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My 2014 New Year’s Resolutions – Nine Months Update

My 2014 New Year’s Resolutions – Nine Months Update

October 3, 2014 by Justin

It is time to update my 2014 New Year’s Resolutions! Many people believe that making resolutions public will hold you more accountable. I do not believe that because I always hold myself accountable for my actions. This year, I made my resolutions more persona and more important to me.  Now it is time to show my progress and see how I am doing. What are you doing about your New Year’s Resolutions?

Normally, I put together three to five resolutions and report my progress quarterly. I will continue to do that, but my resolutions have changed significantly. I will continue to make changes in my blog and other changes, but I have changed my priorities. The last few years have been difficult! My career in teaching has changed significantly. I love my career, but I have suffered setbacks because I teach what the district thinks is unnecessary.

Preparing my students for college or career is a district goal, but computer applications do not have relevance. Business courses such as Personal Finance, Career Exploration or Virtual Business has lost importance as well. Elective classes provide more than just a subject my students may have a passing interest. Emphasis has switched to test scores as more students drop out of school. My students learn practical skills for school and career.

My 2014 New Year’s Resolutions are the following:

  • Permanent Teaching Assignment – I have been without a permanent teaching assignment since June, 2012. What that means is I am still employed (same salary & benefits), but take daily assignments much like a substitute teacher. I am working on finding a permanent assignment for next September. I am networking and applying all my skills to reach my goal. My other choice is to just accept my plight and work as a pool (substitute) teacher for the next 2 -3 years. I am not ready for that yet! Update:  On September 30th, I was hired as an “out of classroom teacher” at a high school (quasi administrator)!
  • Taking Time off – I included this goal last year. I did take one weekend off, but was unable to do it again. If I keep it as a goal, I am more apt to try to achieve it again. I already have a week scheduled in New York and I want to add a European river cruise next summer. In addition, I want to take at least two weekends away. Update: My wife and I went to New York for a week this summer and I am still trying to schedule a weekend away. 
  • Read one book a week – A few years ago, I read two books a week for an entire year. It was intended to improve my writing! I think it helped, but it was fun to read all those books. Most were mysteries and a few were business books. In fact, I read a twenty book series by one author during the summer. It was great to follow the characters through all the stories. The author would build the character through multiple stories which was really interesting. Update: I am reading two (2) books a week! It is becoming harder and harder to find new books to read, but I am finding new authors which is always more fun. 
  • Take an online class – I was thinking of learning a programming language. Nearly forty years ago, I was programming in APL. I used it to create a monthly analysis of the company’s performance. It was like a mini annual report. This was before spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel. A programming class might enhance my skills as a teacher. Update: I wanted to take an online class in HTML or Java to enhance my skills, instead I am taking online classes in class master scheduling. This skill is more limited, but it will enhance my skills and make me more valuable in my profession.
  • What’s left? –I could pay off debt, but I do not have any except for a small mortgage and car loan.  I am already paying additional principle on my mortgage and car loan to have them paid off in three (3) years.  I max out my retirement savings in my 403(b), IRA and Roth IRA.  I suppose I could invest more or payoff my mortgage earlier, but I choose to travel instead. Update:  My mortgage and car loan is on target to be paid off in less than three (3) years. I replaced my wife’s seventeen (17) year old car recently and decided to lease it! The lease was almost equal to a no interest loan with all the incentives. My plan is to have just one car in retirement and sell my (Prius C) car to pay off to my wife’s (Honda Civic) car. 
  • There are some personal habits I think I will work on, but it is unnecessary to include them in my resolutions.  I plan on smiling more, you know match what I feel inside with my outside.  I do not need to lose weight, stop drinking or quit smoking.  Some may call me boring!  I would like to think of myself as a role model!  Can I workout more? During the summer, I ride my bicycle six (6) days a week. Update: I am riding my bike four (4) times a week, weight lifting four (4) times a week and taking protein powder supplements to improve my health.

This is my 2014 New Year’s Resolutions – Nine Months Update!  I did not give up on my old resolutions and I will include any progress on those when appropriate.  Failure only occurs when you actually give up.  I managed to achieve every resolution and in some cases exceeded my goals. I am still working on my older goals and will report on them as I make progress. My 2014 New Year’s Resolutions are the next stage of change and I will continue to make more changes.

Photo by:  Flickr

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Filed Under: Goals Tagged With: Budget, Budgeting, Career, Careers, financial decisions, Goal setting, Goals, information, interesting, Personal Finance, Planning, Retirement, Savings, Values, Wealth

Comments

  1. Clarisse @ Make Money Your Way says

    October 3, 2014 at 5:52 am

    Congratulations for the new work! I tried not to touch my laptop every Sunday, I just want to spend my whole day with my daughter.

    • Krantcents says

      October 3, 2014 at 7:02 am

      Thanks, balance is everything! It is one of the reasons, I want to get away more.

  2. Money Beagle says

    October 3, 2014 at 6:19 am

    Sounds like you’re doing great. It’s important to set goals, track your goals, and modify your goals as circumstances dictate.

    • Krantcents says

      October 3, 2014 at 7:05 am

      Thanks. Longer range goals usually change because of circumstances or adjustments. Checking your progress may mean changes.

  3. Lance @ Healthy Wealthy Income says

    October 4, 2014 at 10:08 am

    Wow that is a great list and two books a week is amazing. I try to get one a quarter if I can. It is true we never fail until we stop trying.

    • Krantcents says

      October 4, 2014 at 4:33 pm

      Thanks, but my reading will probably decrease because of my new assignment. One of my “shortcomings is not knowing when to give up!

  4. Poor Student says

    October 4, 2014 at 11:55 am

    Keep up the good work! One of my new year’s resolutions is to read more books, but unfortunately I couldn’t keep up with it… Now I’m setting up a more realistic goal and I hope I can stick to it!

    • Krantcents says

      October 4, 2014 at 4:34 pm

      Realistic goals are the only way to go unless you want to be frustrated. Good luck.

  5. maria@moneyprinciple says

    October 5, 2014 at 5:11 am

    Doing well, Krant. I’m particularly pleased to hear about your job – I can imagine how hard it must be to rely on changing assignments.

    • Krantcents says

      October 5, 2014 at 11:15 am

      It was difficult, but I made it work for me. There is some satisfaction when you do well in spite of the difficulty. “When fate hands you a lemon, make lemonade.” (Dale Carnegie)

  6. May says

    October 5, 2014 at 4:41 pm

    Sounds like you have stuck with your resolutions. Most people have forgotten about them by week 3 of January I hear. Good luck with the rest of the year and looking forward to the next update.

    • Krantcents says

      October 5, 2014 at 5:54 pm

      Thank. It is one of my weaknesses and strengths at the same time. I don’t know how to give up!

  7. Michael | The Student Loan Sherpa says

    October 5, 2014 at 6:21 pm

    Congrats on the new job!

    I’ve seen that some schools offer free online courses, have you tried any out?

    • Krantcents says

      October 5, 2014 at 7:19 pm

      I started an free online class (Intro to programming) from MIT, but did not finish. I stopped when I realized It would not help me get an assignment. Ironically, it was my computer background that helped get my current assignment.

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