To Buy, or Not to Buy...

Daniel just found out that his orders to be stationed on a carrier will be delayed another month.  We were supposed to be leaving by the end of February, but it looks like we'll be here until the end of March, at least.  However, we still thought we'd have the orders so we'd know where we would be moving.  We put San Diego at the top of our list, so keep your fingers crossed for us!  Daniel wants to end up on the USS Ronald Reagan!

There are three other places in which we might be stationed: Norfolk, Seattle, and Japan.   There are six carriers in Norfolk so there's a high chance for us to end up there, considering the Navy has a total of 11 carriers.  I've heard great things about Virginia Beach and I have a few friends from college that live in that area.  Also, Christian Broadcast Network is based out of there and I would love to continue my career in journalism by getting on board with the station!

The most frustrating thing about the Navy taking its time in passing along orders is that we cannot begin our living arrangement search!!  President Obama passed legislation that extended the 1st-time home buyer credit to June and that just opened the door to us considering purchasing a home.  We will only be there 2 years (Just the on the cusp of time to justify buying a home) and you can't sell your property before 3 years of ownership or you have to pay back the credit.  Plus, the market and economy in California is especially shaky.  Daniel and I just keep confessing that we will get San Diego and are making plans accordingly.  I have already looked at 25 apartment listings online.  The cheapest I found on the military website (which helps landlords hook up with reliable military tenants and offers discounts) was $1300 for an outdated 2 bd 2 ba.  The CHEAPEST!  Granted, the Navy will up our monthly housing allowance just because the cost of living IS so much more in that area, but I still think that paying $1000 in rent in rural upstate New York is ridiculous.  But I have a skewed perception of what rent should cost.  I see my dad renting out his properties in Oklahoma for $600-$700 and most are 3+ bedrooms!

I just cringe thinking about how much money we would be throwing away in rent over the next two years if we don't buy!  I just need to get in touch with a Realtor when we have orders, educate myself, seek wise counsel and just trust what we are led to do.

Rich Husband, Poor Husband

3 weeks ago, Daniel and I attended a 3 day seminar put on by the Rich Dad, Poor Dad Education Series.  Entrepreneur Robert Kiyosaki first wrote Rich Dad, Poor Dad back in 1997 and has added numerous books to the series.  I am currently reading "Increase Your Financial IQ" to expand on the knowledge we learned at the seminar.

The reason we decided to spend a nice chunk o' change on this education is because we are all in the game of money, whether we know we are or not.  I see my dad diligently saving and investing so that my parents can enjoy a nice retirement, but sometimes at the cost of his health.  If anything were to happen to him, his hard work might be for naught.  I want to have the knowledge to help manage his real estate investments, and accrue some of my own.  My dad provides affordable housing to people, why shouldn't he make a little money off of that?  What's hurting him is the people that take advantage of his lack of time and don't pay rent.  He doesn't have the time or energy to follow up for sometimes months and they are just free-loading!

Another reason we want to become more financially aware is that our Lord has called us to be good stewards of our money.  My "Poor Husband" takes me shopping and tells me to buy whatever I want because we can afford it.   He asks, "Where are we going to travel on my next break?" My "Rich Husband" tells me to save 10%, tithe 10%, and invest 10% of our income every month.  You can't have your cake and eat it too...

It's been hard to delay instant gratification for a later payoff.  We live in New York and want to see every state in the surrounding area.  When else will we be this close?  Usually when we wanted a night of entertainment, we'd have a group of friends over for dinner and game night.  Not too expensive at all.  Unfortunately, living in an area far from familiar faces has made traveling the first option for entertainment, which can get expensive.  Just as we were making good friends in Charleston, we left. As we begin making friends here, Daniel will get orders shortly to move in another 2 months.

We will continue to build capital over the next few years, and use it to invest when we have proper knowledge.  But I can read all the books I want.  It's the action that produces the most education.
 
Applied knowledge is power. 

New Year's Resolution

I am an avid fan of journaling... and yet I do not do it enough. Almost three years ago I flew over the big blue sea to study abroad in Germany to learn the language and reconnect with relatives. I sent out a weekly email about my travels with my best friend Lindsay.

On our way to Neuschwanstein Castle outside of Munich: Walt Disney's "Cinderella" Castle

My dad was awesome enough to collect every email, print them, and bind them in a notebook as a keepsake for when I got home. I recently ran across the notebook and many joyous memories filled my head. As I sent out the emails, I would also plug my facebook for people to check out our latest batch of photos. That often caused a problem as not everyone had facebook, or understood how to use it (i.e. parental figures).

I have since realized that blogging is a much more versatile way of sharing your life with others. I wish I had put more effort into learning about it before Germany. But now that I DO know about it, there's no excuse not to keep my journal updated.

I got married almost a year and a half ago and it's about darn time I record all of our adventures as newlyweds. My New Year's Resolution is to keep an account of our lives as we travel across the US as a military family. We're already in our second locale: Saratoga Springs, NY. Daniel is finishing his second half of Nuclear Propulsion school before being assigned to an aircraft carrier. We lived in Charleston, SC for the first year of our marriage. We could have stayed there to finish his last 6 months of training, but volunteered to move here.


How could we not? We don't have any responsibilities (besides out 3 lovely kitties who basically take care of themselves) and there are a plethora of awesome cities within driving distance now! We've already been to Niagara Falls for our one year anniversary, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Portland, ME, Newport News, RI, Boston & Springfield, MA, skiing in the Adirondacks, and I hit up Montreal, Canada with Courtney and Lindsay for the latter's birthday!


Stay tuned to hear the ups and downs of this Oklahoma girl trying to make it through a New York winter!