Adventures in being a grownup

[justira]

Well. I am now the proud owner of a 401(k). This actually rocks pretty hard. I've got a good benefits package now that I've made the temp to permament transition. I am also somewhat dismayed at myself for thinking a 401(k) is cool. I am losing my hipster edge. Woe, woe, woe!

But seriously, I'm somewhat boggled. I'm only 20, but I've got investments up the wazoo. I mean, I always figured, I'm not a big spender. I don't really have much in my life that I spend a lot of money on right now. Later on though? Hell yeah. Cars, houses, insurance, all that icky grownup stuff. I mean, compare. My current moneywasters as opposed to what I'll need later on. Video games, manga, art supplies, clothes once in a blue moon, books vs. mortgage payments/rent, car payments, insurance, student loan payments and books. Do I need more money now... or later? TOUGH QUESTION.

So basically I've been spreading money through various funds, stocks, and other investments since I was 18. I've got stocks, I've got high-interest savings accounts (whee, being an immigrant!), and now I have a 401(k) which I plan to max out like whoa. Social Security, you ain't got SQUAT on me, even though you eat a third of my paycheck. Hobag.

>.>

<.<

I FEEL OLD.

I think I know the source of this wangst, though. It's Anakin. It's all Darth Vader's fault. Y'see, I've had Star Wars Episode III playing on repeat for over a week and I think the constant wangsting finally got to me. (For those who don't understand why I would possibly have that movie -- or anything else -- on repeat for a week, it's because I work really really poorly in silence, so it's been a habit of mine since I was about 14 to always have a movie I know well playing in the background. This way the auditory input is varied but constant and something I'm familiar with so I don't get distracted trying to listen and figure it out.)

Or actually, no, it might be Ann Coulter's fault. In my crusade to form my own opinions (and entertain myself in the process), I took lambspam's advice and started reading How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must). I've gotta say, I don't think I've ever been more offended, flabbergasted, or laugh-out-loud amused. Maybe she's the one responsible for my WOE WOE WOE-ful state as of late. My political education continues, however. Which demagogue should I investigate next?

Speaking of politics, wow, election. I'm glad I get up ass-early anyway (5:30, usually) so voting won't be a problem. Dude. Yo. All you of-age people on my flist.

VOTE.

I don't even care who for, just do it.

Well, okay, I do care, quite a lot, but it's more important to me that people involve themselves in the political process at all. So please vote. It's kind of important.

Okay, man, I'm grownuped-out for today. Actual causes for wangst: running grand_line_vine is hard, my writing is not cooperating at all, neither is my drawing, because of being majorly sick with tonsillitis for the past MONTH I'm behind schedule at picks_n_paeans, and it's been way too long since Axel appeared on screen as I play through KH2.

Comments

[shuraiya.livejournal.com]

Oooh, wow, a 401k! *_*

And also, Ann Coulter is such a... confrontational bitch.

[justira.livejournal.com]

Ann Coulter is fascinating in her ability to be batshit. I heard a lot about her and just thought she was probably just extremely loud and conservative, like Sean Hannidy, but no. She's actually Grade-A certified batshit. For someone who's apparently so well-educated, I really don't understand her nonexistent grasp of logic. I've never seen so many logical fallacies strung together pretending to be an argument. It's so mind-boggling it makes me laugh to not cry.

It's also great because my friends see me and are like "why are you READING THAT??". And then I bump into people on my lunch break at the mall who get all wink-wink nudge-nudge about it. It's hilarious.

Anyway, yeah, crazy crazy lady. I'm glad there's no way I'd ever meet her because I'm afraid I might punch her if I do.

Also, hay, congrats on possible awesome car-posession in the future? I don't know what this "new car" thing you're describing is, but it sounds exciting!

Also. I'm playing KH2 and have become MADDENINGLY ADDICTED to Axel/Roxas. Especially Axel.

Like, uh.

Okay.

CONFESSION: I LIKE AXEL/ROXAS AND AXEL BETTER THAN I LIKE FRANKY/ICEBURG AND ICEBURG.

>.>

<.<

omg there, I said it in public >.>

[shuraiya.livejournal.com]

I kinda want to carry around her book just to see the reactions I get from other people.

Aww, thanks! It won't be until fall semester, but... heyyy, it's better than never. @__@ ♥

I LOVE AKUROKU OMFGGGGGGGG ♥!!!

[lambspam.livejournal.com]

I thought you might enjoy Coulter. She's lots of fun.

If I ever taught a philosophy course on logic, I would make my students dissect one of her arguments and analyze the fallacies. That and a good laugh are just about all "How to Talk To A Liberal" is good for.

If you ever want more, I've got every book she's ever written. Oh, and I highly recommend watching Bill O'Reilly on Fox News. He's more splotchy and less attractive, but still hostile.

[justira.livejournal.com]

Dude, I'd totally take that class. Or anything you taught, really. I think you'd be an awesome teacher =D

[lambspam.livejournal.com]

Aww. You make me blush.

[lambspam.livejournal.com]

And as a sidenote, if you're looking for interesting non-fiction socio-political literature that doesn't make you want to strangle the author, I recommend the following:

The Two-Income Trap (http://www.amazon.com/Two-Income-Trap-Middle-Class-Parents-Broke/dp/0465090907/sr=8-2/qid=1162364216/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-9223268-3986409?ie=UTF8&s=books) by Elizabeth Warren and Amerlia Warren Tyagi

While not necessarily wise in their proposed solutions for the economic deterioration of the middle class, the authors definitely do a good job of explaining how The Man has dicked over 75 percent of Americans and why average Americans' financial lives are collapsing. Interesting, if nothing else. I own it; you should steal it.


Virtually Normal (http://www.amazon.com/Virtually-Normal-Andrew-Sullivan/dp/0679746145/sr=1-2/qid=1162364438/ref=sr_1_2/002-9223268-3986409?ie=UTF8&s=books) by Andrew Sullivan

I finished it this morning after having been unable to put it down for the last few days. Sullivan basically deconstructs and destroys everyone's arguments about public policy and homosexuality (liberals included). It's written as philosophy and in absolutely stunning prose (which is damn hard to find in non-fiction these days). I don't own it, but I stole the copy from the LGBTA office and could let you take it over Thanksgiving if you're interested.


And if you want to hate the world, read anything by Rush Limbaugh, any Evangelical Christian books about how to raise sexually-pure teenagers, anything about the state of the public education system.

[justira.livejournal.com]

I am interested in both! But hey, I'm actually here to ask, remember in high school you had or found or borrowed that book about raising teenagers? The one we laughed over lots? God, do you remember the title/author? I want to read it again XD

[lambspam.livejournal.com]

I actually read Sherwood's entire section on raising teenagers during my hostile youth, but the most memorable book was Parenting Today's Adolescent (http://www.amazon.com/Parenting-Todays-Adolescent-Helping-Preteen/dp/0785265104/sr=1-3/qid=1162366196/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/002-9223268-3986409?ie=UTF8&s=books) by Dennis and Barbara Rainey. It was very God-centric and condescending.

In an act of rebellion, I stole the copy from the library. It's still in my basement in Northern Virginia. Mmm, mmm. It's awesome


PS - You should email me your mailing address. I remember everything but the street number.

[flyboymike.livejournal.com]

Have you ever read Orson Scott Card's column? It's very interesting, and makes a whole lot of sense to me.

http://www.ornery.org/essays/warwatch/2006-10-29-1.html

[justira.livejournal.com]

Actually, I've bumped into that a few times. The last time was too long ago, but I do recall being intrigued...

[ironpuncher2.livejournal.com]

401(k)? YOU USED TO BE ABOUT THE MUSIC D:

[justira.livejournal.com]

I— I— DUDE, I'M STILL TOTALLY REAL AND SHIT! IT'S NOT LIKE THEY OWN ME! COME BY THE OLD GARAGE SOMETIME AND WE'LL JAM, YEAH?

[lambspam.livejournal.com]

You're so dope.

Keep it real, homez.

[ironpuncher2.livejournal.com]

WE NEED A NEW BASS PLAYER, TED TOTALLY WRECKED HIS BIKE. ALSO--MORE COWBELL.

[fire-tears.livejournal.com]

http://users.rcn.com/skutsch/anticoulter/

I love that place.

[justira.livejournal.com]

Well! That was certainly an entertaining hour I spent on there. There went my lunch break, thanks XD

And heeyyyyy, you're doing Nano? Because I am. I need a kick in the butt to get started on good writing habits, because I'm terminally lazy and disorganized. I'm noping to not be all write write write for a month and then stop like writing is some kind of occasion. I'm hoping Nano will help me start writing every day. I don't even care if I get the whole 50,000 word thing in, as long as I start good writing habits.

*crosses fingers*

ZOMG the prologue to my novel, it's finished >.>

[flyboymike.livejournal.com]

Is this a matching 401(k)? Might want to up the ante and go for a Roth IRA. That way, pay taxes now when the money is small instead of later when the money is big.

Military gets a Thrift Savings Plan, kinda like a 401k, but no matching, so I only throw in like a hundred bucks a month and do a full Roth contribution every year. Y'know what? All that stuff is cool, because gettin' paid and securing your future is exciting, and there's nothing wrong with that.

And cars are fun. Just pray you don't ever get bitten by the modding bug... I'm already thinking about a $15,000 more or less track only car that I'd only drive on the weekends that I could make weigh 2600 pounds and have 280 horsepower... and I'm not even done with my autocrosser/daily driver yet.