June's Over - Goals Update

June went fast, right? Can't believe the year is already half over! I'm still feeling good about all my goals though :)

This month I was able to cross off two goals - traveling twice and learning something new. We visited Ocean City for a friend's birthday, and then spent 9 days in California. (I'll post my final recap on Monday.) We still plan to fit in a day trip to NYC in a few months. Learning something new was surfing lessons!

I've already met my mortgage goal for the year, but I've decided I'm going to continue to overpay. I'm in the habit of putting extra money toward it anyway, so why stop? $2,330 total - yay! 

As of the end of June, I've read 35 books this year so I'm on track for 50. This month's reads:

The best was Daughter of Smoke & Bone, hands down.


  • Bread & Wine - Memoir mixed with favorite recipes. I loved that she advocates inviting people over for dinner even when your house is a mess - been there!
  • Freakonomics - You've probably heard about this one, I think it's about 10 years old now? The authors strive to answer questions (like whether or not teachers and sumo wrestlers cheat) using the study of economics and incentives. Interesting stuff.
  • Daughter of Smoke & Bone - So glad this is part of a series! Janssen's review sells it better than I can. 
  • Roommates - A story about the relationship between grandfather and grandson, through some tough times. But the writing was blah.
  • This is Ridiculous, This is Amazing - A funny book about parenting little kids that probably would've been even funnier if I had children. It's written in list format, making it a super quick read.

Happy 4th of July to my US readers! :)  


How was your June?

Comments

  1. You are just rocking your goals this year! I'm so inspired by your additional mortgage payments. One day!

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  2. Wow, you are crossing them off fast! Great progress!

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  3. Well done on the mortgage additional repayments. For me that would make more sense that saving for day care. If you knock over the mortgage, think how free you will be! Can you redraw? Cause if you can, it would also make sense to store your saving for day care in the mortgage - win-win: you pay less interest which is always more than the interest you earn on savings anyway, and you don't have to pay tax on the interest saved as you would on the interest earned.

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    1. I can't wait to pay off the mortgage! Unfortunately, it's over $200k (so it won't be paid off any time soon) and any money we put toward it is locked in (no redraw option). Our thought process with saving for daycare was that we would get used to that added expense biweekly before a child arrives (when we'll also have a hospital bill, diapers, etc. to pay for). Plus, in the US, paid maternity leave is not mandated, so my employer doesn't offer it. My husband will not get paid time off either, but he'll probably stay home for a week. I assume I'll want to be off work for at least 2 months (maybe more), so the money we set aside for "daycare" will actually pay the bills while I'm not working. Then when I go back to work, we'll pay for daycare from our paychecks.

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  4. Thank you SO much for the postcard - it arrived today!

    Congratulations on the goals. I love Freakanomics book, and the kid one sounds pretty good too. Best get off the net and work on my PILE of books to read this week (cause this time next week, I'll be in Japan!!)

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    1. I'm so glad it made it to you safely!

      Enjoy Japan! I'm hoping you share the trip on your blog. :)

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  5. wow.. those are some good accomplishments.. great job saving.. and yay on 38 books read.. you may just read more than 50.

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    1. Thanks! I probably will pass 50 . . I'll increase my goal if I do :)

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  6. Congratulations! While some are having a hard time in paying off their mortgage, you managed to meet your mortgage goal just 7 months after the year started. Everything is really possible with a solid plan. Just continue what you do and there’s no doubt that you can pay it all off immediately.

    Barry Sutton @ Iron Point Mortgage

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