Seeking Financial Freedom

I’ve recently just finished reading “The Millionaire Next Door” by Thomas Stanley and William Danko.  I’m always interested in how to better improve my financial well being.  One of the things that hit me the most was goals!  I used to really resist the ideas of goals.  I thought that the more care free, roll by the seat of my pants person I was I wouldn’t be tied down to something and risk failure.  However, I learned from my husband that you never really get anywhere that way.  There is no driving force to succeed and nothing to push you to excel.  So I started with making yearly goals last year.  I posted them on this blog and tracked them monthly.

I have created new goals for 2009 and they have also been posted on this blog.  However, it is now time for the next step…Monthly goals to help ensure I meet my yearly goals!  I know, it’s May already so why am I just now starting to make monthly goals??  Because I just realized how off track I am to meet my 2009 goals if I don’t even look at them more that 2 times a year.  My plan is to set Generalized monthly goals now, and then when I do my monthly update of my Net Worth I will expand on and set new goals for the upcoming month.
So here is the start of my new set of intermediate Monthly goals:

May:

• Create a budget – ensure EVERY penny is accounted and spoken for.  Ensure a savings plan is in the budget
• Order School books for CS 140 – expense this money to the GI Bill account once it has been set up
• Post Book Report for “The Millionaire Next Door”
• Join Pre-Paid Legal
• Make a decision on Life insurance and start the paperwork (USAA or Zanders)

June:

• Start Class
• Re-evaluate the budget and how it’s going.  Start planing on expenses for the Child.
• Verify on GI Bill website that I am taking a class this month (end of Month)
• Post Book Report for Angels and Demons
• Fill out a Will and get it properly signed and saved

July:

• Lose 5 lbs
• Take a third look at the budget.  Ensure that things are working and I am staying within the limits.  If not, adjust as necessary and/or find ways to cut back.
• Create account to hold all GI Bill payments
• Verify I am taking a class this month on WAVE
• Register for another class from Park

August:

• Lose 5 lbs

September:

• Lose 5 lbs
• Take Vacation to ‘Sin City’ to See Husband’s friend get Married.  Pay for Vacation with Cash Saved!

October:

• Lose 5 lbs

November:

• Lose 5 lbs

December:

• Lose 5 lbs