Change is good.

I took some time last night to go through my bank statements. After sifting through all my account information I came around to ask myself... WHY the HELL don't I have more than I should in my savings? and aside from bills, WHERE does my money go? Answer to my questions: Food, food, buying drinks when going out, food, gas, clothes, more food, more gas, food. UGH! So then I decided I need a solution to this madness...

1) No more coffee every morning before work. We have a coffee machine at work and I just need to be more self sufficient. Coffee is a luxery that I can afford to dispose. Stupid Starbucks and their stupid skinny iced vanilla lattes of death.

2) Stop going out so much. I don't know what it is but I CAN NOT stay in during the weekends. After a long work week I feel the need to let loose and get my eagle on. Dancing helps relieve stress and so does a drink or two. Shiet! lol. BUT COME ON NOW, EVERY WEEKEND? It's not that clubs/lounges take up my money it's the alcohal. Drinks add up! It's time to take advantage of my Hollywood video membership and start doing movie nights. Less going out = less money spent on gas and less money spent on drinks.

3) SHOPPING. This one is a disease, I swear. I like new clothes. What can I say? I am a female and we like NEW. I'm one of the MANY females that open up their closet everyday and say... "I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR." while starring at a closet full of clothes and some with tags still attached. As long as I'm working hard for my money there's nothing wrong with a little shopping, right?............ WRONG!!! There's no need for shopping every weekend for a new outfit to go out. This one will be one of the hardest things to work on but it must be done.

4) FOOD! I LOVE FOOD. I love trying new restaurants and discovering new foods to satisfy my ever-so-curious taste buds. Eating makes me happy! -- WOW ok, I'm starting to sound a little weird. ANYWAYS, I NEED TO START GROCERY SHOPPING AND EATING AT HOME. Food and gas is where the majority of my money goes to. Curse this stomach! CURSE IT!

In conclusion, in efforts to better my money management, I've decided these are things I AM GOING to work on. Starting tomorrow. Hopefully in a month I'll be able to see an increase in savings. With this saved money I can do more traveling!

In addition to my efforts to save money, I also want to put in more effort in being a better person. This is an everyday, self conscious reminder. TRYING to make sure I treat others the way I want to be treated, praying for my family and friends, going out of my way to make someone's day, something small to help my parents, etc. I feel like the little things add up but I want to do more. I want to donate 30% of my earings to something other than MYSELF. This all goes leads back to my money spending problem... now, if I had more money maybe I'd be able to spend 30% of my earnings on somewhere it would actually be useful/needed. I told myself last night that I'd start these things in 2009, sorda like a new years resolution, but I'm going to start now.

Biggie said, "mo' money, mo' problems" but I say, "mo' money, LESS problems." Holla if you hear me.