2010 Money Goals in Pictures

I thought about doing a month. But that wasn't a challenge for me. I didn't shop last month…

You know what, this is a great idea for a post I am a bit of a hermit, that’s true…!

I went to Japan when I was younger but I'd love to visit it again!

Our Asia Tour will be Beijing, Shanghai, Macau, Singapore

I wanted to go to Cambodia or Vietnam but we aren't sure about the timing of how long we can stay away.

So we just picked our #1s.

It's my new "thing". I may do more of them!

Aww.. thank you.

That's inspiring to hear that I've helped indirectly

It’s more of a challenge than willpower, really! Don’t give me so much credit.

I’m already tempted by online things. The worst will be when I am with my sister.

If anyone thinks I’m awful on Twitter.. she is the QUEEN of Enabling. I might just head her off at the pass by telling her we’re spending the weekend organizing her apartment and closet.

Thanks! Have a great 2010.

I er.. don’t go out to the movies, theater or special events. Montreal usually has a lot of free things to go to, and our entertainment tends to be more low key.

Especially in the winter. It’s horribly cold outside..

As for coffee/drinks with friends, I don’t have many here in Montreal unless they visit from Toronto. And that’s under my “eating out” category anyway

The entertainment budget is simply for playing billiards, bowling, mini golfing, movies (haven’t been in a theater for 2 years), and actual “entertainment”. I am still pondering if I should count entertainment from when I travel — like paying for tourist attractions in this category, or leaving it in the Travel category.

At any rate, I don’t have much weight on Entertainment — I’m not a party & events kind of person, and I took the figure as an estimate from what I did spend last year, which was .. around $300.

Oh gosh yes! I suppose so. Except I’d need to get a dog, and I have 10 other scarves he could chew on and eat before I run out.

Or if I lost my mittens, perhaps.

Or I JUST HAD TO HAVE that leather jacket!!.. Just kidding.

I just like to leave it open to interpretation because I just don’t know what could be considered an emergency. Breaking a heel at an wedding event or something, perhaps?

Happy 2010!!

See, that’s the great thing about being in Canada I guess. We don’t have a Target here!!!!!!

If we did, I’d have a Category named: “Target Shopping”

OH! That’s a good emergency. Bridesmaid dress.

The gift budget is at $500 because I estimated it from what I spent last year, which was $500~…

We are also flying to Europe, and that factors into how much we give them, after paying for hotels and such. I give at least $50/head, but since this is BF’s side of the family, he pays for the gift not me.

Just a couple of hours I think I might do this every month for fun.

Yeah, Sarah asked this! $25/month because I took the number from last year. I don’t really go to the movies, and eating out or coffee with friends is under “Eating Out”… potato patata, really.

My travel budget includes everything. Hotel, flight, transportation while I’m there, food, sightseeing and entertainment

I think we are going to be fine with $3000 for 2 weeks in Europe (BF pays the other 50% by the way).. and if we go to Asia, we estimated it at $5000 each for a tour of 4-5 countries or so, all inclusive.

Yeah, there really is only so much hoarding you can do!!!

I think when it starts to become painful or making you stressed because you WANT to (and can afford to) spend the money, but can’t, it’s when it’s too tight of a budget.

Right now, this is all pretty new to me, so it feels all right, and more of a challenge (which is the way I faced my earlier debt) rather than an ultimatum as a way to get out of debt.

It’s kind of cool to think I can really make it under $1000, and still have $300 left over for incidentals on occasion. Sometimes less, because of having to see the dentist in a month, or buying pills.. but other than that, it’s pretty cool to think that I CAN make it.

I feel like I’m reliving my college ramen years, except I never (stupidly) lived so cheaply in college.

Ditto!

I am not a fan of doing annual budgets, just because a lot of things happen spontaneously with us. Like deciding to go to Boston and then Chicago was on a whim because we were both free at the time and there was a great deal.

But I think the overall goal of $20,000 works if I can spend around $1000 a month on living expenses, and save $5000 – $8000 for traveling/other.

My biggest items are always rent and food.

Thanks!

I hate budgeting by the year, like I said.. but this is an overall goal I’ll aim for, for next year.

I think I might start doing that more often I had a lot of fun in Photoshop with it.

I was thinking about my pants bursting when I ate too much from all this food I’m talking about LOL!!

Well I have no idea what a Wardrobe Emergency is. Not having proper Spanx undergarments? :\