I Guess It's Kind of Like a Resolution

Merry Christmas!!!

One great thing about working retail is that you get a pass for being late on anything Christmas related. There's so much media attention on crazed shoppers and frenzied crowds you can just totally say, "Hey, sorry I didn't get these Christmas card out in time. Work, you know how it is around this time..." and they're like, "Oh, yeah, totally, how are you holding up?"

Lately Michael and I have been rather concerned about our finances. Well, concerned isn't the right word, reflective maybe... Is there a word that means reflective+regretful? Income wise, this was the best year for us. With all my over time and bonus, I made much more than we had originally planned last year. Plus, there was our super sweet tax refund... However, this was our worst year for savings.

I would be okay with out of control spending if we had something to show for it; you know, like a fully furnished house or something. But no, lots of new things here and there but nothing big like, yes, this is what we did with all that money! Well, we paid off Michael's car, that's something, right?

Well, this year is going to be different! I don't anticipating making as much this year as last. I could be wrong but I really think last year was a fluke. I also imagine that sooner, rather than later, the company will stop being so generous with over time. At the same time, of course, bills are going up. Augh. Michael disagrees but I like this feeling of "WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY!" It's stressful (and depressing) but it keeps me focused. Michael's goal is to have the house "done" (still not sure what that means) by this time next year. My goal is have a shit ton of money saved up by this time next year. Two opposing goals; we'll see how it goes.

As a step towards a new direction, we used all the money we got during the holidays to pay off some of our bills. This is a three paycheck month for us and we already paid off December's bill so we should be able to make one last decent contribution to our savings this year. I don't even miss the stuff I could have bought with that money. Okay, I do, but just a little.