Sealed Pot Challenge

I have joined Sft's "sealed pot challenge" and I'm sure that if you haven't joined yet but want to there's still time.  


I've decided to double the challenge and tie the "opening" of the sealed pot to a weight loss goal. I get to spend whatever I've saved it the "sealed pot" on myself IF AND ONLY IF I drop a size and maintain it til next December. Otherwise it stays sealed until such time as I reach my weight goal - I could be a millionaire someday if I keep eating the way I have been lately !!  


So far I've been adding coins on a pretty regular basis. It should add up as I only add $1.00 coins, $2.00 coins and quarters. I think I even stuffed a $5.00 bill in there a couple of weeks ago!


I have no budget update. That's because the budget for December is in shambles and I really don't want to face the numbers right now. It's not that I spent outrageously because I didn't, but I did go ahead and buy myself that iPad I was desiring so badly and I did come under budget for December by about $300 which will be applied to the cost of the iPad. BUT I did pay for it with my mastercard because I just couldn't wait! Bad Jane, bad bad Jane!!


So I just want to ignore that little indiscretion a while longer til the Christmas glow wears off and January is staring me in the face. Then I will bite the bullet, draw out what I need from savings to cover the rest of the iPad bill, and start January 2012 with no credit card debt once again. 


On the bright side I updated my MONEY BARS way down on the sidebar. I reached my 2011 goal of increasing my TFSA (long term savings)to $15,000 and am already working on 2012's TFSA goal of adding another $5,000. (I'm at $2,000 already and 2012 hasn't even started!!) My RRSP total should hit $45,000 by March 2012 and then I'll need to increase that goal - I hadn't planned on making anymore RRSP deposits due to increasing the TFSA instead but I might change my mind once I do the number crunching at tax time. 


My EF is close to its goal, once I hit $2,000 I plan to increase the goal to $3,000 or higher. Christmas and Gifts is at zero of course but will reach $1500 once again next December. My PEI Maintenance fund and the PEI Home Insurance and Property Tax accounts are right on track and I've decreased my Line of Credit by  a whopping $26,350 since Aug. 2010. By the end of 2012 I will only have $5,000 left to pay!! If I can throw any extra $$ at the LoC over the course of this year I will with a stretch goal of $0 owing by Dec. 31st, 2012. Big stretch!!


I'm very happy with how the financials are doing right now - I'm still on track for retiring in 914 days! 


Thought for the Day: "Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a gift and not giving it."  William A. Ward


So I'm sending out a big thank you to all of my blogging friends who have supported me through the many ups and downs in 2011. I look forward to maintaining those relationships through 2012 and hope I can provide as much encouragement as I receive!