In a perfect world, I will do updates on Friday each week. (although I'm already 100% confident there will not be a post next Friday because I will be on VACATION!!)
Anyhoo....Week 1:
Take a photography class: no updates...but I did browse through the Community Rec Center catalog that arrived in the mail Tuesday just to see if they had any photography classes. Nothing. I'm pretty sure I want to do spring/summer, so I still have some time.
Stick to my budget: Dave Ramsey ROCKS! I am reading his book Financial Peace Revisited as part of the Financial Peace University. I love this book! He is so raw and honest, and his advice comes from personal experience. He lost it all and had to climb out of a hole...so I know he knows what he's talking about. Not like some BS gabillionaire who has never had to pawn a gold bracelet to pay the electric bill. (yep, me in 2010) What I really love is his envelope system, which he stole from me because I've been doing that on and off since I was 16. (Seriously, ask my Dad) So far this week, I've created my budget, cried over it, overcome the depression that goes along with the "b" word....and somehow feel more empowered to tell my money where to go instead of just closing my eyes and hoping it all works out. I did my snowball debt payoff plan and am SO ENCOURAGED! I highly recommend this to anyone!!
Pay off Misc Debt: See above...the snowball idea really does make sense and is so workable because you don't focus on the highest interest, you focus on the lowest balance...pay that off, then take the payment you normally use for that and add it to a regular payment for your next lowest balance item. Soon you're paying hundreds of dollars toward a bill that you thought would take lifetimes to pay off. If I stick to the plan (and God willing, nothing comes up that costs me an arm and a leg) I will be DEBT FREE* by this time next year! *Debt free except my mortgage, and I'm 100% okay with that! I'll work on paying that down in due time!
Volunteer at my son's school: Good and bad news here. Good news is that yesterday was parent-teacher conferences so I had some 1:1 time to speak with his teacher. Bad news is I asked about volunteer needs in the classroom and she said she's set for that right now (darn organized parents who totally beat me to the punch....months ago...) BUT, I did commit to my son that I will come have lunch with him at least twice per month. :o) It's not stuffing Friday folders or cutting out countless shapes for projects, or reading to them....but it's quality time with him in his school environment. I consider it a win...and I still have next school year to volunteer.
Leave work on time: God, I still cannot believe this is a goal. Lame. I was very good this week and only stayed until 6pm one night. And that was because I got a subpoena and needed to answer it promptly. Yesterday I was HOME by 5pm....unheard of! I felt like I had a half day off!
Make more time for friends: Pedicure appointment scheduled for Sunday with a BFF. Very much looking forward to it!! However, lame progress in this area in regards to my other BFF because she texted me this week and my response was short and hurried. :o(
Better organization at home: Iffy progress here. I did manage to somewhat stay on track this week and get some chores done before I went to bed. I cleaned ceiling fans and light fixtures that were dusty and driving me batty. Much better. It's a snowy weekend so in between hockey I can work on the task of a "hard-target cleaning of every drawer, closet..... warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse..." I also got a great idea from my son's teacher because during conferences I almost fell over when I saw how neat and organized his desk is! I asked what prompted that and he said, "Well, sometimes the desk fairy comes and if your desk is clean she leaves a jolly rancher." BRILLIANT! Guess who is moving in to our house this weekend? The bedroom fairy!! Random, unannounced visits shall commence immediately.
Date night: No dates this week, or planned for this weekend. However we leave on Wednesday of next week for 5 nights in Southern California where we're going to play, play, play and then play some more! I think I've fallen in love with this little beach town we visit, and I need to figure out a way to retire there. :o)
The phone.....I only avoided answering the phone ONE TIME this week and it was a number I didn't recognize (turns out I have a doctor's appointment today and it was my courtesy reminder call. How courteous!) I changed my ring tone because after a few weeks, I actually start to resent my ring tone. I've also kept up on my incessant voice mails and calls at the office. YAY! ugh.
Celebrate important dates: Well I suck already...the 30th was my nieces birthday and it has come and gone...sorry dear! I do have a calendar at home all ready for dates to be entered though. Progress-ish.
Here's the point. You can't do it all in one week...but having goals and taking the time to recognize the progress (or lack there of) toward them each week is enough to keep me on track. This is really, really helping me and I'm so excited to be making these changes. And not just so I can cross them off as in "done" but so I can really adjust how I do things to make me a better me.
Thanks for reading....Peace Out!
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