Well y'all, I know the holidays are right around the corner, but it's time we all start thinking about what we want to accomplish next year. I'm not saying you need to know anything concrete yet, but better to toy around with some ideas now than wake up Jan. 1 thinking "Wait. What am I doing?"
Not just money goals, either. We can't forget that we are whole people, not just bank accounts!
That said, I need to think. I don't have anything set in stone yet, but the hubby has been really bummed out and scared to death by the financial crisis. I told him we can't control the world, we can only control what we do.
He's afraid, and as such, wants us to buckle down and try to stash away as much cash as possible. I can't argue with that. It's a sound thing to do anyway.
So, I worked out a budget for us. It would allow us to live on 38 percent of our take-home pay and save the rest.
It may not sound like it, but there is a lot of leeway in there. We would each get a set amount of fun money and there is still something for eating out and going out occasionally as well, which would make it easier to stick to.
I haven't accounted for home improvements. I think we will just budget a set amount for the year for projects, put together a list from most to least important and start going through the list. When we run out of money, we're done for the year.
**
We've also made a list of energy improvements we want to make, so this would save us money over the long-term. (We're thinking of getting solar panels next year, so step one is to reduce usage).
I'm hoping to reduce our electricity use by 20-30 percent. I guess we'll just go room by room and try to improve efficiency one socket at a time.
**
This isn't really finance related but I want to write a novel in 2009. But I want to do it in one month. National Novel Writing Month is in November. The challenge is to write a 50,000 word novel in one month, even if it sucks. I want to do this this year.
**
Also, I don't know what my work life will be like next year. I did well freelancing last year, despite taking time off for Baby Bean, but my big contract has expired and I don't have anything else lined up. I haven't even had any bites, so I don't know what to expect.
I will commit everything I earn to my IRA, and just hope I can max it out at $5,000. If I make more than that, I am pretty sure it will all go to paying off the student loan. I'm tired of carrying that burden around.
While I don't have any work lined up, I've decided to track down some affordable classes so I can add to my skills and retrain in multimedia, which is the future of my industry. I think the local college offers weekend crash courses in the software I would need for about $200 each. It's not cheap, but it's cheaper than college tuition!
**
I may take an art class as well. The cultural arts center has inexpensive, interesting classes in things like precious metal clay sculpture. It could help my craft business, which helps my Tiki goal, so yeah, it may be worth it.
**
And, I think I'm old enough (33) that I need to start focusing on health and wellness. I may join the gym/community center down the street. It's within walking distance, they have yoga classes,and FREE babysitting while you work out. It would be some much-needed me time, and I am carrying around 10 pounds of baby weight that I am sick of.
**
I'd also like to take my mom to San Francisco. She has always dreamed of visiting there. It's in the U.S. and totally doable, the Bean will be able to travel by then, so why not? My hubby's best friend lives there too, so we could get a two-fer.
We are also planning to travel internationally in 2009, either to France or Mexico. We have almost $5,000 in the vacation fund. It would go farther in Mexico, due to cheaper airfare and better exchange rate, but we'll see. If I play my budget cards right, we could maybe make the money stretch enough for two trips.
**
And finally, I want a better social life. The bean has really shaken things up. I may host a monthly "art night" at my house, and maybe a biweekly "Stitch and B*tch". For those who don't know, that's when your friends sit around, drink wine and knit.
So yeah, get your thinking caps on! What kinds of goals are you thinking about for next year?
Time to look ahead to 2009 goals: What are yours?
November 19th, 2008 at 04:17 pm
November 19th, 2008 at 04:31 pm 1227112312
Great goals! Good luck on attaining them!
November 19th, 2008 at 04:43 pm 1227112988
My 2009 goals, off the top of my head:
I had to blow off NaNoWriMo this year, so I definitely want to try again next year!
I want to take my British husband to the glorious schlockfest that is Las Vegas.
I want to get pregnant!
I want to learn a hobby, something craftsy.
I want to pay off my personal loan ($14,000 to go) and then finish paying my dad for the condo down payment he gave me 5 years ago ($7,000 to go).
November 19th, 2008 at 04:43 pm 1227112999
November 19th, 2008 at 04:45 pm 1227113106
November 19th, 2008 at 04:54 pm 1227113651
November 19th, 2008 at 05:05 pm 1227114355
I want to do some education/certification for my job. It costs $2500, but will pay for itself in 5 years and should we move to another city (likely in the next 3 years), it might be the difference between getting a job and not. It's challenging and time-consuming, but I need to do it.
Love your social ideas. I would love to get a bunko group going, or spend a little time scrapbooking with friends or go to more quilting activities. I used to organize weekly lunches with a group of other moms but haven't done that in a while. Thanks for making me think of it.
Money-wise, I want to save as much as possible, of course. I need to sit down and map out some expenses and goals. Maybe next week when I'm not working at all.
I'm okay on the fitness. I swim 3-5 times per week... a hard, aerobic workout.
I would love to have my dogs better trained.
We are currently planning a 10 trip to DC for the Inauguration, so that's a big trip in January. My husband will have to travel internationally at least twice next year and I would love to tag along to Europe, with kids, too. We'll see about that.
Great, great post. Thanks for the push to start thinking.
November 19th, 2008 at 08:31 pm 1227126686
November 19th, 2008 at 10:00 pm 1227132029