The last month has been a doozy so it’s no surprise that it’s time for me to pour reflections onto the page again.
SONG INSPIRATION
This month’s blog is inspired by Stomzy’s Do Better.
TOPIC REQUEST – BUDGETING FOR MULTIPLE FINANCIAL GOALS
Our first reader suggested topic! This is actually something I do, but for years I struggled with how to do it. As a student, my primary limitation was income. It’s hard to save when you barely have enough money to meet your needs. So how do I do it and how can you?
The best way to budget for multiple financial goals is to make it as effortless (and forgettable) as possible. A variety of apps, such as Qapital, allow you to save continuously with little or no mental energy. In my case, I currently have 7 different savings accounts. Don’t get envious yet – that doesn’t imply oodles of funds. What it does illustrate are the number of goals I have. One of those savings accounts, for example, is for heating oil, which is a new AND EXPENSIVE cost courtesy of residing in N’Angland. With Qapital – the app I use – you can set a variety of spending rules. Weekly withdrawals from your bank account. Round up on purchases and save the difference. Allot a % of your paycheck. Once you set up a rule, then the rest is automatic and you don’t have to think about it (except when budgeting).
I know I harp on this a lot, but you also have to practice discipline, consistency, and patience. You have to keep saving no matter how small the amount. And you have to remember that your pile will start small, but don’t get discouraged. 10$/week doesn’t seem like a lot, but that’s 520$ by the end of the year. If your goal is Christmas shopping or a Michelin star meal, then maybe that’s all you need by the end of the year. If your savings goals are longer term and larger, maybe employ extra distance. Open an account (e.g., Roth IRA) with an institution of your choice – the more barriers between you and your money, the less likely you are to spend it willy nilly.
Anywho, these are just a few tips AND the tips that I employ in my person spending habits. Thanks for submitting this topic suggestion, loyal reader! Once again, if you have a topic you’d like me to write about, please feel free to suggest in the comments or to me directly.
SETTING IN – N’ANGLAND EDITION
Although I’ve been living in N’Angland for a month, I’m still settling into my new digs and building a routine. I estimate that I’m about 80% settled. My home and office are both functional and decorated. Now, I need to tidy up, put on the finishing touches, and transition from unpacking to maintaining the space. It has been very cold but I have the wardrobe for it and a rumbling demon in the basement, so it ain’t cold inside. Over two feet of snow has fallen in the last month, but that hasn’t been too hazardous either. I can walk to work in hiking boots (a geologist must) and the sidewalks are well salted/sanded and shoveled. Although I now live in a very small town, I’m still able to have my groceries delivered and there are plenty of good eateries and cool coffee shops. Plus, there’s a walkable downtown and square and a local theatre. It’s beginning to feel like people’s complaints about N’Angland (specifically in winter) are similar to the complaints about the Southwest (in the summer) as in those same people forget that heating and air conditioning exist, respectively. Sure, shoveling snow and bundling up gets a little tedious, but so does sweating on your way to the mailbox. The less light due to cloudiness and higher latitude, on the other hand, that part has been harder. No place is perfect but you can find beauty in a location if you keep an open mind.
SITTING IN UNCERTAINTY
The next couple of years will be a lesson in uncertainty. This is partly the post-doc experience and partly an exercise in life. There will always be uncertainty. You can let that hinder you or you can learn to sit in it. For me, that uncertainty manifests in what I want for my career, my next career move, and how I will grow/thrive in N’Angland.
I’m currently in a non-tenure track faculty position. I’m a post-doc with no supervisor at a small liberal arts institution. Three months in (and one month in-person) and I love it. I’m excited to go to work every day – excited to teach, to research, to interact with students and my colleagues, and to explore my new region. No place is perfect but this sandbox is perfect for me.
But what comes next? You may think it’s too soon, but I’m in academia. And being in the academy requires medium to long-term thinking. A post-doc is an inherently temporary position. You have to invest in your future via proposals, collaborations, invited talks, etc. Where do I want to end up for a tenure track (TT) position? An R1 or R2 institution? Or a small liberal arts or community college? They all have different expectations and vibes. They all have their problems. And each department has its own attitude such that you can’t rely on predefined categories alone. So much time and so much to think about – I do love that at least.
CURRENT BOOKS AND SHOWS
Recently finished: The Crown (s5); The Sandman (s1); The Venture Bros (s3)
Currently watching: Only Murders in the Building (s1); The Amazing World of Gumball (s1); The Venture Bros (s4)
Currently reading: Dune (starting soon); Modern History of Japan; Wine for Dummies
Thank you again for reading! Please suggest future topics in the comments or to me directly. My next blog is scheduled for Thursday, April 6th. Until next time….
The Planetary Novelist 