I really enjoy reading about your daily life, Awakenedsoul! It sounds so peaceful and purposeful, and well-thought-out. My summer has been kind of loosy-goosy and less-structured (as well it should be) but I think I am ready to buckle down and get my sights on my next goal, which is to save up a bunch of money for next year's road trip. By June I will have accrued over three weeks of paid vacation time and I am thinking of doing a more epic trip, maybe being on the road for about a month. That means I need to save up at least $2500 (if not more) for that. I am adamant that it doesn't come out of my savings. Part of it will be a business trip for my jewelry business. I need to look for more new galleries and will have to replenish my supplies too.
So this is how I am going to do it, basically by doing what I have been doing for a long time. Live as cheaply as possible by carefully shopping for food and home-cooking, thrift shopping when I need stuff (I am really working on NOT buying thrift-store clothing, though cheap, that I really don't need. All my wardrobe these days consists of jeans and T-shirts anyway). I am mainly working on earning extra income, both actively and passively. My jewelry business has been going quite well; last month I made about $500 between gallery commissions, repairs, and custom pieces! I do have to be careful about the money I am putting into it by buying needed tools and supplies, though. I still need to find some more places to sell locally and to get into some of those indie art fairs.
My other money-maker is having my house mate. It is working out really well but he may not stay for too much longer because he is in the process of buying a house. If that happens soon, I may have another person lined up to take his place, but if not, living in a college town as I do, it is pretty easy to find someone to pay $335/month for a room. The best deal in town, really!
I also did my yearly physical and have decided to resume selling my plasma, as they have upped the price of each donation. I can make an extra $200 per month doing that as long as it doesn't start draining me (literally)! I just have to be careful to stay very well hydrated and make sure I get enough protein.
I got a raise at work this summer, and we are heading into the busy season at Wholefoods so I should be looking forward to getting some gain-sharing money on every other paycheck. Also, historically I have received a very handsome birthday and Christmas check from a family member every year (though I always tell myself to not count on it). My car loan just dipped below $4000 (!) and I am diligently paying extra on it when I can. The only other debt I have is a no-interest medical bill that I pay $100 per month on. I still have a ways to go on that one, though.
I feel really motivated to dig in and stay focused on my goal, as if I am starting the "school" year off on a good note. Yesterday I deposited my room mate's rent check into my money market account and was pleasantly happy to see that I have now have $16, 392.52 in my emergency savings! WOOT!