It’s hard to believe that 2011 is half over. Sometimes the passage of time isn’t noticeable as we focus on making it through each day and week. With less than six months left to work the goals, it’s time to look at my progress.
Financial Goals
Financial Goal 1: Pay off $24,000 in non-mortgage debt by December 31, 2011. The balance is now $15,000 so I’m behind in this goal. It is still possible that it will be met, but may have to be adjusted into early 2012.
Grade: Pass
Financial Goal 2: Prepare wills for both of us in the first quarter 2011. We still haven’t done this despite my belief it is very necessary. It just never seems the right time to sit down and do it. As a result of examining my goals, I’ve scheduled an appointment for Mr. Boomer and I to sit down and prepare the documents.
Grade: Fail
Financial Goal 3: Prepare monthly budgets and reconcile every weekend. The monthly budgets have been very helpful in assigning a job for every dollar that comes in. I haven’t reconciled spending every week but do most weeks.
Grade: Pass
Personal Goals
Personal Goal 1: Lose 5 pounds a quarter. Weight loss is a continuing battle for me as I work on getting healthier and lighter. I rejoined Weight Watchers last month and have lost 5 pounds so far. So, I finish the half year 5 pounds behind.
Grade: Incomplete
Personal Goal 2: Take Alaskan cruise without accruing any debt. This goal is met. I’ve paid for the cruise, the expensive flightseeing excursion, airfare and have $800 in savings for the rest of the expenses.
Grade: Pass
Personal Goal 3: Walk for exercise 3 times a week and build up to half marathon in November. I haven’t even started my walking program yet so have to give up on walking a half marathon in November. Instead, I’m going to focus on walking three times a week with the goal of a 5K in the fall (I have to find a race).
Grade: Fail
Blog Goals
Blog Goal 1: Increase subscriber count to 1,000. The lack of progress with this goal is frustrating. My subscriber count has increased from 315 to 550 and I appreciate every single one of you.
I should probably adjust it down, but I’ll wait until the end of the 3rd quarter to do that. To expose my blog to new readers, I plan to submit three guest posts outside the Yakezie network.
Grade: Fail
Blog Goal 2: Increase blog income to average of $1,000 a month. This is the biggest surprise to me, but it probably shouldn’t be. I thought this was a stretch when I set the goal but I’m averaging $1,300 a month so far this year. As a result I got a business license and opened a business bank account.
Grade: Pass
Blog Goal 3: Write 1/3 of the e-book each quarter and publish it in the fourth quarter. This goal is set aside for the year. Instead, I started a new blog with my sister aptly named Two Savvy Sisters. I’m diverting extra energy, time and resources to building a readership there where we share deals, coupons and freebies to stretch your budget.
Grade: Pass
Blog Goal 4: Send out first newsletter 2nd quarter 2011. If you signed up for the Bucksome Boomer newsletter, than you know it didn’t get out. However, I am building the list and will be working on this very soon!
Grade: Fail
As you can see, I’m not on track to complete all my goals and I’m okay with it for a couple of reasons. First, is that some of these goals were a stretch. The important thing is to set high goals and then strive to achieve them.
As days pass and the situation evolves, goals change. Instead of writing an e-book, I started a new site (three really but only one I’m ready to share). How are you doing on your 2011 plans and goals?
{ 10 comments }
I accomplished 2 out of 3 goals! The third, to be in the WiseBead 100 by year end may be the most difficult. I am increasing my effort to meet my next milestone on Oct. 1st. Congrats on what you accomplished!
Good job with the the health and blog income goals! I’d rather have $1,300/month and 500 subscribers, than $500/month and 1,000 subscribers.
I LOVE goals and reading about yours is inspiring. Great job. Estate planning is so easy to put off!!!! I’m dreading updating our docs when we relocate to a new state.
Impressive that you have still managed to pass half your goals 6 months into the year. I am especially impressed with the $1300 monthly blog income which has far surpassed your original goal.
Which Alaska cruise are you doing? Also, which flight tour and where? I went on an Alaska cruise at the end of May.
Keep it up. Regardless of the number of fails you have, you’ll have a better chance of progressing with the goals than without.
@Krantcents, Congratulations on your progress so far. I haven’t been on the top 100 of Wise Bread since they changed the metrics a year or so ago. Good luck!
@ Financial Samurai, Good point. You know sometimes it never seems like enough. I’d rather have the money too!
@ Barb, I really appreciate you stopping by with your internet situation; thanks for the encouraging words.
@ Cashflowmantra, the secret to my income success was hiring someone to negotiate with the advertisers. Crystal keeps me sane!
@ Patrick, We’re going on a Seattle RT which does include Glacier Bay. It is the second time to Alaska for my husband and I and the first for the other six people with us. The flightseeing tour is at Ketchikan to see Misty Fjords.
@Mbhunter, Absolutely! The blog is a great place to help me remember what I wanted to accomplish this year and then measure progress.
you are doing a great job! i like how you revise your goals as you go along. i do the same thing…goals cannot be static and must change to reflect where we are, where we want to be and what’s important. since these things change, so must our goals.
Awesome results! I’ll check around later as it’s probably in one of your other posts, but I’m interested in knowing how you generate the income from this blog.
I think you’re doing great so far. Not every goal can be achieved in situations like this because when you make them, you are factoring in a lot of unknowns and making a lot of assumptions.
Keep on track and I think you’ll be pleased with where you’re at. Even if you don’t pay off the full amount or get a full subscriber count, you can measure the goals in terms of the percentage you did achieve. Add it all up, and you’ll probably see you did quite well.
Good work!
Comments on this entry are closed.