Almost there!

This morning, I wondered what I would talk about when I finally become debt free. Payday is tomorrow and (God willing) I will finally be out of credit card debt. It feels fantastic, but I also realize that I have plenty left to do before I am anywhere near stable financial ground. May is my first month attempting to follow a real budget (rather than just tracking expenses…which I actually wasn’t very good at), and there is this pesky savings goal called an emergency fund that I must begin saving for. My new goal is to have $1000 saved up by early July, which is when I presume that my current job will be ending.

I wish that my debt-freedom could come in happier times, but the reality is that I must just keep looking ahead to those next goals – a new job and an emergency fund.

Extra income

$110 in unexpected extra income for April was a nice bonus/surprise. I did some last-minute babysitting (for the first time in forever) and some yard work for an older couple.

It all went to my credit card - probably putting my balance just under $400. Yesss!!

I hope to be able to scrounge up at least as much extra income in May - I'll shoot for $150. Here's hoping!

I'm here...

Sigh. The job search process is a long one these days. Mine has just begun. At some yet-to-be determined point this summer I will be unemployed. I feel as though I shouldn’t search for jobs on the clock at my current job, which leaves me limited time in which to search, but at the same time, I consider myself lucky to still have a job in this environment.

Applied for two jobs today, one in my field and one related to volunteer work I have done in the past. I’m less hopeful about that one – except for the fact that it was a new posting on a job board.

In other news, I hope to get back to running (yes, I’ve fallen off the wagon already) and blogging. Consider this post my first attempt.

And although I have yet to work the numbers out exactly, I believe I am down to about $500 in debt. Woohoo for one of my goals to be on track!

Thanks for reading. I promise you happier musings tomorrow.

Slightly random Tuesday musings

1. Week 3 of couch-to-5k. It’s going well so far. I mentioned before that I would consider myself to be a better runner (not at all a good one!) at the start of this program than are most participants. I feel week 3 is the first big leap up in level of difficulty.
2. I’m still undecided on whether or not I like my new running shoes. I plan on seeking out and investing in some inserts for them soon.
3. Two days from now my debt will be down to three digits! I am very, very excited about this.
4. Easter candy is far too tempting to be out in stores for so long. I remember seeing it out alongside the Valentine’s Day goodies!
5. Maybe if I was a better cook, I wouldn’t have such a desire to eat candy so often!

Payday Progress

(A bit late; just got back from a work conference.)

Remaining debt: $1210 (aargh.)
Checking: $110.00
Savings: $25.00

Couch to 5k: Day 1

I have finally decided to try the program that everyone has been raving about for so long. It calls for three sessions/week (fits in perfectly with my desire to work out 4 times per week) that last 20-30 minutes each.

Now, let me say that I am NOT a runner. It is something I have never been good at, although I have played sports virtually my entire life. However, I need to also say that I am not quite a ‘couch’ person either. I probably spend, on average, two to three hours per week at the gym.

So my initial impression of the program is two-fold. First of all, I am in better shape than the average beginner, and so these first few weeks are not going to be much of a challenge for me. That said, I loved being on a treadmill for 20 minutes and having something to follow along with. My usual habit is to jump on the treadmill and run until I can’t any longer – which, I promise you, was never 20 minutes. I may or may not jump ahead a few weeks to something that pushes me further…weeks 3 or 4.

Dear Diary...

Fitness goals – lose 5lbs by end of March
-write down everything I eat
-smaller dinners
-exercise 4x/week (I’m upping this from earlier; I really enjoy exercise once I get started on it)
-no soda or juices from concentrate

Reading goals – finish two books by the end of March
-read 1hr/day
(not a goal, but pick a fiction and non-fic book for April)

Finance goals-
-start up a savings account for money down for a new car and begin automating payments
-reduce CC debt to 3 digits ($250 towards debt on 3/12 and 3/26)
-replenish emergency fund to $500 by May


I’m a big believer in small rewards – at least for myself- because I know that I can keep them as ‘rewards’ and that I respond well to them. Here are my little rewards for accomplishing the month’s goals

Fitness reward-
http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=17082&vid=1&pid=719973

Reading reward- a new book. I love books and bookstores and haven’t bought a book of my own in forever!

Finance reward – spending a $25 iTunes giftcard that I received for Christmas.