Ashley’s 2025 Goals – Pulse Check

by Ashley

We’re formally midway via 2025, so I assumed it was an excellent time to examine in on my objectives for the yr. This can be a nice alternative to mirror on what’s going nicely – and the place I nonetheless have some work to do.

Objective #1: Journey Much less.

Grade: C+

I traveled a lot in 2024 that I’d hoped to reduce this yr. I’ve pre-written and scheduled this put up, however as that is revealed I’ll simply be wrapping up every week lengthy journey in Hawaii! Whereas I initially thought this is able to be my solely journey of the yr, that has not turned out to be the case.

To date, 2025 has included fairly a number of mini-trips:

• January – Journey to Austin with the children after my Dad was placed on hospice
• February –  Weekend road-trip with the children to go to household in El Paso (so glad we went as a result of…)
• April – Household journey again to El Paso for my husband’s grandfather’s funeral (we have been in a position to see grandpa earlier than his well being all of the sudden declined!)
• Could – Journey with my sister to unfold my Dad’s ashes in Utah
• June – Work journey to DC
• June – Household trip in Hawaii

Actually, I might’ve given myself a decrease score (touring each single month seems like an “F” when the objective was to journey much less). However I’ll by no means remorse touring to see household when their well being is ailing (like our January and February journeys), or touring for household funeral and memorial-related visits (like our April and Could journeys). These journeys have been rooted in love and household, and I’d make them once more in a heartbeat.

That mentioned, I’m hoping issues settle down a bit and we are able to stick nearer to residence for the rest of the yr. Fingers crossed!

Objective #2: Investments.

Grade: A+

We’re going robust with our investments! We’ve got a various mixture of accounts – from high-yield financial savings and CDs to mutual funds, retirement, and single shares. We’ve began monitoring our web value with the intention of working towards our objective of buying a rental property within the subsequent 12 months. I really feel actually good about our progress right here.

Objective #3: Open an LLC.

Grade: A+

Simply final month, I formally opened an LLC! I’m so excited to make use of it as a basis to develop our enterprise portfolio. We plan to make use of the LLC after we buy our rental property. And though I haven’t talked about this right here earlier than, I’ve been working behind-the-scenes on a guide proposal with a objective to complete it by the top of summer season. If (when!) it sells, I’ll try this via the LLC, too.

One other profit? I hope to finally make use of the women as they develop – serving to with clerical duties, social media content material, and extra. I’m desirous to get them began with Roth IRAs as soon as they’re in a position to contribute to the enterprise.

Objective #4: Interview (& rent?) a monetary planner/wealth supervisor.

Grade: A+

At the start of the yr, we began the method of interviewing a number of monetary planners. I likened the expertise to courting. We had “first dates” with 5 completely different corporations, and went on  “second dates” (the place we supplied all our monetary particulars and acquired pattern plans) with 2 completely different corporations.

Ultimately, we didn’t rent anybody. One firm we favored extra by way of persona match, however their returns averaged solely 5% – which I can get from a high-yield financial savings account! The opposite appeared stronger on the monetary facet, however I didn’t love the advisor’s persona and there have been some obtrusive holes within the plan (no allowance for new-to-us automobiles, school financial savings, and so on.). Positive, these items can simply be up to date and adjusted, nevertheless it simply felt like he was possibly just a little bit flustered and over his head – not an awesome match.

Regardless that we didn’t find yourself hiring anybody, I nonetheless give myself an A+ for having gone via the total course of and making an knowledgeable choice (despite the fact that the choice was to not enter into an settlement with anybody right now).

Objective #5: Put money into what issues.

Grade: B

I’d already began shopping for extra high-quality meats and produce, however I’ve not made an enormous quantity of progress on switching to different “clear” merchandise like sunscreen, make-up/moisturizer, and so on. I’m just a little embarrassed to confess this now, provided that we’ve been on a seashore trip slathered in chemical sunscreen. In all probability ought to’ve thought that via.

Nonetheless, it’s not a failing grade. I have switched to aluminum-free deodorant, and changed our outdated poisonous (i.e., non-stick with scratches) bakeware for increased high quality ceramic-based merchandise. It will proceed to be a piece in progress

General Ideas

I’m pleased with the place we’re at total. For the rest of 2025, I hope to journey much less (for actual, this time!), proceed our saving and investing, and make extra considerate purchases relating to what we put in and on our our bodies.

How are you doing together with your 2025 objectives? Are there any adjustments you need to make within the second half of the yr?

Hello, I’m Ashley! Arizonan on paper, Texan at coronary heart. Lover of operating, running a blog, and all issues cheeeeese. Early 40s, married mom of two, working in academia. Making an attempt to lastly (lastly!) repay that ridiculous 6-digit pupil mortgage debt!