Between eating out every day (sometimes twice a day...), public transportation costs, trying to catch up at work with all of the time I'm missing due to class, I'm just plain frazzled and feeling like I'm spending more than I'd like. I'm behind on commenting on your lovely blogs, behind on my emails, turning into a jdating failure, spending a TON of money (which I guess just happens sometimes). Getting out of my routine is so tough for me and I'm really starting to feel the effects.
Gosh it's hard being a perfectionist...
Today I'm grateful for: a lot of really great days in a row (s'mores, pumpkins, a show...)
Daily Yakezie: fail
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The Real Costs of my Classes
I'm excited for day #3 of my classes today. It's a new class intensive and a new teacher. Here's hoping this teacher will be better and the class will be more interesting! I'm realizing how slowly and steadily the cost for this class is increasing. Here is the breakdown of what I've spent so far:
$2,200 ($550 per class... these are the 4 required ones)
$23.40 transportation via metro ($3.60 each way plus $4.50 to park times 2 days)
$10 lunch (for 2 days)
I have 6 days of class left and I'm determined to cut these variable costs further. Obviously I can't cut the cost of the classes, so that's unchanged. However, I can cut costs for transportation and keep food relatively constant or lower it.
Transportation Options (from most to least expensive)(1) Drive downtown: $18 parking per day plus cost of gas
(2) Drive to metro and park: $11.70 per day ($3.60 each way plus $4.50 to park)
(3) Take bus to metro: $6.80 per day ($3.40 each way)
Option 1 is off the table. It's far too expensive and not worth the headache of traffic. Option 2 is what I've been doing, but that adds up really fast! I'm definitely going to have to drive to metro and park 1 out 6 of the remaining days, but the rest of the days I am going to take the bus to the metro. There is also the potential for the cost to be even cheaper since I will likely be stopping by a happy hour and perhaps meeting a friend for dinner. That means that I may be traveling at off-peak times which means fares will be less expensive.
Taking the bus for 5/6 days and driving to the metro 1/6 days = $45.70 instead of $70.20 (savings of $24.50)
Food Options
I'm not sure how I'm going to get this cost down much more. I've been bringing (and refilling) a water bottle as well as some of my own snacks. Everyone has been eating lunch out each day and I think it's a good idea to socialize with my classmates. It's about making connections and I think chatting over lunch is the way to do that. I don't want to be seen as the cheapie who brings her own lunch. It's been really hard for me to connect with new people lately and I don't want there to be any more barriers than there need to be.
$10 for 2 days is cheap, mostly because I got a sandwich yesterday and a bagel today. Bagels are yummy and SO cheap! I'm going to try to intersperse cheapie lunches with (slightly) more expensive ones. And if I'm bringing water and snacks, that should keep costs lower, right?
Classmates have been buying coffees and expensive snacks at each of our breaks, but I don't think I need to do that to "fit in" but I do think buying lunch is the way to go.
Tell me I'm doing okay? I'll at least be saving $24.50 which can go towards paying for those meals out...
Today I'm grateful for: having the ability to pay for this class... I know I'm getting nit picky about these little associated costs, but I know that it will be worth it.
Daily Yakezie: Miss Thrifty posts some excellent tips for saving on fruits and veggies
$2,200 ($550 per class... these are the 4 required ones)
$23.40 transportation via metro ($3.60 each way plus $4.50 to park times 2 days)
$10 lunch (for 2 days)
I have 6 days of class left and I'm determined to cut these variable costs further. Obviously I can't cut the cost of the classes, so that's unchanged. However, I can cut costs for transportation and keep food relatively constant or lower it.
Transportation Options (from most to least expensive)(1) Drive downtown: $18 parking per day plus cost of gas
(2) Drive to metro and park: $11.70 per day ($3.60 each way plus $4.50 to park)
(3) Take bus to metro: $6.80 per day ($3.40 each way)
Option 1 is off the table. It's far too expensive and not worth the headache of traffic. Option 2 is what I've been doing, but that adds up really fast! I'm definitely going to have to drive to metro and park 1 out 6 of the remaining days, but the rest of the days I am going to take the bus to the metro. There is also the potential for the cost to be even cheaper since I will likely be stopping by a happy hour and perhaps meeting a friend for dinner. That means that I may be traveling at off-peak times which means fares will be less expensive.
Taking the bus for 5/6 days and driving to the metro 1/6 days = $45.70 instead of $70.20 (savings of $24.50)
Food Options
I'm not sure how I'm going to get this cost down much more. I've been bringing (and refilling) a water bottle as well as some of my own snacks. Everyone has been eating lunch out each day and I think it's a good idea to socialize with my classmates. It's about making connections and I think chatting over lunch is the way to do that. I don't want to be seen as the cheapie who brings her own lunch. It's been really hard for me to connect with new people lately and I don't want there to be any more barriers than there need to be.
$10 for 2 days is cheap, mostly because I got a sandwich yesterday and a bagel today. Bagels are yummy and SO cheap! I'm going to try to intersperse cheapie lunches with (slightly) more expensive ones. And if I'm bringing water and snacks, that should keep costs lower, right?
Classmates have been buying coffees and expensive snacks at each of our breaks, but I don't think I need to do that to "fit in" but I do think buying lunch is the way to go.
Tell me I'm doing okay? I'll at least be saving $24.50 which can go towards paying for those meals out...
Today I'm grateful for: having the ability to pay for this class... I know I'm getting nit picky about these little associated costs, but I know that it will be worth it.
Daily Yakezie: Miss Thrifty posts some excellent tips for saving on fruits and veggies
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
I made it!
First day of class down! I made it through, made it on time and didn't make a fool of myself. I think I'm hard to please, but I've found that teachers who tend to teach this sort of class are not really worth much. I found this especially true of the MoneyTalk class I took awhile back. I guess there's some truth in "those who can't do, teach"? This guy did not exude credibility and I did not find his constant examples about mistakes he's made charming. All in all, I think the class could've been a good 2 hours shorter and I felt like everything he said was totally dumbed down. Lame.
I said it before, if I have to learn about SMART goals one more time... I don't know what that threat meant last time, but yesterday it meant I rolled my eyes and starting playing solitaire on my iphone. I seriously hate SMART goals. I mean, they're lovely and all, but every single seminar or class that I've done in the last 8 years has mentioned them in some capacity. I'm sick of them! And just so you can be sick of them too, all of your goals should be SMART...
S ~ Specific
M ~ Measurable
A ~ Achievable
R ~ Realistic
T ~ Timely
Not to end this on a Negative Nancy note, I did learn a few new things and am still optimistic about other classes. There will be different professors for the other ones, so I hopefully won't have to have this guy again after today.
Today I'm grateful for: punctuality
Daily Yakezie: Yakezie Carnival is up at Narrow Bridge... I didn't know it was happening, but I'll def submit next time!
I said it before, if I have to learn about SMART goals one more time... I don't know what that threat meant last time, but yesterday it meant I rolled my eyes and starting playing solitaire on my iphone. I seriously hate SMART goals. I mean, they're lovely and all, but every single seminar or class that I've done in the last 8 years has mentioned them in some capacity. I'm sick of them! And just so you can be sick of them too, all of your goals should be SMART...
S ~ Specific
M ~ Measurable
A ~ Achievable
R ~ Realistic
T ~ Timely
Not to end this on a Negative Nancy note, I did learn a few new things and am still optimistic about other classes. There will be different professors for the other ones, so I hopefully won't have to have this guy again after today.
Today I'm grateful for: punctuality
Daily Yakezie: Yakezie Carnival is up at Narrow Bridge... I didn't know it was happening, but I'll def submit next time!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Monday Morning Inspiration: Red from Girl with the Red Balloon
This Monday we'll get our inspiration from Red of Girl with the Red Balloon, a blogger who inspires me with her journey to minimalism, financial savvy, and ability to plan a wedding in (seemingly) 5 minutes..jpg)
What inspired you to start your blog?
Before starting Girl with the Red Balloon, I wrote a personal blog about my family, relationships... Just every day stuff. Over the last few months of the blog, I realized that a lot of my posts were on paying off my credit card debt, budgeting and selling stuff to make some extra cash.
I began dreaming of what I would do after paying off my credit cards. I stumbled upon Well Heeled with a Mission's post on not paying off her student loans early. From there, I devoured every personal finance article I could. Once I realized what a huge personal finance community was out there, I wanted nothing more than to be a part of it.
What inspires you on your financial journey?
Without a doubt, I get tons of inspiration from reading about everyone's journey through their blogs or comments on GRB. If it weren't for personal finance bloggers, I would have succumbed to the encouragement of my coworker to "spend all the money you can while you're young enough to enjoy it."
Lately, I've also been finding great inspiration in the people around me at work and at home. Because I'm never one to turn down the opportunity to talk about finances, everyone who knows me knows that my ultimate goal is to be debt free and spend my money consciously. Over the last month or so, I've had a couple coworkers come up to me and say, "You know, I decided we're going to cut this out of our budget so we can focus on paying off our credit cards!" Even my mom has caught the debt payment bug. Her goal is to be debt free by the time she turns 50 - seven years from now! Go, Mom!
Just watching people (in real life or in the blogging community) make the decision to take control of their lives and their finances... It inspires me every day!
What is a challenge you've overcome?
Deep question! I asked my husband what I should answer for this question, and he said, "I solve all your problems for you." Ha!
Almost every challenge I've overcome since becoming an adult has revolved around putting less pressure on myself to please everyone around me and conform to societal expectations.
I overcame the challenge of changing my major one semester from graduation because I took a class out of sequence. I left a job I loved because I consistently put the job before school. And finally, I overcame the challenge of taking too many classes in order to graduate within an "acceptable" time frame.
I'm having to learn day by day to do what is best for me and not what will make me look best to my grandparents or my coworkers. Life shouldn't be about pleasing everyone around you. As long as you're happy with who you are and the life you're living, that should be all that matters.
What is something you're working towards?
Becoming debt free, graduating college and finding a job that challenges me!
Name one of each... that inspires you:
Book: I'm bending the rules and naming three: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.
Song: Burning Bright by Shinedown
Place: Anywhere in the Great Smoky Mountains. I love visiting the mountains in the fall just to see the leaves change colors, but really, the mountains inspire me any time of the year! Just seeing all of the animals in their natural habitats (We just ran into a 300 pound black bear on Saturday!) and realizing that the world is so much larger than any problem we may be having at the moment. It's humbling.
Blog: Okay, this one was tough! I'm going with Mysti's blog Digging Out From Our Mess. Mysti is just so real. She's very honest about her money struggles, and she's always there to lend an encouraging word on GRB. Check her out!
Person: This is going to sound corny, but my mom inspires me more than any other person out there. She's been my best friend and a constant source of encouragement. She also made the very gutsy decision to go back to school for her bachelor's and her master's in accounting. She got her associates degree in accounting at 21, but with three kids and a husband, she had to give up her goals to raise her family.
A lot of times we young pups look at the older generation as being stubborn or set in their ways, but my mom has proven that stereotype so wrong. Every day she calls me up to talk about an environmental issue she's learned about in geology, the next community service project she's working on or the political stance she's taking on any given issue. I love watching her grow and open her mind to new ideas and experiences. We could all stand to be a little more like her! :)
Movie: Bending the rules again! Dead Poets Society, Shawshank Redemption and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
What are you grateful for today?
Today, I'm grateful for having such a supportive family behind me. I don't know where I'd be without them! (Mr. Red says I'm most grateful for "having a husband of extreme strength and intelligence." Funny, funny man.)
Today I'm grateful for: Red's inspiration
Daily Yakezie: Red is part of the challenge... double counts!
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This photo by Erin Clark was one of the first things I deemed important enough to go into credit card debt for. Hey, I needed wall art for the apartment! I don't have the picture anymore, but every time I stumble across it on the Internet it reminds me of how far I've come on my journey to financial freedom.
What inspired you to start your blog?
Before starting Girl with the Red Balloon, I wrote a personal blog about my family, relationships... Just every day stuff. Over the last few months of the blog, I realized that a lot of my posts were on paying off my credit card debt, budgeting and selling stuff to make some extra cash.
I began dreaming of what I would do after paying off my credit cards. I stumbled upon Well Heeled with a Mission's post on not paying off her student loans early. From there, I devoured every personal finance article I could. Once I realized what a huge personal finance community was out there, I wanted nothing more than to be a part of it.
What inspires you on your financial journey?
Without a doubt, I get tons of inspiration from reading about everyone's journey through their blogs or comments on GRB. If it weren't for personal finance bloggers, I would have succumbed to the encouragement of my coworker to "spend all the money you can while you're young enough to enjoy it."
Lately, I've also been finding great inspiration in the people around me at work and at home. Because I'm never one to turn down the opportunity to talk about finances, everyone who knows me knows that my ultimate goal is to be debt free and spend my money consciously. Over the last month or so, I've had a couple coworkers come up to me and say, "You know, I decided we're going to cut this out of our budget so we can focus on paying off our credit cards!" Even my mom has caught the debt payment bug. Her goal is to be debt free by the time she turns 50 - seven years from now! Go, Mom!
Just watching people (in real life or in the blogging community) make the decision to take control of their lives and their finances... It inspires me every day!
What is a challenge you've overcome?
Deep question! I asked my husband what I should answer for this question, and he said, "I solve all your problems for you." Ha!
Almost every challenge I've overcome since becoming an adult has revolved around putting less pressure on myself to please everyone around me and conform to societal expectations.
I overcame the challenge of changing my major one semester from graduation because I took a class out of sequence. I left a job I loved because I consistently put the job before school. And finally, I overcame the challenge of taking too many classes in order to graduate within an "acceptable" time frame.
I'm having to learn day by day to do what is best for me and not what will make me look best to my grandparents or my coworkers. Life shouldn't be about pleasing everyone around you. As long as you're happy with who you are and the life you're living, that should be all that matters.
What is something you're working towards?
Becoming debt free, graduating college and finding a job that challenges me!
Name one of each... that inspires you:
Book: I'm bending the rules and naming three: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.
Song: Burning Bright by Shinedown
Place: Anywhere in the Great Smoky Mountains. I love visiting the mountains in the fall just to see the leaves change colors, but really, the mountains inspire me any time of the year! Just seeing all of the animals in their natural habitats (We just ran into a 300 pound black bear on Saturday!) and realizing that the world is so much larger than any problem we may be having at the moment. It's humbling.
Blog: Okay, this one was tough! I'm going with Mysti's blog Digging Out From Our Mess. Mysti is just so real. She's very honest about her money struggles, and she's always there to lend an encouraging word on GRB. Check her out!
Person: This is going to sound corny, but my mom inspires me more than any other person out there. She's been my best friend and a constant source of encouragement. She also made the very gutsy decision to go back to school for her bachelor's and her master's in accounting. She got her associates degree in accounting at 21, but with three kids and a husband, she had to give up her goals to raise her family.
A lot of times we young pups look at the older generation as being stubborn or set in their ways, but my mom has proven that stereotype so wrong. Every day she calls me up to talk about an environmental issue she's learned about in geology, the next community service project she's working on or the political stance she's taking on any given issue. I love watching her grow and open her mind to new ideas and experiences. We could all stand to be a little more like her! :)
Movie: Bending the rules again! Dead Poets Society, Shawshank Redemption and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
What are you grateful for today?
Today, I'm grateful for having such a supportive family behind me. I don't know where I'd be without them! (Mr. Red says I'm most grateful for "having a husband of extreme strength and intelligence." Funny, funny man.)
Today I'm grateful for: Red's inspiration
Daily Yakezie: Red is part of the challenge... double counts!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
First Day of School Nerves!
Tomorrow is my first day of school in... hmm... more than 5 years? My certificate program classes start tomorrow and I'm (surprisingly) nervous! What if the other kids don't like me? What if I wear the wrong thing? And what if the program isn't all I hoped for? I'm really putting a lot of eggs in one basket with this one... Please reassure me that I'm going to be all right!
Today I'm grateful for: fun friend adventures and getting 4 loads of laundry done!
Daily Yakezie: Debt Ninja has an awesome tour of his crib and goes through how he and the wife decorated on the cheap.
Today I'm grateful for: fun friend adventures and getting 4 loads of laundry done!
Daily Yakezie: Debt Ninja has an awesome tour of his crib and goes through how he and the wife decorated on the cheap.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Gratitude
Me, I can't even remember the last time I was this excited for you over all
that you're on the verge of doing, being, and having.
Just sayin' -
The Universe
Every morning I wake up to a note just like this one in my email. It's a great reminder of the things I strive to do every day, but sometimes fall short. It's my reminder to follow "the secret" (which I'm not sure that I *always* believe in). However, there can't be anything wrong with setting goals, visions and intentions, believing in them with your whole heart and letting the universe guide you in the right direction.
The website Notes from the Universe, which sends me those inspirational emails each morning, let me do something that I've wanted to for a long time, but have never gotten around to doing... making a vision board. I'm still creating, tweaking and re-imagining it, but I promise I will share it it with all of you soon. I'm still looking for a few more pictures to add--my dream homes (my condo and my beach house), my future career (event planning and real estate investing and staying at home mom-ing) and places I want to travel. If you have seen photos like this that you'd like to share, send me the links!
Thoughts become things... choose good ones.
Today I'm grateful for: the gorgeous art from above by Laura Berger, everything that lies ahead
Daily Yakezie: Great lists of everyone participatingTuesday, October 12, 2010
Money and Life + / -
(-) Less extra income this month because I'm not babysitting Munchkin as many times
(+) ... because I'm starting classes this month
(+) ... but it's kind of okay because I made $75 participating in a focus group
(-) I spent more than I made in September
(+) ... even though I had about $450 extra income last month between babysitting and substitute teaching in our Religious School
(+) ... because I paid for 4 of my classes to the tune of $2,500ish.
(+) I'm on track to have a no spend on clothes month.
(+) I've also begun clearing stuff out of my apartment again. I don't think I'm going to bring back my Get Rid of Stuff Sundays, but it's nice to feel a little less cluttered.
(+) My Alexa number dipped below 1,000,000!
(-) Personal property tax was due on my car... for $350. Lame.
Today I'm grateful for: More positives than negatives
Daily Yakezie: Welcome Serendipity to the challenge.
(+) ... because I'm starting classes this month
(+) ... but it's kind of okay because I made $75 participating in a focus group
(-) I spent more than I made in September
(+) ... even though I had about $450 extra income last month between babysitting and substitute teaching in our Religious School
(+) ... because I paid for 4 of my classes to the tune of $2,500ish.
(+) I'm on track to have a no spend on clothes month.
(+) I've also begun clearing stuff out of my apartment again. I don't think I'm going to bring back my Get Rid of Stuff Sundays, but it's nice to feel a little less cluttered.
(+) My Alexa number dipped below 1,000,000!
(-) Personal property tax was due on my car... for $350. Lame.
Today I'm grateful for: More positives than negatives
Daily Yakezie: Welcome Serendipity to the challenge.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Monday Morning Inspiration... it's back! Featuring eemusings of Musings of an Abstract Aucklander
It's been too long since I've had my Monday Morning Inspiration feature. I have no one to blame but myself for being a little lazy. So I got off my butt and emailed some fabulous and amazing and inspiring bloggers and you should have something to look forward to for the next few Mondays at least! This Monday morning, we'll get our inspiration from eemsuings of Musings of an Abstract Aucklander, a blogger inspires me with her fiscal wisdom at such a young age (only 22!) all the way from the other side of the world (New Zealand!).
What inspired you to start your blog?
It was a pretty spur of the moment thing. Picking a platform, a user name, all that. I'd often blogged - sporadically - on other sites like Windows Live and Bebo and whatnot, but I don't think I've ever maintained an ongoing space. (Er, aside from a couple of years back in intermediate school when I ran an S Club 7 fan site. I believe it was hosted by homepage.com The slickest thing about it was the CSS nav bar - I pinched the code off another site and customised it for myself).
My blog started out just as a spot for me to ramble on and chronicle my life in some way, and after discovering some PF blogs (Fabulous Broke, English Major, AmBellamy) I started to write a little more more about money and finances. It remains a bit of a creative outlet for me, really.
What inspires you on your financial journey?
I have lofty goals - to buy a house in a city with a high COL, while in a relatively low-paying field - and to travel. Lots. I reckon I live a relatively simple life, by choice. My days off usually consist of cooking, baking, running, catching up on news and blogs, reading, playing guitar, taking a ridiculous amount of time to choose fresh fruit and veg at the grocer up the road. I actually enjoy those things and I relish the little pleasures while knowing I'm on track to save for the things that are important to me.
What is a challenge you've overcame?
I guess the two big challenges I've faced were moving out of home while still in high school and managing to make it work, and holding things together recently through T's two stints of unemployment.
What is something you are working towards?
Obviously, wealth, but also health: getting fitter and eating better.
Name one of each ... that inspires you:
Book - I recently read two books about foreigners making their lives in Italy - See Naples and Die, and An Umbrian Love Story. Both made me want to book a flight over immediately and indulge myself in the cuisine and sights.
Song - The Only Exception, Paramore (saw them live last week!)
Place - Anywhere there is beach, and water.
Blog - Lordy, there are too many to count. It's a bit of a copout, but I'm going to say Stratejoy - all of their bloggers inspire me with every entry.
Person - My mum...in some ways we couldn't be more opposite but in others we're just the same.
Movie - Forrest Gump!
What are you grateful for today?
My mini garden. There's nothing like growing your own food.
Today I'm grateful for: eemusing's inspiration
Daily Yakezie: eemusing is part of the challenge... double counts!
Check me out at the Frugal Feast Carnival
What inspired you to start your blog?
It was a pretty spur of the moment thing. Picking a platform, a user name, all that. I'd often blogged - sporadically - on other sites like Windows Live and Bebo and whatnot, but I don't think I've ever maintained an ongoing space. (Er, aside from a couple of years back in intermediate school when I ran an S Club 7 fan site. I believe it was hosted by homepage.com The slickest thing about it was the CSS nav bar - I pinched the code off another site and customised it for myself).
My blog started out just as a spot for me to ramble on and chronicle my life in some way, and after discovering some PF blogs (Fabulous Broke, English Major, AmBellamy) I started to write a little more more about money and finances. It remains a bit of a creative outlet for me, really.
What inspires you on your financial journey?
I have lofty goals - to buy a house in a city with a high COL, while in a relatively low-paying field - and to travel. Lots. I reckon I live a relatively simple life, by choice. My days off usually consist of cooking, baking, running, catching up on news and blogs, reading, playing guitar, taking a ridiculous amount of time to choose fresh fruit and veg at the grocer up the road. I actually enjoy those things and I relish the little pleasures while knowing I'm on track to save for the things that are important to me.
What is a challenge you've overcame?
I guess the two big challenges I've faced were moving out of home while still in high school and managing to make it work, and holding things together recently through T's two stints of unemployment.
What is something you are working towards?
Obviously, wealth, but also health: getting fitter and eating better.
Name one of each ... that inspires you:
Book - I recently read two books about foreigners making their lives in Italy - See Naples and Die, and An Umbrian Love Story. Both made me want to book a flight over immediately and indulge myself in the cuisine and sights.
Song - The Only Exception, Paramore (saw them live last week!)
Place - Anywhere there is beach, and water.
Blog - Lordy, there are too many to count. It's a bit of a copout, but I'm going to say Stratejoy - all of their bloggers inspire me with every entry.
Person - My mum...in some ways we couldn't be more opposite but in others we're just the same.
Movie - Forrest Gump!
What are you grateful for today?
My mini garden. There's nothing like growing your own food.
Today I'm grateful for: eemusing's inspiration
Daily Yakezie: eemusing is part of the challenge... double counts!
Check me out at the Frugal Feast Carnival
Friday, October 8, 2010
3 Lessons Learned from Munchkin: Part 1
I know some of my readers have kids, so these lessons will be nothing new to you, but for a twenty something with very little access to small children, these are major epiphanies. I'm going to make this a periodic series of lessons (financial and otherwise) I've learned while hanging out with Munchkin.
Lesson 1: It doesn't take much to be happy.
Making friendship bracelets, coloring pictures, being read to, choosing your own afternoon snack, ringing the doorbell of a neighborhood friend, these are the things that bring excitement! It doesn't take fancy games or expensive gadgets to be entertained. It just takes some imagination and a little bit of independence. Do you remember what a thrill it used to be when you got to make a "big" decision like what type of cookie to get from the bakery? I want to bring that back to my daily life!
Lesson 2: Clothes are meant to get dirty.
It doesn't matter what you wear, as long as it is comfortable and lets you be able to play. It's going to get dirty anyway (probably from going down the slide or swinging on the swing), so why spend a lot of money? And who cares if your fly is down? It's faster when you have to get to the bathroom.
Lesson 3: Play like no one is watching.
Be silly! Do what you think is fun. Sing to yourself even if your voice is terrible... and sing loud! Play pretend and make the world the way that you want it to be.
and more to come!
Today I'm grateful for: potential dates next week. Yes, I'm back on jdate.
Daily Yakezie: Aspiring Millionaire gave me a blog award! It's nice to get them, but I tend not to actually follow through and give them to other people.
Lesson 1: It doesn't take much to be happy.
Making friendship bracelets, coloring pictures, being read to, choosing your own afternoon snack, ringing the doorbell of a neighborhood friend, these are the things that bring excitement! It doesn't take fancy games or expensive gadgets to be entertained. It just takes some imagination and a little bit of independence. Do you remember what a thrill it used to be when you got to make a "big" decision like what type of cookie to get from the bakery? I want to bring that back to my daily life!
Lesson 2: Clothes are meant to get dirty.
It doesn't matter what you wear, as long as it is comfortable and lets you be able to play. It's going to get dirty anyway (probably from going down the slide or swinging on the swing), so why spend a lot of money? And who cares if your fly is down? It's faster when you have to get to the bathroom.
Lesson 3: Play like no one is watching.
Be silly! Do what you think is fun. Sing to yourself even if your voice is terrible... and sing loud! Play pretend and make the world the way that you want it to be.
and more to come!
Today I'm grateful for: potential dates next week. Yes, I'm back on jdate.
Daily Yakezie: Aspiring Millionaire gave me a blog award! It's nice to get them, but I tend not to actually follow through and give them to other people.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Changes
I've decided that this is going to be my last year at my current job. It will have been 5 years in this position by the time I leave in the spring. That's a long, long time for a twenty-something. I've been really happy in this position, but the job no longer challenges me on a day to day basis. And the nature of this position at my organization is that there just isn't room for growth. So I'm moving on to bigger and better things.
I've decided to go back to school... sort of. I'm going to be taking a certificate program that expands upon what I do at my current job. My hope is that this will make me more marketable and will help position me to start at new job towards the middle of this summer.
I have high hopes for this program. It is structured so that I can take each of the required classes in a two day in-person intensive OR take classes online. After I complete the classes, there is an internship component which I hope to do concurrently with my job starting towards the end of winter.
I feel good now that I have a plan. I hope that things fall into place... they seem to be, so far. I just hope that once I start the classes next week, I still feel as optimistic.
Sorry that I can't be more specific, but I'd like to try to stay as anonymous as possible! If you have specific questions, feel free to email me.
Today I'm grateful for: love and support
Daily Yakezie: Got a chuckle from Thousandaire's confession of being cheap. Bonus, he's kind of cute. Blog crush... maybe?
I've decided to go back to school... sort of. I'm going to be taking a certificate program that expands upon what I do at my current job. My hope is that this will make me more marketable and will help position me to start at new job towards the middle of this summer.
I have high hopes for this program. It is structured so that I can take each of the required classes in a two day in-person intensive OR take classes online. After I complete the classes, there is an internship component which I hope to do concurrently with my job starting towards the end of winter.
I feel good now that I have a plan. I hope that things fall into place... they seem to be, so far. I just hope that once I start the classes next week, I still feel as optimistic.
Sorry that I can't be more specific, but I'd like to try to stay as anonymous as possible! If you have specific questions, feel free to email me.
Today I'm grateful for: love and support
Daily Yakezie: Got a chuckle from Thousandaire's confession of being cheap. Bonus, he's kind of cute. Blog crush... maybe?
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
3 More Ways I Suck with Money
I've admitted my financial faults before and now I'm ready to do it again.
1. I forgot to pay my rent again by the first of the month.
Yes, this isn't the first time... My landlord has been cool about this in the past, but I'm not sure how much longer she will be. I'm putting it in the mail today, ASAP. And I have to call her to tell her its late. Me = Mortified. I'm usually really responsible, I swear!
2. I've been eating out by myself.
I know my rule is that eating out is social and I only do it with someone else, but I've broken this rule a lot in the past month. Call it a fall funk or general laziness, but I just don't have the energy or motivation to go grocery shopping or cook.
3. I let my parents pay.
When sister came to visit, we used the credit card that gets billed to my parents. Several times. I feel guilty about this, even though they won't bat an eye.
I feel better admitting these things. Don't judge me too harshly! Have you sucked with money recently? Tell me I'm not the only one!
Today I'm grateful for: fuzzy socks and sweatpants
Daily Yakezie: Digging Out From Our Mess discusses similarities between a sick fish and personal finance
1. I forgot to pay my rent again by the first of the month.
Yes, this isn't the first time... My landlord has been cool about this in the past, but I'm not sure how much longer she will be. I'm putting it in the mail today, ASAP. And I have to call her to tell her its late. Me = Mortified. I'm usually really responsible, I swear!
2. I've been eating out by myself.
I know my rule is that eating out is social and I only do it with someone else, but I've broken this rule a lot in the past month. Call it a fall funk or general laziness, but I just don't have the energy or motivation to go grocery shopping or cook.
3. I let my parents pay.
When sister came to visit, we used the credit card that gets billed to my parents. Several times. I feel guilty about this, even though they won't bat an eye.
I feel better admitting these things. Don't judge me too harshly! Have you sucked with money recently? Tell me I'm not the only one!
Today I'm grateful for: fuzzy socks and sweatpants
Daily Yakezie: Digging Out From Our Mess discusses similarities between a sick fish and personal finance
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