Momentum

Putting things into motion is powerful - there's a lot of inertia to overcome, and once things get moving, they just want to keep going.   I've changed courses over the last few days.  After the excitement of the last weekend, I've discovered I know other people who are doing the same level of investing I'm interested in.

Instead of continuing the classes from the institution I met with over the weekend, I've found other sources of education, and information which I'm pursuing.  One allows me to practice my trading skills in a real environment with virtual money.  Of course, the profits are as virtual as the losses, but that's good news.  This will save me from some of the 'beginner'  mistakes I might make, and still allow me to test my theories in the real world.  

Another friend has already been through the courses, and is now teaching them.  He has materials he can make available to me at a fraction of the cost.  I like saving money as much as the next girl, so I'm all about that.  

I've also recently joined (and funded) a site called Prosper.com.  It's a micro-lending site which allows for real people to act as borrowers & lenders in real life loan situations - without needing vast amounts of cash to participate.  I just bid on 5 loans tonight, and put $50 towards each of them.  That's five people out there who are getting an opportunity because I (and several hundred strangers) took a chance on them.   What will I get in return?   Same thing a bank would get - three years worth of interest & principle on the money lended while helping people achieve their dreams.

I'm also looking at joining a group of real estate investors - people who want to join together to buy several pieces of property to share the profit & risk.    At any given time, one or two properties out of ten may be duds, one or two may be rock stars and the rest will just plod along normally.   If I own 100% one property - I've got a 20% chance that it's going to be a 100% dud - but if own 10% of ten properties, chances are 2 will be duds, 2 will be rock stars and six will be normal.    My duds & rock stars will balance out,and it improves my chances that my investment will come out at least average.    And once we identify the dogs, we can get rid of them.

My boyfriend once asked me (after seeing me reading a book about becoming wealthy) if I wanted to be rich.   My answer was YES!    Why?   Because there are so many things I want to be able to do.  I currently take 10% of my income, and put it into my Giveaway account.   Some of that goes to "official" charities, and sometimes, I see a need I can fill and I do.    

I recently bought 37 bags of dog food which were being clearanced out at the local grocery store.  As I loaded five carts up with anywhere from 15 to 50lbs bag of dog food, the people in line all smiled and asked me what kind of dogs I have.    Much to their surprise, the answer was "None".   "Uh....secret ingredient in your soup recipe??"   *laugh*  No -  I spent $360 (including tax) to buy two car loads of dog food because I knew that somewhere out there was a local charity that needed it, and this was a great deal!   They couldn't buy it for this price (it was worth over $1000).   

I wanted a local organization that might not have the funding or connections that a larger, nationally known charity would have.  So I google'd charity dogs Seattle.   That's how I found RescueEveryDog.Org.   They are a local Seattle organization dedicated to helping both dogs & cats, and helping to rescue them from situations where they might be euthanized or abandoned.

Another example - one of my friends was having surgery, and the process leading up to it was a paperwork nightmare.  By the time she was recovering, she was *really* stressed out.  She'd travelled over 1000 miles for surgery, and had an aunt who had come with her - but when her aunt's return ticket date came up, neither of them were ready for her to leave.    I was able to help with the costs of changing the return flight, which I was more than happy to do.  Do I get a tax deduction?  No, of course not - that's not why I do it.  The love and support of family is so important, especially in a time of need - you can't put a price on that.    Her aunt gave up much more than I did, because she was able to be there personally for her.  

But if this is what I can do with what I currently make - what more could I do if I increased my financial position ten-fold or a hundred-fold?    Yes, there are things I want for myself.  I'd like to be able to travel more, to work when I choose instead of when I have to.  I'd like to be able to buy more books.  I want reconstructive surgery to finish the task I started in 2005 when I underwent weight loss surgery.   I want another little sports car like the one I used to have.  I love having a cleaning lady!   It's such a stress reliever to know that my home will be a lovely place to be, and I don't have to scrub toilets or floors.   I want money in the bank - waiting for opportunities, protecting me against unexpected events.   

Do I want to be rich?  Hell yeah.    Nothing wrong with that either.   One day I'll get there.  It's only a matter of time.  

--BT

Anticipation

The part of anticipation that is cool is the excitement; the uncool part is the waiting. And right now, I'm waiting. Waiting for Monday. Waiting for my classes to start. Waiting for the chance to start putting my training into practice. Waiting for my boyfriend to return. (He just left day before yesterday for ten days, so I have plenty of time to practice that one.)

I just finished up a three day training class on investing and signed up for two more years, and I can't WAIT to put it into practice. I was up until 4:30 in the morning yesterday reading, reviewing, researching, and checking out the information we'd been learning. At the end of the class, our homework was to NOT read, review, look at, think about, any of the things we'd been learning for the rest of the weekend.

ARgh!!! Do you know how hard that is?

My parking was paid up 'til 11pm, and yesterday was a GORGEOUS day in Seattle - 86 degrees, clear blue skies, no precipitation, and a Saturday. Perfectamundo! At lunch, I sat out on the granite wall with my peanut butter, banana & granny smith apple sandwich and caught a few rays. That ought to up my vitamin D for a day or so.

The class ended early - about 4pm - and I called my brother to come into the city and do something with me. We met up at Von's (a great restaurant across from Pacific Place) - open air, good company, herb-roasted chicken for me, bbq chicken for him, and a cocktail. Perfect! Afterwards, we went to see Ironman in DLP. Love that about Pacific Place. And I didn't have to pay for parking again, because I left my car at the hotel.

By the time I got home around 10pm though, I was wiped out. I'd been up all day on less than four hours of sleep. Now - I'm restless. I want to do things, but I don't know what. My house is clean (thanks to my cleaning lady), but I could do laundry. But it's another beautiful day - not quite as warm as yesterday, but still clear. I could go ride my motorcycle. Or go out to Port Townsend to visit Laura. Or just stay home and do nothing - which is actually somewhat appealing. (Normally I hate doing nothing).

I do have to go to work at some point today, and set up my office. We moved over the weekend, and everything I use at work is in a box - including my plants. But I feel that sense of quickening, anticipation, of conflict. Work is not where I want to be. I want to sleep in, and I want to go for a walk. I want to stay home, and I want to go out. I'd like to sit around and read, and I want to go for a ride. I need to do laundry, but I'd rather take a nap. I really should wash my hair. Yet I'm here, writing instead.

I think I'll start there. How about you?