<p style="clear: both"><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Simplify</strong></p><p style="clear: both"><br /><strong>Cutting back on clutter</strong><br /><br />Everyone struggles with clutter in their lives whether it be physical, mental or emotional. With two toddlers in our house we struggle consistently with physical clutter. We'll be listing items on Craigslist and putting that money toward our <a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/article/get-out-of-debt-with-the-debt-snowball-plan/" target="_blank">debt snowball</a> <br /><br /><strong>Trying to go paperless</strong></p><p style="clear: both">This one is going to be tough. I've already made baby steps towards this goal and most of our bills are now paperless, we pay all of our bills online and now we will receive our statements online too. I'm also going to try to to utilize my scanner more. Often there are papers that we keep for nothing more than the information contained on them. These papers usually get lost somewhere in the mix. I get frustrated when trying to find something and I've tried several filing systems, so this year I'm going to try to do less filing and more scanning. I'm still looking into a program that might help with this and I'd love any suggestions you might have! </p><p style="clear: both"><strong>Slowing Down</strong><br /><br />Over the last few months I've noticed that I've been staying home a whole lot more. Although I really miss spending more time with friends and taking my weekly trips to Target, Barnes and Noble and other places. We're saving money, I'm getting more done and our children, I think, are happier. </p><p style="clear: both">I'm also working on my vocabulary... saying "NO" is very difficult for me. I love to help other, I love to be involved and I love to be around people. When I'm asked to help with something I have a really hard time saying "No" if it's something that I really don't want to do or have the time/energy/money to participate in. Years ago I read the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boundaries-When-Take-Control-Your/dp/0310585902" target="_blank">Boundries</a> by Henry Cloud. It was a great book and I'm thinking about reading it again this year.<br /><br /></p><p style="clear: both"><strong>Taking time to read</strong></p><p style="clear: both">I spend way too much time in front of the computer. I admit it. I rarely pick up the newspaper for news, or a book for ideas, I surf the web. Reading is a way that I can continue my education on my own. I'll be Booking it in 2010 along with many other bloggers. More on that in a later post</p><br class="final-break" style="clear: both" />