Episode 38: Checks and Balances

Ok.. so, for the first time ever in my entire life, I am taking care of my own money.  I only get paid once a month, and so I start off with a fairly decent balance.. and then watch it slowly drain away with time.  That's a bit unsettling.

So, I was laying in bed this morning, checking my bank account and balancing my checkbook (yay for awesome apps for that. I use Legerist for my checkbook) realizing how awesome it is that I can lay in bed and balance my checkbook.  I can see what has cleared, I can see where my money is going, and realize that I spend too much on fast food and not enough on clothes. My rent is too high, but that is easily fixable by finding a new place to live.  Although I will miss my tower by the river, it is time to move on from it.  That is something that I can possibly lower.

I can also stop eating so much damned fast food and start cooking at home, but I tend to have expensive tastes when I do eat at home.  I love making chicken cordon bleu (not healthy, but totally yummy) or chicken marsala.  I love experimenting with cooking and finding foods that I really like to eat.  I just hate my kitchen.  Hopefully, when looking at a new place, I can find a place with a kitchen that I really like. I am so tired of my teensy tiny little two counter kitchen which is very much a hole in the wall.  I'm not expecting anything large, but something with maybe three counters, or even like.. a bar, would be awesome.  I want to be able to enjoy cooking again.

How did this go from a money blog post to a foodie blog post?  Hmmm... Back on track.

I am glad I have a good job.  I am glad I have a good enough job that I don't have to worry about where my next paycheck is coming from, or what it will look like.  So far, I have put most of my extra overage money into my savings account, and it will stay there unless it is really needed.  It's my "rainy day" fund for when I just need to get the hell out of my life and maybe take a day in San Francisco or something.  I've never been there on my own, and it sounds like it would be a fun adventure.  I want to explore the City, and get to know its ins and outs and become part of the literary community there.  I guess I would have to save up some money for that.. and get over my inherent shyness around people that I don't know.  But.. a once a month trip doesn't sound too costly, as long as I can get my expenses in order.

This is the first month I have ever been on my own.  I am bound to falter, to make some mistakes, to cross a line or trip and fall.  I know that I can pick myself up, brush myself off and keep going.  And if I can't.. I know that there is someone out there with a warm and friendly hand and an open heart.

Thanks to AM for reminding me that I have a blog that needed to be posted in.

Love and lollipops,

ToryLynn