Financial Independence Goals for 2020 Q3 snapshot

1. Max out my Roth IRA, 401k and HSA contributions = monthly deductions mean this happens automatically!
2. Build up my emergency savings to 6 months/~$18,000 = $12,300 in current emergency savings and $7600 in savings for car/computer/travel/phone
3. Save 50% of my income = less than 50% of my gross income and about 67% of my net income (only one month so far this year under 50% net income not including business income)
4. Don’t renew housing lease end of July (no rent spending 8/1 onwards = change of plans. We have renewed our rent with our current house as travel and house sitting is not a good option right now. I will continue to use house sitting as an option for potential low-cost travel. I love looking for new listings weekly on Trusted Housesitters. You can use this link to get 25% off a membership at Trusted Housesitters: https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/refer/RAF286731/

I’ve readjusted my budgeting for the next three months based on my 2020 goals and my past spending for the year. No surprises that I’ve already maxed out my groceries category for the year as my ‘goal’ was too tight and not realistic for my current lifestyle. I’ve increased my budget for gifts, groceries, household and clothing, and misc while decreasing my budget for health, fitness, education, and transportation. My budget categories of eating out, travel, entertainment, housing, phone, and charity remain the same.

Notable spending:

1. I bought a TV for the first time in my life! Our old one (that I got for free) was slowly dying and it was time to replace it.
2. I paid to have my taxes prepared this quarter. It was completed towards the end of the extended deadline.
3. We received nearly one month’s credit for this billing cycle for our auto insurance.
4. We took a mini vacation to stay in a tiny home for the weekend!
5. I bought clothing for the first time all year (2 shirts for me, 1 for my partner, and 1 for my Dad).
6. I got my first haircut/highlights since March. I’ve since added thinning shears to my hair tools so I can better upkeep my short hairstyle between professional visits.

Fitness

Here are my fitness stats for Q3 of 2020:

1. Biking: 334.8 miles
2. Pole classes: 13
3. Other activities: Gardening, Beach Body Workouts!

Health goals 2020
1. Full P90X for 90 days! We did it! woot woot.
2. Lose 3% body fat (I went from 26% to 29% using the BodyScan measurement 01/19 to 06/20). Nailed it! I am down to 26.5% bodyfat
3. 5+ pull-ups any format (I purchased a secondhand pull-up freestanding bar) and can currently do 4 chin ups, 3 pull-ups, 1 wide grip pull-up, 3 narrow pull-ups. I have done 9 chin ups, 6 pull-ups, 3 wide grip pull-ups, 5 narrow pull-ups and have plans to get to 10 chin ups!

New Health goals 2020/2021:

1. 10 chin-ups in a row
2. 30 push-ups in a row
3. 10 narrow push-ups in a row with top form
4. 2 pole classes/week
5. Pass intermediate inversions test by my birthday (1/22)
6. Finish floorwork series by end of 2021 (beginner, intermediate, advanced)
7. Improved pike/splits stretches
8. Handstand?

Writing Goals for 2020:

1. Deplete my physical book inventory = Since there aren’t opportunities for in-person events, I’ve been running giveaways each quarter.
2. Break even on Ataxia and At One’s Beast = I met this goal in Q1!
3. Revamp my website = I haven’t made any substantial changes to my website yet
4. Write 4 short stories = I wrote 2 short stories thus far for two separate anthologies. The second story was published in the The Lost Train: An FVP Books Anthology
5. Send out 4 newsletters = I’ve sent out 2 newsletters so far this year and will send out my third shortly.
6. Publish a new coloring book = Haven’t made any progress on this goal yet. I’m still deciding on the subject material.
7. NEW GOAL: Finish outlining my new novel “Two for Tiny” and begin writing.

Deception Pass Day Trip with one of my favorite masks

Local author Ksenia Anske’s long awaited book she started writing on the Amtrak!

Physical copies of my books are still available at the Neverending Bookshop in Edmonds

What are your goals and how are you meeting them?