Writing
Thoughts on money, trade-offs, work, family, and freedom—plus the complete No More Harvard Debt archive.
New writing appears first. The complete No More Harvard Debt archive, including the original reader comments, is preserved below.
Sold the Motorcycle
As I watched James ride away and turn the corner, and as I heard the sweet, sweet whine of the engine at 10k+ RPM fade out in the distance as James took it to full throttle, a tear literally entered the corner of my eye.
I'm Doing It: Right-Sizing My Balance Sheet
While I was reassembling the bike, wondering how in the world I could justify taking my bike to a shop to get it checked out for problems when I already knew it would cost $300 or so to get it fixed, I decided I would just store it. Then I decided I would just sell it.
Not Storing the Whip
When I got back to the office, all I could think of was how to live a life where I offset the $700 repair bill and could still drive the S2000.
This Is Getting Old
In other news, my S2000 just died. It's nothing serious, but the master cylinder for the clutch on my 2000 S2000 with 63k miles has officially kicked the bucket.
Spending Money to (Maybe) Save Money
Both purchases make sense, but it's not at all easy to fund these unbudgeted expenditures, especially since I'm spending money on things that might never happen, at a time when I'm forecasting a $6k gap to my $90k pay-off in June.
Words: Eaten
After getting back from a ridiculously awesome weekend in Asheville, NC watching my two good friends get married and hanging out with the whole crew for two unforgettable nights, I don't think I can refuse to go to Faith and Luke's wedding in Chicago in April.
Progress Report: Month 2
I contributed $3,633 to debt in October, equivalent to 54% of my income. This was done through sacrifice. This was done by saying NO.
No Santa This Year
The fact that I have enjoyed the two trips so immensely makes it that much harder to say this: After next weekend's trip, I'm on travel lockdown until my student debt is paid off.
The New Day Job...A Bad Idea?
So I got a new job. Unfortunately, I don't think my boss loves me, my business partners really don't know me yet to make a judgment call, and I've been working eleven to twelve hours per day just to ramp.
Mothers Say the Darndest Things
Mom: Are you dating anyone?
Me: Not really. I can't really afford it.
Mom: Yeah, girls don't like cheapskate guys.
First Landscaping Job Post-Mortem
We broke ground at 8:35 AM. Swinging the pick-axe into the ground to clear out the dead brown sod felt good. I finally had a second job where, relative to pedi-cabbing, I had more control over how much money I would make.
Too Tired for Words
The Seema job was today. It's going to take a lot longer than the five hours Michael predicted.
We Have Our First Landscaping Customer!
I had to find a quiet place in the bar, which was easier said than done, and when I finally could hear what he had to say, I literally got misty-eyed.
Anxiously Awaiting on a Potential Client
We're not in Kansas anymore. There is no brand recognition and there are no multi-million dollar marketing campaigns. It's just a couple of dudes and a site we built ourselves on a domain name we reserved for 25 bucks.
Pit Crew
The rear tires on my car that should probably be replaced, my work shoes that have seen much better days, my motorcycle bar grips that are shedding rubber, and now my contact lenses...stretching things out to the full extent of their useful lives--and potentially beyond--just so I can cross the finish line at the end of June running on fumes.
My First Cheap Date: Fail
On the one hand, I initially enjoyed the low-speed, chilled-out approach, and I felt I got to know her really well. On the other hand, she didn't seem to be as big a fan of the situation as I.
Good News! I just saved $800 on my car...er...health insurance!
I just realized that I'm making a huge deal of saving $800 on my health insurance, which is roughly equivalent to what my buddy spent on alcohol last night.
The Zen of Paying Off Debt
It makes me exhausted and panicky to look out all the way to June, count the months between now and then, and know that I have to live like this for nine more months. It paralyzes me with inaction.
Honing in on Incremental Revenue
I've been trying to generate incremental revenue from a number of sources, and it has been much, much harder than expected.
Memories in Ann Arbor
I detested the transiency of my life, and I came to view corporations–the big companies that moved my dad around–as evil.