Mo Money, Mo Problems?

I've recently been very blessed by receiving the fruits of my labors. After many early mornings and late nights in the office, juggling multiple deadlines, and an active social life, things are going quite dandy in the financial area of my life (a first in about a year or so). But with finances comes the ability to use the money wisely and responsibly. Paying off bills, saving for my linsister's wedding in July, paying for an outfit for banquet, paying down debts, and saving for school are all no brainers, but as my mom puts it; "you've got to have fun money". I have no idea what "fun" I should have with this money. A trip abroad? Save for a car? A trip across country? Who knows, I think there's still some budgeting that needs to happen, but in the meantime, if this happened to you, how would you spend your "fun money"?

Plastic Is Your Friend

I never realized how important it was to have a debit card until now. On February 19th, I "lost" my debit card while out with friends. Once I go home I called my bank, deactivated the card, and was assured that within 5-7 business days I would have a new card. Its been about 14 business days, and I still have no card, and I hate carrying cash, not for the fear I will be robbed, but knowing I have cash in my pocket only makes me want to spend it that much faster. When I have my debt card, with its convenient VISA logo, I do the math in my head before I purchase anything forcing me to really evaluate if I need  to spend the money. Today I made the third phone call to my bank about the situation and they're sending me another card, which will take another 5-7 business days. Not only has this wait been an inconvenience, causing me to go out of my way to get to a branch, but I've missed out on several travel deals. That $200 round trip ticket to Tampa I planned to purchase will most likely be double now. Thanks PNC, thanks a lot.

The Pursit of $$$

 Its no mystery that I have no clue what I want to be when I grow up. Most people in my generation will have over 5 different careers in their lifetime and work for over 10 different employers.  The days where you stayed with a company for decades are slowly fading. While I'm seeking counsel to answer my most asked question "what do I want to do career-wise", I've decided to just try and make money. Yep! Give into greed a little.
Now, I'm not a money hungry person. In fact, the more you think about what money is and how its produced, its quite laughable, and no more significant than Monopoly money. So why not play a game with money? I do know that I want to obtain a higher degree one day in business, and I've also witnessed that those whose know most about business and have succeeded the most, have also failed many times over.
For the next year or so, I'm going to play this money game and see what I can make of it. We only get one shot at existence in this plane of the Universe, so let's have some fun and enjoy the game!

I thought this was 2009?!

I am fresh off my 1st official "CUS Tour" of Northern New Jersey, and I must say it was a pleasant experience. My days were filled with sisterhood, fun, jokes and love.

Needless to say I was brought back down to Earth when today I got blasted with the news of the infamous "Swine Flu". Seriously?! Now, in my experience, whenever the U.S. news/media make a HUGE deal out of something trivial, let's say...... the flu they're usually covering up something more serious. I mean c'mon! Mexico has been ravaged by human trafficking, the influx of a 2nd generation drug war, and a devastating earthquake and we're going to focus on.......the flu?! Why, you may ask? Because is affects us close minded, egotistical Americans.

Now, I remember this one time in history class, where I learned about this Influenza Epidemic of 1918 (which was also referred to as the Spanish Flu. Hm. Interesting). Killed hundreds of thousands in the U.S. and millions worldwide. Since then, we've had the advent of the flu vaccine and other medications that can help stop the virus in its tracks. So to get people's mind off of the Credit Card crisis, the collapse of the automotive industry, human trafficking nationwide, the depleting value of the dollar (not only caused by the "big crash" but also by buying scrap gold. This means that our "money" is no longer worth its weight in anything, its more or less a piece of paper), and natural disasters........ we focus on a COMPLETELY treatable virus that is affecting a developing nation, which doesn't have the resources to treat its people with the medicines we have here, ONLY because we frequently travel to this nation to rape the land, and its people of their natural resources, and support and fuel their drug trade. Way to go America! We've done it again! lol. Seriously!

Its necessary to be aware and pay attention, because if you don't YOU too can fall into the panic trap!