Saturday, April 12, 2014

April end and May Goals

Over all I moved in the right direction. As usual I failed to reach the extremely high goals I set, but I did better I think.

1. Read the bible and 4 other books
April: Stayed on track with bible reading and started another book. Plus I've been studying Philippians daily because that's where God has led me.

May goal: continue reading plan and make it through half of book.

2. Take a meal to one family/person a week
April: I accomplished 4/4!

May goal: another 4/4!

3. Get off TANF
April: I lowered my expenses by $40 and exceeded my income goal.

May goal: income goal is set, lower expenses by another $20.

4. Grow or produce most of our food: grocery goal budget is $200 or less
April Remaining: -$17.53 (but I have a 4 month stock of milk for the boys, for $20)

Steps I took this month:
~started lots of seeds
~continued milking Pepper Rose, built her supply up a bit more!
~made several attempts get the white rabbit

May Goals: budget: $300

Steps to get us there:
~build at least one raised bed
~build milk stand
~start more seeds
~get rid of wild rabbit

5. Get involved in another ministry at church
April: I have just continued to help out as often as I can. It's been incredibly rewarding and fulfilling!

May goal: this month I'm going to make an effort to introduce myself to at least one new person a week and be more out going, because in everything I do that will be helpful.

6. Work on house: paint interior, replace carpet, upgrade some insulation
April:
~Painted girls room
~painted boys room

May Goals:
~touch up laundry room
~install outlet/switch insulators
~Get a screen door
~Price fence
~Carpet up in boys room

7. Build up stock for craft fairs: completely 10 projects a month, not including orders
April:
Projects completed: all orders
Projects to complete: 1 blanket, 1 plarn bag

May goal: 2 new orders, 1 blanket, 1 plant bag

8. Eat better: more organic, no soy, mostly GF, less sugar
April: We've reached a point of no soy, very little sugar, mostly GF (only thing I still buy/make separately is bread) and about 75% organic!

May goal: This month I want to really clean out the freezer and cupboards of non-organic, processed stuff. Most of it is gone, but much still lingers.

9. Stop smoking
April: I smoked 8 days in April.

May goal: kick the nasty habit!

10. Expand animals and their housing: 3 ducks, 1 goat pen
April:
~sold all the rabbits
~cleaned up goat pen area
~found 1 new source of forage feed to cut costs

May Goals:
~Add 3 duck hens
~Build second goat pen

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

April goals

Here we go again!!! Another month of goals, which I plan to write out and put up on the wall in the kitchen to help me stay focused!

1. Read the bible and 4 other books
Stay on track with bible reading and start another book.

2. Take a meal to one family/person a week
I have 3 families lined up already, so I just need to pick one more.

3. Get off TANF
I have set my income goal for the month and also want to lower my expenses by at least $50.

4. Grow or produce most of our food: grocery goal budget is $200 or less
Grocery budget goal: $300

Steps to get us there:
~Get lots of starts going
~build at least one raised bed
~build milk stand and keep milking Pepper Rose
~get rid of wild rabbit

5. Get involved in another ministry at church
I'm just going to continue to help out where I can.

6. Work on house: paint interior, replace carpet, upgrade some insulation
This month's to do list:
~touch up laundry room
~paint girls room
~install outlet/switch insulators

7. Build up stock for craft fairs: completely 10 projects a month, not including orders
Projects to complete: all orders (5 items), 1 blanket, 1 plarn bag

8. Eat better: more organic, no soy, mostly GF, less sugar
At this point, this is one I just keep making progress on. We've accomplished no soy, now I'm focusing on the gluten free part and always buying as organic as the budget allows.

9. Stop smoking
No smoking. At all.

10. Expand animals and their housing: 3 ducks, 1 goat pen
~Add 3 duck hens
~Build second goat pen