Thursday, August 28, 2008

Abundance and Gratitude - Day 18

The day has made me just a little weary. Thought I would try to infuse a little optimism!

Day 18 of participating in an exercise that is a great idea from Millionaire Mommy Next Door to re-focus on manifesting abundance thankfulness.

Day 18: $13,107,200 spending spree:
LA compound purchase, decoration, tax and maint fund ($13 mil)
Trip to Hawaii for a month ($100,000)
Dinner tonight at Slanted Door with many boozy concoctions ($300)
Hotel for the long weekend, starting tonight - forget about the very bad smoke blocking my commute home! ($4,000)
Clothes and toiletries, since I wouldnt be going home ($500)
Food and entertainment for the long weekend ($2400)

I am grateful for:
- being 18 days about from being out of cc debt!
- skill, hard work, opportunity and the options that creates
- B having new housing even sooner than thought for a very, very affordable rate + improved health and healing

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Abundance and Gratitude - Day 17

Day 17 of participating in an exercise that is a great idea from Millionaire Mommy Next Door to re-focus on manifesting abundance thankfulness.

Day 17: $6,553,600 spending spree:
Make a bionic woman! (seriously, think they can engineer a new back for me with $6mil?)
OK, probably not....how about a team of people that can help: 3x week acupuncturist, 1xweek massage therapy, 3xweek personal yoga instruction, personal chef (all for the next 60 years) = $6,006,000
Donation to my favorite back doctor, to further her research ($547,600)

I am grateful for:
- a wonderful, caring, supportive doctor that has helped me heal for 8 years!
- intuitive friends that support me in my quest to manifest abundance
- technology that keeps me near all the things and people I care about

Friday, August 15, 2008

New Goals

Im 93% of the way to having PAID OFF 43k+ in cc debt in under 1 year. Pretty decent job manifesting abundance, if I do say so myself. It feels good and Im excited about the wealth building possibilities moving forward :)

After much thought, here are my goals for the remainder of 2008:
- pay off remaining cc debt ($3181) by 1 month from today (9/15)
- pay off personal loan ($4000) by 2 months from today (10/15)
- save $5000 for emergency fund by end of year
- focus on *feeling* gratitude for the abundance of wealth I already have

I have 2009 goals on my radar, but will hold off on posting them.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Abundance and Gratitude - Day 16

Day 16 of participating in an exercise that is a great idea from Millionaire Mommy Next Door to re-focus on manifesting abundance thankfulness.

Day 16: $3,276,800 spending spree:
With my new freedom from work fund, use my time to establish a non-profit organization that funds Bay Area programs to bring music and arts to a broader audience. Record label, publishing house, mentoring and after school programs. ($2mil)
Fully fund and grow a project a friend is now running that brings inner city kids to go snowboarding in the winter ($1,000,000)
Gift 10 friends/acquaintances that make under $50k/year $27,600 each.

I am grateful for:
- remembering....to be in a place where I can receive what I am asking for...people that have deeply influenced by life...instances of endless joy....actions of giving...
- hope
- coffee

Monday, August 11, 2008

Abundance and Gratitude - Day 15

Day 15 of participating in an exercise that is a great idea from Millionaire Mommy Next Door to re-focus on manifesting abundance thankfulness.

Day 15: $1,638,400 spending spree:
Existing downpayment fund of $766,700 + $250,000 for 2/2+den 1600 sqft awesome loft in Jack London Square! (includes HOA fund, maint fund, taxes fun, etc. apt cost = $750,000)
911 Turbo for the BF $138k
Time off slush fund! ($1,250,400)


I am grateful for:
- sleep, especially when uninterrupted 2 nights in a row
- positivity and the knowledge that there are tons of opportunities at my fingertips to BE positive
- good friends that love and support who I am

Thursday, August 7, 2008

The Courage to become Fearless

Ive had the phrase "Gradually and then suddenly" floating around in my head lately.

Not because Ive been reading Hemingway, or thinking about going broke, or watching/reading Prozac Nation, or losing my mind.

I stand at the precipice of Financial Freedom. And in thinking about how Ive become free, the answer strikes me as: Gradually and then suddenly.

Almost Frugal posted about her Biggest Financial Fear today. Upon reading it, I had the realization that I feel relatively fearless financially. Its taken courage and hope to walk in the face of the terrible fears I faced over the last 10 months.

Just last year I was terrified. Despite making almost six figures and being single, I was treading on a slippery slope. 43k in cc debt. I lost my grip for a little while. There were a couple months where I couldnt pay my cc payments. The crushing reality settled in: what would happen to me if anything else went wrong? A real emergency could have probably ended with me living on the streets or in some similarly dire situation. In addition, family and friends who make far less were facing financial hardships I really wanted to be able to help with - but I was helpless.

I gradually turned it all around. I went on a cash diet. I committed myself to debt reduction. In 10 months Ive reduced that debt to about 3k, increased my income by 35%, lowered my cost of rent by 30%.

It is an ongoing effort to save, invest, and wisely enjoy my earnings. But I suddenly feel so much more fearless. I feel capable of ensuring my own health and security. I feel like I can help friends and family.

I feel courageous and free.