What Are Your Financial Goals for 2016?

You know what January means? Time to examine what I did last year and set some intentions moving forward. I always think I’ll do it in December, but who am I kidding? The holidays trump everything. Among the list of things I’m proud of from last year (starting to work at APW being a big one) and goals for next year (South Korea, I’m coming for ya) is one major theme sticks out: money.

Despite the fact that I’ve always prided myself on being “good with money” (never paid rent late, always won at taxes, etc.) I’ve never been… abundant either. I’ve worked over forty different jobs, from high profile work, like shooting at the DNC or community organizing for the Brooklyn Museum, to folding clothes for below minimum wage. There were years of my life where I’d look at a calendar mid-month and crunch numbers to figure out how many more bookings or gigs or shifts I’d need to pay all my bills. But starting in 2014, I started to change my tune. I read articles; I went to therapy; I repeated to myself “I am deserving” till I started to believe that I was talented and worthy. (I mean, I still struggle with imposter syndrome… but that’s a whole other article.)

After a brutal 2015 winter—what some call “three months of depression” and some call “Saturn return”—things finally started bouncing back. I started a consulting contract, I got my first ever full time gig (hi guys!), and money was coming in. Consistently. I spent a few months of waiting for the other shoe to drop. It didn’t, and that’s when I realized I needed a plan. So I made some pretty simple financial goals, things like insure my home and business tools, take a vacation, budget to work while traveling, start a retirement.

And you guys, I did it. Now, don’t get me wrong, I wish being a feminist creative came with a pension plan… mostly because I just found out what a pension is and it sounds like free pet unicorns. But since that isn’t in my cards, a few thousand bucks in an IRA isn’t a half-bad place to start.

On my trip to Mexico last month, I finished a book about the scarcity mentality. And how important it is to create some slack, some space in your budget and schedule, for the fuckups of life. True to form, I then broke my laptop AND had my phone stolen. Two years ago I’d have been having panic attacks. But now? I’m covered. Turns out, wiggle room is priceless. And I still had enough leftover to donate to Syrian refugees.

This year, I’m looking to get even more intimate with money. I’m planning to save more, to start learning about the stock market (which I find legitimately intimidating and ethically confusing), figuring out more dedicated ways to give back (perhaps a self-funded volunteer trip), and increase my income like a real #bossbitch would. Did I mention I got my first ever raise? (Thanks, Meg.) That’s sure to help.

APW, let’s gab: what money matters from last year are you most proud of? What’s 2016 looking like for your bank account? It’s time to talk about dollar dollar bills, y’all.