Every November, I find myself looking at the calendar and wondering where the year went. The holidays are closing in, the kids’ school projects are piling up, and my grocery receipts are… well, let’s just say longer than I’d like them to be.

This year, instead of waiting for January 1st to hit the reset button, I decided to start early — to treat 2026 like a 14-month year that began November 1st. And honestly? It already feels like the best decision I’ve made in a long time.

🛒 Lesson One: The Grocery Budget Wake-Up Call

2025 was the year my grocery budget ran wild. Between busy weeks, big appetites, and pure mom fatigue, I fell off my meal-planning rhythm more times than I can count. On the weeks I was too tired to prep or plan, I’d grab extra “easy” groceries or run through drive-thrus just to get food on the table — and it added up fast.

After looking back through my bank statements, I realized I had been spending $1,000 to $1,200 a month feeding our family of six. That number shocked me. I knew food costs had risen, but I also knew that I could do better with a little intentional effort.

So, I set a new goal: $600 per month.

That’s right — cutting our grocery budget nearly in half.

I started this reset right at the beginning of November, treating it as my “Month 1” of the 2026 year. I spent $150 at Sam’s Club (mostly stocking up on meat — chicken was $2.97/lb for boneless, skinless breasts and thighs, which was too good to pass up) and $50 on Amazon for produce and dairy. From that, I planned out 22 meals with meat and 4 meatless meals, filling the gaps with pantry staples I already had on hand.

Now, I’m tracking my grocery spending weekly and checking in every Sunday to see how we’re doing. So far, the reset mindset is working — it feels good to be intentional again.

If you’ve been overspending or feel like meal planning always slips when life gets busy, download my free Monthly Grocery Budget Tracker to try this yourself. It’s simple, flexible, and built for real families with full schedules.

🌅 The Mindset Shift: Why I’m Starting 2026 Now

In past years, I’ve waited until January to set goals or make resolutions — but that always left me scrambling through the holiday chaos, trying to find focus while juggling everything else.

This time, I decided to flip that script. Inspired by Cara Harvey and the Purpose Driven Mom Club (honestly, worth every penny), I started building my Vision and Mission statements now. Instead of planning for a 12-month year, I’m giving myself 14 months — November and December are my head start.

This doesn’t mean I’m skipping the holidays or working nonstop through them. It means I’m easing into the new year. I’m giving myself time to experiment, adjust, and create routines that will actually last once the calendar flips.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• I’ve defined my vision statement (the big picture for my family and personal life).

• I’ve clarified my mission statement (how I’ll show up daily to move toward that vision).

• I’ve outlined a few core focuses for the coming year.

Rather than trying to reinvent my life in January, I’m testing small changes now — like my grocery budget, my morning planning rhythm, and the way I handle my weekly check-ins.

So far, it feels calm. Grounded. Predictable. And that’s exactly what I want more of in 2026.

🌿 My 2026 Focus Areas

When I sat down with my vision and mission work, three themes rose to the top. They’ll be my compass for 2026, and I’m using these last two months of 2025 to start living them out.

1. Predictable Stability

I want our home to feel steady and reliable — a place where my kids know what to expect and I can breathe easier because the systems are working for me, not against me. That means structured meal plans, consistent school-night routines, and time blocks for work and rest.

Predictability doesn’t mean perfection. It just means everyone in the house can look at our family rhythm and feel secure knowing what’s next.

2. Faith and Health

This next year, I’m centering my days around two anchors: faith and health.

Faith keeps me grounded — reminding me that even when life gets chaotic, there’s purpose in the process. Health helps me show up for that purpose. Whether it’s morning prayer, stretching, taking a walk, or choosing a balanced meal instead of grabbing what’s fastest, these are small habits that ripple out into everything else.

When I show up with a full heart and a nourished body, I’m more patient, focused, and available to my kids.

3. One-on-One Connection with My Kids

As a mom of five, I know how easy it is for days to blur together. Between school, sports, and activities, individual connection can slip through the cracks if I don’t plan it intentionally.

For 2026, I’m building one-on-one time with each child right into my weekly rhythm. Maybe it’s 20 minutes reading with my youngest, watching a show with my middle kids, or talking about future goals with my teens — whatever fits their personalities.

These small, scheduled moments create big emotional deposits. They remind my kids (and me) that we don’t have to wait for a perfect “family day” to build strong relationships.

💡 The 14-Month Year: What It’s Teaching Me

Starting early has completely changed the pressure I usually feel when planning for a new year. Instead of racing to overhaul everything in January, I’m building momentum slowly.

Here’s what I’m learning:

• You can make progress without perfection.

• Starting small builds confidence faster than setting huge resolutions.

• November and December don’t have to be “lost months” — they can be your testing ground.

Treating this time as my 2026 “trial run” means I’ll hit January already knowing what’s working and what’s not. By then, my meal plan routine will be smooth, my check-ins consistent, and my focus areas will feel like habits, not resolutions.

❤️ The Heart Behind It All

When I think about my goals for the next year, they’re not just about saving money or sticking to routines. They’re about creating a home that feels peaceful — one where my kids feel safe and loved, and where I can rest in the knowledge that I’m showing up intentionally.

This 14-month mindset is giving me space to breathe, to recalibrate, and to live more in alignment with my vision. It’s not about perfection — it’s about progress with purpose.

💬 Your Turn: Start Your 2026 Early

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or like this year flew by before you could get ahead of it, I want to challenge you — don’t wait for January.

Start your reset now.
Review what worked this year and what didn’t.
Set a simple focus for the next two months, even if it’s just one habit or one area you want to improve.

And if you do, I’d love to hear about it!
Share your “early start” story with me on Instagram @then2became7 or send me an email. Let’s build some momentum together.

🧭 External Link

• Resource mentioned: Cara Harvey’s Purpose Driven Mom Club — a community that’s been instrumental in helping me get clear on my vision and actually take action.