Comments on: Taking A Look At My 2008 Goals

By: Zegi

Zegi — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:23:24 +0000

I’d be interested to hear why you chose the ESA over a 529. Is there something beneficial for you in terms of one over the other? Or did you just have easier access to creating an account, etc? Not that I think the 529 is superior, I honestly don’t know which one is better for what cirucmstances.

By: 55 plus

55 plus — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:39:56 +0000

I am totally impressed by your discipline! You seem to be very organized with everything you do, I feel this is what me and other people should learn from you! you are awesome.

By: Miss M

Miss M — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:05:12 +0000

You’ve put a lot of money aside this year, well done. I’m not maxing out my retirement contributions but I save a lot of money outside of retirement.

I’ve done well on some of my goals and not so well on others, mainly due to the stock market. I paid off the last of my credit card debt and a car loan, but I may not finish off my student loan this year. High gas prices don’t affect me much, I live 5 miles from work, but I’ve had a lot of other expenses come up. My investment and retirement goals were all based on balances, have X amount by the end of the year. The market has made those impossible, lesson learned. I plan to set goals like yours next year, contribution amounts, which are within my control unlike the market.

By: vilkri

vilkri — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:03:30 +0000

Well done! Your comments make a lot of sense. I like your priorities, too. – A sensible adviser once told me that it was commendable when parents wanted to save for their children’s higher education, but that this should not be a top priority. While we do not want our children burdened with huge student loans at the beginning of their adult lives, we also got to recognize that they will have a life-time to deal with it. We, on the other hand, are running out of time to provide adequately for our old age so that we are not a (financial) burden on our children.