In the beginning

So, starting at the beginning seems like a good idea. It really does not help paint the current financial picture, but it may give insight to my personality, where it was, and how I got to where I am now.

It was not until my senior year in high-school that I got my first job. That was not something that made my parents very happy. The tell me now that they wondered if I would ever start working. Well, my senior year changed their concern for good.

In April of my senior year in school I decided that I had better get a job to get some money for college. This was to be spending money mind you, my parents had the necessities covered. So, I went to work at The Winchester Mystery House as a short order cook/cashier. The pay was terrible, but the fringe benefits were outstanding (there were many attractive women working there). So, when I was offerred another job later that summer, I had a decision to make, hanging out with attractive women making minimum wage, or tripling my pay and digging ditches. I decided to do them both and work 7 days a week.

After that summer, I ended up going to school at The University of California at Davis. It was/is a great place to go to school and I had a tremendous time. While I was there, I realized that I did not have enough money saved. My parents continually remind me that this is, and always has been, a constant in my life. I decided to get a job. Being young, and not needing any sleep, I proceeded to work 36 hours per week, on top of being a full time student, and running a campus club. With all of that going on, it is amazing that I could find time to spend money let alone graduating in debt (remember, my parents paid for my necessities) but that is exactly what I did!

So, there I was, a fresh college graduate, in a bleak job market, with credit card debt. Now, we are not talking huge amounts of debt that some people find themselves in, but something to the tune of $3000.00 if I recall correctly. It was enough to make me realize, I need to find a real job. Another one of the things that I did as a student was coach (basketball, soccer, skiing, tennis). I hit up one of the parents of a kid that I coached for a job, and low and behold, I was back to two jobs. The job I had in college, and the one I just picked up. I should have been able to get myself out of debt in no time...no time soon it proved to be.

So, there I was, a year after graduating from a fine institution of higher learning (with a degree similar to business) two jobs, living like a college student, and in debt (still about $3K). Something had to change...it did...I moved home.

Not sure how long these blog things are suppose to be. Generally they seem short so I think I will end this one soon. I figure it is already too long. This seems like a good place, moving home, and that is really where my journey begins anyway...

Cheers,

Thejester