2010 has been interesting, to say the least.

We moved across country, I’ve been unemployed most of the year, and my husband has changed jobs three times. We’ve struggled to keep our head above water all year and have finally gotten ahead in the past few months thanks to a special assignment my husband has taken working on oil rigs in the Gulf.

I’ve got big goals for the year ahead, so I divided them into quarters to make them more manageable. If necessary, all goals can be accomplished on a single income, but I’m hopeful that the job market will improve and I’ll be gainfully employed in no time, putting us ahead of schedule with our savings and debt repayment.

2011 Q1 Goals

In the first quarter of the year, I’d like to double our emergency fund and pay off any small balances we are carrying.

• Increase emergency fund balance to $5,000
• Pay Banana Republic in full
• Pay Bill Me Later in full

2011 Q2 Goals

In the second quarter, I’d like to snowball the payments from the accounts in Q1 with the existing payments on our highest interest rate credit card.

• Pay Chase (1 of 3) in full
• Begin regular contributions to home down payment fund (amount TBD)
• Continue regular contributions to emergency fund (amount TBD)

2011 Q3 Goals

In Q3, I hope to hit our stride with regular contributions to both our emergency fund and home down payment fund as well as have the title to one of our cars in my hot little hands.

• Pay car loan (Corolla) in full
• Continue regular contributions to home down payment fund (amount TBD)
• Continue regular contributions to emergency fund (amount TBD)

2011 Q4 Goals

In the final quarter of the year, the car payments from Q3 will be snowballed with existing payments on our second highest interest rate credit card.

• Pay Chase (2 of 3) in full
• Continue regular contributions to home down payment fund (amount TBD)
• Continue regular contributions to emergency fund (amount TBD)

2012 Goals

In 2012, I’d like to pay off the remainder of our consumer debt, leaving us with just my car payment and student loans (which has a near non-existent interest rate) and putting us in the position to purchase our first home!

• Pay Chase (3 of 3) in full
• Reach down payment fund balance of $10,000

So, what are your financial goals for 2011? Are you thinking into 2012, like me?

• $93 Target
• $9 Tiny Prints
• $59 FedEx
• $42 HEB
• $173 Cavendars
• $100 HEB
• $15 Walmart
• $43 Post Office
• $376 car payment – Corolla
• $78 electric
• $168 State Farm – car insurance
• $61 State Farm – renter’s insurance
• $132 Costco
• $55 HEB
• $35 Hobby Lobby
• $110 Spec’s
• $1000 Chase
• $500 Bill Me Later
• $800 ING

Whoa! What’s all that about? Mailing Christmas packages, getting ready for holiday visitors, and monthly bills. I loved sending that big check to Chase to widdle away at our credit card bill (we have three sizeable bills that will be paid off in the next few months – but I’ll have a 2011 goals post with more details) and I always look forward to transferring money to our ING account.

Oh, and I’m now a true Texan – I bought myself a pair of cowboy boots with some Christmas money.

Where have you been spending your money this holiday season?

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For every download of the app between now and Dec. 31, 2010, SWAGG will donate $1 to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), up to $125,000.

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We hear it all the time, but especially at Christmas.

It’s better to give than receive.

As much as I love to receive gifts (and oh boy do I love to be on the receiving end of a big shiny package with a bow on top), there’s something so fulfilling about finding the perfect gift for someone, wrapping it with care, and waiting to see their reaction when they tear open the packaging.

The best gifts I’ve ever given make memories. Instead of giving my cousins another toy for their birthday that’s sure to get tossed aside, we go out for a fancy lunch and an afternoon of shopping, just the two of us. Instead of filling stockings at Christmas, I co-host a holiday sleepover for the kids with my parents, complete with new pajamas, arts and crafts,  junk food, and silly movies. Instead of toiling over which new electronic my husband ones and inevitably picking the wrong one, we get dressed up and go out on the town for an evening.

I give these gifts because they are the best gifts I’ve ever received. Time together, special events, and memories made. It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant, just choosing to do something good for or with someone instead of buying something good for someone makes the gift giving even more special.

The past several years, my parents have given us money for Christmas. Money that’s been used for plane tickets and hotel reservations for family vacations. Now that we all live in different cities (New York – Chicago – Austin), picking a destination is even more exciting.

So, what’s the best give you’re ever given? Do you have a “signature gift” or theme you always stick to, or do you hone in on each individual for the perfect present?

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• $12 donation to Love Drop
• $490 car payment – Prius
• $76 Sprint
• $188 Capital One (paid in full every month)
• $7 Kohls
• $14 Walmart
• $12 parking
• $3 Piperlime
• $1,440 ING

My friend Cheapo McFrugalpants would be so proud  – I did a freebie crawl this week! I’ve been saving all those great dollar off and free this and that coupons that have been pouring into my mailbox and cashed them all in while I was out running errands. I got five greeting cards FREE from Hallmark, four holiday napkins FREE from Pier One, FREE lunch at Sonic, a new blouse and three pairs of granny panties (don’t laugh!) from Kohls for $7, and a Kate Spade bracelet from Piperlime for $3.

What did you spend your money on this week? Do you cash in all those freebies that end up in your mailbox?