Happy new year, happy new life...a note on saving dough

"I like money. I'd like to have more of it. I keep it in a jar on top of my refrigerator."

Mad props to you if you can quote which beloved movie the above sentences are from. But in all seriousness, last New Year's I made a promise to myself: that every January I would do something a little more fiscally responsible than opening a GAP charge card to save 15 percent on that really cool sweater.

Anywho, I digress into a more serious note on investing. Now, I'm no Diamond Jim Brady, but, I do believe in the power of time. And the power of being disciplined with saving as much money as you can based upon your income. (Seriously even if it's just $20 a month.)

Last year in January I opened up an ING account. (Which, by the way I highly recommend to anyone and everyone who is looking to make the same "cents" when it comes to savings...the interest rate is so appealing, why wouldn't you have one?)
Over the course of the last 11 and a half months, I have been cultivated (and sometimes taking from) my account here and there, and I must say that while catching a great sale makes me smile, taking a look monthly at my interest paid (literally free money--or at least the closest thing to it) is even cooler.

The coolest thing (in my opinion anyway) about my online savings account is that money is there if I really do need a bit of a safety net, but just inaccessible enough that I'm not tempted to dig into it all of the time.

So my big fiscal decision for '08? As I sit here on Dec 28 I'm still not sure. Perhaps a Roth IRA, (never too young to start!) but probably on the for-front of my priorities is to find a job with a higher income. In a city that could be described as "the seat of the western world." Those who know me know what I'm talking about. Those who don't, well f$%& off.

Just kidding. Happy New Year!

gnocchi doesn't opt for plastic bags, so neither should you!

Alright, so the title has nothing to do with the actual content of this post. But, in my recent obsession with all foods of the Italian decent, (and bazaar-o pronunciations)I decided it would be fun.

In light of keeping with the character of my third-to-last blog entry (the ranting one about the end of civilization as we know it) I have been proud to say that I have been plastic bag free for one week precisely.

And how, do you wonder, have I been able to achieve such a feat? By simply taking a canvas bag to do some grocery shopping (paper is cool sometimes too, I don't know if what degree of earth-pilaging goes into creating one, but I know that they are far more bio-degradable than plastics) and re-using small plastic sandwich baggies.

I'm convinced that being more earth friendly is like how you would look to get into shape--by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, by parking further and walking, or by opting for the apple instead of the fast-food apple pie.
I guess MTV was really hitting their mark dead on when they came up with the PSA "Decrease your daily impact, improve your life" campaign.

oops

I meant to say in that last post that it IS cool to be asked questions.


Sorry. Either I have grown far too accustomed to the copy editor's extra pair of eyes, of I'm just le tired.

Adios

and how does that make you feel...

So in light of recent events, (which shall not be mentioned on this public forum for sake of protecting everyone's privacy) I'm seriously convinced that I should have become a psychology major. Laura, if you read this, then yay for you, you're on a life track that is incredibly valuable in our ever-increasing emotionally screwed up society.

But, it's not all negativity (far from it actually!) because this makes me feel incredibly happy that my friends (let's not forget co-workers) come to me for sage advice. Which I start by saying "Young grasshopper" in my best sage-elderly Japanese mastery voice. Just kidding.

So yeah, suffice it to say that being asked questions (when normally I'm the one doing the asking) isn't groovy with me. And I think it comes full circle right about here because I'm telling the all the blogsphere the way I'm feeling about people asking me to talk them throught certain emotions to get to how they're ultimately feeling....crazy ain't it?

Alright, enough of the psycho-bable bullshit, I'm buying a plane ticket to California in 5, 4, 3, 2, .........