a home

What if I bought a house right now? This economy is fairly perfect for a homebuyer...There's all kinds of homes on the market to choose from, the prices keep lowering because no one will buy and interest rates are subprime and still dropping. I just wish I knew for certain where we'll be next year. I think San Diego is nearly a for sure but there's no guaranteeing something else can't come up in the next 10 months. And I'm locked in a lease here so it'd be dumb to buy anything here...I'd love to buy in Seattle but if we go to San Diego and never want to leave that's a waste of a home. But really...if I bought a home now and then turned around and sold it years down the road when the market gets better...I could make a good profit. And even without the profit part I could probably save a ton buying a home now than in 3 years when things are back to normal. I don't know, something to think about.

It's also time to think about savings accounts and spending less on "wants" and socking more into an emergency fund for later. I like to think I've got good job security especially since more and more people are falling into the "poor" "homeless" and "low income" categories and that's who I work with...BUT most of the places I work are funded by grants who are only available if the rest of the stars align in the business world. So we rely on other businesses and the government to do well so we can. Makes me a bit nervous. I refuse to go back to school again to try to change my career. In part because I am so over school and will have put in over 18 years and also because I love social work with all my heart and will not give it up because the economy is bad. I have faith it'll get better eventually and in the mean time I know I can creatively make do.

I worry about Nathan's job in the travel industry. Expedia so far is doing okay because people are still traveling, especially corporate travel...But I just fear one day they will begin their job cuts and slowly work their way to him. Really he'll be the last to be cut since he is an integral part of keeping Expedia online, literally, so I think he's fine. But I still worry.

My mom has great job security as a medical assistant but my dad owns a business as a cabinet maker. Things are still fairly steady but usually new cabinets come with new homes, buildings and construction and all that is put on hold right now. My parents are building a new cabin as we speak. They've saved up a lot for it and it should be fine...But even so it's a scary prospect at this time. The cabin is going up incredibly fast since the construction company has very few other jobs. This part is great for us but I can't help but feel awful for the company, especially since it's owned by a family friend and he has had to lay off nearly all of his employees.

Oh life.

money money money money

I have become so aware of money lately now that I'm doing financial counseling 40+ hours a week. When I don't have anything to do at work I read blogs and websites about financial planning and debt management and whatnot. It's incredibly interesting to me. I have always loved budgeting and planning my money out but I don't have the recommended 3-6 months in savings as an emergency fund, I have not started on my retirement and I've got debt including credit cards and loans. But the more aware of it I become, the more excited I am to begin working on all of it. I can't wait to build up my savings account, starting them for things like an emergency fund, a wedding, a home purchase...I'm excited to be able to put money away towards those things. It's hard while I'm still in school but it's all on the horizon and I like planning it all out.

Of course with my budgeting comes a clothing budget. I know myself well enough to know that I will spend money on clothing every month because it's just what I do. It's my addiction. So instead of attempt to stop it, I can at least try to control it. I have no idea what my budget will be this year but I am already dreaming of my back-to-school shopping spree...It's coming soon!

Nathan is coming here this weekend. It's a pretty short trip since he'll get here Friday night and leave Sunday afternoon. Sometimes I want to tell him not to waste the gas because it's so expensive right now but both of us are too busy to take much time off anyway so we might as well take what we can get. I cannot wait to be in the same place all the time. Less than 10 months left...If I could fast forward time right now I'd do it in a heartbeat.

I have Nathan's dog, Scrappy (I guess I should say "our" dog because that's how he's referring to him now) for a while now since he moved into a smaller apartment in downtown Bellevue. He's a snuggler and loves to see me everytime I walk in the door so it's not like this is hard work by any means. Plus he forces me to go for walks so it's good excercise for both of us.