I was thinking about things that have changed for me since I started focusing on getting out of debt and a big one hit me: I stopped keeping a Stuff I Want list. I’m always taking notes for myself, not unlike Marissa, and some of them used to always be daydream notes. I need new flowy tops! Blank cards with cool printed designs! Those green moss balls to decorate my place like a Pottery Barn catalog! It’s a great way to stay in debt, is to always want stuff and to justify purchases with “Well, I have been wanting one of these for a while…” I looked through my notebook the other day and I haven’t written a Stuff I Want list in at least a year. I guess things do change…

Inspiration

Men’s Health featured Tyler Perry this month and his own brand of success. He owns his own content, which is apparently a big deal in Hollywood. The MH Editor in Chief framed Perry’s motivation this way: “Being willing to change the status quo-even if the status quo is pretty damn good-is a hallmark of a lifetime of physical and emotional health. New workouts to challenge your body, new careers and new hobbies to challenge your mind-they keep the mangy dog of self-satisfaction from running you down midway through the race. 

Speaking of workouts, apparently we have all been fooling ourselves with P90x and Insanity…this guy refuses to be photographed and one workout with him will change your life. Frank Matrisciano says of his own insane workouts: “Train like this for long enough and a weird thing happens,” says Matrisciano. “The voice changes; it starts being positive.” Instead of holding you back, it spurs you on, helping you build strength and power that translate far beyond the gym. “Whatever you do in life,” says Matrisciano, “this type of training makes you better at it.”

Best of the Blogs

Do We Have Too Much Choice? by DQYDJ

Bernanke’s Boom: Dividends, Leverage, and Why This Time Isn’t Different by MoneyMamba

Why I Stopped Pushing My Son to go to College by So Over This

I’d Rather Have New Shoes Than Kids by My Broken Coin

The Myth of Diversification at MoneySmartGuides

Best Cashback Credit Cards at Free Money Finance

Shortcuts to Financial Freedom at See Debt Run

You Need to Understand Algebra at 6400 Personal Finance

My LA buddy, Emantable has a very aesthetically pleasing blog. I tagged along with him to do a 5-mile run yesterday with the Pasadena Pacers. I hope he doesn’t mind that I am always inviting myself to these things, but his progress is really exciting!

Reggaeton Pick of the Week

I am totally stealing this format from Financial Uproar. This section is my intro to the best reggaeton songs and there’s no better place to start than with Calle 13′s Atreve-te-te-te: