This past Friday, I woke up at 4 o’clock in the morning to get ready for a quick, whirlwind trip down to Nashville. I was on New Jersey Transit by 5:30am, at the airport by 7:00am, in the air by 9:30am, and taking in beautiful Nashville, Tennessee by 10:30am (that’s Central Time, which would have been 11:30am Eastern Time). The purpose of the trip was to attend an Operations Committee meeting of the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation, of which I am a Board Trustee. In fact, the schedule was so expertly prepared that my fellow Committee members and I were walking through our office space in Nashville by 12:30pm and in our first meeting by 1:00pm.
The Sigma Pi Educational Foundation
Oh, and to wrap up the time frame for the whirlwind trip to Nashville, I was back in my townhouse in Tinton Falls by 10:15pm on Saturday night. No big unpacking and cleaning after the trip either since I only had a small carry-on bag with me for the entire trip. Quick and efficient!
Now that I’m back in New Jersey, though, I’m looking at my upcoming schedule and I didn’t realize how jam packed it was for the rest of this month. Actually, over the last few days I’ve been making plans as far ahead as November 2010. Not that I mind – I think it’s good to know your schedule well in advance (yes, even months in advance).
How are your schedules coming along? Does anyone else out there plan themselves weeks and months in advance or do most of you just wing it? I always wondered about how most people plan their days, weeks, and months. Hmmm… I bet there’s a study out there somewhere that I can download to read some research about the issue. Of course, I’m not sure if I have the time for that… 😉
Before I finish up for the day, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that if anyone is looking for a great, extremely efficient nonprofit organization to donate any amount from $1 to $1,000 (or more) to, the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation is the right choice. I know many of my readers are financially savvy and know the tax planning benefits of making tax deductible donations to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, so consider the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation the next time you’re putting together your tax planning donations. And don’t worry, we have a variety of funds that you can donate to that benefit folks outside of Sigma Pi Fraternity, including a fund for disabled veterans that awards some great scholarships to even better people each year. Something to consider…
[…] Remember, I created a very strong, very strict repayment plan because I want to get rid of the burden that these student loans cause me both today and tomorrow (and that “tomorrow” part is critical). An essential part of that repayment plan is focusing on wants versus needs…and it’s not easy or enjoyable to make that decision of what I want versus what I need. It’s not easy denying myself what I want to do with my paychecks versus what I really know that I need to do with those paychecks. I really want to take the approximately $2,750 that I spend on student loans each month and put a few hundred into my savings account and a few hundred into my brokerage account and then spend the rest of the money living the type of lavish lifestyle that you see on television. I’d love to do that – I’d love to go out and buy new clothes every few weeks instead of once or twice per year. I’d love to give my Mom back the small Honda Civic that I’ve been “borrowing” from her for almost two years and, instead, go out and buy a brand new hybrid SUV that would give me the roomy drive that I want and the gas mileage that I need. And I would love to travel more (like my recent trip to Nashville). […]