2009 Goals

2009 is shaping up to be an extremely important year for me, as I will be one year from graduation, have landed my first internship with a large accounting firm, have a full plate lined up at school, and will continue working part-time throughout.

2008 was my first year truly digging into the personal finance world, and in creating a plan to follow through on.

This will be my first year with a "real" job, and the money that comes with it, at least during the summer months.

My goals for 2009 are as follows:
- IRA contributions: I plan to contribute at least $1,500 to the IRA that I started last year. Certainly nowhere near what most PF bloggers are contributing, but not a bad goal for a college kid with limited cash.
- Add $500 to my savings bonds portfolios: most people seem to be a bit averse towards regular ole savings bonds, but I have recently been purchasing a few which are currently earning over 6% interest - not bad at all in this market. I have been lucky enough to receive savings bonds from my parents and grandparents as gifts over the years, and have amassed a couple thousand dollars worth of bonds thus far.
- Save $2500 cash to add towards my graduation nest-egg, which will allow me to make the necessary initial purchases after graduation (ie settling into a new apartment, furniture, updating work wardrobe, first bills out fully on my own)
- $1500 for the cruise my girlfriend and I are planning in August. This will include the cruise and all associated costs for both of us, with a bit of wiggle room.

I would also like to be able to save a chunk of the money I make working this semester, and from my internship next semester towards next fall's semester when I plan to go back to my volunteer position I held last spring.

These sum up most of my tangible financial goals: of course I plan to continue to add to my PF knowledge, and prepare a more complete plan for post-graduation life.