..because you just might get it. Never have truer words been spoken then over the last couple of weeks.
As was the purpose of creating this blog, I wanted to share my story and create a place for people to see that adjustments can be made that can effect your life dramatically. Through the sharing of my findings and even the sharing of some of the ventures I have taken on over the last couple of months I hope that I have expressed to you not only the ways to make and view money, but the ways that I am actually going about trying to make money!
Well, through weeks of looking around for little side gigs, I came to the conclusion that since I spend most of my day on the computer and can type like the Dickens, maybe I could make some extra money by doing some transcription work.
It seemed like a great idea as it fit my skill set, paid well, and there was ton of work out there for those that wanted to take it on. This is the point where I place my thumbs behind my suspender straps, and gently push them out while telling you that it did not take long for me to land my first job.
In the matter of days, there it was an acceptance!!! HOORAY!!!
I spent the next couple of days communicating with the client and everything was just great!
Twenty-Five hours of film that needed to be transcribed. Okay, no big deal, I knew that I had more than a week to complete it, before submitting it.
So when the materials arrived, I put in the first disk, grabbed my laptop, and sat down to begin growing my financial strength to out run my Piper and his Wave.
And then it hit me. This was not transcribing a speech from the National Archives, this was transcribing the words on a group of people giving a small seminar! To paint you an example of what it is like, I want you to imagine two things. First, a speech by President Kennedy and second a speech by someone who is not President Kennedy. Well guess which one I got? That's right. Kennedy's opposite.
Yep, it was everything I had asked for, but nothing that I had not completely thought through.
So, the last couple of days have been spent transcribing, and while it hasn't been really that bad (actually it has been quite enjoyable), I would like to leave you all with a small challenge. When you are on your computer and someone is speaking to you, or the TV is on, trying typing everything that they are saying!
So remember, be very careful about what you wish for!
As always, thank you...The Runner
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Sleep on it!
Today I was ready an interesting article on msnbc.com called, Sleep on it: Dreams help solve day's problems. In this article it states, "The slumbering mind might not seem like an apt tool for any critical thinking, but humans can actually solve problems while asleep, researchers say. Not only that, but one purpose for dreaming itself may be to help us find solutions to puzzles that plague us during waking hours.
Dreams are highly visual and often illogical in nature, which makes them ripe for the type of "out-of-the-box" thinking that some problem-solving requires, said Deirdre Barrett, a psychologist at Harvard University.
Barrett's theory on dreaming, which she discussed at the Association for Psychological Science meeting here last month, boils down to this: Dreaming is really just thinking, but in a slightly different state from when our eyes are open".
Okay, so we have a Harvard Psychologist basically saying that the need for REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, is not only critical to a good night sleep, but that it also allows you to have the ability to problem solve at the same time.
Maybe Ben Franklin did have something more than he knew, as I mentioned in my previous post Early to bed...Early to rise....
I think that again we are shown the importance of putting ourselves in places where we can think through our problems.
So what are your thoughts?
As always, thank you...The Runner
Dreams are highly visual and often illogical in nature, which makes them ripe for the type of "out-of-the-box" thinking that some problem-solving requires, said Deirdre Barrett, a psychologist at Harvard University.
Barrett's theory on dreaming, which she discussed at the Association for Psychological Science meeting here last month, boils down to this: Dreaming is really just thinking, but in a slightly different state from when our eyes are open".
Okay, so we have a Harvard Psychologist basically saying that the need for REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, is not only critical to a good night sleep, but that it also allows you to have the ability to problem solve at the same time.
Maybe Ben Franklin did have something more than he knew, as I mentioned in my previous post Early to bed...Early to rise....
I think that again we are shown the importance of putting ourselves in places where we can think through our problems.
So what are your thoughts?
As always, thank you...The Runner
Saturday, June 26, 2010
4 Things Financial Reform Won't Do For You, Thank You Yahoo Finance!
Yesterday an article was published entitled, 4 Things Financial Reform Won't Do For You. In this article they stated, "Regulators from Washington will now sniff out financial scams, rein in usurious lenders, unearth hidden fees and limit loans to people who can afford them. Jubilation. Washington rides to the rescue. Again.
But a new army of protectors won't make consumers smarter, and the mere presence of a fresh government watchdog could persuade some people that they don't need to worry about protecting themselves. People still need to do the work themselves and learn how to spot scams, manage debt, invest safely and resist foolish enticements."
It is great to see that steps are being taken to helps ensure that the country does not find itself in the same spot again, however, it truly does come down to us. With all of the watchdog groups, and prosecutors looking to expand their practices by "helping" to hunt down and prosecute these vultures, it will come at a price.
So my question to you is, is it smarter for us to regulate ourselves, or trust our futures will be well managed by financial overseers?
As always, thank you...The Runner.
But a new army of protectors won't make consumers smarter, and the mere presence of a fresh government watchdog could persuade some people that they don't need to worry about protecting themselves. People still need to do the work themselves and learn how to spot scams, manage debt, invest safely and resist foolish enticements."
It is great to see that steps are being taken to helps ensure that the country does not find itself in the same spot again, however, it truly does come down to us. With all of the watchdog groups, and prosecutors looking to expand their practices by "helping" to hunt down and prosecute these vultures, it will come at a price.
So my question to you is, is it smarter for us to regulate ourselves, or trust our futures will be well managed by financial overseers?
As always, thank you...The Runner.
Friday, June 25, 2010
I'll Take It Anyway I Can Get It!
Well, my fellow runners, it looks like my post from June 12, less then two weeks ago called Back it up, Back it up, Back it up is going to pay dividends. Or at least pay for the massive backup drive I bought to prevent another meltdown, because yesterday, after coming home and opening up my laptop, yes the same laptop, I receive a massive failure message.
The only thing I was happy about was that it was not speaking to me! But, rather telling me that it was having a massive failure.
So, off to the IT department it went. But, not with me. A stand-up colleague met me so that he could deliver it to the IT department first thing in the morning, and let them take a look at it.
For me, this meant, that my planned day off for this Friday, came a day earlier. Now, I did not have much planned. Just a few odd jobs to bring in the capitol we have been speaking about, so no there were no major disruptions on my end. But, I will say it again. If you are not backing up your computers. With their years of pictures, documents, songs, etc you are going to be sorry when you computer simply says, "I'm done". And there is nothing you can do about it at that point, at least nothing cheap.
So it is with the best of intentions that I recommend the same backup drive that I just picked up, as my IT department was more than relieved that I had done such a smart thing, and for a relative small amount of cash.
My question to you is, do you make a practice of backing up your information?
As always, thank you...The Runner
The only thing I was happy about was that it was not speaking to me! But, rather telling me that it was having a massive failure.
So, off to the IT department it went. But, not with me. A stand-up colleague met me so that he could deliver it to the IT department first thing in the morning, and let them take a look at it.
For me, this meant, that my planned day off for this Friday, came a day earlier. Now, I did not have much planned. Just a few odd jobs to bring in the capitol we have been speaking about, so no there were no major disruptions on my end. But, I will say it again. If you are not backing up your computers. With their years of pictures, documents, songs, etc you are going to be sorry when you computer simply says, "I'm done". And there is nothing you can do about it at that point, at least nothing cheap.
So it is with the best of intentions that I recommend the same backup drive that I just picked up, as my IT department was more than relieved that I had done such a smart thing, and for a relative small amount of cash.
My question to you is, do you make a practice of backing up your information?
As always, thank you...The Runner
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Free and Budweiser
Well, it's been a few days, and for that I apologize, but I have been given the opportunity to do some side work, and it has been taking up a good deal of my time, but it is well worth it!!!
However, the last thing I do before hitting the hay, is to read for at least an hour. The book that I am currently reading is The Millionaire Next Door, and it is truly eye opening.
So, far I am about fifty pages into it, but it has already done a great job of showing what "true worth" is.
When you think of a millionaire, you think of the houses, the clothes, the cars, the exotic vacations, and so on, and for the most part you are correct. However, what this book has done a great job with is showing that these people with all of this money, are just as "broke" as I am. They have no assets. They are the Jones!!!
The line for today's post, Free and Budweiser, is taken directly from the book and one of the "true millionaires". These true millionaires are those that have millions in the bank, little to no liabilities, and a great sense of thrift. When the authors were doing the research for the book they invited ten millionaires to interview, and rented out this extravagant Upper East Side home, had it fully catered with only the finest food and drink being served. Basically, they were creating the environment they expected the millionaires to be comfortable in. Well, one of these millionaires arrives and he is offered a fine champagne, to which he replies, "I only drink scotch and two kinds of beer, free and Budweiser".
Needless to say, this was a defining moment for the authors, but for me as a reader, it summed up everything I have been speaking about and doing over the last couple of weeks.
It is not what you wear, or what you drive, or where you live, but rather what you choose to wear, choose to drive and choose to live.
I that I have thought about what it would be like to be a millionaire, and what I would do with that money, but I can't say that any of those thoughts were centered around a thrifty lifestyle.
So, my question to you is, would you rather flaunt your wealth? Or have your bank statement do the talking?
As always, thank you...The Runner
However, the last thing I do before hitting the hay, is to read for at least an hour. The book that I am currently reading is The Millionaire Next Door, and it is truly eye opening.
So, far I am about fifty pages into it, but it has already done a great job of showing what "true worth" is.
When you think of a millionaire, you think of the houses, the clothes, the cars, the exotic vacations, and so on, and for the most part you are correct. However, what this book has done a great job with is showing that these people with all of this money, are just as "broke" as I am. They have no assets. They are the Jones!!!
The line for today's post, Free and Budweiser, is taken directly from the book and one of the "true millionaires". These true millionaires are those that have millions in the bank, little to no liabilities, and a great sense of thrift. When the authors were doing the research for the book they invited ten millionaires to interview, and rented out this extravagant Upper East Side home, had it fully catered with only the finest food and drink being served. Basically, they were creating the environment they expected the millionaires to be comfortable in. Well, one of these millionaires arrives and he is offered a fine champagne, to which he replies, "I only drink scotch and two kinds of beer, free and Budweiser".
Needless to say, this was a defining moment for the authors, but for me as a reader, it summed up everything I have been speaking about and doing over the last couple of weeks.
It is not what you wear, or what you drive, or where you live, but rather what you choose to wear, choose to drive and choose to live.
I that I have thought about what it would be like to be a millionaire, and what I would do with that money, but I can't say that any of those thoughts were centered around a thrifty lifestyle.
So, my question to you is, would you rather flaunt your wealth? Or have your bank statement do the talking?
As always, thank you...The Runner
Monday, June 21, 2010
Netflix, Wii and Me
In my very first post, The First Two Weeks, I broke down exactly where I was going to find the extra cash that I would need to out pace my Piper and his Wave. Well, tonight I thought that I would expand on that a little.
In the weeks leading up to turning in my cable box, and saving a ton of money monthly, I really took a hardcore look at exactly what my cable provider was (or was not giving me). Sure, most of it was my fault because I was not taking full advantage of it, but none the less, I tried many times to have them reduce my rate based on how little of their service I was actually using. I guess you all know how those attempts ended.
However, even more than just the money, was the fact that I was not taking advantage of the other services I currently had. For instance, there is the Nintendo Wii. A luxury purchase that I made a while ago, but I have gotten some great use out of it, but their was an advantage to the Wii that I was not using, and that was their connection to Netflix, a small subscription I had already been using. Netflix Wii is much smaller charge of $8.99 per month that allows you to stream their on-demand movies instantly through your Nintendo Wii, while at the same time, you can have them ship a disc to you, if the movie you want is not currently available on-demand.
So let's recap. Almost $200 for Comcast, for which I really only watched the movie channels, or $8.99 for Netflix Wii for basically all the movies I could handle? Yeah, the choice was very simple. But I know what you're thinking, what about the TV shows you watch? Well, truth be told, there are (or were) three shows I would watch, Fringe, Flashforward and Lost, and Lost is over!!! So, now I am down to two!!!
However, there are still ways of keeping up with these shows. First, many of them are available on the networks website, or you can do all you watching in a single place like Hulu.com!!!
No commercials, tons of movies and documentaries and the fact that I am paying less for things I enjoy? Come on, the only real question is, why didn't you think of this earlier?
Well, in all honesty, I think we can all agree that TV is a part of life. Whether it is just to zone out, relax or escape reality for a while, we all have our reasons.
Today, is my twenty second day without TV, and I have to tell you, I have done more in many different aspects of my life during those 22 days, then I have in a long time. Not to mention all the money that has been saved!!!
So my question to you is, could you now see yourself telling your cable provider to take a walk?
As always, thank you...The Runner
In the weeks leading up to turning in my cable box, and saving a ton of money monthly, I really took a hardcore look at exactly what my cable provider was (or was not giving me). Sure, most of it was my fault because I was not taking full advantage of it, but none the less, I tried many times to have them reduce my rate based on how little of their service I was actually using. I guess you all know how those attempts ended.
However, even more than just the money, was the fact that I was not taking advantage of the other services I currently had. For instance, there is the Nintendo Wii. A luxury purchase that I made a while ago, but I have gotten some great use out of it, but their was an advantage to the Wii that I was not using, and that was their connection to Netflix, a small subscription I had already been using. Netflix Wii is much smaller charge of $8.99 per month that allows you to stream their on-demand movies instantly through your Nintendo Wii, while at the same time, you can have them ship a disc to you, if the movie you want is not currently available on-demand.
So let's recap. Almost $200 for Comcast, for which I really only watched the movie channels, or $8.99 for Netflix Wii for basically all the movies I could handle? Yeah, the choice was very simple. But I know what you're thinking, what about the TV shows you watch? Well, truth be told, there are (or were) three shows I would watch, Fringe, Flashforward and Lost, and Lost is over!!! So, now I am down to two!!!
However, there are still ways of keeping up with these shows. First, many of them are available on the networks website, or you can do all you watching in a single place like Hulu.com!!!
No commercials, tons of movies and documentaries and the fact that I am paying less for things I enjoy? Come on, the only real question is, why didn't you think of this earlier?
Well, in all honesty, I think we can all agree that TV is a part of life. Whether it is just to zone out, relax or escape reality for a while, we all have our reasons.
Today, is my twenty second day without TV, and I have to tell you, I have done more in many different aspects of my life during those 22 days, then I have in a long time. Not to mention all the money that has been saved!!!
So my question to you is, could you now see yourself telling your cable provider to take a walk?
As always, thank you...The Runner
Sunday, June 20, 2010
What is a Debt Snowball?
I certainly have never heard of it, but I can tell you that after reading the this article, The Debt Snowball, I think we have just found another area of clarity to our situations. Take that Piper!!!
Basically, we all struggle with our debts and which of those to pay first, and why, and when and blah blah blah. But, this is another great example of how simplicity is key.
In the article it stats, "List all of your debts, in descending order by interest rate, regardless of the balance (accounts with highest interest rates first).
Determine the most money you can make available from your budget to apply to the debt snowball. The more you can apply, the more money you'll save and the faster you'll pay off your debt.
Each month, apply the minimum payment PLUS the extra money you've made available from your budget to the first debt (the one with the highest interest rate). On all your other debts, pay only the minimum payment. Continue to do this until the first debt on the list is paid off.
Take the minimum payment AND the extra payment you were making on the first debt and add them to the minimum payment you've been paying on the second debt. Pay that amount on the second debt each month until it's paid off, then move on to the third debt. Continue to pay only the minimum payment on all debts except the one you're "snowballing."
Repeat this process until all of the debts are paid off ".
Get it? Yes, no, maybe?
I think that we all do a great deal of trying to "tilt the tables" in our favor, daily. Whether it is finding the best gas price, good use of sales, etc, but here we are doing the same thing. If you are required to pay a minimum amount on any of your credit cards, and have been utilizing all of the budget techniques we have talked about, then each week or month, you will have extra cash on hand, and instead of paying down each card little by little by little, you can pile all of that saved cash, use a little to pay the monthly minimums on your credit cards, and then use the rest to make a massive dent in the first one you select. And when that card is paid off, you move onto the next, and so on, and so on.
Start with the one that has the highest interest rate, or start with the one that has the highest balance, and you will not just chip away at that debt, but blow it straight to hell!!!
This way you are staying current on all your cards, and you are paying off each card in major leaps instead of little steps. And those are wins people!
Also, to show you how else this will pay off; you will see your credit score rise quicker as well. As your amount of utilized credit drops in massive quantities over each month, your credit score will increase, and by the time you have all of your cards paid off, your credit score will definitely be in a much, MUCH better place.
This book, Dirty Little Secrets: What the Credit Bureaus Won't Tell You, is something that I have personally red, and utilize to help improve and maintain my score, and one of the main points they constantly talk about is "Credit Utilization". To keep it short, let's say that you have one card with a limit of $100. If you pay your balance every month, and the credit agencies never see that you utilize any of your credit, and while they will not lower your score, they will also not raise it with any great speed. What they do recommend is to use your cards but only (and I mean only as the highest portion) to only utilize under 25% of your available credit every month. So, if your card has $100 available, feel free to use under $25 of it, and pay it off as well, on time. This way you are showing that you are worthy of a better credit rating, because your a) use it, b) use it in reasonable quantities, and c) pay it off monthly.
So get your balances under that 25% limit and while you still have a bit to go, you can still see a major jump in your credit score!
Have any of you used the Debt Snowball? If not, do you think it is worthwhile?
As always, thank you...The Runner
Basically, we all struggle with our debts and which of those to pay first, and why, and when and blah blah blah. But, this is another great example of how simplicity is key.
In the article it stats, "List all of your debts, in descending order by interest rate, regardless of the balance (accounts with highest interest rates first).
Determine the most money you can make available from your budget to apply to the debt snowball. The more you can apply, the more money you'll save and the faster you'll pay off your debt.
Each month, apply the minimum payment PLUS the extra money you've made available from your budget to the first debt (the one with the highest interest rate). On all your other debts, pay only the minimum payment. Continue to do this until the first debt on the list is paid off.
Take the minimum payment AND the extra payment you were making on the first debt and add them to the minimum payment you've been paying on the second debt. Pay that amount on the second debt each month until it's paid off, then move on to the third debt. Continue to pay only the minimum payment on all debts except the one you're "snowballing."
Repeat this process until all of the debts are paid off ".
Get it? Yes, no, maybe?
I think that we all do a great deal of trying to "tilt the tables" in our favor, daily. Whether it is finding the best gas price, good use of sales, etc, but here we are doing the same thing. If you are required to pay a minimum amount on any of your credit cards, and have been utilizing all of the budget techniques we have talked about, then each week or month, you will have extra cash on hand, and instead of paying down each card little by little by little, you can pile all of that saved cash, use a little to pay the monthly minimums on your credit cards, and then use the rest to make a massive dent in the first one you select. And when that card is paid off, you move onto the next, and so on, and so on.
Start with the one that has the highest interest rate, or start with the one that has the highest balance, and you will not just chip away at that debt, but blow it straight to hell!!!
This way you are staying current on all your cards, and you are paying off each card in major leaps instead of little steps. And those are wins people!
Also, to show you how else this will pay off; you will see your credit score rise quicker as well. As your amount of utilized credit drops in massive quantities over each month, your credit score will increase, and by the time you have all of your cards paid off, your credit score will definitely be in a much, MUCH better place.
This book, Dirty Little Secrets: What the Credit Bureaus Won't Tell You, is something that I have personally red, and utilize to help improve and maintain my score, and one of the main points they constantly talk about is "Credit Utilization". To keep it short, let's say that you have one card with a limit of $100. If you pay your balance every month, and the credit agencies never see that you utilize any of your credit, and while they will not lower your score, they will also not raise it with any great speed. What they do recommend is to use your cards but only (and I mean only as the highest portion) to only utilize under 25% of your available credit every month. So, if your card has $100 available, feel free to use under $25 of it, and pay it off as well, on time. This way you are showing that you are worthy of a better credit rating, because your a) use it, b) use it in reasonable quantities, and c) pay it off monthly.
So get your balances under that 25% limit and while you still have a bit to go, you can still see a major jump in your credit score!
Have any of you used the Debt Snowball? If not, do you think it is worthwhile?
As always, thank you...The Runner
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Feeling Blue? Go Orange!!!
Well let me first start out by saying thank you to Heather for the inspiration of today's posting. Yesterday we talked about "seeing ourselves" as bills that have to pay. And sure, some of us list this as "Savings" each month on our budget, but let's all be up front and honest, it just means, that this is your safety net. It is usually the first thing to get taken out of the equation when an item sparks our fancy, right? Absolutely!
Today is a new day, and with that comes opportunity. For the last 5 years I have had an account with an online bank that came very highly recommended to me. That bank is ING Direct. Go ahead, click and see for yourself. It is the reason that I have stayed with them this long, and as most of you know, I have not truly been utilizing them for all they have to offer. But no longer!!!
Sure, the market took a hit and a 1% savings account is about the norm, however you usually need to have a certain balance and keep that rate, well, not at ING. The best part is that you don't have to cancel your old bank account, and go through the hassle of getting everything lined up again (you can if you want to though), you can simply link the account, carry a balance of .01, that's right ONE CENT or more, and you will incur NO penalty. But what if you go over, surely this is where they are going to hang you by your ears, right? Nope!
This is actually from their website in regards to either their savings ElectricOrangeSavings or their checking OrangeSavingsAccount options, but it is up to you, see what works best, but let me just point out two things. Under their ElectricOrangeSavings, not only do your deposits earn interest, but they are completely liquid, meaning that if an emergency comes up, you can have the money transferred to your linked account in about three business days.
Check out some of the things that come free with the ElectricOrangeSavings;
The account comes With FREE Stuff like:
Free MasterCard® Debit Card for all purchases
Free Online Bill Pay
Free access at over 35,000 ATMs
Free postage - we'll mail your paper checks for you
Now, if that is not enough to at least get you to think about starting up an account, then go to this link and tell me you wouldn't ditch your current bank in a second. Go to ElectricOrangeSavings and in the top left it addresses how they compare to the ENORMOUS overdraft fees from (most) other banks. It is outstanding, andthat's why it was important enough for me to bring up. If we are going to save our money, or try and grow it, they let's look at the places that are truly trying to get us there.
I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did. Thank you again Heather for the idea!
As always, thank you...The Runner
Today is a new day, and with that comes opportunity. For the last 5 years I have had an account with an online bank that came very highly recommended to me. That bank is ING Direct. Go ahead, click and see for yourself. It is the reason that I have stayed with them this long, and as most of you know, I have not truly been utilizing them for all they have to offer. But no longer!!!
Sure, the market took a hit and a 1% savings account is about the norm, however you usually need to have a certain balance and keep that rate, well, not at ING. The best part is that you don't have to cancel your old bank account, and go through the hassle of getting everything lined up again (you can if you want to though), you can simply link the account, carry a balance of .01, that's right ONE CENT or more, and you will incur NO penalty. But what if you go over, surely this is where they are going to hang you by your ears, right? Nope!
This is actually from their website in regards to either their savings ElectricOrangeSavings or their checking OrangeSavingsAccount options, but it is up to you, see what works best, but let me just point out two things. Under their ElectricOrangeSavings, not only do your deposits earn interest, but they are completely liquid, meaning that if an emergency comes up, you can have the money transferred to your linked account in about three business days.
Check out some of the things that come free with the ElectricOrangeSavings;
The account comes With FREE Stuff like:
Free MasterCard® Debit Card for all purchases
Free Online Bill Pay
Free access at over 35,000 ATMs
Free postage - we'll mail your paper checks for you
Now, if that is not enough to at least get you to think about starting up an account, then go to this link and tell me you wouldn't ditch your current bank in a second. Go to ElectricOrangeSavings and in the top left it addresses how they compare to the ENORMOUS overdraft fees from (most) other banks. It is outstanding, andthat's why it was important enough for me to bring up. If we are going to save our money, or try and grow it, they let's look at the places that are truly trying to get us there.
I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did. Thank you again Heather for the idea!
As always, thank you...The Runner
Thursday, June 17, 2010
"A Simple Way to Become Wealthy"
First, the title of today's entry comes from an article of Yahoo Finance of the same name, A Simple Way to Become Wealthy. And it is that article that I will do a small review of today, however, I do think that there is a very strong point laid out in the article that we can all learn from.
"He told me saving and investing wasn't hard, you just have to treat it like a bill. He said, "When your paycheck comes in each month, you pay your bills, right?" I nodded. "So treat investing like a bill. If you want to max out your Roth IRA, divide the maximum contribution by 12 and send that amount to your investment account each month. If you want to make it easier, then go to the finance office and set up an automatic allotment from your paycheck and you'll never think about it again."
"It turns out he was right. It's not that I didn't have enough money to invest. I just wasn't prioritizing how I used my money."
And that is the key, prioritizing how we use our money. Have any of you ever thought of yourself as a bill that you are required to pay every month? Actually, let me rephrase that, have any of us actually ever wanted to see ourselves as a bill that we must pay?
For the sake of honesty, I can tell you that the phrasing used in this article is something that I have never even considered. But man, what a concept!
Just picture your budget, and then picture yourself adding yourself to it with a number, and then paying that money into either a simple savings plan or anything else? What would the outcome be?
I can tell you that while I am typing on a different computer tonight, first thing tomorrow, I am adding myself as a "payee" on my personal budget.
Amazing! Sometimes when we concentrate so hard on something, we miss the very obvious things that are right in front of our noses! I love it!
So how about you all? Are you in? Have you, or do you currently, see yourself as a payee?
As always, thank you...The Runner
"He told me saving and investing wasn't hard, you just have to treat it like a bill. He said, "When your paycheck comes in each month, you pay your bills, right?" I nodded. "So treat investing like a bill. If you want to max out your Roth IRA, divide the maximum contribution by 12 and send that amount to your investment account each month. If you want to make it easier, then go to the finance office and set up an automatic allotment from your paycheck and you'll never think about it again."
"It turns out he was right. It's not that I didn't have enough money to invest. I just wasn't prioritizing how I used my money."
And that is the key, prioritizing how we use our money. Have any of you ever thought of yourself as a bill that you are required to pay every month? Actually, let me rephrase that, have any of us actually ever wanted to see ourselves as a bill that we must pay?
For the sake of honesty, I can tell you that the phrasing used in this article is something that I have never even considered. But man, what a concept!
Just picture your budget, and then picture yourself adding yourself to it with a number, and then paying that money into either a simple savings plan or anything else? What would the outcome be?
I can tell you that while I am typing on a different computer tonight, first thing tomorrow, I am adding myself as a "payee" on my personal budget.
Amazing! Sometimes when we concentrate so hard on something, we miss the very obvious things that are right in front of our noses! I love it!
So how about you all? Are you in? Have you, or do you currently, see yourself as a payee?
As always, thank you...The Runner
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Keeping Proactive With Craig and His List
Ok, if you have not been on Craigslist, here is the link http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites, and I must insist you go there immediately!
I know that is awfully demanding of me, and that it might seem like it has noting to do with this blog, but I say not at all!
So click on the link to start off, find your state and your region, and just jump straight in. The places I suggest you go to first are the "wanted" and "free" sections, under the "For Sale" section. You will be amazed at what people are not only looking for, but what they are giving away, FOR FREE!!!
Sure, there is a good deal of crap, but hand to God, everyday I have seen everything on there from workout equipment, to kitchen appliances, to a 55' Plasma TV (sadly, I did not get that), and much more. All you have to do is pick it up and it is yours!!! Seriously, people moving, people passing on, people just being people (lazy), they just want it gone! TERRIFIC!!! So now what? SELL IT!!! Whatever you get for it, it is all profit, and tax free at that!!!
But what about the wanted section? Well, in the last month I have looked over these two sections everyday and I swear that the people who are looking to pay for things, are just a few clicks away from the people who are GIVING IT AWAY!!!
You have your customers and suppliers all in the same area! So, take all that you can and post it back on Craigslist or on eBay http://www.ebay.com/, and see if there are any takers. Remember, you are taking stuff from your local area, for basically free, and then opening it up to a global market. And you can sell it for basically nothing, who cares, turn a profit, and attract more potential customers because you are truly selling it for pennies on the dollar.
But I know what your thinking. What if none of these items sell, then what? Two words, Garage Sale! Seriously, do a search for "local garage sales", and you will see that people actively seek out anything and everything they can get for just as cheap as they can, and there you are saying sell it for whatever! IT'S ALL PROFIT!!! Need proof? This is the number one listing on GOOGLE!!! http://www.garagesalehunter.com/
And if all else fails, you have three options; try selling it for parts, just through it away, or donate it. All of it. you know why? Tax write off! And they'll usually pick the stuff up!
Yes, this is going to require a little bit of work, but remember, all of this work is the reason we are here. You need to pull out all of the stops if you are going to keep in front of your own Piper and Wave.
My question today is actually in two parts. Have any of you done this? And if you have what were the results?
As always, thank you...The Runner
I know that is awfully demanding of me, and that it might seem like it has noting to do with this blog, but I say not at all!
So click on the link to start off, find your state and your region, and just jump straight in. The places I suggest you go to first are the "wanted" and "free" sections, under the "For Sale" section. You will be amazed at what people are not only looking for, but what they are giving away, FOR FREE!!!
Sure, there is a good deal of crap, but hand to God, everyday I have seen everything on there from workout equipment, to kitchen appliances, to a 55' Plasma TV (sadly, I did not get that), and much more. All you have to do is pick it up and it is yours!!! Seriously, people moving, people passing on, people just being people (lazy), they just want it gone! TERRIFIC!!! So now what? SELL IT!!! Whatever you get for it, it is all profit, and tax free at that!!!
But what about the wanted section? Well, in the last month I have looked over these two sections everyday and I swear that the people who are looking to pay for things, are just a few clicks away from the people who are GIVING IT AWAY!!!
You have your customers and suppliers all in the same area! So, take all that you can and post it back on Craigslist or on eBay http://www.ebay.com/, and see if there are any takers. Remember, you are taking stuff from your local area, for basically free, and then opening it up to a global market. And you can sell it for basically nothing, who cares, turn a profit, and attract more potential customers because you are truly selling it for pennies on the dollar.
But I know what your thinking. What if none of these items sell, then what? Two words, Garage Sale! Seriously, do a search for "local garage sales", and you will see that people actively seek out anything and everything they can get for just as cheap as they can, and there you are saying sell it for whatever! IT'S ALL PROFIT!!! Need proof? This is the number one listing on GOOGLE!!! http://www.garagesalehunter.com/
And if all else fails, you have three options; try selling it for parts, just through it away, or donate it. All of it. you know why? Tax write off! And they'll usually pick the stuff up!
Yes, this is going to require a little bit of work, but remember, all of this work is the reason we are here. You need to pull out all of the stops if you are going to keep in front of your own Piper and Wave.
My question today is actually in two parts. Have any of you done this? And if you have what were the results?
As always, thank you...The Runner
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Payday Bloody Payday...
..sometimes it feels that way, right? Or does it always feel that way? Well, this blog was started to beat back my own personal Piper and to hopefully help all you do the same.
Today is payday, and I say great! For me this is a much improved, much desired, increase from the usual, THANK GOD!!!
My goal today is to take you in a little further into my personal plan for breaking down both The Piper and Wave. So, with this tremendous journey in front of me, how am I going to maintain sanity? And more importantly, how am I going to keep myself motivated to show this Piper who he dealing with, and where he can take his Wave? Well, that is where I want to bring you in. So lets go!!!
The trick, I have found, is that my sanity will be maintained if I look for, what I call, "the small wins", along the way. These wins are the trick! Remember that! Also, I have learned to find them in even the smallest areas. Today was a great example.
On paper it is just a win for me to say great that it is payday, instead of thank God! And why is this a win? Because for now it shows me that my work and planning is paying off (no terrible pun intended). For the first time in a very long time, I looked forward to paying my bills today. Sure, the money was mainly gone by the end of the day, but when I look at the overall plan, and see that a major, MAJOR hurdle was cleared, I can't help but smile and give myself a pat on the back!
And that's the win. Simply because I was able to smile while paying bills! It's just that simple. And not just for me, but it can be for all of us. Why? Because, sanity and success are found in this ultimate example of simplicity.
So where do we go from here? To the next step! Getting to our next small win. Clearing a hurdle that months ago seemed as though it was a lifetime away! For me that hurdle is due to come in about two months, when the smile of paying bills, is then turned into a smile while putting that money into savings, at what is now (due to all the cut backs) a tremendous number. Every month!!! That would make anyone smile, I am sure!
But what about the Wave? Sure it may not being growing and I am outrunning it, but it is still there, looming in the glaring sunlight and menacing through the moonlight. Day in and day out! Well, that's the next smile, or win.
With savings in hand and a solidified budget, I will do the last thing The Piper, The Wave, and maybe even you think I will do. I stop running, turn around and charge like lightning directly back at The Wave!!!
Because it is simply time to do what they say, and face my problems head on. A solid budget and a solid savings plan will put me into a position where I charge back to The Wave. And I can do so with a much greater ability to reduce The Wave to a mear ripple by the time I reach it!
And that, to me, will be the small wins that clear big hurdles! So please continue to read along as this is a place for all of us!!!
As always, thank you...The Runner
Today is payday, and I say great! For me this is a much improved, much desired, increase from the usual, THANK GOD!!!
My goal today is to take you in a little further into my personal plan for breaking down both The Piper and Wave. So, with this tremendous journey in front of me, how am I going to maintain sanity? And more importantly, how am I going to keep myself motivated to show this Piper who he dealing with, and where he can take his Wave? Well, that is where I want to bring you in. So lets go!!!
The trick, I have found, is that my sanity will be maintained if I look for, what I call, "the small wins", along the way. These wins are the trick! Remember that! Also, I have learned to find them in even the smallest areas. Today was a great example.
On paper it is just a win for me to say great that it is payday, instead of thank God! And why is this a win? Because for now it shows me that my work and planning is paying off (no terrible pun intended). For the first time in a very long time, I looked forward to paying my bills today. Sure, the money was mainly gone by the end of the day, but when I look at the overall plan, and see that a major, MAJOR hurdle was cleared, I can't help but smile and give myself a pat on the back!
And that's the win. Simply because I was able to smile while paying bills! It's just that simple. And not just for me, but it can be for all of us. Why? Because, sanity and success are found in this ultimate example of simplicity.
So where do we go from here? To the next step! Getting to our next small win. Clearing a hurdle that months ago seemed as though it was a lifetime away! For me that hurdle is due to come in about two months, when the smile of paying bills, is then turned into a smile while putting that money into savings, at what is now (due to all the cut backs) a tremendous number. Every month!!! That would make anyone smile, I am sure!
But what about the Wave? Sure it may not being growing and I am outrunning it, but it is still there, looming in the glaring sunlight and menacing through the moonlight. Day in and day out! Well, that's the next smile, or win.
With savings in hand and a solidified budget, I will do the last thing The Piper, The Wave, and maybe even you think I will do. I stop running, turn around and charge like lightning directly back at The Wave!!!
Because it is simply time to do what they say, and face my problems head on. A solid budget and a solid savings plan will put me into a position where I charge back to The Wave. And I can do so with a much greater ability to reduce The Wave to a mear ripple by the time I reach it!
And that, to me, will be the small wins that clear big hurdles! So please continue to read along as this is a place for all of us!!!
As always, thank you...The Runner
Monday, June 14, 2010
Good Eggs and Bad Apples
Over the course of the last two and half years I have run across my share of each, but today I found myself in a meeting thinking, "do I know more good eggs, then bad apples? Or the opposite"? Needless to say, the thought was intriguing and I wasn't able to shake it all day.
More good eggs? More Bad Apples? I just couldn't find an answer. And it wasn't like I was making a list, I was just thinking of the circles I run in and those that I come across daily.
Well, on my forty minute drive home the thought was completely gone! However, it was replaced with another question.
Are bad apples that bad? I mean really. We usually know who these people are and I know that I at least try and avoid these people, however anyone who has stepped out into the public has come into contact with a "bad apple". From the loudmouth at the movie theatre, to the co-workers that do nothing but complain, to the customer service reps that never seem to want to service the customer.
So I return to the question, are bad apples that bad? Well, as of this posting I have to say that just as the world needs ditch diggers, the world needs bad apples, and I'll tell you why. Plain and simple, we learn from them.
Someone once said, "an idiot never learns from their mistakes, an average man does learn from their mistakes, and a truly wise man learns from the mistakes of others".
I say bring on the bad apples! If they're out their in bushels then I say, the more the merrier! After all we are talking about people who prove that the "stove is hot" because they touch it, day after day after day, not us. And the results increase exponentially over the course of a lifetime.
From this point on I welcome the bad apples as much as I welcome the good eggs. After all, they're both out there, and they both bring something to the table.
So who's with me? I welcome your thoughts and comments!
As always, thank you...The Runner.
More good eggs? More Bad Apples? I just couldn't find an answer. And it wasn't like I was making a list, I was just thinking of the circles I run in and those that I come across daily.
Well, on my forty minute drive home the thought was completely gone! However, it was replaced with another question.
Are bad apples that bad? I mean really. We usually know who these people are and I know that I at least try and avoid these people, however anyone who has stepped out into the public has come into contact with a "bad apple". From the loudmouth at the movie theatre, to the co-workers that do nothing but complain, to the customer service reps that never seem to want to service the customer.
So I return to the question, are bad apples that bad? Well, as of this posting I have to say that just as the world needs ditch diggers, the world needs bad apples, and I'll tell you why. Plain and simple, we learn from them.
Someone once said, "an idiot never learns from their mistakes, an average man does learn from their mistakes, and a truly wise man learns from the mistakes of others".
I say bring on the bad apples! If they're out their in bushels then I say, the more the merrier! After all we are talking about people who prove that the "stove is hot" because they touch it, day after day after day, not us. And the results increase exponentially over the course of a lifetime.
From this point on I welcome the bad apples as much as I welcome the good eggs. After all, they're both out there, and they both bring something to the table.
So who's with me? I welcome your thoughts and comments!
As always, thank you...The Runner.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Back it Up...Back it Up...Back it Up!!!
From loading docks to dance floors the phrase "back it up" is a part of everyday life. Today I present to you another area where that phrase is greatly under utilized, and it is a major problem.
In these days of www this, and Goggle that, there is one thing I am not sure we have gotten used to, and that is backing up our computer information. Last night, after the conclusion of a nice tough week, I came home to do a little relaxing before sitting down and sharing my story when WHAM!!!
A phrase in pure white with a black backdrop stated;system32\hal.dll, along with a message of Windows cannot start do to the file being missing or corrupt.
I could not get passed the HP logo without this message coming up. To keep what is actually a very short, basically, the computer was keeping me from my information!!! Everything from work to personal, all being kept from its rightful owner!!! ME!!!
Now, to fill you in a little more, I can let you know that about three months ago, my main laptop, my work laptop, took all four years of personal and professional information and ate it! No getting it back, not even a little, and the entire IT team worked on it for over a week! So, a new laptop it was. Company issued. But with the price of free, I was not complaining.
So how does this relate to my daily quest to keep far in front of my nemesis, The Piper and his Wave? Well, after spending today (Saturday) with my IT team (again) to have the laptop restored, I could not stop thinking about how much all of that lost information cost me. Hundreds, thousands, millions? Maybe, but the point was clear. Sometimes you have to spend a little money in the short term to save a lot of money in the long term. And there it was. Nice and simple.
For all of these months of budgeting and cutting back in every facet of my life, I was going to have to, as they say, "work smarter". So, $105.93 has apparently bought me not only piece of mind, but a great insurance policy as well. Should the system crash again, all of my information will be safe.
But, I have to tell you, it was a lot easier to spend a good deal of money when I have already saved an even greater deal of money, and that is pleasure you apparently can buy!
I'll leave you all with this question. Are there any life-lessons you have learned, where making a small purchase was done in the intention of saving you big money?
As always, thank you...The Runner
In these days of www this, and Goggle that, there is one thing I am not sure we have gotten used to, and that is backing up our computer information. Last night, after the conclusion of a nice tough week, I came home to do a little relaxing before sitting down and sharing my story when WHAM!!!
A phrase in pure white with a black backdrop stated;
I could not get passed the HP logo without this message coming up. To keep what is actually a very short, basically, the computer was keeping me from my information!!! Everything from work to personal, all being kept from its rightful owner!!! ME!!!
Now, to fill you in a little more, I can let you know that about three months ago, my main laptop, my work laptop, took all four years of personal and professional information and ate it! No getting it back, not even a little, and the entire IT team worked on it for over a week! So, a new laptop it was. Company issued. But with the price of free, I was not complaining.
So how does this relate to my daily quest to keep far in front of my nemesis, The Piper and his Wave? Well, after spending today (Saturday) with my IT team (again) to have the laptop restored, I could not stop thinking about how much all of that lost information cost me. Hundreds, thousands, millions? Maybe, but the point was clear. Sometimes you have to spend a little money in the short term to save a lot of money in the long term. And there it was. Nice and simple.
For all of these months of budgeting and cutting back in every facet of my life, I was going to have to, as they say, "work smarter". So, $105.93 has apparently bought me not only piece of mind, but a great insurance policy as well. Should the system crash again, all of my information will be safe.
But, I have to tell you, it was a lot easier to spend a good deal of money when I have already saved an even greater deal of money, and that is pleasure you apparently can buy!
I'll leave you all with this question. Are there any life-lessons you have learned, where making a small purchase was done in the intention of saving you big money?
As always, thank you...The Runner
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Survey You Say?
It could not have been more than a couple of months ago that I was told about online surveys and how others are using them to make a little extra cash. Now, I am naturally a skeptical person, and definitely not someone who signs up for things easily, especially online.
However, a colleague of mine recommend a site to me that they swore by and had seen results from. Even with this, I naturally did a couple of Google and Yahoo searches to see what people were saying about this particular site. And for the most part, the reviews were actually good.
As with anything, when I see nothing but positive reviews I become even more skeptical, but this had just the usual gripping that sounded more like people who either expected to make millions or people who were just defective end-users that placed their blame on the site. But the rest of the information was actually pretty good.
So with this I signed up, filled out a bunch of information (not to much personal information), just things that had mainly to do with my interests so they would know which surveys would be right for me. Within a week I was receiving four to five surveys a day.
Let me take a couple of lines to go over with you how this site works. Basically, you will receive invites, based on your interests, and each survey is worth between 50 to 2000 points, although most of the ones I have received are worth between 50 and 500 points. The next part, is that you have to qualify for each survey, before you can officially start it. This usually is only a couple of questions, but none the less, I usually get into about 2-3 for every five I receive. Each 100 points is worth $1, and you can not have any money transferred to your PayPal account, until you have reached $10 or 1,000 points.
So why would I entertain this if I am am looking to out run my Piper and his Wave? Well, because now with no cable box, or hell, even with the cable box, I always have my laptop on my lap! But, the math also made sense as well.
If I am to complete just a dollars worth of surveys everyday for a year, that is $365 dollars. Now, you can obviously earn more than that if you like, however, if you keep your earnings under $600 for the year, you are not required to file a 1099 tax form! Basically, this is "tax free" money.
For me this is three months worth of Gas and Electric cost, or almost eight months of Internet cost, or (for me) almost five months of grocery costs, and on, and on, and on!
Combining this with the cost savings we talked about in yesterdays post The Crock and the Comcast my distance from the Piper and his Wave increases again!!!
I have only started utilizing this site seriously within the last three or four weeks, however I have already earned around $40!
For any of you that would like to see for yourselves, here is the link; http://www.surveyspot.com/.
Let me know if any of you have, or currently are, utilizing on-line surveys? And also, if you are using them, how they are working for you!
As always, thank you...The Runner
However, a colleague of mine recommend a site to me that they swore by and had seen results from. Even with this, I naturally did a couple of Google and Yahoo searches to see what people were saying about this particular site. And for the most part, the reviews were actually good.
As with anything, when I see nothing but positive reviews I become even more skeptical, but this had just the usual gripping that sounded more like people who either expected to make millions or people who were just defective end-users that placed their blame on the site. But the rest of the information was actually pretty good.
So with this I signed up, filled out a bunch of information (not to much personal information), just things that had mainly to do with my interests so they would know which surveys would be right for me. Within a week I was receiving four to five surveys a day.
Let me take a couple of lines to go over with you how this site works. Basically, you will receive invites, based on your interests, and each survey is worth between 50 to 2000 points, although most of the ones I have received are worth between 50 and 500 points. The next part, is that you have to qualify for each survey, before you can officially start it. This usually is only a couple of questions, but none the less, I usually get into about 2-3 for every five I receive. Each 100 points is worth $1, and you can not have any money transferred to your PayPal account, until you have reached $10 or 1,000 points.
So why would I entertain this if I am am looking to out run my Piper and his Wave? Well, because now with no cable box, or hell, even with the cable box, I always have my laptop on my lap! But, the math also made sense as well.
If I am to complete just a dollars worth of surveys everyday for a year, that is $365 dollars. Now, you can obviously earn more than that if you like, however, if you keep your earnings under $600 for the year, you are not required to file a 1099 tax form! Basically, this is "tax free" money.
For me this is three months worth of Gas and Electric cost, or almost eight months of Internet cost, or (for me) almost five months of grocery costs, and on, and on, and on!
Combining this with the cost savings we talked about in yesterdays post The Crock and the Comcast my distance from the Piper and his Wave increases again!!!
I have only started utilizing this site seriously within the last three or four weeks, however I have already earned around $40!
For any of you that would like to see for yourselves, here is the link; http://www.surveyspot.com/.
Let me know if any of you have, or currently are, utilizing on-line surveys? And also, if you are using them, how they are working for you!
As always, thank you...The Runner
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The Crock and the Comcast
So, how exactly is The Runner, running, you may be wondering? Well, as discussed in my first post ever at The First Two Weeks. I started to get into this journey with just some basic changes to my everyday. The first was cutting out Starbucks. Damn them and their delicious Iced Venti Solo Soy Chai Tea Lattes!!!
What the hell did I just say? When did I start speaking like that? Do I have a butler escorting me to my driver who takes me to my private helicopter that brings me to a solid gold elevator on top of the building I own? HELL NO!!!
So where do I get off spending $200 a month (that's right, A MONTH) on drinks? For everything its worth, I am not sure. But I can tell you that it was because it was just "something small", well as obvious as it is, the "small things" sure add up. And quickly!
With yet another of The Pipers calls, I certainly had come to the realization that I didn't have to cut out "the little" things entirely, like a caffeine drink. I just need to look around for other options.
That option was applied to three main areas. First, a coffee/tea maker that reduced my cost daily, and will shortly pay for itself! It actually saves in time and gas too, because I don't have to go get it, and it is ready when I am ready to walk out the door.
Second, was the The Crock Pot. For anyone, this a great idea! Not only does it make cooking easier, it also makes it more affordable. So, goodbye lunch at a local restaurant and dinner at a different restaurant, and hello such delicious items like Crock Pot Easy Salsa Chicken and White Chicken Chili. For a little under the cost of just ONE meal out, I can eat for a week?
Where the hell were my teachers and superintendents when this type of "lesson" got taught? Sure, I would have probably scoffed at the idea during that time. Ohh, you am I kidding, I would have feel on the floor laughing at the sight of a crock pot. But, never the less, the lesson has no been learned.
Sure I am not eating in nice restaurants on a daily basis, but I am "getting back what is mine", my time, and my money.I urge you, try this out, and take the money you are saving and apply it else where...you'll thank your selves for doing, and inspire those around you.
But what about Comcast you ask? How does that come into play? Well to me Comcast is equivalent of a politician who nobody likes, yet nobody gets up to vote for the other guy. They just go along. And that's what I was doing with Comcast, just going along.
My cable provider was probably the number one thing for me to complain of. And to for that matter! I would spend hours on hold waiting for someone there to fix an issue on a monthly basis, yet there I was paying my bill in the same month? Why should they care if I complain, I am still paying my bill!
Well no more!!! With the nightmare of The Piper's Wave plaguing me daily, it was such an obvious move, that I looked right past it. To make a long story short, I cancelled my cable service, saving $150 per month, and replaced it with an $18 dollar per month account to Netflix that allows me to watch all the movies, TV shows and Documentaries I want (with some available directly through the Nintendo Wii)!!!
It was changes like this, that not only got me started on my retreat from my Piper, but also started a buzz of excitement within me. I think we can all agree that it is great to save money, but I have to tell you that it is such a better feeling to know that I am doing it so while not paying for a service I couldn't stand.
And there it was, my inspiration turn into reality. Within a few short weeks the money I was saving was actually in my pocket, not figuratively, but actually in my pocket!
With this, the shadow of the Wave seems to retreat and the Piper seems less of a threat. However, the next steps is making this money now work for me...and that's where I will pick-up tomorrow!
I leave you with this question, what are the ways you all have saved money by reducing habits?
As always...thank you! The Runner
P.S. - I realize that I post a good deal of ads on my blog, but I should point out, that these are the exact items I have used to distance myself from ever watching Piper and his Wave. I do this so that if you, or someone you know, is looking for these items it is conveniently located right here!
What the hell did I just say? When did I start speaking like that? Do I have a butler escorting me to my driver who takes me to my private helicopter that brings me to a solid gold elevator on top of the building I own? HELL NO!!!
So where do I get off spending $200 a month (that's right, A MONTH) on drinks? For everything its worth, I am not sure. But I can tell you that it was because it was just "something small", well as obvious as it is, the "small things" sure add up. And quickly!
With yet another of The Pipers calls, I certainly had come to the realization that I didn't have to cut out "the little" things entirely, like a caffeine drink. I just need to look around for other options.
That option was applied to three main areas. First, a coffee/tea maker that reduced my cost daily, and will shortly pay for itself! It actually saves in time and gas too, because I don't have to go get it, and it is ready when I am ready to walk out the door.
Second, was the The Crock Pot. For anyone, this a great idea! Not only does it make cooking easier, it also makes it more affordable. So, goodbye lunch at a local restaurant and dinner at a different restaurant, and hello such delicious items like Crock Pot Easy Salsa Chicken and White Chicken Chili. For a little under the cost of just ONE meal out, I can eat for a week?
Where the hell were my teachers and superintendents when this type of "lesson" got taught? Sure, I would have probably scoffed at the idea during that time. Ohh, you am I kidding, I would have feel on the floor laughing at the sight of a crock pot. But, never the less, the lesson has no been learned.
Sure I am not eating in nice restaurants on a daily basis, but I am "getting back what is mine", my time, and my money.I urge you, try this out, and take the money you are saving and apply it else where...you'll thank your selves for doing, and inspire those around you.
But what about Comcast you ask? How does that come into play? Well to me Comcast is equivalent of a politician who nobody likes, yet nobody gets up to vote for the other guy. They just go along. And that's what I was doing with Comcast, just going along.
My cable provider was probably the number one thing for me to complain of. And to for that matter! I would spend hours on hold waiting for someone there to fix an issue on a monthly basis, yet there I was paying my bill in the same month? Why should they care if I complain, I am still paying my bill!
Well no more!!! With the nightmare of The Piper's Wave plaguing me daily, it was such an obvious move, that I looked right past it. To make a long story short, I cancelled my cable service, saving $150 per month, and replaced it with an $18 dollar per month account to Netflix that allows me to watch all the movies, TV shows and Documentaries I want (with some available directly through the Nintendo Wii)!!!
It was changes like this, that not only got me started on my retreat from my Piper, but also started a buzz of excitement within me. I think we can all agree that it is great to save money, but I have to tell you that it is such a better feeling to know that I am doing it so while not paying for a service I couldn't stand.
And there it was, my inspiration turn into reality. Within a few short weeks the money I was saving was actually in my pocket, not figuratively, but actually in my pocket!
With this, the shadow of the Wave seems to retreat and the Piper seems less of a threat. However, the next steps is making this money now work for me...and that's where I will pick-up tomorrow!
I leave you with this question, what are the ways you all have saved money by reducing habits?
As always...thank you! The Runner
P.S. - I realize that I post a good deal of ads on my blog, but I should point out, that these are the exact items I have used to distance myself from ever watching Piper and his Wave. I do this so that if you, or someone you know, is looking for these items it is conveniently located right here!
Early to bed...Early to rise...
..makes a man, healthy, wealthy and wise. Another great statement from our quote of the week from Benjamin Franklin. I should add that I am sure this early to bed statement works the same for women as well...which is nice!
Today's blog actually comes in what is tomorrow for me. By the time I left the office it was after midnight, and by the time I started writing this, it was after 1pm. So I have to ask myself. As the demand for my success in out running The Piper and his Wave grows, does the demand for my personal time need to be shifted to allow for my professional and financial growth?
I guess that this is the game, or more accurately, the balance that we all seek. How much do I give to grow professionally, so that I can live, personally and financially?
To help answer this I return to our friend Mr. Franklin and see that he was apparently able to out whit his Piper and Wave by knowing how to not only understand his debts, but to also balance both his personal and professional time.
It has also been said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Well, today I turn my attention to history. After all, this whole blog started when I looked up to see that I was well within the piecing glance of my Piper and the shadow of his Wave.
So during my midnight ride tonight, I spent time thinking about the words of Old Ben, and came to realize that the view of my journey has now had clarity added to it. If I am to reach my goals and slay the Piper and demolish his Wave, I must also work on my Life to Work balance!
So, in the spirit of learning from history, I ask you all for your comments on how you have learned to balance your life and work?
As always, thank you...The Runner.
Today's blog actually comes in what is tomorrow for me. By the time I left the office it was after midnight, and by the time I started writing this, it was after 1pm. So I have to ask myself. As the demand for my success in out running The Piper and his Wave grows, does the demand for my personal time need to be shifted to allow for my professional and financial growth?
I guess that this is the game, or more accurately, the balance that we all seek. How much do I give to grow professionally, so that I can live, personally and financially?
To help answer this I return to our friend Mr. Franklin and see that he was apparently able to out whit his Piper and Wave by knowing how to not only understand his debts, but to also balance both his personal and professional time.
It has also been said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Well, today I turn my attention to history. After all, this whole blog started when I looked up to see that I was well within the piecing glance of my Piper and the shadow of his Wave.
So during my midnight ride tonight, I spent time thinking about the words of Old Ben, and came to realize that the view of my journey has now had clarity added to it. If I am to reach my goals and slay the Piper and demolish his Wave, I must also work on my Life to Work balance!
So, in the spirit of learning from history, I ask you all for your comments on how you have learned to balance your life and work?
As always, thank you...The Runner.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Blogging my way through student loans
So, why blogging? How in the world is this going to help me defeat the Piper's Wave? Well, late one night, while scouring the Internet for side jobs and ways to make extra income (most of them scams by the way). I came across a post about starting a blog. This led to a book called Problogger. While the books tag line is Secrets for blogging your way to a six-figure income. I am looking to just bring people together, and if the money comes, then so be it. I just want to "pay it forward".
As you can tell, I am starting off the easy way, going with a free service and allowing AdSense and Amazon to have access to the blog to hopefully find a way of turning this blog into a place that not only helps others, by taking them through my journey, and providing quality information throughout the web, but to also utilize a method that can help put more difference between me and the Wave.
So slay me if you will, for subjecting you to ads you may not want, but I assure you that my intentions are good.
Back to the question of why blogging? Well, for me it is a way to allow myself to centrally house the information I have learned and used, and give others a chance to use the information as well. After all, there are millions of people out there that have debt. Whether it is student loans, credit cards, or whatever, they to have their Piper to pay and Wave to out run.
But this is also a great place for me to creatively express what I am going through. So blogging it is! And I hope you come along! There is a whole world of information, and the one thing I was hard pressed to find is a place that just told a story. A story of taking back the hard earned dollars they have earned. A story that will spread the word of how to make life more affordable, or at least more tolerable.
Today's question is, why do we feel that keeping up with the Jones is so necessary? Is it tied to the pursuit of happiness? Or just our way of allowing for us to feel good about ourselves?
I look forward to your comments, and please remember to subscribe to the RSS link so you can receive my daily articles.
Thanks!
As you can tell, I am starting off the easy way, going with a free service and allowing AdSense and Amazon to have access to the blog to hopefully find a way of turning this blog into a place that not only helps others, by taking them through my journey, and providing quality information throughout the web, but to also utilize a method that can help put more difference between me and the Wave.
So slay me if you will, for subjecting you to ads you may not want, but I assure you that my intentions are good.
Back to the question of why blogging? Well, for me it is a way to allow myself to centrally house the information I have learned and used, and give others a chance to use the information as well. After all, there are millions of people out there that have debt. Whether it is student loans, credit cards, or whatever, they to have their Piper to pay and Wave to out run.
But this is also a great place for me to creatively express what I am going through. So blogging it is! And I hope you come along! There is a whole world of information, and the one thing I was hard pressed to find is a place that just told a story. A story of taking back the hard earned dollars they have earned. A story that will spread the word of how to make life more affordable, or at least more tolerable.
Today's question is, why do we feel that keeping up with the Jones is so necessary? Is it tied to the pursuit of happiness? Or just our way of allowing for us to feel good about ourselves?
I look forward to your comments, and please remember to subscribe to the RSS link so you can receive my daily articles.
Thanks!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
The First Two Weeks
Well, I guess it's time to do as they say, and "pay the Piper". So I hear I go, and I hope you'll join me on my way to paying the Piper.
As of tomorrow it will be the completion of my first two weeks of my first phase of paying the Piper. I turned in my cable box to show any and all that would listen that these are steps necessary to showing my commitment. These two weeks are important as they show my commitment to my budget and pay the one I will, and will continue to refer to as "The Piper".The Piper for the most part has a Wave that keeps coming and more importantly gets larger. Month by month and year by year The Piper's Wave has grown. How has this Wave grown so big you ask? It has grown for many, many reasons?
From the earliest days of life we, the 25 - 30 year olds (I guess that is Generation X and Y), are taught to do it right. Get through school. Then start to make your way in the world. Some of us picked college, some picked to be soldiers, and some picked nothing...at least for now.
For me, I went the conventional route with a couple of interesting, fun and notable moments that will forever be a part of my memory. After High School it was everything I could do to get into school and everything I could do to be on my own, that would be...ahhh let's say late 1998.
Now, the middle of 2010, the better part of 12 years later, I have finally woken up with the spirit and with the want to take back what is mine. No, I am not robbing from the good people of the world. I am taking back things like late charges, luxury items, incredible interest rates and my credit score. So what happened between 1998 and 2010? The Piper found me, and started growing his wave. This wave is something that I must stay stronger than and constantly vigilant of, less his mighty wave overcome me, and leave me jobless, mentally broken and psychically bankrupt.
The last 12 years can be split into two sections; the first six year and the last six years. Through the first six years I did everything a normal 18 - 24 year-old American male does (I'll let you use your imagination). Mainly it was the trying out of four different colleges in four completely different areas, ranging from upstate New York to Southern Pennsylvania to Long Island, which occupied my time, and helped The Piper grow his wave. Working odd jobs to have just enough money to go partying around with staying with the parents, some could say that I was a "slacker". To them I say you are correct!
Those six years ended one day when I was 24 and was told that I needed to get serious or hit the bricks.
I would love to write that it had all changed that day; however I had already been on better footing, and was making strides to show tangible results. These results are what have defined the last six years. I'd hate to keep it short, but the steps I took were leaps I never knew I was capable of. I guess that is why the last 6 years have gone so, so fast! Making it from telemarketing to management in less than two years was the first leap. Shortly thereafter I had compiled all four of my transcripts and enrolled in night classes to finally finish my Associates Degree. With a want to leave my company and truly make it on my own, I saved a few dollars and put everything I neededin my 2002 Ford Explorer (which I bought used in 2005, but it was the first car I actually had to make payments on!), headed for Baltimore, Maryland, and moved in with my oldest sister, her husband and their son, who is also my Godson.
After spending probably the best month of my life with them, being with family and watching the baby grow, and learn to walk and speak, it was now time to find a job. Well the first and only place I interviewed with, hired me!
I have just finished my fourth year with them (an excellent Education company), during which time I have earned both my Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Business and Project Management, each with a 4.0 GPA! (Not bad for a person who was asked by numerous colleges and his own parents that I needed to go)
With that around the middle of November 2009, the loans are come rumbling in. And that is when I noticed The Piper and his Wave!
For the love of life, HOW THE HELL DID THAT GET SO BIG???!!!
Today his Wave carries with it the everyday bills and hassle that most of us carry around, but its growth and speed are aided along by student loans, credit cards, and car payments all with a growing dirty little miser, called "Interest".
So that is when I truly noticed The Piper's Wave and all the abilities he has put into growing that Wave stronger and higher, so that one day the Wave might crush me. For now, I am a successful Bachelors and Masters graduate and a Full-Time employee as a senior manager for a large education company. However, I find myself spending most of my days in the frameset of "Hindsight". Looking back always gets you better answers; however you must pay attention to those lessons and learn from them. This will make your stronger and smarter on the roads ahead.
In the days leading up to Day 1, May 31, 2010 I had perfected my budgeted, to the nickel, and you know what I found? I found I was broke. Not out of a job, just no capital on hand. Credit cards, student loans, car payments, groceries, etc, were all now in front of me on an excel sheet, and separated by month and bills that needed to be paid, and when I need to pay them. It was great except for one thing. It truly showed that I was living hand to mouth. And that’s when I heard the trumpets of the Piper and looked up to see The Wave he had built for me!
Not only that, but my feet were already getting wet, the Wave was close, and something needed to be done. Like pirates evading capture, I got rid of anything that was holding me back, costing me time and costing me money. So when I said earlier that "I want to take back what is mine", I meant it in the figurative way. No more overpriced coffee, no more lunch and dinners in restaurants, and not more living above my means.
GONE NOW:
Digital Cable Box Gone (savings=$150/month)
No longer purchasing DVD's the day they come out ($9.99/month, savings $771.99 annually)
So Long Stuckbucks - Tough choice but (savings=$200/month)
Invest in a Crook Pot - $39 provides 7 lunches and 7 dinners for around $14
Eating Lunch and Dinner in - minus the cost the food and crook pot (savings=$2,680/month)
And that's just the simple stuff!!!
That's a $3,000 plus savings in one month!!!
So now that I have slowed The Pipers Wave and I have actually started to out run it. I still have a pissed off Piper and his enormous Wave chasing me.
Never the less, here I am, these are this first and "easiest" changes that put over $3,000 back in my pocket. And more importantly it put hope on the horizon.
I ask you to come with me on my journey, but also lend your feedback on how you and yours are out running their Pipers and the Waves.
Thanks for listening and I look forward to your comments!
I am aiming to publish this blog daily, and add in all sorts of things I have picked up on over the years, what I have done recently, and also providing you, the reader, a great source of information for doing what it will take to out run the Piper's Wave!
As of tomorrow it will be the completion of my first two weeks of my first phase of paying the Piper. I turned in my cable box to show any and all that would listen that these are steps necessary to showing my commitment. These two weeks are important as they show my commitment to my budget and pay the one I will, and will continue to refer to as "The Piper".The Piper for the most part has a Wave that keeps coming and more importantly gets larger. Month by month and year by year The Piper's Wave has grown. How has this Wave grown so big you ask? It has grown for many, many reasons?
From the earliest days of life we, the 25 - 30 year olds (I guess that is Generation X and Y), are taught to do it right. Get through school. Then start to make your way in the world. Some of us picked college, some picked to be soldiers, and some picked nothing...at least for now.
For me, I went the conventional route with a couple of interesting, fun and notable moments that will forever be a part of my memory. After High School it was everything I could do to get into school and everything I could do to be on my own, that would be...ahhh let's say late 1998.
Now, the middle of 2010, the better part of 12 years later, I have finally woken up with the spirit and with the want to take back what is mine. No, I am not robbing from the good people of the world. I am taking back things like late charges, luxury items, incredible interest rates and my credit score. So what happened between 1998 and 2010? The Piper found me, and started growing his wave. This wave is something that I must stay stronger than and constantly vigilant of, less his mighty wave overcome me, and leave me jobless, mentally broken and psychically bankrupt.
The last 12 years can be split into two sections; the first six year and the last six years. Through the first six years I did everything a normal 18 - 24 year-old American male does (I'll let you use your imagination). Mainly it was the trying out of four different colleges in four completely different areas, ranging from upstate New York to Southern Pennsylvania to Long Island, which occupied my time, and helped The Piper grow his wave. Working odd jobs to have just enough money to go partying around with staying with the parents, some could say that I was a "slacker". To them I say you are correct!
Those six years ended one day when I was 24 and was told that I needed to get serious or hit the bricks.
I would love to write that it had all changed that day; however I had already been on better footing, and was making strides to show tangible results. These results are what have defined the last six years. I'd hate to keep it short, but the steps I took were leaps I never knew I was capable of. I guess that is why the last 6 years have gone so, so fast! Making it from telemarketing to management in less than two years was the first leap. Shortly thereafter I had compiled all four of my transcripts and enrolled in night classes to finally finish my Associates Degree. With a want to leave my company and truly make it on my own, I saved a few dollars and put everything I neededin my 2002 Ford Explorer (which I bought used in 2005, but it was the first car I actually had to make payments on!), headed for Baltimore, Maryland, and moved in with my oldest sister, her husband and their son, who is also my Godson.
After spending probably the best month of my life with them, being with family and watching the baby grow, and learn to walk and speak, it was now time to find a job. Well the first and only place I interviewed with, hired me!
I have just finished my fourth year with them (an excellent Education company), during which time I have earned both my Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Business and Project Management, each with a 4.0 GPA! (Not bad for a person who was asked by numerous colleges and his own parents that I needed to go)
With that around the middle of November 2009, the loans are come rumbling in. And that is when I noticed The Piper and his Wave!
For the love of life, HOW THE HELL DID THAT GET SO BIG???!!!
Today his Wave carries with it the everyday bills and hassle that most of us carry around, but its growth and speed are aided along by student loans, credit cards, and car payments all with a growing dirty little miser, called "Interest".
So that is when I truly noticed The Piper's Wave and all the abilities he has put into growing that Wave stronger and higher, so that one day the Wave might crush me. For now, I am a successful Bachelors and Masters graduate and a Full-Time employee as a senior manager for a large education company. However, I find myself spending most of my days in the frameset of "Hindsight". Looking back always gets you better answers; however you must pay attention to those lessons and learn from them. This will make your stronger and smarter on the roads ahead.
In the days leading up to Day 1, May 31, 2010 I had perfected my budgeted, to the nickel, and you know what I found? I found I was broke. Not out of a job, just no capital on hand. Credit cards, student loans, car payments, groceries, etc, were all now in front of me on an excel sheet, and separated by month and bills that needed to be paid, and when I need to pay them. It was great except for one thing. It truly showed that I was living hand to mouth. And that’s when I heard the trumpets of the Piper and looked up to see The Wave he had built for me!
Not only that, but my feet were already getting wet, the Wave was close, and something needed to be done. Like pirates evading capture, I got rid of anything that was holding me back, costing me time and costing me money. So when I said earlier that "I want to take back what is mine", I meant it in the figurative way. No more overpriced coffee, no more lunch and dinners in restaurants, and not more living above my means.
GONE NOW:
Digital Cable Box Gone (savings=$150/month)
No longer purchasing DVD's the day they come out ($9.99/month, savings $771.99 annually)
So Long Stuckbucks - Tough choice but (savings=$200/month)
Invest in a Crook Pot - $39 provides 7 lunches and 7 dinners for around $14
Eating Lunch and Dinner in - minus the cost the food and crook pot (savings=$2,680/month)
And that's just the simple stuff!!!
That's a $3,000 plus savings in one month!!!
So now that I have slowed The Pipers Wave and I have actually started to out run it. I still have a pissed off Piper and his enormous Wave chasing me.
Never the less, here I am, these are this first and "easiest" changes that put over $3,000 back in my pocket. And more importantly it put hope on the horizon.
I ask you to come with me on my journey, but also lend your feedback on how you and yours are out running their Pipers and the Waves.
Thanks for listening and I look forward to your comments!
I am aiming to publish this blog daily, and add in all sorts of things I have picked up on over the years, what I have done recently, and also providing you, the reader, a great source of information for doing what it will take to out run the Piper's Wave!
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