It’s That Time!

New Year’s resolutions! Yay! Are you ready?

So let’s see … I don’t give a rat’s behind about losing weight. I gave up on that a long time ago. So we don’t have to worry about that one.

1. I will work on paying off all my credit card debt.

I make this one every year. And every year, around February, when my CPA and tax preparer clients are making good money and decide to pay me for the entire year of services, I actually manage to pay off a chunk of bills.

Then, every year, sometime in July, something comes up that makes me pull one of those shiny, empty credit cards out of my pocket. I’m like an addict — “just this one thing and then I’ll pay it off and put the card away.” And then, by the time I get the next statement, *POOF* my “available credit” is something like 35 cents.

Oops. I’m just not good with money. It is what it is.

2. I will say NO!

Seriously. I’ve been working 50-60 hour weeks for months. I’m supposed to work 10 hours a day, four days a week. I’m really good about not working on weekends, but that one weekday that is supposed to be set aside for banking, supply ordering/shopping, and bookkeeping constantly gets eaten up with appointments for beloved clients who weren’t able to get in somewhere else.

In 2015, I am taking back my Wednesdays!

3. I am getting a raise!

And not just a standard cost-of-living price increase. By the end of the year, I am significantly increasing my prices. This will represent my first actual raise and will be calculated carefully to cut my clientele by approximately 30%.

*Gulp* Did I just say I want to cut my clientele by 30%?! Yes. I did. I need to cut down on the number of clients I see and the fairest way to do that is to allow them to decide if they want to budget for the additional costs or if they feel it’s time to shake hands and go our separate ways.

Shhhhh. Don’t tell my clients about this one yet. I want it to be a surprise! Hehe.

4. I am taking vacation.

Not just a measly four-day weekend here and there, or one week during the slow season. I am planning on three one-week periods of vacation. I figure if I’d been working at most other jobs for 22 years, I’d have at least three weeks of vacation by now. Now if I can just figure out how to get paid vacation.

5. Tax stuff.

After I get all this done, if there’s still time, maybe I’ll work on making my quarterly estimated tax payments. Maybe. If there’s time.