Every year in January I write about creating an annual spending plan. The metaphor I’ve used in past years is looking into your own “crystal ball” to see the future. (A few years ago I wrote this: Look Into Your Crystal Ball) And indeed, creating a spending plan for the whole year does allow you to see where you will end the year, before it starts. “If I spend this and earn that, I’ll have this much at the end of the year.”

So here is a different metaphor: what if you had a magic road map? And what if this road map told you how to get to your destination — no debt, more fun experiences this year, and more savings perhaps??? AND it magically helped you come up with alternate routes throughout the year when you found your way blocked?

Last year I created my personal magic road map. I sat down a year ago and “mapped” out last year. I looked first at what I needed and wanted for the year. (Here’s my post on creating your needs/wants list: How to Create Your Own Needs and Wants List) I needed some work done on my house and the orthodontist was knocking on our door. I wanted to upgrade my wardrobe and do more travel. I wanted to fund my ROTH. So a year ago I came up with a workable plan.

Then throughout this past year, life threw me some curve balls. Life has away of doing that, you know. It became apparent that I had to get my son far more involved in an after school activity. He’s become a young teenager (danger Will Robinson). So we joined Crew – and now he rows five days a week for our local team. It’s a somewhat expensive sport, complete with some travel, so I had to bring other costs down to accommodate for it. But my magic road map allowed me to easily adjust. I did buy more clothes this year. Hurray! The house had different work done than I had anticipated though. Houses have a way of doing that. But I got my needs met and refused to compromise on my favorite wants – hair coloring and lawn help.

Actually, I may have reclassified hair coloring as a need and not a want. Yes, I could color my own hair, but I’ve decided professional help is a NEED since that bathroom color-stain incident.

The point is that my road map did indeed get me to the end of last year, in reasonably good shape, and with a minimum of financial stress. I felt in control, even as various roadblocks popped up. I was able to course-correct and navigate around them.

So I sat down last weekend and began mapping out the new year. I feel calm, in control and at peace. It’s magic.

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