And with that, the 2022 season comes to an end. This year has felt like a 3-hour long movie most of the year. Many people were able to enjoy the winter holidays together this year since the majority of restrictions have been removed. But this winter also brought a strong flu season, RSV amongst children, and some sprinkles of COVID-19. Which means computer screens and smartphones will still be used for family gatherings. Our last holiday travel consisted of our first Disney Very Merrytime cruise. Here’s to hoping 2023 will bring another and more opportunities. Until then, it looks like it’ll be just the two of us as usual and hopefully the weather will cooperate.
I’m also focused on my end of the year tasks.
I like to start my budget for the next year and update my will. I’m sure many of you just said WHOA! This is the overly prepared for any and every thing part of me. Over the years, I’ve known a few women that have passed away and there wasn’t a plan for their children. I never want Rhi to have to experience the unknown while experiencing grief. Now as of today, I am healthy as a 40+ year old can be. But in the case something happens, we’re prepared.
How did I get the idea to do this and how does one write a will so young? Well first I have my mother to thank for this idea. My mother passed away suddenly in November 2000. Now that I’m older, I feel as it may have been her time and we just didn’t know. Growing up she would share minute details about the location of specific documents, how to care for antique items in the house as well as the many plants in the living room, and things that were important while keeping the house and lives of others afloat. Putting everything together took the assistance of one simple word – GOOGLE. Many people google templates for essays, resumes, spark notes on term papers; so why not a last will and testament. Search for examples to be sure you add specifics to the document. Here are some topics I included in earlier versions as well as some I’ll be looking into adding for my revised edition.
- Know Your Terms
Unless you’re a legal professional, some of the terms can be a bit confusing.
- Minor Children
If you have children under the age of 18, it is very important to create a plan for their future. Make sure the children are listed as beneficiaries on insurance documents and a legal guardian is assigned for them.
- Write Your Story
Yes this is your obituary, but don’t think of it this way. Tell your life story the way you want it done. My mother did this and as I look back over the many years since, she knew this was best. She planned her funeral and in true Barbara fashion, told us how to execute it. So I’ve taken note from my Mom’s many tidbits and started writing my story. As I do this, I realize it’s no different than the biographies I’ve shared for job profiles on university and company websites.
- List All Your Assets
You want your family, friends, and beneficiaries to be aware of all your belongings. Your family may think they know everything about you, but we all keep things to ourselves. We all have some secrets. Writing everything out can be helpful when the clean out process happens. And this may not be immediately as the grieving process is different for everyone.
- Make Your Will Official
Be sure to sign your last will and testament and have it notarized. This will usually require having two witnesses. Also have a safe place to keep it.
Earlier I mentioned a financial budget. Every year I attempt to be better at managing my finances. Some years have been better than others. 2022 saw some extra debt added to the spreadsheets. It’s okay. That just means it needs to come off in 2023. Whether using a hard copy or a digital notebook, writing out monthly income and expenses, is helpful in making sure financial stability. At times we put a lot of trust in our banking apps to track purchases and deposits.
Before we welcome 2023, here are some additional things to try despite the tests of this year.
- Declutter and Donate
Just as many of us clean during the spring time, the fall and winter can accumulate and replace the amounts we just got rid of. Going through a closet or a specific room before the new year comes will be one less thing to dread to do. Donating used items to organizations such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, Animal Shelters, etc. gives opportunities for others to find newness in our unwanted items.
Decluttering is not only meant for clothes and rooms within a home. We should also consider if there is anything in life that causes continuous stress. Journaling is a way of expression too. Are you due for a good cry? Let it out so you can process your emotions. Sharing from experience – it’s not always healthy to keep it all in. Social media can be another area we accumulate amounts of unwantedness. Apps we sign up for to try the latest trend or accounts we follow because they’re part of a giveaway may not always be healthy for one’s mental status. If you feel it’s not making you happy or it’s causing you to judge yourself, it’s okay to unfollow.
- College Planning Opportunities
November and December are prime months for college application season. Early decision and early action applications usually occur during these two months. Even if not planning to apply early, these are the last months of preparation for the regular decision deadlines in January. If you have or know a student that needs assistance with the College Planning process, see our post here. If you have or know a student that is not a senior, but has a goal of attending college, its never too early to prepare. Our digital college planning worksheet can help begin the road to college applications.
- Back Up Your Files
More and more people are switching to digital lifestyles. We are an Apple family and have taken advantage of the Apple One program for a few years now. Apple One bundles up to six amazing Apple services into one easy subscription. We have the Premiere level which the best option of this plan gives 2 Terabytes of storage among family members. It’s just the two of us so this is great for work and school files as well as having a safe place for all the Disney photos and videos we want to remember over the years. Apple One has individual, family, and premiere plans to choose from iCloud is our best friend. Being able to automatically set devices to backup into the cloud is the easiest job possible. But just remember to check your available storage or it will not. Remember before everything was in the cloud having to backup to flash drives or your computer’s hard drive – or is that me just showing my age now. However you do it, if you have a lot of files on your phone, tablet, computer, etc be sure to put them in a safe space. You never know what can happen, like your laptop dying in the middle of grad school research. But I’ll share that story on another post.
- Revisit 2022 Goals
Be sure to congratulate yourself for your wins.
Make a list of pros and cons to examine where growth is needed.
Redefine failure and what was learned from it.
Consider the big picture.
Get the right support.
Go for it!
Here’s to 2023. May she serve us well. 🥂
Mommy Daughter Adventures 