Money On My Mind

I finally buckeled down and completed my taxes last weekend. I expect to receive my tax refund in the next few days. I also recently completed my last FAFSA of graduate school. Time is going by way too quickly!

So what will I do with this 'expected windfall'? The majority of it will go toward my airfare for an international trip I want to take later this year, I'll talk about this trip in more detail once I make more head-way in planning it. I won't begrudge myself traveling opportunities as long as I don't incur more debt to pay for them. The remainder of my tax refund will go toward making an extra payment on my credit card balance. I'm going to try to make larger payments for the remainder of the year to see faster progress in paying the remaining balance off. It bugs me that it has been lingering around for so long.

I feel like I won't be able to fully focus on other financial goals until my credit card is completely paid off. But to be honest, I haven't been making debt repayment a high priority lately. I don't plan on taking on a side hustle until I finish my graduate program at the end of the year, but when that time comes, I'll definitely allocate all money made on my future side-hustle to debt repayment. It's time to re-focus on my money (more specificially on how I spend it and how I save it) because 2010 is zooming by and I'd like to have some goals accomplished before the year ends and that includes shedding some debt.

I LOVE Apple Products But I Won’t Be Buying an iPad Anytime Soon

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I love Apple products and have been an Apple Macbook and iPhone user for the past two years and an iPod user for the past several years. But I don’t plan to purchase an iPad anytime soon. Here are a few reasons why:

1. I like to support my local library, hey it’s free! Even if I were to be given an iPad, I’d still have to pay for applications, books and music to put on the iPad. Why would I do that when I can go to my local library and get several books (and movies or music) for free? I try to support libraries because I believe they add value to neighborhoods and are a source of free entertainment for those who may not be able to afford it or are like me and would rather spend their money on other things.


2. I like to swap books. I enjoy swapping books with friends, neighbors or on websites like Paperback Swap. I like the idea that other people can enjoy my books after I’m finished reading them. I guess this could also be considered a 'green' way of getting books as well.


3. I have other financial obligations that are more important than another ‘toy.’ I have bills to pay, savings goals to meet and a seemingly never-ending case of ‘wanderlust.’ So I’d rather spend my money on any of those things rather than an ipad.
   
4. My current technology products serve me just fine. I honestly have all of the technology products I need at the moment. I don’t need an iPad anymore more than I need a new camera or anything else. Of course I see things that look ‘cool’ but I don’t NEED any other technology to improve my quality of life. I could probably do with subtracting something because sometimes I think I'm too 'plugged in' and accessible. Can any other iPhone (or other Smart Phone) users relate to that feeling?

So, do you think an iPad or any type of book reader on the market fulfills your technology needs enough to actually purchase it?