My budget-analysis for 2010 reveals that I need to improve in the following areas –
I need to spend less money on convenience store items – bottled water, sodas, chips, etc. When I fill up at the gas station, I almost always grab a snack, too. This habit is bad for both my waist line and my wallet. Add this to the top of my 2011 resolutions.
I need to rework my grocery store price book – and spend less on groceries. My goal is to reduce spending by 10%.
I need to embrace the summer and turn the thermostat up a few degrees. My electric bill was much higher in the summer months this past year, mainly because I keep the house at “just above freezing”. Next year, I’m bumping it up by 2 degrees, and I’ll just deal.
I need to never – ever- buy an individual stock. I rarely write about my investments, because most of them are just boring, mainly index funds and ETFs. Once every year or so, I get the bug to buy an individual stock. Inevitably, I lose money.
I need to blog more. When I’m blogging, I’m more accountable, I spend less, and I save more.
I need to do a better job planning for mid-range expenses. I’m really good at thinking long-range and short-range, but for those purchases that are 2 to 5 years away, I really need to figure out a better budgeting-procedure.
I need to be more organized. Before we moved, I had a really neat setup for filing paperwork and keeping up with financial documents. Now that we’re in the new house, I have a few boxes “here” and a few boxes “there”. It’s amazing how quickly stuff can pile up.
I need to be consistent with my mortgage-debt reduction. I’ve really been hit-or-miss when it comes to sending in extra principal payments. In 2011, I plan to be much more disciplined and focused.
It sounds like you are on the right track with budgeting for 2011! I would reccomend utiliaing smartypig for allocating funds for those 2-5 year range goals. You can pick a goal and sock money away each month with autodraft and not even miss the money. It’s a great saving s tool!