(no subject)
I may or may not have constructed a 5 year plan. I don't really know...but here's what I'm thinking.
I want to give myself 2 years (or so) to work, save money, find deals, live on a budget, be boring and not spend anything while working all the time and not having too much responsibility. After this time, I want to have 75% of my credit card paid off and a good chunk of money in my savings. Then, once again I will be willing to spend everything I have and go on another trip. Not necessarily a 2 month one, but I would like to spend at least a few weeks somewhere. I'm thinking someplace warm, perhaps? Australia/NZ or South America or something. Or perhaps a couple shorter trips like to the caribbean or something. Either way, I want to go traveling again. I want to go sooner than later though because I fear that I am going to be past the age of hosteling soon. I don't want to be that old lady in the hostel, but I'm ok with being that 26 year old in the hostel... Sort of. A lot of people we met were already younger than us...So...I don't know.
Anyway, when I come back from traveling, I want to get credentialed and become an American History teacher (11th grade). I never would have fathomed wanting to be a teacher, but I do like telling stories and teaching people things, so I'm thinking I might be okay at it. Problem is, finding a district that needs a history teacher...I hear history is hard to get into because people get hired and never leave. haha. Hopefully I can manage though. Also, this kinda works well with the whole "don't spend money" thing because I want to read all my American Studies textbooks "again." I never really read them to begin with or I only had to read a little bit. Some of them did seem interesting though (ha) so I want to read a few of them. Also, because I feel like I learned nothing in school. I want to know what I'm talking about.
In order to save money my new thing will be finding deals at the grocery store. I am convinced that if I watch the ads and shop weekly for sales, I can get plenty to eat at a bargain price. I used to do that at the dorms and I had money left over. Goal is to spend less than $50 a week on food. I think I can make that happen, and then the leftover is what I can spend if I want to go out to eat with someone. I have been really good about bringing my own dinner to the theatre, so I think I can do this. I also will occupy my time with things that are free for me to do. Going to the park, watching movies, reading (textbooks and perhaps library books), trying new recipes, baking and swimming.
I feel like all of this is kind of extreme, but then also, it shouldn't be too difficult. I just wish it were easier to find a better paying job right now. I don't think I will be super strict about adhering to it, but I want to keep it in the back of my mind so that I can keep track of where I'm at. I would like to have over 75% of my debt paid off before going back to school or traveling though. That's the main goal here...my reward will be vacation.
I want to give myself 2 years (or so) to work, save money, find deals, live on a budget, be boring and not spend anything while working all the time and not having too much responsibility. After this time, I want to have 75% of my credit card paid off and a good chunk of money in my savings. Then, once again I will be willing to spend everything I have and go on another trip. Not necessarily a 2 month one, but I would like to spend at least a few weeks somewhere. I'm thinking someplace warm, perhaps? Australia/NZ or South America or something. Or perhaps a couple shorter trips like to the caribbean or something. Either way, I want to go traveling again. I want to go sooner than later though because I fear that I am going to be past the age of hosteling soon. I don't want to be that old lady in the hostel, but I'm ok with being that 26 year old in the hostel... Sort of. A lot of people we met were already younger than us...So...I don't know.
Anyway, when I come back from traveling, I want to get credentialed and become an American History teacher (11th grade). I never would have fathomed wanting to be a teacher, but I do like telling stories and teaching people things, so I'm thinking I might be okay at it. Problem is, finding a district that needs a history teacher...I hear history is hard to get into because people get hired and never leave. haha. Hopefully I can manage though. Also, this kinda works well with the whole "don't spend money" thing because I want to read all my American Studies textbooks "again." I never really read them to begin with or I only had to read a little bit. Some of them did seem interesting though (ha) so I want to read a few of them. Also, because I feel like I learned nothing in school. I want to know what I'm talking about.
In order to save money my new thing will be finding deals at the grocery store. I am convinced that if I watch the ads and shop weekly for sales, I can get plenty to eat at a bargain price. I used to do that at the dorms and I had money left over. Goal is to spend less than $50 a week on food. I think I can make that happen, and then the leftover is what I can spend if I want to go out to eat with someone. I have been really good about bringing my own dinner to the theatre, so I think I can do this. I also will occupy my time with things that are free for me to do. Going to the park, watching movies, reading (textbooks and perhaps library books), trying new recipes, baking and swimming.
I feel like all of this is kind of extreme, but then also, it shouldn't be too difficult. I just wish it were easier to find a better paying job right now. I don't think I will be super strict about adhering to it, but I want to keep it in the back of my mind so that I can keep track of where I'm at. I would like to have over 75% of my debt paid off before going back to school or traveling though. That's the main goal here...my reward will be vacation.