I absolutely hate moving. I even paid a few guys to help out and I still hated it. But I hate wasting money even more, so I am glad I am in the new place that is $400 cheaper every month. That’s $4800 over the course of single year! This new apartment is going to offer me up a wealth of opportunities that I am only just beginning to understand and see. With clarity comes chance! Let’s take a look at what my situation looks like at the moment…
– Rent is now only $1000 per month. This is only a few bucks more than I paid at the cheapest place I have lived in the past 10 years, so I feel like I have gone back time with my monthly rent.
– My utilities are a whopping $35 per month or so. This includes water, sewer, power. Granted, internet and mobile phone are still due as well, but the apartment itself is now costing me only $1035 per month!
– All my bills are paperless and charged to my credit card each month, so I never see nor have to worry about a bill. I have added up what they amount to each month, divided that number by 4, and automatically send that $ amount every Monday to the credit card via online bill pay.
– I am completely out of debt, including my car. No more $300 per month car payments or carrying around the weight of owing money to someone else. Everything that is mine is actually MINE. It feels wonderful to know this. This is the first time I have not had a car payment since 1999, and if I have any say I will never have one again.
– Having ditched most of my books, all my CD’s and DVD’s, 5 major pieces of furniture, and keeping mostly only those things that are necessary for every day living, I feel…lighter. My 1 bedroom apartment almost feels like a loft because it’s not jam-packed with “stuff” taking up every corner and nook in the place.
– Because of lesser expenses and the lack of debt, I no longer have to really worry about how much money I make, nor have to sit in front of this computer all day every day just to make ends meet. I can comfortably bring in enough to cover everything and still save a bit, which in turn will…
– Offer up opportunities to get the heck out of dodge. I plan on spending a lot of this summer on the road, checking out new places I have never been to. My “work” continues to make money while I am away from home, and of course I can always bring my laptop with me to work from the road. I can leave for as long as I like, as all my deposits and payments are automatic and paperless.
All of this has been my goal for a long, long time. Low monthly expenses. Ability to work from anywhere. All finances on auto-pilot. Debt-free. And I have finally achieved what I had set out to do just last year.
Why am I writing all this down? One, for me. It feels good to put it down on “paper”. Two, to show people that it CAN be done. Whether instantaneous or through working towards it over a year or more, anything is possible. The problem?
What do I do now?
Kidding. 🙂
It’s great to hear that you’re moving/have moved into a new apartment! I’m moving tomorrow and I don’t want to pack. The beauty of living in a 155 sq ft dorm room is that it will take me a couple hours max tomorrow to pack up.
Just wondering what kind of work do you do? For my career/industry I have to live in Los Angeles, with the high cost of basic living. Working on eliminating debt and clutter from my life everyday.
Build a tiny house 🙂
I love your story. I want to be just like you when I grow up!!!
🙂 Laura
It all sounds wonderful..and just what we’re looking for. Congratulations, on achieving what you set out to do.
Congrats! Our story is so similar. We are out of debt, lowered our expenses and can be location independent. It took a while for it to actually sink in. Enjoy this moment. Do a little dance, take a nap, whatever pleases you, but celebrate!
My parents started out totally from scratch–no money from anyone, in 1952. Dad got posted down south shortly afterwards, and they had to buy a car and a house–his job was at a government contractor lab and weapons plant, so there were no other choices–no rental, no public transportation. They bought a car on time, and made double payments, one into a savings account, and have been able to pay cash for cars ever since. The house was just big enough for them and my brother and me growing up, but since we left, they have a nice, tidy retirement home that they have owned for 25 years now. Mom hasn’t worked outside the home since 1957, and Dad worked a low stress job and turned down promotions that would have meant he couldn’t work regular hours and take a carpool. Their frugality has meant they can travel the world now.
So start saving for your next car, and keep banking all your housing savings and you, too, can have a remarkable life!
Whoo! Hoo! Great Job! As for writing this down I am glad you did–it helps inspire the rest of us! Good work!
My DREAM is for this to be my life by the end of the year–all except for the location independence.
Congratulations! I hope to one day soon be in your shoes. 🙂 Thanks for writing.
Banking it? I am gonna spend it all on stuff! 😉
Gotta find a place to put it next. That’s probably next year’s goal…maybe.
I write. While this site doesn’t make money, the majority of my income is from my main site thegoodhuman.com
155 isnt bad at all!
Nice one. I am moving successfully towards something similar myself…baby steps. Congrats on getting to where you are now.
Congratulations for achieving your goals. Now, you can set to help others, or use money to charities or causes you believe in, simply enjoy, or do all of the above.
Enjoy life as it meant to be. I am not there yet, mortgage still there..some day though! Little simple has its own benefits.
well that’s easy….you do the things that you have always wanted to do but let ‘stuff’ hold you down like a giant ball & chain around your ankle.
The world is now ‘your oyster’ as they say. Look at it with wide open eyes, like the eyes of a young child if you will. The possibilities and opportunities are going to be endless.
You have done an amazing job, so pat yourself on the back. And the best part about your whole life…you didn’t have to wait til you were 80 yrs old to learn this. You still have a whole lifetime ahead of you, ENJOY!