What a busy couple of weeks I’ve had! And things are staying busy for the foreseeable future. This week is T’s birthday and I have several after school obligations, then next week I’m off to Ohio for the A.P. reading! I’m very excited, not only because it’s an excellent professional development opportunity, but also just to have a change of scenery for a week. I feel like I’ve been slugging along from task to task recently, so going on a little trip is going to be refreshing.
I’d also like to re-establish my goals for 2010, based on some of the changes I see coming in the next year or so for me. Again, I don’t want to talk too much about it here, but I think my living situation might be changing in the next year or so, and I also see some other potential life changes on the horizon. Based on this possibility, and a very compelling post SS4BC wrote a few days ago, I don’t think it’s prudent for me to throwing all my extra money at my debts right now. I know, I know, I’m changing my mind again – I’m like a broken record! I decide to focus on saving, then I decide to focus on debt payoff, then I’m back to saving again. Sheesh!
But I’m not beating myself up about being a waffler anymore. The reality is, life changes. And when life changes, even the best-laid plans can fly out the window. Right now, I think focusing on saving is the best idea for me, especially since my consumer debt is completely paid off and my other debts are at manageable levels. But maybe that will change and I’ll recommit to becoming completely debt free. Who knows? All that’s certain for me right now is that nothing is certain. Which brings me full circle, because it’s the vague state of my future that is making me want to fatten up my Freedom Fund.
So without further ado, my goals for the rest of 2010 are as follows:
1. Kick my Freedom Fund up to $5,000 by October 31, 2010
Even though my savings is about to take a major hit because my car needs some work, I have a lot of money coming in from extra work (summer school, curriculum writing, reading the AP tests) between now and August and I have an extra paycheck month in October, so this should be very manageable.
2. Contribute $2,000 to my Roth IRA
I’ve been dutifully adding $200 to my Roth every month, so I’m on track to accomplish this.
3. Visit my sister in Miami
She and I discussed the beginning of August as a good time for me to visit. I need to swallow my financial concerns and make this happen!
4. Spend at least $500 on new clothes
This is a totally weird goal for a PF blogger, but my wardrobe is, in a word, pitiful. Again, I need to suck up my financial concerns and do some spending on new clothes – without guilt. I think I’m going to revive the “$100 on” series on this blog to keep me on track.
5. Read at least 15 novels/memoirs before the end of the year
No non-fiction (besides memoirs)! I need to do more reading for fun, because I find it so edifying to read a great novel. I’m going to add a book tracker to this blog to keep up with this goal, and I’m going to count the book I’m reading right now as one of the fifteen.
6. Take 3 yoga classes
I’m persevering on this whole “find an exercise I actually like” thing. There’s a very nice yoga studio right in my neighborhood, so I’m going to give it a shot, and I need to attend at least 3 so that I can get a real feel for the practice.
So there we have it! I’m feeling very energized about these goals and excited about the next six months. And I’m so thankful to have you all here to keep me focused!
Have a great rest of the weekend!
