3 in 30 - March Update - Week #1

I am happy with the progress I made with the 3 in 30 challenge so far during March. The biggest weight off my shoulders is getting the taxes done (see goal #2 below for more information).

The most rewarding and enjoyable is getting rid of items around the house that no longer serve a purpose (see goal #1 below for more information and links to the tasks done each day).

At the end of the first week of March, this is my progress so far:

1. Do "Shaking Off the Bonds of Stuff...for Lent." I've been enjoying doing this daily challenge during Lent because it is different than anything I've done during this time period.

Here's how we did during the first few days of the challenge, and then during the second week.

2. Finish taxes; and determine a budget for homeschooling curricula and supplies for April.  On March 4th, I finished totaling each of the categories needed for taxes (e.g., interest paid on the house, each subsection of medical expenses, homeschooling/education, home business). I completed the booklet that the CPA sends to clients (the yellow and green sheets in the photo below); and then brought all the paperwork and booklet to her.

Once the taxes are returned, I need to see what will be available for the homeschool conference in April where I purchase the majority of curricula and supplies for the upcoming school year.

Concurrent with budgeting for homeschooling curricula and supplies is establishing a rough outline and goals for the upcoming year, and determining what is needed to reach those goals.

As I did this year, I would like to continue using as many materials as I can that I already have on hand and limit what I need to purchase. I have not made progress on planning for next year yet. Perhaps next week I'll begin on this task.

3. Trim trees before spring. The apple trees need to be pruned before they start to bud, and this is a good time to do that. I also would like to clean up some of the lower branches of trees that I have to duck under while mowing the backyard.

In the pasture, there's a section of trees that would benefit from some trimming so that the horses, girls, and I can go through that area without pushing branches out of the way when we go on nature walks.

I haven't had a chance to do any tree trimming during the past week. It's going to get warmer this upcoming week so it will be a good week to do this project.