Even though we ran around like crazy (as usual), this has been one of the most relaxing and fun weekends I've had in a while.
Yesterday was Patrick's birthday. He is 39, which is hard to believe, especially since when we met he was 29!! He had a free breakfast at IHOP, and Saturday night we went to Gallery Bistro at International Plaza with Chris (whose birthday is tomorrow) and his girlfriend Victoria. We had a great time. I actually bought a sundress to wear to commemorate the occasion. I kicked it up a notch and did not wear my usual weekend shoes (flip flops). It was the first time probably since Michelle's wedding I've put a drop of make-up on my face. It was kind of nice. :-) After that, we came home and had martinis.
Today we spent some time shopping and visited with my Mom and Dad. I gave my Dad a gift card to Chili's. One dollar for every year of being a father. Forty-eight years! I love my Dad SO much. They invited us to dinner, but we decided to stay home and take it easy.
Work has been getting rather busy for me. I've had some slow periods since I've been back from Ocala, so I am happy things are picking up to a more comfortable balance. I should have another class starting sometime this summer, so I should really enjoy my down time while I can. Here's hoping for a great week!!!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Trying to find balance
Lately I've been contemplating putting my Facebook account into a dormant state. I've weened away from posting many-to-any status updates, and I've only logged on once a day (I know that doesn't sound like a big deal, but I've been spending no more than 15 minutes per day for the last 2 weeks or so, which is a HUGE decrease for me.) I am a little disappointed in the way the online world has in many ways become the real word. I love Facebook for the obvious reasons: it's super fun, and it's a great, quick way to know what everyone is doing, but I feel that in some ways it's replaced the real life connections. I'm tired of coming home from work and plopping down with the laptop, especially after having spent 8 hours in front of a computer at work. When I really think about it, it's outright ridiculous. Before we bought this house 3.5 years ago, we had no home internet - at least not when we first moved back to FL. We had old, sluggish computers at the time, and we just didn't feel it was worth the money to pay for high speed internet. In a lot of ways, I miss those days. We played a lot of board games and drank a lot of wine. It was fun. :-)Now, I don't think we'll get that extreme again, but I feel something has to give. :-) I need to find some kind of internet/techy balance in my life. Maybe the answer is to delete 95% of my "friends" list. It's become something of a chore to log in and try and scroll through a million updates, many from people I quite frankly do not talk to in any other form of life than Facebook.
Yesterday, after work, I drove to Gainesville to spend some time with one of my best and longest friends. I spent the night and had a blast. I really needed a night with a gal pal. Her husband, our bartender, kept the Cosmos flowing. They were awesome. I had a great day with her family today, and I really hope I go back soon. I always let too much time pass between our visits. It's this type of human interaction I really need more of in my life.
Patrick completed his first week at his new job. I am so proud of him. I love my husband. Next weekend is his birthday, and I'm very excited for a double date with his best friend.
ETA: I just deleted 37 people from FB. Maybe a little clean-up and less face time will do the trick.
Yesterday, after work, I drove to Gainesville to spend some time with one of my best and longest friends. I spent the night and had a blast. I really needed a night with a gal pal. Her husband, our bartender, kept the Cosmos flowing. They were awesome. I had a great day with her family today, and I really hope I go back soon. I always let too much time pass between our visits. It's this type of human interaction I really need more of in my life.
Patrick completed his first week at his new job. I am so proud of him. I love my husband. Next weekend is his birthday, and I'm very excited for a double date with his best friend.
ETA: I just deleted 37 people from FB. Maybe a little clean-up and less face time will do the trick.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Welcoming a routine
Now that work travel is essentially over for me (at least in the great excess of the past two months), I am looking forward to re-establishing a routine. Usually I frown at the predictability of routines, though they are obviously necessary, but after living in the hotel for the past 2 months, I welcome all things consistent! I am looking forward to going back to work tomorrow, in Tampa, and driving with Patrick. I am looking forward to sitting in my nice comfy chair in my nice comfy office and seeing my friends!
I am also thrilled to know I'll be waking up to my delicious iced coffee. Who knew I'd get so tired of Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts?? The coffee we make at home is SO much better! It feels good to say that! Speaking of food, I definitely need to start eating better. I'm a little tired of dining out. I've eaten so much fast food lately due to unplanned and rushed meals, and it's showing. Ugg. I can't wait to have packed lunches and better planned dinners! I can't wait for exercising during lunch time. I miss my daily walks.
There's no place like home. Since the housing market is really not improving, I need to put a little more energy at enjoying my home and making some improvements. It doesn't look like we'll be going anywhere anytime too soon. Lately we've been spending a lot of time on our screened porch. I am looking forward to making this a more enjoyable space in the coming weeks.
I am also thrilled to know I'll be waking up to my delicious iced coffee. Who knew I'd get so tired of Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts?? The coffee we make at home is SO much better! It feels good to say that! Speaking of food, I definitely need to start eating better. I'm a little tired of dining out. I've eaten so much fast food lately due to unplanned and rushed meals, and it's showing. Ugg. I can't wait to have packed lunches and better planned dinners! I can't wait for exercising during lunch time. I miss my daily walks.
There's no place like home. Since the housing market is really not improving, I need to put a little more energy at enjoying my home and making some improvements. It doesn't look like we'll be going anywhere anytime too soon. Lately we've been spending a lot of time on our screened porch. I am looking forward to making this a more enjoyable space in the coming weeks.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Snowballing
We did meet our goal of paying off our Sam's Club credit card last month. I'm really proud of our accomplishments right now. I can officially say we have no credit card debt or any debt other than house, one car, and student loans. Sounds good! Unfortunately, the student loan debt amounts to having 2 really nice cars, so it's really NOT so good. But hey, I'll take our successes where we can get them. Nonetheless, I am happy our credit card and other independent financings are paid off.
Next up, I am tackling the only private student loan I have. Luckily, it has a relatively small balance. However, due to some uncertainties right now with Patrick's job, I am only putting the money aside rather than making a payment just in case we need to dip into our emergency fund a little. Hopefully everything will work out, and we'll be okay.... And, since we'll be paying 3% into our pensions effective July 1st (Thanks legislature!) I want to prepare for that slight reduction in income too.
Next up, I am tackling the only private student loan I have. Luckily, it has a relatively small balance. However, due to some uncertainties right now with Patrick's job, I am only putting the money aside rather than making a payment just in case we need to dip into our emergency fund a little. Hopefully everything will work out, and we'll be okay.... And, since we'll be paying 3% into our pensions effective July 1st (Thanks legislature!) I want to prepare for that slight reduction in income too.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Home at last
Well, after 2 months of living out of hotels, Monday-Friday, I am finally finished training my first class. I think it went very well for my first go, and the employees seem excited to get to work. We had a great graduation celebration yesterday. I bought grad decorations from Dollar Tree, and we had a nice potluck. They got me the sweetest card with a gift card to Dunkin Donuts (they know how much I love my iced coffee), and most importantly they bought this tree picture frame, with all of their pictures hanging from the branches. They said it is our family tree. Awwww. It's double sided, so one side is their individual faces, and the other side has their funny face pictures. It'll be perfect to sit on my desk at work. It also says "Thanks Marcie - we appreciate you." (It probably would have just been easier to post a picture, but it made me cry.) So sweet!!!
Patrick came up with me on Sunday night so he got to see the place, and we had a great time. It meant a lot to me for him to come and see my other life. ;-)
Now, we are off work for the next 5 days, and I couldn't be happier to be HOME.
Patrick came up with me on Sunday night so he got to see the place, and we had a great time. It meant a lot to me for him to come and see my other life. ;-)
Now, we are off work for the next 5 days, and I couldn't be happier to be HOME.
Friday, March 25, 2011
One month
Today is one month to the day since we put our debt snowball plan into action. Since that time we've saved some money, and it's a great feeling. With things being so uneasy at work with the legislative session underway, I was really starting to get nervous about how we would manage if one of us lost our jobs. While I still don't know how we would manage, I at least feel like I'm doing something to lessen the load - just in case.
I canceled my yoga membership. This was very hard to do because yoga essentially changed my life during a stressful time, but there's no reason why I can't incorporate yoga into my life OUTSIDE of a studio, and I do. Savings = $55/month.
In February, we paid off our king mattress we financed (interest free) almost 2 years ago. That is saving us $71/month.
This month we paid off our A/C that we financed when we bought our house. We weren't too happy when a month after moving into our house the entire unit died. With that FINALLY paid off, we now no longer owe the credit union $80/month.
I feel very happy with what we've accomplished in just one month's time. It has been hard, but I feel more energized than ever. Our goal for April is to pay off our Sam's Club credit card. This is our only credit card. I made a big payment on it the other day, so it's on its way to death. I can't wait to get through these smaller debts so we can really begin the difficult process (student loans).
I canceled my yoga membership. This was very hard to do because yoga essentially changed my life during a stressful time, but there's no reason why I can't incorporate yoga into my life OUTSIDE of a studio, and I do. Savings = $55/month.
In February, we paid off our king mattress we financed (interest free) almost 2 years ago. That is saving us $71/month.
This month we paid off our A/C that we financed when we bought our house. We weren't too happy when a month after moving into our house the entire unit died. With that FINALLY paid off, we now no longer owe the credit union $80/month.
I feel very happy with what we've accomplished in just one month's time. It has been hard, but I feel more energized than ever. Our goal for April is to pay off our Sam's Club credit card. This is our only credit card. I made a big payment on it the other day, so it's on its way to death. I can't wait to get through these smaller debts so we can really begin the difficult process (student loans).
Sunday, March 6, 2011
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Lately I am very concerned about financial matters and, frankly, the state of the world.
However, I feel somewhat reinvigorated after buying and reading Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover." For the first time in a long time (possibly ever), I feel very committed to reducing our debt and making our cushion a little more comfy.
As the book suggests, last week I wrote down all of our debt and put it in a spreadsheet. I always knew that Patrick and I had a lot of debt, but I proudly lumped us into that small group of people who have very little (read: less than $1500) worth of credit card debt. However, my arrogance led to ignorance, and I really did not truly understand the magnitude of exactly how much OTHER debt we had. Even worse, my arrogance led us to buy our most expensive vehicle to date last Fall. I'll proudly be paying on that vehicle forever - major sarcasm.
However, I am ready to take charge. With the econony not improving in my opinion, I know it is only a matter of time before the sheer job luck Patrick and I have had in the last few years to come crashing down. I'm not trying to be negative, but I am trying to prepare us for that possible moment when the comfortable isn't quite so comfy. Last month we paid off the mattress that we financed on a whim 2 Memorial Day weekends ago. Proudly, I am sleeping on a bed now that is ours and not ours + Mattress Firm via Wells Fargo. Plus, I've now added $71 per month I can send toward our next debt. And thus our debt snowball begins. My goal this month is to pay off the A/C we financed 3 years ago when ours died right after buying the house. On deck for April is our Sam's Club credit card. May's goal is to pay off the only private student loan I have, one that will never go away if I pay the minimun forever like I've been doing for years. By May's end, we should have all of our "little debt" paid off, and we'll have put a little over $300 a month back into our monthly cushion and have paid off a little over 5K. By then we'll be ready to take on the true debt which is our unbelievably HUGE student loan balances.... Oh, and don't forget that new car!!!
Patrick and I do not live extravagantly by any means. We have no home phone; we have no cable TV. We don't have smart phones, or even half way smart phones. We have a very small house (villa). But, we have an unbelievable ability to toss money right out the window. I spent a lot of time combing through our bank statement for the month of February, and I could not believe that we spent $538 on dining out!!!!!! Yes, it's true!!! Wow, the nice cell phones we could have snagged! Things are going to change. We've been clipping coupons like crazy the past few weeks, and I'm ready to rid ourselves of this crazy cycle of debt.
However, I feel somewhat reinvigorated after buying and reading Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover." For the first time in a long time (possibly ever), I feel very committed to reducing our debt and making our cushion a little more comfy.
As the book suggests, last week I wrote down all of our debt and put it in a spreadsheet. I always knew that Patrick and I had a lot of debt, but I proudly lumped us into that small group of people who have very little (read: less than $1500) worth of credit card debt. However, my arrogance led to ignorance, and I really did not truly understand the magnitude of exactly how much OTHER debt we had. Even worse, my arrogance led us to buy our most expensive vehicle to date last Fall. I'll proudly be paying on that vehicle forever - major sarcasm.
However, I am ready to take charge. With the econony not improving in my opinion, I know it is only a matter of time before the sheer job luck Patrick and I have had in the last few years to come crashing down. I'm not trying to be negative, but I am trying to prepare us for that possible moment when the comfortable isn't quite so comfy. Last month we paid off the mattress that we financed on a whim 2 Memorial Day weekends ago. Proudly, I am sleeping on a bed now that is ours and not ours + Mattress Firm via Wells Fargo. Plus, I've now added $71 per month I can send toward our next debt. And thus our debt snowball begins. My goal this month is to pay off the A/C we financed 3 years ago when ours died right after buying the house. On deck for April is our Sam's Club credit card. May's goal is to pay off the only private student loan I have, one that will never go away if I pay the minimun forever like I've been doing for years. By May's end, we should have all of our "little debt" paid off, and we'll have put a little over $300 a month back into our monthly cushion and have paid off a little over 5K. By then we'll be ready to take on the true debt which is our unbelievably HUGE student loan balances.... Oh, and don't forget that new car!!!
Patrick and I do not live extravagantly by any means. We have no home phone; we have no cable TV. We don't have smart phones, or even half way smart phones. We have a very small house (villa). But, we have an unbelievable ability to toss money right out the window. I spent a lot of time combing through our bank statement for the month of February, and I could not believe that we spent $538 on dining out!!!!!! Yes, it's true!!! Wow, the nice cell phones we could have snagged! Things are going to change. We've been clipping coupons like crazy the past few weeks, and I'm ready to rid ourselves of this crazy cycle of debt.
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