Cash Block

November 29, 2008 at 12:47 am (Uncategorized) (, )

I write, I read. I’ve just bought a new keyboard (it’s the one that was on sale at Target), a guitar (10 bucks on Ebay) , and a very small flat screen tv (it was my Christmas/birthday gift from the parents). I also have a huge yarn stash, tons of knitting needles, a bunch of 80’s aerobics videos on VHS, work friends, real friends, a cat, and several loads of dirty laundry to sort out. I have several ounces of hair to sew onto my head, clothes to try on in my closet, and trails to walk in my beat up sneakers.

But none of this matters when I can’t stop thinking about money.

My savings account is an absolute joke. I never saved any money throughout high school and college, though I always had a savings account. When I began getting real paychecks after leaving school, the amounts were tiny that I was struggling to make rent and afford food at the same time. Nonetheless, that’s no excuse for the amount of money I don’t have now. I really am ashamed, and determined to get my financial situation in order before I treat myself to another jaunt to California, Europe, or really anywhere outside of the southeastern United States.

So now, like everyone else in the country, I’m panicking slightly about the economy. To be honest, I’m more worried about my personal economy rather than the country’s as a whole. Naturally this means I’ve cooked up a few grand schemes to put a bit more cash in my pocket (or at least keep what little I have):

-Christmas cards for everyone, Christmas presents only for my parents and a few friends. I love giving presents, so this is tough for me-as I tend to just buy things I think other people will like, and then give it to them excitedly. It’s fun for me, but traumatic for my bank account, so this year, I’m scaling back.

-Brown bag lunch/dinner/breakfast (depending on schedule) each workday. Cheaper, and loads healthier. Will also help me improve my cooking skills.

-Ebay-a-licious. I do this in spurts, because Ebay can be quite stressful for me, but it’s a good way to declutter my house, and I’m recycling the things I don’t use anymore rather than leaving them to get old and dusty and then tossing them when I move away again.

-eHow.com. Apparently Associated Content pays a lot better, and they pay up front for each article- so I may cross publish my little lame tutorials there as well. I’ve been getting very random with my writing topics, but I’ve made a whopping 7 cents so far (all off of the same article “How to Attach a Fake Ponytail“), so clearly I’m doing something right.

-E-Lance. Basically pick up as much online freelance writing work as possible. It takes up a lot of time, and can be slightly stressful, but it’s helping to build my portfolio, and strengthen my skills. Also, it’s paying work.

Other things I plan to do include setting up a nice payment schedule from my checking to savings account, and establishing a second savings account JUST for travel money.

Things I don’t particularly want to do, but am willing: get another job, or work major over time in my old department. These are both last resorts. I’m nowhere near desperate or destitute, I’m just sad that my money doesn’t buy as much as it used to buy.

Again, most folks are going through the same sort of issues- though I doubt they were so irresponsible as to not even have TWO months rent socked away in case of emergency. I wonder what everyone else is doing… side hustles? second jobs? prayer?

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