The Plan is in Motion

I've applied to get a LANpass credit card, which shall give me 20K points to use while in South America next year (crossed fingers). I just have to make one purchase to earn the points.

I'm hoping I get myself together in time to be able to use my British Airways points to get a flight to/from the continent.

I haven't told my boss or my PhD supervisor yet that I'm taking 2-3 weeks off in the middle of next year...but I will once things firm up!

Til then, this is another thing keeping me going through my tough 18 hour workdays. There are some points these days...honestly. I just want to give up. Everything is pretty awful right now. I just want to be through this and on the other side, with my work talk over, enjoying Europe, and spending quality time with the people I love back in the US. That is in two weeks. I just have to keep going til then. Just. Keep. Going.

Good ol' net worth. I swear, sometimes I feel like the only thing I'm good at in my life is saving money. It is the only thing I've consistently kept up with, other than flossing (but I skip days lots).

NW since tracking began (DEC 2014)
	NW Dec 2014	This month	Difference ($)	Difference (%)
NET WORTH (same)	104128.75	114109.64	9980.89	9.59
NZ Net Worth	82442.59	91952.42	9509.83	11.54
US Net Worth	21219.15	21906.22	687.07	3.24
Change from last month:	Last Month	This Month	Difference ($)	Difference (%)
NET WORTH (same)	111522.48	114109.64	2587.16	2.32
NZ Net Worth	89528.67	91952.42	2423.75	2.71
US Net Worth	21742.81	21906.22	163.41	0.75

Fund update is in the sidebar ---->

My South America fund is done, I just need to find a few travel partners willing to commit to it in the next few months!

I also crossed the halfway mark on my House Down Payment Fund! I'm already dreaming of the other goals that I can set. For one, I want a massive travel fund for when I finish my PhD. I want to totally take a huge break and just travel the world, visiting all the friends I've made on my life journey. I have friends on every continent other than Africa at the moment (though it'd be pretty difficult to get to Antarctica to visit my buddy there now!). I'm thinking 6 month break, post-PhD, minimum.

I also want to save up to take a few specialty courses that will be fun but good learning experiences for my career, to be done during the 6 month break. Definitely a world tour incorporating work and fun--visiting various organizations and universities, presenting my research, and going along on any excursions or work they may have going at the time.

I'd love to get some other new skills when I have the time. The list of new hobbies I want to try out is endless.

That is the dream right now, at least. Til then, I work. And work some more.