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!