TOPIC: My 20k savings log

My number 1 goal is to save 20k. I'm 38 yrs old and have travelled the world and done cool shit but I need better finances. Fuck I'm starting this with $670.69. I got to start somewhere and my goal for now is save 20k. I'm sure I'll go into why I'm doing this and why money is the biggest problem in my life I need to overcome but for now here are the numbers I have since starting:

Aug 1
balance before pay: $670.69
pay: $1,142.79
balance after: $ 1,813.48

Aug 15
balance before: $1,472.19
saved since Aug 1st: $801.50
spent since Aug 1st: $341.29
bi weekly savings rate: 70.14%
pay: $973.93
balance after pay: $2,446.12
total saved: $801.50

Aug 29
balance before pay: $2,112.20
saved since Aug 15th: $640.01
spent since Aug 15th: $333.92
bi weekly savings rate: 67.74%
pay: $944.74
balance after pay: $3,056.94
total saved: $1,441.51

Okay my situation is I just got back to USA after living in Thailand for awhile. 5th foreign country I've lived in and it's my favorite. I want to get back there or some other cheap fun country with a high quality of life. But I want to do it with better finances and not having to work in education to do it. I fucking hate education and I'm done with it. Right now I'm living in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale and have a job as a "service engineer" which is basically 50% sailor, 50% mechanic. I'm training now and making modest cash but saving a lot. In the future I will travel in a team to different ports to work on ships, when I start traveling I can make a lot more money since travel time is paid, there is a per diem for food, and there is a lot of opportunity for overtime since ships are on tight schedules and need shit done fast.

So far I fucking love my job. I can't believe it... after teaching university and trying to work in higher ed I'm a fucking sailor and I like it. The work is physical as fuck but I like that because I exercise all day and am in great shape. Plus the work makes me feel like a MAN. And all the guys are bros. After we clock out were allowed to drink at work which is cool even though I don't drink. We can also say whatever we want at work and there is no HR... I can say cunt all I want. This is so liberating after working in the pussified field of education. Hell the guys at work even bring in and trade ammo for their guns which is funny as fuck and so off limits in virtually any other work place. All I have to say is so glad I'm not in education or corporate for that matter.

In thailand I had a good sex life and a steady rotation but I had to come home. It's pretty easy to get laid in Thailand. As much as I'd like to chase down girls I really got to focus on getting my finances straight. Although I'd being willing to do day or night game occasionally with any bros in Miami/Lauderdale area. For the most part I really got to not worry about chicks. GLL helped me a ton back in the day and although I never was elite I've definitely had more consistent sex with hotter chicks since finding this site. But being 38 yrs old and starting with 600 some dollars is a way bigger problem than pussy at this point

Keep at it man.

Consider doing Uber or a side business on the side if you wanna stack cash, it'll make it go quicker. No shame in chasing money over pussy for a while.

Fuck being broke, shit is WAY better with money.

Updated numbers: I'm 10% toward my goal of saving 20k

Sep 11
balance before pay: $2,686.48
saved since Aug 29th: $574.28
spent since Aug 29th: $370.46
bi weekly savings rate: 60.79%
total saved to date: $2,015.79
pay: $926.30
balance after pay: $3,612.78

Drove to Tampa to see a friend that cost a bit but didn't kill me that bad. I have good habits now, am motivated, working hard and saving. I got to start somewhere and I'm on my way. Right now I'm living with a family friend and not paying rent so that makes these big jumps possible. I've been doing yard work for him but want to offer more services or at least some cash his way.

I've been motivated enough that I've started to approach more... truth is I have enough time to approach here and there. Really I'm just motivated to get one pretty girl to poke on while I work toward my goals. That's it... I just want to save, build something for the future and find a girl on the way for now.

Have you thought about a side business? I only ask because you said you worked in education and a smart, extremely successful guy said he wrote test questions for a while and he said most people can't write good test questions. Considering how smart and successful he is it makes me wonder if there's good money in it as a side thing.

Once I start traveling for work won't have time for a side business... although after I build some savings starting a business is something I'd consider. I'm a mechanic on ships and sooner or later they'll fly me to different ports to work on ships. Sometimes I could be on one dry dock job for 21 consecutive 12 hour days. Other jobs are shorter than that but then I could fly to another port right away. Good news is that I can make a bunch more money traveling... I got per diem pay, travel pay and overtime. At times I think it will be possible for me to SAVE $1000 per week.

Doing work for this guy I live with and also hang out with I should consider a part time job because not paying rent is saving me a ton. Truth is he's an older guy and needs somebody to hang with. So I should start doing that more. Before I start traveling I want to chase down a girl also... so I do want to put free time into that. Especially before I start traveling

Updated Numbers:

Sep 25
balance before pay: $3,224.87
saved since Sep 11: $538.39
spent since Sep 11: $387.91
bi weekly savings rate: 56.99%
total saved to date: $2,554.18
pay: $1,011.67
balance after pay: $4,236.54

Still making progress toward my goal. My savings rate has gone down a bit but I'm still saving a little over $500 a paycheck and $1000 a month. I think in the future once I start traveling for work I'll be able to save more maybe even double which would be great. Problem is I don't have a lot of experience and they send guys out to travel more than me. Once I start traveling more I get per diem and overtime. So for now I just got to be patient and not spend my money on things I don't need. I really want to build a 20k nest egg so I can either start a business or move back overseas and live a high quality life with more financial security.

Other than that the money game is a long haul. It takes time but I have to start where I am and not bitch and complain. It's just like this is the situation and it's up to me to do something about it.

On the girls front I really want to meet a girl in my free time. I did some approaches last week and then faded away. Right now I do have enough time to find a girl. And that would make life better in my free time. So I need to really commit to follow through until I find a chick. Problem is approaching isn't just as much fun as it used to be and I feel burnt out on it. BUT it is the one way completely within my control to eventually find a girl.

That's it for now. Need to update more on how I'm working hard so I stay motivated to build the life I want. I'm really looking at 2-3 years out to really get set up. I want to save this 20 k this year tho

I have not read the posts here but the best blog for saving is Mr.Money Mustache. I literally owe my financial freedom to finding this blog when I was 25 and starting my work life.

Read that blog a bit and is helpful. I am good on the being a minimalist/not wasting money part... I really need to keep earning and actually focus on making money. I really want the freedom

Sailors Grave wrote: I really need to keep earning and actually focus on making money. I really want the freedom

Yeah, you shouldn't focus on saving money, there's a clear limit to how much you can save, but there's literally no limit to how much you can make.

Live frugal while you're building your business, but don't make being frugal the business.

True that. But also there is a big part of why I want more money and that's the freedom for a lifestyle I want. I like the Money Mustache guy because his type of message resonates with me... make money, save, check out to live the great life you always wanted. Other people really really want A LOT of money. I think of the Grant Cardone guy... I don't really feel motivated by him or his lifestyle. Some people are though, I'm not saying one is not better than the other. Just for me I want freedom... not vacation homes or a private plane.

so early on for me it's a grind. But I'm on my way. Once I get to 20k more options will open up.

It's crazy but I'm doing good because I like my job, and working hard, and feel like a MAN. I know I am on my way and that this whole thing is gonna work out. It just takes work and time

Just checked out mustache dude and am diggin it.. Thanks man. Im in the same boat as you. I got 25000 in debt from school and want to pay that off and then save at least 20000. Good luck brother. If your smart you can make a nice little chunk of money make your life way better. Im kinda like you. Im an electrician and will sooon be able to travel around. Ill work overttime and shutdowns for weeks but then i can get 2 months off. I can go travel to cool cheap places and live the life. Thats why i got into this trade. but eventually i either want to own my own electrical company or do something else

Yeah man you can do it... you're probs way younger than me so just keep making progress. Now that I'm moving forward I feel way more optimistic of my goals and the future. I like the mustache guy also cuz it's giving me confirmation that a lot of my instincts are right about cutting back on shit I don't need so I can build freedom. Kinda like the GLL message of nothing in moderation... saving a ton of money and building more financial freedom isn't done without making HUGE changes and HUGE sacrifices. Some of Chris get paid videos are good and I wish the guy had more time to share what he knows about money because he's obviously doing well.

Good week for me at work and saving. Will check in this week with updated numbers.

Years from now it will be in place. Huge savings plus then look for a way to start a business or work remotely