Reflection

With only two days left in 2013, I'm definitely looking forward and not backward as this year was filled with many changes.  Mostly career wise.  I've heard it said before that 2013 was not a banner year for business and I can definitely agree that was the case for myself in Q1.  I found myself needing to go back to the corporate world, after having worked for myself in the network marketing industry over the last few years.  I'll be sure to share some of my experiences about the industry in the future.  I'm definitely grateful and happy for the experience.  

Thankfully, when one door closed another one opened and I found myself in the signage industry in outside sales.  There is comfort in having a 9-5 job, especially one that allows you to grow as a person and learn new skills and I realize that I love the routine of going into an office and having a purpose every day.  However the entrepreneur inside of me still remains.  Thus the reason for this blog, I have learned how important it is to have multiple streams of income and lets face it, if most of us eliminated TV, there is a whole lot of extra time for other endeavours and passions.  

I've decided that 2014 is the year that I achieve the financial goals I've had year after year.  The first is to get out of credit card debt.  I happened to find my goals from 2007 and on the top of the list...pay off credit cards.  Well, I'm not ashamed to say it because I know a LOT of people are in the same boat, but I pay off a credit card and then it gets racked up again.  6 years later, I still have that same goal.  It's sad when you think about but it's time to take control and start living within my means instead of outside of my means.  After all I'm not getting any younger and I have a whole lot of dreams to fulfill.  

What I'm hoping will get me there is the budget that hubby and I put together and of course the key is to bring in the extra streams of income.  I've never put myself on a budget, but I decided to give it a try with the Christmas presents this year.  I have to say, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment when I found thoughtful gifts but still remained within the budget.  

As for extra streams of income, I'm fortunate in my day job as I'll have an opportunity to make commissions so I'm making a plan and making sure I achieve them for the upcoming year.  I've also decided to teach myself about investing and the stock market.  My husband had investments for a number of years but unfortunately 2008 and a number of other factors took that all away.  I realized that it's not just a man's "job" to look after the family's financial investments so it's time to teach myself.  

I'll be curlin up with Robert G. Hagstroms's book - The Warren Buffet Way (Third Edition) and a cup of tea for the rest of this rainy afternoon.

xoxo,
Kimmy