Summary

I thought that since I'm just about ready to make a big investment in my future, I'd like to devote a post to just summarizing how I got here from there. And then in the next post I'd like to layout plan for the short term future.

So, December 2008 I randomly (and I mean RANDOMLY, I have no idea what caused me to do this) bought a copy of Suze Orman's Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke. I guess I saw it there on the shelf and something told me it was the right time to think about money. After a quick read through, I realized that there wasn't any time to lose, and got gettin' on this blog. This is probably the biggest change I've made. I discovered my sense of urgency about the business of my life.

So where have I made the most progress since I've begun?

1) I don't overspend on food the way I did before.

I've made a habit out of going to the grocery and stocking up on breakfast and lunch supplies. I eat lunch out about once every few weeks now, compared to almost every day before. I eat breakfast out once every few months now, compared to every single day before. I also have my own coffee at home now. And I enjoy it a lot more. I sit on my porch with my cereal and coffee in the mornings after I water my plants. I like this ritual. It helps me start the day. I've also begun cooking dinner at home more (chipotle lima bean soup is simmering away as I type). I still eat out, but far more because I'm going out with friends, not because I just don't have anything at home. These changes have made a tremendous difference in my available cash. Before I was probably spending close to $75 a week on breakfast and lunch alone! I think it's more like $15 now.

2) I committed to my emergency savings.

Before I read Suze's book, I didn't even know this was a thing. Isn't that crazy? I had never even come across the concept of cash on hand. I think about that and it's such a palm-to-forehead moment (what a sad state of affairs when I was taught the supply/demand curve to perfection, but had no idea how to keep myself solvent). I have an advantage when it comes to my savings: I have two casual part time jobs that pay me large sums every few months in addition to my full time job. This means it truly is extra money that I haven't budgeted. It goes straight into my savings now.

3) I've started planning how to have enough money when bills come due without making myself broke.

Before (I think I need a name for this time..like BGU...before growing up), I would slap my whole last paycheck of the month down for rent. I came up short once or twice. Then I'd eat popcorn and rice for a week. If there was $250 in my account and I didn't have a bill that week, I'd buy new shoes. Or jeans. Silliness. Now I set aside a weekly amount for bills and let myself spend the rest. If the new shoes I want are $125 (and they are), I have to save up out of my spending cash. I don't get to just throw away half a paycheck on them without any effort.

4) I started paying myself.

In addition to my extra income, I decided to put away a standard amount every week from my regular paycheck. This helped me get my emergency fund back on track after my dental work. And now it's helping me get a new savings account going, which in turn will set my retirement savings in motion. I have this automatically debited on pay-day, so it's out of sight, out of mind.

5) Mostly, I got educated.

I know the steps to take to gain my financial freedom. I never thought I would be so interested in personal finance, but even if it hadn't become a bit of a passion, I needed to know this stuff. Everybody needs to know this stuff.

And I want to give you all some quick thanks for supporting me the whole way, giving me helpful links/tips, and making me feel like a success, even when I crap out and have some failures.