May 4, 2009

As a Reed in the Wind

Monday again already. Not only are there rarely enough hours in the day, apparently there are definitely not enough days in the weekend. I have so many projects going on it seems as if I need a clone or three to get it all taken care of. I was able to complete some goals, so that is always a good start.

Goal Summary

Paying for the new car.

The paperwork for the house refinance came through, and I have completed the documents. I still need to make some copies and send it all off, but it looks as if the deal is solid and will save me money in the short and long term. This is a good thing all around.

I have not yet paid off my scooter loan, but I am paying off the Midwife today, so that is one expense that is leaving the budget. With another child on the way, I am wary there will be additional expense for the birthing process, but above all I am focusing on the positive for all aspects of the birth and recovery.

I have not completely quit smoking, but I did refrain from buying coffee today, and I am preparing myself for the big quit. Really all I have to do is decide to not smoke anymore, but something keeps me tied in to the excuses. One day at a time.

I did get the paperwork from my insurance company, and as expected, the insurance is going to be a pain. I may be able to pay off the entire six month coverage cost, but I have not convinced myself that this is the wisest use of my money. I will have to take some time this week to run the numbers again.

Alternate Goals

I was not able to glean much from the Forex book I received from the library, so I broke down and purchased one from the bookstore. I started reading it, but I have not gotten very far. I also did not make many strides toward selling my assets. I will likely work on that this week in preparation for the big weekend push. I was able to find a couple of people who seemed interested in collaborating on my invention idea, but so far it is more flaky than it is promising.

New Goals

My main goal is to set up a face to face meeting with one of the people who responded as willing to help with my invention. I find that a face to face meeting accomplishes a lot more than telephone or email, and I want to get a feel for these people. There is no better way than to meet them and see how they react to me as a person.

I am trying to keep the idea as close to the vest as possible for two reasons. One, I cannot believe no one has thought of this before, and two, I don't want anyone to run with my idea and make it their own. On that note, I need to check the patents office to see if there is an already existing idea out there.

Officially quit smoking.

I have nicotine replacement aids, homeopathic remedies, vitamins, and access to a ton of clean water. I have the desire to quit, all I am lacking is the willpower. I have cut back some, but until I can finally say that this is my last cigarette, I will continue to play a losing game with addiction. I did quit for a month one this year, so I am confident I can do it again. It's just a matter of making the decision.

Get pictures and descriptions of my assets.

I need to get good pictures of all the things I am willing to sell, and create descriptions which will sell them. I also need to research reasonable process for the items so I can get rid of them quickly. I am not trying to take advantage of anyone by selling them crap for gold, but I also don't want to give this stuff away for free either. I will post what I have on Friday and see how the weekend falls out. It is Mothers Day, so it may get messy in a hurry.

Update Maniac Press.

I have been writing a book, and the writing has stalled as of late. I have about half of Chapter 9 written, but it may need to be redone quite a bit because I am finding it does not match the chronological layout I need to tell the story accurately. I also need to get Chapter 8 edited and published on Maniac Press which I hope to do tomorrow. I also need to update Maniac Press with at least some new content this week.

Forex.

I want to continue learning Forex, and perhaps research finding a mentor. I am learning that this is not going to be an endeavor that is achieved through a software robot. I am also learning that this is an endeavor that is a long term commitment, so even if it does not allow me to achieve my goal within a year, perhaps it is a tool I can use for a lifetime to try to change my income in a positive way.

Budget.

I need to take a much harder look at the money I have coming in this month. This is one of those magical months where I get three paychecks instead of two, so this is the month where I need to satisfy as much debt as possible. I need to find the most effective use for the money, and put myself in a position to ride easily through the second half of the year. I will see another bonus month in October, so in reality, I merely have to find a way to make it 4 months.

Finish the hallway paint.

I also need to paint the trim in my hallway, and touch up the wall color. I painted the wall almost two weeks ago, and it is high time I actually finish the job.

Unfortunately, it appears my plan to get a deck built may not happen this year. I simply gave myself too much to do, and outsourcing that job is going to cost way too much to make it a reasonable option. I also will not be getting my bathroom done this year either, but I have never been one to be devastated when my plans don't work out. I have to mix things up to deal with current circumstances, and buying the new car became a necessity much earlier than I anticipated. It became top priority, and everything else had to shift because of it.

I suppose that is my advice for the week. No matter what you are trying to accomplish in life, the best way to approach it is with as much flexibility as possible. You can be rigid in your desire, but the execution should always have a bit of wiggle room. Try to remain agile, and flowing like water.