2013, I am ready!! Why? Because it is 2013 of course.
I am in the process of refreshing the blog for 2013. Starting tomorrow, one of my goals is to keep the blog updated on a weekly basis.
See you next year!
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. ---e. e. cummings
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Monday, December 31, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Marlin vs. Dory
I love Finding Nemo. This is one of my new favorite movies! I love the theme of letting go of those fears that hold you back.
We are on the countdown to the last and the biggest race of the year! Beach 2 Battleship is next Saturday. This will be a big milestone race for me and a great way to end the season. Beach 2 Battleship consists of a 1.2 mile swim in the intercostal waterway, a 56 mile bike ride, and a 13.1 mile run. This is known as a “half Ironman” distance race. It is hard to believe that two years ago, my endurance could only take me 25 yards in the pool, around 5 miles on a bike, and about a ½ mile running.
The strange thing that I have learned in my journey to this point is that much of my obstacles are not my endurance, my knees, the discomfort of 3 hours + on a bike, or the navigating in open water. My biggest obstacles are in my head. Over the last two years of triathlons, I have been forced to face one of my greatest fears, water. Growing up, we went to the community pool a few times each summer. I also took swim lessons for several years during the summer in my elementary schools years. I never really gained a comfort or confidence in the water during these experiences. My mom was also out of school during the summers, so as expected she was the one who was at the pool with me. The problem was that my mom has the swimming confidence of a rock! I say swimming confidence and not skill, because I can’t say I have ever seen my mom try to swim. Every so often, she has gotten in the water, but that is about it. I remember the stories that she almost did not graduate college due to having to pass a swim test. I also remember the confidence inspiring phrase; “don’t go too far, because I can’t save you.” To say that I have a healthy fear of the water may be too soft.
I don’t remember swimming again until the summer after 6th grade at Boy Scout camp. During the first few hours you are there, you have to take a swim test to determine your level. In my defense, the water felt sub-zero. In reality it was probably in the low 70s. The test was to jump in the lake, swim down and back beside the dock twice. I jumped in and almost made it down once before having to be pulled out. The next time I tried to swim…..the next summer at a different Boy Scout Camp. That time, I think fear and adrenaline got me to the end.
Flash forward to freshman year at UNCW. We had about 2 weeks of swimming in PE 101 on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. This was 6, 1 hour classes. I think I made it to 4 of these and suffered my way through. Four years later, I was in the water again, but this time it was in Mexico snorkeling. I felt that I would be fine since I had a life jacket, but I still remember feeling nervous before I jumped in.
In summary, I would say my lifetime swimming distance prior to two years ago was less than 500 yards. Like many triathletes, my first experience with the sport was watching the Ironman World Championship on tv. I remember thinking how hard and how cool that looked. The one problem, I could not swim. Over the last two years, I have progressed from struggling to enjoying swimming. I am not fast. Compared to most triathletes, I am very slow. But, the speed will come over time. What has been strange is that no matter how many times I am in the water, I still get that voice in my head that thinks back to childhood that says “you are not good in the water”. I was to the point of almost quitting 1 hour before a race this season because of this voice. Thankfully, I did not quit and finished slow, but fine. This was a victory. The next race, the voice was still there, but a little softer because of my prior race success.
My hope is that I will find my confidence and the voice will disappear forever. I greatly enjoy this crazy sport of triathlon and dream of one day racing Ironman in Kona. But for now, in the words of Dory; “Just keep swimming”.
We are on the countdown to the last and the biggest race of the year! Beach 2 Battleship is next Saturday. This will be a big milestone race for me and a great way to end the season. Beach 2 Battleship consists of a 1.2 mile swim in the intercostal waterway, a 56 mile bike ride, and a 13.1 mile run. This is known as a “half Ironman” distance race. It is hard to believe that two years ago, my endurance could only take me 25 yards in the pool, around 5 miles on a bike, and about a ½ mile running.
The strange thing that I have learned in my journey to this point is that much of my obstacles are not my endurance, my knees, the discomfort of 3 hours + on a bike, or the navigating in open water. My biggest obstacles are in my head. Over the last two years of triathlons, I have been forced to face one of my greatest fears, water. Growing up, we went to the community pool a few times each summer. I also took swim lessons for several years during the summer in my elementary schools years. I never really gained a comfort or confidence in the water during these experiences. My mom was also out of school during the summers, so as expected she was the one who was at the pool with me. The problem was that my mom has the swimming confidence of a rock! I say swimming confidence and not skill, because I can’t say I have ever seen my mom try to swim. Every so often, she has gotten in the water, but that is about it. I remember the stories that she almost did not graduate college due to having to pass a swim test. I also remember the confidence inspiring phrase; “don’t go too far, because I can’t save you.” To say that I have a healthy fear of the water may be too soft.
I don’t remember swimming again until the summer after 6th grade at Boy Scout camp. During the first few hours you are there, you have to take a swim test to determine your level. In my defense, the water felt sub-zero. In reality it was probably in the low 70s. The test was to jump in the lake, swim down and back beside the dock twice. I jumped in and almost made it down once before having to be pulled out. The next time I tried to swim…..the next summer at a different Boy Scout Camp. That time, I think fear and adrenaline got me to the end.
Flash forward to freshman year at UNCW. We had about 2 weeks of swimming in PE 101 on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. This was 6, 1 hour classes. I think I made it to 4 of these and suffered my way through. Four years later, I was in the water again, but this time it was in Mexico snorkeling. I felt that I would be fine since I had a life jacket, but I still remember feeling nervous before I jumped in.
In summary, I would say my lifetime swimming distance prior to two years ago was less than 500 yards. Like many triathletes, my first experience with the sport was watching the Ironman World Championship on tv. I remember thinking how hard and how cool that looked. The one problem, I could not swim. Over the last two years, I have progressed from struggling to enjoying swimming. I am not fast. Compared to most triathletes, I am very slow. But, the speed will come over time. What has been strange is that no matter how many times I am in the water, I still get that voice in my head that thinks back to childhood that says “you are not good in the water”. I was to the point of almost quitting 1 hour before a race this season because of this voice. Thankfully, I did not quit and finished slow, but fine. This was a victory. The next race, the voice was still there, but a little softer because of my prior race success.
My hope is that I will find my confidence and the voice will disappear forever. I greatly enjoy this crazy sport of triathlon and dream of one day racing Ironman in Kona. But for now, in the words of Dory; “Just keep swimming”.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
A Journey in Personal Finance: part 1
Debt. It is amazing how this one word can start conversations and debates that last forever. There are hundreds of books on the market on personal finance. How to budget, pay off debt, live debt-free, file bankruptcy, gain wealth, become a millionaire by working from home, and the list goes on and on. All of these books and systems are written by smart people. Some are financially educated, there are also the “learn from my mistakes” people, and there are the pure sales and marketing people. The ironic part for me is that all of these books and financial education cost money. So, this industry is making its money on exactly those that don’t have it to spend.
Debt has been around for centuries. But with technology, over the last 30 years in the United States debt has become an epidemic. The two sides of the fence both blame each other. The financial industry argues that personal responsibility should be the focus, where the consumers argue that deceptive lending practices and fees are the cause. As with many topics, there is truth on both sides in addition to false information.
I believe that personal debt is a lifestyle choice. We as people have the choice to go into debt to buy anything, a house, car, education, furniture, vacations, electronics, food, etc. Anything that you can thing of can be purchased on credit. The easy answer to staying out of debt is to only purchase that which you have the cash to pay for. But is that practical or even possible in the United States today?
In order to drive a car on the road as a teen driver in NC, you are required to pass a driver’s education course, a driving test, a sign test, a written test, and prove that you have liability insurance coverage in the event that you cause damage. In order to get a credit card, in some cases you simply need to be 18 years old and be able to sign your name. I like the personal responsibility argument, but I believe that the financial industry does not seem to understand or care that in order to claim personal responsibility, the person needs to have a fundamental understanding of the consequences of their actions.
I have a 3 year old and there are those times as a parent that I have to intervene in order for her to stay safe. If she is running in the driveway and gets too close to the road, I make sure to pull her back. I then try and explain that there are cars in the street and they could hurt her if she got hit. She will now say, “Daddy hold me. There are cars and if we get hit we will get a boo-boo and have to go to the hospital.” Simple, but she gets it. As consumers, why don’t we have the education to know that if we finance something we buy, that there is interest and fees, and interest rate increases if we are late on the payment?
According to jumpstart.org, currently there are only 4 states in the US that require at least one semester in personal finance in order to graduate. These are Utah, Missouri, Tennessee, and Virginia. There are several states that have personal finance worked into other areas or as electives, but there are still 26 states that have no requirement that personal finance is taught as part of the curriculum. Since financial education it not taught in more than half the country’s public schools, how do most people learn about personal finance? Unfortunately so often the case, it is by trail and error.
With no formal unbiased instruction, we as Americans are left to figure out personal finance on our own. Have you ever tried to learn a new sport, craft, or do-it-yourself project without someone to show you the right way to do it? Most of the time you end up developing bad habits or form, or have to complete repairs too early due to poor prep. Our personal finance is the same way. The difference is that a poor golf swing or drywall finishing technique may cost you a few extra hours of labor or strokes. A poor understanding of personal finance can lead to debt collectors, bankruptcy, not being able to retire, foreclosure, divorce, and too often depression and suicide.
The goal in writing this is to provide people with an understanding of how the system works for and against you, and how to live a more informed life. It would be ridiculous to assume that people will stop using credit all together as some famous financial personalities would have you do. The reason is that credit at its core can be good. Think of it as it relates to food. All of the diet fads that have you remove carbs, or fat, or sugar all claim big results. But, nobody ever has long term success because it takes all of these to maintain a healthy nutritional balance. Credit, as part of a healthy financial plan is good.
The first step in this journey is to understand that most people have a motive that does not involve helping you as a individual. If that was their only motivation, either you would not be able to afford their services, or they are doing this on a volunteer basis. The fact is that almost everyone giving out financial advise has someone to answer to. People are accountable to sponsors, producers, corporate quotas, commissions, and their own greed. They are happy to give you advise, but understand they know the hand that feeds them.
Teaching personal finance takes a two sided approach. We need to teach our children and youth about personal finance in order for them to develop good habits and a understanding of the system. In addition, those who already have experience with personal finance need to be educated on what they learned on their own so that bad habits can be corrected.
So, lets get started.
Personal finance at its core is debits (-) and credits (+). Debits being those things that you spend and credit being money you make. To win the game, your goal is to have your credits exceed your debits. The math is the easy part. The hard part is the psychology. When we get the “I wants” we too often find a way for the numbers to “work for us”. This is when we start loosing ground. Lets look at an example.
John starts his first job at Save-A-Lot in the management training program making $25,000 gross. He is single and has a roommate that he can split the rent with. John has no credit established as he does not have a credit card and his car is an older model that his parents bought him in high school. This is what John’s monthly financial statement looks like:
Gross Income: $2,083.33
Taxes: $624.99
Insurance: $150.00
401k $104.16
Net Income: $1,204.18
Expenses:
Rent & utilities:$450.00
Food: $120.00
Gas: $150.00
Savings: $180.00
Personal Hygiene $50.00
Car Insurance: $75.00
Entertainment $100.00
Cell Phone $50.00
Misc. expenses: $29.18
John has a good plan. He is starting to build a savings balance that will serve first as an emergency fund in the event that a large expense comes up or he loses his job. The fund should be 3-6 months worth of expenses. In John’s case his emergency fund needs to be between $3,522.54 and $6,7,045.08. How did I get this number? I used John’s net income of $1,204.18 subtracted his monthly savings and added back his health insurance. If John lost his job, he would still need basic insurance but he would not need to worry about putting money into savings.
Does John need credit? Answer: not yet. Some would say that this is a good time to establish credit with a small credit card. That way when it comes time for a newer car, John will have a good credit score and will be able to get a good rate. The reality is that we tend to buy much earlier than is needed.
The Trap:
John has a good job, is making money, and thinks; “you know, this car has a lot of miles on it and I do not have enough in savings for a big repair if that comes. And besides, the dealership is running some great year end deals with 72 month 0% financing. A new car would have a warranty, so if something went wrong, I would be covered.” So, off to the dealership John goes. The sales person is very nice and makes John feel great that he has a good job that will have an increasing salary since he will be management soon. The sale person shows John a few models and points out all the “new” features. John is amazed because his current car still has an 8 track and towels as seat covers. The salesman then explains that if John buys today that he can get the car with no money down. This is great! John has only been savings for 4 months so he would rather keep his savings of $720.00 in the bank. The finance officer has John fill in the credit application after John has already been drooling over the car for the last hour. The officer then explains that since John does not have any credit he will not qualify for the 0% financing. John is devastated. He has already texted his roommate bragging about his new ride and posted a picture on facebook. The financial officer explains that he can “help John out” and get him financing at for his new car for 72 months at $362 per month on the $19,000 price tag. The payment is a lot higher than John was thinking, but he is expecting a raise in 8 months and the new car gets better gas mileage so he will just cut some things back a little to make it work. So, John signs the paperwork and smiles on the way home with his new car. (I wonder if John noticed the 10.99% rate?)
John soon realizes that 30 mpg vs. his old 17 mpg car only makes a difference of $72 per month in gas. So, John has cut all savings from his budget and he is still $110 short. John decides since he was able to get a car, maybe he should mail in the credit card offer he got in the mail in order to fill the gap until his promotion. The credit card application is approved at 23% interest, and John decides to only put his gas cost on it.
As expected, John’s raise comes in 8 months. John’s salary has increased to $35,000 with his new title of Jr. Manager. John decides to evaluate his budget.
John’s monthly financial statement looks like:
Gross Income: $2,916.66
Taxes: $874.99
Insurance: $150.00
401k $145.83
Net Income: $1,745.84
Expenses:
Rent & utilities:$450.00
Food: $120.00
Gas: $80.00
Car: $362.00
Credit card $30.00 ($20 over the minimum)
Savings: $200.00
Personal Hygiene $50.00
Car Insurance: $75.00
Entertainment $200.00
Cell Phone $50.00
Misc. expenses: $128.84
John decided that it was time to restart his savings after draining it down to help cover expenses after buying the car. John’s balance sheet now looks like this:
Assets:
Car: $16,875 (800 miles per month for 8 months: 6,400 total miles)
Savings: $200.00 (after this months payment)
Total: $17,075
Debts:
Credit Card: $620 (making the minimum payment for the last 8 months, which only paid the interest a little of principal)
Car Loan: $17,450
Net worth: -$995
John is not happy, but he knows that things will start looking up now that he is paying more on the credit card balance. One week later, John gets some great news! His roommate got engaged and the bachelor weekend is going to be in Vegas! John quickly books his fly and hotel on the credit card because he can’t miss his roommate’s party. The credit card that had a limit of $2,000 is now at $1,500 with the addition of the trip. John is concerned that he may go over his limit on the trip, so he calls the bank and since John has been making his minimum payments for the last 8 months, they gladly up the limit to $5,000. John knows that will be more than enough.
John returns from Vegas with a credit card balance of $2,400. He is very glad he had the limit increased. As John is making a plan as to how to begin paying the balance down, it hits him; “If my roommate is getting married, I will need to find a new roommate or my rent will be going up.” John thinks, “I am not in college any more and I don’t want a stranger living with me.” John decides to pay to rent by himself. Now John’s budget looks like this:
Net Income: $1,745.84
Expenses:
Rent & utilities:$900.00
Food: $120.00
Gas: $80.00
Car: $362.00
Credit card $50.00 ( the new minimum payment, balance of $2,400)
Savings: $0.00 (total savings balance $200.00)
Personal Hygiene $50.00
Car Insurance: $75.00
Entertainment $50.00
Cell Phone $50.00
Misc. expenses: $8.84
After one year on the job, John is on the same road as many Americans. Living month to month with little to no savings, credit card balances, an upside down car loan, and stress trying to keep up.
Let’s now look at John’s twin brother Jimmy. Jimmy also being in the management training program driving a 1993 Chevy Corsica has a lot in common with John. Jimmy decided that he was going to live by himself early on due to most people not understanding his hobby of collecting porcelain cats. Jimmy found a small one bedroom apartment in a safe but older area from $500 a month. Jimmy budget looks like this:
Gross Income: $2,083.33
Taxes: $624.99
Insurance: $150.00
401k $104.16
Net Income: $1,204.18
Expenses:
Rent & utilities:$500.00
Food: $120.00
Gas: $150.00
Savings: $125.00
Personal Hygiene $50.00
Car Insurance: $75.00
Cat collection $100.00
Cell Phone $50.00
Misc. expenses: $34.18
Jimmy hears John talk about his new car after they have both been working for 4 months. Jimmy knows that his car is a piece of junk and no ladies will ride in it, but he also understands that based on his current income, his money is best put in savings. As the year goes by, Jimmy continues to save and get mocked in the parking lot by John and John’s roommate from John’s new car for the P.O.S. that Jimmy is driving. Jimmy quickly fires back that if they don’t stop the porcelain “witch” cat that he just got off of craigslist will cast a spell on him.
John decides to make peace with Jimmy after they both get promoted to Jr. Manager by inviting Jimmy to Vegas. Jimmy thanks him for the offer and looks at his financials.
Net Income: $1,745.84 (after raise
Expenses:
Rent & utilities:$500.00
Food: $120.00
Gas: $150.00
Savings: $500.00
Personal Hygiene $50.00
Car Insurance: $75.00
Cat Collection: $100.00
Cell Phone $50.00
Misc. expenses: $200.84
Assets:
Car: $1 (basically worthless)
Savings: $2,000.00 (after this months payment)
Total: $2,001.00
Debts:
Zero
Net worth: $2,001.00
Jimmy knows that his beloved 1993 Chevy will not make it much longer, so he decides to stay at home. This was a hard decision as Jimmy was glad to feel included, but he knew he did not need to spend the money.
………………………………………………………………….
What will happen next to John and Jimmy? Find out with the next post.
Debt has been around for centuries. But with technology, over the last 30 years in the United States debt has become an epidemic. The two sides of the fence both blame each other. The financial industry argues that personal responsibility should be the focus, where the consumers argue that deceptive lending practices and fees are the cause. As with many topics, there is truth on both sides in addition to false information.
I believe that personal debt is a lifestyle choice. We as people have the choice to go into debt to buy anything, a house, car, education, furniture, vacations, electronics, food, etc. Anything that you can thing of can be purchased on credit. The easy answer to staying out of debt is to only purchase that which you have the cash to pay for. But is that practical or even possible in the United States today?
In order to drive a car on the road as a teen driver in NC, you are required to pass a driver’s education course, a driving test, a sign test, a written test, and prove that you have liability insurance coverage in the event that you cause damage. In order to get a credit card, in some cases you simply need to be 18 years old and be able to sign your name. I like the personal responsibility argument, but I believe that the financial industry does not seem to understand or care that in order to claim personal responsibility, the person needs to have a fundamental understanding of the consequences of their actions.
I have a 3 year old and there are those times as a parent that I have to intervene in order for her to stay safe. If she is running in the driveway and gets too close to the road, I make sure to pull her back. I then try and explain that there are cars in the street and they could hurt her if she got hit. She will now say, “Daddy hold me. There are cars and if we get hit we will get a boo-boo and have to go to the hospital.” Simple, but she gets it. As consumers, why don’t we have the education to know that if we finance something we buy, that there is interest and fees, and interest rate increases if we are late on the payment?
According to jumpstart.org, currently there are only 4 states in the US that require at least one semester in personal finance in order to graduate. These are Utah, Missouri, Tennessee, and Virginia. There are several states that have personal finance worked into other areas or as electives, but there are still 26 states that have no requirement that personal finance is taught as part of the curriculum. Since financial education it not taught in more than half the country’s public schools, how do most people learn about personal finance? Unfortunately so often the case, it is by trail and error.
With no formal unbiased instruction, we as Americans are left to figure out personal finance on our own. Have you ever tried to learn a new sport, craft, or do-it-yourself project without someone to show you the right way to do it? Most of the time you end up developing bad habits or form, or have to complete repairs too early due to poor prep. Our personal finance is the same way. The difference is that a poor golf swing or drywall finishing technique may cost you a few extra hours of labor or strokes. A poor understanding of personal finance can lead to debt collectors, bankruptcy, not being able to retire, foreclosure, divorce, and too often depression and suicide.
The goal in writing this is to provide people with an understanding of how the system works for and against you, and how to live a more informed life. It would be ridiculous to assume that people will stop using credit all together as some famous financial personalities would have you do. The reason is that credit at its core can be good. Think of it as it relates to food. All of the diet fads that have you remove carbs, or fat, or sugar all claim big results. But, nobody ever has long term success because it takes all of these to maintain a healthy nutritional balance. Credit, as part of a healthy financial plan is good.
The first step in this journey is to understand that most people have a motive that does not involve helping you as a individual. If that was their only motivation, either you would not be able to afford their services, or they are doing this on a volunteer basis. The fact is that almost everyone giving out financial advise has someone to answer to. People are accountable to sponsors, producers, corporate quotas, commissions, and their own greed. They are happy to give you advise, but understand they know the hand that feeds them.
Teaching personal finance takes a two sided approach. We need to teach our children and youth about personal finance in order for them to develop good habits and a understanding of the system. In addition, those who already have experience with personal finance need to be educated on what they learned on their own so that bad habits can be corrected.
So, lets get started.
Personal finance at its core is debits (-) and credits (+). Debits being those things that you spend and credit being money you make. To win the game, your goal is to have your credits exceed your debits. The math is the easy part. The hard part is the psychology. When we get the “I wants” we too often find a way for the numbers to “work for us”. This is when we start loosing ground. Lets look at an example.
John starts his first job at Save-A-Lot in the management training program making $25,000 gross. He is single and has a roommate that he can split the rent with. John has no credit established as he does not have a credit card and his car is an older model that his parents bought him in high school. This is what John’s monthly financial statement looks like:
Gross Income: $2,083.33
Taxes: $624.99
Insurance: $150.00
401k $104.16
Net Income: $1,204.18
Expenses:
Rent & utilities:$450.00
Food: $120.00
Gas: $150.00
Savings: $180.00
Personal Hygiene $50.00
Car Insurance: $75.00
Entertainment $100.00
Cell Phone $50.00
Misc. expenses: $29.18
John has a good plan. He is starting to build a savings balance that will serve first as an emergency fund in the event that a large expense comes up or he loses his job. The fund should be 3-6 months worth of expenses. In John’s case his emergency fund needs to be between $3,522.54 and $6,7,045.08. How did I get this number? I used John’s net income of $1,204.18 subtracted his monthly savings and added back his health insurance. If John lost his job, he would still need basic insurance but he would not need to worry about putting money into savings.
Does John need credit? Answer: not yet. Some would say that this is a good time to establish credit with a small credit card. That way when it comes time for a newer car, John will have a good credit score and will be able to get a good rate. The reality is that we tend to buy much earlier than is needed.
The Trap:
John has a good job, is making money, and thinks; “you know, this car has a lot of miles on it and I do not have enough in savings for a big repair if that comes. And besides, the dealership is running some great year end deals with 72 month 0% financing. A new car would have a warranty, so if something went wrong, I would be covered.” So, off to the dealership John goes. The sales person is very nice and makes John feel great that he has a good job that will have an increasing salary since he will be management soon. The sale person shows John a few models and points out all the “new” features. John is amazed because his current car still has an 8 track and towels as seat covers. The salesman then explains that if John buys today that he can get the car with no money down. This is great! John has only been savings for 4 months so he would rather keep his savings of $720.00 in the bank. The finance officer has John fill in the credit application after John has already been drooling over the car for the last hour. The officer then explains that since John does not have any credit he will not qualify for the 0% financing. John is devastated. He has already texted his roommate bragging about his new ride and posted a picture on facebook. The financial officer explains that he can “help John out” and get him financing at for his new car for 72 months at $362 per month on the $19,000 price tag. The payment is a lot higher than John was thinking, but he is expecting a raise in 8 months and the new car gets better gas mileage so he will just cut some things back a little to make it work. So, John signs the paperwork and smiles on the way home with his new car. (I wonder if John noticed the 10.99% rate?)
John soon realizes that 30 mpg vs. his old 17 mpg car only makes a difference of $72 per month in gas. So, John has cut all savings from his budget and he is still $110 short. John decides since he was able to get a car, maybe he should mail in the credit card offer he got in the mail in order to fill the gap until his promotion. The credit card application is approved at 23% interest, and John decides to only put his gas cost on it.
As expected, John’s raise comes in 8 months. John’s salary has increased to $35,000 with his new title of Jr. Manager. John decides to evaluate his budget.
John’s monthly financial statement looks like:
Gross Income: $2,916.66
Taxes: $874.99
Insurance: $150.00
401k $145.83
Net Income: $1,745.84
Expenses:
Rent & utilities:$450.00
Food: $120.00
Gas: $80.00
Car: $362.00
Credit card $30.00 ($20 over the minimum)
Savings: $200.00
Personal Hygiene $50.00
Car Insurance: $75.00
Entertainment $200.00
Cell Phone $50.00
Misc. expenses: $128.84
John decided that it was time to restart his savings after draining it down to help cover expenses after buying the car. John’s balance sheet now looks like this:
Assets:
Car: $16,875 (800 miles per month for 8 months: 6,400 total miles)
Savings: $200.00 (after this months payment)
Total: $17,075
Debts:
Credit Card: $620 (making the minimum payment for the last 8 months, which only paid the interest a little of principal)
Car Loan: $17,450
Net worth: -$995
John is not happy, but he knows that things will start looking up now that he is paying more on the credit card balance. One week later, John gets some great news! His roommate got engaged and the bachelor weekend is going to be in Vegas! John quickly books his fly and hotel on the credit card because he can’t miss his roommate’s party. The credit card that had a limit of $2,000 is now at $1,500 with the addition of the trip. John is concerned that he may go over his limit on the trip, so he calls the bank and since John has been making his minimum payments for the last 8 months, they gladly up the limit to $5,000. John knows that will be more than enough.
John returns from Vegas with a credit card balance of $2,400. He is very glad he had the limit increased. As John is making a plan as to how to begin paying the balance down, it hits him; “If my roommate is getting married, I will need to find a new roommate or my rent will be going up.” John thinks, “I am not in college any more and I don’t want a stranger living with me.” John decides to pay to rent by himself. Now John’s budget looks like this:
Net Income: $1,745.84
Expenses:
Rent & utilities:$900.00
Food: $120.00
Gas: $80.00
Car: $362.00
Credit card $50.00 ( the new minimum payment, balance of $2,400)
Savings: $0.00 (total savings balance $200.00)
Personal Hygiene $50.00
Car Insurance: $75.00
Entertainment $50.00
Cell Phone $50.00
Misc. expenses: $8.84
After one year on the job, John is on the same road as many Americans. Living month to month with little to no savings, credit card balances, an upside down car loan, and stress trying to keep up.
Let’s now look at John’s twin brother Jimmy. Jimmy also being in the management training program driving a 1993 Chevy Corsica has a lot in common with John. Jimmy decided that he was going to live by himself early on due to most people not understanding his hobby of collecting porcelain cats. Jimmy found a small one bedroom apartment in a safe but older area from $500 a month. Jimmy budget looks like this:
Gross Income: $2,083.33
Taxes: $624.99
Insurance: $150.00
401k $104.16
Net Income: $1,204.18
Expenses:
Rent & utilities:$500.00
Food: $120.00
Gas: $150.00
Savings: $125.00
Personal Hygiene $50.00
Car Insurance: $75.00
Cat collection $100.00
Cell Phone $50.00
Misc. expenses: $34.18
Jimmy hears John talk about his new car after they have both been working for 4 months. Jimmy knows that his car is a piece of junk and no ladies will ride in it, but he also understands that based on his current income, his money is best put in savings. As the year goes by, Jimmy continues to save and get mocked in the parking lot by John and John’s roommate from John’s new car for the P.O.S. that Jimmy is driving. Jimmy quickly fires back that if they don’t stop the porcelain “witch” cat that he just got off of craigslist will cast a spell on him.
John decides to make peace with Jimmy after they both get promoted to Jr. Manager by inviting Jimmy to Vegas. Jimmy thanks him for the offer and looks at his financials.
Net Income: $1,745.84 (after raise
Expenses:
Rent & utilities:$500.00
Food: $120.00
Gas: $150.00
Savings: $500.00
Personal Hygiene $50.00
Car Insurance: $75.00
Cat Collection: $100.00
Cell Phone $50.00
Misc. expenses: $200.84
Assets:
Car: $1 (basically worthless)
Savings: $2,000.00 (after this months payment)
Total: $2,001.00
Debts:
Zero
Net worth: $2,001.00
Jimmy knows that his beloved 1993 Chevy will not make it much longer, so he decides to stay at home. This was a hard decision as Jimmy was glad to feel included, but he knew he did not need to spend the money.
………………………………………………………………….
What will happen next to John and Jimmy? Find out with the next post.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
August, where did you come from?
I have not posted in a little over one month. The summer can get busy. It really is amazing how fast this summer has gone by! I would say that it has been one of our best summers yet. We have spent a lot of time at the beach and on the boat, we have been to the water park, taken a few day trips, visited family, and completed a few races.
I have two more triathlons on my calender for 2012 that are fast approaching. These are the Wilmington YMCA Tri @ Wrightsville Beach in September and the Beach-to-Battleship half ironman in October.
Last weekend I completed my first Olympic distance triathlon. This was a 1500 meter open water swim, 27 mile bike, and a 10k run. Completing this was a big accomplishment for me. Up until about the 30 minutes before the race start, I had a major case of self-doubt. Prior to this race, my longest open water swim was 375 meters. The thoughts of "what if I get half way and panic, or get a cramp, or this, or that", were all that was in my head. The voice of reason, which is always Linds, finally got past the noise and said, "you are ready, just do it or I will kick your butt!" Nothing but love!! But, that is exactly what I needed. The race went well. It was not my fastest time, but that was not the goal of the day. Making the distance and enjoying the race was the goal, and I did both. My biggest take away from this race is to aways believe in yourself and what you are capable of. Trust me, I know how cheesy that sounds, but it is true.
So often we avoid our weaknesses not because we wouldn't like to do those things, but because of fear. If you have a dream to do something, whether it is running a marathon, learning a new language or how to play an instrument, writing a book, or starting a business, you should give it a try! What is the worse that will happen? If it doesn't work, you are still far beyond all of those that never tried.
What's on your bucket list? It is time to start working on checking some of those off.
I have two more triathlons on my calender for 2012 that are fast approaching. These are the Wilmington YMCA Tri @ Wrightsville Beach in September and the Beach-to-Battleship half ironman in October.
Last weekend I completed my first Olympic distance triathlon. This was a 1500 meter open water swim, 27 mile bike, and a 10k run. Completing this was a big accomplishment for me. Up until about the 30 minutes before the race start, I had a major case of self-doubt. Prior to this race, my longest open water swim was 375 meters. The thoughts of "what if I get half way and panic, or get a cramp, or this, or that", were all that was in my head. The voice of reason, which is always Linds, finally got past the noise and said, "you are ready, just do it or I will kick your butt!" Nothing but love!! But, that is exactly what I needed. The race went well. It was not my fastest time, but that was not the goal of the day. Making the distance and enjoying the race was the goal, and I did both. My biggest take away from this race is to aways believe in yourself and what you are capable of. Trust me, I know how cheesy that sounds, but it is true.
So often we avoid our weaknesses not because we wouldn't like to do those things, but because of fear. If you have a dream to do something, whether it is running a marathon, learning a new language or how to play an instrument, writing a book, or starting a business, you should give it a try! What is the worse that will happen? If it doesn't work, you are still far beyond all of those that never tried.
What's on your bucket list? It is time to start working on checking some of those off.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Extreme Makeover...Vacation Edition
I am back to the day-to-day routine this morning after a great week off with Linds. Our vacation started after work, Friday a week ago, with a Luau party. I dressed up in my best Panama Jack outfit, and Linds looked amazing! From there, we raced a sprint triathlon on Sunday morning and then Sunday afternoon Riley left with Mamaw and Papaw to spend the week. From this point, Linds and I had no plans for our week.
Since we have been married, "vacation" has always consisted of traveling. Whether it was a short trip or a far away destination, we have always traveled. I have always been of the mindset that if you are at home, you cannot truly relax. The reason for this is, there is always something at the house that needs to get done. Cutting the grass, cleaning the garage, trimming the bushes, etc. If you start guilting yourself into doing these chores, then you are not vacationing.
This time however, Linds and I for several reasons, decided to stay at home for vacation. I will admit, day one was hard to get into vacation mode, but I did. The week filled up with sitting on the beach reading, taking the ferry to Southport, a wine tasting, day trip to Myrtle Beach, taking the boat out, going to the movies, and several nice dinners out.
This week, I have to get back in gear. My dress pants this morning made their point that I have enjoyed myself a little too much!
Since we have been married, "vacation" has always consisted of traveling. Whether it was a short trip or a far away destination, we have always traveled. I have always been of the mindset that if you are at home, you cannot truly relax. The reason for this is, there is always something at the house that needs to get done. Cutting the grass, cleaning the garage, trimming the bushes, etc. If you start guilting yourself into doing these chores, then you are not vacationing.
This time however, Linds and I for several reasons, decided to stay at home for vacation. I will admit, day one was hard to get into vacation mode, but I did. The week filled up with sitting on the beach reading, taking the ferry to Southport, a wine tasting, day trip to Myrtle Beach, taking the boat out, going to the movies, and several nice dinners out.
This week, I have to get back in gear. My dress pants this morning made their point that I have enjoyed myself a little too much!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Look, an Eagle Scout. It must be time to buy cookies again
So we received a flyer at our door asking for school supply donations for an Eagle Scout project. The project is to collect, pack, and hand out backpacks with school supplies to kids of deployed solders. While this is a nice idea, I am struggling with how this is worthy of an Eagle Scout project. At the beginning of every school year, there are collections and supply drives for students in need at almost every store. I am sure that some families of solders are struggling financially, but I am sure their emotional struggle is much harder. Why not organize an after school project for these kids where they can make something nice to send to their parent? Teach them some of the skills that you have learned as a scout.
When I was in scouting, had I presented this idea (which I would not have) to the troop committee, I most likely would have been told, "Thank you, try again". An Eagle Scout project should be an exercise in planning, leadership, and execution. However, it should also be a showcase for what you have learned and paying it forward. I am not saying that this is not a good cause. However, what does this show the community that scouting has taught you. If you ask a room full of random people to do something "nice", I would bet one would say collect supplies for kids. This does not make them an Eagle Scout.
I greatly enjoyed my time in scouting. We had a good group. Within the group, there was a core group of guys and then there were the other guys. The core group were fun, interested in learning and committed to the scouting fundamentals. We would joke that John, one of the core guys, could build a shopping mall with a toothpick and a piece of rope. The other guys were there either because their parents wanted them involved, they had friends in the troop or needed to make friends, or simply needed something to do. These guys did not take scouting seriously and would be the first ones to complain if they were being pushed too hard. Within the core group, a few of us went all the way to Eagle Scout. We are all very proud of this. I take pride in the journey, the hard work that went into it, and the accomplishment.
To me, this project screams, "I want to do something easy so that I can hurry up and finish". A disservice is being done to these boys as they will someday learn the reward is in the journey not a bullet point on your resume.
When I was in scouting, had I presented this idea (which I would not have) to the troop committee, I most likely would have been told, "Thank you, try again". An Eagle Scout project should be an exercise in planning, leadership, and execution. However, it should also be a showcase for what you have learned and paying it forward. I am not saying that this is not a good cause. However, what does this show the community that scouting has taught you. If you ask a room full of random people to do something "nice", I would bet one would say collect supplies for kids. This does not make them an Eagle Scout.
I greatly enjoyed my time in scouting. We had a good group. Within the group, there was a core group of guys and then there were the other guys. The core group were fun, interested in learning and committed to the scouting fundamentals. We would joke that John, one of the core guys, could build a shopping mall with a toothpick and a piece of rope. The other guys were there either because their parents wanted them involved, they had friends in the troop or needed to make friends, or simply needed something to do. These guys did not take scouting seriously and would be the first ones to complain if they were being pushed too hard. Within the core group, a few of us went all the way to Eagle Scout. We are all very proud of this. I take pride in the journey, the hard work that went into it, and the accomplishment.
To me, this project screams, "I want to do something easy so that I can hurry up and finish". A disservice is being done to these boys as they will someday learn the reward is in the journey not a bullet point on your resume.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Can I return this coffee? It did not wake me up.
WOW! Recently, I feel that I am always tired and I think it is starting to effect my mood. Coffee, a full night sleep, and R singing her list of dance party songs are not helping. Now granted, R singing "party rocking in the house tonight" or "I'm sexy 'when' I know it" is both very funny and a bit concerning, however it is not helping my feeling of being tired. I am not quite sure what is going on. I do not feel sick, I am not exercising any more than normal, and my to-do list is not getting to-done. My thought is that maybe I am not eating enough.
I have never had big food cravings. For the longest time my breakfast would consist of just coffee. If I ate lunch, I would eat a cold cut sandwich from home with maybe a side of something in the fridge. I would be starving by dinner and over eat with a few beers. This would leave me feeling bloated and still tired.
I have been eating lunch and breakfast consistently over the last few months, however I know that I am not eating enough of the right foods. I found a few calculators that estimated I should be eating between 2,400 and 2,700 calories per day. By my rough estimate, I have been in the 1,700 range during the week, with 50% of that at dinner. Looking at the numbers, it is no wonder why I feel tired and run down. So starting tomorrow morning, the plan is to eat 2,400 "good" calories spread throughout the day. We will see how that goes.
As for R, I think she may be on to something. I mean, when was the last time you heard "I throw my hands up in the air sometimes, singing aaaa-oooo" followed immediately by jingle bells? It takes a pro to mix those songs!
I have never had big food cravings. For the longest time my breakfast would consist of just coffee. If I ate lunch, I would eat a cold cut sandwich from home with maybe a side of something in the fridge. I would be starving by dinner and over eat with a few beers. This would leave me feeling bloated and still tired.
I have been eating lunch and breakfast consistently over the last few months, however I know that I am not eating enough of the right foods. I found a few calculators that estimated I should be eating between 2,400 and 2,700 calories per day. By my rough estimate, I have been in the 1,700 range during the week, with 50% of that at dinner. Looking at the numbers, it is no wonder why I feel tired and run down. So starting tomorrow morning, the plan is to eat 2,400 "good" calories spread throughout the day. We will see how that goes.
As for R, I think she may be on to something. I mean, when was the last time you heard "I throw my hands up in the air sometimes, singing aaaa-oooo" followed immediately by jingle bells? It takes a pro to mix those songs!
Monday, April 30, 2012
It has begun!
It is official! I have signed up for the Beach 2 Battleship Half Iron distance triathlon as an individual! I am excited, nervous, and partly insane. The race is on October 20 of this year, so it is time to get to work. The race distance is a 1.2 mile open water swim, 56 mile bike, and a 13.1 mile run. The cutoff time is 9 hours to complete the race. My goal is 6 hours.
In order to hit my goal and survive, I will need to step up my training. Linds and I had a great weekend and did a 10k (6.2 mile run). I had a PR of 55:30 which was a great motivator. So beginning today, I will need to try and get in 3 swims, bikes, and runs each week in order to build my base endurance up. I will try to update my progress every week or two as the race day draws near.
In order to hit my goal and survive, I will need to step up my training. Linds and I had a great weekend and did a 10k (6.2 mile run). I had a PR of 55:30 which was a great motivator. So beginning today, I will need to try and get in 3 swims, bikes, and runs each week in order to build my base endurance up. I will try to update my progress every week or two as the race day draws near.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Where did these hills come from?
Yesterday, Linds and I completed a triathlon in our old home town. It was great to be back and see what has changed and what has stayed the same. The race itself was a distance that Linds and I have done already this season. However, one of the things that we both forgot after living in ILM is how many hills are in Rolesville!
The race was a challenge, but had good results. I placed 3rd in my age group, which was a first for me! This was also Linds' first race with her new bike. Her time was 4 minutes faster than her last race! The course was 1 mile longer with hills, so this was a big improvement for her. One of the best parts of this race was meeting a few new people that were racing for the first time. One was upper 30's and one was mid 50's. Both of these guys were great people. It was great to be able to relate and encourage them for their first race. In my limited experience, triathletes tend to be a very welcoming and encouraging group. We have met some of the nicest people through our training.
Looking forward, the next triathlons that I am looking at are longer in distance. So, it is time to step up and work on my speed and endurance. It is funny that this sport is so addictive. You are constantly asking your body to go further and faster. All of the time and discomfort are worth it when you cross the finish line and know that you have accomplished something big. As a way to track my mileage totals, you will notice that I have added a running total of my weekly swimming, biking, and running miles on the right side of this blog.
The race was a challenge, but had good results. I placed 3rd in my age group, which was a first for me! This was also Linds' first race with her new bike. Her time was 4 minutes faster than her last race! The course was 1 mile longer with hills, so this was a big improvement for her. One of the best parts of this race was meeting a few new people that were racing for the first time. One was upper 30's and one was mid 50's. Both of these guys were great people. It was great to be able to relate and encourage them for their first race. In my limited experience, triathletes tend to be a very welcoming and encouraging group. We have met some of the nicest people through our training.
Looking forward, the next triathlons that I am looking at are longer in distance. So, it is time to step up and work on my speed and endurance. It is funny that this sport is so addictive. You are constantly asking your body to go further and faster. All of the time and discomfort are worth it when you cross the finish line and know that you have accomplished something big. As a way to track my mileage totals, you will notice that I have added a running total of my weekly swimming, biking, and running miles on the right side of this blog.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Don't tow my car!......then again, just don't shoot me!
Over the last few days, there have been several people in our neighborhood that have complained by e-mail that their cars have been towed because they parked on the street over night. Our neighborhood has a rule that there is no overnight parking on the street. The reasoning behind the rule is due to the width of the streets, it would be difficult for emergency vehicles to maneuver around them. I agree. There are times when it is a challenge to get my truck through, which is much smaller than a fire truck. I got a laugh from these folks complaining. The homeowners passed a rule with a consequence. You broke the rule, deal with it. This is no different than getting a speeding ticket because you are rushing. You broke the speed limit and got caught.
For me, I have no problem with this. However, I found out yesterday evening that the tow company is being paid by the homeowners association to patrol the neighborhood. Wait a minute! The tow company gets paid to drive around, then they get paid again when the person collects their vehicle. I do have a problem with this. A portion of the dues I pay goes to the tow company. This is ridiculous. I have no problem with the no overnight parking or you get towed rule. However, the tow company does not need to get paid twice. Let the tow company patrol if they want to at no cost. If they find a car, tow it, and get paid. If they don't tow anything, better luck next time. Tow companies are very familiar with this system with repos. They don't get paid until the repo vehicle is recovered. No car, no pay! Very simple.
This brings me to the other ridiculous homeowners association story in the news. In Florida a neighborhood watch person shot and killed a teenage boy who was walking down the street. The back story is that the neighborhood had several break ins over the last 6 months. So, the watch person sees this boy, kills him, and then claims self defense. The boy was talking on his cell phone, not loading his AK47! The crazy thing to me is, why was a neighborhood watch carrying a gun? Pepper spray, a taser, a paintball gun maybe, but a deadly handgun?
Homeowners associations are a great invention. I had a prior neighbor in a neighborhood without an association that had the authority to enforce its rules, that was a nightmare. It is a miracle that we were able to sell our house with him beside us. Unfortunately, associations are full of people. Some people are reasonable, some are closed minded, some are all about the rules as long as they can do anything they want, and then there are some that are power hungry. It reminds me a lot of the state of our national political system. At the end of the day, we need to come together and have an enforceable set of rules with consequences without being extreme.
For me, I have no problem with this. However, I found out yesterday evening that the tow company is being paid by the homeowners association to patrol the neighborhood. Wait a minute! The tow company gets paid to drive around, then they get paid again when the person collects their vehicle. I do have a problem with this. A portion of the dues I pay goes to the tow company. This is ridiculous. I have no problem with the no overnight parking or you get towed rule. However, the tow company does not need to get paid twice. Let the tow company patrol if they want to at no cost. If they find a car, tow it, and get paid. If they don't tow anything, better luck next time. Tow companies are very familiar with this system with repos. They don't get paid until the repo vehicle is recovered. No car, no pay! Very simple.
This brings me to the other ridiculous homeowners association story in the news. In Florida a neighborhood watch person shot and killed a teenage boy who was walking down the street. The back story is that the neighborhood had several break ins over the last 6 months. So, the watch person sees this boy, kills him, and then claims self defense. The boy was talking on his cell phone, not loading his AK47! The crazy thing to me is, why was a neighborhood watch carrying a gun? Pepper spray, a taser, a paintball gun maybe, but a deadly handgun?
Homeowners associations are a great invention. I had a prior neighbor in a neighborhood without an association that had the authority to enforce its rules, that was a nightmare. It is a miracle that we were able to sell our house with him beside us. Unfortunately, associations are full of people. Some people are reasonable, some are closed minded, some are all about the rules as long as they can do anything they want, and then there are some that are power hungry. It reminds me a lot of the state of our national political system. At the end of the day, we need to come together and have an enforceable set of rules with consequences without being extreme.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Hey God, can you hold just a moment, my other line is beeping?
This week will be one year since the Wells Fargo layoff. I was reflecting a little with Linds and felt that this was a good time to share this story. During my years at Wells/Wachovia I enjoyed my co-workers and my amazing manager, Debbie Hines, who I will always have the utmost love and respect for. But, I was like many in the corporate world, stressed, overrun with new quotas, forms, meetings, and processes. What kept me in it? The money and the love of helping people with their finances. I referred to it as the golden handcuff. I did not enjoy some of the things that came with the job, but I was very good at it and it paid well. All of that changed on March 23rd, 2011. I had taken the day off to work on R's playground, when my phone rang. It was my Sr. manager asking if I had spoken to anyone from the office that day. I was thinking to myself, "I am off work, I am trying hard not to speak with any of you." He explained that our office of around 250 people was being closed. I remember being speechless and numb. It is hard to explain to someone who has not experienced this for themselves. This was not a choice, but a powerless feeling like I have never felt. The next morning, I remember waking up in a daze. I would be going in to clean out my desk. When I got out of the shower, I walked in the closet and opened my junk drawer that I keep my watch in. A poker chip that was given out at church a few months prior rolled to the front of the drawer and grabbed my attention. This chip had the phrase; "The Best Is Yet To Be" written on the face. On the other side were the words "Hopeful Imagination". WOW! I remember feeling at that moment that, no matter what happened, I was going to be ok.
Looking back one year later, it is amazing how true that was. 2011 was full of down moments, false starts, and fear of the unknown. But, having the faith that the best is yet to be, I have found myself in a much better place. I still have that poker chip in my drawer to remind me that we will not always know where we are going to end up, but we have to believe that good things are to come to those who are faithful and open to God's plans. Now I am not one to talk about my religious believes in great detail. The simplest reason is that I find this to be very personal. However, I find it difficult to tell this story without talking about it.
In my quiet time first thing in the morning, even before all of this happened, I try to tune out all of life's distractions and listen. For an ADD person like myself, this can be very challenging, but I try regardless. During this time is when I receive most of the answers that I am searching for. (To questions that bother me so!). That listening is what led me to the decision to begin with Northwestern and later to leave that position. Some people might look at my time at Northwestern as a failed attempt. I did at first as well. However, during my quiet time I realized that this was a step that needed to be taken. Northwestern sponsored me to sit and pass the securities and insurance exams. This step also turned the light on to show me a career that would take something precious away from me, stress free time with R. It does not matter how worn out she can make me, there is nothing better than singing silly songs and dancing, playing pretend, and reading stories. Those moments are worth more than gold.
There is no place that I would rather be than where I am right now. I know that some out there may think that I have settled. This cannot be further from the truth. When I started working after college, I said many times, "the only thing better would be to do what I am doing in Wilmington." Well little did I know that prayer would be answered. It took 5 years, but it was fulfilled. I have always been a believer in doing what you love. After all, if you don't love it, then why do it? You only have so many years. What a shame it would be to look back on a working career and have to think, "I can't believe I allowed myself to be miserable for that long".
I can truly say that my life is "Better than Good"! (This is an excellent audio book by Zig Ziglar. If you have not listened to it you should.)
Looking back one year later, it is amazing how true that was. 2011 was full of down moments, false starts, and fear of the unknown. But, having the faith that the best is yet to be, I have found myself in a much better place. I still have that poker chip in my drawer to remind me that we will not always know where we are going to end up, but we have to believe that good things are to come to those who are faithful and open to God's plans. Now I am not one to talk about my religious believes in great detail. The simplest reason is that I find this to be very personal. However, I find it difficult to tell this story without talking about it.
In my quiet time first thing in the morning, even before all of this happened, I try to tune out all of life's distractions and listen. For an ADD person like myself, this can be very challenging, but I try regardless. During this time is when I receive most of the answers that I am searching for. (To questions that bother me so!). That listening is what led me to the decision to begin with Northwestern and later to leave that position. Some people might look at my time at Northwestern as a failed attempt. I did at first as well. However, during my quiet time I realized that this was a step that needed to be taken. Northwestern sponsored me to sit and pass the securities and insurance exams. This step also turned the light on to show me a career that would take something precious away from me, stress free time with R. It does not matter how worn out she can make me, there is nothing better than singing silly songs and dancing, playing pretend, and reading stories. Those moments are worth more than gold.
There is no place that I would rather be than where I am right now. I know that some out there may think that I have settled. This cannot be further from the truth. When I started working after college, I said many times, "the only thing better would be to do what I am doing in Wilmington." Well little did I know that prayer would be answered. It took 5 years, but it was fulfilled. I have always been a believer in doing what you love. After all, if you don't love it, then why do it? You only have so many years. What a shame it would be to look back on a working career and have to think, "I can't believe I allowed myself to be miserable for that long".
I can truly say that my life is "Better than Good"! (This is an excellent audio book by Zig Ziglar. If you have not listened to it you should.)
Friday, March 16, 2012
That is not a leprechaun......its a little person!
In honor of it almost being St. Patty's Day, I will be writing in green.
So, I was getting R ready for school this morning and showed her the shirt that Linds had put out for her to wear. It was green and had a little girl on the front. R always wants you to read any writing on the shirt to her before she puts it on. This shirt said something about being lucky. R then proceeds to say, "I got Lucky at my house". Now, to the uninformed observer, this would call for a serious intervention! For those who understand that our dog is named Lucky, this does not sound as disturbing.
So here is a St. Patty's Day challenge for everyone. If you are out shopping on Saturday and the person at the store asks if they can help you, respond with; "Yes, I am looking for me pot of gold!"
So, I was getting R ready for school this morning and showed her the shirt that Linds had put out for her to wear. It was green and had a little girl on the front. R always wants you to read any writing on the shirt to her before she puts it on. This shirt said something about being lucky. R then proceeds to say, "I got Lucky at my house". Now, to the uninformed observer, this would call for a serious intervention! For those who understand that our dog is named Lucky, this does not sound as disturbing.
So here is a St. Patty's Day challenge for everyone. If you are out shopping on Saturday and the person at the store asks if they can help you, respond with; "Yes, I am looking for me pot of gold!"
Monday, March 12, 2012
Believe, Achieve....and then Aleive
This was a fun, challenging, and rewarding weekend for me and Linds and as you may tell from the title, some soreness as well. This was my second year doing the Azalea Triathlon and the first year for Linds. Going into Saturday I was very excited and a little nervous as I had not trained as hard as I knew that I could have. That being said, I had a great day. I finished 1 minute faster than last year. My total time was 1:13:24.
Linds did amazing! She went into this challenge with an open mind and a determination that she was going to do her best and finish. From her first stroke at the swim start to the finish of the run, she had a smile on her face. A big congrats to Ben as well who did phenomenal and made everyone look like they were racing in slow motion! The participants ranged in age from 10 to 79!!
Other than gym class, the first time that I competed athletically was in 2011. I was 30 and this was a New Year's Day 5k that Linds and I did. I never saw myself as someone that was good enough athletically to be able to compete. Since that first 5k, I have taken small steps toward improving my times and technique in swimming, biking, and running. The physical rewards have been great, but the mental rewards have surprised me. This sport challenges ideas and limits that you have set for yourself. You soon realize that the walls you built in your mind are only the fears of the unknown.
I am looking forward to a few more triathlons this season that will test my training. Even in the current political landscape, I am proud to say that I am the 1%! I can say this because only 1% of the population have completed a triathlon.
Linds did amazing! She went into this challenge with an open mind and a determination that she was going to do her best and finish. From her first stroke at the swim start to the finish of the run, she had a smile on her face. A big congrats to Ben as well who did phenomenal and made everyone look like they were racing in slow motion! The participants ranged in age from 10 to 79!!
Other than gym class, the first time that I competed athletically was in 2011. I was 30 and this was a New Year's Day 5k that Linds and I did. I never saw myself as someone that was good enough athletically to be able to compete. Since that first 5k, I have taken small steps toward improving my times and technique in swimming, biking, and running. The physical rewards have been great, but the mental rewards have surprised me. This sport challenges ideas and limits that you have set for yourself. You soon realize that the walls you built in your mind are only the fears of the unknown.
I am looking forward to a few more triathlons this season that will test my training. Even in the current political landscape, I am proud to say that I am the 1%! I can say this because only 1% of the population have completed a triathlon.
Friday, March 9, 2012
I don't want to see your butt at the beach!
Yesterday, the Wrightsville Beach board of Aldermen voted 3-2 against a ban on smoking on the beach. The votes against the ban mentioned costs and public rights as their reasons. As mentioned by the Star News, there were many more public supporters of the ban than opponents.
I am all for it for two reasons. First, I don't want to smell it and I really don't want my child smelling it. For those that say the beach is big enough that it does not matter, have not been to the beach. The wind blows all the time! I can smell smoke from an easy 100 yards away. Second, the biggest form of litter on our beaches are cigarette butts. Why smokers are more likely to litter is beyond me, but it is true. I guess if they want to trash their lungs, might as well trash the planet as well! Think about it, how nice would it be to walk on the beach and not have to smell or step over cigarette butts?
The two opposing arguments to me do not hold up. It is too expensive? Really? Wrightsville Beach is famous for slapping you with a parking fine for being 1 minute over your meter. This is a big revenue generator for the town. Why not write tickets for anyone who is caught smoking on the beach? The beaches are already being patrolled anyway! The second argument on people's right to smoke. True, it is not illegal to smoke. However, you can't smoke it public restaurants, office buildings, government building or on their grounds, or many public parks. So, designate smoking areas at one of the beach accesses and keep a butt collector there.
Now, I am very much a individual rights person. I do not feel that the government should force people to wear helmets on bikes or motorcycles, not smoke, wear seat belts, or any other matter of personal choice that does not effect the welfare of others. If I get in an accident without a helmet, it is my own fault for not choosing to wear one. In addition, the insurance company should have the right not to pay a claim if they find that I was not wearing a helmet.
The public smoking debate however effects others. If you are smoking on the public beach and exposing others to second hand smoke, you are effecting my health. If you want to smoke at your house, go right ahead, I could care less. Smoke whatever you want, legal or not, just don't expose me to it.
I am all for it for two reasons. First, I don't want to smell it and I really don't want my child smelling it. For those that say the beach is big enough that it does not matter, have not been to the beach. The wind blows all the time! I can smell smoke from an easy 100 yards away. Second, the biggest form of litter on our beaches are cigarette butts. Why smokers are more likely to litter is beyond me, but it is true. I guess if they want to trash their lungs, might as well trash the planet as well! Think about it, how nice would it be to walk on the beach and not have to smell or step over cigarette butts?
The two opposing arguments to me do not hold up. It is too expensive? Really? Wrightsville Beach is famous for slapping you with a parking fine for being 1 minute over your meter. This is a big revenue generator for the town. Why not write tickets for anyone who is caught smoking on the beach? The beaches are already being patrolled anyway! The second argument on people's right to smoke. True, it is not illegal to smoke. However, you can't smoke it public restaurants, office buildings, government building or on their grounds, or many public parks. So, designate smoking areas at one of the beach accesses and keep a butt collector there.
Now, I am very much a individual rights person. I do not feel that the government should force people to wear helmets on bikes or motorcycles, not smoke, wear seat belts, or any other matter of personal choice that does not effect the welfare of others. If I get in an accident without a helmet, it is my own fault for not choosing to wear one. In addition, the insurance company should have the right not to pay a claim if they find that I was not wearing a helmet.
The public smoking debate however effects others. If you are smoking on the public beach and exposing others to second hand smoke, you are effecting my health. If you want to smoke at your house, go right ahead, I could care less. Smoke whatever you want, legal or not, just don't expose me to it.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
The Art of Balance
Balance is something that I always seem to have a hard time with. On any given day, there are so many things that need to be done. There are also those things that I would like to do. Like most people, I am forced to chose between things as time and obligations prevent me from doing everything.
My biggest obstacle is the tv and the sofa. I love both of these! After a long day, I have a habit of turning on the tv and stretching out on the sofa. This has become such a habit, that I have certain shows that I watch every night of the week. Now, I go to bed relatively early, around 10pm most nights, but I still clock in a good 2 hours of tv after R goes to bed.
There is nothing wrong with relaxing and watching tv. However, I have a little more than one week from a race and I don't feel that I have done all that I wanted to do in practice. When I look back over the last week, my average daily workout has lasted 30 minutes. Compared to 2 hours of tv, that looks pathetic.
I like to justify this by saying that this is the time that Linds and I have to ourselves to connect. The reality is that most of the time we are in our own worlds. Linds will be catching up on school work, returning e-mails, and doing the never ending laundry. I will be playing on the internet, cleaning up from dinner, getting ready for the next day,and drinking chocolate milk. We are talking about our days during all of this, but not exclusively as other things also need to be done.
I have a love/hate relationship with schedules, but I think that for me to improve my balance, this is needed and overdue. I am not going to give up my tv, my time with Linds and the monkey, my exercise time, or the back log of household duties, but I need to stick to a plan where all of things get done with an appropriate amount of balance.
"It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about? "
Henry David Thoreau
My biggest obstacle is the tv and the sofa. I love both of these! After a long day, I have a habit of turning on the tv and stretching out on the sofa. This has become such a habit, that I have certain shows that I watch every night of the week. Now, I go to bed relatively early, around 10pm most nights, but I still clock in a good 2 hours of tv after R goes to bed.
There is nothing wrong with relaxing and watching tv. However, I have a little more than one week from a race and I don't feel that I have done all that I wanted to do in practice. When I look back over the last week, my average daily workout has lasted 30 minutes. Compared to 2 hours of tv, that looks pathetic.
I like to justify this by saying that this is the time that Linds and I have to ourselves to connect. The reality is that most of the time we are in our own worlds. Linds will be catching up on school work, returning e-mails, and doing the never ending laundry. I will be playing on the internet, cleaning up from dinner, getting ready for the next day,and drinking chocolate milk. We are talking about our days during all of this, but not exclusively as other things also need to be done.
I have a love/hate relationship with schedules, but I think that for me to improve my balance, this is needed and overdue. I am not going to give up my tv, my time with Linds and the monkey, my exercise time, or the back log of household duties, but I need to stick to a plan where all of things get done with an appropriate amount of balance.
"It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about? "
Henry David Thoreau
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I need some lotion, my Wednesday is too ashy
Today is Ash Wednesday and the start of lent. If this means nothing to you, maybe you should wake up earlier on Sundays! I have seen a lot of comments from people as to what they are "giving up" for lent. I hope that these people get something out of this. Unfortunately, I believe that most people simply view this as another form of a New Year's Resolution that they have no willpower to keep for more than a few days.
This is a great intro to update you on my last post. I will not be giving up my truck or gas for lent. At least, not yet. When gas climbs to over $4.00 per gallon this summer, then we will stop and rethink.
Why do we as people shy away from a good challenge? For me with the gas challenge, it was because of convenience. I posted a challenge on this blog several weeks back about a sprint triathlon race in June. I got one person to say that he would do it. Now, based on his distance to travel, I am not sure if he will be able to, but I applaud and respect him for raising his hand. (BTW, there is still time if you want to do this.)
Challenges draw a line in the sand. They make us nervous and we tend to shy away for fear of failing. I do not like to fail. I think that is why I enjoy biking, and racing. It is a challenge to push what you think you can do, however you don't have the "loser" feeling. You are racing with people, but you are competing more against your personal best, not everyone else.
So, what are you challenging yourself with giving up for Lent this year? For me, I will be giving up procrastination. Carpe diem! Since today is half over, maybe I should wait and start tomorrow.
This is a great intro to update you on my last post. I will not be giving up my truck or gas for lent. At least, not yet. When gas climbs to over $4.00 per gallon this summer, then we will stop and rethink.
Why do we as people shy away from a good challenge? For me with the gas challenge, it was because of convenience. I posted a challenge on this blog several weeks back about a sprint triathlon race in June. I got one person to say that he would do it. Now, based on his distance to travel, I am not sure if he will be able to, but I applaud and respect him for raising his hand. (BTW, there is still time if you want to do this.)
Challenges draw a line in the sand. They make us nervous and we tend to shy away for fear of failing. I do not like to fail. I think that is why I enjoy biking, and racing. It is a challenge to push what you think you can do, however you don't have the "loser" feeling. You are racing with people, but you are competing more against your personal best, not everyone else.
So, what are you challenging yourself with giving up for Lent this year? For me, I will be giving up procrastination. Carpe diem! Since today is half over, maybe I should wait and start tomorrow.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Does anyone have some Pepto? I am tired of this gas!
This morning I drove Linds car to work. You see, Linds drove her car home last night on empty and then ask to drive my truck this morning. This however is not the point of this blog.
I crossed my fingers and drove to the gas station this morning on my way to work. After arriving without pushing the car, I started to pump gas at a rate of $3.62 per gallon! Now, Linds' car gets much better miles per gallon and has a smaller tank than my truck, but it still took just under $60 to fill the tank.
I am not that old and have only been driving since 1996. However, the per gallon price of gas in 1996 was $1.23 on a national average. If this number was adjusted for inflation, it would be around $1.78 in today's dollars. Looking at the inflation adjusted number, that is an increase of 203%. As most Americans are not making 203% more in income from 1996, this puts a larger dent in the wallet.
Having an office very close to my house, I am sure that I drive much less than the average person. In a given 7 day period, I drive around 120 miles. This is if we use Linds' car for much of the weekend around town driving. This works out to be around $125 per month on gas. Most of the time, it is more like $200-$225 with random around town driving or weekend trips. In 1996 inflation adjusted dollars, my gas expense would only be $57.60.
Do you smell that? Yes, so do I. A Challenge!! I wonder if over the next 30 days, I can spend only $57.60 on gas? In order to do this, I will need to reduce my weekly mileage to 55.38 miles. Wow! That is not that much. Friday is my big mileage day. I take R to school and then drive to work. If I go home for lunch, I will drive 36 miles on Friday.
If I take this on, I will start on Monday the 20th. as it is easier to start something like this at the beginning of the week. I will blog again on Sunday and let you know. Until then, I will lay off the Mexican food to reduce my gas!
I crossed my fingers and drove to the gas station this morning on my way to work. After arriving without pushing the car, I started to pump gas at a rate of $3.62 per gallon! Now, Linds' car gets much better miles per gallon and has a smaller tank than my truck, but it still took just under $60 to fill the tank.
I am not that old and have only been driving since 1996. However, the per gallon price of gas in 1996 was $1.23 on a national average. If this number was adjusted for inflation, it would be around $1.78 in today's dollars. Looking at the inflation adjusted number, that is an increase of 203%. As most Americans are not making 203% more in income from 1996, this puts a larger dent in the wallet.
Having an office very close to my house, I am sure that I drive much less than the average person. In a given 7 day period, I drive around 120 miles. This is if we use Linds' car for much of the weekend around town driving. This works out to be around $125 per month on gas. Most of the time, it is more like $200-$225 with random around town driving or weekend trips. In 1996 inflation adjusted dollars, my gas expense would only be $57.60.
Do you smell that? Yes, so do I. A Challenge!! I wonder if over the next 30 days, I can spend only $57.60 on gas? In order to do this, I will need to reduce my weekly mileage to 55.38 miles. Wow! That is not that much. Friday is my big mileage day. I take R to school and then drive to work. If I go home for lunch, I will drive 36 miles on Friday.
If I take this on, I will start on Monday the 20th. as it is easier to start something like this at the beginning of the week. I will blog again on Sunday and let you know. Until then, I will lay off the Mexican food to reduce my gas!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
"The Greatest Love of All"
"Most of you know him as Joe the Policeman, on the what's going down episode of That's My Momma. Put your hands together for Jackson Heights' own, Mr. Randy Watson...Randy Watson!"
Sadly, this is the first thing that I thought of when I heard about Whitney Houston. For those that do not know this quote, it is from the movie Coming To America.
Why do people get so personally involved with celebrity deaths? The news this morning mentioned that the public funeral for Whitney Houston will most likely be at a big sports arena. Why? Have you ever gone to the funeral for someone that you did not know personally or in support of someone that did know them personally? I find this strange. If I attend a funeral, I would have known the person, or I would be there to show my support for someone that had a personal relationship with the deceased.
So, what are you doing this weekend? Oh, not much, shopping, cleaning, waiting in line to see Whitney's funeral. Hey, would you like to tailgate with me? Really?
Whitney's death was unfortunate at 48. But, I would argue that what is more tragic is the hundreds that are killed by drunk drivers or those that battle cancer and don't make it. Why don't strangers line up to attend these funerals?
Sadly, this is the first thing that I thought of when I heard about Whitney Houston. For those that do not know this quote, it is from the movie Coming To America.
Why do people get so personally involved with celebrity deaths? The news this morning mentioned that the public funeral for Whitney Houston will most likely be at a big sports arena. Why? Have you ever gone to the funeral for someone that you did not know personally or in support of someone that did know them personally? I find this strange. If I attend a funeral, I would have known the person, or I would be there to show my support for someone that had a personal relationship with the deceased.
So, what are you doing this weekend? Oh, not much, shopping, cleaning, waiting in line to see Whitney's funeral. Hey, would you like to tailgate with me? Really?
Whitney's death was unfortunate at 48. But, I would argue that what is more tragic is the hundreds that are killed by drunk drivers or those that battle cancer and don't make it. Why don't strangers line up to attend these funerals?
Monday, February 6, 2012
Hallmark invented Valentines Day
OK. I know that this is not really true. I have long disliked Valentines Day. I simply find it very ridiculous. The fact that there is one day of the year that you should show your wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, mistress, pool boy, Latin lover, paid escort, etc. how much you care about them is strange. I mean, conventional wisdom says that you should show these feelings all the time, not just on one particular day. So, that means this one day is not about you expressing your feelings, rather it is about society saying that if you do not buy flowers, chocolate, or jewelery for your "other",they will think that you do not care.
Now, there are two ladies that I love beyond words in my house. While one would be very excited to get a dinner at Chick-Fil-A, the other would not be impressed by that. So, being the reasonable person that I am, (unlike those in congress), I will compromise. No, there will not be flowers, chocolate, or jewelery, but the words of a great song by Jack Johnson.
I've got an angel
She doesn't wear any wings
She wears a heart that can melt my own
She wears a smile that can make me wanna sing
She gives me presents
With her presence alone
She gives me everything I could wish for
She gives me kisses on the lips just for coming home
She could make angels
I've seen it with my own eyes
You gotta be careful when you've got good love
Cause the angels will just keep on multiplying
But you're so busy changing the world
Just one smile can change all of mine
We share the same soul
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
We Share the same soul
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
We Share the same soul
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
Umm umm umm uhhhhhhmm
Happy Valentines Day.
Now, there are two ladies that I love beyond words in my house. While one would be very excited to get a dinner at Chick-Fil-A, the other would not be impressed by that. So, being the reasonable person that I am, (unlike those in congress), I will compromise. No, there will not be flowers, chocolate, or jewelery, but the words of a great song by Jack Johnson.
I've got an angel
She doesn't wear any wings
She wears a heart that can melt my own
She wears a smile that can make me wanna sing
She gives me presents
With her presence alone
She gives me everything I could wish for
She gives me kisses on the lips just for coming home
She could make angels
I've seen it with my own eyes
You gotta be careful when you've got good love
Cause the angels will just keep on multiplying
But you're so busy changing the world
Just one smile can change all of mine
We share the same soul
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
We Share the same soul
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
We Share the same soul
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
Umm umm umm uhhhhhhmm
Happy Valentines Day.
Friday, January 6, 2012
I might hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil, but I sure smell it!
Do we as humans ignore smells or just get used to them so that we don't smell them anymore? When I walk into our house, I can still smell the dogs. We try hard to keep that to a minimum, but without removing the dogs I know this will not go away completely. It is the same with funk. After a workout, I smell. I know that I smell. However, I am also confident that my smell is worse for those around me. Whenever you drive through certain towns, you can smell hog farms, paper mills, or chocolate. Yes, there is nothing better than the smell of chocolate on a cool fall day in Hershey, PA! I wonder if the people who live in these towns still smell these aromas like I do?
Have you ever sat beside a person on an airplane, bus, church bench, or waiting room that just smelled bad? I mean, eyes watering, I need a drink of water because I can taste the funk bad. Don't you want to say, "excuse me, but I can barely breath because you smell so bad. Can you smell yourself?" There is a scene from the movie Trading Places where Lewis' fiance is sitting in the Philly police station waiting. The man beside her smells so bad that see discretely sprays him with perfume.(Very Funny!)
I think with today's technology, they should make clothing change colors based on your body odor. As your odor gets worse, the color turns red. That way, even if you can no longer smell it, everyone else will be spared the air pollution.
Have you ever sat beside a person on an airplane, bus, church bench, or waiting room that just smelled bad? I mean, eyes watering, I need a drink of water because I can taste the funk bad. Don't you want to say, "excuse me, but I can barely breath because you smell so bad. Can you smell yourself?" There is a scene from the movie Trading Places where Lewis' fiance is sitting in the Philly police station waiting. The man beside her smells so bad that see discretely sprays him with perfume.(Very Funny!)
I think with today's technology, they should make clothing change colors based on your body odor. As your odor gets worse, the color turns red. That way, even if you can no longer smell it, everyone else will be spared the air pollution.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Leadership or a shipless leader
Leadership. It is something to be respected and admired. Leadership is a wonderful quality in a person. Notice that I did not say "people in leadership roles", as there can be a difference. I have met some wonderful natural leaders. These people have a magnetic personality, big picture thinking and vision, as well as the humbleness to still understand and connect with the people they are serving. Leaders after all, are leaders to serve, whether a sports team, a corporate manager, a parent, pastor, or political official. These people are in their role to advance the group they are over.
So, if that the the function of a leader, why are there those in leadership roles that put self-promotion and self-preservation above advancement of the group? I guess some people may feel threatened if someone else has the ability to lead as well. I understand that no one wants to be passed by a co-worker or subordinate. However, in a perfect world, if this happens it would be an opportunity for self-reflection as to what you need to work on to move forward. A great example of this is the presidential primary process currently underway. The mindset seems to be, if you can't move yourself ahead, focus on bringing those around you down in order to make yourself look better.
I don't know about you, but this is not the type of leader that I could get behind and feel confident that they are simply not just out for themselves. As said by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia,“How you climb a mountain is more important than reaching the top.”
So, if that the the function of a leader, why are there those in leadership roles that put self-promotion and self-preservation above advancement of the group? I guess some people may feel threatened if someone else has the ability to lead as well. I understand that no one wants to be passed by a co-worker or subordinate. However, in a perfect world, if this happens it would be an opportunity for self-reflection as to what you need to work on to move forward. A great example of this is the presidential primary process currently underway. The mindset seems to be, if you can't move yourself ahead, focus on bringing those around you down in order to make yourself look better.
I don't know about you, but this is not the type of leader that I could get behind and feel confident that they are simply not just out for themselves. As said by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia,“How you climb a mountain is more important than reaching the top.”
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