From Russia with love

If you know me, than you probably know that I was an exchange student.I've had diverse experiences in both developed and less than developed nations, and it makes me wonder what the big fuss over the Sochi Olympics is? I've seen the twitter feeds of the reporters complaining about not being able to drink the water from the tap, or not being able to flush their toilet papaer - have our reporters never traveled? What have they seen if they've never been somewhere where you'd be better off brushing your teeth with bottled water? If you've never been anywhere that you can't flush your toilet paper, much less somewhere where there isn't a toilet to flush? I mean honestly folks, if these are the people you are entrusting to provide you with a view of the world and this is shocking or newsworthy to them, you're getting your news from someone with a silver spoon in their mouth. 

The second question that comes to mind which may actually be more important than my first is why all the hate on Russia? I don't remember there being nearly as much noise about the Beijing, Vancouver, or London Olympics? And these all occurred during the age of Twitter, Facebook and Social Media as legitimate outlets for our news reporters. Maybe we just think it's funnier to slam Russia because we have memes generated from '90's comedians? Obviously it is going to be a challenge for a largely unheard of Russian city to prepare for the Olympics. Hosting the Olympics anywhere is a unique challenge I'm sure, but what is all the fuss about? I'm sure the reporters aren't being put up in the nicest hotels - I'm sure they could find something to complain about in the 1 & 2 star hotels of any Olympic city - so what's the big deal? 

Anyway, this is turning into more of a rant than I initially intended, but my points would be thus: 1. Go see the world. Don't judge it based on what you know as that is the most foolish way to judge something and the surest way to miss the beauty in a new setting. 2. Quit picking on Russia for stupid things. If you want to write an expose about human rights violations, the environmental impact of Olympic games on a whole, anything with content feel free. But save the snarky comments about how you've never had to use anything less than a western toilet connected to toilet paper safe plumbing for your Facebook page, and I'll continue not following you. 

Lastly - the Sochi mascots are so adorable! *cough* London had the ugliest mascots *cough*

The best things in life are free...

But you can give them to the birds and the bees - I want money! 

(Yes, that link takes you to the very strange music video of that very silly song... and that is what is running through my head this morning) 

So in July 2012 I wrote a blog about my dedication to, and my 4-step plan for becoming a fiscally responsible individual. When I had these grand ideas of getting switched entirely to cash based finances I worked at a company where I was making a reasonable entry level salary with good benefits. My employer matched a small percentage of my retirement savings and I made enough to cover all of my bills with a little extra left over. It was the perfect time to put my plan into action. And then two months later I was fired... and we all know how that went. Unemployment compensation is not a lot of money, even less if you happen to live in a metro area where the cost of living far exceeds the national average. Luckily my unemployment coincided with taking on a third roommate in my two bedroom apartment and I didn't have to move home to Michigan hanging my head. My common sense of paying for consumables with cash or debit rather than credit quickly flew out the window as my pride led me to last as long as I could without asking for financial help from my family. Granted, I wasn't so pigheaded as to reject help when offered, but I wanted to make it in at least the smallest of ways when I felt like everything else was failing. 

Although being unemployed and living off such a shoestring budget sucked big time, it really taught me a lot about what I can manage with and without. So what if lobster tails are only $5 at Safeway? I can get enough pasta and sauce to eat for a week with that money. I learned how to stretch my dollars, how to shop sale items and how to say no to the boozing and shopping and a number of other temptations to run things up on credit. I learned how easy it can be to just quit buying shoes and clothes (particularly when I have so many already). I found a variety of unconventional ways to make money and ways to save money, and some of them I've continued doing, no reason not to be thrifty simply because I have a job.

Fast forward to January 2014... I am working at a job making a significant amount less than my previous job, and I don't have employer contributions to my retirement savings plan, but I finally completely paid off my highest limit/highest interest rate line of credit. I can tell you - it feels amazing! The next step is paying off the other credit cards and starting back in on my retirement savings. And while sure if I stuck to a very strict budget I could reach these goals much more quickly than I otherwise likely will, but I'm not presently in a place where I need to eat ramen noodles every night for dinner. Another year chipping away and I'll be in a much better position than I was before, and on track for some of the more exciting life changes that I will want to prepare some funding for (hint: grad school). 

 Anyway, here's to being older and wiser and debt free before I'm 30!