Lessons from the Week

So, it is over a week later. And, guess what? I didn't use my credit cards. The universe even found some extra money to toss at me as I am going down this path. And I have to say, budgeting money makes me appreciate things a little more than I have done in the past. There are so many free things to do and so many wonderful conversations to have - who needs the newest gadget?

So little ways that I have decided to save...
1) The movies. I pay for Netflix every month. So, if I am just patient and wait for movies to come out, I don't waste money at the movies. And then when Harry Potter comes out....
2) Not eating out so much. I looked at the way I waste my money and it is really spent a lot on food. And if you have ever gone out to eat with me, you know that I NEVER finish my food. So I'm wondering how much money I have wated on food over the years. It makes me think more about what I am eating.
3) Cooking at home. Some people hate to do this. I have learned that I love it. It is another way to meditate. And then you can freeze it and have food for the future! I may not be an amazing cook, but I have been told that my food is very good. I'm learning new tricks here and there and experimenting with new foods.
4) Not going to Target. This may seem strange but it makes so much sense. The point of stores like Target and Walmart are that they are a one-stop-shop. But, the problem with them is that they are designed in a way to make you buy things that you didn't even think of. The aisles are designed to make you walk a certain way. The light is placed just in the right spot. They want you to spend money! So when I need a toothbrush, I just go to the drug store instead of the Superstore.

Continuing down my path of living within my means...

Challenge: Living Within My Means

I am posting this on here, so that if I don't follow through with the challenge, I have to confess and hide my head in shame. :-p

In college, I didn't care about my finances. I thought people who talked about saving money and having a budget were boring. In Grad School I said "crap, I should have cared about my finances so that I don't have to use a credit card so much." Now, I'm looking at my numbers and seeing that I need to start fixing some things. In a few months I will have student loans to pay, two credit card bills, and I want to start giving my mother more money for rent, etc. There is no possible way I will be able to move out anytime soon, but there is a way that I can work towards a goal. I NEED to LIVE WITHIN MY MEANS. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I do not have a living situation where people have an unlimited amount of money to pay for my life - even if I did, I don't think that I would want that.

So, I'm starting off small and training myself for the marathon. For one week, I will NOT USE MY CREDIT CARD. They will only be used in the case of an EMERGENCY. Now, what is an emergency....being stranded on the highway is pretty much the only thing I can think of at this point. I already pay above the minimum payment, but it will never go down if I keep on swiping. At the end of the first part of this test of wills, when I get my next pay check, I will use whatever is left over in the bank and put it towards the card with the highest interest.

I've made mistakes, there is nothing I can do now, but work towards fixing them. I have a dream and a goal that one day I am going to live a life without any credit cards. I'm going to go against the American way in this case and really strive to live WITHIN MY MEANS!

Wish me luck.

Long Time...No Post

So it has been a very long time since I wrote anything on here. I just got so caught up in the end of the school year and all that comes with it. As of now, I have graduated from The Actors Studio Drama School with an MFA in Acting.

Right now, I'm starting the audition thing again. It is discouraging at times, but I know that something is in store for me, I just have to keep going out and searching for it. I'm still working part time. I'm finishing up my yoga certification. And I'm just looking for small jobs on the side.

People ask me what I got a degree for if I am just going to be working part-time jobs for now...Well, this is just temporary. I need to figure things out. I need to do the audition thing so I don't regret things down the road. I'm not a person who is interested in getting rich, I'm just interested in getting my finances together within the next few weeks and being able to get by. Pay some rent, pay some credit card bills, and eat every now and then....and, oh yeah, deal with student loans when they begin to give my an ulcer.

I'm reading this book called "The Renaissance Soul" and realizing that it talks about my life. I am never going to be the person who has a 9-5 job and there is nothing wrong with that. Certain people will never understand it, but that is ok. You don't have to understand - you can just be supportive. I have so many interests in life and have so many things that I am good at that I am going to be just fine.

I hope you all are well. I miss people.

Stay positive.