I am fast approaching almost a year of self-employment. In fact, December 16, 2014 was my last day at my old job and I was on a plane the next day flying away from my past and towards my future.
This past year included:
- Going to Hawaii and Australia
- Getting my head back in the game
- Managing my health better
- Reconnecting with friends and loved ones
- Learning how to drive (and getting a car)
- Becoming a member of the best Mastermind group ever
- Switching to an all cash budget. I haven’t used a credit card since the end of March (I think!)
- Tentatively getting back into the dating game. Fun!
- Growing as an entrepreneur.
- Going to FinCon-epic!
- Speaking on a panel at two conferences: Type A Conference and Chicago Blog Week
Yes, it was pretty epic and more than I could have imagined. The biggest downer for this past year has been two specific things:
- Learning how to manage business income flow-I used to get paid once a month and it was a nice check. Business income happens all month long. You would think that this is a good thing. Well, money is always good. But, I am currently working very, very hard. And I am working very hard to accumulate large amounts of income at the end of the month. That’s the way I like it.
- My credit rating has taken a nice hit-I was very, very serious about kicking credit to the curb. While I do like having a good credit score-I like not borrowing for things I don’t need even better. Please note: I’ve already borrowed for my education, fun stuff, and a home. I have nothing that I want to borrow for again. As for future home purchases I would like to put down as much cash as possible. Buy the time I make my next home purchase my credit report will be nice and clean again. Because your credit history can change. When you switch to a cash budget and income hasn’t arrived, your payments are late. Period. That’s why people who are self-employed talk about having a substantial savings. I HAD a savings but I also knew that there would be a risk of this happening because I was starting my self-employment from scratch. Basically, there was a gap between my incoming business income and my saved money. I had to use it and that was ok! When I was leaving my old job I just didn’t have the energy to truly start my business and transition to self-employment at the same time. Yes, it would have been a better way to do things. But, it wasn’t the best way for me. Fortunately, I’m just about to turn the corner on that pesky income problem. I have been tracking my income, am testing out the You Need A Budget (YNAB) software and am very serious about continuing self-employment. Which means I have to get a better handle on my income flow. Thanks to Michelle from Budget Bloggess for sharing YNAB and her experience with it so far.
As my regular readers know, I am a HUGE, HUGE believer in having a well crafted Vision Board to help you work towards what you dream for yourself. I have already worked on it recently, but now am in the process of really getting specific on some remaining lingering goals. Instead of going to a happy hour bar crawl on Friday I stayed in and got this done. I don’t like waiting until December to think about what I want for myself in the upcoming year. I continue to be amazed at how this year has gone and I now would like to take care of some lingering goals.
Planning my future is a serious thing and it was great putting pen to paper to see what I’ve already achieved, what I would like to sustain, change, and manifest. Here is the framework for October 2015-December 2016 (understanding that things can change because life changes).
- Continue prioritizing my family and friends. Love them!!
- Date-pretty self-explanatory.
- Pay off all credit related debt by FinCon 2016. Time to get this done. Am so over it. Now I have the energy required to rock this goal.
- Begin living on last month’s earned income. In fact, I would really like to be two months ahead on my mortgage and student loans. Will be working on that immediately.
- Lose the last pesky 20 pounds. They are making me crazy.
- Run the Colfax 1/2 Marathon in May-I have been talking about running a 1/2 marathon for at least 5 years. Time to get it done. And, I think training for the race will be helpful for my weight loss goal.
- Meet my business income related benchmarks. I won’t mention them now, but I have very clear income related goals and I will work hard to meet them.
- Go on a Mommy/Daughter trip to Hawaii. I have 2 roundtrip tickets that I’ve already earned (from before I started my all cash budget started).
- Attend the following conferences: FinCon16, BlogHer, and Podcast Movement. Cash only and pay as little as possible. Hopefully I will also make some deals that will cancel out my initial outflows. I will also submit panels/propose talks to hopefully cover some of my participation. I’m working on those proposals now.
- Saying no to travel…for awhile. I don’t plan on traveling from January-May. I am trying to date more and I feel that it’s helpful to-oh, I don’t know, be in town to do that LOL! The only travel exception would be if I manage to put together a deal with a country to advertise it. Am serious and will be working on that. Or, to see my Grandma.
- Rebuild my savings!! I hate not having a nice cushion. I want to get this done.
- Depending on income-seriously consider a plan to accelerate paying off my remaining mortgage. Yep, it has gotten low enough now that it’s almost like someone’s bad credit card debt. Seriously. For now I will continue throwing increasing amounts at the principle.
- Blog related goals-I have many goals for both The Shop My Closet Project and Colorado Luv Hub. Part of my not traveling during the Spring is to get them done but that’s a whole different post.
I feel a lot better now that I’ve created a framework to work with for the upcoming year. Again, life is unpredictable and who knows what’s going to happen. But, I will work as hard as I can to tick through the list of goals and tasks that I’ve set for the next year.
Oh, and vote for the next President even though I am already totally over the election.
Have You Thought About Your Next Year?
Any Lingering Goals That You
Still Haven’t Taken Care of Yet?
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your past year is been busy and fun at the same time I’m sure you’ll do the same and more also in your future!!!
It has been a lot more productive than I thought it would be! I am now trying to be a lot more deliberate and working on some lingering goals.
Seems like some really solid goals Michelle. After Oct I’m thinking about joining the dating pool. It’s been far too long and I’m running out of excuses…especially the one where I’d hoped to meet someone the “old-fashioned way.” ha! 🙂
Ironically, I’ve met more guys the “old-fashioned way” than online. I just continue doing stuff outside of my house. They DO call Denver “Menver” for a reason. And, I still really hate online dating. That said-I will stay “open” to it.
Having a framework for what you want is something I never fully appreciated until pretty recently, but it really is transformative. I check in with myself at least once a month to make sure what I’m doing is still in alignment with the things I really want.
I have always been a planner, but I’m finding myself to be a lot more focused because I have so much energy now. I think the monthly check ins are “key.” Especially when it comes to generating freelance income.
Good luck on your upcoming goals. I’ve thought about 2016 quite a bit lately. I have 4 trips tentatively planned including Fincon. I want to pay for all of them with money from my side hustles.
Jason, change that to-you WILL pay for all of those trips with your side hustle money! Thanks for the good vibes. You too!!
It sounds like you’ve had a crazy busy year! We’ve just been chugging along this year. But next year is going to be a big year of change for us.
It has been a crazy busy year! I’m still kind of amazed at it all. Now, I’m trying to keep focused and knock out additional lingering goals. Can’t wait to hear how it goes for the Hubs and his placement. I have a friend going through that process now. Sending good vibes.
It sounds like you’ve got a pretty good plan going forward. My birthday is at the end of the month and I always use that as an opportunity to evaluate my life and clarify my goals. I’m working on them now, including gathering images for my own vision board. I’m also signed up to run a half marathon in May and I know from past experience, having a race is the best motivator for me to run consistently. Good luck on everything!
Which race are you doing?? Happy early birthday! I love my Vision Board. I’m totally over some of these lingering issues. Time to get things done. Good luck with your race.
You’ve done so much this year! I’m in planning mode too and really thinking about my goals and my future. It’s exciting and scary!
Melanie, all I want to do is lose weight, pay off debt, save money, and date. That’s it. And grow an online empire. Ahem. We’re going to rock 2016!!
I can sense that you are busier this year Michelle and I think it’s a blessing! Next year would be so much better to you. Good luck!
Thanks Jayson! Being busy keeps me out of trouble.
Wow, that’s a great list of goals. I can tell you’re really working hard! Weight loss is a big goal for me, too. I’ve got at least 20 pounds to go. And it absolutely needs to be gone before San Diego 😉
I was not bikini ready for Australia. I plan to be for San Diego LOL!
Looks like you’ve got it all planned out! I really do need to start writing down my goals for next year. I have more ideas than I have time to execute them – need to prioritize!
I’ve always done this but now I’m really trying to stay focused because things are starting to “happen” and I want to make sure that I’m organized and ready so that I can welcome opportunities in.
Shit has it really been that long?!?!
I am not where I want to be and if I don’t make changes, I”m going to be in the same position a year from now. That’s not acceptable to me. I’ve been going nowhere for two years. But man, some changes are not easy to make.
It has been that long! I am now reaching really deep, journaling, etc. and thinking about how I can: refine my process, reach my goals, make more money, and date. That’s it. It’s that “simple.” I would seriously, seriously encourage you to begin thinking about what you want for yourself. I am an example of thinking that 2 years would just be 2 years. It actually became 5 years-just saying.
Nice goals Michelle. It feels like you’d have a better year. Congrats in advance.
Thanks Sandra! Now-I just need to work really hard LOL!