I don't do numeric goals, but if I did, I'd have them over longer timespans. This way you won't miss them because of short-term random events.
Ameise's Journal
Re: Ameise's Journal
@ zbigi: Yes, thats a good point - thanks. For 2025 my main priorities are to get rid of stuff and push my spending level down. I had just too much ideas and plans for 2025 and I needed focus. So everyone of my goals should support one of those two and I just like having goals for the month. Normally I do a lot better achieving them 
Re: Ameise's Journal
May: 3. Week Review
Okay, here's a quick update on my week. My health is finally improving, and I've managed the stresses and strains of the vacation trip very good. Financially, the trip was great, I had already booked and paid for an Interrail ticket a few months ago (included on day with an overnight stay with the family) only a few euros were needed for the trip and this morning I had a fresh baguette.
I spent €4.50 this week. So, the current monthly expenditure for May is €465.
I wouldn’t mind to go on like this - but it won't be possible... Next week we're planning to do some bulk shopping so that we have everything we need here in the vacation cottage.
Bad: Forgot sports shoes, I'll have to buy some cheap ones here. My fitness level has crashed over the last few weeks, and I need to get back on my feet, but do it slowly, slowly.
Good: The trip went well, Interrail and the train journey worked out great, my health is improving, and I'll soon be on vacation.
Lessons learned: Interrail is definitely a great way to travel cheaply and far.
Okay, here's a quick update on my week. My health is finally improving, and I've managed the stresses and strains of the vacation trip very good. Financially, the trip was great, I had already booked and paid for an Interrail ticket a few months ago (included on day with an overnight stay with the family) only a few euros were needed for the trip and this morning I had a fresh baguette.
I spent €4.50 this week. So, the current monthly expenditure for May is €465.I wouldn’t mind to go on like this - but it won't be possible... Next week we're planning to do some bulk shopping so that we have everything we need here in the vacation cottage.
Bad: Forgot sports shoes, I'll have to buy some cheap ones here. My fitness level has crashed over the last few weeks, and I need to get back on my feet, but do it slowly, slowly.
Good: The trip went well, Interrail and the train journey worked out great, my health is improving, and I'll soon be on vacation.
Lessons learned: Interrail is definitely a great way to travel cheaply and far.
Re: Ameise's Journal
Report May
Expenses: 590 Euros
Income: 1,150 Euros
Investment: 160,000 Euros (thanks to market growth)
Unfortunately, I couldn't stick to my goal of having only 500 Euros in expenses. The reasons are clear to me: the additional medical expenses and the vacation costs added up. Still, there's still a 5 at the beginning.
Now that I have calculated the cash flow for each month of the entire year, I know more precisely when I can afford certain expenses and when I cannot.
This month, I have been more concerned about my health and my satisfaction. I am usually a very positive person, but the recurring illness has been bothering me, and so has the fact that I can't really relax during this vacation. I'm not quite sure what's going on. I've been looking forward to this time so much, and now I'm somehow disappointed that everything isn't automatically great just because I'm on vacation. I can't really let go, and I'm disappointed about being disappointed. Maybe this is just normal stress relief, and I'm giving it too much weight. I drift from day to day but can't really enjoy the drifting because I still expect some kind of performance from myself.
I think I'm currently a bit under-challenged and need to find new challenges. Also, I've isolated myself a lot in the past month, which I tend to do when I'm not feeling well. I want to address this as well. Sometimes, saving contributes too much to my isolation, and I'd rather be a bit bolder instead of having the perfect savings rate. Overdoing it is ultimately not good either.
Some of my ideas:
Expenses: 590 Euros
Income: 1,150 Euros
Investment: 160,000 Euros (thanks to market growth)
Unfortunately, I couldn't stick to my goal of having only 500 Euros in expenses. The reasons are clear to me: the additional medical expenses and the vacation costs added up. Still, there's still a 5 at the beginning.
Now that I have calculated the cash flow for each month of the entire year, I know more precisely when I can afford certain expenses and when I cannot.This month, I have been more concerned about my health and my satisfaction. I am usually a very positive person, but the recurring illness has been bothering me, and so has the fact that I can't really relax during this vacation. I'm not quite sure what's going on. I've been looking forward to this time so much, and now I'm somehow disappointed that everything isn't automatically great just because I'm on vacation. I can't really let go, and I'm disappointed about being disappointed. Maybe this is just normal stress relief, and I'm giving it too much weight. I drift from day to day but can't really enjoy the drifting because I still expect some kind of performance from myself.
I think I'm currently a bit under-challenged and need to find new challenges. Also, I've isolated myself a lot in the past month, which I tend to do when I'm not feeling well. I want to address this as well. Sometimes, saving contributes too much to my isolation, and I'd rather be a bit bolder instead of having the perfect savings rate. Overdoing it is ultimately not good either.
Some of my ideas:
- Further education
- Designing T-shirts
- Starting an online shop (I did this a long time ago and it brought me a lot of joy)
- Joining a sports club
- Volunteering
- more regularly checking in with the team
- more Reaching out to my friends&family
Re: Ameise's Journal
I agree this can be a challenge (-:
Without cohabitation, it takes real effort to maintain relationships. It was so easy during university; basically zero effort required. I wasn't prepared for how different it would be after graduating. But I think it's important to keep those friendships alive because... well, you can't make new old friends. Several years ago I resorted to scheduling calls with friends on my calendar. Yes, just like a work meeting. Pathetic? Maybe. Effective? Definitely!