I’ve only recently begun to plan 15+ years out for my future. Until now, it was hard for me to imagine where I’d be (realistically!) in 5, 10, or 20 years.

Ironically, this summer I’m teaching a personal finance class to middle school students. It’s an enrichment class, so the curriculum combines fun activities with “real-life” activities including budgeting.

There’s definitely a growing movement and interest in tiny houses over the past few years. With stories that pop up on news sites like NBC and shows that feature tiny house builders, there’s a segment of the population that’s following this trend.

I love summer and I know I’m not alone. The longer days give us more time to squeeze in activities, even for those that continue to work a 9 – to – 5 job. But what I find is that I spend more money over the summer!

In the past, I’ve set monetary goals for myself and wouldn’t come close to achieving them. Want to know why? They weren’t specific enough or attainable. I’d make pie in the sky predictions that I had no way of meeting, but they looked good on paper so I typed them out.