Goals for 2013 Part 2

Here is the next group of my goals for 2013. I will try to keep them updated as they are accomplished.

1.  Remember that if I don't go to the store, then I won't spend money. I love going to thrift stores, but I am trying the curb the amount of clutter coming into the house. I will again implement the policy of something comes in the house, then something goes out of it. I will continue to make donations on Wed at a place that is less than a mile from the cottage.This is going well.
2. I will set aside times each week for exercise. I have a difficult time with this when the weather is not cooperative. I will start using the yoga movie I have at least once a week for stress relief when going outdoors is not ideal. I recommend Billy Blanks' DVD Tae Bo for the Butt. It is a very good workout.
3. I will grow enough tomatoes to can at least 5 pints of tomato sauce in addition to eating them fresh. I know this isn't very much, but it is a start. I currently have enough seeds, but I will probably add a couple of varieties this year to my garden plan. Basil planted as companion plants last year flopped, so I will have to find another buddy. Do you have any ideas? I have enough seed for the spring.
4. I will call or write a letter (not an e-mail) once a month to a family member or friend I haven't heard from in a while. I want this to be very personal and well thought out idea. I will make a card to use if possible.
5.  I will continue to use my cloth bags when going to the grocery store. I will carry a small spare bag in my purse so that I will always have one for unexpected stops.
6. Last year my plan was to cut down the number of grocery shopping trips I make, but I feel that I have not been adequate in keeping up with this. I think that it has been my lack of meal planning. I have started organizing my kitchen in hopes that this will help save money and motivate me. One positive note to mention is that I now know that I can live a month off of the food I have stored on my pantry shelves. (I live in a very tiny cottage without much storage.) It is a great comfort having this kind of security.
7. I will set aside a specific time for doing crafts. I will limit the amount of time I spend on the computer in preparing for this to 15 minutes. I have bookmarked and pinned many ideas that I need to start utilizing. 
8. I will have a weekly Bible verse to ponder.
9. I will cut my internet usage to set periods of time for specific things I need to accomplish.
• Homework
• Crafts and Recipes
• E-bay
• E-mail and Networking and Surveys
• Research
• Fun and Blogging
10. I will try experimenting with a few homemade recipes for soap, laundry detergent, and deodorant. I will reuse the foaming hand soap dispenser I have from Wegman's. I found a recipe for lip balm I would like to try as well. I would like to get rid of my antiperspirants with aluminum, but I have not found a natural one that works well enough to replace the others. I have one that I rotate with an antiperspirant that does okay.
• Do I have containers I can reuse for the things that I make?
• How much will it cost to purchase the needed ingredients? Are there cheaper sources for them?
11. Previously I posted about making a Household notebook. Parts of this system have been very successful and parts have failed miserably. I will update my old posts on changes I will implement to improve the notebook's usage. 
• First  shrink the size of the notebook
• Second evaluate each section of the notebook on its usefulness and determine if the notebook is the ideal place for the information.
12. I will get the Christmas decorations put up the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I will take them down the 2nd weekend in Jan.
13. I will plan my next years Christmas shopping in Jan and shop through the whole year. Any handmade gifts I will plan accordingly.