Making Moves

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Home Sweet Home

Homeownership is overrated. Let me share my personal experience:

I was conditioned, like many Americans, that homeownership is something you had to do...just like going to college and getting married, etc. There is a certain accomplishments in life you are supposed to achieve...I drank that Kool-aid until the last crusty sugary bottom.

So in 2006 I bought a home. In an area I could afford because my teacher's pay and the fact that I am single allowed me only so much to buy. I was realistic on what I could afford. I didn't think I bought a home that was too expensive and knew that my payments had to be realistic. I was excited although it was not what I wanted location wise or style...(townhome in the SWATs)

Fastforward to the economic crisis in hand.

Luckily when I moved to Korea, I found someone to rent my home. Albeit, I pay a large sum to keep her in there to avoid foreclosure and also it is nice to come home on the breaks...so I am like the roommate that is never home.

Now while these banks and governments are telling you that it is morally wrong to walk away from your home. Get this.

In the winter of 08, my homebuilder Centex said they will no longer be building any more homes and have sold the rest of the property to someone else. Now my home sits in an unfinished complex with more than half of the lots empty. Yes about 400 lots are empty...weeds have grown over the land where homes should be.

Then the buildings they decided to finish, they used lesser materials. Like instead of the sliding glass doors, they put in one regular door. Instead of double pane windows in the bedroom, they put in a lone pane.

Hmmm...so you telling me..that Centex can just bounce and sell the complex to cover their assess..I mean assets, and then use inferior product on the rest of the buildings and leaving the complex empty...therefore bringing down my property value? Hmm.

But I should be a "good" person and pay my mortgage. Riiighhht

So then this past summer, I get a letter from my mortgage company Wells Fargo.

My taxes are going up...therefore my mortgage is going up..by like 300 dollars.

WTF!?

Now I knew that my rate was adjusting to 5.8 that fall raising my mortgage a hundred bucks. But an additional 200 on top of that?

So I realized that because of the amount of foreclosures in the area...I, the respectable homeowner, must shoulder the cost of the taxes...this is bullshit.

Oh...did I fail to mention that there are sooooo many break ins at the community that it is like a seasonal flu. Once someone gets it...so will their neighbor. My friend's mom's house has been broken into four times. Mine once and these Sons of Sorry People took a bunch of ish I could care less about, one item that meant the world to me (my mother's Cartier watch...that she busted her butt to buy) and just overall violated my sanctuary.

Builder's Website:

Devon Model, three bedroom, 2 1/2 bath...$125,000

Oh helllllll nawwwww.. The price of my home on the Centex website dropped thirty thousand. So I lost 30 gs, doing n-o-t-h-i-n-g.

I haven't checked since this summer. I am too sick as it is.

Homeownership is overrated.

Then some section 8s moved in next door in the summer. Well, let me be fair, who knows if they are...they just behave like renters...blasting music, smoking weed, throwing too many parties...running the community down with ghetto blinds (sheets on windows), leaving trash in the parking lot and speeding in the complex.

I opened my email and get a letter today (2/09) from the HOA saying that security will no longer be on premises. And we can't afford to pay out of HOA dues, cause so many people are delinquent.

Yes, please rip me another asshole...next to the other four..

So, you telling me that I should be honorable, pay my mortgage for a house in a complex that has been abandoned, that has been robbed so many times and the cops do nada, that even security is gone. I should stay right?

I called Wells Fargo and asked about some modifications.

You aren't delinquent

Sooo...I need to not pay (screw up my credit) then you will talk to me?

yes..

Welllll fuuuuuuuuuuuu*****kkkkk me then. I might as well bend over one more time.

Cause what's one more!?, It boils down to ....I worked too hard to have good credit. However, I am really contimplating saying to hell with the American dream and letting my house go when my tenant moves out. Hell, everyone is having financial troubles!

Don't tell me "that ain't right" either!

I mean, I don't understand when did a business decision become an emotional one. Centex had no love for me! HOA management could give a f*&k! Wells Fargo isn't worried about me!

Where is my bailout?

Home sweet home my ass.

The Writing's on the Wall

My life has gone as planned. So to speak.

Every goal I have set out in life, I have achieved it. At the same time, many extenuating circumstances have as well. I could have let them be setbacks. But my life is as planned. Good or bad things will happen in life and your power is in your reaction.

I chose to be better than my circumstances allowed. I could have let fate run its course, but destiny intervened.

Fate requires no participation on your part. But destiny does.

All the things I have done in life has come relatively easy. Because it is my destiny to fulfill those goals. Even things I thought I wanted to do and it didn't transpire, it was because it wasn't meant for me.

I always believed that your destiny will continue to present itself until you fulfill it. There are hidden signs in your daily life that remind you to fulfill your life's purpose. People always seem to be in search of what their goal in life is or should be, when it is all around you if you pay attention to the details.

I think coincidences are not haphazard incidents. Instead, they are signs to shape your life's path. You are drawn to certain things and certain people for a reason. They are there to help you become a better you.

Also, the negative aspects of your life are not an accident. They are to shape you and are part of your destiny. Think about all the people in the world who go out and start nonprofit foundations or become dedicated to a cause. Why do they do it? Because it affected them in some personal way. Therefore, their personal pain became their community, their nation or the world's benefit...in that process it has a domino effect by inspiring others.

You have to be willing to utilize your natural gifts, your personal experiences and the silent reminders around you to fulfill your destiny and act upon them. To actively create your own destiny, it is not going to fall out the sky in to the lap of your life per se. You have to do and not think about doing.

Money Matters

I just finished reading this article about cutting expenses in 2009. The first three major expenses for people were:

housing

transportation

food

Moving to South Korea either eliminated or significantly reduced those costs. Let's do the math.

America vs Korea:

Car note $430 or$0

Subway $0 or $10

Gas $100 or $0

Car Ins. $75 or $0

Mortgage $1,200 or $0

House Ins. $ 25 or $0

HOA $169 or $200 (includes electric in Korea)

Food $300 or $150

Total $2299 or $360

Enough said!

I mean that is just considering the top three things listed in the article, not including all the other things.

I am still tightening my belt over here. I went to Costco and bought a lot of meat to start making my own dinners and lunches. I do spend too much money on mediocre school lunches. The school bus picks me up, so the only time I use transit is when I go somewhere...which is only on the weekends and quite rare. Eating out, especially Western food is expensive and eats away my won budget. Oh, yeah I forgot to mention I only live on 1/3 rd of my income. The other 2/3 goes to paying off American debts and maintaining the house I still own. :(

If you read my previous blogs, I am also on a debt snowball plan. So I need to cut some corners to pay off my debts by next summer.

To the chagrin of loved ones I will not be returning to live in America any time soon. It is just too expensive. I have already decided to resign my contract this fall.

Sleeping Beauty

This is not my cat. But I feel like him.

I am tired today. Thank goodness we will be on break this upcoming week. I don't know if it is the weather or if my age is catching up to me. I just want to sleep but force myself to stay awake until 9 or 10 pm. I am sleeping so well, I am actually having some weird dreams.

Saturday the cleaning lady is coming and I have to clean again before she comes at 8am...so much for sleeping in. When will the madness end! Plus, I have plans to go to yoga and volunteer at a cat shelter in Itaewon called Nabiya. I can't take in any more animals. The two I have already drive me nuts. However, I would love to volunteer and help cats and dogs in Korea. So this is the start.
Sunday I am supposed to be going to Suwon to be with the family for Lunar New Year, I will be back on Monday.
Monday, I need to write a bit and organize my clothes. My bedroom looks like a clearance sale at Marshall's.

Well I am going to go home and try not to take a nap. Wish me luck.

Cause I'm a G!

G-g-g-g-g Market.

No, this is not an ode to 50cent, but an open love letter to Gmarket.

http://www.gmarket.co.kr/

Gmarket is a Korean website, similar to Ebay, where you can purchase items from various sellers and even bid. Although the stuff is pretty damn cheap as is.

Since moving to Korea, I have bought a sectional pleather sofa for about 300 bucks, Dolce&Gabbana perfume the large bottle for 60. Juicy Couture sweatsuit for 45. Marc Jacobs dress for 60. Theory trench coat for 50. Yeah, some of the stuff on there is knockoffs, but Korea believes in taking a lot of pictures to show the quality of an item so just take a look at it. Have I bought some crap. Yep. I bought a coat where the button was sewn on crooked. But hey, that one or two bad outweighs the oh so good Gmarket.

Delivery is free or cheap 2,500 won.

Did I mention they were fast? Usually my item will arrive that week!

Yes, there is an English page, where you can search for anything you want or need.

Want to send something to the USA? They ship internationally! Except the furniture of course!

You can pay with a foreign credit card, PayPal or if you have a Korean credit card go right ahead and shop! They will ask you to fax a copy of your foreign card and black out some of the numbers just to verify you have the card and it is you ordering. After that, you are free to shop away. At first I just let my card shopping expire for the 7 days before I faxed over anything. Once I realized the site was legit and pretty punctual, I have a few shopping payment options on there now.

I love gmarket cause I don't have to lug heavy things around like cat litter or water home on a subway or try to hail a taxi.

They offer fab knockoffs too for you fashionistas.

My bus stop in Gangnam where my Korean class is held is right in front of the Gmarket office building. It was a sign from the retail discounter gods.

G for life!

Economic Strategy 101: Gift Sets

Gift set for 19,500 at Emart

I love Korea for understanding the value of a gift set. Every Christmas, I try and buy the sets of lotions, perfume, etc. Because it is always the better value.

There are gift sets from everything to toothbrushes to fish. Beef to laundry detergent. I love a deal packaged in neat boxes.

Since Lunar New Year is approaching, more sets are out at the local department stores and markets.

I bought a small Nivea set last night for 7500 won, the cost of one of these items in the states usually hovers around that price alone. Definitely a steal for two lotions, a creme and chapstick.

I plan on getting more this week to stock up and that way I won't need to buy and lug anymore lotion from the states and will restock again during Chuseok, when more sets become available. Plus, running out of stuff is never ideal because you will always end up paying more in the long run. For instance, a friend of mine ran out of lotion and had to pay 9,000 for one small bottle. Not cost-effective.

Save some won in 09 and buy yourself a gift set! :)

*** Update***

I went back and got the set above and another 7500 set, the girl gave me a free hand cream too. My friend bought the largest size for 28,900 won.

What a deal! I feel oh so soft and won't have to worry about buying anything else until next winter for sure!