Ownership - What a Good Feeling
SubTitle: I want it all and I want it now! Or, WTF should I do with my money?
In 3 days, I will own my car. I didn't originally have a plan for how fast I would pay it off, but a year into owning it, I talked to a friend who was paying double on his car. I thought he was crazy, until he explained that he would own his car sooner. What a great idea! So I started paying just a little more than my monthly payments. $14 to be exact. When I got a refund from school, I applied it to my car instead of school payments. That tax refund we got earlier this year? That went to my car. And now I will own my car 7 months early. Yay for me!
I already have a plan for this extra influx of money. Savings, school, and Tanzania. I need to get my savings account to a steady balance, $500 more than where it normally sits. From there, I plan on putting part of it into a CD. The other part will stay where it is. I'll feel a little more comfortable paying for school next year with this extra influx of cash. My parents designated my mom's life insurance money for college. I'm not sure how much I'll receive - 50, 500, 5000 - but any amount will be helpful. I'm toying with the idea of putting that money into a CD as well, so I can use it for student loans in a few years. But I'm also toying with using it right away, so (hopefully) I'll have less debt when I graduate. There are too many options when it comes to this.
And of course Tanzania. I really want to visit. Desperately. It'll be good for SteelersBoy and I to be able to have a conversation without shouting. We're shouting to hear each other, not because we're upset. But either way, it's still a slight strain on the calls, so I'll be happy to talk in person. But let's be honest here. I want to go so I can see him, be with him, touch him, hold him. I want to see what it's like in his home country. When he talks about dust, I want to see it and experience it for myself. I want to experience the food, the markets, go see the ocean, know what darkness is like, and meet family and friends. I want it all. But I digress...
Once the car is paid off, the only debt I truly have is student loans. Sure I have credit cards, but they get paid off every month. I'll be much more comfortable with my student loans if I don't have any other big debts to worry about. I'd love to buy a new car, but there are too many to choose from, and it's not really necessary. I put $3000 down on this car when I bought it; I'd like to be able to do the same thing with my next car. So while my eyes light up when I see a sports car or a truck or a cute sedan, it's just not going to happen. Maybe next year.
In 3 days, I will own my car. I didn't originally have a plan for how fast I would pay it off, but a year into owning it, I talked to a friend who was paying double on his car. I thought he was crazy, until he explained that he would own his car sooner. What a great idea! So I started paying just a little more than my monthly payments. $14 to be exact. When I got a refund from school, I applied it to my car instead of school payments. That tax refund we got earlier this year? That went to my car. And now I will own my car 7 months early. Yay for me!
I already have a plan for this extra influx of money. Savings, school, and Tanzania. I need to get my savings account to a steady balance, $500 more than where it normally sits. From there, I plan on putting part of it into a CD. The other part will stay where it is. I'll feel a little more comfortable paying for school next year with this extra influx of cash. My parents designated my mom's life insurance money for college. I'm not sure how much I'll receive - 50, 500, 5000 - but any amount will be helpful. I'm toying with the idea of putting that money into a CD as well, so I can use it for student loans in a few years. But I'm also toying with using it right away, so (hopefully) I'll have less debt when I graduate. There are too many options when it comes to this.
And of course Tanzania. I really want to visit. Desperately. It'll be good for SteelersBoy and I to be able to have a conversation without shouting. We're shouting to hear each other, not because we're upset. But either way, it's still a slight strain on the calls, so I'll be happy to talk in person. But let's be honest here. I want to go so I can see him, be with him, touch him, hold him. I want to see what it's like in his home country. When he talks about dust, I want to see it and experience it for myself. I want to experience the food, the markets, go see the ocean, know what darkness is like, and meet family and friends. I want it all. But I digress...
Once the car is paid off, the only debt I truly have is student loans. Sure I have credit cards, but they get paid off every month. I'll be much more comfortable with my student loans if I don't have any other big debts to worry about. I'd love to buy a new car, but there are too many to choose from, and it's not really necessary. I put $3000 down on this car when I bought it; I'd like to be able to do the same thing with my next car. So while my eyes light up when I see a sports car or a truck or a cute sedan, it's just not going to happen. Maybe next year.