Thanks
@pblack. It was interesting to go back and read what I had written a year ago for my financial and personal goals. First, I did not end up having to take that 17% pay cut. Yay! I had to take on some extra work for a few months, instead, but it worked out okay.
Therefore, I ended up paying off my 4K car note after all. That felt good. I did keep saving in all my named buckets, and I did have more medical expenses than I ever have had in a year (lots of breast films and a biopsy, followed by an ER trip and lots of tests while in there for Covid). My dog did have that expensive surgery, and I had a dental crown, so my bigger savings plan for the last two years really helped out with all that. We did go on a delayed vacation and it wasn't cheap, but it was a bust (Red Tide and days of storms in Siesta Key)--but the vacation money was there so no debt over it.
This year taught me that lots of crappola can come down the pike unexpectedly, and so my 2022 plan is to keep on saving as much as I can before I retire in 2-3 years. Groceries and take-out continue to be where I have budget "fluff" and I can do better with that. Meal planning and sticking to it--not a strong suit of mine.
I need to learn a lot about our retirement benefits (which have all gotten a big kick in the pants, permanently, this year) from my good friend who retired from my institution about 20 months ago and is happy to instruct me about what is to come and various decisions I will have to make. I have never paid much attention and the years have gone by....and suddenly I am getting close to the age/season where I am going to retire. I might not, though, when I find out how much money I will need, haha!
I did not meet most of my 2021 Personal Goals, and they are still important, so they become my 2022 Personal Goals, we well. Try, try again.
2021 Personal Goals
-Lose a lot of pounds--
I have lost 14 pounds since Jan.1, '21 Just a drop in the bucket but better than going in the other direction.
-Gain a lot of strength--
Did not do at all. Still way too weak, especially in my legs.
-Lose a lot of clutter--
Glory, not enough at all! Over the summer I did some good purging but didn't get back to it since then. So much to do in that arena.
-Get my poor to middlin' health under better control--
No, in fact a bad case of breakthrough Covid in early October knocked me further away from this goal. Much to work on here.