It seems like every year, and I mean every single darn year...I join in on the fun of ambitious wishes that is "New Year's Resolutions"

Let's face it, accomplishing what we set out for on January 1st is not always a reality by December 31st.

Life happens. Marriage happens. Bills happen. Well ... economic crashes happen. Emergencies happen. The ever so "Wow, I didn't expect that." happens.

And of course (I'm just speaking from my own personal experience here) LAZY happens. And I don't mean the lazy as in "sit on the couch watching Oprah all day" lazy (ok maybe one or two of those days) but the "lazy" that ensues when we put everyone/everything else first.

Yet again...Laundry, errands, work, school, homework, dinner on the table, feed the dog/cat, budget/pay bills, clean the house, be here, do that, blah blah blah. It always happens. So that by time "work out?" "cook healthy?" "read this or that?" "Learn this or that (for fun)?" comes around I'm completely exhausted and can think of nothing less than a hot shower and a comfy bed.

Only to wake up the next morning to find out New Year's is less than a month away. "Wait? What? No, not yet? I just set my goals yesterday?"

I fully believe that everyone is responsible for themselves, and therefore I have no one to blame but myself for letting yet another year go by without all my goals accomplished.

With that said... Figure out the problem, find a solution, and move on.

Problem: Self-laziness
Solution: Working on it, but getting close.
Moving on?: I have high hopes.

I become quite a pro with putting my wants aside "for later" and then later passes me up and I'm looking at the face of "too late."

So my "New Year's Resolution"...well wait. Let's not call it that, it seems to be bad luck.

My Goal is to find a balance between daily responsibilities and goals that I want for myself.

So let's make a toast shall we? To an even better year, and accomplished goals.

So Hubby and I decided earlier in the year (after the whole moving, holiday, wedding madness) that we'd be better prepared this year and save cash for it.

We each saved a birthday fund for ourselves...and together saved a Christmas fund.

We didn't go on any shopping trips pretty much the entire year.

So finally Thanksgiving weekend was here! We spent Thanksgiving at home putting up decorations and having dinner. Well we spent it at home with the exception of a CVS trip. I spent 16 dollars and got 85.98 back in rewards!! :-)

Friday we went out for my first Black Friday experience. We didn't do any big department stores like Walmart or Target. We hit Office Max and I treated myself to a flash memory camcorder (60 bux) and the rest was Christmas gifts. Then we went to Micheal's Crafts, I only spent 20 for some scrapbooking supplies. Next it was on to CompUSA so hubby could get a few computer parts, 20 bux there also.

Saturday we took a road to trip to a mall about an hour away to treat ourselves to our birthday shopping. Hubby did awesome and bought basically a new casual wardrobe for around 150 and I did the same. We also bought some more xmas gifts.

Sunday was my birthday so hubby so kindly bought me a new winter coat (a wool pea coat for 75 dollars marked down from 200!) and took me to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner (mmm my fav).

Monday we ran errands to renew tags on all three cars (hubby still has his first car) and renew my license, grand total 143.00. Next it was walmart, grand total 45 dollars. And finally the eye doctor.

Ugh we were in the eye doctor for 3 hours! sheesh. Anyways, I have glasses but I don't need contacts, so I picked out a pair of new frames. Grand Total: 145.00 after insurance payment.

So (sorry it took forever to get to the point)...I know that we saved up for this whole event but I can't help but feel guilty for spending all the money. TONS of expenses have come our way as they always do the holiday season.

The home association fee, termite bond, license tags, drivers license renewal, new glasses for me, new contacts for hubby and expenses that come along with family visiting for the holidays all came up this month.

It will all be covered it will just be a tad bit tight.

Do you feel guilty about spending money on yourself?