Tuesday, January 13, 2009

It is a process...

... and this is a little chronicle of my journey in the life I am designing, creating, aspiring toward. It is a simple life lived on a modest budget. My goals are to as much as possible be motivated and rewarded by enthusiasm, creativity, gratitude, and the simple pleasures of life. In my mind, getting to and staying at a true level of simplicity and gratitude starts with the very basics. I will cover my basics here. Life and home organization, the house of finances (order, smarts, frugality, empowerment and peace,) the pure joy of all my creativities (they are many, and ever evolving,) and my ideal of vibrant health. It will all be chronicled as it naturally flows in my life. There will likely be struggles, challenges, experiments (I am an experimenter by nature,) successes, joys, triumphs and pains. Hopefully more of the joys and enthusiasms than the rest. I am by no means an expert, I am just grateful to be consciously in the process, it is a process that brings me great pleasure. It is my hope that this chronicle of mine will, as it moves me along on my paths, perhaps also, if not inspire, at least amuse my visitors.

Monday, January 12, 2009

A Dumb Financial Tactic

This year I am expecting a check from the IRS totalling  $10,352.43. Like many misguided individuals, I've always seen this voluntary tax method as a "forced savings".  I give the US government a 0% loan for many many years now.

It would be so easy to simply change my witholdings, and automate the difference to an interest bearing savings account  at Emigrant Direct. Instead I will continue to loan the government my hard earned money interest free.

Perhaps when I've reached personal finance nirvana, I will make this intellingent shift. I certainly encourage you to make the shift.