Well, well, well. February is officially in the rearview mirror, and it’s time for my monthly goal check-in. Spoiler: if you were hoping for a smooth ride with a side of flawless goal crushing, you might want to lower your expectations. This month, life had other plans. Let’s just say that cancer and I are now on a first-name basis. I think it’s safe to say my focus shifted from “budgeting guru” and “goal-crushing machine” to “surviving the emotional chaos that is a cancer diagnosis.” Getting diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer completely threw off my whole groove (and my budget, and my diet, and my workout routine—basically, my life). But hey I’m still here and still inching toward my goals, albeit with a little less grace than usual.
I’ll break it all down—financials, weight loss, running, and book reading (because, if I’m being honest, books are the only thing keeping me from a full-on mental breakdown at this point). Let’s get into the nitty-gritty, shall we?
Financial Goals: Making Cents of It All
Goal #1: Pay off $27,000 in debt
Debt. It’s like that one guest who shows up at every party uninvited and never leaves. But I’ve got plans. My ultimate goal is to be debt-free in five years, and I’m already ahead of the game. I paid off $15,000 of my $27,000 target last year, which left me with only $12,000 to tackle this year. Easy, right? Well, after obliterating $5,439 in January, I was feeling pretty smug about it. Fast forward to February, and thanks to a hefty performance bonus (I don’t know who I had to bribe for this, but thank you, mysterious benefactor), I was able to wipe out $5,123 in medical debt. That means I now only need to pay off $1,438 to hit my yearly goal. Seriously, I’m like the debt-slaying ninja of your dreams—just call me “The Debt Avenger.”
Goal #2: Save $7,200 for an emergency fund
So where am I with saving money for emergencies? Well, it’s kind of like if everyone was preparing for an apocalypse, and all I have is one extra-large bag of rice that I’m praying will somehow get me through. Last month, I managed to put $500 into my emergency fund, and this month I added another $500, bringing me to a grand total of $1,000. I know, I know… I’m a financial wizard—if that wizard was just starting out and trying to summon a coin. But, hey, it’s a start. I’m calling this my baby emergency fund. Next month, I plan to shove this into a high-yield savings account, so it can start growing into a toddler emergency fund…because why not let my money work as hard as I do?
Goal #3: Build sinking funds for life’s moments
I like to think of sinking funds as my financial version of a personal assistant who gently reminds me that I need money for the “expected” life stuff (like kids’ birthdays and Christmas) and the “surprise” stuff (like my car deciding it’s time for new tires or my dog’s weird medical condition that requires a $500 vet bill). Last month, I put $200 into these funds. This month, my work bonus came to the rescue again, and I dumped $5,120 into them. Yes, you read that right—five thousand. One hundred. Twenty. Dollars. The result? Seven out of eight sinking funds are fully funded. So when something pops up, I’m basically ready to whip out my wallet like a superhero, just with less spandex. Here’s a quick peek at the breakdown:
- Car Maintenance: $1,200 of $1,200 (because apparently my car’s “Check Engine” light isn’t simply a lifestyle choice )
- Pet Expenses: $1,200 of $1,200 (because every unexpected vet visit feels like I’m paying for a small car instead of my dog’s latest “oops, I ate something I shouldn’t have” moment)
- Travel: $660 of $1,000 (because I’m definitely going places—mostly to the grocery store, but maybe eventually to somewhere else)
- Back-to-School: $250 of $250 (because apparently kids need more than just a cardboard box to carry their books)
- Halloween: $250 of $250 (who knew I had to start planning costumes in February to avoid buying overpriced last-minute ones?)
- Birthdays: $1,000 of $1,000 (because my kids expect an actual celebration, not a coupon for “good vibes only”)
- Christmas: $1,000 of $1,000 (because apparently the holiday spirit doesn’t cover the cost of gifts, wrapping paper, or shipping)
February No-Spend Challenge
Now, here’s where the wheels kind of fell off. After slaying the no-spend challenge in January, I went into February with high hopes… and then promptly threw them out the window. Between several pre-planned expenses and some not-so-planned emotional comfort spending (because cancer, that’s why), I ended up spending more than I intended–money that could have gone toward my debt and savings if I had been more intentional and less impulsive.
Lesson learned: when your emotions are teetering on the edge of panic, your debit card suddenly becomes like that one guy you text in a moment of spontaneity and then immediately regret texting. Oof. Emotional spending is real, people, and I’m officially aware of my vulnerability to it. Grace and reflection are in order.
Personal Pursuits: Goals for the Soul
Goal #1: Lose 50 pounds
This year’s goal? Lose the second half of my 100-pound journey. Last year, I knocked out 50 pounds, and I plan to finish the job in 2025. January was fantastic—I lost 10 pounds and dropped a pant size (cue the confetti!). February, however, was more about maintaining. I didn’t lose any weight, but I didn’t gain any either. And honestly, given the emotional rollercoaster of the month, maintaining my weight felt like a huge success. If I can keep my cool during stressful months and not find myself scarfing down entire pizzas in one sitting, I think I’m winning.
Goal #2: Run a half-marathon
Oh, the half-marathon. It’s like the dream I really want to achieve, but my body and I have very different opinions about running. January was filled with walk/run intervals and dreams of victory. February, however, was a different story. My alarm clock and I had a heated debate every morning, and spoiler alert: I lost. The snooze button won almost every time. I had every intention of adding a couple more walking days and yoga sessions to my routine this month, but alas, my bed became my best friend, and I just couldn’t bring myself to leave it. Let’s call this month a “rest and recovery” period (because, really, what else can you say when you miss an entire workout schedule?) Maybe next month—if I can stop hitting snooze.
Goal #3: Read 50 books
On a happier note, my reading goal is going pretty well. Last month, I gobbled up five books, and this month, I read four. I finished the ACOTAR (A Court of Thorns and Roses) series by Sarah J. Maas, reading A Court of Silver Flames. I also wrapped up The Crimson Moth duology by Kristen Ciccarelli with Rebel Witch. I also ventured outside the fantasy realms with a non-fiction running book (Running for Health and Happiness by Jason Fitzgerald) and a historical fiction novel (Moloka’i by Alan Brennert, which is a heart-wrenching yet beautiful tale of a girl forced into a leprosy colony in 19th-century Hawaii…10/10 would recommend). So yeah, I’m still on track for my 50-book goal, even if it’s been a month full of emotional page-turners and questionable decision-making.
In Conclusion: February, You Were a Lot, But I’m Still Standing
So there you have it. February threw some major curveballs at me. Between the emotional turmoil of a cancer diagnosis and all the life stuff happening, I wasn’t exactly the picture of goal-crushing efficiency. But hey, I’m still here, and I’m still moving forward. Progress, no matter how slow, is still progress. And now that the dust has settled, I’ve got a plan for both my health and my finances. Cancer may have given me a hard left hook, but it didn’t knock me out. I’m still standing—albeit with a slightly less organized calendar.
So, onward to March, friends. And if you see me out here spending emotionally again, send me a meme or a virtual slap on the wrist. Because, honestly, we could all use a little less retail therapy and a lot more self-restraint.
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