Pat’s goal is to move out. Sure, she is saving a ton staying home, but it’s something she has to do. Thankfully, Pat is equipped with the tool of all tools, her Budget. With this magical instrument, Pat has the power to strategize, theorize, and realize, right before her eyes, she no longer has to roll the dice, her financial picture is lookin’ quite nice. Did you like my little budget rap?
Let’s re-cap where Pat is at:
- Earning an income as a grocery store worker.
- Sexy-ass, Cadillac budget in place.
- Checkings account: Engaged.
- High interest savings account: Engaged.
- High interest EMERGENCY savings account: Engaged.
Remember the “Starting with Nothing” blog post from June? For those starting from nothing, this is kinda what life’s steps entail and where Pat is at for each:
- Lean on family, friends, and other resources: CHECK
- Get a job/earn an income: CHECK
- Get a place of your own to live: LETS DO THIS SHIT.
- Make a living and help others: Da hell?
So Pat is on step 3 from above and she is ready to depart the nest of Mama and Papa Pat. Pat reviews her budget and strategizes smart ways she can move out while being in a financially secure position. She decides she will focus on increasing her income by finding a higher paying job or moving up further within the management of the grocery store she has been working at for some time now. Once her budget is satisfied with her income increase, she will then rent an affordable apartment or home with a few roommates to reduce rent and utility costs as much as possible.
Fast forward 2 years: Pat has a higher paying job with the bank in the grocery store and she has a modest apartment with two roommates. Pat is absolutely crushing it. Thank God for grocery stores and budgets. With a place of her own, a new job that pays well, and her personal finance arsenal which includes the commanding budget and her bank accounts, Pat begins to flirt with the idea of step 4: Make a living and help others. But first, Pat wants to dip her toe into the waters of investing and add this category to her personal finance arsenal.