After looking for direction, I kept returning to the idea of a modified bucket list of sorts. The stuff to be done in a lifetime is not going to work for me, as I need something more short-term. Part of it is also defining priorities better, and breaking down some items into workable chunks.

I have my own set of rules – some of the items as I add them will be rather short-term, while others will take longer. There can’t be more than 40 items on the list at any one time. Some of the more long-term goals will be broken down. So here’s what I have so far:

Crafts:
1. Knit 50 squares for Knit-A-Square by 2013.
2. Create a heritage blanket.
3. Make wind chimes.
4. Learn how to use the sewing machine.
5. Knit a pair of socks.
6. Finish the monkey.
7. Finish making the bedroom rug.
8. Make bathtub rug.

Money:
1. Get out of debt.
2. Get life insurance money account closed.

Spiritual:
1. Listen to Zencasts.
2. Finish James Redfield books.
3. Look into Ayuvedic medicine.

Helping others:
1. Contribute to AOK – set realistic goal.
2. Donate to FreeRice – set realistic goal.

Travel:
1. Hike to bottom of the Grand Canyon.
2. Go to Canada again.
3. Hawaii.
4. Northern Lights.

Education:
1. Learn Spanish.
2. Finish MT Course.

Music:
1. Organize music collection.
2. Help Dave with list.

Total to date: 23

I know – it seems a little disjointed right now, but the ideas are in my DayOne journal and I needed to get them onto another medium. Next, I will start to explain them and provide links.

photo credit: Brett Jordan

…especially when it has to do with your financial future, and your security. I was talking with a best friend about a month ago; we have been friends forever, and we talk a couple of times of year. I am very blessed because he is someone that I can talk to about anything. Our phone conversation was rather depressing; we are both happy with our families and are comfortable in our jobs, but there is this overwhelming sense of unease. We don’t live beyond our means, but there doesn’t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel, either. What happened to us? Why are we on this unending treadmill of bullshit with no end? And I’m the lucky one who pulled out of the stock market before the housing bubble burst, so at least I have a few options on the table.

And now there’s all this debt ceiling crap. And I watch as my good friends foreclose on their house because it was worth 50% of what they paid for it; they needed to move home to be closer to family and tried to short-sale the house, but the bank wanted more even though the sellers were willing to pay cash on the adjusted asking price. I wonder about my father-in-law, who passed away after working a tedious boring job as a forklift operator to put food on the table for his son; he was miserable before he died because he was constantly worried about money despite working 30 years in a union and saving for retirement.

I decided to become more educated about economics, beyond getting out of debt and saving religiously in a 401k using paper fiat currency that probably won’t be worth much except for toilet paper by the time I can touch it. I would recommend that you do the same.

I can’t make decisions for you, but I can share my journey. We’re in the process of an awakening of sorts; we have come to the decision that we need to become as self-sufficient as possible. We’re not moving into a fortress in the middle of nowhere, but we are trying hard to make the most of what we have and finding other individuals who are thinking along the same lines. I no longer think that saving money is the best method of obtaining a happy future, but rather it involves becoming an informed citizen and taking peaceful actions towards achieving independence.

Back when I started this blog at the end of 2007, I wanted to write about finance and chose a favorite song for a domain name. Little did I know that the “change” part would become so relevant!

photo credit: disrupsean

ok.  I am a fairly reasonable person, but nothing irks me more than irresponsible and illogical customer service.  It’s especially frustrating when you make a point to shop at a store that has always treated you decently; but then you walk in one day, and they decide to treat you like garbage.

So here’s my story.  Right before Thanksgiving, my mom purchased a $69 vacuum cleaner at Lowe’s for me.  She was in town visiting and insisted on buying one for me when mine broke.  The previous model vacuum had worked well for me for 3.5 years before breaking down, so I went with the same model I had before.  It is now the week after Christmas, and the vacuum mysteriously stopped working.  The brush still rolls, but the suction doesn’t work.

Although I didn’t have the receipt, I wasn’t too worried.  Lowe’s has always been very nice to us in the past and reasonable with returns.  Until today.  I went in with the vacuum and asked if I could exchange it or receive an in-store credit.  I explained that I didn’t have the receipt.  Before I could barely finish my sentence, the lady said that she had to call someone.  She asked when it was purchased, and I told her that it was the week before Thanksgiving.

After hanging up the phone, she told me that I couldn’t return the vacuum because it had been more than 90 days and I didn’t have the receipt.  I said, “OK.  I understand the part about the receipt, but the week before Thanksgiving wasn’t even close to being 90 days ago.”  She responded, “You can’t return the vacuum without the receipt after 90 days.”  I repeated what I said before, making the point to mention that the week before Thanksgiving was less than 90 days ago (I was very nice by the way, mostly because I thought that this was a simple misunderstanding, and once she realized that the time frame was roughly 45 days off, everything would be fine).  She responded, “You can’t return the vacuum.”

I guess I was just kind of stunned.  I had my son with me, and didn’t want to be a jackass, quite frankly. I took my vacuum out to the car and purchased another model just like it.  I will be packing up the broken one in the box, and returning it with the  receipt.  It’s an awful lot of hassle, and leaves a bad taste in my mouth for my local Lowe’s.

Any reasonable person could have looked at the vacuum and realized that it was pretty new.  If you wanted to be particular, looking at the brush would have revealed that it hadn’t been used much.  After coming home and checking the Lowe’s return policy online, I now realize that the lady could have easily asked me for the credit card information or the phone number that was provided with the purchase (my mom paid cash, but I am 100% sure that we would have used either my phone number or her phone number at the register).  She didn’t.

I guess it’s even more frustrating because there is a Home Depot 2 doors down.  It’s not too hard to take my business elsewhere.  So thanks Lowe’s for making my day craptastic.  I’ll be returning your defective vacuum, and thinking twice before shopping with you again.

photo credit: Theodore Scott

I have some ideas jotted down for new posts, but due to a nasty case of bronchitis, I am no longer caught up with work and will have to put them on hold. However, I wanted to post a quick financial update; I am very proud of our progress, especially because there was a “technical glitch” that prevented the processing of some consulting work I did (supposedly I will get paid next month for this).

10/15/2010: -195,311
10/21/2010: -193,624 (+1687)

Keep in mind that we charge all of our monthly expenses (gas, groceries, car repairs, etc.) to a credit card and ALWAYS pay it off in full every month. This balance reflects those charges, which I think really helps us get a better grip on where our money (and therefore net worth) is going.

Are you planning on tracking your finances, especially with the holidays coming up?

Today’s Groupon deal is $25 for $50 worth of apparel at the Gap, which is a pretty great deal!

Here are the conditions:

1. Expires Nov 19, 2010.
2. Limit 1 per person.
3. Valid in-store at US and Canada Gap stores only.
4. Not valid at Gap Outlet, Factory, Generation, or online.
5. Not valid for GiftCards, tax, or w/other offers.
6. $50 minimum purchase.

The gift card can be used on any item in-store, including sale items.

These are the complete terms and conditions according to the Groupon site:

Offer valid from August 19, 2010 through November 19, 2010 in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico) and Canada only at Gap stores. Not valid online or at Gap Outlet, Gap Factory Store or The Gap Generation stores. Valid at babyGap, KidsGap, and GapBody. Not valid on Keds® and Robeez®, or diaper bags and strollers at babyGap. Offer is good for one time use only and Groupon must be surrendered at time of in-store purchase. Discount applies to Gap merchandise only, not to GiftCards or applicable taxes. No adjustments on previous purchases. The value of the merchandise purchased must be at least $50. Not valid for cash or cash equivalent. Offer cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts, including Reward Cards and the Gap Inc. employee discount. If Groupon is not redeemed by the expiration date above, it may be redeemed for a $25 Gap GiftCard in U.S. and Canada Gap stores only. Not responsible for lost or stolen Groupons. Offer is not transferable. Cashiers: enter the code in the bottom-right corner of the Groupon.

If you’re interested, check out today’s Groupon deal here!

photo credit: sixty69niner

Get a free .pdf of Suze Orman’s new book “Suze Orman’s 2009 Action Plan: Keeping Your Money Safe and Sound,” on Oprah’s website until 11:59 p.m. CT on Thursday, January 15 2009.  You can also use this page to register for a webcast that Suze Orman will be holding on January 15, 2009 at 9PM EST.  Hope that this helps someone out!

I have seen a lot of other financial blogs out there (many of which are really great!), but have not seen anything from a family with a stay-at-home mom. I am hoping that this blog will provide another perspective for people who are hoping to achieve the same goals as we are. I look forward to learning a lot, and interacting with others!