I'm Giving You a New Year's Resolution!

I have never been big on New Year's Resolutions.  Maybe because I always keep changing my mind about what I want my resolution to be.  But, this year is different! 

If you had to guess, how much money do you think you have saved this year using coupons, getting freebies, and deals?  Really think about it for a second.  Even if you only started a few weeks ago, think how much money you saved during Christmas. 

My goal for every single person who comes to this website is to save as much money as they can!  So, I am going to help hold you accountable.  Set a savings goal for yourself for 2010.  You may want to be really ambitious or keep it on the lower side.  **You can always adjust your goal later if you think you were too timid!

On average, I save about $400 a month.  And that's without even trying.  So, let's all really push ourselves to save some money and still buy the things we want to buy!

Goals always work a little better if you put them in writing.  So here is how it works:

• Think about how much money you have saved since you have started using deals, coupons, and getting freebies. Average out a monthly number in your head.  Then, decide on what would be a worthy savings goal for you to set for the entire year of 2010.
• Comment on this post and let us all know how much money you want to save in 2010!  This is a total savings on grocery bills, retail stores, items you get for free, any Swagbucks you redeem for Gift Cards... pretty much anything that you save money on.
• Keep every single receipt!  Either put it in a receipt drawer or a big Envelope.  When you get home from the store, just write down (or create a word/excel file) how much you saved.  There are a number of ways to do this.  But just subtract the retail price from any coupons, in-store discounts, or gift cards you get back. That is the amount you saved! (Example:  The Snuggle Laundry Soap I bought yesterday was normally $8.99.  It was on store markdown to $4.48.  Plus I had a $2.00 off coupon.  I only paid $2.48 for it. So, my total savings was $6.51.)

You will be surprised how much money you really do save using coupons and finding deals!  I know we all keep a small running total in our heads, but when you take a few seconds to keep a tally of it, it will blow your mind!

I know for some of you, this is asking a lot!  Hopefully, it isn't too challenging!  But, create a reward.  If you decide that you are going to save $2,000 this next year, what will you do with the $2,000 you would have spent??  Do you want to go on a huge vacation with your family?  Do you want to get out of debt?  Do you want to buy a new 50" LCD TV?  What is it for you??

I will go first!

My goal is to save over $5,000 dollars in 2010.  I have decided to set two rewards for myself.  If I am on track by May, and have saved about $2,500, then I want to go on a Sandals Vacation with my husband! Everything is inclusive.  5-Star Restaurants, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling.... The cost will be about $2,500 for an entire week.  It is already a great price and I'm sure I can even find a discount on it. 

If I reach my goal by December 31st, I would like to go to Hawaii for my first time ever in the beginning of January 2011!

Ok, there you have it!  You definitely don't have to be as ambitious as I am being.  But, I figure if you don't shoot for something harder than you think you can accomplish, you will never know if you could!

Your turn!  Leave a comment letting us know what your savings goal is and what you want your reward to be!  **Remember it can be as low or as high as you want to go!