2014 Resolutions & Goals

Last year I made a list of goals, broken down into 5 categories. For 2014 I am going to use the same categories, and have some of the same long time goals, however I am also going to come up with short term goals throughout the year that coincide with what is going on in my life. I am hoping that by making these goals and resolutions public I will be more apt to actually achieving them.

1. Financial

2013 - Save 40% of income for future.
I achieved both of these goals 100%+.

2014 - Put 40% of my monthly income into savings, for retirement and a down payment on a house.
         - Pay off my car loan by the end of March.
         - Do the 52 week challenge, which will lead to $1378 that can be used on a splurge item or a vacation next year.
         - Keep track of all expenses using income/expense sheets.
         - Spend less than 50% on beauty/makeup then I did last year.

2. Don't Be A Hoarder

2013 - Keep an up-to-date inventory of all beauty and bath products on hand.
         - Do an empties post every month on my blog.
         - Don't buy any product unless I am down to 1 on my inventory list, and I really need it.
I kept my inventory up-to-date on a monthly basis. I did a few empties posts, but not on a monthly basis. Most of the time I just threw the product away after taking them off the list. I failed at not buying anything. Most of the time I was buying things when I already had 5+ of the same thing already.

2014 - Keep an up-to-date inventory of all beauty and bath products on hand.
         - Do an empties post every month on my blog.
         - Using up products will yield spending money to buy new things. Full size = $1, Sample size = $0.50, Packet size = $0.25. I can only buy things with this money.
         - Don't buy any product unless I am down to 1 on my inventory list, and I really need it.
         - Make informed buying decisions. Don't buy just because it is on sale.
         - Try and downsize the amount of stuff I own, by throwing it out, donating it, or selling it.

3. Blogging

2013 - Write a blog post at least 2 times a week.
         - Write a product review post, at least once a week.
         - Make at least one post a week a NOTD post.
At the beginning of the year I was doing so well at posting, however that kind of dwindled down. I didn't do very well at posting product reviews, and even my NOTD posts stopped happening.

2014 - Write a blog post at least 2 times a week.
         - Make a blog schedule and stick to it.
         - Post at least 1 NOTD and review post a week.
         - Create a Facebook Page for my blog.
         - Become better at replying to comments, and using social media to grow my blog, and to be more immersed in the beauty/blogging community.

4. Reading

2013 - Read at least 2 books a month.
         - Do not buy any new books until I read what I have.
         - Find a store that will buy my used books from me.
I read quite a few books last year, sometimes more or less then 2 a month. I failed miserably at not buying more. I still have 50ish books to read. I was successful at finding a used book store in my city. They give store credit for books they are interested in.

2014 - Read at least 1 book a month.
         - Do not buy any new books until I read what I have.
         - Any new books I buy, I will buy from the used book store using my store credit.
         - Once I read all of my books, I will buy an e-reader.

5. Misc.

2013 - Buy a 5 year journal and stick to filling it out everyday.
I didn't end up buying one last year, so I failed this 100%.

2014 - Try new things, even if they are way outside of my comfort zone.
         - Start getting more active, and living a healthier lifestyle.
         - Take a few courses at the college, get my Accounting Certificate.
         - Be more open, and try to re-kindle old friendships, and make new ones.
        

Did you make any goals for 2014? Do you have any tips for sticking to these goals and accomplishing them? Let me know in the comments below.