I’ve been a little absent from my blog lately, but it’s for a good reason; I’m finishing up my credential this semester and dedicating myself to completing it! I’m just about at the half way point, whoo hoo! Okay, enough of the exclamatory sentences. I realize I’m a little behind on updating my quarterly goals, but better late than never in my book. So here goes –
Finances
Goal: To save an additional $9,000 in savings this year.
Status: Well, I’m a bit behind on this one. I haven’t done the calculations, but based on a ballpark figure, I’ve only saved about $3,000 or 1/3 the goal. But I have a good excuse for this pitiful figure.
Good News: I took a chunk of my savings and paid down my car. Instead of owing $4,600 on my Honda, I only owe $2,822 now. My goal has been redirected to getting the car paid off within the next few months and saving the monthly payment of $322 thereafter. Basically, my focus has changed.
Biking
Goal: To bike 1,000 miles this year.
Status: I’ve made it to the 1/2 way mark at 500 miles.
Good news: I’ve been averaging about 15 – 18 miles a week so if this continues I should add another 150 miles before the year’s end.
Work
Goal: I didn’t make one of these this year since I was completing my credential program. However, my goal for 2012 is to get a teaching job.
Status: Well, there was a slight chance I would have a job by the end of the year that fell through (I sort of factored this in). Believe me, I hustled and schmoozed, but the timing just didn’t work out.
Good news: Instead, I’ve accepted a long-term sub position for someone I know who is going out on maternity leave. She is trying to take January through June off (if her finances and school district will allow it), so that would give me work for the remainder of the school year. I guess beggar’s can’t be choosers – I’m going to end up with a position for almost 6 months while I send in resumes to just about every school district in California.
Blog
Goal: I really didn’t make any concrete blog goals either this year. However, I’ll have more time to focus on this by December. New goal – increase readership by 1,000 visitors a month.
Status: If my Word Press stats are any indication, I’ve increased my daily visitors by about 50-70 people a day. If I can keep this up, I shouldn’t have a problem increasing by 1,000 per month.
Good News: I’ve been lucky to have such a great support network through the Yakezie with members guest posting for me each week. That has really been helpful.
My end of the year status will be fairly tepid as well as it’s a little difficult to make giant leaps and bounds on my finance goals when I’m not generating much income. However, keeping my goals lofty makes me reach a little more towards progress than expecting less of myself.
How are your annual goals so far?
26 Comments
Congrats on the growth of your blog. That’s great. Congrats on your biking too. That takes commitment. Sounds like you are doing well with things if you ask me.
@Miss T – Thanks for the support. I think considering the final quarter of this year I’m focusing on school, I’m doing okay. Next year will be better!
Great job on the blog and good luck with the job search. Hopefully, you’ll land in one of the cities that you are thinking about.
@Retire by 40 – I keep checking for jobs weekly! Surely things will open up next summer. 😉
Congrats on the progress and good luck with the job search. I will borrow your bike goal for next year. My fitness goal has long gone (in the wrong direction). I have to be more focused on those…
@Suba – Biking is great exercise. And if you live near the Orange line bike lane, you have a great, safe path to cycle down. I’m not sure when that north/south route is opening up, but more bike lanes means more biking!
Sometimes we learn more from the mistakes or misses than the successes. Keep it up! I am on target although I feel a little pressure.
@Krantcents – The final few months of the year always feel like there’s more pressure than when you have the whole year to complete goals. I’m looking forward to 2012 with great aspirations.
Keep it up, LH. Even though you might feel buried, you’re making progress.
@101 Centavos – Thanks for the support and encouragement!
I think getting the sub job is a great start! It will take you through the end of the year, and you will then also have a reference when you interview for other teaching jobs.
We are trying to pay off debt too, so I think it is smart to pay on the car. You’ll “earn” more in interest that way then letting the money sit in a savings account.
@Melissa – Thanks for the support! The job is a good deal and you’re right, I’ll have a few more references.
Congrats on the school! You’re almost there. From someone who just started, it feels like a long way away!
You sound like you’re doing fantastic and congrats on the car payment!
Sorry I had a lot of exclamation marks in my comments as well.. lol just realized that.
@Young and Thrifty – Good luck on yours too! It does seem like a far away goal when you start, but it goes by quickly. I can’t believe I’m almost half way through the semester (give or take a week or two. 😉 )
Congrats on the goals and the school – it must be tough getting a teaching job out there. Where I live, teachers are hard to find, and they get paid better starting than lawyers do!
@Jeff – What?! Where’s that!? I’m open to moving, but unfortunately, Mr. LH will only look within CA for now. Maybe I can convince him to look at other states if I can persuade him!
You are well organized, and have a balanced mix of goals. Awesome. Your blog looks amazing…think I have mentioned this before. If you can progress while buried in studies, it’s really going to take-off when you can devote more time to it.
@Hunter – So far, I’ve been able to juggle everything – thanks to some very generous guest posters! I’m counting down the weeks – 8 more – then I’ll have more time for blogging. 😉
Congrats on the positive movement forward. I often have to balance the debt payment and the increased desire in liquidity – it really is hard.
@Jon – Thanks for the encouragement. I just need to keep chugging along and I’ll get there. The fable the Tortoise and the Hare is a good analogy for me right now. 😉
You are doing great Little House! You should be quite happy with where you are. I wish you all the luck in the world for getting a permanent position.
I have done pretty good on my goals except for the exercising 5 days a week. I need to get moving on that one. (pun intended I guess). On the other hand, I have gotten some things done this year that I hadn’t planned for, so I will cut myself a break. 🙂
@Everyday Tips – Thanks, Kris, for the encouragement. I’m counting down my weeks – 8 more to go. Then I’ll have more free time. And hopefully job prospects will open up next spring.
Keep up the work!
I also do not have blogging goals at this point…
1000 per month?! That’s crazy! What an awesome goal. I hope to increase about 100-150 a month, and I thought that was ambitious. Congrats on the great life balance you seem to have achieved going forward.
@My University Money – Did I say 1000 per month? I meant for the year. If I can bike 70-80 miles a month, that would put me close to my goal.
Great progress on your goals LH! How is the Teaching Certification going? If you are curious about how we do things in a Junior High setting send me an email and I’d be glad to answer any questions you may have.