2019 Re-cap and 2020 Plan...

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone!  I was happily surprised yesterday at work to learn that I would be able to take today off, in addition to Christmas Day.  After sleeping in, wrapping gifts, making lemon curd, and cleaning up after myself, there’s time to write!  Which I have been needing and wanting to do.  

In my own (occasionally humble) opinion, I accomplished a lot in 2019.  I love living in Sandpoint, and am still so happy that I chose to move.  It is wonderful, everything I hoped for, to be close to family and simplify my life.  

In 2019, I paid off $16,674 of debt!  My net income was $24,625.  Folks, this was hard to do.  Not how you might expect.  Sure, the math gets tight.  

But the hardest thing is my internal battle between instant and delayed gratification.  And when every, and I mean every single transaction is a choice between dopamine now or debt paid off, I’ve gotten exhausted and given in way more than I really want to.  Cup of coffee, room for guilt?  

It’s been a band-aid, and very effective, to leave my cash and bank cards at home.  I’ll keep doing it, though it feels condescending to myself.  But I really do struggle to not pop for a coffee, or a cheap treat, when there’s money in my pocket.  Even when I know I don’t really need anything, and all my previous experience is unanimous: a little “treat” has never made my day.  

Now, giving a little treat to someone else - there’s something that DOES feel great… but needs to be premeditated in these tight-budget days.  This Christmas season has been SO MUCH fun, with the money I’d budgeted, to find and make gifts for my family and friends.  I can’t wait to see their faces, and with the kiddos, to play with the cool toys I found!  

So what will happen in 2020?  I’m raising the bar on myself, because it was the months of 2019 I’d felt the most pressure that I did the best.  

In 2020, I’m going to pay off $18,500, or use 75% of my net income, whichever is greater.  (My total debt is below $47K!  Remember it started at around 95K… sheesh.) 

If I had not slipped up with impulse buys in 2019, I could have done this.  I just earned a raise at work, so I’m absolutely certain that this is do-able in 2020.  In fact, after a few months, I’m going to be eager to re-assess and possibly increase the goal.  

I’m going to check in weekly, with myself, and publicly - whether it’s a full blog post or a quick facebook status.  Sometimes a month is too long - but broken down into weeks, and what needs to happen (and not happen!) in a week is more manageable.  

And I’m going to get out into northern Idaho more!  That’ll curb the impulses - the worst I’ll come across is berries worthy of debate over the wisdom of ingesting.  Or bears.  You know.  Real problems.  

I’ve signed up for the Long Bridge Swim, which is in August.  I’m pretty sure there’s a wetsuit wrapped up under a Christmas tree, just for me.  It’s the only thing I’ve asked for.  Lake Pend O’rielle is a bit chilly, at the time of year I’ll want to start training.  And there are a couple of local cycling events - with nice, low registration fees - which I’ll get out for this year.  2020 will be a great fit-and-frugal year!  

I hope you are having a very Merry Christmas!  

Peace,
Cara