home ownership thoughts

I go back and forth about my living situation. Right now, I live with my parents in a nice house. I have my own room and bathroom. I usually don’t buy the groceries, and I don’t pay for utilities.

All told, the savings is pretty remarkable.

Then again, I’m just investing that would-be rent/mortgage money in the stock market, which arguably may or may not offer a better return than home ownership would. Every now and then, I start looking around at real estate. It’s become one of those down-time habits: check Facebook, look at my bloglines, hop  online for new property listings. One particular house is quite nice. It’s a little out of my immediate budget and likely won’t be for sale next year when I could more seriously consider it. However, it’s fun to dream.

Out of curiosity, here’s a poll: how old were you when you bought your first home, and what did it cost?

Biblical finance 5.1: specific ways to help the poor

A while ago, I wrote about the Biblical principle about helping the poor.

Today, a new friend gave me a large list of organizations to look into:

WorldVision
US Aid
Samaritan’s Purse
EQUIP
TearFund
CharityWater
AfriCare

Redbook

Last month and this month, I’ve received Redbook Magazine in the mail. I never ordered it; it’s not my kind of thing. Anyone have an idea why it’s coming to me?

without insurance

In some ways, I lead a dual life: grown-up and childlike. Grown-up: I run a department, have six employees, manage my income, invest in the stock market. I even set up my own Roth IRA recently–how much more grown-up does it get than planning for retirement?  But I’m also a kid: I live with my parents and eat Mom’s cooking four nights a week. They won’t let me pay for my car insurance, and they’re happy to include me on the family cell phone plan. I suppose these things will change soon, too.

As I get older, I find more and more little steps leading me to the “grown-up” world. It hasn’t all come at once, which is good, I think. I wasn’t forced to fly away at 18, fending for myself; if I had been, I suppose that would’ve been good also, but in a different way.

Tonight I went to Wal-mart (my beloved) to pick up my monthly prescription. I have a mild medical condition that is in no way life-threatening or really life-altering, but if untreated it could be. I take regular medication and see a doctor yearly. Up until this month, I’ve been classified as under 25, a student, fully covered on my dad’s health insurance policy. We’ve been stalling as much as we can to keep me covered until my company policy kicks in (October 1), but these next two weeks, I’m completely uncovered. My usual monthly payment is just $30. Today? Without insurance? $438.

Ouch.

I was about to pay, thinking what else could I do, when I had an inspiration. The pharmacist let me buy just half the prescription for $219. When my new policy kicks in, I’ll get the rest. Let me just say I am so thankful for company insurance. I’ll be paying $100-something a month and a $20 or $30 co-pay for my meds. What a savings!

One more step toward adulthood. I wonder when it kicks in fully.

the Aveda haircut

Thank you again to all who suggested the Aveda Institute. It’s a little ways from my home, and I had to book my appointment weeks in advance, but it was worth it.

My stylist spent almost two hours with me, making sure that she addressed my hair concerns (it’s super thick and gets heavy). She did some angles and long layers and face framing. I love all things Aveda: the smells, the products, the salons. Did I mention they sent me a coupon for a free personal scent on my birthday? It was awesome; I went in to a local Aveda store and got to smell all sorts of bottles, helping the woman determine my favorite. Then she mixed me up my own personal smell to take home. For free!

Anyway. Back to the cut. My style doesn’t look so different to be immediately noticeable, but it’s spruced up and lighter and easier to do in the mornings. My routine is an hour flat, now a little less. I am completely satisfied and will probably go back.

Oh, and the entire thing cost $16 (plus a $5 tip, since I didn’t have any singles.). $21 is better than any other salon around here, so I’m thrilled.

decisions

So I have an iPod mini. It’s pink, it’s cute, it’s almost three years old. For over a year now, its battery has not held charge very well. Last fall, when I was doing the editorial internship, we could listen to music via headphones all day long. I would bring my mini and be out of juice by 1 pm. It stunk.

Saturday, before my Aveda haircut (more on that later), I stopped by the Apple store downtown and kept my appointment at the genius bar. According to my genius, I have two options:

1) Swap my mini for an identical make, model and color, all with a rebuilt inside. I pay $60 and get a 90-day warranty.

2) Buy a new iPod (my choice would probably be the 4G or 8G Nano. I can’t believe how small they are!), rendering my useless one to the store. They’d give me a 10% discount on the purchase.

What would you do?

updates

I have the day off today. I’d love to get a million things done, things that I’ve been putting off for just such a day as this–but all I want to do is stay in my p.j.’s and play online in my room.

It’s been slow at The Writer’s Wallet lately. Not slow in terms of my financial journey, but slow in terms of my chronicling it.  Work’s good: extremely busy, but challenging and interesting. My days disappear into evenings that disappear into 5K training. Between work, running, Boston, side jobs and just getting up every day, I’m a little worn out. Every time I’ve wanted to post, something’s distracted me–but I have no excuses right now, and I’m here.

UPDATES:

1) Stocks: At the beginning of this year I had some $25-27K in my Scottrade account. Despite all the scares recently, my portfolio is up to a nice $32K now. I add a little of every paycheck, and I like watching it grow. One of today’s goals is to stop by my Scottrade office and ask a few questions. I still want to set up a Roth IRA, but I’ve been putting it off. Also, my account is still labeled as a custodial–my dad’s name is also on it. This doesn’t really bother me, but I should probably find out how to switch it, seeing as I’m 25 and all.

2) Lunches: I still make my lunch every day, with some exceptions. I’ve gone over to Corner Bakery twice and spent about $7 each time. Last Saturday I went to Panera and got a half-salad, which I highly recommend as it includes a huge, warm piece of baguette and chicken on top! cost: $3.50!! The other day, I read something about how making your own lunch can save you thousands of dollars a year. I didn’t read the whole article, but it’s enough to keep me going. I try to make my lunch for the next day as soon as I finish dinner; otherwise, it becomes a chore.

3) Haircut: My first Aveda Institute haircut is schedule for Saturday! I am super excited and can’t wait to see what they can do. Expect a full report later; this is too important to put off posting!

need to simplify

A few days ago, I heard a speaker describe the current economic conditions in the world, claiming that everyone in America is rich. Maybe you don’t have a house or an extra car or spending money to travel, but you probably have clothes on your back and food to eat and a place to lay your head each night. At least I do. And that’s more than a lot of people.

Ever since, I’ve been shockingly aware of just how much I do have. How many pieces of clothing in my closet. How many extra, unused beauty products under my sink. How many books, how many luxuries, how much food wasted in the pantry.

I long to simplify. Step One, for me, was going through the “old clothes” closet where I house items I no longer want or need to wear. Today I took the boxes to Goodwill. My entire trunk was filled with stuff, yet no dent has been made at home. I could do this weekly and still have more than enough to be comfortable.

How can I be a good steward of my resources, minister to people in need and provide just enough for myself? How can I recognize my own overabundance in comparison to glossy billboards and beautiful models and shiny ads? How can I not, for example, get addicted to weekly $25 pedicures (like the first one I had last week)? How can I not want to go shopping and buy new, new clothes? How can I turn my insatiable wanter off?

I Heart Boston.

Here in Chicagoland, I have a good job and a place to live rent-free. My family lives here. I attend a good church and get to teach Sunday school kids each week. This has been where I’ve lived all my life; outside of college, I’ve never called anything but Illinois home.

But.

If there ever comes a chance to move to Boston. If I ever get offered a job on the East Coast. If I could live in Boston, even with its higher rents and far-away-from-home location, I would, in a heartbeat. I love the history–everything is Colonial, with a story to it. I love the food–think Italy comes to America, along with awesome cuisines from other areas. I love the water–it’s right on the ocean, meaning great seafood, great views, great transportability to other New England locations.

But now for a more important, more likely if: If you ever visit Boston on a budget (like I did), here’s what you need to know:

1) Buy a Charlie Ticket.
The subway system is called the T, and passes are called Charlie Tickets. I bought a 7-day pass for $15 and rode the heck out of that rail system. In and around Boston Common, to and from Harvard, a few blocks here, a few blocks there.

2) Wear comfortable shoes.
My good ol’ Adidas gym shoes were my choice all week. Usually with jeans and tank tops. Boston was hot–very hot, and we walked mile after mile of its historic neighborhoods. On this note, you really should visit the Bunker Hill obelisk, if just to say you did. Climb all 297 of its stairs; your legs will tremble by the time you get back down, but it’s worth it.

3) Eat your heart out in the North End.
This is Italy as I remember it: incredible restaurants with great atmosphere, adorable gelaterias, line-around-the-corner bakeries. I recommend Flour, not in the North End, but over the bridge and in the midst of a crazy loftish area. But all the locals love Mike’s Pastry in the North End. One out of every five people I saw carried a take-out box from it. For the best pizza you’ve had in your life, hit up the Cafe Pompeii. They don’t advertise the pizza outside, but they make it. Oh, do they make it.

4) Walk through Charleston.
We’re back to the ifs again. If money were no object, I would live in this neighborhood. Refined, classy, clean: every street is gorgeous.

5) Visit Faneuil Hall.
Rachael Ray calls this “food hall,” and I get her point. Tons of vendors, in one long hallway: seafood, Greek, Indian, ice cream, bakeries, chowder. Go. Trust me.

6) Take the T to Cambridge.
I’m warning you now: if you’re still in school, visiting Harvard is want to give you school-envy. Nonetheless, I loved walking through campus on its opening weekend, seeing new freshman move in and wander around with nervous parents. I bought a crimson tee, of course, for about $20. Ah, it’s vacation, right?

7) Make the Most of Credit Card Rewards.
As you know, I spent virtually nothing on this trip, outside of food/souvenirs. Three nights in three different Boston hotels and round-trip airfare cost $90, paid through a side job I do.