Future pondering below
December 4, 2006
With NaBloPoMo over, I become a shunner of blogging apparently.
I like to think of it as me giving you all a breather from my constant whining and mundane-ness. I hope you enjoyed it and yes, you’re welcome. However, I’ve decided to join another “post a blog entry every day thing” [this one is called Holidailies] so starting today, you will enjoy [that is an order] a post of at least 50 words, each lovingly plucked and strung together for you.
Due to technical difficulties, I will be a ghost participant in this challenge since for some reason, my blog address causes the registration system to seize up and clutch its heart in agony: no matter what I do, it won’t let me sign up.
I had a very social weekend: I attended one Christmas potluck and games evening followed by a trip to Walmart. Yes, this is the potluck that was the topic of this entry. I capitulated because the hostess, who is even more selfish than I [her words], insisted that I would be the only person there who would be her friend versus her husband’s [she lied] but she didn’t lie about the fact that there would be another person there [a male one at that!], who also happened to be single.
I did have a good time, the couples other than the host and hostess did cling together, and I distracted myself by playing with the hosts’ adorable boy when I was feeling de trop.
I also attended a birthday party [admittedly only about 20 minutes of it], a grand opening of a a flower shop, and one work Christmas party, followed by a trip to Walmart. In the last five years, Walmart has become a part of my life [what else do you call a place that you frequent at least once a week?] and now that I’m in money saving mode, I must wean myself of it.
I have decided that I need to start saving for the following things:
- a car [target date: 31 January 2007, will hopefully happen by 30 April 2007]
- RRSPs [because this is what they tell all fiscally responsible people to do when they turn 25]
- a house.
The last item on the list leaves me feeling a bit bittersweet because in my dream [you know the one that is 100% delusional?], I’m house shopping with my beau, arm in arm and just basking in the joy of being young, in love, and home shopping. We are engaged or at least certain that we’re going to live happily ever after and love each other, forever and ever amen. The reality is there is no reason that I should wait for a man before I get a house if that is my wish, and since the thought of renting [aka throwing well earned money directly into the manure pile*] makes me ill, buy I must. Age 30 seems to be my magical “get the hell out of my parents’ house” age, but it may happen sooner.
The only con of moving out is that I don’t like the idea of not being able to spend my cash as irresponsibly as I currently do [purse number 4 this month? Why not?!] but along with giving up on the dream of the perfect life, I can also toss out the dream of being able to spend money as I wish without keeping track of it, or giving myself a budget. It’s just not realistic, or grown up, not at this point in my life [after I've earned a few million, however...].
[I do often mention my frivolous purchases but please don't think I'm completely out of control with my spending. I allow myself to spend frivolously within a limit that isn't well enough defined to be called a budget but I do keep track of my bank balance and I'm allergic to debt, unless it's house or car-related debt.]
So, I think Jummy will be doing some growing up in the next little while. She wants to start living her life to the fullest, and living it as a 27.5 year old, and not a 14 year old who still has a decade before she has to start thinking about THE FUTURE. It’s been fun but time bus is going by fast, and not waiting for any slowpokes who are still trying to put their shoes on.
*I think renting is a waste of money for my personal situation because I live in the same city as my family and work in the same city, and it just doesn’t make sense to me to move into an apartment when what I have right now works right now for my situation. I’ve been asked why age 30 would suddenly change that and my only reply is “I don’t know. It just seems right”.
I agree 100% about renting–though I've never heard the "same city" explanation as a reason not to. I thought about buying a house when I moved to Toronto, but I would only be able to afford something closer to the suburbs and I hate commuting (I always lived downtown in old Ottawa) so $7500 per year for rent it is! That or living in res, which is THE SAME PRICE but for only 9 months per year. Gah. I'm going to get out as soon as possible though. Next major move I make (living somewhere for more than 6-9 months) I'm going to buy, even if there's no chance of me making money on a a quick sell later.
It's great to see that you've set yourself some excellent goals for the next few months. Surprisingly, I have the same illusion (delusion?) about house hunting. Perhaps you should think about it like one friend did: you are not house hunting alone, just setting up your own little chic lair to lure potential dates. Plus, think about how marketable [sorry, not to sound financial ;) ] you will be with a house to your name!! My aunt (incidentally who I don't really like, but anyway) has a house in South Keys and she's unmarried at 40. It is in South Keys, BUT she is a teacher who makes something modest like 50,000 per year and she has an absolutely gorgeous THREE bedroom house all decorated to her liking.
On the reality side, it has taken me "moving out" and renting this apartment have an idea of what I will NEED when I go to buy a house…things that you wouldn't even think about design-wise because they are not aesthetics (storage space, counter space, sofa space) you get to know about yourself and your own needs.