So Much Fun, So Little Time...Before The Rain Starts!

The summer has been full for us...and it's been amazing!

Some updates:

The last few weekends have been no exception to our adventurous summer!

• We hit Seattle for a concert, an amazing hotel, and a picture tour through Pike Place.
• We headed back to Wyoming for a wedding, driving from midnight to 4 a.m. to make it.
• We camped in Mt. Hood National Forest - no bears and possibly the last for the summer (boo!) but lots of sun and cool river water.

(More details to come on all of these!)

On the challenges and exercise, I'm still doing my burbees - I'm now at 129 days!

And not to be left out, we've pulled out our passports and we're gearing up for our week in Iceland.  We cannot wait, with or without a volcano eruption!

I hope everyone's summer has been as breathtaking, exciting, and daring!

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn

Unexploited Finances: FICO Score Changes. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

There are a lot of articles being published on the recently announced changes in the FICO score calculations.

You can read more about it here and here.

My thoughts...

The Good

The lessons borrowers learned from prior debt experiences can now be used!

Individuals who were denied credit, or only provided credit with higher interest rates, based on prior payment issues (debt sent to collections) will be able to receive loans!

Your prior credit history of debt in collections will no longer be included in your credit score calculations.

Businesses (credit card companies and auto dealerships) and banks will be able to loan more money, adding profits into the American economy.

Employment increases.

The Bad

Individuals who have not learned lessons from their past debt problems will be able to take on more credit.

Having bad personal money practices, these individuals run the risk of taking on too much debt, not making enough money to pay off the debt (especially if a major cash issue comes up, like an unplanned medical payment), and needing to be bailed out (bankruptcy, partial blame of the housing bubble burst).

Businesses and banks, quick to issue credit, will find themselves with individuals unable to pay back the money.

The Ugly

Millions of individuals take advantage of the loosened score calculations, take on credit.

Thousands of businesses take advantage of the loosened score calculations, issue credit.

Individuals take on too much debt.

Individuals pay back too little of the money.

Individuals default on their loans.

Businesses miss expected earnings.

A bubble bursts...multiple bubbles burst...

Employment decreases.

Consumerism gone too far.  Again.

Summary

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." (George Santayana)

I hope this change helps individuals who were put in tough (past) situations.  We all go through financial difficulties and (I personally) would not want to be judged on these situations.

I would encourage anyone who is considering consumer debt (including mortgages and car loans) to work on their personal financial situation before taking on any credit.

Make more than you spend.
Save for rainy days.
Save for security and comfort. (retirement)
Save for priorities.

Use the Four Steps for Exploiting Your Finances (Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, Step 4).

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn

Mini Goal - 100 Days, 10 Burpees a Day - COMPLETE!

I made it! 100 days, 10 burpees a day!

Mini goal complete!

This week ended my mini challenge of completing 10 burpees a day, for 100 days!

This sounds easy - it's only 10 burpees - but it's not! Not only is completing 10 burpees in a row surprisingly tough, the more difficult part is sticking with it for 100 days!

Admittedly, I wasn't able to complete all 100 days in a row without missing a couple of days (not on purpose!). But I made up for those days, sometimes doing 20 burpees a day!

As I became more accustomed to the movement, and became a little stronger, I added a clap push-up within the burpee.  I tried to finish the goal with double-clap push-ups, but I wasn't able to complete all 10 burpees without stopping.

On the last day of my challenge, my wife recorded me completing 10 of the single clap push-up burpees in a row - yay!

Benefits

I'm definitely stronger due to the challenge.  It's definitely not a full workout or enough gym time, but it is something.

I know I can complete 100 day challenges.  This is the longest workout related challenge I've ever completed (I couldn't even finish P90X, even after making it over 60 days!).

I have a new, healthy evening routine.

What's Next?

I'm at the point where completing my burpees everyday is natural - and now it only takes about 40 seconds! - so I'm considering extending this mini goal to 200 DAYS IN A ROW!

We're discussing another challenge, possible one that can become part of our daily/weekly habit. Having a goal that becomes part of life (like the burpees have) is an interesting goal.

I believe focusing (again) on some of my time wasters would be good.  I'd like to build better habits around actions that suck up my time.  Possibly limiting streaming television shows or my time on social media platforms. (I still have a lot of time wasters!)

For now...

I completed my mini goal of 100 days, 10 burpees a day!!

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn