moana posted:

Non-Monetary Goal
- get knocked up

porkface posted:

- Secure some credit (2 cards + HELOC or better) as a safety net for possible job loss
- Save first $2k (have been lousy at saving, currently at $400)
- Be employed for 10 months of 2016
- Implement a more reliable system for paying all bills on-time (has not been a problem, but is a risk)
- Fund a trip somewhere without dipping into credit
- Pay off car early ($5,300 remaining)
- Home upgrades (sky light, solar)
- Increase retirement savings to above the match level (I'm way behind)
- Get a bachelor's degree (so I can advance at work)

This is the first time I'm doing financial goals, and it's showing me that I have more spending goals than my current budget can support (as evidenced by lack of savings). ...by a lot.

The good news is that if I stay employed and continue to reduce bills here and there, some of this will be a slam dunk. The sky light and solar have low out-of-pocket costs, and I'm still able to get credits at community college for 2 terms before I have to shell out real college costs. The trip doesn't have to be crazy (Hawaii in April?). Paying off the car early may have to happen only if I get a bonus at work.

It's an idealistic set of goals, but I think a lot of this can be done if I put it in a spreadsheet and save on the front-end of every paycheck.

moana posted:

welp, look who's getting started early with her new year goals

slap me silly posted:

Ok let's play good idea / bad idea for slap me silly in 2016. I'm thinking about selling my house ($XXX/mo mortgage payment) and moving into a one bedroom apartment ($XXX + 30% in rent). Two points in favor: the apartment would be walking distance from work, whereas the house is a 20-30 minute drive that's getting worse and worse every year. And, I'm tired of being responsible for a house that has way more space than I need and incessant yard work and maintenance demands. Points against: the house is in a cooler area than the apartment would be, and apartments have, you know, shared walls and poo poo. Financially, the apartment may cost a bit more over time but probably not by much - I can certainly afford it. Anybody else has done this poo poo?

alnilam posted:

IllegallySober posted:

February has been a frustrating month. Cash flow problems for my boss (not unheard of in real estate, but not ideal) combined with my unemployment running out and removing my safety net has not led to much progress. Throw in my father being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and being in the hospital all month, making it difficult for me to get work done, and yeah

Hopefully March will be a much better month. I haven't made much progress at all in February but on the positive side I haven't put a dime on a credit card and have adjusted my expenses to deal with the situation as much as possible.

/E/N rant

Tyro posted:

Well my wife who is the primary earner lost her job and is probably switching gears to work for a startup for like $20K a year + equity. So our household income has gone down by over 100K and our goals have radically changed.

Potrzebie posted:

Monthly Update: Not a lot has happened. Stock markets continue to suck. -20% YTD

froglet posted:

- read three finance books relevant to Australia
Done! I get the impression the people writing these books want to be entombed in a pyramid made of gold or something.

Omne posted:

1. So far, so good. However, I was just informed that my mom won't actually be able to pay for the rehearsal dinner, so that's now on us and we hadn't budgeted for it. This is gonna be very tight.

Cicero posted:

Yup, basically did this with an Alaska Airlines card, and now with a Chase Sapphire Preferred. Will probably get in one or two more Alaska Airlines cards in before we move since they're churnable.

Omne posted:

Just want to say....goal #1 is complete! We were able to cover the entire wedding with money we had saved up, including the rehearsal dinner expense that we hadn't originally planned for. Additionally, we no longer need to cover the honeymoon, as that has been given to us as a a VERY generous gift!

spwrozek posted:

I hear you for sure. I have been driving hard at my goals for the last 5 years (maybe longer) so I almost feel a void. Most people I just can't share these great things with though unfortunately.

I think I unfortunately face a reality that I need to start saving for my mom once alimony runs out from my dad. My one sister might be able to help, doubtful on my bro and other sister. I don't have much confidence in my mom working a lot or saving at all. I think she has about 80K for retirement.

balancedbias posted:

5 - So, I helped out my sister with this money because she was in a pinch after the Verizon strike. I'm still accumulating, but nowhere near making the goal.

spinst posted:

3. Do something vacation-y this summer without taking on debt. I haven't been on a vacation in 4 years and I need one desperately! Renting a cabin on San Juan Island for two days in August.

alnilam posted:

Goal 3: Buy a house

Achieved since Q1 and we love the h*ck out of our house

alnilam posted:

Wait I meant to say "the people inside it "

Nail Rat posted:

Congrats on FIRE/second career as a parent!

Q3 Update:

-Max 401k. On pace!
-Max my and my wife's IRAs. On pace!
-Max my HSA. On pace!
-Pay off personal loan I took out to sell the underwater condo(we'd be 100% debt-free after this!). $20,000 out of 26,000 paid off. On pace!!
-Add 2,000 to emergency fund. Not started.

stretch goal:
-Add 10,000 to house down payment fund (this would be the start of said fund, at the very end of the year).Not started.

I don't think I'll quite hit the stretch goal, but I should be able to at least hit the original stretch goal of $5,000. Additionally, net worth just hit $100,000 so that's something! It was about -$45k at the start of 2013.

Not a Children posted:

Not a Children posted:

Handles of: Hendricks, Titos

Fifths of: Olmeca Altos (I refuse to splurge on tequila), Sailor Jerry, Dimple Pinch

Beer of: Shiner Prickly Pear (12 pack), Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' (6 pack), Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot (4 pack)

Wine of: Red, white (2 bottles each)

Moneyball posted:

No issues with this?

alnilam posted:

^^^ sorry about your troubles bud

Spooky Halloween / Belated Q3 update

Goal 1: Migrate my etrade roth IRA and taxable brokerage to Vanguard (already underway), and figure out a good allocation for me to stick with for retirement investment + low-risk assets for the money needed for goal 3

Now fully complete! Allocation looks like dis:

pre:

      | % in rIRA |   % in taxable
Bonds |        	  |     9.7%
US    |   63.0%   |    
Intl  |        	  |    22.6%
REIT  |    4.7%	  |
-----------------------------------
Total |   67.7%   |    32.3%

(thank you forums poster monster on a stick for advice on tax efficiency)
and will look more or less similar moving forward except for some US being added to the taxable account as necessary, since my tax-sheltered space maxes out very quickly.


Goal 2: Buy an engagement ring

I officially got scarried and it's great! Did you know that in PA you don't need an officiant, you can marry ya own drat self? Thanks Quakers! We performed our dark ritual in the middle of the woods in Sept, standing in a stream, with almost nobody else around... we are forest-loving hippies and she doesn't like drawing a ton of attention to herself either so it was absolutely perfect for us. Then we went and visited some family to celebrate. Suffice to say no wedding debt was incurred


Goal 3: Buy a house

Achieved since Q1 and we still love the h*ck out of our house


Goal 4: Save 40% of my salary invested as long-term savings.
Stretch goal: save 60% of my salary.

Fully on track for 40% and see no reason I won't hit it, probably not going to hit 60% but w/e

Nail Rat posted:

Changes in goals due to surprise divorce after only 14 months. GWM (that it didn't come later), BWL (that I now have to work through all this emotional baggage)? I dunno.

-$15k to 401k.
-$4000 to IRA.
-Max HSA.
-Pay off personal loan.
-Finish year with over $10,000 in savings.

Next year will be better, I hope. Just trying to keep some cash aside for paying her off so she doesn't go after my 401k or HSA.

Nail Rat posted:

Congrats on all that stuff, god drat! The way you crushed even the stretch goals is the best part.

moana posted:

It's great to read all of these posts about getting poo poo done, even when plans change You all are awesome!


let's go knock 2017 on its loving rear end!