In general, I find (like so many people) that I often fall short of my New Year's Resolutions. Most years I don't make a specific resolution, I find I do much better with an on going goal list. I seem to do much better with a "goal list" as compared to a "New Year's Resolution list". This year it's going to be a bit different.
If you've been following my blog, you know I live in a very small house that needs a lot of work, work that I am just not capable of doing in a DIY fashion and work that costs big $$$. I've spent the better part of the past month taking a good long look at my house and making up a punch list of work that has to be done, work that should be done and the cosmetic work I'd like to do. The punch list is long and lengthy. So much so that it almost drove me to drink an entire bottle of wine because it depressed me sooo much. When I bought my little house, I honestly did not think I'd still be living in it, now almost 10 years later. I figured I'd sell it and move up, or rent it out and move to a new place. Ah yes, the grand plans one has. I underestimated the work that needed to be done and the cost of the work, and I overestimated my DIY skills.
I really would like for some DIY show to come and rescue me and my home, do the work, I can help, I'm actually a very good assistant and feature me on one of their programs. Hey I'd go public with my real identity if that were the case~can we say lovely small home done over in a "green" renovation. I think it would make a great HGTV show.
So after thinking about this long and hard, and doing some research my goal this year is to see if I can qualify for an FHA refinance/rehab loan. Based on the worksheets from a number of FHA lenders and the FHA itself, even with the Bankruptcy in my past, I may be able to qualify for a loan.
What I have going for me is the following. My house in not underwater based on the current market and where I live (thank goodness). My outstanding debt consists of my car loan and I'm in the home stretch on the last of my student loans (like it should be paid off by December of this year), my credit card does not carry a balance, I only use the card once or twice a month for gas or the odd purchase. I have not been late on any payments since I started the Bankruptcy filing and my mortgage has always been current. What is not in my favor is the Bankruptcy discharge (now 2 years old!), my reduced income from my "full time job", and the fact it may be hard to find good current house comps on my small home. I will get a 1099 from the weekend job which may help to offset the reduction in income from the weekday job.
You may ask in astonishment, But Betty, why do you want to take on more debt? Simply, I want to be able to move to a house that is a bit bigger and in better shape than this one. In order for me to sell it and not take a massive hit, I do have some repairs that must be done. Even if I decide to stay in this house, it needs work. As I stated above, I don’t have the DIY skills for those necessary repairs. Houses, especially older ones, need repairs and maintenance. I’ll put up a post later about the list of repairs that I’ve come up with.
Part of the bouncing back from Bankruptcy was also to see if I can qualify for credit again without paying astronomical interest rates. I’m not overly thrilled with my car interest rate, but it was the price I had to pay to get a car so soon after the BK was discharged. I will let you know how the process goes. I plan on starting the process in earnest once I do my 2009 taxes, which will be the beginning of February and I’d love to hear your thoughts, good, bad and indifferent.
Showing posts with label goal setting.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goal setting.. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, March 23, 2009
Decisons Have Been Made
The nice thing about a Transatlantic Flight is the number of hours you have to think. It was 7 hours going to the UK and almost 8 hours coming home. I used the time coming home to give some serious thought about my goals list and what I want to do on the flight back as I mindlessly watched CSI reruns on my personal entertainment screen.
As I've blogged before, I've had to take a reduction in hours from my full time job and not by my choice. I also don't see the job going back to full time from part time. I had hoped that our business would pick up and I could see a return to full time hours. I have been lucky enough to get a part time weekend job to cover the funds shortage. I've had to overcome my own issues about taking a second job and I've made my peace with those issues. BUT I am working approximately 6.5 days a week to earn the same income. The other half day is spent traveling and squishing various personal errands and appointments into that time slot. My free time has drastically dropped to almost Nil and honestly folks, I'm getting physically tired between the work, the travel and my own responsibilities at home. I just don't feel like I have enough time in my week to get certain chores done at home, which I don't. I'm getting caught between my need to get things done at home or even just to rest and my need for cash. Instead of taking a day or weekend off to rest and do my personal work, I'm packing up and going to my weekend job, because I need the cash. When I was employed full time, my goal each month was to cover my car note, which I could do by working about 2-3 weekends a month, that gave me the extra cash and gave me some time off. Not happening now. I've committed myself to working through the first weekend in May, with only one Sunday off for a party I have an invitation to attend. I made that decision to work based on my reduced schedule at my "regular" job and my desire to replace my almost defunct lap top. Those hours will provide me with the additional income I need to make up, cover the cost of the laptop,and cover the cost of my dental visit (oh yeah, I need $400 worth of dental work too).
This weekend was exceptionally tough. Not in the work that had to be done, the work was it's usual, plus some extra animals at the barn, which I knew about last week. I knew we would have a full house this weekend. I just had this overwhelming sense of frustration at the end of each work day that even though I did a job well done at the weekend job, the work at home has been neglected (which it has been). Coming home from work on Thursday, seeing a water leak in my living room and not being able to find the part of the roof causing said leak was discouraging and frustrating. I pulled myself up into my attic crawl space with my flashlight and just can't see to find where the water is coming in. I came home last night and crashed into bed around 9:15 PM, early even for me. My personal To Do list has come to a screeching halt, partially my fault, partially due to circumstances.
So on the flight back to the US, I made the decision to seek full time work somewhere, someplace and then cut back on my weekend job if I could not see or sense a return to full time status. My current job is a cross between a project manager and an office manager for a small company. The perks to this job are it's very close to home, the office environment is pretty good for the most part, I get 75% of my health insurance paid for by the company, I get paid vacation and some paid holidays. I like the work, I like the people, and the office dress is casual.
What I don't like is my boss having a meltdown over the drastic drop in business and IMO a lot of his knee jerk reactions to the current economic situation and some of the ideas he has to save money here at the office (some good, some a bit bizarre). I also don't have things like a 401K plan, retirement options, etc. I'm not getting any younger, I currently don't have a significant other to help offset my expenses, and I'm sure as heck not contributing to my own retirement fund. I'm not helping myself. The other thing is I'm pretty much maxed out on how I can "move up" in this company. I am as far up as I can go, short of buying the company or being made a partner (both not realistic options). Plus to be quite honest, I see another reduction in hours in my future,not a return to full time status, since our business has not picked up and our income stream is down-that would not be a good thing for me at all.
I have a real estate license, but the real estate market is just not happening at the moment and I have no clients. Being less than part time does not help either. One reason I took the weekend job was I was not getting any real estate clients and could not use real estate to as an additional income source as originally planned. I had hoped that when I re-activated my license that I would be able to have a few clients to at least cover my costs associated with the license and additional income to offset the car, contribute to savings, etc. Part of me knows I could be a darned good real estate agent. A lot of the skills I have accumulated in my work life translate well to real estate, I'm good with an overwhelming majority of people, I'm computer literate which helps in searching the various MLS's, I like to read and keep on top of industry trends so buyers and sellers know you are "looking out" for them, I have a nice network/Rolodex of contacts in the field. I have a really good sense of my area's market conditions, my current broker who holds my license has told me that on several occasions. There just are not buyers out there right now.
Part of my is kicking myself for not being a more aggressive saver to my E fund and also allowing myself to have a VERY broad definition of what constitutes an emergency and then dipping into said E-fund. Had I been more diligent about this, maybe I would have the confidence to forgo my current job and move into real estate on a part time basis with the intention to move to full time, the market has to turn around at some point! One fall out from the Bankruptcy is my confidence took a huge hit and I constantly second guess myself with each decision I make. I'm getting better about my decision making, but not where I should be. I hinder myself in that respect.
I made the decision to drag out and dust off my resume and start looking for full time work, either in my current field or a related field AND also make a much more concerted effort to find a way to become self employed and work for myself. I will use the next couple weeks to re-work the resume, start looking at job search engines, and figure out what field I want to pursue work in. I've also started another one of my endless to do lists to assist in this endeavour. This time, the lists will get my attention because the lists will turn into an action plan to put me on my new path.
PLAN A
1) Buy a new laptop for new business. My old laptop is very dated, hard drive is about to crash and does not allow me to connect to the Internet.
2) Price out broadband Internet for home if working from home becomes a viable option (I currently use dial up-gasp, yes sooo 1990's).
3) Pursue online work-Elance, Virtual Assistant work, web design, Virtual Assistant work for real estate agents.
4) Pursue part time work-Continue at barn 3 days a week, currently can provide a steady income stream and that will cover almost my basic living expenses.
5) Give serious thought to entering the Real Estate field on a part time basis-either on my own or as part of a team.
6) If entering the Real Estate field as part of a team, make sure I get a written contract/outline of duties and pay scale.
7) Pursue other part time web based income streams.
8) Work on that E-fund! Now it really needs to be at the 3-6 month mark more so than ever.
PLAN B
1) All of the above PLUS
2) Looking for full time work so that I can move to being 'my own boss' but at least have increased income and more weekend free time.
PLAN C
1) Win the Powerball and say screw it to plan A and B, move to Costa Rica and drink margarita's on the beach.
I'll keep you informed.
As I've blogged before, I've had to take a reduction in hours from my full time job and not by my choice. I also don't see the job going back to full time from part time. I had hoped that our business would pick up and I could see a return to full time hours. I have been lucky enough to get a part time weekend job to cover the funds shortage. I've had to overcome my own issues about taking a second job and I've made my peace with those issues. BUT I am working approximately 6.5 days a week to earn the same income. The other half day is spent traveling and squishing various personal errands and appointments into that time slot. My free time has drastically dropped to almost Nil and honestly folks, I'm getting physically tired between the work, the travel and my own responsibilities at home. I just don't feel like I have enough time in my week to get certain chores done at home, which I don't. I'm getting caught between my need to get things done at home or even just to rest and my need for cash. Instead of taking a day or weekend off to rest and do my personal work, I'm packing up and going to my weekend job, because I need the cash. When I was employed full time, my goal each month was to cover my car note, which I could do by working about 2-3 weekends a month, that gave me the extra cash and gave me some time off. Not happening now. I've committed myself to working through the first weekend in May, with only one Sunday off for a party I have an invitation to attend. I made that decision to work based on my reduced schedule at my "regular" job and my desire to replace my almost defunct lap top. Those hours will provide me with the additional income I need to make up, cover the cost of the laptop,and cover the cost of my dental visit (oh yeah, I need $400 worth of dental work too).
This weekend was exceptionally tough. Not in the work that had to be done, the work was it's usual, plus some extra animals at the barn, which I knew about last week. I knew we would have a full house this weekend. I just had this overwhelming sense of frustration at the end of each work day that even though I did a job well done at the weekend job, the work at home has been neglected (which it has been). Coming home from work on Thursday, seeing a water leak in my living room and not being able to find the part of the roof causing said leak was discouraging and frustrating. I pulled myself up into my attic crawl space with my flashlight and just can't see to find where the water is coming in. I came home last night and crashed into bed around 9:15 PM, early even for me. My personal To Do list has come to a screeching halt, partially my fault, partially due to circumstances.
So on the flight back to the US, I made the decision to seek full time work somewhere, someplace and then cut back on my weekend job if I could not see or sense a return to full time status. My current job is a cross between a project manager and an office manager for a small company. The perks to this job are it's very close to home, the office environment is pretty good for the most part, I get 75% of my health insurance paid for by the company, I get paid vacation and some paid holidays. I like the work, I like the people, and the office dress is casual.
What I don't like is my boss having a meltdown over the drastic drop in business and IMO a lot of his knee jerk reactions to the current economic situation and some of the ideas he has to save money here at the office (some good, some a bit bizarre). I also don't have things like a 401K plan, retirement options, etc. I'm not getting any younger, I currently don't have a significant other to help offset my expenses, and I'm sure as heck not contributing to my own retirement fund. I'm not helping myself. The other thing is I'm pretty much maxed out on how I can "move up" in this company. I am as far up as I can go, short of buying the company or being made a partner (both not realistic options). Plus to be quite honest, I see another reduction in hours in my future,not a return to full time status, since our business has not picked up and our income stream is down-that would not be a good thing for me at all.
I have a real estate license, but the real estate market is just not happening at the moment and I have no clients. Being less than part time does not help either. One reason I took the weekend job was I was not getting any real estate clients and could not use real estate to as an additional income source as originally planned. I had hoped that when I re-activated my license that I would be able to have a few clients to at least cover my costs associated with the license and additional income to offset the car, contribute to savings, etc. Part of me knows I could be a darned good real estate agent. A lot of the skills I have accumulated in my work life translate well to real estate, I'm good with an overwhelming majority of people, I'm computer literate which helps in searching the various MLS's, I like to read and keep on top of industry trends so buyers and sellers know you are "looking out" for them, I have a nice network/Rolodex of contacts in the field. I have a really good sense of my area's market conditions, my current broker who holds my license has told me that on several occasions. There just are not buyers out there right now.
Part of my is kicking myself for not being a more aggressive saver to my E fund and also allowing myself to have a VERY broad definition of what constitutes an emergency and then dipping into said E-fund. Had I been more diligent about this, maybe I would have the confidence to forgo my current job and move into real estate on a part time basis with the intention to move to full time, the market has to turn around at some point! One fall out from the Bankruptcy is my confidence took a huge hit and I constantly second guess myself with each decision I make. I'm getting better about my decision making, but not where I should be. I hinder myself in that respect.
I made the decision to drag out and dust off my resume and start looking for full time work, either in my current field or a related field AND also make a much more concerted effort to find a way to become self employed and work for myself. I will use the next couple weeks to re-work the resume, start looking at job search engines, and figure out what field I want to pursue work in. I've also started another one of my endless to do lists to assist in this endeavour. This time, the lists will get my attention because the lists will turn into an action plan to put me on my new path.
PLAN A
1) Buy a new laptop for new business. My old laptop is very dated, hard drive is about to crash and does not allow me to connect to the Internet.
2) Price out broadband Internet for home if working from home becomes a viable option (I currently use dial up-gasp, yes sooo 1990's).
3) Pursue online work-Elance, Virtual Assistant work, web design, Virtual Assistant work for real estate agents.
4) Pursue part time work-Continue at barn 3 days a week, currently can provide a steady income stream and that will cover almost my basic living expenses.
5) Give serious thought to entering the Real Estate field on a part time basis-either on my own or as part of a team.
6) If entering the Real Estate field as part of a team, make sure I get a written contract/outline of duties and pay scale.
7) Pursue other part time web based income streams.
8) Work on that E-fund! Now it really needs to be at the 3-6 month mark more so than ever.
PLAN B
1) All of the above PLUS
2) Looking for full time work so that I can move to being 'my own boss' but at least have increased income and more weekend free time.
PLAN C
1) Win the Powerball and say screw it to plan A and B, move to Costa Rica and drink margarita's on the beach.
I'll keep you informed.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
One More Goal to Be Crossed Off My List
I made it a goal of mine to try to eliminate my paper clutter by scanning my paper documents and storing the files on my computer.
I finally found a 10 sheet feeder, all in one for about $50. I'm usually a little skeptical about all in one units,but a co-worker bought the same unit and recommended it to me. He said it was spiffy, user friendly and he thought it might meet my need. I'll be buying the same unit this weekend and will spend a thrilling night scanning in my documents. I can already see a cleaner desk...
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
2008 Goal Update
Just thought I'd take a moment to review my 2008 goals~ I need to update my goal list and that is one of my "To Do's" for the weekend, but here is the update so far:
1) Try to go as green as possible at home and at work. I already use (and have used for a number of years) my own reusable shopping bags, I recycle everything I can (town dump mandated), I have a compost pile for my food scraps, etc. I'll be following the Green Boot Camp Blog for more ideas that I can incorporate into my home and work life.~ A work in progress, I'm slowly working on making my work environment greener . At home, the compost pile has provided me with some great compost for the flower beds and my kitchen herb garden. Now that the warmer weather has arrived, I'm hanging up my laundry instead of using the dryers at the laundromat. My clothes smell great! Who needs Downy, when I have sunshine and fresh air?
2) Continue to work on my re-installed budget.: The Budget concept is always a work in progress. I'm getting a lot better about sticking to parameters and I've really stopped a lot of unnecessary spending and the unnecessary justification to spend. I want to go back to a zero based budget for July.
3) Start to contribute to my Roth IRA again and see if I can reach my personal goal of $5000-Not even close on this one-I am one bad bouncing betty.
4) Continue to fund my Emergency Fund. ~ The fund continues to grow thanks to my part time job and very small income streams. I still add in $200 a month to the fund, I've had to use the fund a couple times, but I'm getting close to my yearly goal of $2,000
5) Find a second paying job. ~ Well I have two very part time jobs, but at least a small income stream. I'd be much happier with a permanent part time job, so lets say 50% on this one.
6) Remodel my sorely outdated bathroom either by a little (or a lot) sweat equity or with minimal cost from outside labor (perhaps a trade in kind). ~ I've decided to paint and re-floor my bedroom first, I can handle painting, I can't handle tile work. I do have a new sink I can and will install in the next few weeks. I'm still looking for someone to help me install the new wall and floor tile.
7) Get on a regular exercise program again. 50%, I'm stretching and walking, but my doctor wants me to get back to the gym and yes, I've been putting this off for months. This could become a health issue if I let it slide.....
New and updated goals will be posted next week! Hope you are making progress on your goals for 2008.
1) Try to go as green as possible at home and at work. I already use (and have used for a number of years) my own reusable shopping bags, I recycle everything I can (town dump mandated), I have a compost pile for my food scraps, etc. I'll be following the Green Boot Camp Blog for more ideas that I can incorporate into my home and work life.~ A work in progress, I'm slowly working on making my work environment greener . At home, the compost pile has provided me with some great compost for the flower beds and my kitchen herb garden. Now that the warmer weather has arrived, I'm hanging up my laundry instead of using the dryers at the laundromat. My clothes smell great! Who needs Downy, when I have sunshine and fresh air?
2) Continue to work on my re-installed budget.: The Budget concept is always a work in progress. I'm getting a lot better about sticking to parameters and I've really stopped a lot of unnecessary spending and the unnecessary justification to spend. I want to go back to a zero based budget for July.
3) Start to contribute to my Roth IRA again and see if I can reach my personal goal of $5000-Not even close on this one-I am one bad bouncing betty.
4) Continue to fund my Emergency Fund. ~ The fund continues to grow thanks to my part time job and very small income streams. I still add in $200 a month to the fund, I've had to use the fund a couple times, but I'm getting close to my yearly goal of $2,000
5) Find a second paying job. ~ Well I have two very part time jobs, but at least a small income stream. I'd be much happier with a permanent part time job, so lets say 50% on this one.
6) Remodel my sorely outdated bathroom either by a little (or a lot) sweat equity or with minimal cost from outside labor (perhaps a trade in kind). ~ I've decided to paint and re-floor my bedroom first, I can handle painting, I can't handle tile work. I do have a new sink I can and will install in the next few weeks. I'm still looking for someone to help me install the new wall and floor tile.
7) Get on a regular exercise program again. 50%, I'm stretching and walking, but my doctor wants me to get back to the gym and yes, I've been putting this off for months. This could become a health issue if I let it slide.....
New and updated goals will be posted next week! Hope you are making progress on your goals for 2008.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
The May Goals
The lawn is seeded, I've decluttered a bit (not as much as I would like), I got sort of a second job to help offset the cost of the new to me car for the month of May, listed some stuff on E-Bay, Craig's list, Freecycle, donated a bunch of stuff to Goodwill. My plans to do some home DIY of course, were just that just plans, but I'm hoping to get some of it done THIS month.
The May Plan:
1) Finish the garden beds.
2) Paint the kitchen cupboards, OK, at least pick out the paint for the cupboards.
3) Organize a couple paid work weekends for June.
4) Redo the closet.
5) Re-examine budget and finances and make the July goal to be as close to a zero based budget as possible.
6) Plan a mini vacation/mini-break. I am really feeling the need for some time away and time for me only that does not involve animals, family, or obligations to others. Really feeling the need.
What I've alread done.
1) Paid the car note.
2) Paid my car insurance.
3) Paid my student loan.
4) Decided to increase my food budget from $100 to $120. I think I managed to stay around $100 for April, I have to look at the last few receipts. I still have a lot of staples in my cupboards, I'm just out of fresh veg, fruit and meat.
Part of me wonders why I have not done more, and part of me still feels overwhelmed by what I have done. Part of me is just so thankful that I really feel like I'm getting my fiscal life back on track. Part of me wonders why this miraculous transformation did not happen the instant I got my discharge. I know that it will take time to undo the fiscal mistakes of my past. There really is no miraculous transformation is there? All I can do is move forward from here and make the best of what I have. And I will! I hope you do the same.
The May Plan:
1) Finish the garden beds.
2) Paint the kitchen cupboards, OK, at least pick out the paint for the cupboards.
3) Organize a couple paid work weekends for June.
4) Redo the closet.
5) Re-examine budget and finances and make the July goal to be as close to a zero based budget as possible.
6) Plan a mini vacation/mini-break. I am really feeling the need for some time away and time for me only that does not involve animals, family, or obligations to others. Really feeling the need.
What I've alread done.
1) Paid the car note.
2) Paid my car insurance.
3) Paid my student loan.
4) Decided to increase my food budget from $100 to $120. I think I managed to stay around $100 for April, I have to look at the last few receipts. I still have a lot of staples in my cupboards, I'm just out of fresh veg, fruit and meat.
Part of me wonders why I have not done more, and part of me still feels overwhelmed by what I have done. Part of me is just so thankful that I really feel like I'm getting my fiscal life back on track. Part of me wonders why this miraculous transformation did not happen the instant I got my discharge. I know that it will take time to undo the fiscal mistakes of my past. There really is no miraculous transformation is there? All I can do is move forward from here and make the best of what I have. And I will! I hope you do the same.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Meal Planning Week one of March
To go along with my monster food shop, I've done a tentative meal plan for the week so I don't lose focus and let all that food go bad in my fridge. I'v done that before and it's not good as they say.
Breakfasts: Cereal or bread product with egg or cream cheese and veggies.
Dinners: Meatloaf, Soup, Stir Fry, Rice and Vegetable Pilaf, Pasta.
Lunch: Dinner leftovers, interspersed with Salads.
Snacks: Fruit.
I did re-organize my food cupboards on Saturday so I could get a sense of what I had in them and to give me some inspiration in my meals. I have a lot of staples that I need to start using up. Even dried beans have a shelf life!
Breakfasts: Cereal or bread product with egg or cream cheese and veggies.
Dinners: Meatloaf, Soup, Stir Fry, Rice and Vegetable Pilaf, Pasta.
Lunch: Dinner leftovers, interspersed with Salads.
Snacks: Fruit.
I did re-organize my food cupboards on Saturday so I could get a sense of what I had in them and to give me some inspiration in my meals. I have a lot of staples that I need to start using up. Even dried beans have a shelf life!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
The Secret Debate~I Have a Secret
If you read The Simple Dollar you have read Trent's post on accepting advertising from Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul Author) and contributor to The Secret and Trent's view on The Secret.
The Secret is a hotly debated book and movie. Nancy Zimmerman in her blog calls it hogwash. click here to read her post on The Secret. Actually she calls it appalling, offensive and narcissistic.
I have a link to The Secret on this blog and have had one since the beginning. I also have The Secret DVD and watch it on occasion. Why, because I believe in PART of the message of the Secret. I think that with hard work, positive thinking, goal setting you can achieve your goals. I have a background and multiple degrees in Sports Psychology and Alternative Health. I have worked in very traditional and non traditional settings. I've participated in studies on using a variety Creative Visualisation Techniques. I have successfully used a number of the same techniques in my life. I have positive affirmations posted around my house, I have created collages (called Vision Boards in The Secret) of things I'd like to become, have, or achieve.
The Secret also talks about The Universe, which you can interpret as The Universe, God, Jesus, Buddha, Allah, Deva's, Angels, any form of Higher Power that you believe in, and that The Universe loves you and will take care of you. I'm not an overly religious person, but I do believe that there is a Higher Power out there that looks over us all and does love us, it just might not be the traditional God you believe in, but it is what I believe in.
I personally have a hard time seeing The Universe as my own private department store, if that were the case, I would have had my new car 6 months ago and a perfectly professionally landscaped yard/garden with just a request thrown out to The Universe. I sure as heck never visualized becoming Bankrupt and that happened to me.
I do see the Universe as a place where I can do anything I have set my mind to (with hard work, lots of positive thinking, and goal setting.) I see The Secret as an offshoot of Self Help movement. And you can take from The Secret a lot or a little depending on your views, needs and wants. I'm not saying you have to embrace the Secret, it's teachers and all it's messages, I am saying there is some merit to parts of the video and the book, take from it what you need. What I've gotten from The Secret that has been very important to me is to be very specific with my goals and to really work on visualizing them. It's been a good exercise for me these past few months to set goals and work towards them. I don't feel so scattered and all over the place with my thoughts and actions. I have an action plan.
I'm a strong believer in writing down and visualizing your goals. That is one reason why I blog, I see my goals on a daily basis and I write about them. I've been posting pictures on my blog of things (gasp Material Things) I'd like to have in my life.
And I am slowly achieving them with a lot of hard work, positive thinking and the support of The Secret as well.
The Secret is a hotly debated book and movie. Nancy Zimmerman in her blog calls it hogwash. click here to read her post on The Secret. Actually she calls it appalling, offensive and narcissistic.
I have a link to The Secret on this blog and have had one since the beginning. I also have The Secret DVD and watch it on occasion. Why, because I believe in PART of the message of the Secret. I think that with hard work, positive thinking, goal setting you can achieve your goals. I have a background and multiple degrees in Sports Psychology and Alternative Health. I have worked in very traditional and non traditional settings. I've participated in studies on using a variety Creative Visualisation Techniques. I have successfully used a number of the same techniques in my life. I have positive affirmations posted around my house, I have created collages (called Vision Boards in The Secret) of things I'd like to become, have, or achieve.
The Secret also talks about The Universe, which you can interpret as The Universe, God, Jesus, Buddha, Allah, Deva's, Angels, any form of Higher Power that you believe in, and that The Universe loves you and will take care of you. I'm not an overly religious person, but I do believe that there is a Higher Power out there that looks over us all and does love us, it just might not be the traditional God you believe in, but it is what I believe in.
I personally have a hard time seeing The Universe as my own private department store, if that were the case, I would have had my new car 6 months ago and a perfectly professionally landscaped yard/garden with just a request thrown out to The Universe. I sure as heck never visualized becoming Bankrupt and that happened to me.
I do see the Universe as a place where I can do anything I have set my mind to (with hard work, lots of positive thinking, and goal setting.) I see The Secret as an offshoot of Self Help movement. And you can take from The Secret a lot or a little depending on your views, needs and wants. I'm not saying you have to embrace the Secret, it's teachers and all it's messages, I am saying there is some merit to parts of the video and the book, take from it what you need. What I've gotten from The Secret that has been very important to me is to be very specific with my goals and to really work on visualizing them. It's been a good exercise for me these past few months to set goals and work towards them. I don't feel so scattered and all over the place with my thoughts and actions. I have an action plan.
I'm a strong believer in writing down and visualizing your goals. That is one reason why I blog, I see my goals on a daily basis and I write about them. I've been posting pictures on my blog of things (gasp Material Things) I'd like to have in my life.
And I am slowly achieving them with a lot of hard work, positive thinking and the support of The Secret as well.
Friday, November 30, 2007
December Goals
1) Work towards finding a second job or alternative source of income that will net me at least $300 a month.
2) Work on personal web site and other personal blog (something I have been neglecting) at least three times a week.
3) Continue with the meal planning.
4) Decrease the number of animals I own.
5) Continue to scale back unnecessary possessions (Craigs list, E-bay, Goodwill, Freecycle).
6) Paint Kitchen
7) Get more quality content in this blog relating to Personal Finance.
8) Have at least 10 no spend anything days. (not even my lotto ticket purchases!)
If you look at these goals, not many of them are finance related, but there are sections of my life that need some improvement and care and attention and it's time to address them.
I have a too many animals in my life. I have to find homes for at least two of them for a variety of reasons. 1) I don't have the time to spend with them, quality or otherwise 2) Not everyone gets along and it's not a "happy family". Managing them has become a chore, which it should not. Plus with the onset of winter it means less time outside and more time in my small home.
My kitchen has not been painted for 5 years and it's time for a bit of a change. $25 of paint and about 4 hours of painting time will do me a world of good. I'm thinking a very pale yellow.
My personal web site and personal blog has been sorely neglected while I've been pre-occupied with the Bankruptcy filing. It has also affected some of my personal relationships as I have not told anyone and since I've not been the best of company this fall, I've avoided a bunch of social situations until this is totally over.
2) Work on personal web site and other personal blog (something I have been neglecting) at least three times a week.
3) Continue with the meal planning.
4) Decrease the number of animals I own.
5) Continue to scale back unnecessary possessions (Craigs list, E-bay, Goodwill, Freecycle).
6) Paint Kitchen
7) Get more quality content in this blog relating to Personal Finance.
8) Have at least 10 no spend anything days. (not even my lotto ticket purchases!)
If you look at these goals, not many of them are finance related, but there are sections of my life that need some improvement and care and attention and it's time to address them.
I have a too many animals in my life. I have to find homes for at least two of them for a variety of reasons. 1) I don't have the time to spend with them, quality or otherwise 2) Not everyone gets along and it's not a "happy family". Managing them has become a chore, which it should not. Plus with the onset of winter it means less time outside and more time in my small home.
My kitchen has not been painted for 5 years and it's time for a bit of a change. $25 of paint and about 4 hours of painting time will do me a world of good. I'm thinking a very pale yellow.
My personal web site and personal blog has been sorely neglected while I've been pre-occupied with the Bankruptcy filing. It has also affected some of my personal relationships as I have not told anyone and since I've not been the best of company this fall, I've avoided a bunch of social situations until this is totally over.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Financial Goal for 2008
Patrick at Cash Money for Life is running a contest or carnival for the Best Financial Resolution of 2008. Bouncing Betty has decided to enter.
My Financial Goal for 2008 is to save $4000 to use as a down payment for a new (or new to me car) no later than May 15th 2008. I will do this by finding a second job and earmarking that income towards my car fund and being even more diligent in sticking to my new and improved budget. This will mean saving/earning $800 per month to achieve this goal. Between a second job and budgeting, I know it can be done.
Lofty goals, but it has to be done!
My Financial Goal for 2008 is to save $4000 to use as a down payment for a new (or new to me car) no later than May 15th 2008. I will do this by finding a second job and earmarking that income towards my car fund and being even more diligent in sticking to my new and improved budget. This will mean saving/earning $800 per month to achieve this goal. Between a second job and budgeting, I know it can be done.
Lofty goals, but it has to be done!
Friday, October 26, 2007
October Goal Update~November Goals
Since I have an extended lunch, I looked at my October Goals and realized I was about 50/50 on them.
I have a much better expectation of what and how I should budget my money. That in and of itself is a huge milestone. My November budget may be a bit tight (and a little tighter now that I need a new Hoover) but it's totally doable and workable. That is one goal I'm very pleased to achieve.
I got the little gig of photographing properties for a mortgage company and I get about 3 properties a week, most of which are easy to get to (next town over) and don't require excess gas and milage. The money from that is earmarked to my ING account. I'll keep looking for another part time job for the holidays, but not sure how that will go in my neck of the woods, most stores close at 5 or 6, just when I get out of work! I'll keep plugging away at it. I'd say that was a 50% of a goal.
November Goals:
Stick to the Budget.
Find an alternative source of income.
Do a massive decluttering of the house.
Make the Christmas present/card list.
Take on line continuing education course.
My goals might not be as grand as some others, but I am getting better and more disciplined about my budgets, goal settings, and it's all part of my relearning curve.
I have a much better expectation of what and how I should budget my money. That in and of itself is a huge milestone. My November budget may be a bit tight (and a little tighter now that I need a new Hoover) but it's totally doable and workable. That is one goal I'm very pleased to achieve.
I got the little gig of photographing properties for a mortgage company and I get about 3 properties a week, most of which are easy to get to (next town over) and don't require excess gas and milage. The money from that is earmarked to my ING account. I'll keep looking for another part time job for the holidays, but not sure how that will go in my neck of the woods, most stores close at 5 or 6, just when I get out of work! I'll keep plugging away at it. I'd say that was a 50% of a goal.
November Goals:
Stick to the Budget.
Find an alternative source of income.
Do a massive decluttering of the house.
Make the Christmas present/card list.
Take on line continuing education course.
My goals might not be as grand as some others, but I am getting better and more disciplined about my budgets, goal settings, and it's all part of my relearning curve.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Tale of the Tape for September
OUCH! There is much room for improvement and this was a painful month as I look back on it. BUT it has been helpful to keep all my receipts and figure out where I spend my money. What I have figured out is I stress spend-especially at the grocery store, then I stress eat. This has been a very good exercise for me and I have to update my side bars, I had to dip into my computer and new car fund to pay for the attorney and the car repair.
Here is the breakdown:
Mortgage: $542.31
Utilities: $167.44
Food: $255.48
Gas: $105.46
Medical$112.29
Hobby: $50
Attorney: $489
Half.com Purchases $9.65
Student Loan: $347.68
Donation: $18.
Misc: $100
Clothes: $184.88
Total: $2,282.19
I have not set a budget for October because I wanted to see how September played out. There is room for improvement
Food: Sept: $255.48 October Goal $175.
This was high for a couple reasons. I forgot I placed a liquor order two months ago with a friend of mine coming for a visit from a state where the liquor is cheap. He showed up at my front door with $65 in assorted bottle of liquor from my I need to restock list. I have enough alcohol at home to pickle a medium sized person. I also bought a bunch of snacky food for my weekend road trips and I included pet food in this category.
Gas: $105.46 October Goal $100
I've been in the last stages of honoring some obligations to folks and was on the road for two of the four weekends (to places far away). I am away this weekend as well, my last long distance road trip until at least the middle of November.
Mortgage: $542.31 October $552.
Due to an increase in property tax, my mortgage will increase a bit.
Utilities: September $167.44 October Goal: $60
My utilities included July and August billing and for parts of late July and parts of August I ran the A/C. Not cleaning off my desk for two months cost me!
Medical: Sept $112.29 October $112.29
I have to pay part of my Health Insurance premium so that is always be constant. I opened a Health Savings Account and will fund it with pre-tax dollars for the premium and any related expenses. I do have two MD appointments scheduled, so I should be paying about the same, if not a bit more, one is covered and one will need a co-pay. I have asked my payroll department to direct deposit a set amount into the HSA each payroll period.
Expenses I WON'T have
Attorney fees-all done and dusted, or so I hope!
Donations: done for the time being
Clothes: No need for any new purchases for October and maybe November
Expenses not noted:
Car insurance, homeowners insurance,mobile phone bills, laundromat, I am currently looking for new policies and plans.
Car repair: Came to a total of $357 including towing, but the checks did not clear my account yet.
As I stated above, I had to dip into my computer and car fund account to pay for my car repair. Not having an emergency fund was not good.
October Goals
Better grip on a budget for November once I compare October and September.
Work on the emergency fund
See if I can find some part time income to supplement what I currently have.-Second job one or two nights a week would be a big help (pay mobile bill, pay gas for the week.)
Decrease the food bill
See where I can cut back on the mad money (IE-cash in hand) expenses or at least track them better.
Only spend on e-bay and half.com what I make selling stuff. A bit of a trade off.
I do have Quicken on my home computer and I have to face up to using it to track my spending and update directly from my checking account to Quicken. No excuses! I have to hold myself accountable for my digressions.
I do envy those folks who are able to stick to their budgets and seem to track it better than I do. I guess it's all part of my re-learning curve.
Onward and upward!
Here is the breakdown:
Mortgage: $542.31
Utilities: $167.44
Food: $255.48
Gas: $105.46
Medical$112.29
Hobby: $50
Attorney: $489
Half.com Purchases $9.65
Student Loan: $347.68
Donation: $18.
Misc: $100
Clothes: $184.88
Total: $2,282.19
I have not set a budget for October because I wanted to see how September played out. There is room for improvement
Food: Sept: $255.48 October Goal $175.
This was high for a couple reasons. I forgot I placed a liquor order two months ago with a friend of mine coming for a visit from a state where the liquor is cheap. He showed up at my front door with $65 in assorted bottle of liquor from my I need to restock list. I have enough alcohol at home to pickle a medium sized person. I also bought a bunch of snacky food for my weekend road trips and I included pet food in this category.
Gas: $105.46 October Goal $100
I've been in the last stages of honoring some obligations to folks and was on the road for two of the four weekends (to places far away). I am away this weekend as well, my last long distance road trip until at least the middle of November.
Mortgage: $542.31 October $552.
Due to an increase in property tax, my mortgage will increase a bit.
Utilities: September $167.44 October Goal: $60
My utilities included July and August billing and for parts of late July and parts of August I ran the A/C. Not cleaning off my desk for two months cost me!
Medical: Sept $112.29 October $112.29
I have to pay part of my Health Insurance premium so that is always be constant. I opened a Health Savings Account and will fund it with pre-tax dollars for the premium and any related expenses. I do have two MD appointments scheduled, so I should be paying about the same, if not a bit more, one is covered and one will need a co-pay. I have asked my payroll department to direct deposit a set amount into the HSA each payroll period.
Expenses I WON'T have
Attorney fees-all done and dusted, or so I hope!
Donations: done for the time being
Clothes: No need for any new purchases for October and maybe November
Expenses not noted:
Car insurance, homeowners insurance,mobile phone bills, laundromat, I am currently looking for new policies and plans.
Car repair: Came to a total of $357 including towing, but the checks did not clear my account yet.
As I stated above, I had to dip into my computer and car fund account to pay for my car repair. Not having an emergency fund was not good.
October Goals
Better grip on a budget for November once I compare October and September.
Work on the emergency fund
See if I can find some part time income to supplement what I currently have.-Second job one or two nights a week would be a big help (pay mobile bill, pay gas for the week.)
Decrease the food bill
See where I can cut back on the mad money (IE-cash in hand) expenses or at least track them better.
Only spend on e-bay and half.com what I make selling stuff. A bit of a trade off.
I do have Quicken on my home computer and I have to face up to using it to track my spending and update directly from my checking account to Quicken. No excuses! I have to hold myself accountable for my digressions.
I do envy those folks who are able to stick to their budgets and seem to track it better than I do. I guess it's all part of my re-learning curve.
Onward and upward!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Progress
I was trying to add those really cool progress bars,but have not been able to figure out the HTML code, give me time.
To help keep me focused, I've included my money goals. Note, these goals are up there to keep me focused and keep me motivated. I'm starting from scratch here guys.
I'm going to look into pay per post as well.
Keep tuned
To help keep me focused, I've included my money goals. Note, these goals are up there to keep me focused and keep me motivated. I'm starting from scratch here guys.
I'm going to look into pay per post as well.
Keep tuned
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