think my goal is to take it easy. I am easily one who "does too much" and the kids really seem to allow me the luxury to step back a little. So I enjoy not having very many personal goals. & I am pretty happy where things are at!

Oh, I do want to make an effort to call my mom more with the webcam - maybe we can set up weekly scrabble dates or something. I have been trying to get our favorite card game set up online and if I can find the software I was thinking a nice christmas gift. We can even get my sister in on it (she lives on the east coast). Technology is just SO amazing... But yeah, we used to do scrabble once in a blue moon. We'll take what we can find online...

I also remember we seemed to get no weekends away this year - so I will add these to my goals.

Which reminds me of our vacation goals. Family camp again (maybe try the Sacramento one in Tahoe). Dh wants to go to the snow at least once. We need to take more advantage of the family cabin as well. AND we wanted to get season passes to the amusement park by where we grew up. It's where we spent our childhoods, and met too. They have a new waterpark. Parking is included in the season pass. We will get a LOT of use of passes. Kids are getting old enough to enjoy.