There are only two months left of 2009. Have you accomplished your goals for the year? If not, can you still wrap them up?
I looked at our goals that are on the side bar. We are most definitely on track to save 15% for retirement. It helps that that the goal was automated!!
The home equity loan began 2009 with a balance of $13,999. Our first goal was to pay off $7,000. We did that!! A few months into the year we thought we could get ambitious and pay the whole thing off. It is very clear that we will not get there with the cash we have or expect to have available. Right now, I think we can get the loan under $4,000. Which means we will have paid over $10,000 in debt off this year.
We did pay for our Disney World vacation in cash!! Yipee. So fun. And the ONLY way to go on vacation. Trust me.
We also paid for our daughter's braces in cash. On some level we knew she would need braces, but we didn't have this in our plan at the beginning of the year. She's only had them on for two months and there are no lingering bills just straighter teeth!
We made zero college contributions. This is a little disappointing because the market was low at the beginning of the year and has rebounded, so it would have been a good year to be investing. So be it. We will contribute in 2010...once we have that HEL paid off.
To wrap up. The final two months of 2009 will consist of saving for retirement and paying another $1925 in principal towards the home equity loan. In order to do that we have to make conscious spending decisions during the holidays.
What are your financial plans and goals for the last two months of 2009?
Two Months of 2009 Left
November 1st, 2009 at 03:26 pm
November 1st, 2009 at 03:37 pm 1257089836
Funny I just ended my simultaneous post saying I will state concrete goals for the remainder of November. I really stink at goals! I had grand plans for 2009 but the new roof set me back $6,200. November and December goal planning should help for 2010.
November 1st, 2009 at 03:59 pm 1257091169
I'm totally revamping the budget since we're now going to be 'fixed income'. Ehhh, I don't really see the difference, but our goals are switching up just a bit. The main reason there's not much difference is in the fact that we've still got to save for MY old age. The difference in our ages is the spoiler!
Our goals are going to be switching from the past mortgage payoff which we completed to saving up quickly for some needed or upcoming home repairs. If we sell or stay, some of it will have to be done either way.
November 1st, 2009 at 04:25 pm 1257092735
I'm going to pay off that personal loan in the next 2 months, probably taking about $600 out of EF savings to finish it off. AS's unemployment may end by the end of the year, depending how long she can stretch it out by taking in freelance work, and we're not 100% sure she's getting this job she's up for, or that it will start in the beginning of the new year as hoped. If we get rid of the personal loan, we can cover all our bills and expenses on 2 incomes with no unemployment.
November 1st, 2009 at 06:25 pm 1257099944
November 1st, 2009 at 08:03 pm 1257105806
November 2nd, 2009 at 01:04 am 1257123853