2012 Year in Review / Goals for 2013

 *I actually started this post on Jan 6th and never got around to finishing it...procrastination at its finest.

Happy 2013 and welcome to my 2012 year in review. It has been quite a year for me as I look back at it. A number of highs and achievements, but also stagnation and an enormous and tragic personal loss. My mother died, (not passed away) in late October, one month before her fifty seventh birthday. I know it has forever solidifed how I view life and how I want to spend my own. Being nice to others and spending time with the people you love is what we all can and should strive for. There are few things in life worth being angry over. I am very much influenced by this quote of Carl Sagan's from his book, Pale Blue Dot..

"There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."

In January of 2012 I moved out on my own to my first apartment and it has been a rewarding and interesting experience. I enjoy the extra responsibility but it has also made the loneliness more acute at times.

Financially this year for me was mediocre at best. I was not able to find a new job and so I have just been scraping by month to month. The majority of my gains this year can be attributed to automatic purchases through payroll of my company's shares. This form of forced savings is a great way to build up a small amount of money. It is amazing what you can do when you are forced to get by on a set amount of money each month.

On a personal level, an old friend from ten years ago has reentered my life and all the old emotions have come back to me.

Goals for 2013
Financial
-top up TFSA by $5500
-move ING RRSP to TD e-series
-find a new job and one that is a career starter
-if new job - find new apartment (better location and amenities)

Personal
-improve fitness to the next level
-be more sociable
-improve wardrobe


Below are some numbers for the year

Net Worth:
Jan 1, 2012
$27,637.98

Jan 1, 2013
$33,346.94
Gain: +20.66% or $5,708.96

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