Financial future for 2006

[crosses]

A Happy New Year to everyone. Do you see a positive or negative financial future for 2006? I always start out on a high note, but it doesn't always last. I am looking forward to getting my finances even more in order this year.

[midnight]

I'm hoping for a very good year, too. I have lots of resolutions if I can just stick to them.

[Snoopy2645]

I will try harder to spend less & save more & make more. I will start looking for another pt job this week cause last week my dh graduated so I can do more because he will be home more. And he is looking for a different job preferably one that pays more since he has his degree. So I figure if I can work more & he gets a better job we will be a little better off this year. I am really hoping thats how it works out.

[Ima saver]

I think that this year will be a good one. Happy New Year!

[abowers]

I get to start off 2006 by paying rent, $600 toward car insurance, my edu loan and my car payment.

But I am trying to be optimistic, regardless!

[robex]

It's going to be a great year! Optimism and appreciation for what we have (food, clothes, a warm home, family, and health) goes a long way...

[Optsol]

robex tagged it -- it's all about optimism and thankfulness.

[Ima saver]

You are so right!

[meaghanchan]

My job's ending on Wednesday, so my future picture looks murky. If I can get another job soon, there will be good things. I will keep on track, putting money in my ING and Emigrant funds every month, and I'll start maxing out my Roth IRA. If things go bad, and I can't find a job by April or May, I'll probably end up either working a low-wage job not in my field (temping or waitressing- not that there's anything wrong with either of those, I'd just prefer a job in my field) or moving back home with my parents- in a city where there will hardly be any job prospects. Either that or I go where I have never gone before- into debt that's not paid off by the end of the month.

So, I don't know. I have a feeling things will either go very well or very poorly. I'm hoping and praying for very well.

[Fern]

Do you mean a postiive or negative financial future for US economy in general, or for ourselves?

I think US economy will be at least as good as it is now, tho i see gas prices going back up to $3 a gallon by summer.

As for me personally, I am concerned. My boss gave me a great review last year but got just a 3% bonus. Company doing so-so, yet my expenses are all going up:
Property Taxes: Up
Electric: up 22% as of 1/1
Gasoline: obviously up
Heating oil: up quite a bit from last year, $2.19 gallonn vs. about $1.59 a gallon

[JBinKC]

For the most part negative for the US and the dollar cautiously positive in emerging markets or countries with a large resource base.

As you have said wages are no where keeping up with rising costs.

[seaar2000]

This year I am going to be much more frugal. I'm very frugal right now, but with everything going up I have to be much more frugal. With the price of gas, utilities, groceries, and cc rates going up its hard to keep up. Yes, I am thankful for what I have, but trying to be optimistic sometimes is hard to do when everything keeps going up.

[PrincessPerky]

Moneywise I am oddly optomistic about actually getting a raise (for DH, no one pays me)
And I am exited that this will be the year I pay off the CC bill, and go to Washington DC for DS (I hope).

But truthfully I am more looking forward to watching my kids grow!