Tuesday, 15 September, 2009

[JonPorobil]

I just got off the phone with my student loan servicer.

I used to think mortgages were bad, but when I followed the chain that this money took from when it was first lent to me, it made my head spin! The college was the originator, but they had to sell it to not one, but two different investors (who refuse to consolidate). Those two investors, in turn, hired the same servicing company to deal with the likes of me, but that servicing company then hired out yet another company to handle the booking. So I call servicer number one for payment issues and balance questions, but I actually send my checks to servicer number two!

Anyway. The good news is that I got a significant (though temporary) reduction in my student loan payments. For the next year, they'll be about half what I was paying. Then they go back up even higher, but there's a few things that will happen between now and then that make this sound like a good deal to me.

1.) The loan on my piano will be paid off, saving me about $100 a month (roughly the difference between what I paid on my student loans last month and what I'll be paying next month).
2.) A loan that I took out from a family member will also be paid off, saving me between $100-$300 a month.
3.) Assuming I pay my credit card bill on time every month, I'll be granted an APR reduction, making that bill less expensive as well (around April).
4.) Although not entirely assured, it's likely that I'll have seen some advancement in my job, resulting in an extra $175-$350 per month.

Question of the Day: Do you anticipate any major changes in your life in the next 365 days? If yes, will they be for better or worse? If no, is it because you're happy where you are?

[jast]

QotD: in 365 days my life will be nothing short of awesome compared to what it's now. Seriously. I don't know yet what kind of awesome, though.

[fluffy]

I try to expect the unexpected but I don't know what to expect.

There is one particular thing I've been finally making headway on but it's a bit personal.

[Paco Del Stinko]

I try to expect the unexpected but I don't know what to expect.

Whoa. Got a little dizzy for a moment, but I have to assume this stance as well. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best type attitude is my general baseline. And I loves me a bassline. sorry.

[Lunkhead]

I need to leave my current job. If I don't do it in the next 365 days, I honestly will need to seek therapy or something.

[Caravan Ray]

Question of the Day: Do you anticipate any major changes in your life in the next 365 days? If yes, will they be for better or worse? If no, is it because you're happy where you are?

I recently bought some aeroplane tickets from New Zealand to Australia.

ONE WAY!!!!!!!

That can only be a good thing

[fluffy]

Cool, going back to the homeland?

[Caravan Ray]

I will be back in the old country on 10 October




...we shall stay in Australia for some time now I think. After all - I can't go back to Papua New Guniea for a while

[HeuristicsInc]

You're a busy man, CRay. Where do you find the time for all that?

I expect my life will be very different - Young Sir will be 14 mos instead of 2.
-bill

[roymond]

A year. A decade... It's all a blur.

[Caravan Ray]

I expect my life will be very different - Young Sir will be 14 mos instead of 2.
-bill

...with a 2nd just arrived and a 3rd on the way, no doubt

[JonPorobil]

I need to leave my current job. If I don't do it in the next 365 days, I honestly will need to seek therapy or something.

My wife was in a situation like that recently. The HR rep at her company advised her to see a "career therapist," which I thought meant someone she had to pay to convince her not to quit. In fact, after two visits, the therapist advised her to quit (even though doing so would negate her health insurance, which would mean she wouldn't be able to see the therapist anymore).

I quit my old job about four months ago, leading to a long bout of unemployment (also leading to the financial woes described above). Even so, I don't regret it. I was working for a morally unscrupulous company - and a badly-operated one, at that. Now that I work for a company that isn't evil (or is at least much better at hiding it), I'm a lot happier, even if it means making less money.

Gotta do what makes you happy, I guess.

[Caravan Ray]

I finish work in 2 weeks

Then I will be unemployed

Sadly - I have quite liked the last 2 jobs I had - but I have had to leave both of them after only a year because circumstances beyond my control have dragged my arse across the Tasman Sea and back.

[jimtyrrell]

I doubt the next 365 days will being changes any bigger than the last 365 days did. This will be a tough year to beat. But you never know.

[JonPorobil]

Sadly - I have quite liked the last 2 jobs I had - but I have had to leave both of them after only a year because circumstances beyond my control have dragged my arse across the Tasman Sea and back.

I have to admit, it still mystifies me that someone can actually like doing something that a company wants to pay him for. To me, my job is just that thing I do with half my waking time so that I don't starve to death in the other half. I can't imagine being paid to do anything I might enjoy - unless people start throwing two grand a month at me for making my music.

...didn't think so.

[fluffy]

I think you haven't yet learned the difference between a "job" and a "career."

[Caravan Ray]

Sadly - I have quite liked the last 2 jobs I had - but I have had to leave both of them after only a year because circumstances beyond my control have dragged my arse across the Tasman Sea and back.

I have to admit, it still mystifies me that someone can actually like doing something that a company wants to pay him for. To me, my job is just that thing I do with half my waking time so that I don't starve to death in the other half. I can't imagine being paid to do anything I might enjoy - unless people start throwing two grand a month at me for making my music.

...didn't think so.

No - don't get me wrong, I'm with you. Working for a living is not my idea of fun at all. It is just that my last 2 positions have been a little better than most, mainly because of the people I work with. It just seems a bit of a waste leaving a job before I get completely sick of it

I have never had a job last more than 2 years. That is about the length of time it takes for the novelty of a position to wear off and I become termially bored. Because my last 2 jobs were only a year each - I guess I simply didn't get to that stage yet. I have occasionally seen Fluffy-esque people who have "careers" rather than "jobs". These people are clearly insane and should be avoided.

[fluffy]

Well my current job is the first time I've ever been at a place for longer than 2 years, myself. But still, to me, "career" means getting paid to do the sorts of things you want to do to begin with. Just because you want to do something doesn't mean it's inherently worthless.