Paycheck to Paycheck
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009Last week I got my first paycheck from my job. Woo Hoo! It was all good, except that most of the extra went to paying off some of my credit card. (Note: I am NOT living lavishly, buying lots of electronics and things on credit! I had enough money saved up to move into my apartment and live for a couple of months, but my job pays monthly rather than biweekly, so I used my CC to buy food and things like that. I still don’t have a couch, dresser, etc., because I’m waiting to save enough money.)
Anyway, I’ve been thinking a lot about my financial health. For some background, my parents did not model sound money management for me whatsoever, enough said. What triggered this introspection was, of all things, me trying to decide whether or not to get cable. That’s what people do, right? They have cable so they can watch MTV, E!, and all those other networks and shows. But then I thought about what value cable television actually brought to my life in the past. In a word: none. Watching television has killed my productivity. I probably could have graduated with honors from college if I didn’t watch so much tv. But I do miss watching Animal Planet. It’s also expensive. Around here, a cable/internet bundle would cost me $100 per month! I spent $75 each month senior year. While I could afford that on my salary, I have other plans for my money this time around. All of the shows I watch are online anyway. (Internet is FREE at my apt, by the way)
I really want to start my life out right. I was reading a money forum where people were talking about some of the unrealistic expectations people my age have about where they should be in life. Apparently, some people believe they should have the same standard of living that their parents have right out of college, so they spend, spend, spend. They put all this stuff on credit cards and loans, and really mess themselves up for the future. That is not going to happen to me, if I have anything to say about it!
My expenses are pretty low and I have a tiny student loan. I can put a good chunk of my earnings in savings. The only way I can get into trouble is if I buy into the stuffstuffnowgimmegimme mindset that I know plagues so many people these days. I’m confident that I won’t, however, because that’s just not me.
My favorite hobbies are free: going to the library and reading blogs on the internet. When it gets warm, parks and hiking trails are free also. That’s not to say I’m perfect. I have a tendency to go on shopping sprees and spend a lot of money. While I don’t go into debt to do so, it usually leaves me with stuff I don’t need or even really want, and does not help to build anything. More recently, I’ve really been trying to place more value on experiences than on things, as well as to only spend money on the things I value, like food and music.
In the end, I’m not going to buy cable. I’m going to give Netflix a try. ($14 per month for 2 dvds at a time and unlimited streaming)
Also, another feature I intend to add to the blog is on personal finance. I’ve been educating myself on the topic for about two years, and it’s finally time to put all this in practice. I’m still thinking about how it’s going to manifest itself here, but expect to see some money diaries in the future.
Domestic Bliss?
Sunday, July 26th, 2009The other day I went to a going away party for a co-worker of mine. It was a small party, held at another co-worker’s house. Well, the first thing I noticed was that I was the second youngest person there (I turned 22 in June). The rest of were mid/late 20s and early 30s. The other thing I noticed was that the majority of the people were married or in very serious relationships (8 out of 10). As the evening went on, it became apparent that in the majority of couples (3 out of 4) the women basically were following their significant others as they pursued their careers/educations. I don’t know them well enough to know their whole stories, but what I do know is that while the men are doing pretty heavy hitting stuff, the women were . . . not. Basically, 3 out of the 4 coupled women are very smart, yet they are not pursuing careers of their own, in fact, the going away party was for a lady that is moving away because her significant other has a position elsewhere. Another attendee is waiting impatiently for her husband to get a call back so she can move with him out West. Something about their situations rubbed me the wrong way.
Not that committing to a partner and supporting them while they pursue their dreams is a bad thing. I think it’s fantastic. I think it’s great that these people have found their match relatively early in life and are making their lives together. It took some serious thought to figure out what was bothering me, and what I came up with is simply that this version of domestic bliss is absolutely not for me. I will never be content to follow a man while he pursues his goals, disregarding or putting mine off for the ‘future’. If anything, my significant other will have to follow me, but I wouldn’t be happy with that either. I have to have someone just as ambitious as myself; ideally we will have the same passions and can work together or compliment each other’s efforts. I will never have an ill-behaved dog that is simply a placeholder until children arrive, onto which I project displaced ‘maternal instincts’ One, dogs are not children. They are fantastic companions worthy of affection on their own. Two, children are not in my future. Ever. Enough said.
I’m grateful for that party. It led to a moment of clarity in which I was able to articulate to myself what was before a general amorphous feeling.
peace