The Banzai Chronicles

Did some math I've been avoiding and confirmed that I am definitely living beyond my means. I knew this, pretty much, but the sand looked so warm and comfortable that I decided to stick my head in it for a while.

What a mess. And entirely of my own making. Frivolous and careless, I dug myself a deep hole. Now it's time for some harder choices, and even those measures will take a very long time just to reach the break even point. When you've been a fool, you can't help but feel foolish. That's grace, too.

So here are the measures I've come up with so far (in pseudo-chronological order)-- I should have used them to swim, but now I'll need them to tread water:

• Start selling stuff on eBay (my iMac will be first, I think). Said stuff will include extra computer equipment and non-unique collectibles. Much of it, ironically, came from eBay in the first place.


• Start talking to people. See if I can get debts consolidated and reduced, if I can get a raise, and if I can get my rent knocked down a bit. Also, look into subsidized housing and/or property management.


• Cut out regular charitiable contributions as of the end of the year, other than my tithe (before I become a charity case myself). I hate to do it, but it will save me over $100 monthly.


• Sell my comic collection. I'm not sure of the best way to do this for the optimal combination of efficiency and revenue. I'll miss it; I've been building it since I was a boy, but it needs to be done.


• Sell off furniture and electronics locally. In all honesty, I don't need much. I just have much. The leather couch should be a cash cow (couldn't resist). I got a lot of the furniture to have a nice place for entertaining, etc., but that's a luxury. Making my life personal-sized will also hurt.


• Move into a cheaper place. Right now, I'm thinking a studio within my building. Lowering my rent would be great, but if I have to spend money to move, it doesn't make sense. If I sell lots of my stuff and move within the building, it becomes much less costly. Maintaining my location also cuts transportation expenses, etc. I'd also consider a roommate, but there are very few people I'd like to live with (in case anyone missed that in prior reading of this journal).

That's enough for now. Thinking of scaling down so severely creates a combination of fear, depression, and excitement within me. Odd.