The next decade....what's in store?

Everything...including potholes....can be fixed

Well, I thought long and hard about the kind of conversation I would have with the landpeople. The day I planned to have it, I found out the man had gone away. Drat. Didn't want to tackle him the first night back, but then I didn't see him the second night.

Then it was made so easy for me.....

I came home one night to find him right at the place where the steep slope was. So I very nicely said that the slope was affecting my ankle, that I didn't think it would have affected it, and that I had to be doing physio every week.

"You know, I didn't like it either, but I wasn't here when the guy was casting it....."

So within a week, he got the guy to put steps in. I had offered to give a small contribution, just to show how badly it needed to be done.

Regarding the washing situation, I've solved that too. I had taken part of a discarded cart from work. That is now my "line" and I put it on my patio. No more laundromat visits for me.

See, everything can be fixed. Just wish I'd said it sooner, and also wish I could let people who contemplate suicide know this.

Well, the financial freedom truck fall in a pot hole

So I moved, you remember, and in the process, cut my rent by 40%. While I anticipated having to spend a little more on gas, I didn't expect my "savings" to be non-existent because of two main factors.....

1. In order to get to my downstairs flat, I have to walk down stairs. I had to do that in the place I was living before. No problem. But here, BEFORE I get to the steps, there is a slope with a very steep gradient. Very steep. I had slightly over extended my ankle in a Pilates class last September. Well, soon after I moved in this past April, the pain was now excruciating. Add to that, a pain in my other knee whenever I walked, or put pressure on it to get up after sitting, and I was heading towards "pop dung".

Doctor bill and physio therapy fees (2 - 3 days per week.....ultra sound, heat, TENS) eats up that 40%.

2. Laundry. There was a washing machine when I went to look at the place. What they did not say was that it don't work too good! You can't tell which cycle it is on because the dial has a mind of it's own. It doesn't match up with the settings on the machine. So I have to turn it several times and keep lifting the knob at various points to see where water starts coming in. One time, that was actually the rinse cycle! I made the mistake of leaving the machine. Turns out that all the soapy water was sucked out, because next was the Spin cycle. Oh, but that dont work. So the machine just sucks out the water, and no Spin.

The other things is that where the line is, it does not allow the clothes to dry quickly. Also, there are some plants in and between, so ants crawl pon mi underwear! Also, I have one day off. I might look on the weather forecast and decide it's an ok day to wash, only to wake up and find that the landlady has washed. There is no separate line for me.

How does that affect my "savings"? I end up having to carry the clothes to the laundromat. I would do that twice per month, which costs me EC$100!

So I am mulling over in my mind what to do. Do I talk it over with the landman first, use Contrasting Statements ("I really don't want to have to move because I LOVE the view, but I must realize my financial goals") and see if he can sort out those two things? Or, do I just look for somewhere else which better meets my needs and give him the two or one month notice I am required to give?

What would you do? They are very nice people. Good young Christian couple, so I don't want to hurt their feelings. But this is business, not personal.

So much for financial freedom!

Well, things aren't turning out as planned financially, but it could be worse I guess. I could probably be unemployed like quite a few people here.

So I won't complain. Just need to tighten the belt and change gears a bit, and use my "spare" time more productively.

Financial Freedom Starts Here

I went to see a financial coach last year and realized that, without a spouse or kids (some people's insurance policy), I better get a serious move on getting Financial Freedom.

So I gave the landlord notice, found a place which costs 40% less than what I am paying now. So all of that is going into investments. What investments? I have no clue! But I'm gonna find out.

I'll take a picture of the fantastic view once the rain starts and the place gets green again.

You must always talk yuh bizniz

I am a firm believer in networking when you need to. You'd be amazed at how opportunities come your way, just by you telling somebody else what's happening in your professional life.

Some people are very secretive, but if you need people in order to grow your business, you'd better start telling people your bizniz. Start talking!

Yamfoot, the entrepreneur????

All you need is a catalyst to bring about a shift in thinking, and suddenly, Yamfoot is thinking like an entrepreneur to rahtid.

Don't know if anything will materialize, but one can only explore....ent?

And y'all doing. Blogging seems to be on the decline, from all 'bout. Nuh true?

Do you write down everything you spend?

I just got the shock of my life.....

I just recorded all my expenses (that I can remember, and for which I have a receipt) and realize that with only 22 days in the month, I have already spent 53% of my salary for April! I know of definite additional expenses I will have before the month is up. Eegad! This calls for drastic measures!

And this air travel is going to kill me. I need my own plane. I need my own 'boops'! (Non-jamaican, you can google that word to get the explanation).

This is scary shit. Hopefully this is just an extraordinary month. I am doing a lot of medical stuff and hopefully I will be able to get some of it back...

I suggest you try doing this....

I just close my eyes and sign

The Lord knows......2007 has got to be a serious saving year.

But how can I do that realistically?

There is

* World Cup Cricket - Jamaica, St Kitts, Antigua, Barbados
* Cricket in England - Brian Lara's last series there....a must see

Hey....I guess that is not as much money as I thought. I don't think I will have to pay for hotel accommodation in any of the countries I am going to. So that will help.

I've already decided I will not go to Carnival, since the airfares for World Cup are not cheap.

Many months ago, I gave up on having angst on the state of the credit card bill. I just close my eyes and sign, and then pay what I can when I get paid. Actually, it's not really frivolous spending that casued things to go out of whack. It's that bloody MRI Test I had to do, and again, no returns on investment because nothing did wrong....for which I am really grateful.

My father says that money is a transient thing. That comforts me when I check on the credit card bill.