There's a list of things. Not just random things. I've got $50,000 in debt right now, still have three years of education to go, and I desperately need to make some changes. Money is tight and I'm determined to pay off as much of these loans as I can before I graduate and everything really sets down on me. I made a list of goals and things I want to start doing. These will help me save money and earn money. This will go to investing to increase my money made and put into my loans, eliminating the principle and interest I'm earning right now. 

My goal is to create a side hustle, building a small business with potential to grow into a larger business network. Right now, I want to be earning an additional $270 per month at minimum.This would cover my monthly minimum payments for two of my loans. It would relieve the burden on my parents, that way any money that they don't have to put any money towards my loans. If I decide not to put any more towards my debt that month, then that's okay too. I want to create a side hustle that I enjoy, something with a purpose and a goal, something with a lasting effect. 

While earning that way, I'll also be selling off some things here and there, making a couple bucks off of books and clothes and whatever I can. Bringing in a few dollars when I can selling old stuff. This money would end up going towards my own wallet, paying for necessities as the need arises. 

That being said, I'm only going to shop sales and second hand, and only with a coupon. I've started couponing a bit for groceries, but it's difficult to shop for four people with insanely particular tastes. I want to start pre-cooking and meal planning for myself to eat healthier and eat less garbage. I want to meal plan around grocery store sales and coupons. I also look for coupons for make up and hair products when shopping in person. I also have a couple of apps I want to start using more to get money back for the food and whatnot that I'm buying.

I also want to start using online places to find clothes too. I do try to shop mostly sale, but it still really does add up. I also occasionally hit the thrift stores in my area too, but the population in my town is a bit older, so the thrift store looks are pretty ancient. Some good finds every now and then, but it's a lot of searching for clothes that don't make me look like I'm 70. I want to start using the online/app-based shopping options to find some previously owned clothes that are still in good condition and don't look like they're from 1960.

I'm not making much money at my job right now, and I can't keep spending money like I have been. All the little bit of green I'm getting, is flying out of pocket, and not always in the best managed way possible. Hopefully I can get smarter with it from now on, get myself better set for the next few years of college and beyond that as well. 

I'm off now, have to go balance the checkbook and account for all of my meh spending lately. Writing to you, as always, from M, Personally. 

10:06 AM

It's not really daily is it? I'm working on it I promise.

Getting back to school was a rough start. Didn't get a good jump on my online classes, plus had a heavy work schedule last week, so it was a bit of a struggle. Starting off behind, but working on getting ahead. Not my best, start, but I've had worse.

____

I'm tired of the social media face. You know the one I'm talking about, when you put up the glamorous photos showing off your great life. It's not as bad for normal people. but it's more the celeb type who annoys me with it. People get this idea that money is everything and if you aren't happy and perfect and great all the time, your life is a failure. I do it too, even though I'm incredibly aware of it. When it comes to YouTube celebrities, I think it does the most damage. A lot of younger kids, say middle school age, see this and don't understand that shit isn't shiny all the time. If this blog takes off the way I want it to, I want to share the ugly and the pretty, the good and the bad. I don't want just happy posts about my good days. I wanna post when my hair is greasy and my skin looks a damn pizza and I can't get out of bed for the third day so that people know that depression is real. And I wanna post when I'm all glammed up going to an event, perfect hair and make up and feeling good so people know there still good times. And when I'm fresh out of the shower with wet hair and no make up. And when I wake up with hilarious bed head. And when I see a cool dog. And when I'm sad. And happy. And angry. And when I have a massive bowl of mac n cheese. Because that's what life is. It's goods and bads and happys and sads and big bowls of the best food on Earth. I love my life, not every day, and I want to share the real life with people. Show that it can be shitty and that it can be awesome. And that's ok. It's not all monograms and perfect hair and traveling smiles. Cause that's just bullshit. I tried to pretend to be that. And I hated it.

______



2.4.17 This was from a few days ago, just forgot to post it.

8:32 AM