2011 Goals

In the spirit of the new year, here are my goals for the upcoming year:

Financial:

  1. Save $15,000 or more in non-retirement funds
  2. Continue to save $850/month for retirement + employer contributions
  3. Participate in mini-challenges aimed at various goals each month

 

Well-being:

  1. Establish, and maintain, appropriate boundaries with the people in my life
  2. Take time for me
  3. Stop apologizing for everything!

 

Health:

  1. Bring back the six-pack abs  :)
  2. Maintain my running schedule
  3. Apply to be Shape Magazine Model (seriously, this has been on my “bucket list” for years–it’s time to bite the bullet and apply!!!)

 

Professional:

  1. Obtain additional work certs and pass the exams necessary to do so!

 

Home:

  1. Finish the crown molding!
  2. Hang that new front door
  3. Complete the paint in the kitchen and 2nd bedroom
  4. Hang storm doors
  5. Re-finish porches

 

Miscellaneous:

  1. Take dance lessons
  2. Buy a sweet camera and take photography classes
  3. Continue to seek out the positive, celebrate the small things, and never, ever stop smiling  :)

Weekly Spending, 1/1 – 1/7

Saturday, 1/1

No spend day! :)

Sunday, 1/2

Dinner out:  $30
Course Registration:  $40

Monday, 1/3

Gas:  $40.65


Tuesday, 1/4

No spend day! :)

Wednesday, 1/5
Groceries:  $23.28

Thursday, 1/6
Lunch:  $7.12
Dinner out:  $8.23
 
Friday, 1/7
Lunch:  $13.96

Total:  $163.94
A great week, indeed.  I just need to put more effort into grocery shopping so that the lunches out are non-existent.  This is my next mini-challenge!  Financially, 2011 is off to a pretty good start.  

Weekly Spending, 12/25 – 12/31

Saturday, 12/25

Movie Tickets:  $34.50


Sunday, 12/26

No spend day! :)

Monday, 12/27

Car Towing (damn city!)  $128


Tuesday, 12/28

Dinner out:  $16.18
 
Wednesday, 12/29
No spend day! :)

Thursday, 12/30
Lunch:  $7.95
 
Friday, 12/31
Lunch out:  $20

Haircut:  $45

Total:  $251.63

Wow…minus the snowstorm-induced car towing, this was a great week!  I spent only $123.63 and most was spent on social, holiday bonding.  I’m quite pleased with this update  :)

“You Spend $$ When Having Fun”

I’m not sure where to begin with this post other than what the quote in the title entails.  Over the past year, I’ve gained a few promotions, purchased my first home, and have found myself well on the road to financial security.  Or so I thought.

Enter the past 2 months and all semblance of financial control has gone out the window.  Blame a terrible break-up, a mugging, an assault, and a myriad of health issues, but I’ve gone seriously off the savings path and have entered the world of “spend almost all that you make.” 

While discussing said issues with a friend, the retort was “well, you spend money when you’re having fun.”  While at first I found myself strangely connected to this quote, I had to step back and wonder what it really meant.  After years of being a super-saver have I really become a person who spends a ridiculous amount of $$ each month??

After weeks of serious contemplation, what I’m sure of is that this new-found spender is not truly who I am.  While it’s going to be incredibly difficult to distance myself from the new “rich” crowd I’ve become part of, I know I’ll be much happier when I see my bank account growing each month by more than $2K. 

I’ve worked too much for too long to let it all slip away.  I’m by no means a paycheck-to-paycheck lady.  Stay tuned for details on my New Year’s resolutions and lifestyle changes that will rectify the latest influx of spending. 

While only time can tell what will happen, I can honestly say that I haven’t been this motivated about finances since I decided I was a “buyer.”  And if history repeats itself, saving over 25K in 2011 shouldn’t be a problem.   :)