My One Year Plan

So, things are gearing up. Then again, they never really stopped.

I have a tentative plan for the next year. In July, my boyfriend and I will be roommates in a townhouse or something similar, for less than $700 each. He has been inspired by my attention to my finances (has NO IDEA how extreme it is; that is, doesn't know about this blog), and is also trying to pay his credit cards down, raise his credit score, pay his car and motorcycle and student loans off, and possibly get a small business loan to start his own business. In August, I will be going part-time (probably netting less than $1000 a month (ouch!) and taking classes. Fall will be busy, with me taking two very time-consuming classes, studying for my PG exam, and also working part-time. In the spring, I will be cutting back my classes (only taking one), working more and hopefully netting $1500, and studying for my PG exam in March. So, by this time next year, I should have taken my PG licensing exam and started to increase my worth to my employer. To prepare for the lower income, I've been saving up since I found out, in order to make the transition easier. So far, I've been able to save roughly $500 a month since January.

I love seeing my HSBC account grow! I also got a $445 bonus last week; $250 was allocated for my savings account, and the rest was blown on whatever I wanted--that is, shopping for work clothes and taking my bf out once he found out he had a job back here where I live.

In light of that saving, by August I should have roughly $8000 saved up, plus interest. I have about nine months of lower income ahead of me, which gives me an extra 900 bucks to play with while I'm in school, bringing my income to a whopping $1900. That is still a thousand less than what I make right now, so my Roth and other contributions may have to be postponed. That bums me out, since I was starting to get on a good track. I still don't know if I'll have to pay for a part of school, or if my insurance coverage will continue, as well. I need to find out before I move, so i'll know how tight my budget will be.

So...in light of that, I realized that my emergency fund will be eaten up by my stint in school. Since my mom is expecting a windfall from my grandfather's death, I asked for a small loan to serve as my emergency fund. She agreed to let me borrow $5000 interest free while I'm in school. If nothing happens, she gets that money right back as I build up my emergency fund again. If something does? It's there, and I can take the time I need to pay her back. It's nice to be able to depend on my parents for financial support; I haven't been able to for 10 years. I hate why I can do that, but it's a huge sense of security that I am able to.

A $477K return on $2.48

I dream of a windfall like this--however, my favorite part of the article is the guy's quote at the end...a true pf expert!

I'd like to get some feedback on my current budget. I'm going part-time this fall and spring to take classes that will prepare me to take my licensing exam to qualify as a Professional Geologist in the state of California. I want to save up some money so I don't have to borrow any or worry about money while I'm part-time.
Do you see any holes?

Income: $2958 (with a 12% contribution to my 401K, no match from my company)

Rent: $830 (will be reduced to about $600 starting in July, when I move within biking distance to school; i'll take the trolley to work from school)
Electricity: $60 (I have 2 roommates)
Cable: 0 (covered by roommates' boyfriend since he spends so much time at our house)
Cell phone: $50
Auto+Renters Insurance: $45/mo (paid in lump sum twice a year)
Auto Club: $4/mo (paid in lump sum once a year)
Gas/car maintanance: ~$125
Roth IRA: $150
Savings (HSBC): $600

Somehow the rest of it is taken up by food and random stuff:Food/misc items (travel, gifts, clothes, toiletries, entertainment): 1094

I can't seem to get a handle on how i spend over a thousand dollars on food and other stuff. I don't know how to get a fix on it, i mean, i don't eat out or anything, i never spend money on anything not necessary...once or twice a month or so i'll get some $10 takeout, and rent a few movies, but honestly, I never ever spend money! i don't buy new clothes, i have all the 'stuff' i need/want, and i reuse everything i can as long as i can. I splurged last month on a $30 dvd player...and that is rare. I take books out from the library, i borrow cd's, and I don't have any expensive hobbies. So where the F does it GO????? deoderant and shampoo can't be that expensive...I'm guessing my cashflow lately has been affected by the once a month plane tickets to the east coast...$700 bucks a pop three times since november. I suppose that would account for some of it. I don't know how to explain the rest, except to say that my p.o. box, auto insurance, and high electric bills all came due in the past three months...

A tip from my grandpa

OH, okay...I can't stay away from the $$ issue for very long--the best thing my Grandpa did (besides put away money and live a frugal life) was to keep $3000 in cash hidden away in his sock drawer. Seriously. It paid for our expenses to his funeral, hotel while we cleaned out his house, meals out, and various other random fees required while we dealt with his death. It was the nicest, most thoughtful thing he could do for his grieving children. He kept it there for just that purpose, and believe me, it was a relief to not have to worry about money while also feeling the loss of a loved one. I will remember this later on.

I'm learning alot about what happens after your death...definitely also put the executor of your will or someone close to you on your checking/savings accounts--it makes it so much easier. Plus, I don't think you have to pay estate taxes on that money since a living account holder is still on the account.

Even better, name a trusted someone other than a grieving family member as executor. it is a rough, horrible job to go through all the details while you are so sad. and it's a terrible burden for those who live far away.

I found out that CD's can stay in their account until they mature if the account holder dies before they roll over.

hmmm...good stuff. I may want to look into a career in finances!

She's Back...But not for long.

I've slept in my bed for one night in the past month. One night!!

It's just all too much to handle. I'm going to take a semi-permanent hiatus from the financial stuff, etc. for the time being, to try and sort my head out. I've lost all three remaining dear grandparents in the past year and a half--two of them in the past three months--my job is horrible, my sister is dating a crazy jobless loser, I have to move from my beloved townhouse, and things are gearing up with the boyfriend. I simply don't have the energy to just talk about money. It's alot, and I need a time-out. I wish just one thing would stay the same for more than two weeks!

So anyway, the funeral was outstanding. standing room only, and about twenty people went up to talk about my grandpa. Fifteen men in his congregation (he was a lay minister) sang Amazing Grace to close the funeral. It was both heartbreaking and deeply touching. There could have been no better tribute to my grandfather than that service. We all cried our eyes out.

It was good to see my family. My cousins are all tall and old!! I am the oldest grandchild, so I always had to babysit my cousins, who are all at least 6 years younger than I am. They are so cute. I love each and every one of my family members on my mom's side. Too bad we all live so far apart from one another.

However, there was one black mark on the whole episode--my sister brought her boyfriend of 4 months. They live together, but it was still wierd for her to bring him. My mom is very Christian, so we had to do some major shuffling around for him to have his own room (and not sleep in my sister's room alone). Plus, I thought he was kind of annoying anyway. And then--My first night there--after a 14 hour plane/airport day--at 11 pm at night, he decides to confront me about why I don't like him. the NIGHT BEFORE my grandpa's funeral, and in front of my entire family. in a bar. WTF?!! He then accused me of manipulating the situation to make him look bad when I started saying that it was a bad time to start this mess.

Later, my sister tells me that he is currently unemployed and he lost his job because he got into a physical altercation with a woman at his work. Then, she tells me it's difficult for him to get a new job because he 'has a record.' I ask what that is, and she says that he was convicted of abducting a co-worker (unrelated to the most recent incident). Both of these incidents are waived off with a 'it wasn't his fault' by my sister. Also, she is bi-polar and has spent alot of time in mental hospitals...and she met him there.

Are these enough red flags? They are to me. I don't like this dude, and I have no qualms about vocalizing it. My sister is supporting his lazy butt by working three jobs and going to school. I just don't get it.

And as for my boyfriend? he hates his job in Chicago and is anxiously awaiting a admissions letter from the grad school in my area, where he used to live. He also has an offer letter from a place in Phoenix. Today, he tells me that he called my company (where he used to work when he lived here) and they extended an offer.

Now...ok. Good news: he's closer to me and we can live together. Bad: we will go from spending no time together to ALL of our time. Why the extremes? I just got used to the idea of maybe living together. Wow. I don't think this is a good idea, but how can I tell him not to take it when it's an amazing opportunity for him? I can't. I think that if it gets too bad that I will quit instead. It's something that I wanted to do anyway, and it's really not that much of a stretch to think of doing. I am kind of looking forward to it, actually. That is, after I finish taking classes.

so there are a few silver linings: we won't be living together until july, when my lease is up; I and quite possibly, he will be going part time in the fall to take classes.

So it's maybe possible that this will work. It will be wierd at work (everyone apparently already knows about us?!), but whatever, I'll deal with it.

I feel like Britney Spears. Someone has to take some action for me, 'cause I'm lost.