New year, new goals, new thread.

2012 was a year of big changes, so I'm hoping for a quiet year with time to relax and enjoy the view, as well as make progress towards all the plans and projects I've started in 2012.

Pay $20,000 off the mortgage
If I’ve run the numbers correctly, the monthly payments and budgeted extra payments should total around $19,000, leaving me to scrape together another grand from windfalls and leftover funds in other budget categories. An extra $20k off my balance will bring me to the 9 year and 7 month mark on the loan (30 year amortization), which would be fantastic. I’d need to save $21,777 to reach the 10 year mark, which I would LOVE to do, but not at the expense of other goals (travel, time with family/friends) so that will be a stretch goal if things are going well.

Save $2000-$3000 for an overseas trip
I currently have $1000 in the travel account, and would like to have at least $2000 by around July/August. I'm putting aside a set amount each fortnight, and will add to this with any windfalls that come along.

Make a small ($1000?) investment in shares
I’ve never bought shares or managed funds before (outside of my superannuation), and I’d like to make a small investment, just for the experience. First I'll need to do some more research about what to invest in, and through what platform.

Bring on 2013, and may it be an amazing year.

Good luck and congrats on an amazing year!

First mortgage payment of the year, first progress update:
Mortgage payoff: 1014/20,000 (5%)
Travel fund: 1165/2000 (58%)
Share-buying savings: 100/1000 (10%)

• I'm at the 5 year 4 month mark on the mortgage payoff. Hoping to reach the 6 year mark by the end of next month.
• I need to do some research into online brokerage platforms and ETFs.
• I'm thinking about adding another goal of making $2000 in side income this year. I'm not really sure what I'd do to achieve that or how much of my free time I'm willing to give up though.

February update:
Mortgage payoff: 2547/20,000 (12%)
Travel fund: 1232/2000 (61%)
Share-buying savings: 930/1000 (93%)

• At the 5 year 9 month mark on my 30-year mortgage schedule.
• Dipped into the travel fund to buy some crazy cheap airfares for later in the year (Hobart, Gold Coast). Wasn't really intending to use the travel fund for small trips, so I'll need to work on topping this up later.
• Put a few windfalls towards my share-buying project, but haven't had any time at all to research this. Think I'll set the cash aside, relax and enjoy the rest of summer, and come back to this later in the year when I'm spending more time inside in front of the computer.