Last week I finally received my W-2 form from my employer which means time to start number crunching. I know many people who just throw their money away and have a business do their taxes. Taxes are not that complicated for 98% of Americans. I use Free Tax USA to fill out my taxes. I like this service for three reasons. Its free federal return if you make under 75,000 dollars, they give you the PDFs of your tax return, and its pretty hassle free to get you taxes done. Now they also file your state return for certain states but will cost around 8 bucks.

I know  some of you are thinking why am I doing them so early when they are due on April 15th. Well the early bird catches the worm. Your tax return is money you should have never given the government. The government loves holding you money, because to them it is a interest free loan for around a year. Its bad for you because you are not earning interest on that money. So this season you also should adjust your W-2 if you get a huge return this year.

How are you doing your taxes this year? and Are you doing them early or waiting till the last day?

What i expect to see every month, for the next few months, is more job losses on the last week of the month. So far in 2009 over 200,00 jobs have been cut. 74,00 just last Monday. Its the end of the month and the books for many company do not look good so cuts have to be made.

What is our newly elected government doing about it? Spending in all areas that will do nothing to create jobs. Giving money for international abortions, organizations like ACORN, and increasing the taxes on certain citizens. To turn the economy around we need to increase consumer spending. Having workers keep getting laid off and increasing taxes is not going to create spending. I also believe the stimulus check is not going to create spending unless you give close to workers take home pay is. Do not get me wrong, i would a stimulus check but it will either go to debts or savings, not the economy.

Well you probably asking yourself that we have the bailout to save us. It was probably a good idea at first but the money is not going to areas it was intended. Banks are using to buy other banks, give bonuses to people who already make over 100,000 dollars, and hoarding it. They are not increasing lending to help free up the market. And the second half of the bailout was just released to further not help things. I do applaud our new President to stop the plane purchase by Citi Group when we have given them billions of taxpayer dollars.

Here in the beginning of 2009 things are still not looking good, what is yur opinion of the latest economy news.

One of my new year resolutions was to get into shape. I know that is not a unique goal for the new year. But i have let my health start to fall and its time to do something about it.

The weight gain started after college when I stop getting the exercise walking to class while still not eating healthy. I was eating out close to 7-8 times a week which greatly affected my finances which also cause some major loss of savings.

To start my goal I really began to stop the eating out during the week.  I was amazed to see how much money I was spending on eating out. It was close to 300 dollars every month. I have even started to notice my body to really tell me that fast food is bad after eating it. I have been successful so far this month, i have brought my lunch every workday.

The next part on my way to getting fit was to get on a exercise routine. Right now I really do not have the time to go to a gym. Also it is winter in Dayton. I really wish i could go walking/running after I get home after work.  Then I started reading about the Wii Fit. It look like a good way to track my goal and make a exercise routine fun and show me different exercises. I was very lucky to get one Amazon before it sold out 10 min later. I will be documenting my goal and also the wii fit. For the next few months i will also be doing wii fit and slowly changing my diet.

My goal is to lose 20 pounds by my birthday in April

Financial Goals

Savings

1. Save 10% of each check into 401K
2. Save additional 2000
3. increase net worth by 25%
4. Get emergency fund to 3 months salary
5. Save 2000 for honeymoon
6. Pay myself off second (5%)

Last year i was really bad at saving. The main reason I was not was due to not controlling my spending. This year i want to live within my means especially when i get married this year.

Debt

1. Begin to pay off my car debt using snowball method
2. Accrue no other financial debt
3. Improve Credit score to above 720 (have balances of no more than 30% of your credit line)
4. Pay bill before they are due

My debt is not bad compared to most my age. Yes, all debt is bad but I only have a car loan right now and my washer/dryer that is no interest for 15 months ( i will pay it off in time). But these are goals that will greatly help my financial future

Budget

1. Make a budget and stick to it. Be in the black 90% of the year
2. Update my budget bi - weekly, do not get behind

I made a budget last year, but really did not follow it to well. Things will be different this year.

Passive Income

1. Sell or trade a total of 12 things on ebay, swaptree, or craigslist
2. Make $500 from passive income

This is one area i am trying to get into this year and improve on.

Investing

1. Learn about investing, particularly dividend investing
2. Re-due my stock investing game

All i know about investing is from my dad telling me what to do about my 401K. So I really do not need to be reliant on him

Giving

1. Tithe

Yeah need to give back, been way to selfish.

Personal

1. Learn to cook other healthier things
2. Read on average 1 book per month
3. Read the rest of the bible by the end of the year
4. Reach my target weight of under 200
5. Exercise at least 2 hours a week
6. Limit myself to 2 fast foods per week
7. Limit myself to 2 cans of diet or one 20oz bottle per day
8. Complete 2 special projects (programming related or home-improvement)
9. Learn and start using CVSing and walgreensings
10. Buy things used when I can

These are goals for my non-work life. Mainly to eat right, be productive, and be frugal.

What are your goals for the year?

I know i have not posted in a while but one of my new year resolutions is to blog all year and see where it takes me. My main focus this year to document and give my readers the tools, applications, and tips I used to tackle the busy lives we live. One of the main reasons I am in my current financial situation is being so busy to figure out how best to use money.

The title of this blog is “Real Change”. I chose this because I want articles on not only change in our pockets but change in ourselves. I will talk about my goal to get in shape and ways I change my life to live better and get things done.

The next post will be my new year goals and I will give monthly updates on them. I did make these goals in the first week so i know i am a little behind for this year.

One of my favorite Christian personal fiance blogs is having a great end of the year giveaway. The top prizes being two iPods and many other great gifts. Head over to the GREAT Giveaway - Some Ipod Nano’s and more!

If not for the giveaway then to one of the best blogs on personal finance.

Also look at Christian PF every week for a Friday Giveaway!!!

We all know that Christmas is the busiest time of the year. With schools concerts, plays, tests, family coming in, shopping, decorating, cooking multiple big meals, its hard to find time for it all. But hopefully you can all find some time to relax and spend time with the people that matter in your life. Most importantly remember the reason for the season, He seems to get lost in all the hustle. Take time to read the Christmas story and thank Him for all that He gave us.

Now, over at The Digerati Life, is giving away an Epson Workforce 600!

I have been living without a printer in my home for 2 years and when you do not have something you always need it. Now you have a chance to win a top of the line printer. Head over to The Digerati Life to enter.

Also part of the contest to share your favorite Christmas memory.

Mine is always spending time on Christmas Eve with family enjoying all the familys secret great dishes and spending time relaxed and reflecting on the reason for the season.

I love finding new blogs around the internet, and new favorite of mine is Kingdom People. And better yet they are doing a giveaway of 10 great Christian books includeing the new ESV Study Bible.

#1. The Reason for God - Tim Keller
#2. Culture Making - Andy Crouch
#3. Surprised by Hope - N.T. Wright
#4. Why We’re Not Emergent - Kevin DeYoung & Ted Kluck
#5. How People Change- Timothy Lane & Paul David Tripp
#6. The Big Picture Story Bible -David Helm & Gail Schoonmaker
#7. Jesus Made In America - Stephen Nichols
#8. Resident Aliens - Stanley Hauerwas & Will Willimon
#9. Worship Matters - Bob Kauflin
#10. The Sermon on the Mount through the Centuries - Jeffrey Greenman, Timothy Larsen, and Stephen Spencer

Trevin Wax is giving away this $260 package.  For details, just see his post: Kingdom People Christmas Giveaway.

Apparently this one woman in Florida would rather go to jail then pay less than 8 bucks for some waffles.

Fla. Woman Chooses Jail Over $7.45 Waffle Bill

It seems there are stories like this almost every day. She has a maximum fine of 500 dollars or 60 days in jail for not paying 8 bucks. People are wasting money left and right in today’s economy. It is a major factor of the tough economic times right now

What do you waste money on?