When I made my goal list for 2020, I had no idea what the year would have in store for me.
I remain cautiously optimistic that this can be the year that finally wakes us up. This country needs to do better.
This is my reflection on the goals I had set out for myself and my progress thus far.
MONEY GOALS FOR THE YEAR
1. PAY OFF STUDENT LOANS
Previous Thoughts:
This is one of the 2020 goals I was actually documenting before this post. You can find my full debt story here.
This December will mark four years since I have finished grad school. I think it would be an awesome milestone if I can also finish paying back these loans by then.
I have about $16k left and a bucket list of what I want to do immediately after those loans are gone.
Current Thoughts:
What is financial independence if I am not free? Racism is killing the black community.
There are plenty of statistics to prove this exact point. In education, hiring practices, the criminal justice system, etc.
I am focusing less on paying off these student loans and more on donating money to the causes I support. Primarily, causes that promote fairness and equality.
Principles our country should stand for.
2. FINISH MY YEAR (9-MONTHS) CLOTHING BAN
Previous Thoughts:
Last October I came up with a plan to do a year long clothing ban. I got extra workout gear, extra sock and Marie Kondo the crap out of my closets.
However, there might be an issue with this plan. My sorority has our bi-annual Boule conference this June. To be frank, the clothes I have do not exactly fit the mandatory dress code.
My office is pretty relaxed. This means I only have one pair of slacks and some maybe possibly could almost fit the definition work-shirts.
We have to be dressed up for our business sessions and a formal gown is needed for the gala. This means I need to re-think my no clothing ban.
However, since Boule is in June, I should at least be able to accomplish a 9 month clothing ban. All in all, I think that is still pretty impressive for the girl whose clothes broke the bar in the closet.
Current Thoughts:
Conference has been canceled. I still have not bought any clothes though. I think I am going to try to keep this up until October. Make it a year long shopping ban.
3. REACH A 40% SAVINGS RATE
Previous Thoughts
Every time I do my budget, it tells me that this is a possible goal. However when I look at my actual spending, it tells a different story.
It is clear that I need to make some adjustments. Most of my unplanned spending revolves around getting things for my family or loaning money out.
I think ‘2020 Me’ needs to start a sinking fund for family needs and set better boundaries when that money is gone.
I am going to count savings as money I put towards my Roth IRA, Emergency Fund or my travel savings account.
Current Thoughts
My current savings rate is 22.3% YTD.
4. CONTRIBUTE 3,000 TO MY ROTH IRA
Previous Thoughts
My primary goal for the year is to pay off my student loans. Still, I want to contribute something to my Roth IRA. I did not max out my Roth IRA in the first two years I had an account.
In year 3, however, I was able to contribute more to my 2019 IRA and it was such a great feeling. The goal this year is to contribute $3,000 into my Roth IRA for 2020.
Current Thoughts
I have put $1,000 in my Roth IRA thus far for 2020. I am not sure how much I will focus on placing the other $2,000 in my account.
Quite frankly I think my money can be better used elsewhere. It is hard balancing saving, investing and getting out of debt.
PHYSICAL GOALS FOR THE YEAR
5. FINALLY GET TO MY IDEAL WEIGHT
Previous Thoughts:
This has been a goal of mine for years. I would do really well for a while and then fall off that bandwagon. Well, falling hurts. I want to finally stop having the same goal of losing 10 pounds on my vision board each year.
I think I have some pretty solid strategies to help me get there along with a personal trainer who actually keeps me accountable. So by the end of the year, I hope to report back that I have crossed off this goal once and for all.
Current Thoughts
I am doing well at this goal. About 5lbs away from my goal weight.
6. ACHIEVE AN 80% YEARLY ACTIVE RATE
Previous Thoughts:
On my calendar I keep track of how many days I am active out of the week. I usually see my personal trainer 4x a week and then go hiking on the weekends. Keeping track of my active days weekly helps to keep me focused.
Current Thoughts:
I just calculated an I am at a 76% active rate. (Days worked out/All Days Passed).
7. HIKE THE BRIGHT ANGEL TRAIL
Previous Thoughts:
Last year my friends did the rim to rim trail. They wanted to do the trail in one day and I did not lol. Thus, I missed out on that trip. One of my goals for the year is to hike the Bright Angel Trail.
I want to make it to the suspension bridge so technically I will be hiking a little more than the 12 miles from the trail head to Plateau Point. I am most excited for this goal and I plan to do it in October 2020. Check back here for the awesome pics.
Current Thoughts:
Our Grand Canyon Hike for October is still on so yay for that. I am looking forward to it.
8. HIKE MORE TRAILS
Previous Thoughts:
We go hiking every weekend, usually on Saturday and Sunday, so doing 52 hikes this year is very achievable. I want to stretch this a bit by hiking more trails.
I use All Trails to keep track of the various trails I have completed and to be honest, not all of them have been something to write home about. However, one can only do Camelback so many times before you never want to see boulders again.
We recently picked up a cool Phoenix Adventure hiking magazine I have been eyeing at Walgreens since January. I am looking forward to doing more of the adventures listed in there.
Current Thoughts:
I just keep hiking the same trails. I have only done two new trails this year. *SIGH* On the bright side, I am keeping track of the 52 hikes and I completed Hike 26 last week.
9. GET MY 5K TIME DOWN TO 25 MINUTES
Previous Thoughts:
Once upon a time I ran cross country. So I know this goal is doable. My last 5k I ran my time was 33:01 seconds. I finished 2nd in my age group, but there were only 6 of us in that group. My next 5k is actually on Feb 22, 2020 and my goal is to cut my time to 30 minutes. I am tracking my year of 5ks here.
Current Thoughts:
I highly doubt that there will be any races this year. Also, after what happened to Ahmaud Arbery, I honestly fear running as a black person.
PERSONAL GOALS FOR THE YEAR
10. BECOME BETTER WITH MY MAKEUP ROUTINE
Previous Thoughts:
Right now I only put on lipstick and some Fenty eye shadow when I am going out. However, I have bookmarked many beautiful tutorials on YouTube and I want to be able to confidently re-create these looks.
To accomplish my goal this year, I will take advantage of the FREE classes offered by Sephora.
Current Thoughts:
This seems so silly considering the current climate. I personally don’t give a shit anymore about makeup. I care about living.
11. BE MORE CONSISTENT WITH MY BEDTIME ROUTINE
Previous Thoughts:
Honestly, not sleeping enough could be the death of me. I need to set a bedtime and stick to it. I think one of my biggest issues with not getting enough sleep is the lack of organization I allow to creep into my day.
Considering the many benefits of sleep, I need to stop being a member of #TeamNoSleep and get in more Z’s to achieve more of my goals.
Current Thoughts:
It’s been impossible to sleep lately. Racial trauma is a bitch.
12. READ 15 BOOKS
Previous Thoughts:
This means reading over one book a month. This should be doable. I was actually a huge reading nerd growing up and won the award in my grade for the most books read.
However, adult life has taken over and moved me away from my passion for books.
I am hoping to regain that passion. This is my book reading list for 2020. These are a combination of books I have at home already and one I have purchased via Audible.
- Children Of Blood & Bones (Read)
- Children Of Virtue & Vengeance (55% Done)
- An American Marriage (Read)
- The 4 Hour Work Week (75% Done)
- The Other Side Of The Pillow (50% Done)
- Your Money Or Your Life(75% Done)
- The Four Tendencies
- Heavy
- Sistah Vegan
- More Than Enough
- Tiny Beautiful Things (Read)
- Diet For A New America
- The Water Dancer
- The Power Of Habit
- Well Read Black Girl
EDUCATIONAL/SELF IMPROVEMENT GOALS FOR THE YEAR
13. FINISH MY DUOLINGO COURSE
Previous Thoughts:
I started my Duolingo Spanish course an embarrassingly long time ago. I need to get back to it!
Yes, I know enough Spanish to get around in Mexico. I can also catch about 20% of my best friend’s family conversation.
However, considering that I took this language in high school, have several friends who have tried to teach me over the years and access to several language learning podcasts and platforms, I should be much further along.
My first step is to finish my Duolingo course and then purchase Babbel or another software. I need to get Spanish down because I also want to learn Mandarin and French.
Current Thoughts:
I got back into Duolingo. I hate the ads and should probably update to the premium version.
14. TAKE TWO CODING CLASSES.
Previous Thoughts:
I want to learn more about coding. I supposedly learned SAS in grad school and then quickly lost that skill when I did not use it for over two years. We use SQL and Excel at my job. I think I can get better at both and also want to expand on my coding skills.
On my to-do list this year is to take a Python class and also maybe finish a course via Code Academy or at a community college. The other language besides Python that I would take up would be: Java, C# or HTML.
Current Thoughts:
I took Python and will be enrolling in Java in the fall.
15. ATTEND A CODING EVENT
Previous Thoughts:
I really want to learn more about the world of coding. I think going to either a conference or a coding event would be useful in helping me get that insight. Luckily for me, I live in a big city so finding a coding opportunity should not be so hard.
Current Thoughts:
I got accepted into a coding program but declined. I want to learn, but at my own pace. A coding event still seems cool, but it is not a priority as of now.
SIDE HUSTLES GOALS FOR THE YEAR
16. BLOG CONSISTENTLY
Previous Thoughts:
My goal is to produce at least one blog post a week. I have read so many posts about getting started and signed up to various email lists. Talk about information overload! Which then lead to analysis paralysis.
At the end of the year I decided to get it together.
I have wanted to start my blog for at least 5 years. The only thing truly stopping me is me. Since my revelation and my enrollment in the blogging for profit course, I have been pretty consistent. In fact, my track record for January and February are solid. Only 10 more months to go lol.
Current Thoughts:
Blogging still going strong.
17. CREATE 300 ITEMS FOR MY SIDE HUSTLES
Previous Thoughts:
I have the following side hustles:
- Etsy store that sells Divine Nine shirts & gifts
- Etsy store dedicated to all things Bachelorette
- Amazon Merch account (that will probably be closed)
- Another T Shirt Design Store
My goal this year is to add 300 items across the board. I think I have some pretty cool ideas for gifts, shirts, etc.
However, in order for people to buy things, I must produce them. So my goal is to get my designs out there and bring in some extra cash to fund my FI dreams.
Current Thoughts:
Have not reached 300 items yet.
EPIC SHIT
18. CENTENNIAL BOULE
Previous Thoughts:
I am a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Our sorority has a bi-annual boule, and what makes this boule even more special is that it is our 100th year anniversary! I am so excited to head back to Washington D.C., this time with even more sisters for this once in a lifetime experience.
I’ve booked my hotel downtown around some pretty cool vegan spots and in walking distance to our conference. I look forward to all the events we have set up and just being in the same place at once with so many amazing women.
Current Thoughts:
Boule got canceled. Here is to celebrating another time.
19. GO TO NAPA VALLEY OR NEW STATE
Previous Thoughts:
Every year one of my best friends and I do a ‘Best Friends Trip’. Last year we went to Vancouver and had an absolute blast. The year before that we went to New Orleans. I am hoping that we go to Napa Valley – she has already been though.
If I cannot convince her to go back to Napa then I hope we check out a cool new state. We have been quite a few places together, but some cities that we have not explored together yet that also sound cool are: Denver, New York City, Austin, San Antonio.
Current Thoughts:
Whomp, whomp. The ‘Best Friends Trip’ this year is looking very unlikely.
20. ATTEND A BLOGGER CONFERENCE
Previous Thoughts:
This is a bit of a stretch goal. I want to attend the Blaivty21 Conference in ATL but I do not see much information on their site. Nor do I see a contact button.
Another possibility is attending the Afro Tech Conference. One benefit is that it is closer (it’s in Oakland), but one drawback is that I do not think I am quite at that professional level yet. The conference is not until November so I guess I still have time to twiddle my thumbs.
Current Thoughts:
Whomp whomp.
Ending Thoughts
Here is to the next 6 months of the year being better than the first.