Well as the year begins to wind down, I am looking more closely at my plans for 2014.

On top of that list is my job. I basically work on a year to year contract. for the last 17 years my contract has been renewed but every time that it's up for renewal I begin to worry. I know I'm a good employee, trustworthy and reliable, yet I still worry about it. I should know about it as soon as my holiday is over. I get back on the 15th and will go in and see if it has been renewed on the 17th.

I guess that is my humility. I know I'm a good employee, yet I also know I can be replaced. It keeps me on my toes and keeps me from taking my job for granted.

So, anyway, here are my plans for the new year IF my contract is renewed.

*********************************************************

First thing is a new mattress. I haven't had a new mattress in nearly 20 years and mine is becoming useless. Part of my back problems, I believe are from that mattress.

I will use the paycheck money that has been sitting in my checking account since I've been in England.

The balance of the money from checking will be taken out and put back in savings.

I should return to America with $384 in cash. I will try and use this money to help me survive until March 1st. Roughly six weeks. But all bills are paid and all I'll need is some food.

At the start of 2013, I was giving 2% of my paycheck to my 401K. By July, I increased it to 5%. On January 1st, it will increase again to 10%. Partly to increase my retirement funds but mostly to keep my tax bill as low as possible. I am also hoping that by July 2014 to increase it to 15% or maybe even 20%. All depends on how well I continue to manage my funds.

I will continue to round up my checks and debit card uses in my checking account and round down my deposits. And I will go from charging myself $10 a week for having a checking account to $20 a week. By doing this, my checking account has $1,126 hidden in it. I want it to get to $3,000 by the end of 2014.

These changes to my finances is to reach my main goal for 2014... and that is saving 50% of my gross pay. The main reason for wanting this is because I do want to move to the UK. By having a healthy savings account and a 401K, I should pass one of the major tests for immigration to the UK.

And with that in mind, starting February 1st, saving for my 2014 winter UK getaway will start.

*************************************************

I believe budgets and plans only work when I have concrete goals in mind. Part of the reason I'm sharing this here is to remind myself of my goals and how I hope to get there.

Between 2012 and 2013, my savings account tripled. IF I can reach my goals for 2014, the savings account should double from 2013 to 2014... again though, it all hinges on whether my contract gets renewed...

Wishing you all a very peaceful and prosperous new year...

Messenger