Things with me are always moving forward. In my last post I did a reflection of my years out of undergraduate school. I have made many gains, but it never seems to be enough. Maybe, I am my worst enemy, but aren't we all? Everytime I get ahead something rears its ugly head, but that's a part of this thing we call life. Overall, I am thankful for the little treasures that occur in my life. There is no need to hold on to the past it is gone now. The time is now and we must do what is right for the future.
Be Thankful for the Little Things
I am celebrating in my own little way. I have finally paid off Liam (99 Land Rover). I will receive the title in the mail in 5-10 business days. Yes, no more car payments. No, I am not going to purchase a new car. I couldn't if I wanted to. $311.56 is what I will be saving a month. This money will go toward two student loans that I have had since the 90s. That's ashame isn't it?
Also, I am back in school. A step closer to being Dr. Willetta Jackson.
The little things mean so much and we should cherish them. There are so many negative things that go on. Take time to pay attention to the clouds, the birds, the people you see. There is something special in all of the things around us. It is up to us to recognize them.
Looking but Not Aware of What I am Looking For
I feel the time is now to look for something else to do. I have been down and out. The first step is to update my resume. After that, it is up to me to look for something that I feel I want to do. It will all work out when the time is right.
Overall, this is the life that you have been given. Take the time out to give thanks for all of the things that have happened in your life. Without them you would not be the person you are today. Don't hold on to the past let it go. Holding on does nothing, but create stress and drama. You are better then that.
Do what you can with what you have and know it can be better. It will get better if you try.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Are You Following Your New Year Resolutions?
Many Americans or people in general create a list of things they will do or stop doing at the beginning of the new year. How many of us have kept our resolutions? The thing with resolutions are you should make those daily not just for the year. We come up with these big plans of action and we tend to let ourselves down. If we make plans daily and not by the year we are less likely to break them and let ourselves down.
Failure
I am one that knows what it feels like to be a failure. Ok, not a failure, but not meet goals in a timely manner. For instance, I graduated in 1993 from high school. I didn't finish college until 2000. Big difference right, I know, but at least I finished. During that time my mother would say, "You can come home and finish." No was my answer, I am not coming home without a degree. That is exactly what I did. I came home with a BS in Business Education.
Follow Your Own Path
My point is make plans things happen, but as long as you are satisfied with the end result that is all that matters. It may take you longer to complete a goal, but as long as it gets done. Also, if you are doing something that you see someone else do, that might not be the thing for you. Follow your own path and you will be successful.
Don't Give Up
It is easy to give up. Rome wasn't built in a day. Anything worth having is worth working hard to get. We all hit stumbling blocks, but it is how we handle them. Learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others.
Financial Freedom and Healthy Living
I didn't make any New Year's Resolutions, I just planned to continue to build toward financial freedom and healthy living. I have learned much since I have been home. I have also wasted a lot of money too. I can't dwell on that, all I can do is work on moving forward and putting the money that I make from now on to good use.
Positive Things
The positive things I have done with my money since I have had a career:
Master's Degree in Instructional Technology, TSU '00
'95 Ford Explorer bought in 2002 paid off 2004
2 Rental Properties
'99 Land Rover Discovery will be paid off March 09
The older I get the more understanding that I have. My savings account goes to paying bills, which is wrong. Why did I rob myself and continue to do that. I will be 34 years old in August and still have much to learn.
Things I want to Accomplish
I am proud of my accomplishments, but there are still somethings that I want to get done. For instance:
Complete Phd in Educational Technology and be Dr. Willetta Jackson (looks strange, right?)
Be financially free
Travel all over the world
Change jobs
Teach online courses
Take a year off
Save $22,000 in a year
Buy and sell houses
Move from my current home
Build house
Purchase 4 houses and 4 duplexes
Weigh 165 lbs.
All of the above is in my reach. All I have to do is stay determined and do the right thing by my money, time, and resources. Never say never. I can be anything and do anything that I want as long as I believe. I believe in myself, do you believe in you? Ask yourself that daily. Another question, what would or could you do if you could not fail?
Take Time Out of Your Busy Schedule
Take the time out of your busy schedule to understand that life is what you make it. Say to yourself, starting today I am going to make the most out of the life that I was given. Make small plans and follow them. Do the things necessary to make a difference in your life. Don't settle, you deserve better than that.
Don't just give up if you have not followed your New Year's Resolution. Pick up the pieces and start again. Don't give up on yourself, because I won't.
March Bill's
Liam: $1,087.00
ING: $ 150.00
Credit Card: $100.00
Once Liam is paid off the question is do I build a $1,000 emergency fund or start paying on $13,000 undergrad student loan debt? We will have to see.
Thanks for reading. Enjoy your evening! Be proud of the person you are and know things will get better.
Failure
I am one that knows what it feels like to be a failure. Ok, not a failure, but not meet goals in a timely manner. For instance, I graduated in 1993 from high school. I didn't finish college until 2000. Big difference right, I know, but at least I finished. During that time my mother would say, "You can come home and finish." No was my answer, I am not coming home without a degree. That is exactly what I did. I came home with a BS in Business Education.
Follow Your Own Path
My point is make plans things happen, but as long as you are satisfied with the end result that is all that matters. It may take you longer to complete a goal, but as long as it gets done. Also, if you are doing something that you see someone else do, that might not be the thing for you. Follow your own path and you will be successful.
Don't Give Up
It is easy to give up. Rome wasn't built in a day. Anything worth having is worth working hard to get. We all hit stumbling blocks, but it is how we handle them. Learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others.
Financial Freedom and Healthy Living
I didn't make any New Year's Resolutions, I just planned to continue to build toward financial freedom and healthy living. I have learned much since I have been home. I have also wasted a lot of money too. I can't dwell on that, all I can do is work on moving forward and putting the money that I make from now on to good use.
Positive Things
The positive things I have done with my money since I have had a career:
Master's Degree in Instructional Technology, TSU '00
'95 Ford Explorer bought in 2002 paid off 2004
2 Rental Properties
'99 Land Rover Discovery will be paid off March 09
The older I get the more understanding that I have. My savings account goes to paying bills, which is wrong. Why did I rob myself and continue to do that. I will be 34 years old in August and still have much to learn.
Things I want to Accomplish
I am proud of my accomplishments, but there are still somethings that I want to get done. For instance:
Complete Phd in Educational Technology and be Dr. Willetta Jackson (looks strange, right?)
Be financially free
Travel all over the world
Change jobs
Teach online courses
Take a year off
Save $22,000 in a year
Buy and sell houses
Move from my current home
Build house
Purchase 4 houses and 4 duplexes
Weigh 165 lbs.
All of the above is in my reach. All I have to do is stay determined and do the right thing by my money, time, and resources. Never say never. I can be anything and do anything that I want as long as I believe. I believe in myself, do you believe in you? Ask yourself that daily. Another question, what would or could you do if you could not fail?
Take Time Out of Your Busy Schedule
Take the time out of your busy schedule to understand that life is what you make it. Say to yourself, starting today I am going to make the most out of the life that I was given. Make small plans and follow them. Do the things necessary to make a difference in your life. Don't settle, you deserve better than that.
Don't just give up if you have not followed your New Year's Resolution. Pick up the pieces and start again. Don't give up on yourself, because I won't.
March Bill's
Liam: $1,087.00
ING: $ 150.00
Credit Card: $100.00
Once Liam is paid off the question is do I build a $1,000 emergency fund or start paying on $13,000 undergrad student loan debt? We will have to see.
Thanks for reading. Enjoy your evening! Be proud of the person you are and know things will get better.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Where Does Your Money Go?
My last post was filled with emotions and honestly that is great. My money has been an issue for me my entire working career. I make plans to do better and that fails. I try to reorganize my spending and that is a failure too. Or just life happens. I refuse to be a victim. I created this blog to assist me with my financial freedom and that is what I plan to do.
Where Does Your Money Go?
The money that I make goes to paying bills. I set goals to save and something happens. I create a budget and my car breaks down. As long as you owe, the money that you make does not belong to you. Let me say that again, as long as you owe, the money that you make does not belong to you. It belongs to your debtors. That is something to seriously think about.
Living Like the Jones'
Most of the people that I know own new cars, bigger houses, the fanciest gadgets, but are in financial turmoil. We were not put here to live like others. The only person we can be is ourselves. You don't know what that family has sacrificed in order to have the things that they do. Also, they may have the newest material items, but be in debt up to their eyeballs. Think about it. All you need to do is cut your spending and pay off bills. The more you cut the more money you will have to get rid of the debt that you have.
Self Evaluation
I have payed attention to my spending. I don't have bad habits of spending. I have been saving money because I cut out a bad habit. That saves much a month. I cut my text messaging and that saves $5.00 a month. That is greatly needed. I also called my phone company to see about the extra features, but they come along with my plan. If I cut them, it wouldn't make a difference in the cost. Cable is another thing. It is hard, I know that I can save about $20.00 a month if I get rid of the extra channels that I have. On Demand and FitTV are awesome.
Also, my mortgages have been going up on my rental properties. I am going to call the mortgage companies to see what can be done to get my payments lowered.
Cooking dinner and preparing lunch has saved money too. I am 33 years old and want so much out of life. It is a matter of taking my time to organize my life.
Things Happen
The tax lien on my credit had me tripping, but I sent letters with the documentation to the credit bureaus Monday. Where there's a will there's a way.
My friend had her entire federal tax refund taken because she didn't pay her student loans on time.
Preparation is always key. You never know what the cosmos has in store for you. That is why it is beneficial to do right by your money. I have been working professionally for the last 9 years. How much money do I have saved or invested? In my eyes, the purchase of my rental properties is the only good thing I have done with my money.
Learn from others mistakes and do the right thing. Live for tomorrow not for today. The money you spend could be used for your future. Think about it.
Where Does Your Money Go?
The money that I make goes to paying bills. I set goals to save and something happens. I create a budget and my car breaks down. As long as you owe, the money that you make does not belong to you. Let me say that again, as long as you owe, the money that you make does not belong to you. It belongs to your debtors. That is something to seriously think about.
Living Like the Jones'
Most of the people that I know own new cars, bigger houses, the fanciest gadgets, but are in financial turmoil. We were not put here to live like others. The only person we can be is ourselves. You don't know what that family has sacrificed in order to have the things that they do. Also, they may have the newest material items, but be in debt up to their eyeballs. Think about it. All you need to do is cut your spending and pay off bills. The more you cut the more money you will have to get rid of the debt that you have.
Self Evaluation
I have payed attention to my spending. I don't have bad habits of spending. I have been saving money because I cut out a bad habit. That saves much a month. I cut my text messaging and that saves $5.00 a month. That is greatly needed. I also called my phone company to see about the extra features, but they come along with my plan. If I cut them, it wouldn't make a difference in the cost. Cable is another thing. It is hard, I know that I can save about $20.00 a month if I get rid of the extra channels that I have. On Demand and FitTV are awesome.
Also, my mortgages have been going up on my rental properties. I am going to call the mortgage companies to see what can be done to get my payments lowered.
Cooking dinner and preparing lunch has saved money too. I am 33 years old and want so much out of life. It is a matter of taking my time to organize my life.
Things Happen
The tax lien on my credit had me tripping, but I sent letters with the documentation to the credit bureaus Monday. Where there's a will there's a way.
My friend had her entire federal tax refund taken because she didn't pay her student loans on time.
Preparation is always key. You never know what the cosmos has in store for you. That is why it is beneficial to do right by your money. I have been working professionally for the last 9 years. How much money do I have saved or invested? In my eyes, the purchase of my rental properties is the only good thing I have done with my money.
Learn from others mistakes and do the right thing. Live for tomorrow not for today. The money you spend could be used for your future. Think about it.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Will Everything Be Fine in 09? Sure they Will!
In my life it seems everytime I try to make a change something awful tends to occur. Honestly, I don't know what the problem is. The stars and the moon must not be aligned in my favor, who knows.
I was motivated about the year and now I am down and out. I know things will look up, but when? I seriously don't know. In my last post I was excited about the changes I have made in my life. As for this post, I don't know whether I am coming or going.
Here's What Happened
I let someone put a vehicle in my name and guess what happened to me? Now, I have a tax lien of $8,743.00 on my credit report. Eventhough the vehicle is no longer in my name this still has fallen on me. This is crazy, I never saw the car, drive the car, or had anything to do with the car, but this is a problem for me. I went to the tag office and they gave me a print out of where the vehicle hasn't been in my name since 2003 and it shows there are no liens on it. Learning lesson, don't give anyone your social security number for any reason. The car had no liens on it at all, but somewhere someone dropped the ball and now the problems goes to me. Aren't I the lucky one?
I can't file my taxes and school is about to start. I was looking for us a house, but that is not an option until this gets taken off of my report.
As of now, my credit scores are:
Equifax 576
Experian 546
Transunion 576
That sucks! Things happen for a reason and regardless it can only get better.
My Bills
Liam: 1,481
ING: 300
Student Loans: Another Thing
As of now all I am concerned with is getting a higher credit score. I am not in a financial situation where I can just ball out of control. That is where I want to be.
Another thing, one of my tenants may be moving due to an increase in her family. So if it's not one thing it's another. Thought about selling that house, but I may just lose money. I guess I need to lay low and just continue to rent it out.
My life feels like a big bag of chaos. I am spiraling out of control and I don't know what to do to get it back in order. My mind is running a million miles an hour. My eye has been jumping and I am not doing anything with the time I am given daily. I have been crying a lot too. I may be stressed or it my be depression. Whatever the cause I don't want any medication. I pride myself on not being a pill popper. I try to handle things without drugs.
As for my financial state, financial freedom will be mine. I will continue to keep it moving. Not let the petty things get me down. Pay off as much as I can and not look back. I will learn from my mistakes as well as others. Use what I write and read to lay the foundation of my financial success. I know things will happen, but it is not how you handle it, but what you do with it.
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I was motivated about the year and now I am down and out. I know things will look up, but when? I seriously don't know. In my last post I was excited about the changes I have made in my life. As for this post, I don't know whether I am coming or going.
Here's What Happened
I let someone put a vehicle in my name and guess what happened to me? Now, I have a tax lien of $8,743.00 on my credit report. Eventhough the vehicle is no longer in my name this still has fallen on me. This is crazy, I never saw the car, drive the car, or had anything to do with the car, but this is a problem for me. I went to the tag office and they gave me a print out of where the vehicle hasn't been in my name since 2003 and it shows there are no liens on it. Learning lesson, don't give anyone your social security number for any reason. The car had no liens on it at all, but somewhere someone dropped the ball and now the problems goes to me. Aren't I the lucky one?
I can't file my taxes and school is about to start. I was looking for us a house, but that is not an option until this gets taken off of my report.
As of now, my credit scores are:
Equifax 576
Experian 546
Transunion 576
That sucks! Things happen for a reason and regardless it can only get better.
My Bills
Liam: 1,481
ING: 300
Student Loans: Another Thing
As of now all I am concerned with is getting a higher credit score. I am not in a financial situation where I can just ball out of control. That is where I want to be.
Another thing, one of my tenants may be moving due to an increase in her family. So if it's not one thing it's another. Thought about selling that house, but I may just lose money. I guess I need to lay low and just continue to rent it out.
My life feels like a big bag of chaos. I am spiraling out of control and I don't know what to do to get it back in order. My mind is running a million miles an hour. My eye has been jumping and I am not doing anything with the time I am given daily. I have been crying a lot too. I may be stressed or it my be depression. Whatever the cause I don't want any medication. I pride myself on not being a pill popper. I try to handle things without drugs.
As for my financial state, financial freedom will be mine. I will continue to keep it moving. Not let the petty things get me down. Pay off as much as I can and not look back. I will learn from my mistakes as well as others. Use what I write and read to lay the foundation of my financial success. I know things will happen, but it is not how you handle it, but what you do with it.
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