The week winding down
It may technically be Thursday, but my weekend starts at the end of the work day today (and I'd appreciate if the day would hurry along, it's really dragging, and I have fun plans for tonight). I'm off tomorrow so that I can head to Houston with assorted others for ApolloCon this weekend. I've tried so hard to make it to previous ApolloCons, and things have come up that have prevented me going - including my cat being diagnosed with cancer, and last year's clusterfuck that was my life in May/June(/July/August/etc.). It's looking like nothing will actually prevent me going to my first ApolloCon this time, although I do have to pack when I get home tonight so that I actually have some clothes to wear this weekend. I've looked over the schedule, and there are some interesting program items that I think I will enjoy, not to mention the potential for lots of parties and other social engagements, of a social nature. There will be many people to see, a few hopefully not to see. But overall, should be a good time. I'm getting my hair done in the morning, and heading out pretty much right after with my BFF.
July begins next week, and in accord with my goals, I need to start saving beginning in July for a trip to South Africa a year from December. One of the things Bentley and I were talking about Saturday was the concept of our own personal microeconomics. We're told we couldn't possibly understand high finance, and in many ways that's true. But on a micro-micro level, we each deal with our own economics on a daily basis. We have become a culture of "I Want it Now" and the idea of instant gratification is why so many of us are drowning in debt. I have a fair amount of debt myself, most of it stemming from several emergency events in 2007/2008. I don't like carrying the debt, but at the same time, I'm able to steadily pay down my debt, and I'm not spending more than I make in a month. I haven't been very good lately at saving, but I'm living within my means. And that's a pretty good place to be. Within 2 years, I will easily be debt free, and that will be a better feeling.
Our parents, their parents knew that if you wanted something, especially something big, you saved for it and bought it when you had the money. We are a society of people who have forgotten how to do that, because God forbid we delay any gratification on anything (I've certainly been guilty of this in the past as well). So people go into debt to buy bigger houses than they need (or can afford), to buy expensive clothes, vacations, jewelry, computers, whatever. People have forgotten how to save. They'd rather give The Man an interest free loan and lose money by "getting" a big tax return than put that money to work for them (either by paying down debt or putting it into savings). It's not that hard to put a little bit away in savings (like that extra amount that is being taken out in taxes), and I don't really buy it when people say they can't save, because all it takes is practice and discipline.
So, there are some things I want, including one big, expensive thing. I could probably go this year and finance the trip on a lot of credit. But why? South Africa will still be there next year, and I'll have a pile of cash (if I stick to my plan, if I'm disciplined) with which to enjoy myself. So, beginning July, I will put aside a certain amount every month. I still want to get out and have some fun, hit up some more of the Texas cons, World Fantasy. But I'll be curtailing other plans.
By August, I'll have almost 6 weeks of vacation time. Not enough to have to "use it or lose it" but enough that I want to burn some of it. So I'll be taking a couple weeks of staycation late July/early August. I should use some of that time for more self-reflection, self-adjustment, whatever. Some of it will just be pure laziness, but there's nothing wrong with thinking about things (especially given the year I've been through, which has had tremendous ups and downs and caused me to do a lot of self-reflection along the way). I hate roller coasters, have I ever mentioned that? I crave far less "interesting" times ahead.
I am trying to get my life more organized. I've discovered a task function in my phone that's great for writing down lists of things I need to do (like what I need to pick up tonight at Target, so I can pack for the weekend). I've always been a tad absentminded (like when I left the house this morning without brushing my teeth - luckily for all of us, I remembered before I got too far. I blame the lack of caffeine for this.), so if I can remember to write things down, I may actually remember to do what needs to be done.
If only everything were so simple!
July begins next week, and in accord with my goals, I need to start saving beginning in July for a trip to South Africa a year from December. One of the things Bentley and I were talking about Saturday was the concept of our own personal microeconomics. We're told we couldn't possibly understand high finance, and in many ways that's true. But on a micro-micro level, we each deal with our own economics on a daily basis. We have become a culture of "I Want it Now" and the idea of instant gratification is why so many of us are drowning in debt. I have a fair amount of debt myself, most of it stemming from several emergency events in 2007/2008. I don't like carrying the debt, but at the same time, I'm able to steadily pay down my debt, and I'm not spending more than I make in a month. I haven't been very good lately at saving, but I'm living within my means. And that's a pretty good place to be. Within 2 years, I will easily be debt free, and that will be a better feeling.
Our parents, their parents knew that if you wanted something, especially something big, you saved for it and bought it when you had the money. We are a society of people who have forgotten how to do that, because God forbid we delay any gratification on anything (I've certainly been guilty of this in the past as well). So people go into debt to buy bigger houses than they need (or can afford), to buy expensive clothes, vacations, jewelry, computers, whatever. People have forgotten how to save. They'd rather give The Man an interest free loan and lose money by "getting" a big tax return than put that money to work for them (either by paying down debt or putting it into savings). It's not that hard to put a little bit away in savings (like that extra amount that is being taken out in taxes), and I don't really buy it when people say they can't save, because all it takes is practice and discipline.
So, there are some things I want, including one big, expensive thing. I could probably go this year and finance the trip on a lot of credit. But why? South Africa will still be there next year, and I'll have a pile of cash (if I stick to my plan, if I'm disciplined) with which to enjoy myself. So, beginning July, I will put aside a certain amount every month. I still want to get out and have some fun, hit up some more of the Texas cons, World Fantasy. But I'll be curtailing other plans.
By August, I'll have almost 6 weeks of vacation time. Not enough to have to "use it or lose it" but enough that I want to burn some of it. So I'll be taking a couple weeks of staycation late July/early August. I should use some of that time for more self-reflection, self-adjustment, whatever. Some of it will just be pure laziness, but there's nothing wrong with thinking about things (especially given the year I've been through, which has had tremendous ups and downs and caused me to do a lot of self-reflection along the way). I hate roller coasters, have I ever mentioned that? I crave far less "interesting" times ahead.
I am trying to get my life more organized. I've discovered a task function in my phone that's great for writing down lists of things I need to do (like what I need to pick up tonight at Target, so I can pack for the weekend). I've always been a tad absentminded (like when I left the house this morning without brushing my teeth - luckily for all of us, I remembered before I got too far. I blame the lack of caffeine for this.), so if I can remember to write things down, I may actually remember to do what needs to be done.
If only everything were so simple!