Spending Plan 2018 - Save $15k, Invest $24k, Live on $1k per month » (2024)

Spending Plan 2018 - Save $15k, Invest $24k, Live on $1k per month » (1)

A Spending Plan gives you a framework for howandwhereto spend your money in order to achieve your goals and live your lifein alignment with your values.

Want some background on how to create a Spending Plan? Read this post, which discusses:

  • The top 2 reasons to create and follow a spending plan (one is definitely not what you think!);
  • A step-by-step guide on how to make a personalized spending plan;
  • Questions to ask yourself as you create your spending plan; and
  • Tips and tricks for making a spending plan work for you.

Table of Contents

In 2017, I paid off $27,000 in student loans, saved $17,000, and limited my expenses to $950 per month (you can read the full breakdown here). These were amazing financial accomplishments that were fully aligned with my financial and lifestyle goals. Still, my spending ended up being pretty different than my plan in some categories – and that’s OK!

I use my spending plan as a compass; it points me in the right direction.

The path I wander to get to my destination (in this case paying off student loans and saving an emergency fund) may vary year-to-year. In fact, the destination itself may also vary each year. Still, having a compass in my hand helps me travel in the direction of my goals, regardless of the bumps along the way.

Quarterly Reviews

On a quarterly basis, I check my progress with regards to my yearly allocation using my Spending Plan spreadsheet. Going back through my quarterly reviews helps me develop my annual spending plan, but it also is very helpful for checking in periodically during the year to make sure I am on track. You can see the Quarterly reviews for 2017 here:

  • Q1 2017 Financial Review – $2,072 of Student Loans Paid Off
  • Q2 2017 Financial Review – $21,500 of Student Loans Paid Off
  • Q3 2017 Financial Review – $4k of Student Loans Paid Off + $5k Emergency Fund Saved
  • Q4 2017 Financial Review – I saved $11,400 in 3 months!
  • 2017 Review – $27k Student Loans Paid Off + 17k Saved + $950 Spent Per Month

The most important thing to decide when creating your spending plan for the new year is what your overarching financial goals are. Do you want to save an emergency fund? Start investing in your 401k? Max out your retirement accounts? Save for a downpayment on your first rental property? Pay off all of your student loans? All of the above (OK, tiger)? You get the idea. The sky is the limit.

This goal will inspire you to stick to your spending plan, and it will drive you to figure out more creative ways to cut expenses in areas that aren’t important to you while increasing your earnings and savings rate.

Personally, my driving goal in 2017 was to pay off all of my remaining high interest student loans. Since I crushed that AND the goal I intended for this year – saving a 10k emergency fund – I needed something new to aim for. Getting my net worth into the positive – or at least $0! – sounds like a daunting (dare I say, unachievable goal) in the face of the 100k of debt that I had just two and a half years ago. However, given the financial progress I’ve made (check out my quarterly reports below) in the past 2+ years, I’m fairly sure I can break through to a positive net worth by December 31st of this year. That’s my goal. My “Big Hairy Audacious Goal” (BHAG) is to not only be positive by the end of the year, but to have over a +$50,000 saved or invested by the end of the year. I estimate that should land me at an approximate $15,000 net worth.

I revisited my goals for the year and aligned my spending categories and my goals (short-term and long-term).For example, to maintain my health through physical activity, I’ve planned to spend money on Sports; to encourage myself to pursue self-improvement, I’ve allocated $200 to spend on apps and journals and classes, etc; to give myself permission to hire professionals to assist with my financial planning, I’ve planned to spend money to hire a CFP and/or CPA.

A Spending Plan is a guideline that helps you spend your money in accordance with your values.

Spending Plan 2018 - Save $15k, Invest $24k, Live on $1k per month » (2)

Student Loans

Low Interest Loans Minimum Payment – $2,645

Total Loans = $2,645

My payment plan changed this year from an income driven repayment plan to a pay as you earn plan. Due to my income, I no longer qualified for partial financial hardship which was needed for the IDR plan. Therefore my payments became nearly 5 times larger!

As I’ve discussed before, I am paying only the minimums on my low interest student loans, with interest rates between 3.5% and 4.6%, because I can get a better return on investment by investing in the stock market, and I will also get additional tax benefits from investing in my 401k and IRA. In the end, that means my net worth will grow faster than if I focused on paying off my student loans.

Investing Goals

401k – $18,500

IRA – $5,500

Total Investing = $24,000

2018 is the year I will start investing!! How exciting. I’m planning to put the money saved last year towards my 2017 traditional (pre-tax) IRA.

Savings Goals

Tiny House – $15,000

Total Savings = $17,000

2018 is a year of saving and planning for my alternative housing idea – living in a tiny house. I plan to construct this house myself for a cost of about $25,000. While I’m saving, I’ll begin designing the house (with the help of my partner, who happens to be an engineer).

Spending Plan 2018 - Save $15k, Invest $24k, Live on $1k per month » (3)

Expenses

Enjoying Life – $2,640

Experiential – $480

Travel – $1,000

Sports – $360

Watersports & Longboard – $500

Boat – $100

Self-Improvement – $200

Projects – $295

Microhouse – $295

Food & Alcohol – $600

Dining – $360

Alcohol – $240

Shared Expenses – $6,120 (half of this is my personal spending)

Experiential – $480

Dining – $480

Alcohol – $480

Groceries – $3,240

Household – $240

Rent/Home Improvement – $1,200

Business – $1,125

Blog – $120

Educational – $900

Technological – $105

Automotive – $2,254

Fuel – $0

Maintenance – $504

Tolls/Parking – $550

Car Insurance & Registration – $1,200

Objects – $640

Personal Care – $120

Household – Non-Consumable – $120

Clothing – Necessary – $100

Clothing – Unnecessary – $50

Gadgets – $150

Gear – $100

Misc – $1,570

Health – $500

Financial Planning Services – $700

Charity/Donations – $100

Gifts – $100

Work Expenses – Unreimbursable – $50

Tax – $0

Slush – $120 (This is what I call money that I have spent in cash but I don’t know in what category)

Total Expenses = $12,184*

Total Expenses + Loans = $53,830*

*These amounts include only 50% of the Shared Expenses category above

I always review my final spending plan for the year with one specific goal: ensure it is aligned with my priorities and values. Using pie charts, such as those above, make this exercise visual and straightforward. The general chart shows that I am putting 77% of my anticipated spending towards building wealth and increasing my net-worth. The remaining 23% is living expenses, which sit at around $1,000 per month. That is a level of living expenses that I am very comfortable with.

In fact, $1,000 a month feels downright luxurious when I look at the categories chart. This chart shows me that I’m giving myself permission to spend a lot on enjoying life and travel, while setting lower limits for my objects and misc spending. Also, I’m bearing in mind that the chart is showing the full Shared Expenses amount, while I am only responsible for half of those expenses.

Overall, this year I plan to make huge strides towards accomplishing my financial goals, and my spending plan will be my road map to reaching those goals. I will kickstart my investments, and I should be able to bring my net worth into the positive. You’d never think someone could be so happy at the prospect of having $0!

Your Turn:

What does your spending plan look like for this year? What percentage of saving/investing to expenses do you anticipate?

WANT TO REMEMBER THIS? SAVE THESE TIPS TO YOUR FAVORITEFINANCE PINTEREST BOARD!

Spending Plan 2018 - Save $15k, Invest $24k, Live on $1k per month » (4)

Spending Plan 2018 - Save $15k, Invest $24k, Live on $1k per month » (5)

Spending Plan 2018 - Save $15k, Invest $24k, Live on $1k per month » (6)

Related

Spending Plan 2018 - Save $15k, Invest $24k, Live on $1k per month » (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to save $10 K in 6 months? ›

Saving $10,000 in a year is a good challenge. But what if you want to save that much in six months instead? To reach this goal, you'll need to save around $1,667 per month, or $56 per day. While that might seem like a lot, with the right mindset, it's possible.

How to split savings and investments? ›

Aim to build the fund to three months of expenses, then split your savings between a savings account and investments until you have six to eight months' worth tucked away. After that, your savings should go into retirement and other goals—investing in something that earns more than a bank account.

How much will I have if I save $100 a month for 10 years? ›

Saving £100 a month for 10 years would result in a total savings of around £13,421. There are many factors to consider before determining the best amount to save. Saving £100 a month offers several benefits that can positively impact your financial wellbeing.

Is it possible to save $5,000 in 3 months? ›

Monthly savings: Saving $5,000 in three months equals a monthly savings of approximately $1,667. Weekly savings: Dividing $1,667 by 13 weeks gives a weekly savings goal of around $128. Daily savings: To reach this goal, you would need to save an average of $18 per day for the next three months.

How much money do I need to invest to make $1000 a month? ›

To make $1,000 per month on T-bills, you would need to invest $240,000 at a 5% rate. This is a solid return — and probably one of the safest investments available today. But do you have $240,000 sitting around? That's the hard part.

Is $1000 a month enough to live on after bills? ›

Getting by on $1,000 a month may not be easy, especially when inflation seems to make everything more expensive. But it is possible to live well even on a small amount of money. Surviving on $1,000 a month requires careful budgeting, prioritizing essential expenses, and finding ways to save money.

How much money do I need to invest to make $3,000 a month? ›

Imagine you wish to amass $3000 monthly from your investments, amounting to $36,000 annually. If you park your funds in a savings account offering a 2% annual interest rate, you'd need to inject roughly $1.8 million into the account.

How much is $10 000 in 6 months? ›

Save $10,000 in six months. Measurable. Every month, track your savings to determine your progress. If you want to reach your goal, you should save $1,666.67 per month.

How to save $10,000 in 6 months biweekly? ›

Or you might prefer a fixed savings goal, like $5,000 or $10,000. If that's you, put away between $193 to $385 every two weeks. You'll end up with $5,018 or $10,010, respectively. Need help monitoring your finances?

Can I save $10,000 in 3 months? ›

You can. Between working extra hours, cutting back on unnecessary expenses, and using creative savings methods, it's possible to save up $10,000 in just three months. You may have to make some sacrifices, but it will be worth it when you reach your goal.

How to save 10k quickly? ›

6 steps to save $10,000 in a year
  1. Evaluate income and expenses. To make room for saving, you'll need a meticulous budget that outlines all your sources of income and all your expenditures. ...
  2. Make an actionable savings plan. ...
  3. Cut unnecessary expenses. ...
  4. Increase your income. ...
  5. Avoid new debt. ...
  6. Invest wisely.
Apr 2, 2024

Top Articles
How The IRS Knows You've Traded Crypto
9 BEST Anonymous Bitcoin Wallets in 2024
Aberration Surface Entrances
Cappacuolo Pronunciation
Farepay Login
Plaza Nails Clifton
Lifebridge Healthstream
Hotels Near 500 W Sunshine St Springfield Mo 65807
Craigslist Furniture Bedroom Set
Aiken County government, school officials promote penny tax in North Augusta
Craigslist Dog Sitter
Urban Dictionary Fov
1Win - инновационное онлайн-казино и букмекерская контора
Housework 2 Jab
Red Tomatoes Farmers Market Menu
Craigslist Malone New York
Me Cojo A Mama Borracha
Wicked Local Plymouth Police Log 2022
Icommerce Agent
Delaware Skip The Games
Craigslist Lakeville Ma
Is Windbound Multiplayer
Scheuren maar: Ford Sierra Cosworth naar de veiling
Reicks View Farms Grain Bids
Kentuky Fried Chicken Near Me
Mdt Bus Tracker 27
Riverstock Apartments Photos
Paradise Point Animal Hospital With Veterinarians On-The-Go
Does Royal Honey Work For Erectile Dysfunction - SCOBES-AR
Mercedes W204 Belt Diagram
Halsted Bus Tracker
Why Are The French So Google Feud Answers
Ofw Pinoy Channel Su
Clearvue Eye Care Nyc
Kaiju Paradise Crafting Recipes
Walter King Tut Johnson Sentenced
Peter Vigilante Biography, Net Worth, Age, Height, Family, Girlfriend
1-800-308-1977
Etowah County Sheriff Dept
Page 5662 – Christianity Today
Craigs List Palm Springs
Clausen's Car Wash
Kenner And Stevens Funeral Home
Foxxequeen
BCLJ July 19 2019 HTML Shawn Day Andrea Day Butler Pa Divorce
N33.Ultipro
Syrie Funeral Home Obituary
Hdmovie2 Sbs
Benjamin Franklin - Printer, Junto, Experiments on Electricity
Who Is Nina Yankovic? Daughter of Musician Weird Al Yankovic
Sj Craigs
Scholar Dollar Nmsu
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Carmelo Roob

Last Updated:

Views: 5774

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (45 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Carmelo Roob

Birthday: 1995-01-09

Address: Apt. 915 481 Sipes Cliff, New Gonzalobury, CO 80176

Phone: +6773780339780

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Gaming, Jogging, Rugby, Video gaming, Handball, Ice skating, Web surfing

Introduction: My name is Carmelo Roob, I am a modern, handsome, delightful, comfortable, attractive, vast, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.