It’s that time again!
I’m finally getting around to updating my goal bars. I’ve received my tax return as well as my GST cheque, so I’ve thrown it into my savings. I had to use about $900 of it to pay of the monstrosity known as my MasterCard bill (Signed up for the Jenny Craig Rewards program… $450, eek!) but I still have a good portion left.
I dumped it into my condo fund but I may move it around a little bit once I sit down and think about it.
I am happy to report that my goal bars are looking much better now, and I am well on my way to reaching those goals. The only downside is that I crunched some numbers to see how soon I could afford to buy some property, and it’s not looking good. I had hoped that I would be able to have a $25-50,000 downpayment in a few years, but I just don’t make enough money. Man that chafes my ass.
Sometimes it’s hard to read other PF blogs, the people all have really great jobs that pay upwards of $40k. Somehow they’re still struggling with debt, or have just gotten rid of it, and are able to put away massive amounts of money for those causes. They just don’t know how good they really have it.
I make less than $40k for those that were wondering. While I do like to shop and spend, I also like to save and count my stacks of money like a scrooge. Imagine all the things I could be saving for, and how soon I could reach my goals if I were making more money! It would be awesome! But it’s just not a reality for me. There isn’t a big payout in my industry until you’re really high up.
Hmm, my thoughts aren’t coming out too clear in this post right now. I guess what I’m trying to express is my envy of all the other PF bloggers out there who make a decent paycheque. I don’t envy them their debt, but sometimes I wonder if they realize how good they could have it if only they didn’t get in debt in the first place? (This is not a jab at anyone, I realize that we all make mistakes or are forced into unfortunate circumstances and I applaud those that are making the effort to dig themselves out)
Now most of you know by now that I am in no way struggling to make ends meet. I am a savvy saver and smart spender and live a better lifestyle than most people my age. But still. What would I do if I didn’t get all my freebies?
Maybe I’m just impatient. I want more and I know I deserve it and can do it and it will eventually come to me, but I just don’t like the waiting. Maybe I’m too young. At 23 I feel old and like I should have accomplished a lot more, but at the same time I’m in a better place than most of my peers.
What do you think? Am I too impatient for money? Am I “still young”? Am I where I should be? Am I just plain old greedy? What do my older readers think of my situation and yearnings?
4 responses to “Financial Update & Musings”
Hey Ginger! You know what? You are WAY more on track w/ salaries and ESP with managing money than 90% of people your age are.
I know that won’t help you earn more right now, but it’s something to be proud of…when i was 23 (*tear*) i was bouncing all around w/ no steady job and DEF. no money skills whatsoever (except “don’t spend a lot”)
You’ll be just fine 🙂 but ranting def. doesn’t hurt. we all do it, no matter what our income!
Sometimes I get discouraged too when I read PF who has networks of hundreds of thousands. I get a little discouraged. But that’s how it is. There will always be people who make more and have a higher networth than you, just like there will always be people who make less and have less than you.
If you are thinking of saving and living within your means at 23, you are doing great.
I think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself. You’re very conscious — perhaps even over-conscious for your age — about where your money is going now and in the future. Good thing. Just don’t forget to have fun along the way.
As for your salary — you’re 23. You’re doing well for 23. I’m 14 years into my career and making under $50k. Patience, grasshopper. Make the best of what you have and keep plugging away. You’ll appreciate the big bucks more even later.
I agree with Budgets up top there. You’re on the right track!!
As for me, I do earn quite a bit and consider myself lucky. But I always beat myself up – what if I didn’t accumulate so much student debt? But the thing is, if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have my degree and I wouldn’t have my big paying job.
Everything is a tradeoff….
But once I’m done my debt, I do feel quite blessed to be able to sock away and make up for those years I lost… and better late than never
I’m glad I’m not going to end up like those people earning my salary or more, and living paycheck to paycheck – and neither are you, girl!!!!