Tuesday, April 27, 2010

1 Happy Things for Me A Day

One of my favorite personal blogs is Well-Heeled. She has a post up about squeezing more time out of her day and one suggestion is doing one happy things for herself each day. This is something my guy is always trying to tell me to do. I'm a bit of an over-achiever who tends to set unrealistic expectations for what I can accomplish in a day.

So I'm going to adopt this one happy thing a day mantra of sorts...

Today's: Going to read for a good 15 minutes in my current book.


Yesterday was my birthday... I turned a grand 27! I'll be posting more about that later!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Refinance Complete!

On the second closing attempt, I signed my closing paper for refinancing. Our goal was to make our monthly payment as low as possible and I think we achieved that!

Money is doing well... now I am working on how to best allocate it. I won't be under $1000 this month. There is already a good $200-$250 that is donations/charity race sign ups. And the last three nights we went out to dinner. (Need to slow that down!)

My credit card goal this month is going to be to keep it under the old mortgage payment amount, since I won't have a mortgage payment due in May. I think I can manage that!

I am working on relaxing a little more. I'm still not great at it. On foot doctor's orders, I have started some yoga to work on stretching my legs out, and it's not as bad as I thought.

The Project M-31: Simplify Your Life in 30 Days at The Minimalist Path is going slowly!

I have done a couple of the days, but we haven't done them all yet! I will give an update on that soon as well!

Happy Sunday everyone!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Day 3: Vehicle

As you may remember, last week I started doing Project M-31: Simplify Your Life in 30 Days at The Minimalist Path.

Last Tuesday, I was supposed to attack my car! Now I need to explain something. With my office job I am still traveling between about 6 different sites. With my business I travel even further between more sites. Given the population I work with I need certain materials in my car. So the complete minimalists in the car concept just doesn't work for my career. That aside, I spent a day last week on Saturday when I cleaned out my car. I went through the glove compartment. I cleaned out under the seats, in pockets, etc. It was fantastic!!! I did everything but only put in the minimalist items.

Then yesterday, I got my oil changed and they vacuumed the car. I feel much more calm in my car so I'll count that as a success!

So I have completed Day 2 and Day 3 so far! Look for more posts soon!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Lots of Appointsments Made

Less than a week ago, I posted my Big To Do's for April.

So far I have already completed the following:

* Make a dentist appointment for me (I've told T, but he's technically on his own. I did buy us new toothbrushes and flossers though!)

* Scheduled my annual doctor's with a doc who can give referrals for all things (including gastro)

* Scheduled an appointment with a foot specialist

* Got my oil changed this morning!

* Set up my online account to pay the government electronically (so part way on that one)

Feels GOOD!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Credit Card Challenge Thoughts

I was looking through my credit card statement last month when I successfully kept it under $1000.

And I realized...
That wasn't very hard!

I bought groceries, lots of gas, two gifts, two cheap bracelets for myself, AND even spent over $200 on clothes.

And I still made it!

Now this month we should be buying our tickets for Thailand, which will be around $1000 alone. But perhaps taking out plane tickets I can still say under $1000.

Perhaps instead of it being a challenge, it should be the norm.

Friday, April 2, 2010

March Money Update

I did it!

Even with spending a little over $200 on clothes (Friends & Family time at Gap, Inc.!) and buying one of my friends an early graduation gift, I still came in under $1000.

So excited!

I am set to refinance next week as well, and apparently I'm unique in that I want to bring extra money to closing to pay down the loan amount.

Things are good in that department!

April Goals Coming Soon