We carved out a whole morning last week to review our budget. Looks like we need to cut out about 20% of our overhead and focus on more profitable ventures. With exclusive rights to a new program, the future looks bright. We are one step closer to Italy!
driver754's Life List
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1. take my wife to Italy
2 entries . 41 cheers9 people -
2. get back in shape
5 entries . 14 cheers512 people -
3. Train 5 people from developing countries to become driver educators.
2 entries . 7 cheers1 person -
4. Maintain my Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) certification
1 entry . 8 cheers1 person -
5. Experience the Northern Lights.
14 cheers46 people -
6. write a book
9 cheers20,822 people -
7. Walk the Great Wall of China
18 cheers415 people -
8. See the Parthenon/Acropolis in Greece
6 cheers8 people -
9. see the Statue of Liberty
7 cheers69 people -
10. go on a cruise
7 cheers3,101 people -
11. Write a letter to the editor
7 cheers48 people -
12. blindly pick a place on a map and visit it
10 cheers15 people -
13. Fly First Class
7 cheers954 people -
14. ride a bicycle built for two
12 cheers22 people -
15. blog
6 cheers392 people -
16. see a comet
9 cheers21 people -
17. play my guitar more
2 entries . 9 cheers196 people -
18. support fair trade
2 entries . 10 cheers20 people -
19. live simply
5 entries . 12 cheers2,976 people -
20. Skydive
9 cheers8,311 people -
21. eat only organic and free range foods
3 entries . 10 cheers2 people -
22. set up a bookcrossing zone
1 entry . 2 cheers1 person -
23. Sell artwork on istockphoto.com
7 cheers1 person -
24. give one new Kiva loan per month for a year
3 entries21 people
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Dinh, 32 years old, had a shop for repairing motorbikes. Yet, at that time, she did not have enough funding. As a result, her business did not go very well. In 2002, she joined the TYM Fund. At first, she borrowed 40 USD to invest in her repairing shop. After 8 years of membership, she now owns a large motorbike-repairing shop with lots of customers. Her husband is very experienced and dedicated to working at the shop. She also has to pay 100 USD/month for 2 workers to help with the shop. Her 2 children are going to school. This time, she wants to borrow 1025 USD to buy motorbike accessories. Her average income is 425 USD/month.
I am struggling with the balance between living up to my potential and sustaining a simple lifestyle. On the one hand I believe that, “to whom much is given, much is required.” On the other, I believe in a healthy, low(er)-stress lifestyle. I guess the key is to set realistic goals, do the best I can to reach them, and leave time to enjoy the journey.


