Feb 22, 2013

Making a hard call and MY NEW FINANCIAL PLAN

So I made a pretty hard call today that I've been contemplating for a while now.

I'm going to move into the room my dad built in the living room of my apartment and rent out my current room.

It's a big sacrifice.  Here's some of the negatives:

  • Three room-mates, 1 bathroom.  Morning shower times will have to be reserved now to ensure I'm never late to work, will also be less convient -- more times I want to go and can't, more rushed bathroom environment, and more smells and maintenance to deal with.
  • Giving up sound-resistant walls.  I'll have to deal with room-mates walking through the apartment all night, every night.  Going to bed early will become a bigger challenge.  I'll be more tired more often.
  • A third room-mate means a third set of issues.  Unexpected guests, frequently dirty kitchen, less cabinet and fridge space, faster filling dish washer, busier washer/drier, loud movies/music, more schedule conflicts, and more crowded space are just some of the issues that'll come up.
  • Possible drama and rules violations.  Keeping everything in order can require discipline and even eviction of a room-mate.  This can cause legal issues, monetary issues if I have to cover rent for a month or two unexpectedly, and can lead to an upset Tom (my current room-mate.)
  • Major limitations on inviting guests over.  Bryan or Steven coming into town?  Unfortunately, I cannot let you stay here, unless I can get my room-mates to approve you sleeping on the couch for a night or two... and only if it's JUST you.  My living situation is a lot like Dave's situation in his garage.
But it's worth it's weight.  Here's the positives:
  • Tom's snoring will no longer be bothering the neighbors.
  • More people means a more lively environment.
  • It's that much harder to have a girlfriend, allowing me to stay true to my no-dating commitment.
    ...but what it really comes down to...
---> An extra $475 per month.  Right now, if I'm lucky and I don't have to pay AAA, the DMV, or other unexpected BS charges, I'm ahead about $100 - $300 a month, depending on what kind of food I buy, if I buy weed, and if I go snowboarding.  Today, I couldn't work because I was worried sick thinking about paying AAA and renewing car insurance and paying for snowboarding.  I can't have all 3, putting me in the red.  And the reason that's so essential is that it makes me truly living within my means and FINALLY AHEAD.  Here's the issues it solves:
  • Clear, clean focus on goals.  Main worries will be gone, won't be able to smoke weed in the new room putting the days, weeks, and months of mindlessly sitting at the computer with a bong at my side long behind me (and not to return until my business is successful enough for me to get a room again), and living in a small, cramped room that I can't bring girls home to will significantly motivate me to make money online without the stress of living outside my means.
  • Advertising money for business.  This is a huge win for my future, and one of the things that makes this move essential for my business' well-being.
  • Paying off credit (to finally begin building credit score) and paying off late rent fees.  This will clear a lot of the junk worries that consume me and make it hard to focus on work.
  • More luxury.  I'll be able to start eating healthy (getting 2000+ calories per day), save up for a snowboarding trip to mammoth in 2014, and afford to upgrade my computer when necessary (not to mention buying the occasional game and being able to play online with my friends.)
--> I just need to remember to be careful.  Blowing the extra money is a good way to stay behind.  It's VERY IMPORTANT that I split up the $475 as soon as I get it into several different accounts:
  1. 10% into FINANCIAL FREEDOM.  This is ONLY for buying passive income streams and investing.  I need a NEW BANK ACCOUNT for this, preferable bank #2 in SAVINGS account.
  2. 10% into PLAY.  SoMM explains that we are holistic in nature, so if we only save we end up getting flustered and sabotaging our results, and if we only spend we feel guilt and sabotage our play.  This is for extravagant play and MUST be spent every month.  This goes in my cash storage location, NOT a bank account, since it's a specific amount I need to spend every month.
  3. 20% into BUSINESS.  This is for advertising and growing my business.  I need a NEW BANK ACCOUNT for this, preferable bank #2 in CHECKING account.
  4. 20% into LONG TERM SAVINGS FOR SPENDING.  This is for my trip to mammoth, gifts, computer upgrades, etc.  This goes in my Wells Fargo Savings account.
  5. 40% into NECESSITIES.  This is the extra money I get per month to eat better than I do now, pay off credit and catch up on late rent fees.  After all that, feel free to save some of it to help with mammoth / business, but MOST if not all of it should be going towards food, gas, bills, etc.  This goes in my Wells Fargo Checking account.
If I can simply keep discipline to dividing up the extra $475 / month this way, that'll mean the extra $5,700 per year gets split up like so:
  1. $570 at the end of the year for buying profitable websites and making solid investments with, producing passive income streams to ensure financial freedom and never-ending progression of income sources and riches.
  2. $47.50 per month to spend on reckless things like getting my snowboard waxed, going to a fancy restaurant, getting drunk in a bar, having 2 weed brownies within 2 - 3 hours of each other 2 days in a row, etc.
  3. $1,140 per year to spend on new advertising tests, business expansion, etc.  For instance, if at the end of the year I have $500 left over and nothing to do with it, why not try out paying a "web marketer" to run a small campaign after he proves he can grow my business.
  4. $1,140 at the end of the year for my trip to mammoth EVEN IF I DON'T EARN ANY EXTRA MONEY WITH MY BUSINESS ALL YEAR (and I will.  And it'll be AT LEAST enough to push a $2,000 trip to mammoth, just based on the $1500 my business earned in 2012 alone.)
  5. $190 per month extra to help with paying all the bills, dealing with disasters, etc.  With the gas savings per month, this is enough to get a brand new car... which is pretty much the biggest disaster scenario I'd be facing.  In case of a real disaster (like losing my job or having to cover 100% of rent for a couple of months), I'll have credit paid off, late rent fees gone, and savings accounts to pull from.
 ...So the positives outweigh the negatives.  I'll probably get less sleep, live in a small, cramped space, and deal with quite a bit more inconvenience, but I'll be able to focus on my business, have good security, go to mammoth, live well within my means, and be building inevitable financial freedom, whether my business succeeds or not.  I finally get true control over my world.  That's a huge come-up.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

That is a solid plan, my main concern is if I'd be allowed to remain here over summer break or move in with my parents, in which summer classes and piano practice would pretty much not happen for me. As I think I've mentioned, I should be able to stay and the cafeteria would still be available I'd be able to eat there a bit less often than during the semester, but there are usually at least a few Target shopping carts out back that I could use, so I would be fine if I could remain here over break. If they insist I clear out over break maybe I could explain my situation to them, no reason I shouldn't be able to since rent payments continue over break (going into the next school year but still). I think this would really benefit you and make life better in many ways, I don't see how Tom's snoring wouldn't affect the neighbors anymore though, do you mean he would get your room? Being able to shop at Fresh & Easy again would be a big plus, I was quite happy with that room although it was small, and I didn't get woken up that much to be honest, so life in the small room might not be as bad as you think. Sounds like you have good times ahead, making as many sales as you do from that site is a good sign.
-Chris bro

JCMO said...

Ya tom will most likely take my room. I will make sure our parents are aware of the situation and so you will have alternatives to living in the dorms. Wont be moving out until April so we will all be getting together before then with the birthdays and all.

JCMO said...

Ya tom will most likely take my room. I will make sure our parents are aware of the situation and so you will have alternatives to living in the dorms. Wont be moving out until April so we will all be getting together before then with the birthdays and all.

Unknown said...

These are big changes in your life, and I think all of these are in your advantage. The $475 extra is a big thing for your savings – both for personal use and business. And your goals will serve as a motivation so you can stay focus and avoid spending it on other things that are not important. I wish you luck! - Chin Portillo @ SalesPartnerScapeTown.co.za