An Opportunity Presents Itself

This years journey (I prefer to call the goals I set on the new year a journey as opposed to a resolution as resolutions always sound so tight assed)...is to start planning for retirement which will mean that I will have to become a saver extraordinaire and find a additional source of income. The idea here is to live withing a strict budget in order to keep from hitting the retirement money we already have (paltry sum as that may be) and to add to my 401K, invest in stocks outside of 401K, establish a savings account for troubled times and pay down my debt.

Retirement will mean that I have a paid off mortgage, paid off credit cards and at least 300,000.00 in savings to supplement my social security. I need to do all of this in 17 years if I stand a chance on retiring by 70. I know it sounds depressing to think I can't retire until 70 but seeing as how my old motto was "I'll never get to retire", retirement at 70 sounds like a dream and I can do 17 years standing on my head.

One opportunity that just arose arrived with the opening of a Share Builder account I opened with ING. Right now I am only committing to 50.00 per month but it is 50.00 saved (that I hope will grow) that was not committed to before. I am hoping to add to that as I pay down debt and find ways to save.

The opportunity is to contribute the Share Builder's "We The Savers" blog. If they choose me, they will deposit 200.00 per month into my Share Builder account in exchange for a years savings commitment and 1 blog post per month. Sounds like a pretty good gig if I can get it.

I have applied...let's hope they choose me. This will not only be extra money for my goal but a chance to actually get paid for writing. This fulfills steps on both my selected journeys for this year. To start my retirement goals and get paid for writing.

Wish me luck.