Of all things, I’ve been thinking of getting a coffee maker lately. As with everything, I’ve been thinking way too hard about it. Where I’m going to put it, if I should spend the money on it, if it’ll be worth it. I’ve been patronizing my former nemesis, Turkey Hill, quite often recently. Their hazelnut coffee with french vanilla creamer just so happens to be delicious (despite the fact that I normally drink my coffee black). What isn’t delicious is adding an extra 5-10 minutes in to my 3 minute commute to scratch and claw my way two blocks north first, make it to the cashier, and then two blocks back south (to avoid crazy crossing guards). I also kinda figured that a buck-five a day to put myself through such inconvenience might not be worth it.

So, what’s a guy to do? The same thing I did with just about everything else when I first started my climb out of debt – make a spreadsheet, silly! I figured prices for a few different coffees and teas, per cup (cup cup, not coffee cup), and came up with a few surprising (and not so surprising) results. All numbers are based on Folgers’ claim that 33.9oz of coffee makes 270 (weak ass) cups, and a nice, simple $20 coffee maker.

1. Keurig will never be cheaper, ever - Regular Keurig 18 count cups are 66c each, and even 87c for the Starbucks brand ones. Compared to 53c gas station coffee, it doesn’t even matter that the cheapest maker you’ll find at WalMart for these things is still $80.
2. Starbucks Italian coffee is still cheaper than green tea - Okay, that was a bit of a surprise. Granted, we’re talking 9.29c versus 9.9c per cup, but still – cheaper is cheaper.
3. Damn, even cheap tea is expensive – And I don’t drink the cheap tea (not that I have anything against it). Lipton Bavarian Wild Berry Black Tea pyramids are the shit. Except for when the string breaks while you unravel it, in which case you’d best tie that back together and use it. I know I do.

How do you guys get your fix?

No related posts.

This took me 6 8 hours to put together.
It’s okay, I have tea!

Last year all this information was spread out over something like 4 posts. Since there are trees to be saved, I’m smashing it all together in one giant post! Herein we shall find the following:

1. The money numbers
2. The blog numbers
3. The goal achievedness (yes it is)
4. The goal settings
5. The usual monthly goodness

Hajimeyou!

The Money Numbers

• Debt service – $15,693.65 (vs $13,221.93 in 2010)
• Debt reduction - $14,732.27 (vs $12,311.65)
• Monthly debt service – $1,207.20 (vs $1,017.07)
• Spending money – $6,685.29 (vs $6,121.34), monthly average $557.1
• Total take home income – $25,950.95 (vs $21,295.79, a 21.86% increase!)
  

The Blog Numbers

• Subscribers – 215 (vs 160)
• Income – $3,230 (vs $1,350, up 139.3%)
• Expenses – $696 (vs $311.03, up 123.8%)
• Profit – $2,534 (vs $1,038.97, up 143.9%)

Those are purely non-search referrers. While I did get hit by Lifehacker a couple of times this year, they weren’t nearly as fruitful as in 2010. Ah well, I’m not complaining. Take those out and the traffic is probably up. The mad increase in profitability is all thanks to having someone else manage my advertising for me, but I’ve got a lot of work to do myself. It would’ve been a down year if it weren’t for that.

The Goal Achievedness

• Reduce debt 33% – The general idea here was that, with three and a half years left, I should shoot for a third to end up ahead of the game (when I was behind at the time). With my end of year payments, I bumped it up to 33.09%. Being barely over the line is no mistake, either, but it did come down to the last paycheck of the year.
• $3000 emergency fund - Bahahahahaha no. What I do have is a $666.52 emergency fund, as well as various other savings. Since I didn’t really expect to hit this goal, it doesn’t hurt too much. It had reached as high as $1,985 back in May, but apparently I decided it was better to spend that money at the time. Go team.
• Quit smoking – Smoke free since August 7th. There are so many smells I wish I didn’t smell.
• Run a 7 minute mile – I thought this was pretty conservative, since I did a 6:30 in high school without having a goal in mind. I broke 8 minutes in July and haven’t run since. As I definitely remember that cold-weather running sucks balls, I just couldn’t bring myself to attempt a last minute effort.
• Quit drinking (excessively) - Haven’t been keeping beer in the house for quite some time now. Got a 12 pack a month or so ago… that was uneventful. Money saved? Tons. All the more for hookers and blow.
• Junk out - While I did have one pretty successful weekend wherein I managed to fill a truck and a trailer, things have pretty much flatlined since then. I’ve been trying to keep an eye on incoming stuff, and trashing stuff as it annoys me (Regifting Robin is getting tossed pretty soon), there hasn’t been much renewed effort. Neither pass nor fail.
• Conversational Japanese - This was probably a bit unrealistic, but I did both slack quite a bit and had less than the full year to work on it. It’s not a failure, though, because I did make a heck of a lot of progress. I’ve got a pretty decent handle on the grammar, it’s just a lack of vocabulary that does me in now. Just last night, though, I watched Summer Wars for the first time in about 6 months. I’ve seen this movie at least 10 times, and it just blew me away at how much of it I suddenly understood. Still not enough to know what’s going on.

The Goal Settings

• Reduce debt 50% – With 2.33 years left to go before my debt free goal date of May 2014, it just kinda makes sense to go for a clean half. This is actually just a bit more than what I paid off in 2011, at a smidge under 15k. Sensing that a flatline goal might be a pussy move, I’m also looking at 60%, which is just under 18k.
• $3,000 emergency fund - I still think this is a good number for me, and should be easy as pie come May. After that it’ll just be a matter of not blowing it, or needing to use it. Not so pie.
• Run a 6:30 mile - When facing failure, fail harder. I should be able to do this, dammit.
• Junk out - Non-quantifiable goals suck. This is one of them. I’ll have to come up with something. A system, a schedule, something.
• $10,000 side hustle income – This is the big one. Going from $2,500 to 10k sounds unrealistic… to some. I see no reason why I shouldn’t be able to do it, though. Ideas, I’ve got them. Honestly, though, there’s no way I’m ever going to make it in this business if I can’t hit this goal. Again, this is the big one.
• Half hour daily Japanese – Since a language goal is terribly difficult to quantify, I figure it’s a hell of a lot easier to quantify the effort instead. This is going to be actual study time – watching a movie doesn’t count.

The Usual Monthly Goodness

From December 1 to January 1, my net worth increased an average of $64.86 per day, or $2,010.73 overall, to -$27,483.24. This is a 7.32% increase, and results in a projected zero net worth on 1/25/2014. Meanwhile, my magic number went down from $1,126.50 to $1,104.84.

Oh, and before I forget, one last look at the 2011 goal chart before I clear the slate!

Wait, what’s that? Right in the middle there… Capital One paid off… December 31st!? Yeeeaaaaahhhhh dog! Debt eliminated, $200 monthly payment eliminated, and with that, my minimum monthly debt payment is down to an amazing $215!!! Yes, this is going to be an excellent year.

Ijou? Iie, choudo hajimete!

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Today is December 28th. Including today, there are four more days left in 2011. You haven’t been living without a calendar, have you?

For many goals, it’s far too late to do anything now (how inspiring!), but for a few, now is the time to triple check and make sure you’re not missing the boat by a few inches. I nearly slipped myself tonight after work – I’ve been getting thoroughly sick of my current set of speakers that I use to jam out at work, decided I’d had enough, and had every intention of running out to WalMart and dropping $100 on some new ones. It dawned on me then that achievement or failure could hinge on that hundred bucks.

Looking at the preliminary numbers, I just might be right! Not only do I know to keep my wallet closed for the next few days, I know exactly what needs to be done to hit certain numbers. Depending on Friday’s paycheck for finality only slightly hampers my efforts.

And then, there are a few goals that I’ll just have to save for next year.

You. Go check your goals! Time’s a wastin’ and it’s down to the wire.

Related posts:

1. 2011 Financial Goals
2. 2011 Goals Update
3. You’re Doing It Backwards: The Fine Art of Budgeting for Goals

Following directions…

Yeah, we do that

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The PA Attorney General says that “if a debt collector breaks the FDCPA once, they will do it again.” Turns out they’re right. My early problems with the latest collector to get a hand on my electric account, IC System, weren’t really problems, even if they were violations. My first letter from them came about two weeks after my first phone call from them. Do I care? Nope. One of the first phone calls came in at quarter after 9pm. Do I care? Nope.

Both are violations of the FDCPA, and in turn also violations of PA’s Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act. Neither has caused me any actual harm, or even annoyance. Doubling my balance, however, does. The FCEUA prohibits “collection of any amount not agreed to by the agreement creating the debt or authorized by law.” Now, I have no idea what I may have agreed to with the electric company when I moved in to my apartment, but I highly doubt that it was that. Pennsylvania law allows for 6% interest on debts, which certainly doesn’t double anything after 3 years.

Wolfram Alpha gives an interest rate of 23.11% to double a balance in 3 years. That sucks even for a credit card. Fuck. That. Shit.

I was on the fence before this, teetering between just paying the damn thing, or letting the statute of limitations run out. But for such a gross violation, one that does adversely affect me, is it time to fuck the collector? While I could report them to the AG, that wouldn’t benefit me directly, if the AG were to even take action in the first place. Is it time to sue, and play the $1,000 per violation lottery? If I did, there is of course a chance that they would settle it right away, but if not, I’d either have to grow some pretty big balls to take them on pro se, or find representation that would be willing to work on a contingency basis (and also take a hefty chunk of the proceeds [which would probably be worth it for pants-pissing prevention]).

What would you do?

Related posts:

1. When A Debt Collector Gets Greedy

From November 1 to December 1, my net worth increased an average of $44.61 per day, or $1,338.41 overall, to -$29,493.97. This is a 4.54% increase, and results in a projected zero net worth on 3/11/2014.

Nothing special happened this month, really. Chugging along, pulling ahead of my goal just a little further, and – oh yeah – busted the halfway mark on my debt! With 2.4 years to go, I like where I’m at.

I was going to do a giveaway to mark the occasion, but then I forgot to budget for it. Oops!

No magic number this month, sadly enough, as the spreadsheet decided to stop working. I think it’s a LibreOffice problem. Sidebars updated.

Related posts:

1. Net Worth Update: March 2011, Under Budget Edition
2. Net Worth Update: November 2011, Super Magical Edition
3. Net Worth Update: September 2009

A whole three and a half years after I bought it, the scooter is finally paid for. I suppose one could also phrase that as “a year and a half early,” but we wouldn’t want to be too full of ourselves, now would we? Original balance of about $5,300, she’s been my primary vehicle off and on since then, and my only vehicle for almost two years now since I junked my last truck.

How did I do it?

Hard work. Determination. Grit.

That's some fine grit right there! Literally!

Now, all that’s left is for it to actually be mine. You see, for those who weren’t around for it, the scoot’s actually in mum’s name and credit, because my name and credit were (and still are) quite terrible. So, rather than paying the finance company, I’ve been depositing personal checks into her account every month. Here’s to waiting til I turn 25 in January and thereupon cease to be known as a “young driver.” Such a designation drives the insurance cost up from about $100/year to about $600/year. The lady at the insurance office actually told me NOT to go on the insurance because of that insanity, and that she would call me after my birthday. Awesome insurance lady of mine.

Speaking of scooters, you may or may not have noticed that I’m trying to do this. Feel free to do those things you do with it, while I do that thing I do with it.

Related posts:

1. Motor Scooter Might Yet Become Reality
2. Debt Paid Off – Credit Union
3. Fixing My Scooter – Well, Maybe

Time sinks suck.

What about you? Where are your biggest time sinks at?

Related posts:

1. Time Budgeting? Try Prioritization
2. Fix Your Blog Time!
3. Part-Time Versus Funemployment

Yep. As of this morning, it’s been three months since I quit smoking. And you guys thought I was going to relapse. Well, there’s still plenty of opportunity to do that, but despite having never come up with a habit to replace the habit, I still managed to make it through FinCon, among other things, without going back.

I definitely miss it. The times that I think about it are slowly stretching further apart. There are things that I certainly don’t miss, though, such as that crazy pain I used to get in my shoulder when I smoked too much. I still get that pain every once in a while, such as last night, but for unknown reasons now.

Still not taking breaks at work, so I guess that’s the new habit. And now that freezing temperatures are upon us, I’m totally fine with that. That’s another thing I don’t miss. Standing out in sub-zero wind chills in the dead of winter just to burn one.

Fuck that.

Related posts:

1. Distraction Free Writing
2. Months of Working Myself to Death? Approved!

From October 6 to November 1, my net worth increased an average of $62.38 per day, or $1,933.72 overall, to -$30,832.38. This is a 6.27% increase, and results in a projected zero net worth on 3/27/2014.

Did I say super magical edition? Ya damn skippy I did. Here’s five, count’em FIVE, reasons why:

• Second best net worth improvement – It’s even better when you consider that the best was from a huge bonus, and this one… wasn’t. Hard work and determination, right? Sure. We’ll go with that.
• Overall net worth change has exceeded 50%. Yeeeeaaahhhh that’s right, I said it, I’m past halfway to zero! *does a little dance*
• I’m finally on track to hit my 5 year payoff goal! Since it’s inception, I’ve been lagging behind this goal and trying to play catch-up. And catch up I have, finally! Mr. Spreadsheet is giving me a goal date of 5/24/14, which is definitely the correct month and year. Now, of course, is my chance to sprint on ahead.
• Best blogging month… ever. This totally explains the first bullet point… and probably all of the others, too. Unfortunately, I never did get around to writing a FinCon wrapup, but had I done so, I would have said this: The best thing that happened for me at the conference was on the last day, with my bags all packed, killing time in the hotel lobby by staring at the ceiling until I had to catch the first of many trains home (all the while trying not to fall asleep or die of starvation). That’s when Crystal from Budgeting in the Fun Stuff swung by to chat me up, and offered her services. Hoo boy… here’s a fun fact: October 12th – that’s right, not even a full 2 weeks after the conference – I turned a profit on attending the conference. Yes, really, that quickly, and all thanks to her (and I’ve thanked her a ton already, trust me!). So, how good was it? Broke a grand at the last second. Double that and make it consistent and you could call me a pro blogger. I’m not holding my breath, because that wouldn’t do a damn bit of good, so what I am doing is diversifying, and trying to get several more blogs off the ground (and still hunting for good buys).
• I can’t count. Fooled ya, huh? There really is a fifth bullet point laying around here somewhere. Could’a sworn there was. Maybe it’ll show up in a couple of days?

Ooo-hoo, that’s what we call a cliffhanger, folks. Gotta spread the awesome around evenly. In the meantime, it’s worth noting that my magic number has fallen to $1,134.04 (down from $1,151.65) this month. I don’t have any particular goal in mind for that, other than zero, so we’ll just keep watching it fall instead. Sidebars NOT updated, don’t wanna go spoilin’ anything.

Now, someone, hire me a grammarian! After the Deadline is just burning up at this post. Balls it.

Related posts:

1. Net Worth Update: March 2011, Under Budget Edition
2. Net Worth Update: November 2010
3. Net Worth Update: November 2009