Updates

[via showontheroad]

So, my plans are to save for two to three years and move back to Chicago. But, there has been a lot of violence lately in the city and it makes me a little weary. And from what I've understood Chicago has changed a lot since I was there last lived there in 2002. I know the saying goes "You can't go home again."  When I visited my Aunt and Uncle in 2007 there were stores that are staples in the area and I forgot they even existed.

My mother suggested that I look into living in Miami, but I don't see myself as a Miami person. My father has been and he loved it, but he's also a gregarious person, me not so much. I've been in Tampa going on four years a I haven't made any friends because I haven't met anyone that I have something in common with.

Right now I'm going to concentrate on getting a car, I SO sick and tired of carpooling.

Chicago, My Kind of Town

[via andreawins]

I can't wait until December. I'm going to get my bonus check and that will be the beginning of my savings to move back to Chicago. 

Being able to go where I want and not having to drive, having interesting places to go, opportunities to meet like minded people. It's all very exciting.

I'm 27 now. By the time I'm 30 I want to be in Chicago, at the weight I want, and hopefully engaged. I think that can happen in three years.

Last Day

[via porcelainnn]

My week and a day long vacation starts tomorrow, and I'm so excited. I'm going to sleep in tomorrow, it's going to be so nice not have to wake up before the sun.

[via flickr]

One of the main things I'm going to be working on is my room. I think I should be able to get my room clean within the 10 days that I'm off cleaning 1 hour a day. Though I may end up work on it more since I'll have the time and energy to do it. I've managed to keep the areas that I cleaned clear of any more junk. 

[via jamiepaul]

My saving for Chicago has been going okay, I've gotten $75 dollars saved so far. So, that's a step in the right direction. I'm going to save $75 from each check for the remainder of the year, so I'll have $525 saved up. And then I can put my bonus check in my savings a well. Then I can bump my savings to $300 a month.

Moving Back Home

After thinking about this over the past two years, I've decided to move back home to Chicago. In reality there is nothing here for me in Florida, and I feel like if I don't leave now I'll be stuck down here and I don't want that.

So, I've decided to budget myself. I'm going to save between $300 and $400 dollars a month. And instead of spending my bonus check, I'm going to keep it and put it in my savings. I'm thinking of selling some things and adding that to my saving as well. If I save correctly I should have enough to live in an apartment costing between $600 and $800 dollars for 6 to eight months. So, that would give me ample time to find a job. Though that doesn't include groceries or any other bills -_-

And during the course of the year I will start to get rid of things that I don't need and won't feel like packing and taking with me. I'll be living in a studio, so I won't have much room for junk. And I will also sell what I can sell to get extra income. I'm also going to start my own Etsy shop and make things from the random fabric, embroidery floss, yarn and beads that I have.