So for my anniversary I decided to kind go into why I have this blog what's it's point and where do we go from now on. I think I've made it very clear that I feel I have been treated unfairly when comparing my life's journey to some others. I felt I was making right choices such as self reliance working hard paying my bills paying my taxes and providing for my family. In the end we sacrificed and paid more than our neighbors. We have paid close to 60 grand in medical bills while others went to college and paid close to nothing. We HAD to pay for all our children. More than 50% of Arizona residents the year I had my first child did NOT. Those choices were never presented to me. If someone came up to me and said I could get a part time job delivering pizzas go to college and the state would take care of all of my wife's and baby's medical bills, I would of probably chose that. You get more benifits working half or less than half the time yet I chose the latter and paid the price.
My first year of being married I had 3 jobs. When my wife got pregnant i didn't seek government help. I went to work. My wife and I must of really loved each other because we barely saw eachother. When we did our taxes on turbo tax that year the government took my entire wages from my 3rd job. We know this because turbo tax allows you to see your return while you are filing. When we had completed our last 1099 our return dropped to us owing money and it was because I had worked that 3rd job. I WOULD OF MADE THE SAME WITH OR WITHOUT IT.
Here we are 3 years later from starting this blog. What has happened is a miracle. I'm out of debt have money in the account currently not working. I'm a stay at home dad helping my wife. She works at home. I guess you could say that my trials were meant to be and directed me on my path. I am still unsure. I believe in God. I have never doubted that I was meant to have trials yet I still wonder if he was always keeping an eye on me.
So I've decided to take this blog in a different direction. Instead of focusing on my "I can't afford it awards" I'm going to focus more on my penny pincher segments. What to avoid buying. I have a lot of ideas I would like to write about on that subject so I am going to focus more time on that. That doesn't mean my "I can't afford it awards" are going away. I will just be focusing more time to my penny pincher segment.
Reviewing my ransom
I wrote a post a while ago of 10 things that would have to happen before I erase this blog. I reviewed those and found some of them are done! I have made progress but I still have a ways to go. A few have changed and I've added one to the list. These are the things I'm working on achieving and when they are complete I will erase my blog . They are the blog ransome.
They are, starting with the newest one.
1. Go to a MOTAB Christmas Concert.
I still believe the ticket process is corrupt. I have tried for years to go with no sucess. Politicians church leaders news anchors and church employees go every year and others have to fight for them. One more ransom to the list.
2. Go on a honeymoon! Still have not gone on an official honeymoon meaning one week to a vacation spot such as Hawaii or cancun or on a cruise! We were supposed to go in February but those plans have changed. I want to have my honeymoon.
3. A house of envy. This has officially happened. This year we moved into one of two nicest houses on our block. I seriously thought that would never happen and it did.
4. Four vacations in one year.
OK I want this every year but let's be honest. Unless I'm independently wealthy this probably won't happen so I will accept 4 vacations in 1 year. 4 1 week vacations. So within a year span I have had 2. If I get 2 more this one will be accomplished.
5. Debt free. I am in debt. I also have enough funds to pay off all my debts. I don't want to. I currently pay no interest and make around 100 dollars a month on my debts. They are paying themselves off.
6. No medical bills. I thought I was good o this one. I just realized i am not. Guess I'll be calling a Dr tomorrow.
I hate Dr bills. They should not be a constant concern.
7. A getaway place. Preferably a cabin. Have you ever been depressed or just wanted to get away even for a night. I envy those who have this. There's rejuvenation and real sychological help from being in a secluded cabin by a fire letting your stress go.
8. An affordable house payment. I would say no house payment but I know that is probably not going to happen for at least another 10 years. What is an affordable house payment? My last house was affordable. I know that. If I were to pull a number I would say under a thousand would satisfy me to say this has been achieved.
9. A trip to Alaska and Hawaii (subject to change)
Just for the heck of it.
10. A cruise. I have always wanted to go on a cruise. Why haven't I? Because unlike my former coworker who has been on 3. I had bills he didn't. I had Dr bills for babies. He didn't. He had the state pay for his. He had another one taken care of through bankruptcy and yet he gets to go on cruises? Yep that's how the economy works. Screws the ones who are self sufficient and rewards those who are not.
To end my anniversary speach that has no organizations or rythem. (Sorry my mind has not been as sharp as it used to be) Let me say this. Through these last 10 years of grown up responsibility I have realized there are 4 things society charges us to much for. If you can control these 4 things you can have so much more authority to make decisions. Society is craving these powers. Fight for them back!
1. CAR PAYMENTS. you lose so much freedom when you become a slave to the lender. If you can't pay for a car outright don't! In emergency situations where you need a car do not go more than 110 a month. That's around a 5000 dollar car. Stop giving lenders the power to tell you what you need to do such as how much insurance you need or what your required to pay. Americans give too much power to the auto industry.
2. Dr bills. The medical industry makes too much damn money. Lasik eye surgery has continually come down while Dr bills continue to climb. Why? A BECAUSE THEY CAN. Nobody fights for lower prices. You can!! Avoid Dr's if you can but if you need to go negotiate negotiate negotiate. I've heard so many lies from their trained phone operators. Continue trying to get a discount and they will do it!
3.Insuranse. this is both for auto and medical. Continue fighting for lower prices. When I was first married I paid 1600 a year for 2 cars. I now pay around 600 for 2 cars. Tomorrow I am going to reduce that to under 500. Why? Because I can. Insurance companies will continue to try raise your rates. They are trained to make up excuses. Continue to fight back and shop for lower rates.
4. Learn how to use credit cards. If you are paying interest you are using them wrong! Stop having the mentality that you will pay them later. You won't! I have carried balances on credit cards for 10 years. I've had an awakening last year and currently have not paid interest to a credit card company in 10 months. In that time I have earned over 1000 dollars in cash back incentives. I'm not debt free. I just realized a secret that not a lot of people know about.
Be healthy Stay away from student loan debt and stop spending more than you make.
Here's to 2017. May it be my and your best year yet.
No comments:
Post a Comment