Archive for December, 2011
A Year in Review
I keep posting super sporadically as I’ve been drowing in work as of late. But now that I’m on holidays, I figure I should do an update. I’m going to try to post (minimum) twice a month next year, hopefully it goes more to plan than this year.
But, on for the fun — here’s what I planned for my 2011 goals, and here’s how it really went down:
2011 Financial Goals
I have a few big goals over the next few years in terms of finances, including…
- Pay off my $10,000 student loan by the end of 2011:
SUCCESS! — paid this off by Oct 2011 - Save $10,000 by the end of 2011 (for retirement/down payment)
SORTA — My bonus got bumped to January, so I figure I’ll hit around $9,000 by then. - Buy a home in the next few years
ON TRACK — planning for late 2013 - Earn an additional $5,000/year from sources other than my full time job
FAIL — earned approx $500. Didn’t feel like working, after working a fully day! - Become financially independent and work for myself
ON TRACK — but no set timeframe
- Career wise, I got promoted and now have more responsibility, more opportunity, and several direct reports. This also included an increase in salary and annual bonus
- School wise, I finally graduated school once and for all with a degree, with honors!
- Finance wise, I increased my network by +25%
Overall, I’m fairly happy with myself — nocking off my student loan felt great, and I’m well on my way to having a decent down payment for my eventual home. I didn’t hit all the goals, but I got pretty far on the ones that mattered the most. I think I need to rethink my extra-income idea for 2012… just with how my work is, I don’t think its going to happen.
For 2012, I’m going to come up with a list of goals — mostly focused around saving, eating out less, finding the work/life balance, and becoming more active.
