What are your financial goals for 2011?

Yes banks are cunning to students...I was straight out of school and had a overdraft and credit card...not good. Anywhos I have a couple saving goals. Have a money tin that change goes into..to be opened in December. I stick quite a bit in there because we'll also have DS's 5th birthday. Savings acc for a house deposit, another secret money jar so I can save for mini rewards for my weight loss goals, and another savings account for a overseas trip at the end of the year. DF already has a budgeting system in place so all purchases must be accounted for.

I keep meaning to but a money tin to put my change in but havent seen them - can you get them from the $2 shop or something?

I am useless at savings though, so far this pay fortnight i've spent $80 on baby clothes that i absolutely do not need (but are very cute and all under $10 from the farmers sale). Last pay was my car warrent (plus some work) and this time around is my moms birthday so hopefully NEXT time i will be able to save more. I often find myself in panic mode late at night going "what if the baby needs .... and i can't afford it?!"

We have a money jar here too and empty our change out at the end of the week (mainly silver coins and some gold) - it's amazing how quick it adds up! But then again that loose change can be great for a number of things - parking, small trips to the shops... You could try putting in $5 a week at the least though, that'd soon add up!

Another one is if you are with ASB they have something called Save the Change which I've just signed up to as DP had it and raved about it... link

bowie - pop into an ASB. I got a cute yellow elephant money tin for DS. Actually most banks probably do something similar, I think BNZ have a wee pig.


By putting away loose change this year we saved $80 for DS bank account, it was 90% silver coins too, it really is amazing how quick it adds up.


As for financial goals. We really need to work on tightening our belts and stop living like we are earning two salaries still. Although once we finishing paying off the car in June we'll have an extra $150 a week which will help drastically. Then hopefully we can save that for a nice family holiday, i'd love to go overseas somewhere

Random year to choose to do this but hey, if not now, when?

We would like to invest in a crappy house with 4 bedrooms and renovate it. The goal being a larger section size and a smaller mortgage.

Have seen a place that would mean (if we can get it for the price we want to pay) a reduction of $40 - $50k off the mortgage and a section increase of 50% on where we currently live.

Our financial goals are really going to depend on whether or not I get pregnant. So I have two lists:

Not pregnant:
- Put an extra $2k minimum on the mortgage (would like to put $5k but that depends on how the renovations go).
- Save $2k to renovate the bathroom and finish the kitchen (then YAY house DONE!).
- take a holiday with DH (booked! - 6 Days in Melbourne here we come).
- Pay off my CC (It only has $900 on it but it has had this for a year! - I keep paying of current spending and cant seem to clear the old spending - so no interest but annoying).
- Save $10k for next round of IVF

Pregnant:
- Make sure there is $10k in the bank for when bubs comes.
- reduce food bill by $20 per week
- reduce spending by $50 per week