Tuesday, November 27, 2012

A New Year starts today.

So it has been a year since I stood on the scale at Jake's house and weighed 279lbs.
I'm currently 251lbs. Not the best I've ever done in a year, but it is a start. I'm not down about it.

Do you have your New Years Resolution Goals set yet? I do. If you don't you should probably get to them starting right now. No time like the present. If it is something like lose weight, then start right now, and don't eat the holiday sweets. Waiting until after the holiday is like saying I'll stop drinking after I get alcohol poisoning. Just doesn't make much sense. This evening, my buddy Daniel talked about his new work out equipment and his new workout room tonight. He celebrated it with drinking nothing but water. I am super impressed and proud of him for doing so. It was our Thanksgiving after all, why not throw a few back?

My final resolution goal from last year WILL be accomplished by the end of this year as well. In case you don't feel like scrolling to the beginnning of the year, it was to get my finances in order.
I won't be out of debt, but I will have them in order. I am making some extreme decisions and I have some great friends and family who support me in this endeavor. Here is what I'm doing.

The first and foremost thing I am doing is getting rid of my '07 Dodge Charger. I still have payments on it but I am going to turn the cards in and tell them I can't pay it. It will hurt my credit (which is awful anyway) and won't look back. It was a very, very fun year with the vehicle and I don't regret actually getting the Charger. But right now I pay over $700 a month on bills for the vehicle alone. That is before gas, which I paid ~$70 every 1-2 weeks.

The second thing is I'm downsizing again. I sold my Yorkie Joey, selling old college text books (technical ones for computer Networking and Security if anyone is interested), and will be getting rid of other things such as totes full of cabling and other junk. Stuff I just don't USE and have hung on to for years. I don't need them. I hardly do any computer maintenance side work now a days. So, it will be rid of. My current computer will be formatted and installed with some basics and made into a server. I don't know yet if I want it to be a media server or not. Probably will. It has be capability. I am also gonna try and make some gaming servers on there for myself and friends.

The third thing is I'm moving. My friend has lent me her spare bedroom in her apartment rent free for Linux and I. We've discussed for about 3 months, but I'm sure if i need a little more time rent free she'd give it to me. But hopefully I'll be back to paying regular bills after 90 days.

So why the extremity you might ask? Well there are a couple reasons...

The obvious one is I don't want debt anymore. I have around 3 grand in Credit card debt, $300 to taxes, and I'm behind on my student loans. Those three months I will have approximately $1200 per month to spend. So most of the debt, if not all, will be gone. The only thing I would have is student loans, but I'd be pretty much caught up on them too if I play my money right.

The second one is that I am still dedicated to working out. I own a mountain bike, I've fixed it up and it works smoothly. My work, my gym, and my friends are all around a 5 mile block radius. (That's what kinda happens when you grow up in one location for so long.) There are a few exceptions who live god awful far, but those visits are never without a FB invitation with a few weeks notice. I would be able to find a ride to and from without a doubt.

Speaking of which, I am thankful to be surrounded by people who enjoy helping people.  All of my friends would give me a ride if I needed it, and I hope they know to not hesitate when they need to ask me. I have a car available to me when it is not in use by its owner, my parents are close and willing to help. They encourage me to face this task of lowering my credit score even further in hopes for a better future. Not to mention the task of being carless for three months at the very least.

The third and probably final reason is I want to travel. I have friends who are scattered across the country now that they are in the military. I also have friends I've made through Facebook who I have grown close with. Ya know, I have never used any currency besides the American Dollar? I want that to change. GOING on trips isn't difficult with my job, they give me plenty of PTO, I just don't have the funds to go anywhere. Hell, right now I don't have the funds to get a passport. Yup, I said it. I am 23 and don't have my passport yet. I've never needed it.

SO, there is my main New Years resolution.

Losing weight isn't taking a back burner though. My gym is a mile away from where I'm moving, and like I said I have a bike. In relation to weightloss, my goal is to have a six pack by the end of the year. Do you think I can do it? Words of encouragement WILL be needed. My friend Monica has given me a card for a personal trainer. I'm seriously considering it.

On a completely side note, here is a different way to consider what is called "The America Dream" I've passed this to a few friends, and I have listened to it more than once. Listen, enjoy, and maybe consider.


~Just a thought

"There are thousands and thousands of people out there living lives of quiet, screaming desperation who work long, hard hours, at jobs they hate, to enable them to buy things they don't need to impress people they don't like." - Nigel Marsh


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