You know how people say “life happens while you’re making plans”? Well, as I was drafting this post I figured my introduction would be something along the lines of “making plans makes life happen ACTUALLY”. I love planning, and quite literally have everything month of the next five years of my life planned (I know, I know).
Turns out life has a way of laughing in your face after all. This morning, I found out I was accepted into a Master’s program I’ve been obsessing over for years, with a 75% scholarship! So, this draft had to be revised. Ha. Here goes nothing. Here’s my financial hopes/dreams/wishes/goals for the next five years of my life. Enjoy. Italic means I’ve achieved the goal (I’ll be 30 this Fall).
By 30 years old:
- Get married in NYC without going into debt (harder than it sounds)
- Have $50k in retirement funds with 17% (24% with match) of my salary going to my 403b account
- Start a Master’s program (max loan: $20k) (revised: no loan needed! WOOOO)
- Build up to a $12k emergency fund to cover six months of expenses
- Save enough in travel fund for: bachelorette party in Palm Springs, California; honeymoon in Italy (Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast); 30th birthday trip to New Orleans
- $72k salary
By 31 years old:
- Have $75k in retirement funds with 19% (26% with match) of my salary going to my 403b account
- Move to 1.5 or 2 bedroom apartment (max. $2300/month)
- Save enough in travel fund for: safari in Tanzania (country #39) and gorilla trekking in Rwanda (country #40) with my parents and husband; 31st birthday trip to Iceland
- Build up to a $15k emergency fund to cover six months of expenses with increased rent
- $100k net worth: $75k retirement + $15k emergency fund + $10k in other savings (besides travel fund)
- $80k salary and “senior” position
By 32 years old:
- Have $25k saved for house down payment
- Save enough in travel fund for: 2 new countries
- Start saving $200/month for child’s education (obviously TBD as I currently don’t have children)
By 33 years old:
- Pay off Master’s degree loan (revised: BYEEE PROSPECT OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LOAN!!)
- Have $40k saved for house down payment
- Save enough in travel fund for: 1 new country
By 34 years old:
- Have $60k saved for down payment
- Max out contributions to retirement account
- $100k salary
- Save enough in travel fund for: 2 new countries
By 35 years old:
- Buy first house (with with 4-5 bedrooms)
- Continue maxing out contributions to retirement account
There it is! These are my base goals and I hope to surpass them. I’m a goal-oriented person, and I’ve always found that having my goals written down has made it easier to remember/reach them. Hold me accountable, Internet!