Simply Put

I’ve been spending a lot of time lately trying to figure out quite a few things. I’m sure you’ve seen the themes on continuous repeat within the screens of this blog because they seem to always be in my heart and on my mind.

How to work smarter. (because I’ve already mastered the hard-working thing. I’m exhausted and frustrated by my impatience).
How to save more
How to lose weight
How to eat/live a healthier lifestyle
Etc.

The list goes on. And for whatever reason the answer that just now popped into my head is “most of these things can be fixed/answered simply by stopping the bleeding”

Spending money seems to be the root or my current evil. Not the money itself however. That’s not my evil. But depending on it as the only source of survival is evil. I’m probably exaggerating a little bit but think about it in those extremes just for a minute or two. For example, healthier foods like fruits and vegetables are far less expensive than processed, fatty fast foods. If spending money on fast food is no longer an option, we would be forced to make inevitably healthier choices in our daily food intake.


This is not a new thought. It often takes me months or even years to acknowledge certain thoughts though. This is probably one of them. I’ve always been fascinated by the topic of simple living. And I knew that it would be a help in finding a more peaceful life. But I never really looked at it as the “answer” to achieving many of my goals.

I think that I am going about this the wrong way.
I think that instead of trying to work the hell out of life I should be trying to keep more of what I already have.

I think that I should stop spending money. Not because I have to in order to pay the bills. But as a voluntary way to find peace, health, and a fat savings account.

Thinking

I’m still blown away by people that Blog for a living… Do you get that?! BLOG FOR A LIVING?! Unbelievable. I’m sitting here trying to figure out what topic I’d base my blog on if I decide to actually make money blogging. I don’t know if I like to write enough to actually make it my life though… But I’m thinking that I really might need to get up on that part of the movement. But how to think of something interesting to talk about each day? That’s the tough part. I’d have to enjoy writing enough to want to do it consistently AND I’d have to find a topic or two to really focus the blog on so that it made sense and people would want to read it… hmmm so far I gots nothin. But it’s the whole alternative revenue sources. That’s a main mantra of mine. Even though I’ve been pretty busy with Mellow I still know that there is much value in having alternating /simultaneous revenue sources and passive income… Blogging for Money is definitely one way to go.

Hey Look. This is my hundredth post.

yaay.

P.S. Happy Earth Day!

Get Rich Slowly

I just added another link to the personal finances section over to the right. I know I often add links to this site without saying much about them. Usually they are worth talking about, that’s why I put them up there… but I just don’t take the time to explain them.

This site in particular, Get Rich Slowly, is a wonderful personal finance blog. As normal, the author started out in heaps of debt and has worked his way out and learned a lot about personal finance along the way. I like the spin that this one has though because its focus is not on get rich quick schemes. Its goals are not to make one filthy rich just for the sake of fulfilling an idealistic dream of having everything that is possible to have.

Get Rich Slowly encourages people to understand money, personal finance, and saving as well as frugality and debt reduction/elimination. Its purpose however is to master these aspects of finance in order to live a simpler life that allows time for family, friends, reading, self development and expression, and purchase of things that REALLY matter to you as oppose to purchases of things that are completely immaterial to ones personal life.

The author states,

“Eight years ago, before I started Get Rich Slowly and while I was still deep in debt, I wrote on my personal blog that my goal was “to live a pastoral lifestyle”. What I meant was that I wanted to live simply, with few obligations. I wanted to work from home, to bike on errands, to squash my obsession with stuff. I wanted to read Dickens and Proust, to spend time with my friends, to enjoy life with Kris. This is still my ideal.”

I understand and agree with these statements and my goals are much like the author of this blog. I want to achieve financial freedom in order to live this “pastoral” life that allows for simplicity as well as comfort. I don’t want to worry about bills, mortgages, college tuition (mine, my spouse, or my children’s), or retirement. I want to leave a legacy of wealth for my children of course along with a sound understanding of financial principles so that said wealth is still around for the following generation.

Having these goals in perspective helps out a lot while planning, choosing investments, or skipping that cup of Starbucks that I would normally go for. I'd much rather really think about my purchases and buy things that I really want instead of things that I just buy out of habit. Breaking these habits is difficult though...

My theory...

... is that if I work my ass off for the next few years, save and plan accordingly, and pray really hard, I’ll be able to get my self together financially so that I can actually spend more time with family and friends in the future. Not sure if it’s possible because of course with age comes more expenses and things. But the concept of living simply and frugally have been on the mind lately and I think the combination of these plus hard work will pay off. For now though I think I sleep less and less each night from all the work.

The list of things to do continues to grow… seems like every time I finish one thing, quite a few more jump onto it. But that’s the beauty of the life I currently choose… so it is what it is.

Had Jury Duty yesterday but didn’t get called. So I ended up sitting in the waiting room for the majority of the day. (We were let go early… around 2:30). Managed to squeak out a newsletter for the mailing list. (Valentine’s Day Gift Certificates are on sale so partake. :) ) Also input some more of the mounting intake forms into the database. So it wasn’t a wasted day.

There’s finally a sign up at Sherman Mills to let people know where Mellow is. Only took a year. It looks really great though. I’ll show pictures sometime.

Nerdly Talk

I just found this really great calculator over at Smart Money to help you choose between the different types of IRAs. Most people have an opinion about which is best but I couldn’t find anything that could really help me to figure out what was best for me. This calculator allows you to put in information about your age and current tax bracket. It then calculated where you will be dependent upon which type of IRA you choose. So now I am certain… even though I was pretty sure before… that a Roth is best for me since I will more than likely be in a higher tax bracket when I retire. Since you contribute after tax income, you are paying taxes on the money now and NOT at the time of your retirement when you will in theory be in a higher bracket. Now I just need to find $96 bucks a week to meet the $5k investment that’s allowed this year… yeah that’s the tougher part.

The latest thing...

...for me is a recent obsession with personal finance. Well it isn’t so recent. I’ve always liked the topic. But I think that it has become a bigger interest as of late. So… don’t be annoyed with the growing list of finance-y links on the side when I find things of interest.

I find personal blogs the most interesting because they chronicle individuals like me who are trying to figure the whole thing out. There are some good ones that I've linked too on the side.

To highlight other good sites, check out Mint to organize your bills, finances, and budgets for free, and check out Credit Karma to get an idea of were your FICO score stands for free. Credit Karma is only going to show you one score and since there are actually 3 that creditors can look at to make decisions about offering you loans, you are really better off knowing all three before big purchase. Still it gives you a decent idea of where you are without having to come out of pocket for it.


Save your money.
Live within your means.

ok?

Xo.

When I think of home, I think of a place...

Ok so here’s the deal.

I’m moving back home.

“GASP!!” you say.

No really. I am. I love Philadelphia. I will definitely miss my beautifully airy, well-lit, and spacious apartment on the 6th floor… but, I’ve decided not to renew my lease at the good old black and gold Iroquois Building. Now don’t get all upset and mushy on me. Cuz it’s going to be alright.

After some long hard thinking and self examination, I’ve realized that it just makes sense. I’ve decided to go home for a few months to get things “together” and start looking for a house. This is the goal and I’m putting it out here for all of you to read… so that you can hold me to it.

I feel somewhat afraid.

In all honesty, I’m so blessed to have a family that will welcome me back with open arms (as long as I pay for the house laundry detergent among a few other menial things of household contribution). And though I will miss having my own space, I know that it will be worth it. Wish me good providence. Don’t worry. I’ll be back very soon.

Term Papers and Stillness

All my life I’ve been a mover. In every sense of the word. If I’m not moving physically I’m in a constant state of mental movement. Worrying or planning… thinking and thinking. Sometimes I think that’s the “cool” way to be… like I’m “better” than everyone else because I’m always busy doing something.

I can remember being 6 or so years old and not wanting to go to bed for fear that I’d miss something. What that something is I still don’t know, but I know that I didn’t want to miss it. I’ve been planning for retirement for as long as I can remember… even when no money was coming in, I was still planning. And though its good to plan ahead for things, I think that I am obsessed with it. Planning and being busy. I want to slow down. To enjoy what is happening right now around and directly in front of me… but I really don’t know how.

I asked Sungee about his 5 year plan. His answer was that people plan to much and they miss what’s happening in front of them… I know that he’s right in many respects.

The thing is almost everything within my plan is automated… as far as steps to take, where money should be saved, etc. so there really isn’t anything for me to do but sit back and relax a bit. But I keep looking and thinking and planning and refining anyway.

I really don’t understand how I can have such a strong desire to be still, yet I keep moving. I know that my nature is not to stand still. But I also know that it would be good for me to step out of my comfort zone and just be for a while… how do you stop though? The worrying and planning and all that? How does one find stillness in this life?

In life at this moment, I’m still working on these two papers for the final grades of my classes this quarter. One for Economics and one for MIS…They are like some kind of mean little monster hovering over my shoulder… but they’re due on Saturday so after that I should be good. really looking forward to the end of this horrible Economics class and a two week break from school.