Year of kicking ass that is! I’ve started this year off with a bang and I have to say I’m mighty pleased. Although I’ve let myself go a little over the holidays, I’m not beating myself up about it and I’m jumping head first into making this year amazing, making it everything I want it to be. Because after all, ultimately that is up to me. Which is why I kept my goals for this year simple, realistic, achievable and hugely beneficial with a little fun thrown in too. And so I’ve well and truly grabbed this year by the horns, and it’s only the first week in!

Last year was a pretty great year, there’s no denying that. I got to travel with work and I went on my first big overseas holiday and heck, a month in the US was pretty damn amazing! But because I loved it so much I wanted to go back, a new event and some new places to visit. But that meant proving to myself it wasn’t a fluke the first time around. Lately I had been starting to worry that maybe it was. Despite all my planning, I was beginning to worry if I’d be able to afford it. Why?

Naughty me had no budget. Just a vague idea of the bills that would be direct debited out of my account and the knowledge that a regular pay would be deposited into that account. Everything else in between was a haze of overspending on the weekends and buying things I like but don’t really need. Time to reign it in. One of my biggest goals this year is to become debt-free (excluding my HECS debt). The good news is that by the end of March I will own my car outright. No more Mr Bank, allll mine! That is super exciting to me, and will also free up a large chunk of funds every month to put towards paying off my debt AND saving for another big holiday to the US. Not too shabby!

Which brings me to my next goal, getting back to the US. Totally achievable! Especially since I sat down on the weekend and did up a budget. There is not a doubt in my mind that by the end of this year I will have gone back to the US for another big holiday AND have paid off all my other debts. I just have to stay disciplined. Which shouldn’t be too hard as long as I stick to my budget, which I’ve got pinned up on my wall to keep me on track and motivated. My US trip is planned for the beginning of August which is only 7 months away! I know it will go quickly and it will be a brilliant reward after being so strict with myself for several months. Which isn’t to say I won’t be knuckling down when I get home either.

That brings me to my next goal. A place of my own. While I’m not ready to buy anything, I’ve been living in share accommodation for about 4 years now and while it hasn’t exactly been the stuff of nightmares, it is starting to get on my nerves a little. I’m at a stage in my life where I want my own space, to do what I want when I want and not have to worry about anyone else. Not to mention, I just can’t wait to decorate my own little place. Ah, bliss! So that’s my final goal for 2014, to if not actually have my own place by the end of the year to at least be ready to move in the new year. Can. Not. Wait!

It’s only my second day back to work but already things feel great. I see good things on the horizon in all aspects of my life this year. Including starting things off right with a bit of a post-holiday detox. Nothing too crazy, just getting back into my exercise and eating right. My plan involves appropriate portion sizes, frequent meals/snacks, drinking lots of water and eating less processed crap and more natural foods. So far my daily meal plan features 2 slices of Vegemite toast for breakfast, a mid-morning snack of watermelon, a lunch of curry vege patty (yum!) and salad (including beans, toasted pine nuts, cucumber and other yummy things), an afternoon snack of carrot sticks and hummus (yum!) and a dinner of hoisin chicken kebabs and salad – my favourite! No suffering to see here, just good healthy eating and already I feel great!

This year is all about taking control of my life and actively pursuing my goals more than ever before. No negativity, no excuses, no doubting. If I’ve got a problem, I’ll solve it (check out my hook while the DJ revolves it) HA!