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Please share your financial goals/resolutions for 2023. Let's inspire each other :)
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Welcome!
Please share your financial goals/resolutions for 2023. Let's inspire each other :)
thank you for starting this. !!!!
i am in the working it out in m head stage. i have a few ideas. Hubby and I chatted. we have a loose plan in place. my plan is to get a few things on paper... figure out monthly goal... then a 3 month, anda 6 month as well as a year goal.
this is going to be a .... expensive year.
Good idea on the monthly goal etc. I am thinking still too.
Pretty much the same plan as usual for me... Be mindful of spending... Only buy what is needed and gets used up (food) (no house decor etc.
January is pretty much a lay low no spend month. We are away the 1st week (already paid for) and I have US and Canadian Cash in my travel bag ready.
(also have Credit cards if needed) Any US $ not spent will go back in US account (its been out since we went to Jamaica in 2019!!
The Canadian cash not spent will be put in my 2023 Travel cash envelope.
When we return I plan on going through each room and really getting rid of stuff. Selling what I can and that $ will be saved for a goal (to be determined!)
2023 is a big year for us as we plan to retire/buy a home in NS in 2024. So I have a significant target for cash savings in 2023 as we plan to start looking for property in the summer of 2023 so we may buy while we still own here. I would like to have a 20% down payment ready and we are about 40% to the magic number. My brother lives there so he can take care of the second home if needed and we want to stay in Ontario until early 2025 when DS 2 should graduate.
My goal is to keep saving a little bit each month 100-$300 as we are on a company pension ,dont reach seniors 65 for a few more years ,as something will always crop up .Hubby will need expensive dental work which is only covered 65-70% by his company ,so we will need the rest .
So glad we have no morgage or car payments.
so , a friend of mind has a word she focuses on every year... it changes every year. something like.. kindness... honesty ect.. I am going to borrow it and use .... Mindfullness. as in mindfull of what i bring in my envirmonet, who, who i socialize with. ... what i eat.. what i buy.
My big january goal is ... tracking. track groceries. bills ect.
smaller goal.... use things up. i have a few ufos out there i need to use. both in food and non food items.
i do need to set up the years money stuff. .. and clean my desk... lol.
popped into dollerama yesterday afternoon. Just bought what i needed. i always over buy , as i dont like to start something and go back and get something i forgot. so.. i over buy. i am working on it. its a really bad habit. often leading me to justify why i buy, then not using stuff to its fullest.
my plan is to spend a solid hour today on my desk. get things organised and set up $ wise. because of my job, i need to save every recipt. and often make notes with explainations. those systems tend to be easier to set up... then to set up mid year. lol.
@Giseledta I do the same thing when it comes to overbuying. I do it with Yarn for my projects, they say I need 2, so I buy 3 to be safe. Same with household projects, I need Caulking so just to be safe I will buy 2.
At some stores, returns are not an option but even in stores where I can make returns, I do not return the leftovers. I am not sure why maybe it is because I dislike returns at my work but I feel bad making returns.
i absoultly hate running out of stuff. add in where i live... Micheals is 30 min away, we have no local grocery store ... so that is a 15 - 25 min drive one way. add in covid and supply chain issues... not sure if when i make it back if the item is avaible... oy. my crazy has gotten a bit out of hand. need to rein it in a bit.
Glad to know i am not alone.
Just going to keep doing what I am doing. It has worked so far and we are always well stocked up while saving $$$ as we can. All financial tracking is done for 2022 and new spreadsheets and tracking done and ready for 2023. Bring it on!
We’re the same as GoodBoy. We’re doing good but I guess there’s always room for improvement :shrug:.
We’re good at not having food waste but I want to see if I can lower that even more.
Try to implement some more no spend weeks and hopefully no spend month(s) * that’s a harder one.
Otherwise it’s more of the same.
- Itemize ALL spending and see where it’s all going.
- Track and limit takeout
- Optimize points, rebates and coupons (not a lot for vegan stuff unfortunately )
- Monthly budget meetings with dh
- Plan spending, we both need winter jackets and boots so we’re preparing now and budgeting accordingly.
Finally gathered my info to plan my 2023.
My January spending plan is to not spend. Since we were away Dec 30th till Jan 7th I paid everything off and gave us vacation cash.
We didn't really spend much so I have that money to put back in vacation fund (US and CANADIAN $)
Groceries- We are lucky to be going into the new year with a stocked up freezer/pantry. Grocery shopping is just for fresh stuff the next while.
I gave myself a Cash envelope with $128 to use for January (for the next 2 weeks) This was excess cash from December so I am not touching our budgeted January grocery money but will leave it to build up.
Points:
PC Card #1 $226.00
PC Card #2 $14.00
Scene $55
$18.44 CT Money on the Card
$10 Cash back Visa (credit is applied in December)
These are really the only pts programs I am part of and will use them when they benefit me. Will be redeeming my points more often instead of using our $$.
Credit Cards all have credits on them. They each have their reward/bonus so I plan to keep them all this year for now. Use them as they benefit us.
Gas tank is full (last night from casino win) so hope to not have to fill up till Feb. So not touching the budgeted amount for gas for January and will carry it forward (for summer travel).
January Grocery budgeted money is not being touched either and pushed forward.
Cash budgeting- I have many things I put money aside for. Short and Long Term goals. It's nice to see the amounts build and know the money is there when needed.
Have a few saving goals. Vacation is #1 at the moment. Extra money put in that account and have a good amount in there now so once I hit my goal then I will move on to next goal.
Crap sold- Really need to get rid of our stuff we don't need and continue to stuff the crap sold envelope. This is my mission this year.
I am starting on the 3rd floor and working my way down!
Wow!! @lilo0003 I LOVE ( and admire ) ....and am a little envious of your plan! The one to buy a place in NS when you retire! What a slice of heaven on earth ( I've been told by relatives ) NS is. Your strategy is in place to get that down payment secured....best of luck!!
Just did my end of the month budget clean up.
Bills paid. Money xfered from account.
Points:
$227 PC Card #1
$16 PC Card #2
$26.89 CT $ on the card
Groceries- Plan is to use up what we have from freezers and shop just for fresh stuff.
I have $220 in my shopping bag (Cash/change) and will use this for spending the next while so I don't have to touch budget amount.
Have 1/2 tank of gas. Hopefully I get a promo from CT or PC on Friday and will fill up on the weekend.
Feeling good going into February!
@Frugalbigmama if you look in the Shoppers flyer posted by Cyn it shows a gas points offer at Esso/Mobil - Jan 26-29 I think ... 2000 points WUS 20$ or more on fuel
Feb 01- $0 Spent so far :) It may be only after noon but I'm trying to look at the positive side of things :)
The only planned thing is April's GST or CAI cash has to be used towards a new spring jacket/coat. I even wrote that down on the applicable week's to remind myself. Assuming I'm still mobile and able to shop on my own...
Tossed the old jacket out on Monday after 5 years of wear. I will start looking online for prospects today--library Internet computers were mostly unavailable until about 15min ago. I almost left but decided for 3rd time to see if I can get online. Might not be back this week due to temperatures/windchill-am grateful I stuck around and read newspapers and checked out books to make 2+hours pass by!
First of the month. Did all the investment review YTD and MTM. Jan was a very good month. Also extended cash flow tracking into April. Really a great way to see if an unexpected cost is going to cause issue with the minimal $$ left in Chequing and xfer from online back to provide backup. CPP payments went up this year but RRIF went down due to crap year last year. Still good and sadly can afford to live until 105 and no way I want to do that!!! ROFL
I need to sit down as soon of possible and take the time to redo my budget....
Mark and quotes everything down...because I am way over budget the last 6 months and that has to stop ...
I had the number of my gain and my spending and it is not even balanced properly...
So afraid to do this but it will be a needed eyes opener..... cut cut cut and cut...
Need to buy less in grocery...even if I am pm ,use coupons and points,....I spend way to much..
Payday tomorrow so budget clean up.
All bills paid.
Long needed vehicle repair complete and paid for. (Happy to have her running in tip top shape- Going to give her a good cleaning this week)
Full freezer/fridge and gas tank so minimal spending in those departments the next while.
Continue on decluttering. Move stuff to garage for big Spring garage sale. It's all gotta go!!
Payday! Budget clean up time!
Will pay the bills. Put the money aside for future bills.
Pushed forward
$160 gas (car)
$150 groceries.
Groceries- We really don't need anything. Have fresh stuff to use up. Freezer is full and have moved stuff to top shelf with plans to use up over the next few weeks. Will look at the upcoming flyers but thinking I will not be shopping the next week for sure.
Payday coming up so budget clean up!
Pushing forward to next budget period
$260. gas (car)
$270. groceries
Groceries- Just buying fresh stuff the next 2 weeks. Using change/cash in my shopping bag. (Bought 6 butter so far this week-Will give DS a few)
Gas- Filled up tank yesterday at $130.3L (price at home is $146.6L!!) Will top up in a few days with change/cash in shopping bag so it stays full and not touching my budget amount.
PC pts
$290.00 Card #1
$21.00 Card #2
Payday tomorrow so cleaned up the budget today.
Pushed forward $100 for gas (took $100 from it for something)
Pushed forward $390 for groceries.
Groceries- I spend $18 today on bread/buns/veggies/fruit for meals. We have stuff to use up and meals/leftovers to eat.
Will plan meals the rest of the 2 weeks with what we have on hand. Will use cash on hand and not touch grocery budget so it can carry forward.
Gas- have 3/4 of a tank but will top up today/tomorrow.
PC pts- Redeemed $20 from card #2.
Payday tomorrow so budget clean up!
$200.00 pushed forward for gas for car
$510.45 pushed forward for groceries (I will shop with change this next grocery period and only for fresh stuff/few sale /stock up items so our grocery budget can have a nice balance) (really trying to use up old stuff from the freezer)
Moved money to account for property taxes (3rd payment will be due July I think) and car/house insurance (Due June/July)
Have a credit on 3 credit cards but best one is $213.00 credit to cover Winter tire swap and future oil change (shouldn't need that for awhile but glad to have it paid for when needed)
Travel Account- Building up nicely. Put extra $ in it each pay. Also have a Cash vacation fund that is building nicely (my mom and sister both gave me US $ for Christmas/Bday)
Planning a huge garage sale very soon (everything must go!!) ...all money will be put aside for house stuff.
April is a great month for us financially because both DH and I receive our annual bonus. Most of it goes to RSSP to avoid the tax hit but since we have almost no room left a chunk was paid out and so it pays off the fridge and a portion of it will be set aside for the 2024 cruise which is our 30 wedding anniversary gift to ourselves. We have a significant amount of cash set aside for the down payment for the NS home. We are meeting with an agent this month to begin the search. But because we are not selling in Ontario yet we will need to take on a mortgage and we are not feeling a rush to buy because we can stay with family when we are out there.
Payday so budget clean up.
Moved forward Gas and grocery budget $ from previous period.
Transferred $100 into Christmas account.
Paid Bills.
PC Pts
Card #1 $452.00
Card #2 $3.50 (this should go up this week as I have a few offers I am planning on using)
Payday on Monday so budget clean up.
Moved Gas and grocery budget $ forward. No plans to touch over the next week as I have cash for groceries to use.
Paid all bills.
Credit on all cards. (one I am building credit to cover up coming expenses (oil change etc)
PC Pts
Card #1 $387.00 (I used $70 in points this past period)
Card #2 $37.00
Groceries- Fridge is clean and freezer is stuffed. Plan to use freezer stuff for meals and just get fresh stuff needed to make the meals great.
End of the month budget clean up.
PC Pts
Card #1 $390
Card #2 $41
(no plans to redeem the next while so will try and build them slowly)
Groceries- Have a bag/wallet of change that I am using for the shopping. Really just buying fresh stuff while trying to use some stuff up in the freezer.
Have a weeks vacation planned in June but money aside for that.
Pretty simple/quiet month.
Mid Month Budget update.
Bills paid up to date.
Topped up gas tank yesterday.
Points:
PC card #1 $402.00
PC card #2 $48.00
CT $ on the card $85.00