Ok, I really don’t mean that title, but I need to hook you some how!  It’s official, back in June of this year I was officially divorced to the most amazing woman I have ever known.  She still inspires me through her spirit and hope she continues to be blessed. I don’t wish divorce for anyone and have learned so many things about relationship that I will write about soon enough.  The point of this though is not that announcement, it is:

I have paid off $15,000 in credit card debt in 11 months!

Crazy to think about it.  I have sold so much shit, people think I’ve gone off the depend but that’s another part of my life I’m working towards (minimalism, another post on that soon too).  I have sacrificed and not done many things I wanted to or normally would have.  This year I finally started a budget that has turned me around, because it was a spreadsheet easy to follow and fill in and stick to!!!  I have gotten a roommate for extra income, I have not gone on trips to see Dave Matthews Band.  I have not given people gifts like I usually would have.

For many years my mom would find out my yearly salary and would say where did all that money go?!  Now I can say, “Listen B**ch (Puta), it went to credit card debt!!”  But I’d really say, “Mira, pague todas las tarjeta de credito!”  It feels good to know where your money goes, to feel like you got a raise, to not pay late fees or interest, to know that you can leave below your means!!!

In addition, this year I was able to enjoy my money as well.  I flew to Vegas for a bachelor party and gambled my ass off in cash!  I gave generously to my best friend’s wedding which I had to fly to in DC.  I donated money to a number of charities.  I gave a few gifts.  I threw my friends a party and had DB II at Vintage Lounge downtown buying 5 bottles in the VIP area!!!  Paid for a $1,500 surgery for Hannah torn ACL.  Traveled to the Bahamas.

For many years I have listened to the Dave Ramsey Show Podcast, and have enjoyed his straight forward, simple, down to earth, southern style of finances.

I’m still not done,  I have a home equity line I plan to pay off by January 2013.  It’s gonna be another tough year but the sacrifice is going to be worth it in the end.

Thanks to all that have supported me and to Dave Ramsey’s plan.

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a great New Year!  Salute!

Living like no one else, so later I can GIVE like no one else!

So as I continually try to improve upon my perfectness.  I realized what others have said before.  To change you have to it ‘rock bottom’, you have to be ‘sick and tired’ or whatever other saying there is…. I realized last November, that I was sick and tired of living a financially irresponsible life.  I was not being a man, not being a grown up.

Last November, I had a negative balance in my bank account and wasn’t getting paid for 10 days.  I was like how the fuck am I going to pay for gas!?!?  I couldn’t use a credit card and I was not asking my parents for money.  Luckily when you’re desperate you become resourceful and that’s what I did and have done the past 8 months.  For the first time in a long time I’m finally on a budget, living below my means, paying off my debt and saving some money!  It feels good to ‘get a raise’ (cause you’re on a budget), pay off 4k in 5 months, take my friends out on a big night on the town, and blow lots of money in Vegas.

I tell you this not because of my finances but because it’s hard to change.  It’s hard to want to change!  I see so many people with so much potential but I can’t help them, they need to want to change, they need to be sick and tired, or hit rock bottom.  I know a girl that is a functional alcoholic, she has such potential, such power, such life, and it’s sad to see someone just live such an average life.  To see someone not be an a responsible adult.  It’s sad to see people overweight, but there’s nothing you can do unless they want to change.  They have to hit a wall or something; ie., not fit into their pants so they lose weight, get a DUI so they stop drinking, get arrested so they stop hanging with bad people, get into some sort of serious trouble to really change.  I hate wishing people to hit rock bottom, but I sometimes feel that way.

I’m with the movement that the more things you do that scare you (not illegal things), but things that….may hurt someone by cutting them out of your life, or starting a company, or sky diving, or anything that someone else has tried that you thought you could never or would never do is…life changing.  Life changing enough for you to need to change.

I was terrified to do bikram yoga (hot yoga) but I did it and owned it!  Next on my list is to go play paintball and expect for it to hurt like a bitch.  I’ve also been going through the house getting rid of stuff that I don’t need to keep even if it’s useful and it’s scary to get rid of good things but liberating.  I haven’t come up with a full list of scary things to do but I’m working on it, suggestions always welcome…

Cheesy I know, even for me.  Well I’ve had some awesome cars that I’ve loved.  The Jeep Commander, a Nissan Murano, and a Jeep Cherokee.  Now I’ve downgraded majorly and it’s been the best experience.  I’ve downgraded to my father’s 11 year old 160,000 mile Toyota Corolla.  It’s got nothing power and it drives like a champ!   I’m very grateful because that car payment I had is going to pay off a big credit card in 6 months!  I’ve also grown to appreciate that it’s a simple car with nothing special and I love that!  It’s easy to work on, things won’t break on it and it should drive to 300k miles!  I don’t worry about keeping it clean on the outside or in.  I’m not as concerned about the dog hair.  So many things I’m less concerned about!  I don’t care what others think!  I just do regular maintenance and it should last me a very long time!

Since my personal life has changed so much I’m finally taking control of my life and doing things I should have long ago!  It feels great and I’m finally making siginficant positive changes.  I’m reading more, simplifying my house, purging things I don’t need, being proactive, working on the house, being outside more, overall it’s improving my life.  I could care less if I have a significant relationship, I have a great core set of friends that are amazing.  I’m down to the basics of enjoying life.

I painted the whole outside of the house alone.  I remodeled my master bedroom with some incredible colors and bad ass base boards.   I have a new living room curtain that makes the living room feel even bigger!  I finally framed some awesome pictures I took of Hannah and Marle and bought some really fun/spiritual art work.  It’s also awesome to call friends and go do shit!  Go see movies, go to dinner, happy hour, whatever!   My creativity is flowing and I continue doing and trying new things.  I did Bikram Yoga and pwned that shit!  I have taken some great trips one to Chicago, one to the Keys, I have a Vegas trip and Washington D.C trip coming up.  I’m learning French!  I’ve read a few books already, and finally read a book in a week!  I plan to get a Kindle to continue this good habit.  I’m playing soccer twice a week and feel great about it.  I’m back to playing racquetball and playing well.  I run about once a week and still try to eat as healthy as possible (forcing lots of vegetables down my throat).  I cut out checking Google Reader and websites (now I do it manually, although I need to set time limits for the computer).  I’m working on a new venture that I hope to announce in a couple months.  It’s incredible that I’ve done so much and I’ve done it all in small chunks, one bite at a time.

I’m really getting back on track and it feels great.  My give oh shit meter is pegged and I’m enjoying life to the fullest again (well almost, as soon as this credit card is paid off).

It fuckin’ feels good to kick ass and tell you about it!  Life is too short to not kick ass!