Welcome to 2009
Posted by John Draper | Filed under Thinking Out Loud
I couldn’t let the New Year come in without sending you all hugs and kisses, and reminding you that this is the Perfect Opportunity to sit down and think about what you’re going to do differently. I know some people do this in the Fall as the kids head back to school. I like to do it two or three times a year, since my life seems to change rapidly from time to time. All the plans I made last Fall seem so far away in light of all that has happened since. So here’s what I wish for us all for 2009:
A Sense of Calm: The recent flip-flopping in the economy has people worried about their jobs, their homes and their futures. Focus on today, and what you can make of it, and see if that helps to bring a sense of calm. It’s a lot easier said than done, but even the effort seems to bring some peace.
A Sense of Balance: Yah, you have to make more money, get the kids to and from their activities, cook (breakfast, lunch and dinner), work (and work and work and work), clean the house, water the plants, change the sheets, dust, do laundry, pick up dog-poop… it goes on and on and on… and so do you. But what are you doing to keep it all in balance. I watch the birds. I make myself a cup of tea and watch the birds flitter in and out of the feeders, and that helps. And I think. Quiet time just to think. My brain would explode if I didn’t. Find something that helps you centre yourself and put some balance back into your mix. It doesn’t have to be long. And it doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to work for you.
A Sense of Purpose: Sometimes we lose sight of this one. And then we feel lost. Its a big hole if you don’t have a sense of what you’re doing here. Everyone is looking for their own Meaning of Life. As a teenager and young adult, I knew I was supposed to do something important, but couldn’t figure out what it could be. Then I had my kids and realized my purpose was to be happy, and to bring some happiness to as many other people as I could. Small kindnesses. A big belly-laugh. A hug for a stressed-out neighbour. Holding hands when someone feels like their world is caving in. An ear when someone has to get it off their chest.
A Sense of Responsibility: Sometimes we need someone else counting on us to make us wake up to the fact that we need to be responsible for ourselves and those who rely on us. I got this note this week:
Hi Gail. My name is Lindy and I’m 12 years old. I’m asking this from you for my parents because i know they need some help and are to shy to ask for it. They’ll never tell me how much they’re in debt so i’m guessing it’s bad. The last i heard it was under 20 thousand dollars and i know you can help because i watch your shows alot and you’re great at what you do. So please help us with tips and suggustions that you have. Thanks.
I hope Lindy’s mom and dad, and all the other people out there who are still sleep-walking through their reality, wake up to the very important jobs they have. We all count on each other, and when some of us shrug off our responsibilities, we end up hurting ourselves and lots of other people.
A Sense of Fun: Life can be full of joy when we open ourselves up to fun. A snowball fight while you’re digging out from a snow-storm. Tossing leaves at each other. Chasing each other around the house for a tickle-fest. Reading a joke-book out loud. Singing. Dancing. Racing to the mail-box. Fun can be had anywhere and for cheap… the cost is only a little dignity and perhaps some pride (not the good kind.) Long ago I learned that what other people think isn’t as important as how much fun you’re having, so to hell with the stick-in-the-muds; toss off your shoes and jump in the puddle. Get messy. Laugh until you pee your pants. Play like no one is watching.
To an exciting, fun-filled, calm, balanced and purposeful 2009. And to making all the things you want for yourself and your family come true. Hip, hip… hurrah!
January 1, 2009 at 10:33 am
Gail, you rock!!
best wishes to you this year!!
January 1, 2009 at 10:36 am
Happy New year Gail and Everyone! I totally agree with this post today. Wishing everyone a happy healthy productive New year.
January 1, 2009 at 10:55 am
Cheers!
January 1, 2009 at 10:57 am
Excellent New Year’s post Gail. I’ve spent the first few minutes of the day writing in my Gratitude Journal for things that I have and things that I intend to have happen in 2009. 2008 has been an awesome year, regardless of the debt. 2009 will be equally fantastic and will also bring the relief of being credit-card debt-free for me as well. I’m determined now more than ever (after wanting to throw-up with the opening of bills yesterday for overindulging during December and not paying attention to my spending). Thanks to your site, tv show, and all the people here, it will happen for me.
Have a great New Year everyone. Best wishes to getting closer to freedom from debt!
January 1, 2009 at 11:40 am
Happy New Year Gail and everyone.
May 2009 bring happiness, joy and the fulfillment of our dreams .
A big hug and God Bless!
January 1, 2009 at 11:47 am
Happy New Year Gail!
Actually I was thinking about some of your advice lately last night and I’m going to push my hubby into getting new/more life and disability insurance and get our wills and POA done. You’d think that with me being a legal secretary in the Wills and Estates field years ago I’d have one but my will is over 10 years old, long before my marriage or my daughter.
January 1, 2009 at 11:55 am
“…to hell with the stick-in-the-muds; toss off your shoes and jump in the puddle.” Here’s hoping I can make this my 2009 motto. I’m sick of people thinking just because I’m having some goofy fun I can’t be an adult!
Happy New Year everyone!
January 1, 2009 at 12:08 pm
I ‘discovered’ you Gail in July of 2008 when I finally allowed myself to up my satellite package to get HGTV. You have a huge fan out here on the blustery cold prairies. You’ve inspired me to get my first mini emergency fund, and if you look carefully in my drawers, you’ll see a whack of jars as I give cash spending for variable expenses a try. Thank you for your inspiration, your ‘tell it like it is’ attitude’, and all of the things I’ve learned about money management.
I hope your 2009 holds many breathtaking moments for you.
January 1, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Happy New Year’s Gail! I love you blog! I can’t get enough of the great information and all your inspiring words!
January 1, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Happy New Year Gail. I look forward everyday to reading your writing. You are amazing – please keep up the great work..
January 1, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Happy New Year!
I am working on my sense of fun. My little ones are helping me with this, whether they realize it or not.
January 1, 2009 at 1:35 pm
I discovered Gail’s show in october or November when I was nearing my due date for my second son. Im totally addicted to her show, i watch it as many times as i can find it on tv and even watch it sometimes online.
I took some of her advice and started searching the various savings accounts and which has the best interest and less fees. I hope to open a high interest savings account when my husband gets his next check.
The two that i found are the best are the Presidents Choice account and the ING Account with a low minimum or no minimum with about the same interest.
Anyone have their own suggestion?
From the research I found most other accounts you need at least $5000 to get the high interest. With Presidents Choice you need $1000 to getthe 2.75 interest and its 1% for under $1000. with ING no minimum and I believe the interest is 2.6%
January 1, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Happy New Year, Gail!
Best wishes to you and your girls this year. Thank you for keeping us on top of our money (or at least you keep us from burying our heads in the sand!) Babysteps keep us improving, bit by bit.
xoxo
January 1, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Hi Gail. I wanted to say thank you for who you are as a person. Your strength and courage to share your life and wisdom with us is a real gift.
One of the annual practices my husband and I have done is make our priority list of “stuff” and events that we can expect for the upcoming year. When it comes time to get something, we just buy it on Visa. After discussion in the past week, we have decided to really go for the jar system for the first time.
I modified your online spreadsheet into an excel spreadsheet and have entered in our data. It was especially helpful for us to be able to see, that if hubby was laid off, we could still stay on course with our debt repayment and that it wouldn’t be the end of our world.
I have made the excel sheet available to our friends and family – as I talked about it with such excitement, others were keen to try it too – on my website. I hope that is okay. I have made sure to acknowledge that it comes from your online site, on both the link and the excel sheet as well.
I’m excited. Very excited. We have big things in store for 2009, and it was really awesome to see that we could have savings, debt repayment and still enjoy our lives. Thank you for the gift of Gail.
January 1, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Happy New Year! It’s going to be a great year – I can feel it.
That letter from 12 year old Lindy almost made me cry! (could also be PMS) Kids shouldn’t have the burden of adult problems and worries. I hope 2009 is the year her parents do things differently.
January 1, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Hear, Hear, 2009 is going to be the best yet! I’ve set out my goals for the year and may struggle with some, but they are all achievable.
January 1, 2009 at 8:29 pm
@AngelaW – the Tax Free Savings accounts are probably a better bet (in my research) – the Presidents Choice is 3.75% – no minimum and the interest you make on the money is tax free. Each account has a MAXIMUM deposit amount of $5000/yr. But each spouse can have an account. If you and your spouse each make the maximum deposits in 2009 that is $10,000 @3.75% with no tax on the interest. Gail has talked about these – they are called TFSAs
January 1, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Happy New Year! What a lovely post, Gail! I aim to find my bliss in 2009 — good simple fun is so important.
I’ve also started to use the 2009 TDDUP Life Planner (thank you!)– after writing my wishlist, I clearly need to make more money!! Now, it’s just a matter of finding some fun way of doing it…
January 2, 2009 at 3:17 am
Happy New Year everyone, especially Gail!! This site is the best for all of us ‘ostriches’, it can help in so many ways, including finding that peace you wish for all of us. For the first time in my adult life, I feel capable of making my money work for me, not the other way around. Mapping out where it is going before you get that paycheque helps keep a person on track, and those mindless purchases now take a thought or two to realize that they may NOT be all that urgent after all. Who knows, if enough people find this site, we may – as a group – have a good effect on the nation’s economy in the long run….
All the best in 2009 to all….
January 2, 2009 at 10:38 am
To Gail…I wish I could express to you what a difference you’ve made in my life. After struggling with a small business, having a baby, fighting through mild postpartum depression, getting disconnection notices, and creditors calling, finding out I was pregnant – again, stress, more postpartum…you get the idea…After watching your show, it opened my eyes a little bit, enough to get our personal finances a little better (at least no disconnection notices…), but it wasn’t until I read a blog about losing a job, and staying positive and not letting your situation rule you (something like that anyway), that it really opened my eyes. I almost immediately let go of it all, I felt 100 pounds lighter. I was smiling. I was me again, for the first time in almost 2 years!! My husband has noticed a difference in me, and I am telling almost anyone about your show and your site. So to start your new year, here’s a big huge hug from me to you for saving my sanity. I love your words of encouragement, of inspiration, and advice (and not only about money). It must feel great to know you have such an impact on so many lives! Looking forward to reading more, and all the best in ‘09 to everyone (you also have great advice and inspiration).
January 2, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Happy New Year Gail and all!
I look forward to all the wisdom you and others are willing to share in 2009! It is snowing here, music is on, coffee is by my side and I have just finished my yearly review of my actuals! Spreadsheets are great aren’t they and my successes outweighed the number of adjustments this year and I am happy with that!
Your wishes for calm, balance, purpose, responsbility, and fun, Gail, I have by my side as I move to the next phase, planning for 2009. This year, I begin my 60th year – where did the time go????!!!!
Well, actually, the initial planning began a bit earlier. Last year, my family decided to cut out some of the excesses of Christmas without cutting out the joy and it went so well this year. As we reviewed this particular Christmas, we see more opportunities to cut out things that aren’t necessary to our enjoyment of the holiday. With two of my grandchildren (aged 6 and 4) who can truly understand the joy of helping others, we are redirecting our change to make a difference for others next Christmas. They have turned into little scavenger hunters looking for spare change to put in their special jar! Gail, it was you, I believe, who proposed a ’sharing’ jar. They will also be sharing a part of any money they receive. Although we have talked about that, we haven’t worked that out together as yet. Thank goodness the concept of money isn’t as important to them as ’sharing’ and if we catch them early, the idea of sharing will be an integral part of the money concept when they do learn about it.
Best wishes to all!
January 2, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Thank you Gail – You are so inspirational. Also, for anyone interested… I am paying ZERO fees at the Royal Bank… ask about the multi-product rebate… HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!
January 2, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Right now we are in the middle of chaos – moving to a brand new city tomorrow, starting new jobs on Monday, etc… this was a great post and helped me to remember what was important. Thanks, Gail – this blog has been such a tremendous source of support.
January 2, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Hello all! Happy New Year!
Yesterday was the beginning of huge change for all of us….I can feel it ~ many waiting till the toll of the 12th bell December 31st to start a whole new outlook on their finances for 2009!
Love your post Wanda – less excess, teaching your grandbabies about sharing, them having their own special jars……
Also love that we’re the same age LOL, sometimes I feel mighty behind the times here.
Hubby and I have an appointment tomorrow am to open our TFSA accounts….oh, and on the plus side of being my age? No bank fees!
Hope 2009 is what each and every one of you wishes for! Keep positive!
January 2, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Hi Gail,
I love your show, you really nail the problems with simple procedures that have a big impact on people’s lives. I have learned a lot and have applied many of your techniques to control my finances. Keep up the good job.
This article was a lot of fun to read. I actually identified myself a lot with enjoying life simply and sometimes being silly. My husband, three little boys and I are very much like that.
For 2009, my best wishes for you, your family and the great team that works for your show. Also for the people that visit this blog, they also provide good tips, thank you all. Ahh, and I agree with those who wrote above, I have this great feeling about the year 2009, wait and see.
January 2, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Happy New Year Gail!!!
This year I am focusing on my health. I’m training for a 1/2 marathon and planning to actually get enough sleep!
I plan to take the time to do things I love, like paint and take pictures. I will take the time to persue my passions to satisfy me instead of spending money that I don’t have.
Thank you for all your guidance and love in 2008. You mean so much to so many people – dont forget it girlie!
Melanie : )
January 2, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Happy New Year Gail!
You will never know what a contribution you have made to the lives of myself and my girlfriends! We love to get together, have a low cost evening of food and drinks and watch your show whenever we can. We’ve learned alot and I’m glad to have recently come across this blog too.
My financial picture, while always pretty good (29, just built new home, paid for late model car, paid for graduate education, never accepted money from anyone and earned every penny of what I have…even though more than a few have been spent foolishly!), has certainly improved in recent months thanks to you, and this has meant increased confidence in my ability to make the big changes that are coming to my life this year. These include finishing a masters degree thesis, moving across the country to take my two year relationship with my boyfriend to the next level, starting a new career in a new province, and buying a second home (this time with my partner). What a year it will be! I am so excited and so happy that you have shared not only excellent financial information with us, but real-life advice full of ups and downs and endless positivity and hope. I am embracing this period of change with a happy heart, and thanks to you, with a full wallet too! I know this year will be full of stress (good and bad) and to be able to not have my finances be an additional pressure feels great. I’m not sure when I’m going to fit that “sense of calm” in there… but the rest will definately be a part of my 2009!
Thank you so much for the amazing work you do, and I hope 2009 brings nothing but the best to you! Your authenticity and honesty are refreshing in a world of fake personas and marketing schemes. Though we’ve never met, you feel like a trusted and comforting friend, and I know I’m not alone in that sentiment. Thank you so much for the amazing work you do. I hope 2009 brings nothing but the best to you and yours, and that somehow you manage to keep that energizer bunny battery recharged! Cheers.
January 3, 2009 at 11:05 pm
2008 has been a hard year but meeting Gail in Toronto in Febraury was one of the best moments of 2008. Thanks Gail.
January 5, 2009 at 12:17 am
I have been more of a skulker on this site that a regular contributor but I just want to thank every one of you and especially Gail for all of your insight and wisdom and support. My husband and I are in serious debt (both of our faults) but since I have started watching the show, reading your book Gail and coming on this site I have a sense of renewed optimism about the future. I have been asking my husband to have a financial meeting with me and he always resisted – until today. Yup! We sat down for over 2 hours poring over our finances and coming up with a plan on what we are going to do next. I nearly cried when he asked if I wanted to do this today. Of course, after seeing the numbers he got a massive headache and had to go to bed but at least the door was opened and a little light is shining through!! God bless you all and may 2009 bring you all joy and love!