My 2016 Update

Life just seriously flew by, everyday I look at my goals, my bank accounts and making sure I am on track to where I am going. It may be super slow but now I can see a small curve and a clear path better than a few years ago.  I read somewhere that if you only do 1% of anything will get you better.

Save 1% per month - turns into 12% savings at the end of the year
Lose 1 pound month - turns 12 lbs at the end of the year
Eat 1 less junk per day - makes you 12% healthier at the end of the year

You get the idea.

So I tried to apply this concept and that's why maybe I only post 1 blog per year LOL , 1 per year won't hurt as long as you see my progress :)

If you read all my goals the last few years you'll probably get dizzy.  I even got confused myself, I wanted too many things at the same time, too eager and ended up getting overwhelmed and broke down, so I ended up swinging back & forth into debt. So here's a brief summary of what I really end up doing in those past years:

2013 - paid off old collections, personal loans
         - started yoga, didn't really know what I was doing
         - family trip in Arizona

2014 - paid off old student loans
         - consistently doing yoga every Saturday
         - family trip in Lake Tahoe

2015 - paid off cars - replaced one old car with a new one (i know)
         - switched to advanced yoga classes, consistently every Saturday
         - maxed out IRA, contributed 6% on 401K
         - family trip in New York, Washington DC and Maryland

2016 - paid off credit cards, one left to go
         - started Ashtanga yoga - I'm in love! - started the half Primary series
         - planning to max out IRA, 401K on hold
         - saving for house downpayment
         - family trip in Mont-Tremblant, Canada

As you can see, I kept a balance in every aspects, the savings in first 2 years was left off to jumpstart debt repayment, we had so many small debts that it was overwhelming. While paying off debt, we still traveled as a family, we got to enjoy some time together and kids was able to see new places, I made sure to include this as our goal every year.

I also made sure I have my own personal goal that I can see myself evolving, Self care is very important because at the end of this journey, you look back and you realize that all you did was too shallow and have no meaning, and all your time is lost.  I want to live a full life of no regrets and financially independent of course.

3 months to go till 2017 and I have only $2000 saved for down payment, still a long way to go but I am in a much better place now that where I was the last few years.

My goal for 2017 is:


2017 - save for downpayment on a house
         - max IRA and open a Roth IRA, 6% on 401K
         - yoga - to do the full Ashtanga Primary series
         - travel - Whistler, Canada?


Wow, my longest post as of yet.  Patting myself on the back. *good job*



 

         

2 years just flew by

Life happened and just like that, it's been 2 years since my last post. i have looked at my 2013 goals and i would like to update where i am at right now.
I can say that this time, i am more aware of where i am at, where i am going and what exactly i need to do to get there. so here's what i wrote in 2013:

2013 Goals

I'm too scared to post some goals coz im always bound to failing it, but since everyone else is doing it, doesnt hurt to put one together too... i think.

so here goes:

25% goes to savings (emergency/downpayment money) - goal $20,000 by December 2013
10% hubby's ROTH IRA
10% my 401K and ROTH IRA split in half
$500/month to pay down credit cards (done by Nov)

stretch goal:
pay off one car - might be too impossible but well see


personal goals:
pilates 2x a week , yoga once a week
meditate at least once a day
short trips every other month - we just did a 3 week long vacation in January so for sure im done for this year or boss will kill me
update my wardrobe - this will cost but looking to budget about $100/month on this




In the last two years, we have:


Saved 10% in my 401K
Maxed out my husband's IRA (opted for IRA instead of the ROTH for tax reasons)
Paid off old student loan debt
Yoga every Saturday
I now meditate for 10 minutes every morning
we were able to go for a family vacation for about a week in 2014 and 2015
cleaned up my closet and got hand me downs from 3 friends. - updated my wardrobe for free!


I may not be able to achieve most of my goals but i was able to get somewhere! It's great to be able to go back and look at what i wrote down. Sometimes writing down makes you commit and unconsciously head your way towards the direction of your goals.


I'm glad i found this again, I am back for good!

2013 Goals

I'm too scared to post some goals coz im always bound to failing it, but since everyone else is doing it, doesnt hurt to put one together too... i think.

so here goes:

25% goes to savings (emergency/downpayment money) - goal $20,000 by December 2013
10% hubby's ROTH IRA
10% my 401K and ROTH IRA split in half
$500/month to pay down credit cards (done by Nov)

stretch goal:
pay off one car - might be too impossible but well see


personal goals:
pilates 2x a week , yoga once a week
meditate at least once a day
short trips every other month - we just did a 3 week long vacation in January so for sure im done for this year or boss will kill me
update my wardrobe - this will cost but looking to budget about $100/month on this


so there you go, wish me luck!

Back in the Grind

Hello,
i have been away for 4 months, wow, 4 months just went by fast. we spent all the Holidays, and vacations, and now, its time to go back to reality, time to re focus and get serious.

I have set everything up to automatically pay all my credit cards every month with more in each of the cards every month, by November this year, everything will be paid off.

I have also set up all savings accounts to automatically transfer per paycheck:

Roth IRA - 5% of take home pay (401k 5%)
Hubby's ROTH IRA - 10% of take home pay
Emergency fund - $1700/month - this is huge but i will make sure it gets credited every month
Kids Savings - $35/month x 2
Mutual Funds (2) - $50/month x 2

Me and hubby's wants - $100/paycheck per month x 2


im setting everything up to be automatic, all bills automatic, credit cards, utilities, savings. Whatever's left, and hopefully there is, it will be fun money! Wish me luck!

Plan B here i come

So life has determined that i should take Plan B.

Fine.

So here come thrifty shopping,
borrowing money from savings for our trip


Life goes on, and we are on our way to vacation no matter what, life is too short to not enjoy it, borrow money, pay it back on a better day.

cool, Plan B is all set.

33 Days till 2013

SO i have paid off all of my credit cards, used half of it again, and now back to paying minimum on a couple till i pay it all off again, the bandwagon.  its OK, as long as i now have the drive to make sure to pay it all off i am in a better position than i was before.

6 credit cards paid off
3 all paid off
3 re -used
1 almost paid off again while the 2 others on minimum payment..


discipline....discipline....

Life never gets easy, we just get stronger

I came across this line and it struck me big time, all this time i have been looking forward for a better day, "when life gets easier.." starting line to every hopeful conversation, but as the years go by, i realized there is always a challenge ahead you are to face, and everytime, its does get tougher, but what's interesting is how i deal with it changed, i used to cry a lot over it, but now, i just shrug and say here it comes, bring it on.

Yeah, we get stronger overtime.