Let the new year begin!

It's 2009! And it's going to be a great year!

This is the year that I accomplish my goal of $300 in 30 days. This is the year that I finish the year closer to being out of debt than I began it. This is the year that I take charge of my personal finances and apply the lessons I have learned. This is the year!

As I have been thinking about ways to approach the new year, I am somewhat torn between two approaches. This afternoon I have been sorting through all of that stuff that you pile away and plan on sorting through someday, and separated out all of my bank, credit card, and other financial statements. The plan was to organize everything and figure out what exactly happened in 2008 and then come up with a plan of attack for 2009. But as I was in the kitchen preparing my mac & cheese dinner (I've learned to budget, but haven't quite hit the healthy part yet!), it hit me that maybe I should just throw all of it away and start fresh. Start from today. That doesn't mean that I don't have to face my debt and my past mistakes, but I don't need to dwell on them and categorize them to death - just recognize them, establish exactly where I am at today as I start the new year, and move forward.