The 2009 Project for Awesome is in full swing. It's that wonderful day of the year when Nerdfighters and many others take over Youtube and instead of being stupid or funny or informative, the promote charities. Participants choose their favorite charity, make a video about it, then go and help promote other P4A videos. I have to love a day that's all about helping to make the world a better place. I guess that's why it's called Project for awesome.

I really want to participate by making a video, but I don't know that I can pull it off with the various time constraints I've got going on. I don't even know which charity I would focus on. But I can at least help out by helping to promote those P4A videos made by others. So here are a few that I've found so far.

Also, if you want to help out, just go searching for P4A videos, then rate and comment on them, because videos with the most comments get the most views. So, just by commenting on the videos on youtube, you will be helping to promote them.

I'll hide the behind a cut, because I don't want to piss people off with a bunch of embedded videos.

( Check out some videos )

Right now, my financial planning is mostly in my head or on a paycheck to paycheck basis. I know I need to get some more planning in and even better, I need to take some action.

Somethings that I have on my list to get started with.
1. Get a high interest savings account for more immediate saving potential -- like buying a house or going on trips or the like in the next five years.

2. Get an IRA started. This will only help me once I'm 65, but at that point I can take the money out of the account without having to pay taxes, which is sweet.

3. Figure out mutual funds investing. It seems a safer road than the stock market, but I'm going to have to look into it more, as I don't really know much about this option yet.

4. Invest in property. This is one That I'm most interested in. Of course, it's also the one that required the most money. Ah, well, everything in due time.

5. There are also alternative forms of investing. The one I recently discovered is Kiva, which allows you to loan money to entrepreneurs in impoverished nations. Not really something that I would plan to make money off of necessarily, but interesting nonetheless and certainly a worthy place to put your money.

A friend of mine sent this to me throught the email. Take the vocab quiz, and for every word you get right, they'll donate ten grains of rice to help end world hunger. :)

http://freerice.com/index.php

My friend and I have signed up for Hike for Discovery. Hike for Discovery is a program through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Participants train for a three-day hiking expedition at the Grand Canyon, while raising money to support the Society.

I'm really excited about it. I'm excited about training everyday and losing weight. I'm excited about going on this great active trip with my friend. And the best part is that it is not just a selfish act. I'm actually going to be helping a good cause in the process. How fabulous is that?

I've already started walking the hills around my house, and we had our first team track training on Thursday (although it was more of a meet and greet than a training). Tomorrow will be our first group hike, and that will be a lot of fun.

Anyway, I have to get started on the fundraising right away. So I'm putting it out there. Can you help me out?

Anyone who donates $25 or more will get a copy of a six page, 4"x5.5" chapbook of my poetry. I'm going to add art and collage to make it really nice.

I will also send you a receipt, because, hey, it's tax deductible.

If you want to learn more, or are interested in making a donation you can go to my fundraising page:

http://www.active.com/donate/hfdsvmb/ASvendsen

Thank you, even if all you did was read this, thank you. :)