Monthly Goal Meet Up: December

I have money on my mind and since I failed so miserably last month when it came to money, I’d like to try again this month.  I’m going to try to use the tools at http://www.smartcookies.com.  I was signed up with Mint, but I think I find it intimidating.

To participate in the meet-up:

1. Post a list of your career/life related goals for this month, along with your checked off goals from last month if you’d like, on your own blog.
2. Go back to the Monthly Goal Meet-Up and leave a link to your post in the comments (*If you don’t have your own blog, feel free to share your list here in the comments to join in!)
3. Then, check out everyone else’s lists as they leave comments – click their links, visit their blogs, say hello, meet, greet and support each other because that’s what it’s all about!

December Goals

• Following the plan of the Smart Cookies, gather up all my bills and credit/debit card statements and figure out where my money is going.
• Step 2 of the plan, create my perfect day.  Actually take this activity seriously and really write about what my perfect day would be like to be able to take a good look at what my goals are.
• Print out a Rather Card to keep in my wallet
• Step 3 of the plan, get focused.  Actually track my spending, not necessarily by doing weekly posts (that are hard to format), but at least checking in with my finances once a week.
• Post my goals and savings/spending plan in a prominent place, like my fridge or bathroom mirror.
• Longer-than-a-month-goal: Build up my emergency fund to be a month’s living expenses.

Support System

Recently, I had a breakdown.  It was awful and I didn’t particularly enjoy it.  But I was stressed and rather unhappy and it happened.  This resulted in a long (and stream of consciousness) email to a very good friend.  Thankfully my friend was able to read my stream of consciousness email and respond in a more organized fashion.  (Although that wasn’t exactly difficult since the mere act of adding paragraphs would have been a step up.)  She sympathized with my situation, gave me some great advice, and told me to start working on the advice so I could get over it.

From her advice, I was able to make some action items and at least start on a plan for what to do next to decrease unhappiness.  I usually don’t get gushy, but having a strong support system (family and friends) has been essential lately.  I’m so glad my family and friends know me well enough to know when I’m unhappy and be able to suggest things that will make me happy.  Especially when my vision of life is too blurry to figure it out.

Take away

• Let your friends get to know you
• Communicate, both when you’re unhappy and happy
• Use your support system