New Years Resolutions 2009

So I suppose its time for the obligatory New Years Resolutions Post. Here it goes... Blogging etc... This year I am going to try Blog more often and make better use of the technology available to me to organize things. I am going to try integrating google calendar and other services into my everyday life. I suppose in general I could use some organization this year. Money Last year we did pretty well financially. We met the majority of our goals including drastically reducing our debt obligations and increasing our savings. This year I would like to increase our investment contributions. I would like to contribute a minimum of $2000.00 to each of Roth IRA accounts this year and increase our general account by two to three thousand. I would like to finish paying off my car this year. It appears we may soon be in the market for another vehicle. I would like to have money to put down and a short term loan for any additional needed financing. As we have no real outstanding credit card debt I would like to continue that into 2009. Although we did well this year in all honesty we could have done better. Looking back I realize there are times we spent money rather frivolously. I would like to cut back on eating out and possibly reign in some of the expenses that seem to nickle and dime us to death. Business 2008 was an intersting year for AMI. Early in the year I almost dissolved it, however this year will be the most profitable yet. The problem is I really haven't put enough effort into it, 2 years into it and I have yet to give out a business card or make a company website. I've squandered a lot of opportunities this past year. This year I will get the company finances in order and get the company on track or I will dissolve it once and for all. Work I am rather pleased with 2008 as far as work has gone. In previous years I spent too much time working or at work. Last year however my work hours trailed off into the realm of normal. Though I fear I may have grown too fond of the somewhat lackadasical pace, it has taught me a lesson about slowing down that I hope I take with me into the next year. Friends I have been distant from friends and somewhat of a homebody last year. I still need to work on keeping friendships open. Overall I need to improve my communication in this area. Family I didn't see as much of my family as I should have in 2008. Although I lament this fact, I know that I have only myself to blame. Time once passed can never be reclaimed. This year I need to try and see my relatives more often. Marriage We have had our ups and downs but overall I thought 2008 was pretty good. I think perhaps a goal for 2009 will be to spend more quality time together doing things (activities). Additionally we are talking about planning for a family this year! In general I've learned or realized a few things in 2008 that I can hopefully apply to 2009. In general I think I need to watch my sarcasm in regard to its frequency and my audience. I am going to try and watch my cussing this year and try keep my attitude more outwardly positive. I am going to try and be quieter in general this year. Right or wrong, good or bad, not everyone cares what I have to say. Thats just the way of it. I need to resist the urge to interject my opinion regardless of whether its needed or not. To the same end I'm going to try and my words count more when I do speak. I was still pretty passive aggressive in 2008 but this trend started to give towards the end of the year. I would like to be more direct instead of taking the passive aggressive approach. If I'm not willing to do something about an issue then I need to just be quiet about it until I am. Anything else is either whiny or just trying to acheive the result without addressing the problem. Basically if it real bothers me then say something, otherwise Shut Up! I need to do more things myself and by extension take more responsiblity for things. If I need something I should get it. If I don't know something I should learn it. I will try to stop filling my own voids by assigning to other people. In the end if I want it, its ultimately my responsibility.