Well 2014 turned out to be a pretty good year for us because we finally cleared our debts back in November, which of course has been the main objective ever since I first started this blog!
We weren’t expecting to clear our debts in 2014 but the momentum picked up on debt payoff, we had a little luck and we achieved this goal earlier than anticipated. I did also have some other goals too which I created here and there (some of them I didn’t actually write down), so I thought I’d take this opportunity to collate them all together and review them to see how I did. I’ll start with the positives!
Write an eBook – pass
I thought originally that writing an eBook was going to be a mammoth task but actually it wasn’t that difficult at all, other than the amount of time which I needed to spend doing so. During 2014, I wrote Achieving Debt Freedom which is based on a series I wrote a while ago about the ways in which debt can have an emotional impact on a person as well as how to overcome any negative emotions linked to debt.
Later in the year, I published 101 Ways to Earn Money From Home (which by the way will be on free promo on Amazon next week so please subscribe to my blog to make sure you don’t miss the notification about it). This book has proven to be very popular so far and I’m really over the moon about how things are going with it!
Towards the end of the year, I wrote an ebook called How to Become a Bridal Makeup Artist which is based on my own experience as I used to be a makeup artist in addition to my day job for several years. I had the idea to write this after seeing that the post I wrote over a year ago about this side hustle was actually quite popular. So I thought about what aspiring bridal makeup artists would want to know and compiled a book about it. It’s selling copies most days!
Side note – I will write a post on here explaining the steps I go through to write an eBook very soon!
Make money through blogging – pass
At one point, the concept of making money through blogging seemed impossible to me. I had no idea how to monetize the site so I started with Google Adsense, which earns me a little money each month. Then I started doing banner adverts directly for clients and occasionally through editorial content. All in all, the blog is becoming quite a good little earner now. On average, I’m making around £200 ($300) per month from this site, sometimes more.
Earn money freelancing – pass
I’ve been taking on more and more freelance work over the last six months or so and I’m very happy with how things are going. I work for a small number of clients now doing freelance writing and social media management – including working for my neighbour who gave me some work because I happened to mention to him that I enjoy writing as happy chance would have it.
Start creating passive income – pass
I now make some passive income through my eBook sales!
Save £2000 for our emergency fund by Christmas 2014 – pass
This goal and the next two below are part of our new goals I added in November after we paid our debts off. I’m pleased to say that we exceeded this goal and there is now £2213 in our emergency fund!
Save £50,000 for a house deposit by November 2017 – on track
Amazingly, even with Christmas just gone, we’re more or less on track with our massive savings goal of £16,666 per year to reach the sum of £50,000 by November 2017. I thought December was going to be a bad month for earnings considering I was off sick for a couple of weeks, however, I managed to get some freelance jobs under way and pretty much worked round the clock for a couple of weeks to claw some earnings back. With that said, our house deposit fund stands at £2406! I can honestly say that our bank accounts have never been this healthy before!
Invest £1000 by March 2014 – on track
This goal is on track I guess but technically I haven’t done much about it yet. I don’t yet feel comfortable taking money out of our house deposit fund to invest but maybe I should because I’m not sure how I’ll lay my hands on a grand any other way.
Save for retirement – fail
I know, this is the kind of goal that no-one wants to fail at. It’s a biggie. But, truth be told, we got so carried away with debt payoff that it became our main focus. I had hoped to save some money every month for retirement but as the hubby and I don’t have a work pension, putting our money in the right place has seemed like a minefield. Plus I’m self employed so I need a flexible way of saving that has a good return. The interest rates on Cash ISAs here in the UK are pretty dismal, that’s for sure. With that said, I am currently seeking some advice on what we should be doing.
We do have a property which we rent out, this is our former home (and we rent where we live now). It’s something I guess but at the moment, I doubt there’s much equity in it. We would like to use this for our pension in the future but I’m not sure how the tax side of things will work. REALLY need some proper advice on that.
Lose 10lbs in weight – fail
I still need to lose 10lbs in weight. Alright, 12lbs if you take into account Christmas! As much as I wouldn’t encourage this, the hubby and I made a few unwise decisions throughout last year when it came to cheap dinners, so that we could save money and pay off our debt. Yep, we ate less meat and more carbs. I spent most of the year working on my laptop and not exercising when I should have! Must do better!
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New goals for 2015
Along with the goals that we’re still working towards above, here are a few more, along with an action plan of how we’ll aim to achieve them!
How was 2014 for you? What are your goals for 2015?
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17 Comments
It is awesome that you have completed so many of your goals. I am currently looking for some freelancing jobs and it is intimidating at times, but I am determined to turn my writing into income so I can be home for my daughter after leaving the military. Good luck with your 2015 goals and purchasing your new home. Buying your first home is so exciting and you are going to love the experience.
Petrish @ Debt Free Martini recently posted…5 Financial Myths to Ignore
Have you tried oDesk Petrish for freelancing work? I’ve had a bit of luck with that site. It’s definitely possible so stick with it! Oddly enough, when we buy a home in the future, it will be the third time going through the experience. The other houses before we made a lot of mistakes with (like a ton of debt and no savings) but third time lucky! 🙂
No I have never tried that website, but I am going to check it out. Thank you so much for the info. I’ll let you know how I do.
Petrish @ Debt Free Martini recently posted…5 Financial Myths to Ignore
You guys are doing SO well, Hayley!!!! Keep up the great work. I have no doubt you’ll achieve your 2015 goals just as you did so well on 2014 goals.
Laurie @thefrugalfarmer recently posted…4 Debt Payoff Mistakes We Made Last Year
Thank you Laurie! Best of luck with your goals for 2015 and especially with the debt payoff!
Congrats on your amazing 2014. We currently are clawing our way out of debt, but posts like this help inspire me to keep going. Good luck in 2015!
Harmony recently posted…Rescuing Food From The Jaws of Pregnancy-Brain Defeat
Thank you Harmony that means a lot! Best of luck with your debt payoff this year, I’ll be checking your blog to see how things are going! 🙂
You accomplished a HUGE amount last year and you should be so proud of yourself! I love how you have the action needed to accomplish your goal column. Most people set their goals but have no steps on how they are actually going to achieve it. I’m jealous of your ad income! I need to get better at that aspect of my blog!
Tonya@Budget and the Beach recently posted…Should College Athletes Get Paid?
Thanks Tonya! 🙂 I’m hoping that little table of goals and actions will spur me on throughout the year. As for the ad income, I really hope that it continues! I’m envious of the fact that you have fresh new content on your site almost every day! How do you do that?
You did pretty good with your goals last year, Hayley. I would recommend, like many of us would, that you set aside some money for retirement. Other than that, it looks like you have pretty good goals set.
Good luck and have fun achieving them!
Aldo @ Million Dollar Ninja recently posted…Goal Settings for 2015
Thanks Aldo! Yes, I definitely will be doing that this year. I just need to find out where I should be putting the money that will work to my advantage!
My 2014 was OK. I was in the middle of a life transition and didn’t commit to any goals because I didn’t know how the transition was going to go. It turned out to be good and bad. Good in that the transition went fine. Bad in that I didn’t end up accomplishing much else. For 2015, I’ll be focusing on several big goals (one of which is to write my own ebook) and a bunch of little goals to be accomplished each month.
Brian @ Luke1428 recently posted…Would You Use Cheap Toilet Paper For a Penny?
I’m glad to hear that you got through your life transition Brian – and I hope that you’re doing ok. Sometimes it’s best just to see how things go and let life take its course. I’ll look forward to reading more about your goals for 2015 on your blog.
You might have more ‘passes’ than any blogger I’ve seen so far this year. Well done! I’ve had a very hard time losing weight this year, and I’m realizing it’s because I need to change my diet. Getting older, I can’t just exercise my way into eating crap food all the time.
Done by Forty recently posted…Playing with My Emotions
Congratulations on your success this year, I have really enjoyed reading your blog!
I pay a tiny amount into a private stakeholder pension each month (my employer is too small for Workplace Pensions to apply and my role only maternity cover) but it will all add up and as long as I have something in excess of the state pension I am happy.
Good luck for this years goals – I will be reading avidly 🙂
Victoria @thefrugaltrial recently posted…Debt Update – November
You have some great goals in place for 2015 Hayley. I wish you luck and can’t wait to hear how they go for you throughout the year.
Kayla @ Shoeaholicnomore recently posted…Online Income: December 2014
What an incredible 2014 for you! I’ve got to get my hands on one of your ebooks! Good luck in 2015!
Lisa recently posted…2015: The Year of Less