Roth IRA Update

Here's a quick overview of one of our 2019 goals.

$8,500: The amount of money we've put into retirement so far this year.

IRA= Individual Retirement Account. Matt and I both have one, and this year they upped the max contribution, and you are allowed to put in $6k per person.

Why are we prioritizing retirement this early?

• Luke 14:28 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?"
• Proverbs 13:22 "A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just." 
• The younger you start, the more time it has to grow! Here's a video to illustrate it to you!

Why do we prioritize our Roth IRAs instead of Traditional IRAs?

• For a Roth IRA, the money is taxed before you put it in, and then it *grows tax-free*. When you pull it out during retirement, you've already paid the taxes on it, so you get to bring home the full amount.
• For a Traditional IRA, the money is not taxed before you put it in (so you are saving money on the front end), but when you pull it out in retirement, you have to pay taxes on it. It's no longer the amount you put in; It has grown significantly over the years, and so your tax bill will be much higher than it would have been if you had paid taxes on the money before you put it in to your IRA.

Where do you invest?

• We invest in Vanguard. You can open an account online. The specific ticker numbers we have in our portfolio are: VTSMX, VASGX, VTIVX, and VTSAX.

If it looks like we're crushing our financial goals for this year, I've asked God to double our income this year (we're hiring our first employee in May), and I believe He will!! 

What's coming after we hit our financial goals? Well, we have a trip to South Carolina planned in May (visiting my best friend!), and we've also got our dream couch (pictured below) on deck after we max out our retirement accounts, and then we'll start a long-term goal of saving for our next home (a dining room and a fireplace are on our short list)!

But, in case you think all of my 2019 goals will be crossed off before we finish April, be comforted in the fact that after these financial goals, I need to refocus on my weight-loss goal. I'm trying to get back to 128, but lately I've been in the low 140s, which means I've gone a couple of pounds in the wrong direction these last two months.

Another goal I have for this month is to hit 800 followers on A Helpmeet for Him's Facebook Page. So, if you haven't, go like it! If you have, share it with a friend. I've got a two-winner giveaway ready for when we get to 800!

Did you set any goals for yourself this year? We're wrapping up the third month. How're you doing?

Resolutions: 2019

As we stand at the threshold of a new year, it is the perfect time to refresh and resolve to meet some specific goals. I love a good excuse to set goals. Last year, I set three goals. The first was to pay down the mortgage to under $25,000. The second was to successfully start and run a business. The third was to get to goal weight (128). Let's review how my 2018 goals went:

1. We paid off our mortgage! Goal exceeded. God blew that one out of the water.

2. Business successfully started and run, which was a HUGE part of the success of that first goal.

3. I didn't make it back to goal weight this year. But I've lost 76 pounds and made it to goal weight before on Trim Healthy Mama, so I know it works. I just haven't been faithful to stay on-plan. In 2018 I lost 22 pounds. I'm 139 beginning 2019. 11 more pounds to go!

Goals 2019

With the mortgage payment in the rear view mirror, a lot of people have been asking what we're doing next! We just got back from a week away in New England, we have two weekends in the OBX later this month, and then we have a staycation (baby-free) booked in February for my birthday, so taking more time out as a family/couple this year is high on the list, but here are three other goals that I'm dedicated to hitting this year:

1. Max out our Roth IRAs ($11,000 into our retirement accounts) for the first time.
2. Save up $20,000 to buy a van when our Honda Accord dies/we have another baby (whichever comes first).
3. Get back to goal weight (128 pounds).

Those are my three big goals for 2019! I was on-plan all day yesterday, and I'm buckling down with renewed focus on hitting my health goals. Also, after 22 months of never shopping, we're allowing ourselves to make little changes around the house room-by-room. Stay tuned-in for room tours!