Win a 2012 Money Planner Workbook!
Kimberly Palmer knows a few things about financial planning. As author of the book Generation Earn, a guide to finances for young professionals, and a personal finance columnist for U.S. News & World Report, Kimberly has an extensive understanding of how people can successfully achieve their financial goals. Now she's taken this information and distilled it into a series of money-planning workbooks to help people reach goals such as getting out of debt, preparing financially for a new baby, and simply taking better control of their finances over the course of a year.
Kimberly's 2012 Money Planner is a 50-page guide aimed at helping users have a financially great 2012 (and beyond). The workbook begins with an area to set goals for the year, and then helps you by breaking down your financial to-dos into monthly chunks.
One of the things I love about this workbook is that it strikes a positive, can-do tone. It's easy to only think about financial planning negatively ("I need to get better at saving..."). But the very first section of the book, "My Money Vision," has users focus not just on what they need to improve, but also what their financial strengths are.
The goal-setting guidance, structured quarterly financial check-ins, and other sections that help you track your finances and visualize your budget are the workbook's strengths, and they provide a solid structure for planning.
I do, however, recommend flipping ahead in the workbook if you get it. If you're trying to make a major financial overhaul, the month-to-month suggestions are great, but I would have liked to see many of them come sooner. Several changes aren't addressed in January, but in later months, including making a plan to pay down your debt, carefully examining discretionary spending, and starting an emergency fund. Just because you skip ahead on those doesn't mean you can't also revisit those areas when you reach the month they're addressed in the book, though.
If you feel like you need some guidance to help you get your financial plan in order, especially if you like having a pen-and-paper way to track your finances, this workbook could be helpful for you. And if you feel like it would be...enter our giveaway!
Money Planner Giveaway
We're giving away three copies of Kimberly's printable-PDF 2012 Money Planner (an $8 value). To enter, leave a comment with a financial goal you hope to achieve in 2012.
Giveaway Rules
- Contest ends Wednesday, November 30 at 11:59 pm Pacific. Winners will be announced after November 30th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
- You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.
Disclosure: I received a free PDF copy of Kimberly's money planner for review.
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Planning to use my experiential life learning/financial trining to help mentor others as part of my "pay it forward" for 2012.
My biggest financial goal for 2012 is to pay off half of my CC debt.
I hope to hit a specific number in my savings account in the next 5 months, then work solely to pay off my mortgage before I'm 30!
I want to get out of debt by the end of 2012.
I am trying to cut my debt in half in 2012!!!
My financial goal is to pay off credit card debt over the next 12 months and save some cash for emergency.
Hi Meg,
My 2012 financial goal is to finally pay off my 4 family members who have loaned me money for the past 6 years. So far I have paid off my home equity loan. My family is more patient, plus I am paying them interest each year, so it really is a loan. Two of them will definitely get the balance back they year, and two other ones will get back at least 50% of their principle, if not more or all of it. I'm working several jobs and am very reponsible with money. Frugal is an understatement. I think I could really use that free book, and I'd pass it along to my grown children so there would be a lot of people who will benefit from this gift. Please pick me. I need all the help I can get.
Dave Henry
I plan to save more for a down payment on a house!
I hope to begin to really pay down our mortgage, the only debt we have left. I also would like start saving towards starting my own business.
We have a new baby coming in March that will require some reallocation of funds. I plan on using a planner - would be great (and frugal) to win a free one!
Thanks!
My 2012 financial goal is to save enough money to pay for my honeymoon!
In the coming year, I intend to double my savings deposits. I am encouraged by the amount I was able to bolster my savings this year despite this economy. Working with my wife and laying out goals for each 90 day segment of the year helped us this year.
Our finacial goal is to pay off our Debt. Thanks for the giveaway
What an interesting idea. It would be great to have a money planner and keep track of what one is doing to earn and save money.
I have started an online business in the self development area and plan on giving workshops and seminars on developing or building up self-esteem, self-confidence and self-worth. I will start in schools and senior citizens groups for free or low cost and have audios and dvd for sale on ways of increasing or building one's self-esteem, confidence and worth.
My 2012 goal is to be able to pay more than requested/due for my student loans for the year to help decrease interest owed and overall amount due. Student loans are my only outstanding unpayed debt. I have no car payment, no credit cards, and don't own a house. Having this paid off faster would be ideal to actually save money in the long run.
One of my financial goals for 2012 is to pay off my car loan - it would be difficult, but doable.
6 months of expenses tucked away, and pay cash for a new fence.
My financial goal for 2012 is to make double mortgage payments every month so we can retire this debt within 5 years!
My financial goal for 2012 is to better track my actual spending to create a reasonable budget that will finally include the build up of an emergency fund and savings instead of living check to check.
Begin regular, consistent contributions to my retirement fund.
In 2012 after I graduate from Baruch College, I plan to start paying off my student loans as fast as I can. This money planner can definitely assist me with my goal of paying off my loans and control my discretionary spending.
In 2012, I wish to have paid off all interest on my student loans, 25% of my total student loans, and have a minimum emergency fund of $1500.
We hope to finally get to Dave Ramsey's baby step 2 in 2012!
My money goal? Save up for a trip to Disney World! Saving for my daughter's braces need. Putting more money into our emergency fund. Worthy goals, and I think, achievable ones!
My biggest goal is to pay off our *stupid* car loan and finally be completely debt free.
My wife and I plan to pay off our mortgage and all of our school loans in 2012, which will make us totally debt free. :)
My financial goal in 2012 is to simply put my finances in order. The past year has been extremely difficult with going through a divorce, being diagnosed with depression and moving. I'm having to start over and I need help in establishing new financial goals and creating habits to help me take control over this area of my life.
My 2012 financial goal is to pay off the last of my debt by the end of the year, and to reach specific savings goals.
my goal in 2012 is to save at least $15,000 (towards a down payment or car)
My goal is to stop moving further into debt and start paying my debt down in 2012.
My goal is to prepare for our new baby arriving in April, while taking a pay cut so I can spend some time at home with baby.
We are striving to build up an emergency fund. My other goal is to pay off or get close to paying off our credit card debt in 2012.
My number 1 goal is pay off my last credit card bill and #2 is to put $5,000 in a Roth IRA. Thanks, Adam
I'm moving to Texas at the end of 2012 so I'm hoping to save up enough to move and enjoy two weeks off before starting my new job, roughly about $3000.
By the enc of the school year (I am a teacher) I hope to have saved $10,000 toward buying a house.
My 2012 goals are to pay off all of our credit card debt. We've made a lot of progress this year. Next year, we also want to sell our current house and purchase a house with a few acres.
My financial goal is to purchase my first home (with a 20% down payment so I don't have to pay those pesky mortgage loan insurance fees...).
Get better returns on investments.
I want to get on my feet after divorce in 2012, and make it a fantastic year for renewal.
My goal is to reduce credit card debt while saving for a Disney vacation.
Need to save for medical procedures and the time off afterwards. This book/tool would help in the planning.
In 2012 I plan on getting doubleing our savings account as well as having our daughter increase her savings account. I want to teach her that at 13 she is still able to earn an income she just has to be more creative in seeking them out. She will look at writing contests, babysitting as well as other opportunities :)
I would like to become more financially literate and a better role model for my children. They are almost young adults and are easily swayed by all the bells and whistles geared towards young adults. I'll be 50 in two and a half years and I would like to have my credit card debt paid off by then.
I really need 2012 Money Planner. I need help in repaying my credit cards as quickly as possible. So I am looking for some advice to organize my credit card
payment schedule.
Looking forward to get familiar with these author's books.
Sincerely
My biggest financial goal for 2012 is going to be to set up a savings account. Of course, to be able to do that we are going to have to start managing our own money and debt quite a bit better, but that's a whole different goal for next year!
My biggest goal for 2012 is to eat out less and cook more at home. We spent a lot on restaurants in 2011. Also, I would like to contribute more to my children's 529 accounts.
I hope to be ready to retire on December 31, 2012
My boyfriend and I are having a contest - from January to December 2012, we are both saving half (or more) of our post tax income. Whoever comes out with a higher percentage saved wins!
I will buy a house in 2012.
My financial goals for 2012:
- Pay off my 2 remaining credit card balances
- Bring my emergency fund savings up to 3-6 months worth.
- Contribute as close to $5000 as I can to my ROTH IRA.
I hope to get my Money Planner to help along the way!
My biggest financial goal for 2012 is to save for Christmas shopping all year long so that I don't blow my budget like I'm doing this year.
I want to make extra payments on my mortgage.
My goal is to restore my emergency fund and then begin saving regularly for house projects.
One of our goals for 2012 is to eliminate using credit cards -- we've been doing ok the last few months, but some big expenses this month have necessitated shifting some expenses to next month's xmas bonus.
I Plan to pay off bills and be debt free in 2012.
My 2012 financial goal is to spend more frugally and help others do the same.
My financial goal for 2012 is to pay off credit card debt and at least double the emergency fund.
I'm going to pay off my car loan and credit card debt in 2012!
I hope to make a dent in my debt this year!
My financial goal for 2012 is to pay off my car, credit card, and medical bills, as well as pay for my wedding in cash! Should be an interesting year, for sure.
My financial goal for 2012 is to save $10,000 (preferably by setting up an automatic savings plan) for home maintenance and repairs.
My financial goal(s) would be to get out of debt and, save for a trip to Amsterdam in 2012.
My 2012 financial goal is to finally pay off my credit card.
Saving up for a truck!
My financial goal is to not buy books! I'm going to utilize my library and stay out of book stores. Same thing with food. I'm going to cook more and eat out less. Just a few of the basics!
I definitely need this. That is one of my main goals for the new year is to get a hold of my finances. Thanks for the giveaway.
My biggest financial goal in 2012 is to increase my income by at least 10%
The winners, chosen at random, are BudgetorFudget, Rebekah, and Carmen. Congratulations! Look for an email soon about your prize.
Thanks for entering, everybody!
I want to simplify. Been "collecting" mutual funds with small balances. I want to settle on an appropriate allocation and have a minumum number of investments.