Wahm Forum - Your "Work-at-Home Moms" Support Group

christina · Mon Dec 17, 2007 6:40 pm What's so great about December??

Traditionally December is a time for reflection as we look back over the previous 11 months of year to see what we've accomplished, where we've struggled and where we just flat out dropped the ball.

What's so great about that?

It gives us an opportunity to sit and realistically look at what commanded our time. It's a gift we can give ourselves this Christmas. The gift at looking where we've been, what we want to change and where we want to go as we head into the New Year.

Since this is the Money & Budgeting forum, let's give ourselves the gift of looking at how we've done this year.

What did you spend your money on this year?

Are you further in the red, in debt than you were at the beginning of the year?

What debts did you pay off or avoid this year?

What kind of investments did you make in yourself this year? (i.e. workshops, seminars, programs, books, etc.)

What kind of return did you get on that investment in yourself? Did you apply what you learned?

Did you balance your checkbook every month?

Did you set up files or a record keeping system for your business expenses?

This isn't a test and you certainly don't have to post your answers to each question, but I do want to encourage you to take a moment and gift yourself some time to reflect.

I'll be the first to confess that although I know better I was terrible at balancing my checkbook this year. Normally I keep on top of my business expenses through online banking. Unfortunately because I was not diligent in transferring funds when it needed to be done I paid for it. I literally paid for it and had to pay NSF fees. Yuck! I can't blame anyone but myself because I wasn't on top of my record keeping.

So when I took some time to reflect on my lack of discipline in this area I saw that I had to buckle down and be consistent in this area. Now I have a plan and feel much better about this portion of my business. What a great gift to myself!

I know you're a savvy business woman and recognize the importance of gifting yourself some reflection time. Will you share just one benefit you received from your gift of reflection?