Goal #1 - Pay off my car
Right now my car is my only debt, absolutely the only money I owe. I owe nothing on credit cards, loans, friends, nothing. I pay $323/month for my car payment and though it’s hard to pay extra, I should have my car paid off by 2010. However I intend to try and get it paid off by 2009.

Once the mustang is paid off, that $323/month will be going into my Roth IRA.

Goal #2 - Pay off my fathers debts
My father has a hefty hospital bill, a loan, and pays $400/month for health insurance. My goal is to have the hospital bill paid off by June 2007 by putting $120/month away, and my sweetheart putting $100/month away until June of next year. This will be my fathers day present.

Incidentally, my friend Bonnie just donated $50 towards my dads fund, which I will be putting away into savings to gathering interest and add it to the amount to be paid to my fathers hospital bill in June. I may start promoting my father fund again after Christmas to see if we can’t knock out some of his other debts as well.

In addition to this, I hope to have all of my fathers debt paid off by 2010, so that I can help him start a small savings for himself, even though he has no retirement and no savings at 57 years old. In the mean time I will help him learn financial responsibility (and computers).

Goal #3 - Complete my Emergency Fund
I think everyone should have 6 months of expenses saved in the bank for emergencies. For most people that rounds out to about $5,000. I will probably have this saved up sometime in 2008, but I already have a decent head start.

Goal #4 - Start saving for a car
Despite wanting to pay off my mustang, I am going to be adding additional money to my Emergency Fund mentioned above so that I can buy a car with cash. Whether it is for me, my sweetheart, or my father, I do not intend to ever take out a loan for a car again. My mustang will last me until I am ready for another car, and by then I will have enough money saved up to buy a pre-owned later model vehicle. Paying in cash will also ensure that I get a better deal.

And how much I’d love to buy my father a new pre-owned Prius. One day.

Goal #5 - Get Married Cheap
I’ve been recording ideas for when I get married again for a while now. Just small things I think of here and there so I have them. I’ve never had a wedding before, but I’m looking forward to having a frugal eco-friendly wedding. I’ve made it a challenge to see how good of a wedding I can have for the smallest price possible.

Goal #6 - Buy land and start a house
My goal is to buy my landlords 500 acre farm. I am planning on going in with 3 other people for this, technically 4 if you count my father. I want to give him the old farmhouse, build myself a small little stone cottage in the woods, and then the other two people will build their own little house somewhere else on the property.

My goal is to finance this through my dads friend that buys properties for a living. I think I can get a good deal with a low interest rate (especially given the current mortgage problems in the U.S.), and then start building my roots there. This goal won’t be complete in 5 years, but I’d at least like to have it started.

My sweetheart has a house he will be selling, the two other people interested in this idea will have their own method of investing, and my sweetheart and I will have no debts to interfere.

Goal #7 - Live off of one income
This is my ultimate goal, and it may or may not happen in 5 years (though I’m leaning towards yes). I intend to live frugally on just my sweethearts income, while mine is put away into savings. If at all possible, I’d like for my father to live under this one income as well, but I imagine he will be using some of his disability. But I can still work with him on creating a savings for himself so he feels less dependent on me.

I just got back from my first around of hunting. We left a little before 6am while it was still dark, but with the light of a full moon (or close to it). There was already frost on the ground, and I found a new fallen tree to camp out on.

About half an hour after I settled, all of the birds started coming out. I’m still convinced my spot is a cardinal breeding ground, as I saw another swam of males and females a like.

A few times, a small swarm of small birds flew over head. It was so quiet, all I heard was the quiet swaying of their wings in the cold wind. It almost sounded like a gentle rain, to be honest. It was oddly facinating.

Didn’t see a single deer though, and neither did my dad on the other side of the thicket. I was nestled right where fresh rubbings were, but nothing came.

We heard several shots in the distance, some fairly close on the other side of the cornfield, but still didn’t see anything.

I think it’s a lot colder than this time last year, at least today it was. Both of our feet froze, so we decided to come in for a bit.

My friend Anna and I tried to come up with some inspirational ideas for better eating at the Grove. Mainly things like, trying to eat white meat instead of beef, stop bringing donuts and soda, but still eating things like eggs and cheese. Several people often complain about the food, and others often complain about their weight. Even some of the leaders in the Grove talk about how they want to promote healthier eating and that they love to eat vegetables.

But we were surprisingly met with some harsh resistance. People plainly stated they wanted their beef and sugar. I will say I’m disappointed, but I’m certainly not going to force a horse to drink.

In a way, in my mind, it contradicts a lot of environmental concerns. People buy processed, chemical-laden foods, support factory farms by buying meat from the grocery store, etc. Which in return supports a lot of our current environmental problems.

And this is what is preferred in a Druid Grove that advocates supporting our environment (for the most part) instead of eating local organic, eco-friendly foods.

It’s not like I was saying no red meat and no donut ever, I think diet changes should be gradual, and I think people need to reward themselves with a snack once in a while. I dunno, I guess it just boggles my mind. But I’m not going to press the issue. I will attempt to be an example with my own diet. If anything it motivates me to eat healthier and eco-conscience even more.

So I guess that’s a bright side to the whole thing, right?

Not that I’ve ever once in my life shopped on the day after Thanksgiving, or ever intend to, I’ve always been curious how bad it really is. Despite the obviousmurders and crimes committed for electronic equipment during the holiday season.

Here’s a glimpse or two:
Read the rest of this entry »

Well Thanksgiving was good, we have tons of leftovers as usual. My co-worker seemed to enjoy herself, though she didn’t stay long. I’m a little rusty in the “hostess skills” department. I will note, however, that it was 70 degrees yesterday. A bit ridiculous.

Today it’s about 40 degrees, so the woodstove is fired up. It looks like it will be just as cold tomorrow, which should be interesting for the first day of rifle season. I have to do some searching for where I put my long john shirts and make sure I have enough warm clothes to be sitting outside for hours pre-dawn.

Looking at the weather forecast, it looks like the gulf is getting some rain, I’m not sure if that means Georgia and Tennessee are or not. I certainly hope so. Many of the northern states are supposed to be getting some snow. I’d kinda like to see some, but not much. I don’t want to navigate in the snow in the dark tomorrow morning.

Today is kind of a lazy day. I can’t seem to get motivated to do much.

Remember as you eat with your family and friends, all of the things you have, and the life you have been given. Remember the less fortunate.

Remember the freedom your ancestors fought for, remember the natives of this land and what was taken from them. This holiday has more meaning than what the government would have you believe.

Remember the earth mother and the bounty she provides for you and your future children. Walk softly on the earth so we can provide for the next seven generations. Do what you can to help the earth.

And most of all, remember that we are all one mind, and one heart. You are all my brethren, no matter color, creed, or nationality.

One heart, one mind.

A co-worker who is currently going through a divorce, doesn’t have anywhere to go for thanksgiving. Her soon to be ex-husband (they are still living together despite divorce proceedings) told her that she is not welcome to come have thanksgiving with his family, and her family lives in Germany where she’s from. She told me she would probably just stay home and drink all day.

So I put on my red cape and invited her to have dinner with me and my dad. We’re making tons of food, and it’s just going to be my dad and me. I hope she accepts the invitation, as it sounds like she needs a warm home for the holidays, and if you’ve ever been to my house, it’s got that very down-home welcoming country feeling. I don’t know what else to call it.

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