This evening I downloaded some budget software, and I’m still trying to make sense of it.  I’ve got a couple programs and they seem somewhat promising, but for long term accounts (cars, student loans), there doesn’t seem to be anyway to input the interest rate so that the balance is automatically updated.  This has to be reconciled monthly.

At any rate, my current net worth is -$54,125.75.  Egads!  I’m not sure how terrible this is because I have to believe that anyone who lives in a house that doesn’t have a lot of equity would be worse.  Still, it’s enough to make me have an eBay sale.  But lets pretend I had money to spend.  These are the shiny things I would buy:

1. New Computer!  Currently I have a 13″ Macbook.  I have a USB cable going to a seven port hub that connects my 24″ monitor, scanner, printer, mouse, keyboard, drawing tablet, digital camera cord and iPod dock.  Actually, it fits the bill most of the time, but it heats up and the fans kick into high gear after streaming audio for two minutes or when I have a lot of applications going.  Recording much audio or video might toast it and an iMac wouldn’t have half the cooling problems, not to mention the fact that I need more hard drive space and an OS upgrade.
2. iPhone: I thought I might buy one of these when I moved out since I won’t have a landline, but I can’t justify the monthly cost.  In fact, I might just keep going prepaid and never talk to anyone by phone.
3. PS3: This is just something I want for fun.  It’s black, it’s shiny, and a good way to upgrade to BluRay.  It’s also the only way I can play the last game in the Metal Gear series.
4. Art Supplies: I’m keeping a wish list of art supplies through Dick Blick.  Right now most of the items are for illustrations, but I’ll probably throw some painting and screen printing supplies up on it.  Art supplies are one of the few things that I’m actually going to budget for in hopes that I can make art and sell it through various avenues.
5. Music Equipment: Guitars, bass, keyboards, recording hardware and software…I miss making music and recently discovered that my 4-track is inoperable.  Rather than running out and buying some new hardware, I might just take a screwdriver to it and peform some surgery.
6. iPod: Currently I have an iPod Shuffle which fits the bill when I run.  However, I’d like to have something for my car that holds more music for long trips.  This had dropped further on my priorities since I plan to cut my commute to work down to 10 minutes, I’m really not going to be able to listen to any more than three songs (unless I’m listening to the Ramones in which case I can listen to six).
7. Motorcycle: I really miss riding and it doesn’t seem fair that everyone in my family has a horse and I don’t have a motorcycle.  It would be great to take a week long ride out west, but I just don’t know how often I’d find times to ride.  Most guys that ride motorcycles ride with a bunch of other like minded motorcycle guys and I don’t know anyone that I want to ride with.  Still, it’d be fun to take short weekend trips to Springfield or Milwaukee during the summer.  The jury is still out on this.  If money weren’t an object, the Harley Davidson Nightster would be my choice.  Though a Triumph America and Bonneville both appeal to me as well.

That’s it in a nutshell.  Hopefully this whole net worth calculation will keep me scared of spending any money for a while, and hopefully my college education (which is the greatest source of this debt) will prove to be worth the expense in the long run.

Hrm.  I should probably make a list of all the stupid stuff I’ll need to buy when I’m on my own.  I don’t have my own salt and pepper shakers or a plunger.  I’m sure there are several other things I’ll need to pick up.

Filed under: General, Materialism by John