One of our financial goals in 2011 was to save a ‘first six months in Portugal fund’. Our goal was to save 6k, enough cash to cover the initial cost of renting an apartment for 6 months and the deposit/fees. Anyway, we didn’t quite make it to our goal. At the end of the year the fund stood at £5k, £1k short of our target.
Now we haven’t really made any plans to add much more than £300-£400 to this fund in 2012, preferring to attack the mortgage instead, but I would still like to get the balance up to £6k…..somehow!
Time to review the budget! 
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You seem to have done very well so far on this fund. I am sure that you’ll find a way to get even closer to your original goal. Good luck!
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Hmm, depends how much pain factor you can put up with, right? I know your spending is tight on groceries and personal allowance. Maybe it’s a goal that should be modified, so you don’t feel miserable?
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Do you have any opportunities to bring in some extra $$$? Passive income of some sort, or selling off something you don’t need?
I agree that there’s a point where you can cut back too much in your day-to-day expenses – you don’t want to feel so restricted that your quality of life suffers.
Personally, as someone who’s moved from the big smoke (Sydney) to a little island (coast of Tasmania), I’d love to buy an inspiring/informative ebook from you on the dream AND reality of making a seachange. I’m sure others would too – and that’d bring in extra income over the year…
Loving your blog, by the way!
Amanda
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