Hi, everyone.

I am creating a Financial Plan for 2019, not a resolution. I have found resolutions to be too wishy-washy and not specific enough. For example, a lot of people say they want to lose weight or get out of debt, but there is no follow up or plan behind that. The goals must be achievable, measurable, and have a date or “ongoing” attached. So, here is my plan with notes on the steps needed to accomplish it.

1) Purchase a used car with saved funds and tax refund by the end of February. I need about $7000.00 to buy a car in decent shape and pay tax and registration. I have about $5937.00. My tax refund should be at least $1000.00 and I will be putting in at least another $210.00 in savings from payday savings. I also estimate I may get around $100.00 (yes, it’s in that bad of shape) for a trade in. All of that should put my balance over $7300.

2)Pay down balance on cc #1 to $2000.00 by December 31st. To that, I need to pay $228.00 per month on this debt. I currently pay about $200.00, so this will be a bit of a stretch.

3) Continue to eat super healthy by growing some of my own food and buy some at the farmer’s market and stores. Doing this, especially growing my own vegetables, makes a considerable difference in food expenses overall. I will contribute the estimate on what I would save to credit card payoff. Ongoing.

4) Contribute any coupon or sales savings to credit card payoff. This is a money game I play. Ongoing.

5) I will also contribute any funds I get from rebates to credit card payoff also. Ongoing

Wins

1) I have kept emergency savings well over target figure for nearly a year. Woo-Hoo!

2) I have dutifully contributed to savings every payday.

3) I am close to having enough to buy a good used car.

4) I have saved money with coupons and grocery store sales, enabling me to put more into savings and pay more to credit cards.

5) The mortgage is significantly reduced.

6) I have been able to eat good, organic food for much of the year through growing some and buying some. This enables me to stay healthier.

7) I paid cash to replace a dishwasher this year. Update: I forgot that I also replaced a tv and computer monitor with cash this year.

8) I have been recommended for promotion. If that goes through, I will get a significant bump in pay.

9) I paid cash to attend a work related conference and make a presentation. I received a $100.00 award for my presentation. (WooHoo!!!) I was also reimbursed in full for my costs in the trip. I deposited my "loot" into my professional savings account for my next trip.


Losses

1) I was not able to buy a good used car to replaced my current car this year. Good used cars under 100K miles that are affordable are hard to find. I think this will be resolved when I have added more funds from the next 4 paychecks and get my tax refund.