What’s shakin’, y’all?
Today was supposed to be an article about always trying to improve yourself, but as the paragraphs went on I wanted to punch myself in the face for making it so dang lecturely… Everyone here already knows the importance of improving themselves or else they wouldn’t be on a blog about money!
So I trashed the thing and decided to make up a national holiday instead :)
Please welcome, our inaugural National International Be Proud of Your Money Day! Woohoo! A time to reflect on our financial wins this year and give ourselves a pat on the back for once. Why do we get so down on ourselves when we’ve got haters for that? We’ve done some good things with our money this year, let’s rejoice and get fiscal up in here!
I say MONEY, you say AWESOME.
Ready?
MONEY! (Awesome!)
MONEY! (Awesome!)
I’m feeling the holiday spirit already :)
But to officially kick this thing off, I need you to copy and paste the following blurb in the comment section below, and then fill in the blanks so we can rain some love down upon your wallets. This ain’t your grandpappy’s holiday, I’ll tell you that!
Hi money lovers! My name is ________, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for ___ months/years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: ___________________.
I’ll go first so you can see how it’s done:
Hi money lovers! My name is J$, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 7 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: FINALLY saving money into our Emergency Fund again, and not buying a single lottery ticket!
BOOM! Doesn’t matter how big or small your accomplishments are, just that you’ve accumulated them and are financially better off because of it.
Take the day to remind yourself of how far you’ve come. It’s National Be Proud of Your Money Day, baby – give yourself some love!
*******
PS: I’ll donate $1.00 to The Plutus Foundation for everyone who participates today.
UPDATE #1: We’re now *International* thanks to some of you fine foreign friends out there :)
UPDATE #2: We’ve crossed over the $100 donation mark! Way to go guys!!!
[American flag photo by Mike Mozart // Doctored by J$]
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I have been proud of my money since the time I paid off my debt and got some side hustles. It feels great!
Hi money lovers! My name is E, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 8 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Landing a dream job with a nice salary bump and negotiating pay for the first time ever (not to get all hippy dippy about it, but this really is a manifestation come true. There’s something to be said for setting goals and knowing what you want to work towards, for sure.)
Well that’s exciting!!! Congrats, friend!!
My side hustle, while it is not making me rich, is SLOWLY starting to generate a bit of income.
Hi money lovers! My name is Cece, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 8 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: on track to paying down my credit card debt and dabbling in options trading.
Hi money lovers! My name is Mark, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 20 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m DANG proud of it: Finally started my mini-retirement fund!
Hi money lovers! My name is Brian, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 5 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m DANG proud of it: Finally start saving for college for my three children.
Hi money lovers! My name is S, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 3 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I used half of my emergency fund to help out my kids and pay for my dog’s cancer surgery and chemotherapy, and still have enough currently for 3 months living, AND am paying back into it every payday as well as maxing out my 401k
Hi S, hope the patient is doing well!
I’ve had two that have battled cancer, it’s tough. I hope your best friend is doing well.
Sending positive thoughts!! Congrats on still having so much leftover like that – you’re doing great!!
Hi money lovers! My name is Chris and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 2 years and 7 months now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: 200k net worth just before my 30th birthday.
Started tracking net worth because of J$ back in March 2013 and now it’s a Saturday morning ritual.
BOOM.
Hi money lovers! My name is Mrs Dollar Notes, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 4 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m DANG proud of it: I’ve managed to save almost 10,000 euros on a low income to be able to move across the world!
Hi money lovers! My name is Malory Largo, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 5 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: On 10/30/2014 our net worth was $117,000 and we set the goal to have a net worth of $140,000 by 10/30/2015. How are we doing? We broke $140,000 last week and as of today we are at $143,057.94!
My name is Luise and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for years, but REALLY paying attention for about a year now. I started using YNAB to budget…the first program that has really worked for me. I just paid off my car this month and now plan to build my emergency fund back up with the extra $.
My wife and I LOVE YNAB. Changed our lives. So much less stressful to *argue* about how we are planning to spend our money than how we already spent some of it the wrong way!
Hi money lovers! My name is A, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 8 months/years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: have enough in savings to max out IRA, replenished savings account after painting the house, and am chipping away at those student loans.
Hi money lovers! My name is Clarisse, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for _2 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I will become debt free earlier next year! :)
Hooray!
Hi money lovers! My name is Bobby (also known as M$M), and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 4 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I quit my teaching job and started my own company. After two months of hustling I was able to make the same amount as I was at my previous job!
yeah son!!
Oh well hey there money lovers! My name is Des, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for between 3 months and 10 years now, depending on how technical you want to get about it. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I finally, finally started investing instead of leaving my retirement savings to the mercy of inflation in an ALL CASH account. ALL CASH, you guys! Thank you, robo-advisors.
WOW!!!!!!
SMART SMART SMART!!
Hi Money Lovers. My name is Ellie, and I’ve been paying attention to my money for 9 years. This year I’ve accomplished saving 25% of my take home pay after taking a lower paying job due to a plant closure. I make less than $40K and I know I’m saving more than my friends who make $50+. And I’m working on starting a new business with my brother.
Hi Money Lovers! My name is AMW and I’ve been paying attention to my money for 22 years. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Finished paying the last of a string of a $200,000.00 medical bill, upped my emergency fund, and increased hubby’s 401K contributions by 2%.
Hi money lovers! My name is jessica, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 1 year now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: cutting my living expenses/ increasing my savings to 50%, paying off the last $20,000 of my student loan! (Way ahead if my wildest dreams!) building a positive net worth (of 4 figures) for the first time in my adult life. I have to say I have already been feeling pretty great about my money lately, thanks for making a holiday so I can shout it from the rooftop! Happy (inter?)national be proud of your money day!
It is international, isn’t it?? Score!
Hi money lovers! My name is Hannah and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 3 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m dang proud of it: found a side hustle I actually like!
Hi money lovers! My name is Jesse, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 9 months now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I started budgeting with YNAB.
Hi, money lovers! My name is Penny, and I’ve been REALLY paying attention to my finances for 2 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: fully funded Roth IRA for me and my husband two years running.
Hi money lovers! My name is AKD, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 11 months/ now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I’ve paid off all of my student loans and truck loan in the neighborhood of ~$40K! all I have now is a mortgage! (; thanks J$
Hi money lovers! My name is Mrs.WW, and I’ve been (truly) paying attention to my finances for 4 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: We bought our third home– with cash. Yippee!!!!
Dayummmm well done!
Hi money lovers! My name is phriot, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 2 months/years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: paid off all non-student loan debt and increased monthly Roth IRA contribution.
Need to pay more attention: *years.
Hi money lovers! My name is Kalie, and I’ve been paying MORE attention to my finances for two years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: less than 1 year till mortgage payoff and NO DEBT!
Hi money lovers! My name is Stefanie, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for five years now. I’m on track toward fulfilling my goal of TRIPLING MY INCOME this year and I’m damn proud of it!!!
I love this idea!!
Hi money lovers! My name is Kim, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 12 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Made a plan to pay off the last of our debt, and started a side hustle!
Hi money lovers! My name is Kate, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances since I was 8 but didn’t really do anything about it until 2 years ago. Yay! Income! I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it:
– Paid off all my student loans
– Got my husband to learn and care about investing! AND
– Sparked some ‘crazy’ ideas that will probably change the rest of my life. Woot!
Love the husband part, haha…
Hi money lovers! My name is Alex M, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 13 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Paying off my Student Loans.
Congrats to you…I cannot wait for my kids to say the same thing!
Hi money lovers! My name is Lisa, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for several years now but the last 4 I am very proud of. My 2 children went private school K-12 and college. While I did pay for the private school & helped with college…but of them have some student loan debt. I have been working on my retirement since 1995 but some years might have been a few hundred bucks with raising kids on my own…but now I am working on my retirement and it feels great to know that I am :)
My parents helped me with college too but I still got some loans for the last year. We paid it off after a few years. It felt great and I wouldn’t be where I was today if my parents hadn’t helped us through that!
Hi money lovers! My name is Dane and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 1 full year now! I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I began tracking my financial wealth a year ago with personal capital and have been addicted to watching it grow ever since! Personal capital is such a great tool use, it’s like a one stop shop for all the accounts I have, which is awesome.
I max out my Roth IRA & Traditional IRA ($52 into each, each week. Wasn’t 100% sure which to funnel my money into so I decided to split it up for now), significantly bumped up my work 401k contributions to 17%, but just realized the fees are high on my work 401k account and think I can take advantage of my money better in other accounts I have opened this past year, so thinking of dropping it down to around 8% and putting the rest in my Vanguard Index Fund Account.
I have my shorter term goals on my betterment account (Safety Net, Rainy Day, Ring (hoping to proposal once I save up enough!), House Projects, and Vacation)).
I also opened a Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund (low-cost index fund account) which I have automatic deposits on weekly basis. Once it grows enough I hope to transfer it over to the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index fund ($10,000 Minimum, at $7,000 now), since I have plenty of time before I retire (27 years old at the moment).
I also opened up a Digit & Acorn account which is an awesome bonus saving tool I get for doing nothing! I haven’t decided what I want to do with these accounts savings yet, so for now my money just chills in there, it’s nice to know I have cash stored away and I don’t need to pull at it.
I am now currently putting away 37% of my paycheck each week and eventual want to get it to 50%, so many things I know I should or could be doing to get it to that point, but in time I will! My groceries are what kill me!
I now read regularly, which is something I never did before. My amazon wish list is full of good financial books I can’t wait to get around to read. It all started after I read rich dad poor dad and have been addicting to reading money books! I also subscribed to the Money and Kplinger magazines, good bathroom reading material, haha.
I look forward to reading your blog and check it daily. I have never felt like I have had this control over my finances and future. I’m so happy I stumbled upon your website through a FINCON link one day. I can’t believe the crap I used to spend my money on! Definitely was turning my cash into trash!
Thanks for writing your blog J$! definitely pushed me to get control of my finances and got me where I am today! I’m happy for my future and the direction my financial wealth is going!
Dane
Dane, try putting your grocery expenses on AMEX blue. They pay 6% back on groceries. I also use it to buy gas gift cards. (ARCO) and use them myself. Another 6% back. As long as you pay it off every month in full it’s a win-win.
Thanks for the input Professor! Definitely will look into that :)
Love to see all this Dane!! You are on fire over there!! Thanks so much for sharing it all and showing how *possible* it is once you make it a priority.
The only question I have for you now is – when will your $$ blog be coming out? ;)
Hey money lovers! My name is Maggie and I’ve been officially paying attention to my finances for five months now and I’m proud! In that time, I’ve been able to increase our savings rate by quite a bit, throw money at our mortgage, and come up with a concrete plan to achieve early retirement!
Hi money lovers! My name is Jeremy, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 2 years & 8 months now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Paid off my Best Buy credit card and knocked off over $5k of my car loan since May (only $5k more to go!).
Hi money lovers! My name is Kim, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for a 4 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Renovated a four plex and filled it with tenants!
This my favorite holiday so far!
Hi money lovers! My name is Steve Miller, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 15 years now. I’ve accomplished the following in 2009 and I’m damn proud of it: Retired Financially Independent.
I’ll cheers to that every year!
Hahahaha, this post is great. Hi money lovers! My name is Sarah, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 10 months now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it:
1. Finally started contributing to my Roth IRA ($100/month)
2. Opened a Betterment account and started contributing $100/month to that as well
3. Started tracking my spending religiously
4. Asked for more money at work — twice — and got it — twice.
5. Committed to not buying any restaurant food during the month of October
6. Switched to a cheaper supermarket
7. I’ll put this one on here even though it hasn’t quite happened yet: I’m defending my dissertation in December, aka graduating, which means that starting hopefully in January I will no longer be getting paid a measly grad student stipend, but rather will have a real job with a real paycheck — hooray!
Thanks for this post — I actually feel pretty good about this stuff now that I’ve listed it out like that! :)
Sarah, I am so impressed, you are truly taking this seriously, congrats on what you have been able to accomplish so far and here’s to your abundant future!
WAY TO GO!!!!
Looks like a future blog post for your site too :) Share the holiday with everyone – woo!
Thanks, Eileen, that’s so nice of you! Best to you as well!
And yes, J$, I agree — a good holiday to pay forward! :)
I’m pretty proud that I launched my blog 10 months ago and it generates already pretty decent income. It is definitely a blessing to my family :)
Hi money lovers! My name is Mrs. Wanderlust, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances (like seriously) for 14 months now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it:
1) established our emergency fund
2) actually looked at all of our student loans and how much we owe
3) started repayment on said loans before they came due.
Hi money lovers! My name is Kevin, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for (in varying capacities) for 8 years now. I’ve accomplished/will accomplish the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Picked up more freelance work; paid off all non-mortgage debts; and made a plan with my wife to own our home and not ‘need’ to work by 2025… at the latest!
Hi money lovers! My name is Mrs.Kash, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 12 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: no credit card purchases….cash or nothing baby and setting up a real emergency account. Woot-woot!!! Happy Proud of your Money Day!! Looking forward to us all making a lot more.
No credit card swiping – that’s a good one!
Hi money lovers! My name is Rick, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 13+ years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Started working from my 3rd home on the Outer Banks. Love chillin in my pjs and banging out wicked spreadsheets for my corporate friends!
Baller :)
Hi money lovers! My name is Cathlene from South Africa , and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 17 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: 2 cars paid off this year!
Nice. We definitely need a day where we can celebrate money wisdom. It’s a shame pop culture takes a dump on the concept of financial responsibility and planning for the future (as in 2 weeks from now when your current pay check runs out).
Hi money lovers! My name is Justin, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 18 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: keeping expenses in early retirement low without sacrificing the fun stuff in life all the while, managing our investments to grow long term.
Justin, that’s awesome!
Hi money lovers! My name is Melissa, and I’ve been paying (legit) attention to my finances for 3 months now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Paid off my Chase credit card and have started seriously tackling my student loan debit, one high interest rate at a time! :D
Hi money lovers! My name is Samantha, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 7 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Maxing out our IRAs and my 401k for the first time!
Hot dogs!!
Hi money lovers! My name is Eileen, “The Credit Gal” , and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 3 months/years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: paid off debt, created a nest egg AND financed my own business where I get to help others! WHOO HOO ! LOVE LOVE LOVE what YOU are doing!
LOVE LOVE LOVE that you stopped by to participate! Congrats on the new biz! :)
Hi money lovers! My name is Crystal, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 28 months/years now (I opened my first savings account when I was 6 years old, completely on my own since my mom helped me get an official Texas identification card that year). I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: grew my pet sitting side hustle into a true job/income stream and have put $35,000 aside to buy another rental property.
Hi money lovers! My name is Jenn, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 2 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Paid off the last of my $90k of student loans! Debt free except the mortgage!
Hi money lovers! My name is Elle, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 5 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: not buying stuff I do not need and lowering our grocery expense.
Hi money lovers! My name is Dee, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 7 months/years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: paid for multiple hospitalizations & surgeries in our family with CASH–no credit cards, monthly payments, or dipping into savings.
Hey money lovers! Josh here, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances using mint.com and personal capital.com for more than 6 years.
This year I started a side hustle of driving Uber to pay off the last of my car loan. Since then the car has been paid off and I am bringing in enough to max out my Roth IRA for the year. I am also contributing 30% of my pre-tax income into a deferred compensation plan at work. I have also entered the realm of peer to peer lending, with almost 5000 in P2P loans in my Lending Club portfolio.
Killing it!
Hi money lovers! My name is Pam, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 8 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: started my emergency fund. I have more money in savings now than ever in my entire life! Thanks JMoney for all of your help and support.
Hi money lovers! My name is Danny, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 2 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: After a 6 year hiatus, I went back to my side hustle as a caddy. As such, I’ve made an extra $10K so far, cut my “pay down the mortgage completely” plan from 3 years to 2, and lost 10 pounds as an added bonus.
Thank you J$ and everyone for your posts/comments on the side hustle series. They’ve been an inspiration for me.
Hi money lovers! My name is Shannon, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for three years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: convinced an investor to give me money to take my business to the next level and offering financial planning for the masses and prices/plans they can afford.
Hi money lovers! My name is Cameron, The Creepiest of Pasta, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 5 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Finally getting my Youtube earnings straight into my ISA (Think British Roth Ira equivalent I think) and keeping them there without spending for 3 months straight now!
haha…. yes, the “not spending it part” is key :)
Hi money lovers! My name is Amber, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for1 year now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: We just paid for a water main replacement (after a break and flood in the basement) in CASH and are now rebuilding our savings, then back to paying off our 1 and only truck loan early.
Hi money lovers! My name is Stephanie, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 1.5 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: paid off my entire student loan and built a 6 month emergency fund!
Hi money lovers! My name is Cash and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 19 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: My Emergency Fund covers (12) months of my expenses. I have Set-up Digit & Acorns. On pace for early retirement in just 8 short years.
Hi money lovers! My name is Robin, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 3 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I paid off my mortgage, like it was NO BIG DEAL! (But it totally was.) ;)
HOORAY!!!!!!
Hi money lovers! My name is Jess, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 10 months now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: paid off one student loan, and my husband and I both increased our 401(k) contributions.
Hi money lovers! My name is Shawna, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 7 yeras now (starting at age 18!). I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I did NOT give into lifestyle inflation after getting a hefty raise over the summer – the only change I made after my raise was to set up a Roth IRA to put some of that extra money in and bump up my 401(k) contributions!
I’ve been proud of my money the moment I realized I control how it is used.
Hi money lovers! My name is Andria, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 3 years now. I’ve accomplished maxing out my 401K and throwing all extra cash at the principal of our mortgage this year and I’m damn proud of it!!!
Hi money lovers! My name is Lindsey, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for almost a year now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I have paid down about $3000 in credit card debt, have a small emergency fund, and save between 20% and 30% of my income to continue paying off debt.
Hi money lovers! My name is Stacy, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 8 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I’ve paid off my debt including those pesky student loans. Now I am throwing money like crazy into my 401k because my company has been known to match 100% (can’t beat that!).
No you can’t! I took advantage of myself years back maxing it out (and getting it 100% maxed in return!) for two years straight… I had to live off $19 paychecks for a bit, but it was well worth it ;)
Hi money lovers! My name is Trish, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 3 years years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I was able to pay off one credit card and buy a newer vehicle.
Hi money lovers! My name is Lee, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 2 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Put an emergency fund in place. Paid off 2k in credit card debt. Now we are working to pay off the cars and then going to move on to the 30k of my wife’s student loans.
Hi money lovers! My name is Hillary, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 12 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: getting a side hustle teaching fitness classes and no longer using my savings for weddings and gifts/vacations!
Hi money lovers! My name is Sharon, and I’ve been paying Much Closer attention to my finances for more than 7 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: found a community of like-minded, take responsibility, people at FinCon (woohoo), showed some people (including me) how to make money in the stock market, conservatively, and I am really proud (and thankful) that my Money is out there working for me! Go Money! (and also the Cubs!!) :)
Hi money lovers! My name is “The Professor and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for at least 20+ years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: (side note- I go by “The Professor” from all my years as a teacher”)
So in the past year I’ve paid down my mortgage around $50k. In fact, I’m going to deviate for a bit and allow myself a pat on the back when I say that I’ve paid down $112k in just over two years. And I maxed out my 403b, including a catch up contribution (after 50yrs. old) to a total of 24k.
All this while being a divorced dad raising two daughters.
Oh wow. You are on fire over there man, I love it! You need to be going as Professor Money! (bah dum ching)
My name is Even Steven Money, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 5 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Paid off my student loans!!!!!!!!
Hi money lovers! I’ve been paying attention to my finances for a year now since I got my first big girl job. I’ve acacomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it:
1. Started a Roth IRA with plans to max it out this year
2. Got into the habit of paying off my credit card in full every month (and living within my means)
3. Saved almost 30% towards the down-payment for my first home
4. Started to agressively pay off my car loan (almost there!)
5. Became more financially aware than I ever was through people like J$ and Ramit Sethi (thanks y’all!)
Hi money lovers! My name is K, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 10 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: paid off my car (that’s both of our family cars paid off, YAY!) AND started my daughter’s college fund. And while I didn’t do this one myself and it was thanks to my dad’s foresight and planning before his passing in May, my student loans got paid off, too, as a gift from him for taking care of myself financially once I left for college and putting myself through graduate school. We’ll have a second baby in a matter of weeks, so money should take another interesting shift, but so glad we’ve paid off everything we have so we can afford to bring in our new family member without any major strain!
What a blessing your dad has given to your family. That just warms my heart! (And I’m sorry he’s now gone up to the heavens :()
Hi money lovers! My name is The Captain, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 8 years now (4 months of it posted on my blog). I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Have the money saved up to put a down payment on my first house!
Hi money lovers! My name is Jason, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 3 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: raised my credit score by 168 points!
Hah! You’re the first person to mention credit scores so far – love it :) (and congrats)
Hi money lovers! My name is Zina, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for four years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: saved up a six-month emergency fund and moved across the country.
Hi money lovers! My name is Meech, and I’ve been paying (strict) attention to my finances for 1 year now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I have opened my very first Investment accounts through Betterment; I now use Mint to track my spending habits (surprised myself a few times) and create categorized budgets for monthly and annual expenses; I have vowed to never again purchase a new car and instead I have a “Used Car” savings account set aside to buy in full; I have a “New Home” savings account dedicated to socking away 25% of my gross monthly income to shrink my 70-mile-one-way commute in a few years; I have contacted my employee’s 401K provider to eliminate management fees and take control of my own portfolio – I’m now taking advantage of the lowest-fee index-like-funds that are similar to index funds; I have boosted my already great credit score into the stratosphere by opening a couple of new credit card accounts that strategically match my spending habits for maximum cash-back rewards; I have also tried to actively inspire others to take control of their own budgets and investments with just a little bit of research and self-evaluation. I make a very average salary – budgeting can be fun even if you’re not in peak financial condition. :)
I forgot to add that I’ve also capped out a $12K “emergency fund” that is (very conservatively) invested in Betterment, and about half of that is always available to me every month for bills and other surprise expenses. This was huge for me!
Go budgeting!!!
Hi money lovers! My name is Josh, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for ~2 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m DAMN proud of it: paid off my student loans, obtained a credit score of over 800(!!!), and fully paid for a big vacation w/o letting c/c interest kick in! WOOT!
Hi money lovers! My name is weenie, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 1 year and 7 months now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Have an average >45% savings rate!
Love it! Let’s get fiscal. I’ve done a complete financial overhaul and for the first time in years, my financial outlook is very good, thanks to things I have learned from other financial bloggers and dividend investors.
Laura Beth
What a great idea J! And judging by the fact that my fingers were tried from scrolling through all the comments on this blog, everyone else thought so too!
Hi money lovers! My name is Tonya, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for just over three years now (although there have been a lot of ups and downs). I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Making people more aware that I produce videos, l like, for a living and stuff, and that I haven’t given up even when things have been really tough and stressful.
And MAN are you good at those videos too.
Hi money lovers! My name is Dominic, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 4 years now (hyper focused for 1 year). I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I doubled my income and saved over $70K (on track for over $100K before the year is over).
Hi money lovers! My name is Justin and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for many years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: first full calendar year with my wife and I not working and debt free.
Hi money lovers! My name is Peter, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 6 months now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I paid off my credit card debt and past At&t bill.
Hi money lovers! My name is Sarah, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 6 months now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: We have nearly paid off the extension on our mortgage ($24K) …. next up, blow that mortgage away!
Hi money lovers! My name is Darlene, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for less than 12 months/ 0 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I saved over $500 in my “oh shit” fund because of the help of digit!
Hi money lovers! My name is Jessica, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 2 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I’ve paid off a credit card that was lingering at $1,000 for years.. since college actually. Now I can truly focus on paying off my student loan debt.
I know this is late but I really really wanted to celebrate! It think you’re right, especially with money and finances we tend to focus on the negative and don’t celebrate our successes!
Don’t worry, I’m extending the holiday over the entire week…
I can do such things since I made it up :)
Hi money lovers! My name is Jen, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for one year now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m dang proud of it: We paid off all of our debt! We are completely debt free (renting), and are over halfway to our 3 months of emergency expenses!
Hi money lovers! My name is George, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 10 months now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Net Worth from 0 to 5000 in just 10 months.
Hi money lovers! My name is Andy, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for at least 6 1/2 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m danged proud of it: We went on vacation in September with money we’d saved a little bit at a time over the past year. We’re also saving for our wedding reception and honeymoon so it doesnt put us into debt!
Hi money lovers! My name is Fervent Finance, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 18 months now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: maxed out 401k, HSA, and Roth IRA!
Holy $hitballs!
Hi money lovers! My name is Becky, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 4 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m flippin proud of it: My husband and I have paid off a total of over $5000 on our debts so far this year. It may not seem like much, but we are slowly but surely chipping away at our debts and aiming to get rid of our non-mortgage debt. Also, we switched cell phone carriers and now pay $60 less per month than we did before. :)
Hi money lovers! My name is Luke, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 1 year now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: On track to maxing out my 401k!
Hi money lovers!
My name is Lidia and I’ve been paying attention to my finances since my first job 20 years ago.
I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Ditched cable and got my monthly bill from $230 down to $54.99 for internet + Netflix. Don’t miss it at all!
Hi money lovers! My name is Emily, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 8 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I launched a full-time business out of my previous side hustle and now have multiple income streams!
BOOM!
Hi money lovers! My name is Laura, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 2 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: paid off all my private student loans.
Yayyyyyy!!!
Hi money lovers! My name is Freedom40, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for about 10 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I started a blog to track my journey to financial freedom by 40 years of age! .
Great way to hold yourself accountable! (And share your skills! :))
Hi money lovers! My name is Tri, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 6 months now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: paid off my student loan, saved $5000 in an emergency fund, raised my 401(b) contribution from 3% to 5%, opened a Roth IRA with $1800, picked up a part-time job and started a side business while working a full-time job!!
holy crap – you’re on fire over there!
Hi money lovers! My name is Laura, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for many years, but only seriously for the last year. In the last year, we’ve accomplished the following: I retired, we switched to Consumer Cellular, I started washing everything in cold water on the shortest cycle and line drying, we stopped going out to eat, we started a grocery budget and actually stick to it, we control our energy costs much more effectively and we paid cash for our retirement home. Next year, I’d like to get rid of cable, sell a gas guzzling car, increase our emergency fund, get a handle on runaway vet bills, and fund a home maintenance account separate from our emergency fund.
Congrats on your retirement!!
Hi money lovers! My name is Rich Uncle EL, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 5 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I donated 150 dollars to a family member who’s wife had brain surgery, and had to be out of work for 3 months.
Hi money lovers! My name is Emily, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 25 years casually but 5 months seriously now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: started getting educated, started a blog, and ended my 20 year addiction to bottled water.
hahah – good one!
Hi money lovers! My name is Patty and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for at least 5 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: started paying at least an extra $250.00 to my mortgage principal. I also contribute daily to my emergency fund and have close to 2 years worth of income saved in it. Before 2015 waves bye-bye I’m committed to fully funding a Roth account and opening up a Vanguard index fund.
Hi money lovers! My name is Courtney and I’ve been paying (close) attention to my finances for 13 months now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it:
1. Tracking my net worth for the first time ever
2. Watching that net worth grow almost 300%
3. Getting thisclose to six figure net worth!!
4. Getting a side income stream in place and almost off the ground
5. Networked and found that my day job was underpaying me
6. Found a new day job that pays 10% more
7. Got the husband on board to save and track. The biggest win!
amazing what tracking your net worth will do :)
Hi money lovers! My name is Joe S., and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 20 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: Fully Funded both Roth IRA and 401K and intend to continue going forward!!!.
While the year hasn’t ended yet, this was an awesome year for me so far. I aimed to make at least 36k euros after taxes, and I aimed to spend less than 50% of that. I am on track to earn roughly 38k this year (and derailment would only happen under some very rare and weird circumstances), so I will succeed on goal 1.
I’m probably going to spend 20k this year, so unfortunately, I’m close to the second goal, but not completely got it. (53% spending instead of 50%, oh well…).
STILL A DAMN GOOD SUCCESS!!
Hi money lovers! My name is Frugal Vegan Mama, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for as long as I can remember but amped it up for two years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I am saving just over $20k per year even while living below “federal poverty guidelines” for a family of 4. How? By living way below my means — around $1,200 per month–this includes everything!!! And paying myself first. Funding my retirement accounts and emergency funds with my income and thanks to Uncle Sam…our earned income credit and additional child tax credit! We buckled down and paid off our modest home In 12 years total. We are keeping our eye on the prize — Financial Independence within 5 years! Thanks J. Money for your words of wisdom & encouragement!
Holy crap. Just….. WOW.
Hi, my name is Susan I have been really paying attention to my money for 9 years. I paid off all five of my credit cards. Every time I did the whole family would gather around our barbecue and burn the last statement. Man, it felt good.
YES!!!! LOVE!!!!!
Hi money lovers! My name is Karl, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 17 months now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I will be maxing out my 2015 contributions to my 401(k), Roth IRA, and HSA. Now I have enough in the HSA to invest any further contributions. The HSA is inspired by J$ because currently all of it is going into VTSAX.
Yeah boy!!! You’re killing it with that HSA too – that’s one area I haven’t gone down yet that I’d like to once things get back on track over here… Congrats on being a maxaholic!
Hi money lovers! My name is Mark Bustamonte, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for 5 years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: FREEDOM!
Nice! Welcome to the club!
My name is Jillian and in 2015 I had been paying attention to money since 2006. Then I graduated from college (2 sep schools) and got really serious about money in 2011. In 2015 I would have back surgery and loads of medical effects leading to more debt. In 2020 I am happy to report that I am happy and have a good relationship with money. Less than 7000 of student loans and will completely debt free.
Congrats Jillian!!
Gonna be a damn good new year! :)
I have been paying attention to finances since I was 5 years old. My mother took me to the corner store to buy something with my money (a handful of change). I picked out my candy and put it on the counter. When the lady at the counter wanted my money and I realized to get the candy I had to give her my money I took back my money and left the candy there.
When I was 30 and realized that I could significantly save money by simply paying more on my principal every month on my house mortgage I got very excited and began doing that. I have been debt-free since I was 40 and I am now 64 years old,
I can’t say I am proud without a shout out to my mom and dad who always lived within their means and saved. It is a gift in my opinion. I know it can be learned but I feel like I was given a gift and can’t take credit for it. It makes me wonder if I had had a different type upbringing, would I still be debt free?
very cool!! What a great set of mentors you had there :) All of our lives would be different depending on how/when/where/why/who we were born to! For the better or the worse!
Hi money lovers! My name is April, and I’ve been paying attention to my finances for many (?) years now. I’ve accomplished the following this year and I’m damn proud of it: I’m finally down to owing under $25,000 on my mortgage! I can’t wait to be done! Solo parent, teacher income… it’s been work.
Glad to have you here, April! Amazing journey you’ve been on – congrats!! I want an email please when you hit $0.00 :)