Hi all, I know it’s been a bit since you heard from me! I was a little busy changing my entire life there for a second, but I’m back. I wanted to wait until everything settled, but that’s not really how life or money works!
I moved into a new apartment at the end of August, and I’m still not sure what my monthly expenses are going to be since I’m paying for cooking gas. Now that my gas meter is readable after the guy from Peoples Gas came by twice to join me in the treacherous, spiderwebbed, possibly rat-infested basement of my 107-year-old apartment building, and I can take baths again without water leaking into my downstairs neighbor’s bathroom, I’m looking at fixed expenses upward of $1,550 per month. On top of all that, I got a new job and now freshly qualify for their retirement account, so my income is also in flux due to those contributions. Once I know the details, you’ll know. Promise you that!
My uncertain budget isn’t going to stop me from setting goals, though. The more I allow money to live in its liquid form in my head, the more I feel like I can actually do something with it. I have also been carrying this new feeling that everything is going to work out, so I’m happy to share that energy with you.
I have two relatively short-term goals that I want to save up for. One is focused on skincare. Back in the day when I was a wee lass with terrible acne, I used to get facials consistently. I’d like to thank my mom for being so understanding and funding that venture, because it really helped my skin at the time. Now that I’m in my 30s, the evil acne hormones are back and I’m about at the end of my rope with them! One of my friends is getting facials regularly again, and I know it’s the only thing that will help my skin in the long run. I just recently changed my skincare regimen to almost entirely Korean products containing rice water—please save me and my microbiome!
My plan is to save up for six facials in 2025, accounting for $150 per facial plus a tip. Being generous with my future facialist and my savings, I’m rounding up to $200 per facial. It will also add a cushion for these savings should I want to spend this money on other skincare next year, or visit a dermatologist. This amounts to $1,200 I’ll have to save for this goal. Honestly, I’ve spent more on travel expenses in the past. I was always so worried about spending too much on skincare, it annoys me that I didn’t do this sooner!
The beautiful thing about setting goals is it changes my mindset. I’m putting this money aside for a specific purpose, so I can think about it as if the spending isn’t really cutting into my overall net worth. I would have spent this money anyway, but having a goal for it gives the spending more structure. Then, when I finally spend the money, it can instead be a gift I’m giving to myself. Here’s to clearer skin in 2025, sheesh.
My second goal is to save up for traveling to the East Coast a couple times next spring. You guessed it, the Kills are touring again! This time, they’re opening for their friends Queens of the Stone Age, a band I’ve always wanted to see live. Also, St. Vincent is opening for the man who gave her a name, Nick Cave. It should be a great year for concerts, and hopefully new music and a Chicago show from Banks! I still have some budgeting to do on this goal, but I’m going to shoot for around $2,000.
I love being able to afford to see my favorite people whenever I want. I wouldn’t be able to without all this personal finance work I’ve been doing. AAII’s teachings remain at the forefront of my investing strategy. I would like to thank president John Bajkowski, editor Charles Rotblut and managing editor Jean Henrich for their support of the blog from day one and for giving me this amazing opportunity to continue it. Stick around for more of my investing discoveries!
Read these next!
A Money and Music Memoir
The Carrie Finances: Honey, I Shrunk the Budget
My Payday Routine
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