Unfortunately, this post doesn’t really have any straightforward theme/story to tie it all together, so what you see is what you get. This post is purely a look at where we are and where we want to go from here. T-minus 10 months; 42.85 weeks; 300 days ’til take-off.
February money goal:
If you read the last post, you would know that my money goal was the magic number, $11k. However, I only managed to make it to $10,500. Hmm… was I being overly anxious? No, I would have made my goal, but I ended up buying my Canon Digital Rebel XT! It was a long and stressful process, but I managed to find a good deal, only after nearly missing an extreme rip-off on ebay and other outbidding mishaps. I settled for buying used from adorama.com, and so far I am very happy with my decision. The camera body/battery/accessories kit cost me $395, and I then found a Sigma 70-300mm DG lens on E-bay that ended up costing another hundred. So far I’m at $500 (thus why I missed my $11k goal) and I would like one more lens (birthday in May! anyone?), specifically the Sigma 17-70mm DC Macro. I think those two lenses will make a great combo pack for the trip!
Part-time job:
You’ll be happy to know I finally found another part-time job as a test scorer. It only lasts a month, but it pays $12/hour, which is even better topped off by the fact that I will get to work from home! The job starts in April and should bring in at least $700 after taxes. Woot!
Summer/Fall housing:
Brian is going to be working in NY again for the summer, and instead of going through the pain of being separated as we were last summer, I’m going with him (I love having a portable job). Now comes the tricky part – If we renew our current lease (it ends in June) we will:
-have to pay for at least a month of rent past December
-have to pay for two apartments for the entire summer
-have to worry about the stuff we have in the apartment all summer; move stuff out of apartment and move it back in to avoid that worry
-have to find a summer subleasor and worry about our stuff with someone we don’t know; move stuff out of apartment and back in at end of summer to avoid that worry
These ideas were just not cutting it with us, so we’ve come to the conclusion to not renew our current lease, find a furnished 1 bedroom apartment for just the fall semester, and to start storing/selling our possessions before NY. We have been looking and found a furnished 1 bedroom apartment for the fall semester. The rent is cheaper than what we are paying now (we have a 2 bedroom), so we will be saving more money for the trip. The furnished part means we only have to move what we need – computer and clothes – making the whole moving 3 times in one year part less painful. And, we will only have to worry about rent for months we will actually be living there. How nice!
Selling my car:
Since I started saving for the trip, I’ve resented my car. I am dying to get rid of the stupid thing, because, honestly, I hardly ever drive it. I work from home, and really only need it for groceries and if I want to drive to see my parents on the weekend. Other than that, it is a costly beast that taunts me from my office window. I was going to wait until November-ish to sell the damn thing, but am thinking of just bumping that up to May. The car is going to be my come-home fund. I am going to put the money I get from selling it into a CD so it can collect interest while on the road, but hey, if I can start accumulating interest sooner, more power to me, right?
Trip fund:
I keep making test itineraries/budgets so I can get a better idea of the type of money we want to save for the trip. I think what we are both shooting for is $25k each, and that is after all necessary pre-trip costs (medical, vaccines, insurance, first leg of flights, gear) have been dealt with. So, I’m thinking we will need to be able and make $30k in order to meet our $25k goal (this is a broad guestimation, and I like to overshoot). Brian seems to be well on his way – he is kicking my butt in the money sector. But, will I make that goal? Let’s see!
Current progression:
Current money = $10,500
Putting $1500 away normally each month for 10 months = $15,000
Income tax return = $1000
April scoring job = $700
Total = $27,200
Guestimations:
Birthday & Christmas = $1000
Selling belongings = $250 (keeping most things of value; computer/guitar)
Fall part-time job = $2000
Interest = $400
Grand Total = $30,850
Seems to be that if I just keep on keepin’ on I should be golden.
Other items of interest:
The government might be watching us, but guess what! We’re watching you, too!
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