On Instagram, I posted about my goals for this month. This is going to be my first regular month where I am all settled in and ready to finally get back on track for this year. They are pretty ambitious because I am trying to figure out a routine that works for me. I’m committed to checking off everything on this list so it deserves a blog post.
I was hoping to be a lot further along in my Debt Free Journey but I am not. But that’s ok because all the recent changes in my life have been nothing short of amazing. (I will post about my life updates in a separate post.)
Now let’s get into it! See my progress below:
✅ 1. Pay off a credit card
We went over our budget for our move in March and of course, when your emergency fund is depleted, Murphy (unforeseen expenses) comes to visit. I ended up using my “emergency credit card” and ended up with a balance of $760. April’s minimum payment barely moved the balance. I knew I had to pay it off right away because I did not need my present mistake to also weigh me down along with my past.
I am glad that I gave myself this ultimatum because it feels so good to be back to my tally of “7 paid off credit cards.”
✅ 2. Save for a “mini” emergency fund $500
I was really disappointed because I was doing really well with avoiding any more debt accumulation with my credit cards. I then realized that beating myself up over it will not make my situation better. I decided to learn from this and move on. I added a mini emergency fund on top of my regular $1,000 emergency fund to help give some cushion between my unforeseen expenses and an actual emergency.
I had some money leftover from my last pay at my previous employer when I left my old job so I used that money towards building my mini emergency fund. I am happy to check this box because I feel a lot more financially secure with this padding in my arsenal.
3. Replenish our $2,000 emergency fund and move to a no-penalty CD
We used our combined EF to put a down payment towards our new house rental. It was short-noticed so we were very grateful for baby step 1!
Thanks to my husband, we will be replenishing this soon. Once we get the money, creating the no-penalty CD account and moving the funds into the account will be my task.
✅ 4. Automate savings
It’s done! I have set up a monthly auto-transfer to our shared savings.
We are having a family trip in 2020 that is something that we just would not want to miss. Family time is my end goal and is what started my journey. Anything to get some family time along the way takes priority. As long as we’re not accruing more debt and can still pay off current debts with our current snowball amount when we go on this trip, then it’s all good!
I want to start saving so we can buy our tickets for our trip in cash by July 2019. I will keep saving until May 2020 for our pocket money and will be putting it in with our EF so it can earn some interest as it sits. I will hustle 3x as hard to make this goal! It will be possible. I know it. 🙂
✅ 5. At least 15 no-spend days
I did it! YAY!!!! It was a really fun challenge and will be trying this out every month.
✅ 6. Read (at least halfway) a book
I read the book I got for free at work called “The Decoded Company.” I lowered this goal to at least half a book because I know it’s going to be a busy month. With very little time to focus on my goals, my train rides have temporarily become the only time (I’m restricting myself) I can be on my social media for the blog. To kill two birds with one stone, I listen to audiobooks while I do my social media engagements on the train. I have been listening to the “5-Second rule” by Mel Robbins. It has been really great for productivity and a great motivation to complete this to-do list.
✅ 7. Organize office
I have not been home too much since we moved in so after putting together my office, I have only come in periodically to dump stuff in it like mails, random items, receipts, etc. It was chaos and needed some joy-checking.
One Sunday after being back from my work trip, I just deep-cleaned everything. It felt so good! I’ve been back in my office and have been creating again. I’m so happy!
8. Box at least 5x
I want to be more active so I have set the goal to go down to the basement where my boxing equipment is located and just have fun! So far I’ve only been down there 3x.
9. Upload 3 new Etsy listings
I have uploaded 1 new listing so far. 2 more to go!
10. Be better at meal planning
We have been off schedule with our grocery shopping for 2 weeks now so it has been rough but I’m going to try again next week.
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