Responsibilities

I expected a lot from adults. Now that I classify as one, I feel let down by my peers and myself on our social responsibility. Growing up in a working class house, I saw my parents work all the time to support the family. My parents would have friends over or help friends out, but never went on a weekend outing without the kids. It could be a cultural difference, but I think it's a changing value system between my parents' generation and my generation.

I grew up thinking that adults were always role models. I imagined adults continuously hungry for knowledge and leading the way for new ideas. I pictured adults helping others. Now, it seems like adults are big kids. Their personal problems aren't different from teenagers' problems, just more complex. Adults are driven by money and self-interest. This is the adult survival mode, and I understand that, but it is still disappointing.

I'm trying to understand why my friends still go out to drink and party. It seems that we could accomplish so much with our time other than planning out ugly sweater parties and party bus birthdays, but this is how I socialize with my friends. I admit that it is fun and everyone needs a break. Maybe it's time to steer these events in a different direction.

I've had these thoughts for years, but I convinced myself that this is how the youth of the 20-somethings capitalize their time.

My generation has to be doing something all the time. It could be worthless and meaningless, like tweeting, but we are constantly moving. We just need to dedicate more solitary time to think and reflect. We need to digest the important events in our life, instead of jumping from one event to another and not remembering what just happened.

Winter Break

Just turned in my paper and exam to finish off the semester. My eyes are weary from staying up late and my apartment is messy from neglect. I spend my first evening with no after-work obligations with a victory Big Mac and surfing the internet. I don't mean it sarcastically, it is a great feeling.

Time is easily lost without an evening schedule. I may have to re-ordain my tv and internet curfews to stay on task. The self-imposing limitations have worked well before.

Goodie Day

I actually made something for goodie day tomorrow!

Recession Bites Head and Tail

I see the U.S. recession second hand. I hear about it on the news, talk about it in class, and meet people who have their troubled stories. In my safe view of the world, I live comfortably and see my friends enjoy life as any middle class person would. Admittedly, I would continue my life not thinking about the recession if it wasn't for the media and the class assignments. To ignore the situation would be naive. If the recession does not pinch me now, it still could bite in the future.

The middle class seems to be the least effected with the current recession. The lower and upper classes seem to feel the most pain. For the lower class, it is obvious that a bad situation just got worse with the declining economy and their high susceptibility for unemployment. The upper class is undoubtedly able to survive, but it still hurts when their high dollar investment portfolios lost hundred thousands of dollars suddenly. The middle class has a better chance of keeping their jobs than the lower class, and the middle class have only modest investment portfolios that can be recovered.

What is a middle class person to do in this recession? Most are continuing with their lives as usual with little precaution. Is that ignoring what is going on or is it helping the economy with consumer spending? The government is taking measures to dig the U.S. out of this recession, but the individual contribution of partaking in this effort is muddied in the policies. It seems that all an individual could do is vote for the political figures that are most likely to resolve a major and complicated problem.

The U.S. recession is not over. With the current unemployment rate at 9%, everyone should care regardless of income bracket.

So. Much. Fun.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Ready for the Q.

Ready to party with friends.

Ready to hike a new mountain.

How To Become a Millionaire

Sifting through my junk mail, I found two interesting items. The first was a coupon for a free Wendy's breakfast combo (woohoo!... and not the point of this blog entry) and a flyer from my credit card advertising million dollar giveaways.

Million dollar giveaways sounds so enticing and at the same time sound like a fake, cheesy promo. It did make me think, "What would I do with a million dollars?" Before I got too far in my fantasies, I had to google what others advised on how to become a millionaire.

After ten minutes of searching and reading, I thought the article below from wikihow was interesting. Of course the point isn't just to be rich, it is to have money to spend my time the way I want to spend my time as much as possible and comfortably. Some of the advice is general and obvious, but I did like the suggestion of going on a game show. That's a new one for me.

http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Millionaire

1. Open a savings account! Having a savings account is one of the many ways where you can set your money up to work for you. Your initial deposit of money grows whether or not you make additional deposits by interest. Learn the different types of accounts, including accounts like IRAs.
2. Buy stocks! If you are gung-ho for individual stocks, you should buy stocks of the companies whose products and services you use or purchase. One of the best ways to invest in individual stocks is through an investment club; you may want to consider forming one with your friends.
3. Buy mutual funds. Mutual funds are really an investment of other investments. When you own a mutual fund, you actually own the securities (stocks, bonds, cash) within the mutual. With mutual funds, you are pooling your money with other investors and diversifying your investment.
4. Audition for game shows. Game shows earn their money by the audience, not the contestants.
5. Find a "system" that has been proven to make people become millionaires. The top five producers of millionaires today are: technology - internet marketing, direct marketing, home-based business, product distribution, and investments (stocks, bonds, real estate investment / development). Usually, the most stable and reliable forms of income would be from internet marketing, technology, and real estate, with internet marketing, and home based businesses requiring the least money to set up. Investments like real estate and stocks are usually quite risky and time consuming.
6. Find a mentor who has walked the walk and seek advice. Surround yourself with already-made millionaires. They can be found in several places, there's even a private online club where you can have a millionaire mentor personally show you how to make money in many areas online.
7. Win who wants to be a Millionaire. If you don't know the answer to the question, just guess you have a 25% chance of getting it right, if you do know the answer, then say it.
8. Have Fun. When you become wealthy doing something you love, your life will be much better than if you were to do something you hate or don't care about. Make a smart decision.

Tips (I've put in bold the tips I liked the most)

• Don't use a credit card much, all of the excessive spending will come back to haunt you, and you may end up in debt. Try getting a debit card for daily purchases, they're a lot easier to deal with. Use your credit card only for emergencies, and to establish your good credit.
• Try not to take any big loans, because that's "big" money that you'll just have to pay back, and you could end up in debt for that also.
• Control your expenses. You get rich on the difference between that and what you make
• Make it a game. Looking for opportunities to make money is supposed to be fun. Never sweat it.
• Read. The more you know the more you will perceive to be possible, the more you can make.
• Make it about something else than money. It has to be fun. Fair enough you are doing it to become financially well off but few wealthy get off on that alone.
• Make friends with people who share the same goals and values. It will reduce your downtime, and give you pleasure when you are down.
• Make friends with people who are different than you. They can be the greatest source of inspiration and guidance if you are open to their different perspective.
• Help others. Learn to be a caring individual that makes the world better for people around yourself. It will lead to more positivity coming your way. Also, donating to charities can come back to you in the form of tax deductions.
• Plan. Define what you want, Act on it, and Evaluate often to see how you are going.
• It is OK to be cheap, but never be cheap on things that give you value.
• Never invest more than you are willing to lose. This is particularly important when you start. The older and more experienced you get the less risk you are likely to take, or the better you are capable of taking it.
• Think a lot on why you want to become rich, what exactly you want to buy, what lifestyle you want. Make it specific, and date your time for having it and why it matters to you.
• Money represents value. You might come to the understanding that you make money on giving something that other value more than what they pay. You spend the money to get something that is more valuable.
• If possible, make the maximum out your retirement fund provided either by your government or your work. Then proceed to put as much money in to an account like a Roth IRA.
• Whoever said money can't buy happiness has never driven a sports car!
• Money can never buy true happiness. Do not lose your friends and family over making money.

Warnings

• Unless you are the wealthiest person in the world, there will always be someone with more money than you; there will always be someone with less money than you.
• Be prepared to make choices that are different than most people around you.
• Keep riches and wealth in perspective i.e. don't kill the goose that lays the golden egg. In other words, avoid neglecting the source of the wealth e.g. decent health.
• Money doesn't always buy happiness (but it can take care of almost everything else).
• Never steal money. So don't get any ideas about robbing the bank.
• Do not brag about how much money you have. Thieves will be more likely to target you.
• Outside of saving your money, there is no guarantee that you will make money through stocks. You should be wary of anyone who tells you otherwise.
• The internet is full of scams. Do not invest any money in them unless you know they are legit.