Values Summit EOY 2024

 I just felt like visiting this dusty site again! 

Every so often, I come back to read the old entries. When I came across this one about my values summit, I realized I don't think I've done of those since. And this year, I overextended myself financially. I did that whole "cost of living" increase. I this this will help me plan for a more financially successful 2025. Time to update: 

1. Visa Paid Making Rent My mortgage is now the number one priority (you know, Maslow's hierarchy of needs)

2. Internet - because we'd be in fetal positions without it

3. Internet Electric company (it's been really hot. REALLY hot.) Hot or not, electricity is no longer a luxury item

4. Groceries - girls'  The cats, the dog, Riley and I have to eat

5. Pets - So. Much. Money. But worth it! 

6. Restaurants - More often than not, I prefer my cooking to restaurants. Not that I'm the best chef ever, but the more practice I get at it, the more often I can fix my mistakes. Plus, I feel guilty if I do end up at a restaurant and not liking the food. Kitchen stuff - Kitchen gadgets keep me motivated to keep cooking! 

7. Subscribe & Save - I actually got rid of this category, but that was a mistake. I need to keep better watch on this. 

8. Theatre Tix - keeping this here. I'm almost never disappointed when I spend money here. Even if I don't love the show, I still love the ritual of going to see a show. 

9. my vaping products...I quit!  Housekeeper - Yes, I've actually hired a housekeeper! She comes every 2 weeks and it's awesome!! After years of trying to be a better housekeeper, I am thrilled to have a clean house without doing the work. 

10. Household Expenses - lightbulbs, new kitchen utensils, that sort of thing. Not dipped into every month, but let it accrue until needed   I definitely need to get better at not spending this down every month. 

11. Fun - I re-named this category "Monthly Spending Fund" 

12. Riley allowance - Freedom Fund  I'm not happy with how much I dipped into this in 2024. I need to go back to not looking at this as an option, as much as possible 

13. Freedom Fund   Girls' Expenses I didn't have this category at all for a while, but I need to be better prepared to help them when they need it. 

14. Girls Expenses Ireland/England trip. My parents, my sister & her husband and Riley and I are going to visit Sylvia, and also, visit Ireland. I can't believe my dad still hasn't been there, considering he's a proud Irishman and has traveled a lot! Plane tickets are paid for, but still need to pay the other half of the AirBnBs. 

15. Amazon Prime membership - Moved to monthly/annual Expenses Kona - parking, maintenance, charging, etc. 

16. Car Purchase - Car is paid off! Yay!! Cell phone service & I will need a new phone. 

17. Cell phones (monthly) - Gas Co. It's not just for cooking, but for heating because I'm a SoCal girl that gets cold at 75 degrees. 

18. Savings Goal .Car Registration 

19. Major Purchases - Given that I replaced my garage door, refrigerator and dishwasher this year, really hoping I don't need anything major this year. Car Insurance. 

20. Student Loan. Paid off! Gifts (bdays, Xmas, all the gifts) 

21. Fiat Monthly Donations - to LAIst, BroadwayRadio, APM and I'll probably break down and buy NPR+ soon

22. Gas Co. Taxes - I'm really only paying the accountant. I don't usually owe or get back much, so just where it should be. 

23. Charity I donate to the non-profits for which I have a personal connection. 

24. April fun $$    Covered by the Monthly Spending Fund above. Let's just bundle all other monthly/annual Subscriptions here. 

25.  Fiat Kona (monthly) - parking, maintenance, charging fees. Doesn't get used on a regular basis, but letting it accrue.

26.  Medical - Mayhem 

27. New Cell Phones (SG) (lumped into Major Expenses category)

28. Home Office supplies - lumped into Monthly Spending Fund

29.  Graduation (Sylvia) . Clothing, Shoes, etc. - I'm trying to buy most second-hand, but sometimes, new is the way to go

30. Car Registration Moved up

31.  Camry (monthly) 

32. Car Maintenance - Covered by the Monthly Kona costs above

33. Car insurance  Moved up

32. Xmas  Moved up

33. Birthdays - Moved up

34. Adobe - canceled

34. Gifts (other) - Moved up

35. AAA membership  covered in subscriptions above

36. TurboTax  Paying professional instead

37. Mayhem - Moved up

38. Vacation Moved up. 

39. Clothing - moved up

40. Charity (moved up)

41. Seed Money to eventually start non-profit. Right now, not part of the monthly budget, but putting it into Values & budget to keep it on my radar. 

I went a while without thinking of price so much, and just buying things. Truth be told, I still do that when it comes to theatre events that I want to see! But it's time to get back to continued vigilance. 

I'm also implementing a no shopping online rule for the month of January. I'm still trying to decide if that applies to groceries, because I tend to impulse shop IRL more than online. So okay, groceries I can still do online.

I still sometimes do the "Add to Cart" thing just to scratch that itch, but then I close the tab before I can purchase.

And I have learned this year that even cats need surgery sometimes. Very expensive surgery. I love my dog very much. It shows in how much I spend on him on a regular basis. Adding pets back into my life has been incredibly rewarding. Animals make all the difference.

There's also the nagging possibility that I might not survive the next round of layoffs. This only works with my current salary. But I'm also not going to live like I'm about to lose my job. If I have to, I'll figure it out, but I'm still going to see my daughter in England. I'm still going to see shows. I can afford to live the life I want now and that's what I'm going to do.