I posted this in the forums in response to someone asking what everyone's goals were, and another poster explaining that goals had to be achieved with plans. Figured I should put it in my blog so I don't lose it, since it's the first time I've really written my desired life plan all out.
Overall goals: Pay off all debt, save a lot of money, learn how to invest it, and live well (and well within our means) for the rest of our lives.
The Plan: Well, I formulated those goals gradually over the past year, after 33 years of not being able to see past next payday. So part of me thinks I won't get to where I'd like to be. But the good news is, every step I take at least gets me to a better place than I was before. :-)
Step 1: Only make purchases we can afford. Stick to a budget. (Has worked well for almost a year.)
Step 2: Pay off all credit card & personal debt by 12/31/09. ($63K to go.)
Step 3: Put future raises partly toward debt snowball and savings, and partly into quality of current life (travel, gifts, home improvement).
Step 4: Clear out room in budget to make and start tending to babies in 2-3 years.
Step 5: Learn best way to invest (we're planning an international move in 5-10 years and aren't sure if maxing out US-tax-free venues will save us anything if we have to pay UK taxes on them eventually).
Step 6: After CC debt gone, babies getting taken good care of, quality of life satisfactory, and investing knowledge gained ... find a good balance between paying down remaining (house & education) debt and investing/saving like crazy to make up for lost time!
Maybe I should add (since this is about dreaming big) ...
Step 7: Live Happily Ever After!
The BIG big picture
March 20th, 2008 at 08:23 pm
March 21st, 2008 at 10:43 am 1206096182
We made not just money goals, but time management goals for me, home maintenance goals, etc.
March 21st, 2008 at 03:13 pm 1206112380
I've been skirting an issue in my mind for some time now, which is: Am I happy enough just being a person with a job, or would I be more satisfied if I had an actual career, with a track and room for advancement and all? Even if I'm more of a job-having person than a career person, shouldn't I try to branch out so I have more than just one marketable skill? If so, what else do I think I'll enjoy? I've only been at my current job two years, so I'm not bored or restless. On the other hand I just turned 34, so if I wanted to retrain I probably shouldn't wait too long.