I’ve really been enjoying the latest GRS posts, and I’ve been getting a lot out of them with regards to goal-setting, effective list-making and time management, especially with the 15 minutes idea (thanks Shirley!)

You’re doing a great job with this blog. I subscribed to a lot of personal finance blogs last year and have been pruning the list (a combination of not having enough time and finding a lot of them rather monotonous). Now only two remain: Millionaire Mommy Next Door and Get Rich Slowly. You have a fresh approach and obviously take a lot of care with your research and writing.

Keep up the good work!

Best regards,
Angie

[...] note: I set written goals every year. In fact, I believe that the road to wealth is paved with goals, and encourage others to [...]

[...] If you’re new here, you may want to learn what this site is about. I encourage you to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!On New Year’s Day, I shared my three primary goals for 2008: [...]

[...] laptop is only 15 months old, and it runs well. A new computer would be nice, but right now I have more important goals — tech lust is just a [...]

Star Money Articles and Carnivals for the Week of December 31…

Here are some recent interesting posts from the MoneyBlogNetwork and beyond as well as a list of the carnivals Free Money Finance was in this week and my posts that were included: Consumerism Commentary lists a stupid financial mistake. AllFinancialMat…

[...] Goals for 2008 AllFinancialMatters: Share With Us: What Are Your Goals for 2008? Get Rich Slowly: My Three Goals for 2008 and How I’ll Approach Them Mighty Bargain Hunter: Thanks for 2007 and Goals for 2008 FiveCentNickel: Setting Financial Goals [...]

I forgot to mention that the 15-minute micro-baby step you brought up is a wonderful idea.

That’s an easy way to create a really almost tangible method of becoming aware of the actual process, and it’s so simple to just look at an analog clock and see the quarter-hour being used up.

As for the dieting, JD, how about also building some lean muscle mass with 15 minutes of lifting light weights each day?

Lean muscle mass will burn more calories, even when you’re sitting still (working on your blog).

P.S. Love your site – I’ve been following it since the beginning. The information is sound, accessible, and not intimidating. I recommend it often.

[...] the new year right” has more suggestions on personal finance resolutions for 2008. I also found Get Rich Slowly’s post on financial goals very helpful, especially the one on losing [...]

My dad has been grossly overweight ever since I’ve known him (and before), but in the past year has lost over 100 lbs. He did it by joining Overeaters Anonymous. It might not be for everyone, but he tried so many diets and this is the first one that really worked for him.

I’ve also had some luck eating healthier by tracking my progress on Sparkpeople.com.

Anyways, the weight goal I think is the most difficult, for much the same reason that other people have said: it’s so results-oriented, and it can be really hard to break down into increments, especially given the physiological challenges (plateaus, gains, etc).

I’ve been on Weight Watchers for about a year and 3 months, and I’ve successfully dropped about 45 pounds (although most of it was in the first three or four months) and kept them off, except for the occasional up-and-down within a couple of pounds. I definitely recommend WW as a program, wholeheartedly, but if you don’t want to add cost to your fitness goals, I do want to recommend some things that are part of the WW plan that will make reaching your goal easier even if you’re not doing WW itself.

Instead of thinking in terms of months or six months or the year, think on a weekly basis. Weigh in ONCE a week, always at the same time on the same day, and ONLY once. If you miss your weigh-in, do it the next day. This way, you’re keeping yourself on track enough that if you have an indulgent weekend, it’s okay because you can recover the next week. It’s also a great pace because you can lose enough from week to week that you get excited. You should aim for about 1-2 pounds per week, ideally.

You’ll find that you have the perfect amount of time where you’re conscious of your weigh-in on a daily basis, so you think about your food choices in terms of how it will affect you in your mini-goal (the weigh-in), but you also have the freedom to have what you want within moderation because you only need to weigh in every week.

I’m sort of harping on the same thing over and over here, but I’ve found it incredibly helpful in the weight loss journey I’ve followed recently. And this is another weight watchers slogan that is incredibly helpful when you’re thinking about the grand scheme of weight loss: it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle. Think in terms of permanence, and don’t rule ANYTHING out. Good luck!

So for instance, losing 40 lbs.

How about lose 1 pound every two weeks by:
1) drinking more water instead of sugary drinks
2) eating food plain (without fatty dressings of any sort)
3) walk up and down stairs instead of using elevator
4) park farther away at your favorite mall so you can walk more

etc.

The key is being able to implement and execute small manageable steps that lead toward your goal.

Anyway, great blog — I just found it — so time to take a closer look around.

large challenges can make us discouraged. it is important to have milestones to measure achievement. honest markers to prove we are making true progress are very important for mental state. sometimes we focus on the discomfort and sacrifice more than the reason for change. once we exercise the use of milestone achievement, we are more comfortable with and get used to buying less, eating more sensible, and all of those other things that put us in the hole one way or another. it becomes easier to see the positives versus negatives when we see new rays of light.

much luck you you in the new year. thanks for the interesting reads!

on goals versus resolutions though…i think that’s just an attractive way of saying things. a ploy a writer would use to add a new spin to an otherwise regular, boring topic . but that’s just me. i still make resolutions AND goals…i think we all need very opportunity to start anew.

good luck on your goals!

This is awesome, thanks! 35,000 in three years, you give me such hope!

By using the timer to improve work (or workout)habits, you’re putting your goals on automatic. I’m a huge fan of the timer because it takes self-discipline out of the equation. I don’t need to have a battle in my mind; I just need to get it done and a visual that truly works.

Get rid of temptations. My husband and I hid one another’s only credit card. Get rid of anything in the house that you shouldn’t be eating. If the things aren’t there, you won’t eat them. Have your wife drop you off 5 miles from home. Now you have to walk the 5 miles; no choice about it.

Put it on automatic, I say.

To really help i like to try to think of the next dollar or pund individually.

How am i going to save the next dollar or lose the next ounhs.

One doesn’t seem so much!

And i too love Brigid’s suggestion of converting things to ‘action’ goals.