Taking a Look Back at 2022 (Year in Review)

Hello readers,

I know, I know, I haven’t posted in a very long time. I could make an excuse and say that I have a toddler, my job has been bumpy and I’ve gone through a lot of changes, and that becoming a homeowner has taken up a lot of my time…but I digress.

I wanted to start off the new year by taking a look back at 2022 and high lighting some of my highs and lows. So, let’s get started!

I purchased a home

This is an achievement that I never thought I would have accomplished. I know that owning a home isn’t right for everyone (coming from a happy renter for many years) and a home isn’t exactly an ‘investment’…but to me it feels like a personal achievement. I purchased a home with my husband in August.

I didn’t always live in a site built home growing up, and would often dream of purchasing my own one day. Having a home with a permanent home of my own for my family that I could paint, decorate and make my own is fulfilling for my spiritual and emotional well being. It might not make the most sense to others, but that’s okay because it’s my life. I’m looking forward to adding to our home and making sure that it feels like a sanctuary, a truly safe and comfortable space to live in.

I reached just below $100k USD in savings and investments

Even though I keep track of my money using Personal Capital, Wealthfront and my new favorite financial independence tool, Topia, but I almost didn’t notice reaching $96,000 in savings and investments. I’m a HUGE follower or Tori Dunlap at HerFirst$100K and almost reaching that goal made me almost come to tears. When I first started saving and investing approximately 3 years ago (before then I only had a modest savings of $1,000 USD) reaching $100,000 felt so unreachable. It felt like a number that would take so long to achieve. But, I knew that if I kept saving and investing each month by making it automatic and taking the thought out of it, I could eventually get there. I expect to hit $100K in less than two months and then I’ll be looking forward to reaching other mile stones on my way to financial independence: $300K, $500K, $700k and then $900k when I plan to stop working a full time job.

I went through ups and downs at my job

The first half of 2022 went very well at my job. I had an awesome team, a great manager, and was finding my footing in a new role at a Saas tech company. However, my manager left to another company, the economy shifted and suddenly things weren’t as rosy. Unfortunately, I wasn’t in a position that I wanted to be in and found myself struggling a little bit. It just happened to coincide during the time I was looking for daycare for my daughter and in the stressful process of purchasing a house with my husband. Things aren’t much better now but have a glimmer of hope to look better in my current role.

My daughter started going to daycare

This one has been a game changer. For my daughter’s first 1.5 years she was only at home being cared for by us and her grandmas. Then, when it became clear to us that she needed some curriculum, structure and other children to socialize with we started looking for daycares. It took a lot of searching and tours to find one that we are currently happy with and she has adjusted very well to it. She has improved her manners, expanded her vocabulary, and has built new friendships.

In conclusion…

I’d say that 2022 was a pretty good year for me. There’s always going to be ups and downs, that’s just a part of life. If I choose to keep working towards my financial and personal goals, even when things happen that are out of my control I can keep moving forward.

How was your year? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.