Reflection

It has been two days since my life lab has ended now and I have to say it is pretty inspiring.

During the last thirty two days I have constantly been thinking about just doing this for other things that I need to fix. For instance, I pick and chew my nails. I think during January I am going to go the whole month without picking or chewing. 

Even writing this reflection I feel a somewhat bitter-sweetness to it. I am stoked that I don’t have to write the three hundred to five hundred words a night don’t get me wrong. However, I miss the constant feeling improving my life/ habits brings.

There is no doubt in my mind that this project has jump started better spending habits for me. During November I found myself searching through my closet in amazement as I glanced at the number of impulse purchases I had made. There were numerous items which I have worn only a handful of times. Had it not been for the miniscule amount of restraint I put on my self I can almost guarantee that I would have made another one of those dumb impulse purchases.

Even though I still bought things during November I did actually think about the items before I bought them. It has been months since I have wanted something but actually thought “Do I really need this?.” As an example, the day I bought the jacket, I contemplated also buying jeans. I tried them on and like them. When I got out of the dressing room a thought crossed through my mind. “Do I really need more jeans?” You know what my answer was? It was yes.

As I have mentioned I recently dropped a pant size. Therefore I have only one pair of pants that fit. Justification for new jeans? Normally yes, but no. Even though I needed new jeans I realized that pants that fit correctly are a luxury, not a necessity.

If they had been cheaper though I would probably be wearing them right now.

I ended this month with just over two hundred dollars in the positive. If you read my introductory page than you would know my goal was to save around that much. So even though I cheated multiple times I consider this a small victory. 

I prevailed because I curved my spending habits.

I prevailed because I saved money.

I prevailed because I think before I buy now.

During the month I also noticed how spoiled I am. My discount is amazing. After talking to other people who work in clothing I feel very fortunate. I started to notice that the people I hang out with and see everyday at school re-wear their shirts more often than I do.

My Mom was even some what invested in this project. It actually spawn the start of what could be a very smart choice. My Mom and I are now looking in to putting money away in a bond or CD in order to gain interest on it and make me money in the future. We also contemplated the stock market although decided against it because of its inconsistencies right now.

What I am hoping will happen, due to the life lab, is that the miniscule changes I am made in this prior month  will snowball into some bigger radical money management skill that I will obtain at a later age.

As for now though, all I can do is steer my self down that road.

So Thank you Mr. Greenslate for inspiring what could be a very useful tool in my future. This has been easily one of, if not my, favorite assignment I have ever had in an English class. Thank you for giving us an assignment that is not just reading a book. And thank you for just being an overall good teacher.

And with that I bid you adieu Word Press. Maybe I will start a new blog. As for now who knows.

Thank you for reading.

Sincerely Tyler Colvin

Banger! – Day Thirty

 

Hahaha I found this in my TV production class

Okay so in a Skateboarding video each person gets a “part.” A part consists of an average of about four or five minutes of just that person doing tricks. The tricks are aranged in a specific order. The order can be syncing to the song in the back, worse to better tricks, and a couple other combos. The last trick in someones part is traditionally the biggest and best and most technical trick in his part. That trick has adopted the name Banger.

For instance if you have just watched Chris Cole’s part in Fallen’s Ride the Sky. Than his banger would be the nollie big heel down the four block in France.

Thus I named my final days blog “Banger!”

Today Is the last day of my project.

I still spent money today damn it. Haha.

I was super hungry at school and bought a spicy chicken sandwhich and a water.

Anyway, I am somewhat glad this is over. I do somewhat enjoy blogging but I wont miss it too much.

I didn’t really do much today though. Went to school and work like normal. Today is also the last day of my work streak.

I really wanted to go skateboard today too. I couldn’t sadly. It definatly sucked going back to school today though.

I had to wake up way too early to do litterally nothing in all three of my classes. I had Tv production first which I did nothing. I am behind and I still did nothing. I slept I guess. My government teacher was gone so we had a sub. We watched a movie. It sucked.

I instead watched Thrasher King of the Road 2007 on my iPod. Again nothing.

Then in sixth. I did nothing again. There was a project but I neglected it.

Good Shit.

See you in my reflection.

End Day: +$200.70

Two more days – Day Twenty Nine

New Organic Section At Sun Diego

Today was my last day of eight hour shifts and second to last day of my thirteen day work streak and blog.

I had a eight to four shift today. It pretty much sucked. I had to wake up at six thirty on my last day of thanksgiving break. Some how I managed to make my way out of bed to work on time.

When we open we have two choices of cleaning, mopping or vacuuming. I got mopping. I normally like it better than the vacuum however, the part of the sink that attaches to the hose we use to fill up the bucket is broken. So my only method of filling it up is using the other sink which not only doesn’t have the attachment but also has extremely low water pressure. So in order to fill it up I hold a cup under the sink until it is full then pour it in. So instead of it taking less than five minutes it takes just over fifteen.

This Sunday was absnormally slow in the store as well. I was extremely tired and was most definatly not in the mood to deal with what little customers actually existed.

We are judged by our hourly sales. There is a loop hole though. If we want our hours on the sheet to go down we can do activities like markdowns and RTV’s (Return to Vendor) in order to make our average higher.

As I said I was tired and wanted nothing to do with the customers so I started some markdowns. They sucked. It had already been half way down by multiple people so I didn’t even know what to look for.

Regardless though it took off an hour and half from my time.

To counter act the sleepyness I bought a Starbucks Double Shot though. So I spent a little.

After that I went home and chilled with Rylee. I played some CODMW2 which is always joyus, and then I went to sleep.

Boring day.

End Day: +$204.70