My Big Scary Goal of 2016

This is a really scary blog for me to write. Honestly, I wasn't going to write this. I was, then I wasn't, then I was, then I wasn't. I went back and forth all week. I was just going to keep it to myself, maybe let you know when I accomplished it. But this morning, I just felt like I should. That maybe someone else might read it and realize they aren't alone like sometimes I feel I am when it comes to this. It's something I've kept mostly to myself because I didn't know what people would think and didn't want people to judge me. It's something most people really don't talk about, me included. But I think it's important and it's real and it's part of life.

Finances.

Ugh, I hate talking about finances! I hate talking about money. Honestly, if I could just do everything for free and everything would just work out, I would. But that's not the case; I have a business to run and I have bills to pay. 

Remember when I talked yesterday on the blog about that quote you always see floating around on Pinterest? 

Photo by Hope Taylor Photography

It's so true. There are a lot of things I wished I had started a year ago, especially when it comes to my finances. Which is why I am starting NOW. It's never too late. 

My big secret is...my business has put me in debt.

There I said it. It's out there. Phew. It's not because of one particular factor of not making enough money or going on crazy shopping sprees; but in life, things come up: you need new tires or medical expenses or maybe you're just short of being able to pay your bills because it was a slow month...there are tons of 'reasonable' reasons that create debt. And when you run a small business and don't necessarily have a steady income every month, it can easily happen. And I let it happen.

It took 2 full years, but I've finally settled in with my prices, payment schedule and clients within my business. I have the steadiest income I've had since I started. Now that I find myself feeling better about what's coming in, it's tough to see all of that money go right back out to pay everything off. 

So this year, my goal is to pay it all off by 2017. I'm saving money, not eating out as much (this ones huge!), watching what I spend, and I'm going to put every penny I can towards paying it all off so that next year when I start 2017 I don't wish that I had started a year ago, I DID start a year ago.

So that's it. That's my big scary secret goal. I'm only human and this is real life. This is my life. If you're in the same boat or struggling with a scary secret or goal, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! You are never alone! Keep moving forward towards your goal because you're going to get there, just like I am! 

xoxo