TravelAddict.org Blog http://travelogue.traveladdict.org Tales, Tips, and Photos from my travels! Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:28:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en The credit crunch in the USA is real http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TraveladdictorgBlog/~3/502737552/the-credit-crunch-in-the-usa-is-real http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2009/01/04/the-credit-crunch-in-the-usa-is-real#comments Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:28:52 +0000 Travel Addict http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/?p=862 It looks like the credit crunch is even affecting me. I am trying to get funds to fuel a business idea and it is near impossible. My credit cards will not give me a cash advance and loans are all but impossible to get. It seems I picked a bad time to need a loan.

I am now exploring more creative options to get this going. I just hope I can figure it out before time runs out…

]]> http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2009/01/04/the-credit-crunch-in-the-usa-is-real/feed http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2009/01/04/the-credit-crunch-in-the-usa-is-real Happy New Year! Welcome to 2009! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TraveladdictorgBlog/~3/499972775/happy-new-year-welcome-to-2009 http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2009/01/01/happy-new-year-welcome-to-2009#comments Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:01:06 +0000 Travel Addict http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/?p=856 I pre-wrote this post so it would go up at the right moment. I hope everyone is enjoying the celebrations and won’t be too hungover in the morning.

Here’s to reaching all of our goals for 2009. For those on the road have a beer for me. I sure miss it all.

]]> http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2009/01/01/happy-new-year-welcome-to-2009/feed http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2009/01/01/happy-new-year-welcome-to-2009 Goals for next year / 2009 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TraveladdictorgBlog/~3/499858860/goals-for-next-year-2009 http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/31/goals-for-next-year-2009#comments Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:40:37 +0000 Travel Addict http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/?p=854 I have compiled my list of goals and decided to publish them so I feel more inclined to get them done. I am sure it will be refined as I go but it is a starting point:

  1. Bank 150,000 more skymiles:
  2. Save and maintain 6 months of living expenses
  3. Make at least 1 business venture turn a profit for the year
  4. Start some sort of automatic savings plan outside of IRA/401(k)
  5. Eat salads for a meal 3 times or more per week
  6. Decrease living expenses by 10%
  7. Lose 10 or more pounds
  8. Take multi-vitamins every day
  9. Scan and destroy all paperwork except essentials
  10. Upload and organize all travel photos on Flickr

I believe that I should be able to do most of these within the year. Some are tough and some are time consuming. I always try to balance the two so I am not overwhelmed.

]]> http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/31/goals-for-next-year-2009/feed http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/31/goals-for-next-year-2009 End of year goal checkup http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TraveladdictorgBlog/~3/498772124/end-of-year-goal-checkup http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/30/end-of-year-goal-checkup#comments Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:40:37 +0000 Travel Addict http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/?p=852 I had many goals this year and some were achieved and others were not. I set my goals each year with the understanding that if I get more than 50% of them reached then I am doing well. They are usually tough hence the entire year to work on it.

Status for this year:

1. Reduce monthly expenses 20%: Achieved
2. Take advantage of all 401(k) matching: Achieved
3. Bank 200,000 skymiles: I have 155,557 (75% of goal)
4. Lose 10 lbs: I lost 2 lbs as of today
5. Build savings of $5,000 in cash: Did it but used for business venture, will have to do again.
6. Eat out only 3 times per week or less: Did for a while but realized eating out cost the same…
7. Upload all travel photos: Did it but the site crashed. Have to start over!

Overall I did a lot better than I expected. I am working on a new list for next year. Some would call them new year’s resolutions but that would imply that I am forced to do it. That does not bode well for me. I do better with intentions not orders and restrictions.

]]> http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/30/end-of-year-goal-checkup/feed http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/30/end-of-year-goal-checkup After vacation blues http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TraveladdictorgBlog/~3/498831264/after-vacation-blues http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/29/after-vacation-blues#comments Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:54:10 +0000 Travel Addict http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/?p=860 I am back at work from vacation. The big problem with working for a small business is that when you take days off you come back to a hail storm of a mess.

Today is especially bad since I am coming off of a long weekend, some people are on the road for work, I have a Monday meeting here in the office, and a long list of things that have to be done every Monday. This is normally done by 3 people and I am alone doing it today.

I can forsee lots of beer this evening. Its just one of those days…

]]> http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/29/after-vacation-blues/feed http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/29/after-vacation-blues I am now Gold Medallion on Delta! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TraveladdictorgBlog/~3/497170530/i-am-now-gold-medallion-on-delta http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/28/i-am-now-gold-medallion-on-delta#comments Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:16:24 +0000 Travel Addict http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/?p=850 So my Dec AMEX statement came through and my mileage bonus hit my account! I am now at the Gold level and am glad to finally get here. I also banked another 23k miles from the spending and bonuses from the card.

This will help me hit my 1 million mile goal faster since I will get a 100% flying bonus and other nice perks. I can same day change my flights for free which makes my boss happy. I look forward to more upgrades next year as well as a result.

As another added benefit I can use the elite security line in busy airports to bypass all the long cattle lines in the airport. Living in ATL this is very helpful.

]]> http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/28/i-am-now-gold-medallion-on-delta/feed http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/28/i-am-now-gold-medallion-on-delta A sign of a worsening economy http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TraveladdictorgBlog/~3/497166244/a-sign-of-a-worsening-economy http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/27/a-sign-of-a-worsening-economy#comments Sun, 28 Dec 2008 01:02:18 +0000 Travel Addict http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/?p=847 It seems that the massive layoffs and economic slowdown is hitting the stores pretty hard. Everything is on sale, I’d say “fire sale” as they are desperate to get people to spend money. It is still not working.

When people are living in fear of losing their jobs they pull back the reins on their hyperconsumerist mentality a little bit. I am not really affected by this since i try not to spend money unless I have too anyway.

The economy in this country relies on people overspending perpetually. Only plus side I see is that it keeps our currency strong so when I travel it is cheaper for me. Other than that I think it is pretty disgusting. Things will eventually clear up and the idiots will start buying hummers again. Mark my words.

]]> http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/27/a-sign-of-a-worsening-economy/feed http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/27/a-sign-of-a-worsening-economy In Transit back to Atlanta, GA USA http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TraveladdictorgBlog/~3/497166245/in-transit-back-to-atlanta-ga-usa http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/26/in-transit-back-to-atlanta-ga-usa#comments Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:00:46 +0000 Travel Addict http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/?p=844 Today I am driving the 300 miles back home then going to get some work done. I am also visiting with the other side of my family this weekend so I need to get back.

I have my car loaded up with my gifts and money and it is time to hit the road!

]]> http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/26/in-transit-back-to-atlanta-ga-usa/feed http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/26/in-transit-back-to-atlanta-ga-usa Merry Christmas (to those who celebrate it) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TraveladdictorgBlog/~3/497161842/merry-christmas-to-those-who-celebrate-it http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/25/merry-christmas-to-those-who-celebrate-it#comments Thu, 25 Dec 2008 18:57:47 +0000 Travel Addict http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/?p=842 Today I am visiting with family, exchanging gifts, and eating entirely too much food. I must admit that this holiday is not what it used to be. I think it is for the better in my case.

I am very much the minimalist for this holiday as I do not want to spend too much money. I got a nice bonus at work which is helpful and some ok gifts otherwise. All I really want is to be back on the road again. This is not the life for me.

]]> http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/25/merry-christmas-to-those-who-celebrate-it/feed http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/25/merry-christmas-to-those-who-celebrate-it An uneventful day in South Georgia, USA http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TraveladdictorgBlog/~3/494555347/an-uneventful-day-in-south-georgia-usa http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/2008/12/24/an-uneventful-day-in-south-georgia-usa#comments Thu, 25 Dec 2008 03:52:04 +0000 Travel Addict http://travelogue.traveladdict.org/?p=836 I woke up this morning after a long drive down after work last night. I headed over to my grandmother’s house to set up office and get ready for my 9AM call from a contractor in Detroit. I worked remotely all day.

Today was mostly me just working on the company laptop and getting some things done that I could not get to in the office. I went out for lunch and got the last of my Christmas shopping done and then worked until 6PM.

I enjoy working remotely and wish I could do this everyday from some other country where my dollar goes a lot further and I could be living or traveling in a culture that I feel more a part of. Maybe one day I can do this full time.

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