Cousin D response

Cousin D responded saying we should plan a girls' weekend and said she was currently job searching.  I told her that I would call her tomorrow.  She pointed out that Cousin's Day is July 24 so we are shooting for that weekend.  We have to do something cheap because she and I are both broke right now.

I am very surprised she is job searching.  This does not bode well for her plan to retire and have a wedding venue.  I suppose I will get filled in tomorrow.

My budget buster this summer is 1)  going to Arizona, and renting a car.  2)  starting back to work had some start up costs, such as food for work location, since I live here Sun - Thurs.  Parking and gym membership/yoga classes.  Also trying to figure it out, because I am not really sure where we went wrong, but clearly we are doing some emotional/feel good spending and we must get that rabbit back in its cage.  It looks like even with me working (I am saving 2/3 of my weekly pay to contrib to savings/Roth) it is going to take my month of July to get back to the black.

At least I am feeling like my weight loss is coming along.  I did not work out last night, left early to see my Granny (but postponed because she is a little puny and wanted me to come next week instead).  So since I left work early, I got myself and my friend T a smoothie and we met and had coffee talk.  Then on way home I bought my uncle (asked my aunt first) some rootbeer and we splurged on 3 shows together with some good ole fashioned cheese curls.  I stayed up too late (10pm - I know, so crazy) and today I was tired.  So, after work today, yoga and 1 tv show and to bed early.

DH is excited I am coming home tomorrow and so am I.  I am also excited that he was at Sam's today and I won't have to go.  So, we are going to celebrate with a little kayak ride this weekend. 

Happy Thursday, Friday is coming!

A Few Chore Projects, A Few More Fun Projects

"The minute you begin to do what you really want to do, it's really a different kind of life."

- R. Buckminster Fuller

Today I am going a little of what I dont and a little more what I do...

Trim other wisteria arbor, a short walk...then couch potato.

No check today.  So we are on tight budget for another week.  We can get into svgs, but I really want to maintain that for emergency and home projects.  It is no big deal.

Talked to my Granny Wednesday.   She is good.  Has stomach 'fullness'.  Doctor doesn't have any ideas.  My aunt thinks maybe liver.  Ironic, my DGM has never had a drop of alcohol.  But she has had problems with gal and liver ducts.

Told her not sure when we will get back to city...soon.  we need a check first. Have to arrange for the dogs...

Today is cool and overcast here.  Have a great Friday!  What are your plans?

Enemy Within

This morning I paid off my credit card and froze it.  Literally.   My DH just shook his head.  I am not worried about spending,  but moments of unplanned panic could lead me to grab it and spend.

He called about his benefits, 2 more weeks to be sent to our investment company.   Hopefully that wont mean 2 more weeks after that.  We are planning on ss/pension checks end of Nov.  Sure would be nice to get his last check...anytime now we have been told.

So ones mind spins and works...we will be fine, I know...but sure will feel better when income stream in place.  We are going from 3 cards to 2...and next year before annual fee on Amex we will shut it down.

Yesterday after trimming wisteria we watched a movie and short walk.   Breakfast for dinner.  Today I am putting straw on empty raised bed, doing a walk and coffee with friends.

Tomorrow we may try golf course at place we are thinking of joining.  DH to call later and set up a time.

Today we are having leftovers and I have an antenna to return...need to buy few things at the store thursday.

Have a wonderful tuesday!

Budget

I have 3 months to pay off my 4000 credit card, while maintaining my stringent saving and budgeting plan.  This is $100 over budget, because I charged my mani pedi instead of paying cash.  I also plan to go back one more time to this esthetician and have a facial along with my mani pedi - maybe right before we move.  I will make it up.  I received $107 from a class action settlement about billing practices for this licensing prep class.  I will add it to our cash stash - we are up to $800.  We want to have $1000 squirreled away in our home safe for emergencies.
I also have to buy another delivery of a couple of my supplements before I am in between addresses - so, that is another $200 I have to come up with.  I may have to see if the extended stay hotel will let me get a package.  I order a probiotic from Amazon that is pricey and has to be refrigerated, but if i go more than a couple of days with out it, I get incredibly sick.  I already put aside $400 for my last 4 months of parking.  So, I should be ok.  We have to pay $103 a month to park.  For the first 10 years I worked here at this downtown, I found free parking a couple blocks away.  It was sort of a pain, but I got used to it.  At another place in another city, I had to pay $50 a month 20 years ago and still walk further than 2 blocks, so walking 2 blocks for free seemed doable.  Then, we had a pretty cold winter this past winter and a friend and I decided to pay Jan through March to park in parking garage and we never looked back!  But, we did figure out that by parking free for 10 years, we had saved over $12,000!  $100/month x 12 = 1200 x 10 years = $12,000.  So paying for 8 months isn't so bad.  Hope everyone has a great Wednesday.

Tough Tuesday

Well, last night was my last hot yoga with my yoga instructor that I like so much.  She is moving to another location where she will have mostly day classes and possibly be able to work into something  where she can use her nutrition training.  Today I am really sore.  It was such a good class.  I am really going to miss it and miss her.  She is really sweet.  I know my GF (T) who recently had neck sx is sad she was not there to take one last class. 

So, I returned a classic white dress shirt I ordered online today.  I decided that if I ever do need a classic white button down shirt, I will find one but I don't need it now.  DH and I were talking to his brother and my SIL Friday when we met the new puppy and we were all talking about getting to be in our 50's and making career changes.  BIL is selling his beautiful new truck that he loves because he is making a career change and they are even considering downsizing their house.  DH is 63 and he thinks even finding a PT gig when we retire will be challenging.  I thought about it more and decided that I did not want to work 50-60 hours a week PLUS commute 45 min each way while DH sits at home.  He is 13 years older than I am and I don't ever want to look back and have regrets.  Our budget might be slim, but we think we can manage.  So, I feel comfortable and excited to sell me car in the spring.  I do not want to work to pay for a car.  It is crazy the switch DH and I are having as we think about this new possibility.  I am kicking my downsizing wardrobe into high gear now and even more so when winter is over.  So, about March we will be entering super-purge phase, prep'g house for sale and we will list my car.  WOW.

This past week I did some more spot deep cleaning, packed up another load to take to RH 12/22.  Listed 7 suits and a tuxedo DH owns, gave SIL a raised/covered cake plate, may have found a home for my cat (2 people who really want a cat are considering) and donated 2 large boxes of Christmas decorations/ornaments/gift bags/bows.  I also threw away a bunch of used bows and gift bags/confetti stuffing for gift bags that I have collected since late 80's.  I felt ashamed that i have wasted time/space/energy with such useless and stupid stuff.

Feel great.  I have not had dairy (again) for over a week and I think that was what was making me sick again.  Before an "experiment" trying it a little bit, i had not had it for over 2 years.  At least I am more convinced that it really is a problem for me.  Oh, well. I will deal with avoiding it.  I hope you have a great rest of your Tuesday!  It is getting really cold here, but DH took a brisk 4 mile walk with me Sunday and i loved the Vitamin D!