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Christmas 2022 Recap

Merry, Happy, Everything!

I hope those who celebrate had a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and/or lovely, safe, relaxing winter weekend. And happy belated birthday to Hope (whose birthday was Christmas Day).

Christmas 2022 recap

We had a beautiful Christmas eve and Christmas morning. We did one big gift for the girls – a trip to Disney, this upcoming February. I’m tired of clutter and excess and waste and was excited to give an experience gift. That said, I didn’t want the girls to have nothing to open on Christmas morning. As a result, I opted to give the girls several gift packages containing necessities – gift boxes with new socks and undies, stockings stuffed with deodorant and razor blade refills. Lots of things I would purchase anyway as necessitates, but decided to wrap them up and put them under the tree so it still felt full. I literally wrapped up containers of shampoo and conditioner. And shower items like body wash and new loofahs.

My mom gave a couple fun things that are still practical, but feel more “fun” than the necessities I provided. Her bigger gifts included some floating shelves for one of my daughters, and a new bedroom comforter set for the other. Both things from their Amazon Wish Lists, but not things that would add clutter or junk. I was very pleased with the outcome – lots of gifts to open, but a strong emphasis on practical necessities over extras.

And, of course, the upcoming Disney trip was both girls’ favorite gift. We can’t wait!

New Year 2023

Thank you for your comments on my last post about financial planning for 2023. You have given me a lot to think about – especially the comments about whether to put extra money into our house (as principal-only overpayments on our mortgage) in an effort to pay it off early VERSUS taking that same money and investing it, given that the return on investment will be higher than our savings on our mortgage due to the super low interest (2.625% fixed).

In the end, hubs and I have decided we’re going to schedule an appointment with a financial advisor sometime in the new year. We were already hoping/planning to find a CPA to help with our taxes and it seems like it’d be a good time to throw a financial advisor into the mix. I wish there was an office with both (CPA & financial advisors) in-house so we could do a two-birds, one-stone approach. Not to mention that their advice can be overlapping and complimentary, so it would make sense for there to be an office that handles both. Regardless, I’m excited to be at a point in our lives where we can talk about future financial planning and make more strategic decisions about money. Don’t get me wrong, getting out of debt is still a major priority. But it used to be my ONLY priority to the exclusion of all else and I’m now taking a more balanced approach – still aiming to get out of debt once and for all!!! But also thinking and planning about retirement and other financial goals.

When thinking about the New Year, do you make financial goals or resolutions?

Any advice for first-time appointments with a financial advisor? Major questions to ask or things to address?

Ashley

Hi, I’m Ashley! Arizonan on paper, Texan at heart. Lover of running, blogging, and all things cheeeeese. Freshly 40, married mother of two, working in academia. Trying to finally (finally!) pay off that ridiculous 6-digit student loan debt!

What’s next for Gymnast…

by Hope

Please join me in congratulating my baby boy, Gymnast, on completing the requirements to graduate high school. (He is graduating a semester early by choice. It wasn’t our original plan but when all factors were considered, we decided this was the best move for him.) I thought I would take this opportunity to fill you in on his plan…

He has thrived in working almost full time since this summer when he turned 17. He worked while he was in Texas when he was staying with my parents and siblings. And then returned and found a new job here. The freedom of having his own income has been very empowering, isn’t it always!?!

Generosity has been very evident in how he spends his money. But he has also been very smart with a very focused approach to saving.

His goal for the next seven months is to save for a move to Texas. He is not sure what he will do once he gets there, but he knows that is where he wants to be. And has known that for a while. I 100% support his move.

Right now, he has no plans for school. He will have to find his path on his own. And we have talked extensively about what he will need to do if he does decide he wants to further his education – out of state tuition, direction and so much more. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, but other than location, he is not sure what is next.

Any guidance for how to launch a young person who doesn’t have a clear purpose or direction would be greatly appreciated!

Hope

Hope is a creative, solutions-focused business manager helping clients grow their business and work more efficiently by leveraging expertise in project management, digital marketing, & tech solutions. She’s recently become an empty nester as her 5 foster/adoptive kids have spread their wings. She lives with her 5 dogs in a small town in NE Georgia and prefers the mountains to the beaches any day. She struggles with the travel bug and is doing her best to help each of her kids as their finish schooling and become independent (but it’s hard!) She has run her own consulting company for almost twenty years! Hope began sharing her journey with the BAD community in the Spring of 2015 and feels like she has finally in a place to really focus on making wise financial decisions.