I'm really proud of our accomplishments so far.:)

From the goals thread at the beginning of the year:http://www.amitymama.com/vb/mamas-simplifying-thrift-forum/363663-put-your-2008-thrift-decluttering-debt-reducing-etc-goals-here.html




Here was my goals list:

So far:

~Start contributing to DH's 401K. Yay! We did this! 6% to get the company .75% match. I'm so proud of this one. :)
~Pay 2500 to the midwife for HB. Surprise! She dropped her fee to 2100 because I am a repeat client. :) Down $600, will use the tax rebate coming to pay the remaining $1500.
~Pay off about 2500 credit card debt. Yahoo! Got this one completely taken care of! It was actually just over 3K
~Get the emergency fund built back up. Yep, this too. :)
~Start saving for a new(used) vehicle, or repairs to our old ones. Not quite, but we do have an emergency fund that these can come out of....would still like to save a dedicated amount for a new vehicle, though.
~Save for a family vacation. I have a little saved, but realistically, it will be used up while I am out on maternity leave in the fall. Besides, I feel like crap most of the time, so a big vacation wouldn't be much fun for me right now. Hopefully next spring we can make this a reality. I am still considering a weekend trip somewhere, maybe.

~Figure out how to increase income. Everytime DH gets a raise, it is taken by insurance increases (I'm PT, so ineligible). We're up to 460/mo. on a $50K gross income between the 2 of us. It is ridiculous, especially with all that they refuse and we are still responsible for. I work 25 hours a week, but after childcare, I have only added about 350/mo to the household income. It does make a big difference, though, because our budget is so tight. I love what I do, Anna will be going to school in 2 years, and I contribute to a state retirement plan. I feel it is worth it for me to continue working. Still working on this one. I was going back to school in the fall to finish my degree, but that is on hold for a while, now. DH is pondering going back for a his Bachelor's, too. He really enjoys the management role he is in, but probably can't get much further without a 4yr degree.

Now, you guys know way too much about our finances. Is it even possible to reach my goals on this income? I know we can do the first 3. The second 2 are really just pipe dreams and hope for the best.

I, too, reserve the right to come back and edit.

Wow - you're doing great.

I evidently had no goals for this year, looking at that thread. How about that? Now I can do whatever I want. :hahaha:

I'll make some right now:

thoroughly declutter again in anticipation of getting the heck outta here

plan menus better to accommodate the fact that I'd rather be running in the evening than making elaborate meals (crockpot, prepping, etc)

when we do buy a house again, get one we can put 40% or more down on.

Thanks for doing this! I was wondering - what was I thinking? Am I on track? I have no idea. But - um - well - I guess that was *me* who posted those goals, LOL and even if I didn't consciously realize it that is the track I'm on:

Our biggest, overarching goals:

*save as much of our "new income" as possible
*drastically increase the amount of food we grow/raise ourselves and/or buy locally

We are doing really well on both those counts! By save I mean, don't increase our spending to accommodate our new income, which we've done - except we've spent on the other goal, increasing the amount of food we grow/raise ourselves.

More specific:

*sit down together and set a new zero-based budget including savings and paying off our secured debts (small car loan, HEL, and mortgage) and/or saving for an addition on our house (we need to do some strategizing on what will work best) still need to work on implementing the budget but we have done this

*compacting...still need to hammer out the details. But we really want to continue to reduce our consumption of new goods, and especially goods from China. never hammered out the details but we're thinking about this, esp not buying from China

*I want to get the basement heated and then declutter it thoroughly. heated, yes, decluttered - about half done

*Declutter the main floor very deeply, again. we did make some progress on this - there is more to do but one big area - by the tv/stereo - has been vastly improved.

*Get filing in order and set up 2008 for smooth biz record-keeping. doing ok w/keeping records, old filing still needs to happen

*Declutter the cow shed. not yet...

*Set up for raising animals for food this spring. Meat birds, Highland cattle, a pig or two? Not sure what's on the list, but all we be done with CASH and meat birds are highest on the list.yep it's happening!!!

*Work on farm to school project. work is ongoing!

Last but most important:

*Live slowly, calmly, deliberately. Spend time with each other. Enjoy each moment.

I have been falling down on this one. :wah: I feel rush, rush, rush a lot of the time with the 2 jobs and juggling everything. I need to remember this is the most important thing!

Angela, you're doing great! I will come back to the income question...I know you're not alone in feeling that way.