No-spend vacation

My vacation was a complete success. Besides barely costing 2 full tanks of gas (about $90), there were no tolls to be paid on my way down to NC that I wasn't aware of. My host family could not have been better, nicer, funnier or more accomodating. The graduation was on a gorgeous day, and the weather was really cooperating with us. I got to meet one of the aunts and her two adorable little monsters that were talking about how to kill things in a video game. I enjoy savvy children like that; very outspoken, and at least we can relate, since I'm a closet oldschool gamer.

I won't bore you with the details, but I got to meet a lot of their extended family, and we had too much fun. What did ol' little wild me do? We stayed up until 2am playing scary video games. I was sad to have to leave, but very happy to have been there. That's another state in my books! They're only 5 hours and two tanks of gas away, so perhaps I'll take them up on their offer and visit again...

They wouldn't let me spend any money. I know that makes me sound cheap, but I am glad I can put that money back into my account and pretty much pay off the gift I gave him. Also, he completely loved what we got him. Completely in love with it, so that's another success.

I have the wedding to go to this Saturday, then finalize my trip in July (havent bought the tickets yet... please go down already!), and I'll be done traveling for the year. And in good time, good company too. Overall, very content with how everything went.

I am so close to putting my accounts back in balance from the previous month's overages, so that's exciting on the financial front. I'll update on that tomorrow or so. Hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend.

Going on on another trip

Today I'm on a mission to figure out how to get from point A to a very far away point B for my friends' graduation a few states south. I've looked at maps briefly, I've looked at timing and what not, and since it's only for 3 days, I don't really need to panic a whole lot about what to pack. I currently have everything I'd need to get packed that would otherwise cost me money.

I've got some snacks I scored either cheap or free, gum I bought with coupons (ha), some reusable water bottles I need to put to freeze tonight. Some quick breakfast hotpockets for tomorrow morning (since I really dont feel like cooking at 4am, or stopping to eat along the road). I have all my toiletries still packed and separated. Only thing I have to go get is gas. When I think back to my first trip, I had to get so many things just to get ready, and it was quite costly, since they were more of an after-thought last minute purchase. Now, they all sit pretty waiting for their next use.

I've been thinking that I really enjoy the life of a traveler. I am quite content that despite my constant struggles with money and debt in general, I can say that I'm having a lot of fun traveling without further denting my finances. And as I've said before, when someone asks me what I did at 25, I don't want to tell them I paid off debt. I want to tell them I've traveled through 5 different states visiting with friends (in a very economic way). After all, it's about my life, not my debt.

Well, enough of that. For a bit, I'll get to just relax and have some fun without wondering what disaster may come down on me within the next two months. If all goes well, I'll reach next weekend without any issues or further expenses. That'd be quite nice for a change, huh? June seems to be that calm spot in the middle of a storm. Perhaps I'm in the eye of a hurricane?

How young is young enough for the financial bike?

Nothing really important to talk about today. But I wanted to share my bike riding experience so far. I know I must buy a helmet asap, but that asap wont come around until after July. So far, I am riding in a very safe/empty neighborhood, where the most I see is 3~5 cars in the 30-45min I spend biking. So while getting hit by a motorist isn't a big threat, falling is. I havent fallen yet, though I've had some close calls.

I am quite certain that learning to ride a bike becomes more difficult as an adult than as a child. Just like with everything else, no? I think I may have said this line before, but I have come to resent people who tell me that riding a bike is so so easy. I will nod and smile, and think to myself "well, learning a second/third language was easy too. I mean, I did it." Ok, not so easy, but there are a million other things; skills we all have that not every single person has, that being drawing, singing, making things, etc. Things we picked up as children and now we are better at it than the average person. Which brings me to a point...

Learning things is a lot easier as a child than an adult. I know that's a fact. I don't have any children or dependents of my own, but for those of you that have them, did you teach them about money early in their years? I don't mean handing them a 300-page accounting textbook. But just starting with the simpler things, like managing an allowance or saving for a gift, or the true value/cost of something.

Teaching a kid that you can't buy everything can't be more dangerous/damaging than having them bike in the street and risk some idiot bumping into them with their truck. My parents never, ever spoke about finances with me or my siblings. School really didnt, even after I moved to the US. So why exactly are people somewhat against teaching children early on about finances? I think that's the best time to get them started.

Making habits

I know that I would rather not post every time I mess or I'm doing the wrong thing, but what's accountability if I simply pick and choose what to confess to and what not to?

The wedding gift was purchased. After gift wrapping and shipping, it came to $58.63 for three items. I've done my dues. Next up, graduation gifts. That will come to about $50, but it wont just be a graduation gift. It will be a belated birthday and host gift, since I'll stay with them. As of right now, I am $150 over budget, and that is including a mere $34 I spent on groceries. Yes; I'm slightly panicked right about now! When the 8th comes, which will be my next paycheck, I'll have to pay pretty much my full $150 allowance on gas and tolls for my trip to NC.

I've noticed a silver lining, and something that makes me slightly proud of myself in the midst of this chaos: even though this is the first time in a while I've felt a bit of financial despair, I have not considered underpaying any of my debt though I could without penalty (to the total ring of about $40/mo), underpay taxes, which I am currently doubling (up to $150/mo), using the extra rewards from my CC (about $58 as of June), raiding my Christmas jar, who seems to be quite lonely these days, or asking for a loan. Not that I have anyone to ask a loan from, but it's stuff people consider, right?

So my financial habits are pretty much in place and staying strong in the face of adversity. For the most part. I am spending a bit more than I earn with the excuse (yes, it is an excuse) that I can pay it within the next paycheck. And I do pay within the next paycheck or sooner. But what when I can't? But isn't that how all debt starts?

It's nice to know that all of these conscious decisions we drill into our heads can find a permanent place among our daily unconscious habits. It makes me feel like I'm doing something right.