[Stormieweather]

For probably the first time in my life, I could scrape together $2k right now. I would not have to use credit or sell anything or pay a bill late to do so.

I've spent the last decade (since a nasty divorce and subsequently losing my job) getting square again, financially. I work two jobs, make decent money, RENT a nice house and have no credit card debt. My only debt obligation is 1 car payment. It will be paid off in 2 years and I do not plan to ever finance a vehicle again.

My goal over the next 5 years is to re-establish my credit with carefully controlled credit card spending and save $25k for a down payment on a condo which I intend to finance for 15yrs. At the same time, I will be heavily saving and investing. Once the condo is paid off, I plan to retire.

But for 40 years, I was paycheck to paycheck and always teetering on the edge of financial ruin. Ok sometimes I was deep in the pit of ruin, but I survived somehow. Now I have to find a way to enjoy my retirement years.

Part of doing so involves getting healthy, because who the hell can afford major medical costs or wants to spend their retirement as an invalid? So I quit smoking, am losing weight, began eating organic and non-processed, and recently started running and lifting weights. I don't think I've ever been healthier.

Stormie