Reflections and Resolutions
December 31, 2009 | Filed under Australia, Life, Money, Travel, Uni/Work
To tell you the truth, I really didn’t give a second thought to the resolutions I made three hundred and sixty five days ago. They were made, then they were forgotten about. For the most part though, the year has been close to planned.
See more of Australia
I took a short four day trip to Adelaide earlier this year, so I did manage to make it to see another part of Australia. The trouble is of course, that everything in Australia is so spread out. Going to another city isn’t simply a matter of driving an hour or two as it may be in Europe or America – I can drive for an hour, and still be in Melbourne!
On a more local note, this year I’ve become well-acquainted with the Melbourne peninsula region and the spectacular beaches it has to offer, rather than limiting myself to suburban beaches. I can only see more exploration up the coast next year, as I get more into water sports!
Get my savings account balance up to $20,000AUD, Get my eBay net earnings up to $6000AUDa year AND Get a job
It didn’t go as smoothly as I would have expected considering I was unemployed for a month in February, and had some unexpected large expenses during the year, but I’m currently sitting comfortably with $22,000AUD+ in my bank account. It probably helped that Dylan is, if not equally as frugal as me, is a man of simple tastes who prefers curling up in bed together with a DVD over paying $50AUD for two people to go to the movies. It makes a nice change from the extravagant and/or deadbeat people I’ve been with in the past.
The boost to my bank account is surprising actually, because eBaying and my online trading (buying cheap in second hand stores and re-selling online) fell. eBaying was a large source of my savings for the last three months of last year, with about $1500AUD profit in online trading. This year, I managed to pull in just about $1760AUD – though the majority of that was concentrated in the early months of the year when I wasn’t as run off my feet at work. By the time May rolled around, I was working close to six days a week (if not seven days), and had no opportunity to casually drop into a second-hand store to check out merchandise. It’s been like this since May – between work and other commitments, I simply have no time to shop for cheap stock – and probably won’t, for months ahead. In any case, $1760AUD p.a. isn’t bad for a secondary source of income that I treat as a hobby.
In terms of jobs though, I did alright. True, I lost my retail job when I came back from my three week trip to the UK, and went through nearly a month and a bit of unemployment (and subsequent depression, because I’d never been unemployed before in my adult life), but since then, I’ve held a number of jobs! From the administrative position at a medical training organisation, to the casual retail role in a baby store, and the first real job with career potential and real responsibility that I’m now in (as well as a few other small jobs along the way!), I’ve gained a full year’s of worthy and useful work experience.
Comment on a blog a day that lies outside of my usual blog circle
Um…no. I didn’t account for the severe lack of time I would find myself plagued with for the majority of the year (work, etc.). So no. I could barely even manage a comment a week, let alone a comment a day.
So For 2010…
…what kind of resolutions should I make, considering that chances are, I’ll completely forget about them by the time the 2nd of January rolls around? I’m going to keep it simple:
- Continue to average Distinctions and/or High Distinctions in my Masters studies next year
- Accumulate $30,000AUD in my account.
- Visit a country I’ve never been to before. I want to go to America, but timing is going to be hard because of work commitments – I may have to settle for a week or two in a south-east Asian island nation instead.
- Have more fun. It’s very easy for someone of my workaholic nature to get sucked into the cycle of working seven days a week without any thought as to maintaining a good work/life balance. I need to learn to say no to shifts, and yes to meeting up with friends.
Happy New Year to everyone!
9 Responses to Reflections and Resolutions
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Even if you didn’t get everything on your list accomplished, you still got a lot done. In terms of accomplishments and events, it seems like 2009 was a pretty big year for you.
I hope you manage to accomplish your goals for the upcoming year – and have a good 2010!
Clem on December 31, 2009 #
Hoo! You got quite a bit accomplished!
Depending on what time of the year you decide to come over (aka IF I’m moved out at the time and not living with the parents), you have a couch to pass out on in Seattle! ;)
Felisa on December 31, 2009 #
The best resolutions are the ones you forget but managed to [even partially] fulfill. :p I’m glad the year went generally well for you financially despite the setbacks. I hope the coming year will be as good for you.
Happy New Year, Amanda. :)
Alex on January 1, 2010 #
That’s awesome that the resolutions just worked out according to plan! I hope that 2010 brings you only great things! Happy New Year!!
Caity on January 1, 2010 #
W00tw00t! Happy (early) New Year, Amanda! :D
(Err…well…early for us, but looks like it’s 2010 for you already. ^^)
Noellium on January 1, 2010 #
Happy New Year! You’ve got quite a lot done and your resolutions were pretty spectacular compared to mine. Here’s to a better 2010! :D
marilyn on January 1, 2010 #
COME TO THE US! Preferably, to a city I am in at the time I am there (I shuffle back and forth between two cities, depending on the school year :P)
Manda on January 2, 2010 #
Have more funnnnnnnnnnnn with me! We still owe each other a trip to Phillip Island. :)
nadine on January 2, 2010 #
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