Life - Changes

Okay. Going forward these are a few things that I hope to improve/change in my life in order to be more financially secure.

1) Open a business checking account.
I intend to do this so that I am forced to save more by actually cutting myself a "paycheck" twice a month. All of my money, besides monetary gifts of less than $100, will be deposited into this account. When it's time to pay bills (my rent at the first and other bills on the 15th), I will tally up exactly what I need and transfer that amount to my personal checking. Any business related expenses will come directly from this account. Quarterly, I will check how much I've saved and see what possible business related purchases I should make. If there are none, I plan on investing 50% of the saved amount. I don't want to invest it all and have no cash for a rainy day, and I don't want to have it all sitting in my checking gathering dust.

2) I need to be more mindful of my weekly expenditure.
A year or so ago, I was doing a great job at saving away a bit of money. At some point I needed to deplete that savings. Now my expenses equal my income. I'm sure that doesn't need to be the case. The boyfriend and I both need to take our lunches to work more often (aka all the time, for me at least) and rethink how many times a week we eat out. Last weekend (before the tax hammer fell) we were feeling flush and ate every meal on Sunday out. That isn't a normal occurrence, but we have been eating out almost every lunch and one or two dinners a week. That is a lot. Plus I have a tendency of thinking of each purchase as a "treat". "I worked so hard this morning. I deserve that $15 lunch." One that I won't even finish.

3) Stop comparing myself and my life to others around me.
This is a big deal, as I work in an industry full of well-dressed in-the-know people. And part of the week I work in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Just looking in a store window or at a restaurant menu can make a person go broke. I like my clothes, I like my life, apartment, boyfriend, etc. Why waste thoughts and energy on a lifestyle I can't afford? There are things I need to purchase as necessities, but I can afford them if I save. Which leads back to change #1.

4) Change is good.
The biggest change I hope to make is getting a new job. I don't necessarily need to get paid more, but my life would be easier if my job was more fulfilling and if I got those things called benefits. I'd spend less money on prescriptions. I wouldn't have to worry about getting sick, or what happens when I take vacation. There would be room for promotion and growth. I would have my taxes taken out for me and wouldn't have a giant tax bill every April. I might even be able to save for retirement, a house, or a new pair of high heels (not on the necessity list, yet). I've gotten comfortable where I'm at and have a hard time putting myself out there for interviews and job applications. But things need to change. And I'm hoping it starts now.