Get ready to "Rise and Grind"

I’m always worried about not having enough money and having spotless credit. I do not know why that is as I’ve never been hungry, homeless or without, though in my early days out of college I did struggle. As a result of that fear I’m very averse to risk and didn’t want to do or try anything that might mess up my paper or creditworthiness.

I’ve recently realized that what I feared was having to rely on someone or ask for help. Or go home to my family. I was scared of failing or appearing to be a failure.

This year I’ve taken some small financial risks that have netted us some good results. Things I’ve wanted to do in the past but was afraid to do. My small successes have made me less fearful. But I was able to do them because I had support from Mr. SLS. I knew if things didn’t work I would still eat, I would still have a roof over my head — it would be OK.

This has made me think more about things such as quitting my job and doing something I really want to do. Mr. SLS said last night, “It’s time for you to get that master’s degree you’ve been talking about.”

I hadn’t pursued the degree in the past because I worried about the time and expense and, honestly, because I was scared. I didn’t want to take on debt to do it, I was scared to leave work to do it, I was scared.

Yes, I know lots and lots of other people have done it, but, that was them. *I* was scared. (See the first part of this where I said I am always worried about money and creditworthiness).

For whatever reason, I stumbled on a blog by FreeMan, where he talked about becoming self-sufficient, reclaiming the black community, retaining more of the money that our community spends and various other topics along those lines.

He started a new blog this week, “Rise and Grind,” that discusses how to start a business in layman’s terms. If you’ve always wanted to get your own hustle, but thought you couldn’t do it, wasn’t sure how to do it or was just plain old scared, give him a read. Tweet with him. Take his tips, get past your fears and get your thing going.

That’s what I’m going to do. Good luck!

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

Clean sweep, doors and windows

I’ve decided to become a landlord. After talking to the agent (who owns a primary residence and rental residence in my neighborhood) keeping my house and using it as an income property sounds like the best plan for us.

As such, I’ve had people in to make some minor repairs that are needed, have sked one more person to come next week to do a small project and I’m pricing out carpet.

I’ve been sorting through papers in my desk over there and shredding docs I don’t need anymore and it’s been so enlightening to see old paychecks and my original mortgage papers and the titles to my cars and the “paid in full” letter for my school loan. I have come a looooooong way baby!

I also found some old pics of me I hadn’t seen in awhile and you know what always gets me when I see old pics of me? I realize that I am cute as all get out. One thing CreoleinDC always says is believe you are cute and act like it (she might not say it quite like that but that’s the gist).

On a day-to-day basis, I don’t think I’m cute. I’m always too self-conscious about being fat (I have a post coming about this, too, cause I had a revelation last night, that basically said, if being fat bothers me so much do something about it hell!). But I look at the old photos and my hair is always styled nicely, my outfit is flattering, my skin is right and I have a great smile — I’m cute!

The thing that made me REALLLY REALLLLLLY laugh is the rejection letter I had saved for this job I wanted a couple, two, three years ago. I don’t know why I saved the letter, but I read it today and saw the name of the lady who “rejected me” at the bottom and burst out laughing cause this chick has given me not one but TWO journalism awards in the years since she picked someone who wasn’t me for the job I thought was mine back then.

Just goes to show you, when a door closes, a window opens so jump ya ass through it and keep it moving.

Also hilarious is a conversation I had with one of my BFFs today. She said she knew I wasn’t even going to seriously entertain selling/renting my house until I had been married for a minute and had a chance to feel out this “death do us part” thing cause I am funny with my money. HAAHAHAAA! That really cracked me up. Cause it’s true.

Altogether, things are shaping up nicely. I’m feeling better, the house will soon be making me some money, and interestingly enough, I’m getting excited about going back to work.

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

Puzzle pieces

There are a few times when I try to do something and it seems too hard and I can’t focus on it or push forward. Maybe the timing is off, or something but whatever it’s not right, so I put a pin in it and step away.

That’s the situation with my house. Up until now it seemed like I could not do what needed to be done to get this house sold or rented. Something was always distracting or blocking me. So, I left it alone. Yes, that meant I was spending money for a place no one was living in, but I could not get over the hump.

I’ll admit that I think part of it was being a new bride and still growing in my marriage.

Getting to a point where in the back of my head I don’t need to cling to my house as the last vestige of my independent womanhood.

Even as much as I trust(ed) Mr. SLS and know that he is a great man who loves me, that still didn’t make me stop being ME. Meaning I trust but verify. In ALL situations.

Thankfully my husband understands me and is patient.

Anyway as far as taking care of my house, things are flowing now.

Agent is on the job, paperwork is moving along as needed.

The pieces are falling in the place.

The timing is right.

Right?

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

Two baby steps forward

I’m meeting with a real estate agent this week to talk numbers about my house. Depending on the numbers the agent shows me I may put it on the market in the next month or so after I make a couple of tweaks here and there.

When I was paying bills at the beginning of the month (I schedule all bill payments for the month at the beginning of the month so that I’m not forgetting anything) I realized that the *only* bills I have outside of my car insurance are for this house.

I’m still open to renting it out, but only through a management company. This agent can help me with that, too. The going rent in my neighborhood for houses my size would easily cover the mortgage payment and Mr. SLS really thinks we should hang on to it rather than sell.

I worry about the tenant laws in D.C. though, as they seem to be heavily weighted toward the renter in any and all disputes. I don’t intend to be a slumlord or anything, but neither do I want some scammer living in my house for free while I fight the system to get them out. This is one of the few issues where I’m cup half empty.

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend!

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

Back that thang up!

One of my friends who works in the dying side of my industry is working hard to gain the skills and knowledge she needs to stay marketable and employable.

Her husband is in the same business and is content to take it as it comes. I asked her recently what his plans were for the future and she said: I’m his backup plan.

Hm.

I decided I would ask Mr. SLS what his backup plan was if he lost his job for some reason. He immediately rattled off a list of what he would do, how he would do it, where we would cut back etc. Which was the right answer.

What’s your backup plan?

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

Got my prize money yesterday!

I won a journalism award recently that had some money attached to it (the best kind!) but I had forgotten about the money part (I have no idea how I forgot this most important part of the award) so when I got two check stubs yesterday I thought, wait, is this severance (in these economic times, it’s not outside the realm of possibility)?

But no! It was my prize money! What makes it really great is that we have to take several unpaid days this year and the amount of prize money (after taxes) covers that lost income with some leftover to help boost our savings. We are on track to meet our savings goal for the year a little early now.

I like money. ::rolls around in cash like Scrooge McDuck::

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

How do you handle expenses?

It took awhile but we’ve finally developed a system that seems to work for us and that is transparent for the most part. On the first of the month I go through and schedule payments for all of the bills. Then I let him know I did it. I keep it all in a spreadsheet and track our spending, savings, investments etc.

Until we came up with this structure it worried me that we weren’t taking full advantage of our DINK status and were paying separately for things we could get cheaper together. I was right in some cases — car insurance, cell phones etc. — and we have combined those and increased our monthly savings.

I would say that not having school loans (and even as old as we are I have friends who are *still* paying back school loans) or car payments and buying homes before the boom were some of the best financial decisions both of us could have made.

What’s still amazing to me as we look around casually for a house we can buy together, is that the prices in D.C. (the city proper, we have no interest in moving to the suburbs and commuting in to our jobs) are still ridiculous. And trust me, we’re not looking for a mcmansion or anything like that.

Anyway, how do you other couples handle bills and expenses?

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

What would you do if you were laid off?

I spent some time over the last week or so thinking about what I would do if the ax falls at my place of employment. What did I come up with? Not what I’m doing now. That’s saying something, right? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate my job, there are more highs than lows, but…I could walk away.

The thing is I long ago decided that I needed to focus on making sure I was satisfied OUTSIDE of work ’cause I am working for somebody and that could end with the flick of a pen. What does that mean?

Back at the beginning of my career I would wake up at night having panic attacks thinking about all I had to do, what mountains I had to move to deliver that A1 above-the-fold story the next day. Scared of failing. All that drama and stress and pressure and I wasn’t even making enough money to live on my own! My parents had to supplement me (and thankfully I had parents who could and would)!

It was several years before I realized that my health and sanity were more important at the end of the day. From that point on I gave a good day’s work for a good day’s pay. I don’t log on and check email at home. I don’t check the BlackBerry unless I have a project in the works and there is a chance there could be a question or problem. When I leave work I don’t think about it again until I get up the next day. I vacate when I go on vacation.

Now, that doesn’t mean I don’t get my work done OR that I don’t do more than I’m asked OR that I leave my team hanging, however it DOES mean boundaries. Proper perspective.

Because — and I think a lot of people have learned this lately — no matter how great a job you do, no matter how many extra hours you put in, if your employer decides today is your last day, it will be. We are not owed employment.

So who among you is doing what they want to do RIGHT NOW? And how do you balance work and personal life?

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

Lead, follow or get yo’ ass out the way

That’s what I heard our president say in this speech.

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy

My best friend got laid off today

SHE IS 8 MONTHS PREGNANT. I’m sitting here now trying to figure out what we can cut back that we haven’t already so I can stack up some extra money to help if it comes to that. I know she has money saved up, her significant other is a hardworking stand up guy, and she owns various real estate properties from which she gets some income, but still, she’s about to have a baby in a few weeks and ish could get shaky real quick.

I have to admit, she sounded calm, but *I* am scared as hell for her. SHE IS 8 MONTHS PREGNANT.

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SingLikeSassy