I've ignored this blog for five months, but I wasn't ignoring my goals for that time. I was actually able to pay off the 6500 in credit card debt I started out with in Jan. more than two months earlier than planned! I've still been putting 12% in my 401(k) too so that has risen to roughly 11,500. There is still a student loan to pay off, but I won't be focusing on that much in the next 6 months.

I really need to figure out what my next goal will be. We have set the wedding date for April 28th, 2007 so I have almost exactly 6 months to save and plan. I am confindent that we will have a classy, beautiful day without going overboard and letting things get out of control. My tendency is to want the best of the best, but now since I know how hard I have to work for the money I'm quickly becoming better at making purchases that don't hurt the wallet so much!

This is my favorite time of the year, but it can get expensive. We are having Thanksgiving at our house like did for the first time last year. It won't be as expensive because we had to buy so much last year that I didn't have.

Our finances are to remain separate after we are married, which seems a little abnormal to me, but will work best for us. I can trust the man I am going to marry. He is very rational and good with money. He's helped me a lot. I don't worry about things changing after we're married. We've been together over 5 years and lived together almost 3, but I wonder if they will. Certainly if we have kids that will be a dramatic change, but aside from that I think things can only get better. I'm becoming more secure and that makes me happy. I don't ever want to be unprepared for anything that happens and I know the only way to prevent that is to plan for the worst and I am learning and trying to do that. It's unpleasant at the time, but in the long run, it can only make things better.

I look at my parents, and not to criticize, but there are things they should have done different. I know it's hard and it's helped me realize that financial security is something that I should be thinking about all the time. I only wish I would have made smarter decisions earlier, but I have time and I am in a great position now. I just have to keep working at it and not "relapse" into my old habits.

That's the basic story. My homework is to set specific goals for the wedding and a new monthly budget for the next two months. I have a shopping trip with my best friend planned in the beginning of Dec. and presents to buy so I'll spend a little more than usual the next two months. I started a saving for Christmas earlier in the year, but it was more important to me to pay off the credit card, so I neglected it, but that will definitely be something I work on next year. I like giving good gifts!