One Year to an Organized Financial Life (S/PG)(NYR 3)

One Year to an Organized Financial Life is just that, a step by step, week by week plan to go from chaos to organization nirvana. Now, I highly recommend that if you want to deep dive into this book, buy it so you can go week to week to week. I checked it out from the library, read through the whole year in about 2 days, and then went back and picked out what I was needing at the time. The only issue I see with my approach is that it isn't the overall goal of what the author, Regina Leeds, is trying to convey. It isn't just having a filing system, or paying your bills on time, but a lifestyle of organization. Her philosophy is that in order for the organization to work, you cannot just be organized in one spot, or in one room, or in one thing (i.e. your finances are in order, but your housekeeping isn't, etc). She clearly demonstrates how she perceives that sloppiness in one arena can and will carry over to another if you allow it, but they cannot both exist in your lifestyle and for the most part I agree. It is funny that since I took to task on going through the paper work, creating files, etc., I have also finally cleaned out the garage, wrote a specific to do list down, etc. As she stated, the momentum I created in doing the finances have carried over into other aspects (I'm sure to the cheers of my wife). I just have to keep the momentum going.

The other thing is this is not just about bills and files. It covers taxes, wills, insurance, credit cards, budgeting, etc. I think this is great considering most personal finance books only focus on bills, or getting out of debt, etc. This book is a plan that umbrellas everything.

I would give this a 7 out of 10. People who desperately want a plan and can buy into the organized lifestyle will probably take it as a 8 or a 9. However, those picking this up thinking that it will only focus on getting the bills paid on time will probably be disappointed and put it at a 5 or 6.

To Do List 3.3.10

I'm deleting #22, because I priced them, and really I don't need it right now.
Finished
3) Garage cleaned out. Still have to organize what was in the garage that actually belonged in other rooms
19b) Went to eye doctor. Everything looks good. Get new glasses in about 1 1/2 weeks.

Still to-do

1) Write a will
2) Compose household inventory
4) Change oil in truck
5) Wash truck
6) Repair light on truck
7) Cut loose fabric off of dash in truck
8) Change oil in car
9) Get estimate to paint bumper on car and realign headlights
10) Get windshield replaced on car
11) Fix the spring on the couch
12) Inventory comic books (ensure all books on boards and in bags)
13) Inventory all books
14) Go through clothes/shoes and donate what I don't wear/can't fit into anymore
15) Make a list of clothes to buy based on Dress Smart book.
16) Upgrade Life Insurance policy on me and wife
17) Build book table for wife for bathtub reading
18) Replace radio in car (either with stock or aftermarket radio)
19) Schedule physical appointment
20) Work on computer to see if it is salvagable
21) Host a dinner with RCIA'ers
23) Set up automatic payments with regular bills
24) Repair kitchen chair
25)Prioritze to-do list

Update 3.3.10

Goals
1) Read at least 6 books for fun (i.e. no business books)
Progress: Started The Winds of War; forgot how addictive it was. Having trouble putting it down.
Plan: Finish The Winds of War

2) Read one business related book a month
Progress: Checked out Cheap by Ellen Shell
Plan: Begin reading once I finish The Winds of War

3) Read at least 12 spiritual/personal growth books
Progress: None
Plan: Start God's Politics.

4) Technically and accidentally, finished a video game this weeked. So one down, 11 more to go.

5) Plan 6 dates with my wife (one every other month - she has the other six)
Progress: Sounds weird, but I think the wife is up for gonig to a roller derby.
Plan: Buy tickets and arrange for sitter. May be a double date also.

6) Becoming healthier
Progress: Started a new diet with the wife (kind of a lite version of the diet, but it is a start right?)
Plan: Starting the gym today.

7) Start drafting a book (yes, I want to write a book)
Progress: None
Plan: Put this on hold until some of the others are rolling along.

8) Payoff all debt with the exception of my student loans and our largest two credit cards.
Progress: Well, the tax man took a bigger chunk than expected, so the bonus didn't go as far. Had a few other hiccups as well.
Plan: Tonight, right down every single thing we owe to see the situation.

9) Start a christmas club account for christmas 2010 so that it isn't a financial burden this year.
Progress: On hold.
Plan: Start as soon as 8 will let us.

10) Apply for (and hopefully take) the Professional Engineers exam in October.
Progress: Checked out a recommend study schedule. Basically, it is at least 100 studying days before the exam, studying 3-4 hours per day. I say studying days because some study, just on weekdays, others all 7, some every other, etc., but the 100 studying days are definitely a common theme.
Plan: Plan the schedule. Finish appliacation by end of March to submit. Find and budget for classes to submit to work for approval (along with books and calculators).

11) Become more organized.
Progress: Garage is finally done and holding both cars!!!! Has to be the Resolutions highlight of the week (and it took less time than expected)
Plan: Take the week to prioritze the To-Do List and start attacking next week.