Alrighty, so this is the last Deja Vuesday of 2009!
This week, we’ll be going back only a year ago to when I was making my New Year’s Resolutions:
Currently Watching:
G3 – Live in Tokyo
Contrary to popular belief, I am not dead. Just wanted to clear that up.
The Year of The Ox Is Upon Us
So what have I been up to this past week? Well, I hung out with my friends and watched UFC. That was fun. We also ordered an enormous pizza from Cole’s Carry-Out called the King Cole. It was definitely good to get out of the house and do something with my friends again!
Besides that, I’ve been feeling trapped inside the house. Although I now have the freedom to go anywhere since I have a car, I don’t want to waste gas because my savings ran out and I have no money now.
Despite all of that, 2009 is gonna be my year, especially since I was born in the year of the ox (1985)! Here is a list of my new year’s resolutions:
1. Get a Job
Let’s face it, I don’t do much offline. Aside from eating, sleeping, showering, or shitting, I do nothing.
Getting the right job can help me get back on my feet mentally because it’ll be a break from my monotonous routine and I’ll be around some like-minded people for a change.
Also, I’ll have money again. That’s a plus! With this money, I’ll be able to fulfill several of my other resolutions as well as meet my needs.
Throughout this month, I’ve been hanging out with my friends as much as I could since they were in town for the holidays. Now, they’re on their way back to college so it might be awhile before I see them again.
I’ve been looking into several job openings as of late, and I think I might be hired soon. This is great news since I’ll be able to make more money and be able to live on my own again!
2. Live On My Own
I was debating on living with my parents until all of my debt had been paid off, but after reading Steve Pavlina’s newest article on overcoming indecision, I decided to make moving out on my own a priority.
Although I’ll have less money to allocate towards my other debts, my growth as a person is far more important. If I continue to live with my parents, then I’ll be constantly stifled and will be too scared to commit to paying off my debts. I noticed this when I looked at some of my old posts about my debts. I still haven’t done anything towards fixing this problem, and I blame it on living with others that hold me down instead of striking out on my own. Speaking of debts:
Although it was for 2 1/2 months, living on my own has been my most satisfying accomplishment to-date! It’s a no-brainer that I should go back to living on my own since I won’t have my family holding me back from working on my website.
When I get a job, I’ll begin to save up to move out and this time, I’ll do it right and save up the equivalent of at least four months’ rent. This way, if something bad happens to me again, I’ll have the means to cover it without it completely draining me.
3. Budget My Money To Pay Off My Debts
I’ve been in debt for far too long, and I want out! By properly budgeting my money, I will set aside money to pay off my debts. Before I pay off anything, I’ll get my credit report so that I know all of what I owe.
To start things off, I’ll pay a little on my student loans so that I don’t go into default and then I’ll work my way up focusing on one debt at a time. I don’t expect to be 100% debt-free by 2009′s end, but I do expect to have at least taken out a good-sized chunk of my debt by then.
Although I intended to at least work on my debts in 2009, I haven’t done anything. Next year, if I’m financially able to, I want to at least work on some of my smaller debts so that I’m one step closer to being debt-free!
4. Buy Myself Some New & Exciting Things
With all this talk about getting out of debt, I also want to have some fun too! There are several things that I’ve been wanting to buy for years, but I never got around to it because of one reason or another.
I want to get myself a new computer first. Two actually. I want to get the Acer Inspire One netbook so that I can have the portability advantage of a laptop without the outrageous price tag. Also, the thing’s pimp as hell!
The second computer that I want to get is a Dell XPS 420 desktop/monitor bundle. It features a quad-core, which will make everything that I do online a breeze. Also, a flat-screen monitor and USB 2.0!! It’s pretty sad to admit that my desktop still uses USB 1.1, hehe. My current CRT monitor is so bulky that it’s right in front of my face when I sit down at my desk. My eyes will thank me!
Ever since I first heard of Carvin Guitars by listening to housethegrate and his brother Ashane, I’ve wanted a Carvin axe of my own!! For 2009, I want to get either a DC-127C or a V220C model. They’re both under $2,000 (the Dc-127C is $1,709 and the V220C is $1,654) and will be simply amazing!
Buying a new guitar amplifier is also on my list. Even though I started playing guitar again on January of 2005 (I can’t believe that it’s been almost 4 years already!), I still have the same amp I started out with. It would be different if it sounded good, but it’s just a crappy 15-watt practice amp. The two amps that I’m debating between are the Bugera 6262 combo and the Peavey Vypyr Tube 120 combo. I’ve read great reviews and watched demos of both on YouTube, and I gotta say that they have what appears to be a dynamite sound! I’m leaning more towards the Vypyr since it’s so versatile, but I’m not for sure until I play on them both.
Also, I might have to put some money towards my car just in case this one dies on me. If all else fails, I can temporarily put all of my saved-up money towards either fixing the car or purchasing another car.
I might not have gotten the netbook that I wanted, but I got a way-better laptop instead! Thanks eBay!!
In July, I tried to save up for a new guitar or amp with my tip money and spare change, but I had to ultimately use it to help me move back in with my parents. After I move out again and get all settled in, I want to save up again for a new guitar or amp.
5. Go On A Trip
I’ve always wanted to take a trip around the country, especially with my friends! The big question is where. I’m thinking someplace on the west coast. I’ve never been to that part of the US and I really want to.
There is also the possibility of MAGfest. According to their site,
“MAGFest is a video and computer gaming festival run by fans, for fans. It’s similar to most fan-based (anime, scifi, etc) conventions, but aims to be more of a laid-back video game party atmosphere. No crowded show floors here, but rather lots of fan art, film and music, and room to relax. Our special guests fit right in and socialize with the rest of the crowd. Game movies and cartoons are shown weekend-long. In addition to our 10 000 square foot game room, lots of attendees set up games in their rooms and invite others inside.
Perhaps most importantly, MAGFest has a huge focus on game music — multiple concerts worth — filled with video game music tributes, some even with the original composers! On Friday and Saturday nights multiple bands perform on our main stage, and our ‘JamSpace’ is open 24 hours for collaborative music and special treats alike.”
Although I’m not as big of a gamer as I used to be, the main reason I would go is for the video game music. Since I can’t attend the MAGfest that’s coming up in a couple days, I would be aiming for the one at the beginning of 2010. What a way to start off a new decade, huh?!
Once again, I’ll be missing MAGfest 
. It’s really a shame since both The Angry Video Game Nerd and LittleKuriboh will be there! What is it about winters that seem to spell financial doom for me?
6. Make A Living From This Website
As I’ve said before, I want to make this website my main source of income. Right now, I’m making about $24 a month. For 2009, I want to make at least $1,000 a month by year’s end. This isn’t an unreasonable goal at all considering that the income for this site seems to double every month ($5 in September, $10 in October, $20 in November).
So how am I going to make $1,000 a month? First, by continuing to make quality content. Second, by selling private ads here. Lastly, by searching for new methods of making money that I’m currently unaware of and experimenting with them.
Making $1,000 a month online seemed daunting at the time I made the resolution, which is probably why it hasn’t happened this year. Instead, I’m shooting for at least $50 a month by December 2010. Since I’m making about $34 a month already, it should be within my ability to make $50 a month as well.
Throwing It Back At You
So what resolutions are you planning to do for 2009? Are you going to buy something that was previously out of your financial reach? Are you gonna go on a trip? Or are you going to do something completely different?
Tell me what your new year’s resolutions are in the comments. See-ya!
TheAndySan
Out of the resolutions that I made for myself at the end of 2008, I’ve done half of them: I moved out, got a job, and bought my first new computer in five years. Granted, I had to quit that job and move back in with my parents, but still!
So what are your resolutions for 2010? Are they the same as last year’s or are they different? Please leave me your thoughts in the comments below!
TheAndySan
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.