Money, Money, Money!

Money is always something that I could use more of!  I mean yeah all the things I'm responsible for as a functioning adult are taken care of but I always have goals, projects, and needs wants that I need want RIGHT NOW!  LOL 

The only downside to this impatient mentality is I always feel like I want, want, want but can never do, do, do because there's never enough money, money, money for those things. LOL 

 

I know problems of a first world citizen.  spoiled!

 

I'm so grateful for the life that I've been given and have made for myself and I guess that's why I always want more! 

I try to live in the moment as much as possible and not wish away my life until I reach the next milestone......

ok a little side tracked there so back to the light and fluffy money post.....

I read this article on one of my favorite blogs and daily reads, The Every Girl, a few days ago and since I had recently been planning several goals for myself that related to finances it sparked this post! 

1. I told Lincoln on Sunday night that I've made up my mind that by October I WILL have a new car.  My Corolla (truck) is 10 years old and I've never had any problems...except today I had a flat when I came out of work to come home!!! 10 years and not even a single flat...that's Toyota for you. 

Ok so even though there's not a thing wrong with my car I deserve a new one and I'm going to get myself a new one by October or in October either way my goal is set = OCTOBER!

 

I've narrowed it down to 2 different cars.  Both in the same price range.  One of them will be in my garage by...when people... OCTOBER! 

 

The 2 finalist are...

 

The 2013/2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee

& the Infinity JX

 

 

Both around 40K and I LOVE both of them.  I have test drove a Jeep and still love it but have yet to drive the Infinity.  Aren't they both pretty?

2. Now that I have my house pretty much exactly as I want it...gutters installed and all my budget and extra money that I would normally be spending on home things will be put to use by making Peggy Sue a home away from home. 

I've got supplies to work on her and I really need to get on it if I want to reach my goal of having her where I want her by July 4th. 

Here's a sneak peak of some demolition work I've done so far.

 

After the regular construction/demo work comes the fun part for me and that's the decorating.  I intend do use and reuse different things from home and from Canton of course to mix mostly old and a little new to make Peggy Sue the perfect mobile home! :)

 

3. Of course an on going goal is to save and budget for travel be it a long weekend indulging or a week long vacay to Costa Rica!  There's never enough money to satisfy my want and need to travel. 

 

4.Now that I've lost my Ray Bans on my latest trip to Shreveport I'm savings for a new pair of those babies.  The problem is which ones...the only solution is that I won't be able to purchase these online I need to try on several pairs to see which ones I like the best.

So far these are a few that have caught my eye

Aviator Flip Out...love this style because it's classic and compact easy to store so I don't lose another pair.

Clubmaster...like them but not sure how they will look on my face

Timeless and Classy...the Jackie Ohh again not sure how hey will frame out my face

 

5. The last want///need that's been on my mind lately is the purchase of some land.  This isn't a short term goal like all the previous goals are but a goal none the less and a very important one in my book.  I think it's time for me to start cruising the real estate sites and Craigslist and maybe I'll happen into a great deal. I LOVE ME SOME REAL ESTATE!

 

There you have it... some goals of my that are taking up my mind and my checkbook lately.

Money Tips for the 20 Something

I found this article yesterday on Yahoo and thought it would be great to post since during the holidays we all spend so much money and it is something that is always on most people's minds.  Hopefully these money tips will come in handy this season and just through out your everday financial management. 

Suze Orman's 10 Money Tips For The 20 Something

Suze's Tip # 1: Make those that you’re dependent on for a paycheck, dependent on you!
The first thing you have to realize is that even though it’s a horrific time for people your age 20-somethings, this is a time that many of you can use to your advantage. You come in before the boss, stay after he is gone, come in on Saturdays – make them dependent on you and you will grow! You have to get people’s attention and establish yourself!

Suze's Tip # 2: You have to make sure your bills are almost nil.
It’s not the time for you to go out and rent your own apartment; it’s the time you suck it up and live with four or five other people. I know someone who started out with a job at Kenneth Cole for $28K a year and lived with four other people in a tiny apartment. She just turned 30 – she’s now making high in the six figures and just got a quarter million dollar bonus. Do you know how? She sucked it up and made sacrifices in her twenties. If you say you can’t, you never will. Get off your pity pot because you won't get anywhere by crying. If that means moving back in with your parents, do it! I had to live in my van – so you can’t complain!

Suze's Tip # 3: Only Losers Eat Out Every Meal!
I fly private and I bring my lunch! No one works harder than me, and I never eat out! Working hard is not an excuse! Make your food and bring it to work with you. If you want to be a loser forever and continue to waste money, then fine by me. Stop giving yourself excuses. You’ll never enjoy life if you continue to waste money.

Suze's Tip # 4 : You don’t need to spend a fortune on designer clothes.
Honest to God, the amount of money they ,young people, waste on designer clothes is the worst habit I’ve seen! Having to have the Jimmy Choos or $700 purse is ridiculous. Do you think anyone even cares?

Suze's Tip # 5: Clubbing is a huge waste of money.
The amount of money spent on clubbing is absolutely amazing! Go to each other’s houses and have a great time in your home. You can buy a bottle of vodka for what it costs for one drink at a club. I mean $90 in one night? That’s the amount of money needed to fund your Roth IRA every month.

Suze's Tip # 6: It’s not about being so specific with how you divide up your salary.
It’s hard to divide your salary into set percentages these days – salaries are just so low right now. If all you’re making is $1000 per month, it’s almost impossible to divide up, but all of you know when you’re spending too much! It’s not about being so specific, but if your rent is taking up 80% of your spending, then you’re in big trouble.

Suze's Tip # 7 : It’s not about cutting everything out; it’s about cutting a little bit off of everything.
Don’t try to give up all your favorite things at once. If you go cold turkey, you will explode. Just cut down! You can indulge, but indulging doesn’t mean every day. I mean come on! Do you really have to have Starbucks every day? Can you go clubbing twice a month instead of every weekend? Pick the things you really love to do and just do them twice a month.

Suze's Tip # 8: Start saving now!
The best thing you could do is to have a Roth IRA. You can withdraw any money you put into it at any time, without any taxes or penalties. That’s where you should get money from, not your 401K or pension plans. You should be investing in individual stocks that pay a high dividend yield.

Suze's Tip # 9: Credit Card Debt isn’t necessarily bad.
The thing is that credit card debt isn’t bad,but if your interest rate is at 30% that’s bad – actually horrific! A 1% to 2% interest rate is ok. If the debt is because you’re trying to make your mark and make your way in the world, then I don’t have a problem with that. If you have debt because of clubbing, excessive shopping and weekend trips to Tahoe, then you’re an idiot – that’s the debt that will do you in.

Suze's Tip # 10: Credit Unions are better than banks.
You should open a card at a credit union and do a balance transfer from any existing credit cards. Go to creditcardconnection.org to find out if your card is a good one. Be on time with payments – you really have to make it a priority.

Check out more of this article and more here.