It's officially 2011, the first year in the second decade of the twenty-first century. NPR promises on Obama's new year resolution list is "fix economy." Oh, comedy. The last few weeks have been non-stop parties. I'm ready for a vacation from vacation. There are two weeks until school starts, approximately one and a half before refund checks are cut, and thus I will use all my magical unicorn powers to keep utilities from getting shut off until nigh around the 12th or, perhaps earlier. Personal blogs seem out of style since you can post your life minute by minute with twitter, facebook, and a myriad of other "network communities" I don't even know about. But, since I only pick up my journal to jot tearful regrets and angry shoddily-constructed sentences, I decided this might be a nice tool to center and reset every now and then, especially when the semester seems daunting and I'm on the computer anyway.
My biggest goals have financial implications. One, I vow to save a lot of money from these student loan checks for possible future move(s), travel, and house/yard renovations. But before I can start to save money, I must spend some. Some things I will be spending on: bills, bills, bills. Time to get caught up for real. I have been spending the last year trying to be more financially responsible and I am finally going to be at a point to pay off much of my debt (that isn't school related that is), ironically, by using low-interest federal student loans (read: accumulating more debt). However, I can dance with the feds (at least in the student loan area) more easily than I can with old landlords, medical debt collectors, and the light bill folks. Secondly, I am going to fix my car. If I cannot fix it for under a certain allotment, I might have to think about replacing it. Third, I desire to replace my kitchen floor with affordable, "sandstone" stick on vinyl flooring-- white is a ridiculous color where shoes walk and food falls. Finally, I'm taking myself on a shopping spree for new clothes-- they must be classy and/or of a vintage look and appropriate to wear as a student teacher on campus-- giving the allure of professionalism and class. I will also be seeking to upgrade my phone-- which I tend to regret immediately upon doing so, and/or buying a photographic recording device. Honestly, other than that I believe I'm set. My boyfriend's amazing mother basically stocked my kitchen with all needed appliances and tools, and I don't want for much else. Having money in the bank for my planned garden, traveling several times this year, and any expenses which might crop up is my final act of financial responsibility.
At any rate, I plan on being so fully immersed in my studies that I mostly live between campus and home, nary away from a laptop (I also might upgrade to a mac...or at least get this old boot repolished), that I don't even have time to spend money after my initial cash-freak-out. And my monthly stipend will grow exponentially with every direct deposit. So that on spring break I can travel to SXSW, and during the summer break I can fulfill my dreams of a long and much needed road trip to the west coast.
Awwww (*sigh*), this week and the next are for organization, figuring out my schedule at school, figuring out how much I'll be spending on books, building bookshelves for last semester's books, and practicing waking up early and staying busy all day.
I'm seriously ready to rock the shit out of 2011. Why not?
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