OK, my goals are focusing less on debt repayment for the time being. I will work on paying off CC as I am able to, but I'm not stressing about getting my CC debt down to $35K by the end of the year, nor paid off by the end of 2009. We will need several big strokes of luck to make that happen (which is not to say it won't, just that I can't count on it so I can't plan for it).
2008 GOALS
AUGUST:
- Finish up UK taxes & mail them out (just need to fill out one more section)
- Pay off $3500 of debt, get CC debt below $50K and house debt below $300K
- Have garage sale; put half of proceeds toward home improvement and other half in travel fund (still need about $1300 before October)
- Try to sell futon, old cell phones & gold necklace online; put proceeds toward travel fund
- Post-sales, reorganize and try to plan for a less-cluttered home
SEPTEMBER:
- Pay minimum on debt (about $1400)
- Pay off medical debt and st. loan interest bill
- Start paying back student loans; reorganize budget to fit them (if they come due; otherwise move to next month)
- Reorganize chores to accomodate NT class attendance and study time
- Finish saving for trip
OCTOBER:
- Pay at least minimum on debt, hopefully more
- Switch my & NT's cells to prepaid; put AS on cheap individual plan; see if this saves us $$
- Start saving for Xmas, CSA farm share and Feb./March vacation
NOVEMBER:
- Reorganize budget to accomodate mortgage reset; see where reset takes us & investigate possible refinancing
- Decide on flex spending amount for health insurance (take possible pregnancy into account)
DECEMBER:
- Annual checkup; discuss baby-making potential
- Assess financial progress; see if it seems feasible to start trying in next year
- Start saving for b-days
2009 GOALS
JANUARY:
- Set 2009 financial goals more concretely; hopefully find CC payoff timetable that works (CC-free in 2010?)
- Start baby emergency fund
FEBRUARY:
- Start working on NT app for lifting conditions on green card
MARCH:
- Send in green card app
- Start saving for fall vacation
That's as far out as I can see right now. I'll revisit in a couple months when some of these financial variables have straightened themselves out; then I'll have a clearer view of what I can do, and when.
2008/2009 goals
July 30th, 2008 at 04:29 pm
July 30th, 2008 at 05:16 pm 1217434560
July 30th, 2008 at 06:03 pm 1217437401
If you want candid numbers on child expenses, let me know! I've done it the grand way (with baby 1) and the inexpensive way (3 and on).
July 30th, 2008 at 06:27 pm 1217438862
July 30th, 2008 at 06:48 pm 1217440088
LOL merch. Well, I am hoping some of my smart planning in other areas will rub off on the baby side of things, though I realize (through seeing friends go through it) that it's a humbling and unpredictable experience in many ways, and that no amount of preparation actually prepares you for what it's really like.