Note to self - write longer entries in Notepad and then copy into the blog...

Prior to laying these out, let me preface with a confession. I've been hoarding some secret mistakes as I didn't want to admit setbacks, but it's time to turn all that around. Below are my 2015 goals.

Financial
- Build emergency fund back to $1000 (This was depleted after funding two unexpected trips for my mom to see my grandmother before she passed. I also need to be better about replenishing this right after I use it...)
- Reduce credit cards (I had my credit cards in a pay-in-full cycle, but I've since run a few up with balances when I tried {and failed} the whole creidt card churn thing. While none of them have interest accruing, I'd like to have all but 1 paid off this year. I also plan to close 3 this year and 1 more next year leaving me with Target for the 5% cash back, BOA which is my oldest, and Chase Freedom for the rewards.)
- Add savings categories (I found a need for two additional savings accounts. One will be semi-annual expenses such as my car taxes and insurance. The other will be for SO and I's one-year anniversary trip to Niagara Falls.)
- Increase retirement savings to 10% (This will be done automatically at the same time as my raise.)
- Build checking account buffers (I'd like a $200 buffer in my own account and a $1500 buffer in our joint account. I had some close call overages on my own account and our joint one accrues dividends when we maintain at least $1500 in it.)

Personal
- Lose 10% of my weight (This is about 15 lbs. on my 5'1, 140 lb. frame. To help, I enrolled in a 6 month dietbet, but since I don't want to gain it back, I made it a full year's goal.)
- Win at least 4 months of my dietbet (Obviously the goal is to win all 6 months, but months 2 and 6 seem particularly difficult. Month 2 is 4 lbs. in addition to the 4 lbs. from month 1. Month 6 is maintaining the 10%.)
- Adopt a puppy with SO (Self-explanatory)
- Get dogs outside for more than an hour 4 times a week (They'll clearly be walked several times daily, but it's my goal to get them to the dog park, hiking, or simply much longer walks quite often.)
- Cook more from scratch (I'm already doing pretty well with cooking at home, but it's mostly processed stuff. I'd like to improve to cooking from scratch and start meal planning.)

Blogging
- Blog at least twice per week
- Post monthly budget and month in review entries
- Participate in one 'challenge' quarterly (This is contingent on people actually posting challenges, but I want to particpate more as I feel this provides great insight into other ways of doing things that I might not have been exposed to otherwise.)

I plan to post the shortened version of these in my sidebar to keep them fresh. Bring it on 2015!