Money For Nothing

While I would love to do nothing and make money, that's not my reality. What is pretty real is the amount of debt I've dug out from under; since December 2006 I've cleared more then $9K in debt. I won't get into the horrors of how I got there (that's on another blog), but I am pretty damn proud of myself. Six thousand more to go, and I will be clear of it. I was fortunate enough to cash out my Starbucks stock when it was still good, and that helped out tremendously. Plus, I started a new job and have tried to apply as much extra money as I can as well as any bonuses. I project to have only twenty-five hundred left to deal with by January and can start beefing up my house and emergency fund.

I think I could apply more discipline to my spending habits, and perhaps I can meet my goals that much sooner.

Short Term Goal:

• Save up to two paychecks in a money market account in case of emergency. Anticipate completion by September.

Mid-Term Goals:

• Have $20,000 in retirement savings. Depending on market fluctuation, I currently have $12,000. Anticipate completion by 2010. Continue to add in efforts to double contribution total in five years.
• Purchase home by end of 2010.

Long Term Goal:

• Save every third paycheck in savings or investment.
• Travel, travel, travel.

Here's another song stuck in my head today:

Now that aint workin thats the way you do it
You play the guitar on the mtv
That aint workin thats the way you do it
Money for nothin and your chicks for free

-Dire Straits