Rent

Ever had a moment of clarity, where it just all comes to be crystal clear. Or is it just that I'm slow?

My rent is currently 1360 (got rid of my parking space). Right now I pay it out of my end of month check, since I get paid "semi-monthly" (dumbest idea ever) it usually leaves me a little short at the end of the month. Then it dawned on me why not just take half the rent out of my first check and half the rent out of my second check.

Wow that was really so complicated, I see why I didn't think of this before (sarcasim)

I've also come to realize that I have paying rent. When this lease is up, by hook, snook or crook I have GOT to get a house.

Back, Back, Forth and Forth

Side note: Just as I was beginning to type this I could suddenly taste Shrimp and Candied Walnuts from P. F. Chang. I mean literally I could taste it in my mouth. But I will resist.

I've recently been going back and forth about building my "emergency fund" vs. paying off my debt with the money. Although I would love to have a cushion around me I think I'm going to use the money to pay down more debt so I can just get it over with. I honestly hate receiving bills in the mail I mean just plan ole hate it.

This is my thinking, since any immediate emergency I have can be more than covered with a single paycheck, I'll pay off my credit cards and use them as a temporary emergency fund until my bills are paid off. I'll just pay the balance on the card at the end of the month. I know this probably isn't the recommended way of doing it but I think it will work for me.

Eating Out

Although I've managed to do better with treating others to eat out. I still have not curved MY eating out as much as I would like. I've managed to begin bringing my lunch to work, but I find myself still going to get something while my lunch sits in the fridge. I'm thinking about just not bringing any money to work. But then I'd hate to not have anything in case of emergency.

Life is to hard.

Wants vs. Needs

My next paycheck will be almost completely mine*.

I WANT to go to Atlantic City but I NEED to pay off my credit cards.

I WANT to buy 2 pair of Nike's but I NEED to get a oil change and alignment.

I WANT to go to Timothy Dean's restaurant but I NEED to buy groceries and eat in.

I want a new Nikkon watch but I need to find a way to lower my bills (especially BG&E)

*Besides my $160 T-mobile bill which will have to be reviewed.

Help Yourself First....PLEASE

I officially refuse to spoon feed anyone who does not do their own due diligence. I have a friend who is attempting to get into the investing world who basically just jumped in head first. Now they have constant questions as to what they should do, and when. Literally using a service without researching all that it has to offer. No idea about fees, how to reduce the fees, or alternate services.

I officially rebuke you!

Flex Spending Account

I have got to do a better job with this. I read to much not to have anything to talk about.

Anyway I digress. Apparently they have a "grace period" with my flex spending account. I'm glad because there was almost no way I would have been able to send $500 in under 4 days (not on medical stuff anyway). So thankfully I get an additional 75 days pass the end day to incur expenses. WHEW!!

Do what I have to do, so I can do what I want to do

"More money more checks I’m addicted to fresh 6 pairs of kicks is my definition to twelve steps" - Jay -Z

Ah I love that line.

I also stole the title from Single Ma, which she got from the move The Great Debators.

But right now I feel like I'm in a "Twelve Step Program". I've come up with 6 steps to help me move toward my goal with "Real" attainable goals. Basically I have 9 months to determine which way I'll go. Will I try to make it in the workforce without one of my top assets or will I utilize it and continue to use it as a crutch.

The 6 steps I've broken it down into is as follows:

Step 1. Bills

Prioritize - I need to do this so that I'll no I'm going the best possible way to get to step 4.
most people would say that I should pay off credit cards first but if I do that I wouldn't meet my time line for step 2. Since I don't have that much credit card debt ($1200) I don't think that necessarily needs to be at the top of my list.

Pay off by Dec 31 - I know this blows my goals from before but this time I'm actually motivated to do it. Besides if something does happen at least I'll be DEBT FREE!!!

Step 2. School

Re-enroll - I've been pushing this off also but the only reason being step #1. I have school bills I have to pay before they allow me to re-enroll.

Enroll in 3 Classes in Sept - I plan on using my company's reimbursement program to pay for school. if I stay with them it's covered if not I'll just have to pay them back, in either case I'll be in a better position to do that when and if this happens.

Step 3. Savings
Down Payment - I need to save a minimum of $9000 by April '09. That will mean increasing my current savings by $300 a month.

Emergency Fund - $30,000 ( a years worth of expenses) . This depends on Step 4 heavily as most of that is housing and slightly on step 1. I would love to get a second job but step 2 won't afford much time for that.

Step 4. Housing

Purchase - I DO NOT plan on renewing my lease come next year. Not because the place isn't nice, but purely because I refuse to pay the amount of rent that I'm paying. Hopefully if all goes well with step 1 & 3 getting into a house won't be a problem. I've even got a plan for the house I want, some people may call my crazy but it's logical to me. I'll discuss it at a later date.

Step 5. Certifications

In my line of work certifications can really increase your work potential. I plan on having 1 certification by the end of the year. Based on how that works out I may have two. My first certification I want to go for is Sun Certified System Administrator. The class is around 2k, I've decided to purchase the book and do it on my own. My job affords me the hands on experience needed so setting in a class wouldn't really help me with this one.

Hopefully after that I can go for the Sun Certified Security Administrator. This would lead me up to getting 2 other certs that I'm looking at.

Step 6. Job

Hopefully if all goes well and according to plan with this I'll be in a better position to go either way with my job. If I decide to stay it will give me enough time to finish up school on my company's dime, and make myself more marketable. If I decide to go it will put me in a position to be approved to do the job I want to do.

Either way it will get me started on something I should have take more serious along time ago. Everything won't be in order for instance I'll be saving while I'm in school, and housing will happen at the same time I'm getting certifications. But it just helps to prioritize things so I'll know this is the best way for me to get where I want to be.