Raven’s Range
Blather around a virtual range

This post is part of a series. Part 1 is here.

So, let’s take a look at each of the items on my list. You’ll want to do this too, because doing so, you’ll probably find at least a few that need to be either removed, added or shuffled to a lower priority. I found that talking myself through each item meant that I was reprioritizing even as I did it, simply because it was brought into focus. It might take you a while to get the list “right”–but it’s worth giving it a shot.

The basics

A roof over my head
I’m not someone who can just pick up a backpack and go out into the world. I need an anchor, a place to call home. In the end, our logical home is this RV, which lends itself so well to (a) frugality and (b) travel.

Living money/income
This is self-explanatory. It’s what pays the bills: Food, utilities, that kind of thing. (Hence your looking back at your checkbook register.)

Retirement money
There may be a time when I want to stop working, or have to. I’d like to be prepared for that day by stashing some money aside for it. How much is beyond the scope of this article, but I bet your library is full of books about money and financial planning. ;)

Internet/a laptop
This is a tool of my trade, and not something I would compromise on. Every single used laptop I’ve had has died an annoying death, so I would do what I did with my current laptop and get something decent with a warranty.

A decent camera
As above–but by “decent” I don’t mean a digital SLR. An advanced point-and-shoot, such as I carry, is perfect.

The internet
Ditto: It’s a tool of my trade.

A reliable motorcycle
Right now I don’t have a car licence, so this is my only mode of transportation, as well as bringing a zen kind of focus to the world.

A financial buffer
I’m very uncomfortable living close to the wire both financially and temporally. (I aim to arrive early for appointments, and I aim to not have to scrape the barrel for the last few quarters.) I’m well aware that I am the proud owner of a life that cannot be planned, since it is so full of surprises–but I can hedge against that.

This section would also include suitable insurance.

A speck of space to call my own
I’m surprisingly territorial. Right now my space is the bench where I sit and a basket with bits and bobs in it; so long as nobody messes with it, I’m happy. (Think “red stapler” from Office Space.)

Health insurance
The last quote I got was a supposedly “great” rate of $700/month for the two of us. Uh…no. Another, cheaper, company made me jump through hoops involving blood draws and the like, then after I faxed them all the information never bothered to respond.

We therefore remain among the millions of uninsured Americans.

Non-basic essentials

These are the things that, if I quit them, I wouldn’t be true to myself. In other words, I’d be at the subsistence level and wouldn’t actually be living life as intended.

Cats
Companionship and amusement.

Travel
How I expand my world and give myself inspiration to write. The costs of this are primarily gas and accommodation.

Landmark-hunting
A subset of travel and part of my work.

Reading/learning
The day I stop learning is the day I die.

Family company
Obviously, my husband. But there’s also my family in Britain. Air fares are pricey, but these visits still have to be included.

Health/Fitness
Maintaining this is fundamental to my being able to do anything else.

Writing
The times when I have stopped writing have been when I’ve been at my most depressed.

Mother Nature/spirit time
Vital for a sense of well-being.

Community and helping others
As above. This includes my child sponsorships and any helping-out activities, all of which leave me with a better sense of perspective and feeling better about myself.

I could give these up if it meant preserving the list above, but I’d prefer not to

– Eating out
– Coffee shops
– Live music and movies/dvd rentals
– Very Short Introductions

These are things I really enjoy, but which I’d give up if it meant I could do all the other things, above.

An interestingness here is that these three levels of need give you a series of goals. If you’re struggling to make ends meet, first of all you aim to meet those basic expenses–the top, subsistence level. Then, you slowly work on the important wants. It’s not a linear kind of thing; chances are some of those wanty-type needs will be met along with the basics. If you end up with a surplus, then you can add in the nice-to-haves as well–while never forgetting the two upper levels.

If you already have enough money, you can stash more into savings, ensuring that later in your life you’ll still be able to have enough money.

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