Top 5 Family Changes For 2009

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2008 is almost over and if you are like millions of others you are probably making “New Year’s Resolutions.” My family is no different except that we don’t call them “resolutions.” We call them changes. To us, changes sounds a little more down to earth than a “Resolution.” They are basically the same, but it just seems a little more real to us to make changes.

The Top 5 Changes for 2009

1. Increase our tithing.

Some may wonder why this is at the top of the list. To our family it is important to remember God first. We believe that if we remember Him, He will bless us.

     2. Re-evaluate the budget.

We haven’t exactly “stuck” to the budget. In fact, you could say that we have procrastinated in almost every area of the budget. We have a tendency to buy within reason whatever whim comes to mind.

Now granted, I’ll try to get the best deal for it, but we are a bit free with our spending. We’ve never adapted the opinion that being frugal means being miserable. We look at being frugal as living frugally but still enjoying our life in the here and now.

    3. Save more money.

Well if we didn’t stick to the budget and we are kinda free spenders, then this is a no brainer. I did manage to contribute to the 401 k at my former employer and will be rolling it over to another plan. My new employer doesn’t offer 401 k but since my husband and I are starting a new internet business, it will qualify under INGDirect’s 401k plan that they offer and we’ll be contributing to it. We are also going to start putting any “passive” income that we receive into the savings account to go toward the emergency fund.

     4. Pay off our debts.

I can proudly say that this is one area that we did manage to stick to in our former budget. We have been paying our bills down and hopefully in 2009 will become “debt-free”. Which brings me to the next change!!!

     5. Commit to the changes that we have decided to make.

This one is the most important of all of the changes that we have decided to make because if we don’t make the COMMITMENT to the changes we want to make , then it does no good to even think about making the changes.

What are some of the “changes” that you and your family have decided to make? Are they similar to our “changes”? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment and let us know what changes are in the works for 2009!!!

Till Later,

JT Locke
The Frugal Housewife