Matt Nelson

So it begins today. I’m going to have to change my spending habits and start trying to stash my cash. I’m going to “pay myself first.”

I have to clamp down spending, first and foremost. Until my next payday that’ll be easy, because I’m totally broke. I’m seriously considering swearing off the debit card so I’m not so tempted to spend in the future.

My ING Direct savings account currently has $0.06 in it. My first short-term goal is to have $500 available to me in that account by my August 31st. That’s seems very steep at this point, but I really want to make it happen.

It’s on.

Well, I started doing some serious research today, looking at housing and jobs in the L.A. area. I’m also making contact with some folks who already live down there. I’ve talked to some really cool people.

Obviously, I can’t move until I save up a good bit of money, but I wanted to get an idea of what I needed to expect – three or four months can go by in a heartbeat.

I’m really starting to feel like for the first time that I can really fulfill this dream.

Okay, I promise I’m not going to log an entry every day, but I’m so excited that today, my first day, I stuck to my guns. I was up and on a very important phone call by a few minutes after seven – I even shaved.

I’ve already eaten breakfast. Today is going to be a great day.

“Narrow Stairs” is their most amazing album to-date. I have to catch them on this tour.

Upcoming shows within range of me:
06.20.08 Friday
SDSU Open Air Theatre
San Diego

06.23.08 Monday
Nokia Theatre
Los Angeles

06.24.08 Tuesday
Santa Barbara Bowl
Santa Barbara

I will make it to one of these shows!

I dropped a hard-earned dollar in a slot machine when I was under age and lost it all in one spin! I want my dollar back…

That’s all I’ve ever gambled in Vegas.

When I was younger I always thought I’d wait until marriage. And I did end up waiting until I met the woman who would eventually become my fiancee.

We are no longer engaged, though.

When we broke up, I immediately regretted giving her my virginity. But as time has passed, so has the sense of regret.

I was happy and I was head-over-heels in love with her. So at this point, I have no regrets.

I have gotten myself into debt and made a rather lengthy series of mis-steps that have left me living with my dad and step-mom in southern California. I also squandered a full ride to college.

The good news is I’m only 21. I think I still have plenty of time to achieve financial freedom. I’m just trying to find the best path.

My current path – that of a freelance journalist – isn’t the way to go considering I get paid peanuts. And the only jobs here in Ridgecrest are dead-end ones.

Right now I’m giving a network marketing business the old college try. I do believe in network marketing but I know it’ll take a long time to build a successful organization.

I believe in my heart that I will achieve financial AND time freedom one day. Right now, I’m just trying to find the best path.

The further away I get from my high school years, the more my circle of friends keeps shrinking. For one, I now live several thousand miles away from my childhood home, so Facebook is my only connection to most of my old friends.

I’m a moderately outgoing person who loves sports especially college football, technology, the visual arts, and music. I’m an independent journalist. Hopefully I can find some new friends to form a close bond with. If you want to get in touch with me, you can check out my blog at www.mattnelson.info – I have links to all my social networks there.

A better title for this goal for me might be to “use an alarm.” Since I’ve been freelancing for a few websites, I set my own schedule. Naturally, I’ve been sleeping in. But I don’t want to do that. I feel like I waste so much productive time sleeping.

So starting with this work week, I hope to be up, dressed, and ready for a productive day by 7 a.m.

This will be huge for me if I can pull it off. I think if I can make it for one month getting up early every workday, I’ll mark this one as complete.

This is incredibly low on my priority list, because there are just too many things that I need to work on for myself. But I believe that you never know when love will strike. I’ve experienced love before but I lost that person.

I don’t think my life puzzle will ever be truly complete until I find that special someone. Right now, however, I’m not emotionally ready to be in love.

I’m currently working with a colleague to plan out the quickest path to my goal, but I’m not sure how much money it will cost me to live in LA. I have a vehicle that gets good gas mileage, but I’d like to use public transit as much as possible.

I have no idea what to expect as far as rent is concerned. Anyone want to be roomies? I plan on moving by the end of the summer.

Any insight will be greatly appreciated and cheered!

I currently live with my dad and step-mom in Ridgecrest, Calif. Because of a rather lengthy series of mis-steps, I have had to seek refuge with them.

It is my goal to move to the City of Angels by October and be supporting myself. I know this is lofty, but I will accomplish it.

I’m glad to be here at 43things. I hope we can all support each other. I plan on using this site often.