Category: Expat Argentina Life

As I mentioned last month I’ve started a series of monthly financial reviews to track my own progress.

August Monthly Financial Review

August – Assets +1.87%, Debts 0%

With an upcoming trip to Córdoba, Argentina my single biggest financial goal has been saving cash. In August I was extremely fortunate as I was able to essentially double my cash holdings. I received a quarterly bonus at work and also had my Argentina trip officially approved meaning that several of the expenses that originally came out of my own pocket were reimbursed.

In 2013 I set a list of ambitious goals. Its now end of July and it’s time to check up on where I’m at with those goals. Overall I give myself a 6 out of 10. I need to get my butt in gear in the 2nd half of the year.

Looking at what is left I honestly think it’s accomplishable but only with good focus.

Here are the original goals and a quick update on where I think I stand –

1) ) Record an album of 10 songs, originals and covers

In the spirit of Austin K Wood and The Simple Dollar, every month I’m going to start posting a personal financial review.

The idea of these posts is that they will help me track my own progress. I could do this private but opening this up to a public audience will drive me to succeed. I also want to be honest about what is and what is not working. I’ll break things down by my assets and debts to calculate my net worth. Using these numbers I’ll set goals for the upcoming month.I’m sure these reviews will evolve as I get into them however here is the start.

July Monthly Financial Review

July – Assets +4.53%, Debts 0%

In July and August my single biggest goal is to build up a cash buffer for when I head to Argentina at the end of August. I did pretty well on this goal increasing my cash by 26% and that’s even after buying my flight to Argentina which set me back $1300.

My good buddy and longtime San Francisco bike guy, posted a great article about biking in NYC.

He’s the one who initially encouraged me to get a bike here in SF. And damn am I glad he did.

Biking has been one the greatest overall contributors to my positive life condition.

It is daily exercise. It makes you feel great. It saves you time. It saves you money.

“What is that?”

Those were the only words my sister said seconds after I told her that I was moving to Córdoba, Argentina – the country’s second largest city.

She did have a valid question. Sure I knew the city fairly well having spent over 2 months there spread across 4 different trips – 2 personal and 2 business.

But what did I know about living outside the US. Very little.

Keeping in shape while traveling is difficult. Between the nights out, the constant beer drinking, and carb heavy meals the pounds quickly start to add up. However this is the general strategy I use to stay relatively fit while on the road. If you recall one of my 2013 goals is to become incredible fit.

In 2013 I have some ambitious goals. I wanted to write them out and share them with everyone so you can help encourage me. Publicly displaying my goals, while nerve wracking, also serves a method to keep me accountable. Don’t let me slip.

1) Record an album of 10 songs, orginals and covers

I’ve been playing guitar since my Sophomore year of college. Armed with GarageBand, my acoustic guitar, and a microphone this year I want to record an album of songs. Mostly covers however I do have a few originals I borrowed the chords and melody from other songs and added my own Spanish lyrics.

2) Fluency in Spanish