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About This Author
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La Bene Vita
I am a professional musician  , worship leader , small business owner , songwriter , aspiring author and freelance nonfiction writer with a chemical engineering degree .
But that's just my resume.
My profile of qualifications is only one of the ways in which I am unique. Here I chronicle my personal and professional goals and my efforts to achieve them. Occasionally I fail. Mostly, I take daily baby steps toward all my long-term goals. Much like the stories I pen, the songs I compose, and the businesses I run, I am always a work in progress.
December 25, 2009 at 9:03am December 25, 2009 at 9:03am
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No laptop and no jobs today... whatever will I do with myself???
I know.  I'll read my new Christmas present: Small Business For Dummies (That's me!)
Here's a great quote:
"Although it's true that money can't buy happiness, managing your personal finances efficiently can open up your future life options, such as switching into a lower-paying but more fulfilling career, starting your own business, or perhaps working part-time at a home-based business..."
Yep, that's exactly what it does. And although I admit that I have been blessed more than many, this was my recipe for success:
1. Go to college (paid for via student loans, grants, and scholarships. I graduated with about thirty thousand dollars worth of student loan debt.)
2. Work hard, even if that meant being chained to a computer lab while roommates vacationed in Cancun over Spring Break.
3. Earn a degree.  Don't underestimate this one! Those loans need to be paid back somehow, and the degree offers the earning potential to pay it back.
4. Find a job. Easier said than done, I know. Like I said, I've been blessed. But believe me, the college degree helps a lot.
5. Keep living expenses low enough to afford student loan payments. That meant driving a Corolla, which was my fave little car ever. I confess that my first apartment in Atlanta was in the heart of the social district and very expensive. I quickly realized what a waste of money it was, and when I moved to Nashville, I bought a house that I could actually afford. It was tiny, but it was *mine*.
6. Continue to spend less than you earn over about a decade, and pay off debts. THIS IS NOT EASY. It takes discipline. You have to keep your eyes on a prize that may be years away, while forgoing instant gratification (e.g., cable service, unlimited texting, or that HDTV you really, really want) in favor of that prize. It helps to know exactly what the prize is. For instance, "Get a job playing video games for a living," is much more specific than, "Get a job that's more fun," which is much more specific than, "Get out of debt." The more specific the goal, and the more badly you want to achieve the goal, the more likely you are to say no to the HDTV and its instant gratification at the moment of choice, because you think of how cool it will be to play video games for a living (which is way cooler than simply getting out of debt.)
It also helped when I got rid of a spendaholic leech. It is very difficult to meet your financial goals when you have a partner who does not share your goals, at least not in practice. If you find yourself in this situation, I strongly recommend keeping separate accounts, which is something I would have scoffed at a decade ago. But I recognize now that I can only control myself. So if you have your own goals to meet, and if your partner or family members don't share your goals, you have to put some money someplace where you have complete control over it.
And... 7. Start saving. A decade ago, I scoffed at savings. I thought, why on earth would I put money in savings when I have all these credit cards to pay off? The interest rate math doesn't make sense. I was right, but I swear, I never thought that I would ever be completely debt-free and have extra money every month. Yet, here I am, socking away money every two weeks. It takes discipline over the long-haul, which can be accomplished only when you know what you really want.
Easy as pie, right?
Merry Christmas, and may all your family, career, and financial dreams come true in 2010 (or in the next decade.)
Happy Birthday, Jesus. |
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Thanks for sharing!
Even better if she can whistle to the tune of Mozart or something. 
Comment • View 2 comments 
, also known as Michelle Tuesday, is a musician, educator and writer hailing from Columbus, Ohio.![Merit Badge in Music
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To a dear friend whose talent for writing music is sensational. May you have a fabulous New Year, (((Brandi)))!!! *^*Kiss*^*
Big hugs,
Sherri *^*Heart*^*](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/genre-Music-1050.gif)
![Merit Badge in Organization
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I don't know how you do it, but I assume there's magic involved *^*Bigsmile*^* I have really enjoyed this month of planning and preparation for NaNoWriMo and I love how organized it all is. Thank you for hosting a great challenge and for your dedication to helping so many of us prepare with confidence and trepidation for National Novel Writing Month (known to sane folks as 'November' *^*Laugh*^*) at your [Link To Item #1474311]](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Organization-1150.gif)
![Merit Badge in Leadership
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For your hard work, commitment, talent and innovation in running the October NaNoWriMo Preparation each year, which helps many of us get our scattered thoughts together for November's novel-writing. And also because this badge has ducks on it.](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Leadership.gif)
