This means I'm still keeping up my goal of paying off at least one thing a year. Onward to 2019!
Friday, December 14, 2018
LOAN #4 PAID OFF!
THIRD FEDERAL LOAN IS PAID OFF!
This means I'm still keeping up my goal of paying off at least one thing a year. Onward to 2019!
This means I'm still keeping up my goal of paying off at least one thing a year. Onward to 2019!
Thursday, December 21, 2017
LOAN #3 PAID OFF!!
MY SECOND FEDERAL LOAN IS PAID OFF!!
It was a bit of a rush to get this paid off before the end of the year, but it's so worth it! I haven't calculated how much I saved yet though, so I'll add that later.
It was a bit of a rush to get this paid off before the end of the year, but it's so worth it! I haven't calculated how much I saved yet though, so I'll add that later.
Monday, July 31, 2017
Successful Workout!
I'm immensely proud of myself. I went to Vasa to do a proper workout, and I succeeded!
I did cardio on the Elliptical for 20min while watching Fantastic Beasts, then did a weights circuit for my upper body (arms, chest, back). I've done research, and they say that unless you're looking to be a sort of bodybuilder or build up endurance for a long-distance race, then you want to employ the Strength Method. This is where you lift heavy weight for low reps and sets. Makes sense, right? This method helps build your overall muscle strength and it works when you target multiple muscle groups, instead of just one specific muscle.
For example, instead of just doing tricep curls, then bicep curls, etc. you can combine that all in one set. This also makes it easier to complete a faster workout.
Here's what I did:
-- 3 (3R) Iso-lateral incline press, 30 lbs
-- 4 (6R) Iso-lateral front lat pulldown, 35 lbs
-- 3 (3R) Assisted chin lifts
- Inner, 85 lbs
- Middle, 100 lbs
- Outer, 115 lbs
-- 3 (5R) Chest press, 55 lbs
I should have written down what muscles each of these target, but I know I covered my triceps, biceps, deltoids, pecs, trapezius, etc. What's amazing is that the Assisted chin lifts offset your weight, so you can eventually make it to being able to do them on your own. The machine I was using had three positions. I believe the first was a chin-up (underhand grip), then a neutral grip (parallel handles), and then the pull-up (overhand).
Since my strength gave out more and more with each grip, I'm going to alternate which one I start with, while still decreasing the weight with each grip type. This way, each version gets a chance to start with 85 lbs offset to avoid disproportionate strain. I'm hoping that once I get strong enough to handle 85 lbs offset for all three, then I start increasing the weight at an even pace across all three grip types.
(I hope that makes sense. I don't understand the various terminology. I know what to do, but not how to explain it. After looking on pinterest, I also realized that I didn't control my breathing, but I'll do better next time)
Yeah, so go me! I'm already deeply feeling the strain, but it's a good soreness, not a painful one that means I did something wrong. Tomorrow is lower body! (I'm donating plasma that day so it's best to avoid any sort of strain on my arms)
Oh, and I was also good about eating! I had a Whey Protein Shake right after with a bagel, and I'll have tofu soup for lunch, then chicken curry with rice for dinner, along with green beans.
I'm thinking about posting an end of the week summary of everything I do, to keep me accountable, but also avoid posting here every single day.
I did cardio on the Elliptical for 20min while watching Fantastic Beasts, then did a weights circuit for my upper body (arms, chest, back). I've done research, and they say that unless you're looking to be a sort of bodybuilder or build up endurance for a long-distance race, then you want to employ the Strength Method. This is where you lift heavy weight for low reps and sets. Makes sense, right? This method helps build your overall muscle strength and it works when you target multiple muscle groups, instead of just one specific muscle.
For example, instead of just doing tricep curls, then bicep curls, etc. you can combine that all in one set. This also makes it easier to complete a faster workout.
Here's what I did:
-- 3 (3R) Iso-lateral incline press, 30 lbs
-- 4 (6R) Iso-lateral front lat pulldown, 35 lbs
-- 3 (3R) Assisted chin lifts
- Inner, 85 lbs
- Middle, 100 lbs
- Outer, 115 lbs
-- 3 (5R) Chest press, 55 lbs
I should have written down what muscles each of these target, but I know I covered my triceps, biceps, deltoids, pecs, trapezius, etc. What's amazing is that the Assisted chin lifts offset your weight, so you can eventually make it to being able to do them on your own. The machine I was using had three positions. I believe the first was a chin-up (underhand grip), then a neutral grip (parallel handles), and then the pull-up (overhand).
Since my strength gave out more and more with each grip, I'm going to alternate which one I start with, while still decreasing the weight with each grip type. This way, each version gets a chance to start with 85 lbs offset to avoid disproportionate strain. I'm hoping that once I get strong enough to handle 85 lbs offset for all three, then I start increasing the weight at an even pace across all three grip types.
(I hope that makes sense. I don't understand the various terminology. I know what to do, but not how to explain it. After looking on pinterest, I also realized that I didn't control my breathing, but I'll do better next time)
Yeah, so go me! I'm already deeply feeling the strain, but it's a good soreness, not a painful one that means I did something wrong. Tomorrow is lower body! (I'm donating plasma that day so it's best to avoid any sort of strain on my arms)
Oh, and I was also good about eating! I had a Whey Protein Shake right after with a bagel, and I'll have tofu soup for lunch, then chicken curry with rice for dinner, along with green beans.
I'm thinking about posting an end of the week summary of everything I do, to keep me accountable, but also avoid posting here every single day.
Thursday, July 27, 2017
LOAN #2 PAID OFF!!
I JUST PAID OFF THE FIRST OF MY FEDERAL LOANS!!
I've saved $250-270 in interest by paying it off about 7 years early. Granted, that doesn't seem like a lot, but it's the smallest loan I had, so it's to be expected. It's also paid off 9 months earlier than if I just kept up the simple Snowball effect by only putting in the monthly payment leftover from my Wells Fargo loan. Now I can put $70 into my second smallest loan!
But first, I do believe I've earned myself a massage! I can't wait. My neck and shoulders could really use the attention.
I've saved $250-270 in interest by paying it off about 7 years early. Granted, that doesn't seem like a lot, but it's the smallest loan I had, so it's to be expected. It's also paid off 9 months earlier than if I just kept up the simple Snowball effect by only putting in the monthly payment leftover from my Wells Fargo loan. Now I can put $70 into my second smallest loan!
But first, I do believe I've earned myself a massage! I can't wait. My neck and shoulders could really use the attention.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Car and Computer Troubles
These past few weeks have been insane. I am returning to my original attack plan because my previous Step 3 has had complications and I can't focus on it for the moment.
HOWEVER, there have been frustrating car and computer issues to deal with in the meantime. I went to visit my sister and her family this past weekend and I had a great time. Before I left though, my "Check Engine" light went on. I also have a headlight that's been out for a while so I decided to get that fixed. I was going to do it myself, but the Walmart I went to provided the service, so I took it.
Fortunately for my safety, the mechanic noticed and showed me that a front tire had a bulge in it. It likely was a result of my car being "tapped" by an unobservant driver. Then he showed me that the back tires had nearly worn through the tread. My smartest course of action was to get all new tires in addition to the headlight replacements. Now, I'm glad it was noticed before I was driving in the middle of nowhere, and I had almost all the money to cover the cost from my car sinking fund.
Yet then when I went to my appointment to have my car looked at, the warning light turned on because my oxygen sensor needs to be replaced. Doing so will cost about $200, so that's a further expense for me to pay later next week.
And then unfortunately, as I've said about my computer hard drive dying--my brother couldn't fix it, so he referred me to a data retrieval company. I just called today and got a lovely high quote plus parts if needed. Yippee.
Then fortunately again, I just filed my taxes and will get almost enough to cover the cost of getting my computer fixed. So there's that, but I was desperately hoping to use that tax return money to pay off one of my student loans.
Well, that's not happening.
But it'll be worth it to get my files back. I was stupid and didn't save a backup of my NaNoWriMo work, and that's got my most recent version of the story I'm submitting for WIFYR. Hopefully, they can retrieve my files in time so I have it. Plus there are other files that weren't recently backed up so this service is worth the cost. I just wish I didn't have to pay it.
So in conclusion, I'll be behind a few hundred in my plan, but ti's still going! My Step 2 Month Ahead budget is now back up to halfway finished! I'd change the graphic but that Excel file is on my old hard drive and it was troublesome to make. I'm not making another one, so you'll just have to wait until I get my files back.
HOWEVER, there have been frustrating car and computer issues to deal with in the meantime. I went to visit my sister and her family this past weekend and I had a great time. Before I left though, my "Check Engine" light went on. I also have a headlight that's been out for a while so I decided to get that fixed. I was going to do it myself, but the Walmart I went to provided the service, so I took it.
Fortunately for my safety, the mechanic noticed and showed me that a front tire had a bulge in it. It likely was a result of my car being "tapped" by an unobservant driver. Then he showed me that the back tires had nearly worn through the tread. My smartest course of action was to get all new tires in addition to the headlight replacements. Now, I'm glad it was noticed before I was driving in the middle of nowhere, and I had almost all the money to cover the cost from my car sinking fund.
Yet then when I went to my appointment to have my car looked at, the warning light turned on because my oxygen sensor needs to be replaced. Doing so will cost about $200, so that's a further expense for me to pay later next week.
And then unfortunately, as I've said about my computer hard drive dying--my brother couldn't fix it, so he referred me to a data retrieval company. I just called today and got a lovely high quote plus parts if needed. Yippee.
Then fortunately again, I just filed my taxes and will get almost enough to cover the cost of getting my computer fixed. So there's that, but I was desperately hoping to use that tax return money to pay off one of my student loans.
Well, that's not happening.
But it'll be worth it to get my files back. I was stupid and didn't save a backup of my NaNoWriMo work, and that's got my most recent version of the story I'm submitting for WIFYR. Hopefully, they can retrieve my files in time so I have it. Plus there are other files that weren't recently backed up so this service is worth the cost. I just wish I didn't have to pay it.
So in conclusion, I'll be behind a few hundred in my plan, but ti's still going! My Step 2 Month Ahead budget is now back up to halfway finished! I'd change the graphic but that Excel file is on my old hard drive and it was troublesome to make. I'm not making another one, so you'll just have to wait until I get my files back.
Monday, January 30, 2017
Plan Update
(1) [COMPLETED]
(2) [WIFYR COMPLETED]
(3) -$$$$ (Unexpected, 11.3% completed)
(4) $2,600 (32.1% completed)
(5) $15,600 (9.7% completed)
(6) -$$$$ (Student Loans)
Step 3 should be further along, but there have been two errors on my paycheck and 10hrs of overtime haven't been paid to me yet. I hope it's resolved by Friday when I get my next paycheck.
(2) [WIFYR COMPLETED]
(3) -$$$$ (Unexpected, 11.3% completed)
(4) $2,600 (32.1% completed)
(5) $15,600 (9.7% completed)
(6) -$$$$ (Student Loans)
Step 3 should be further along, but there have been two errors on my paycheck and 10hrs of overtime haven't been paid to me yet. I hope it's resolved by Friday when I get my next paycheck.
Monday, January 2, 2017
2016 Year in Review
22 posts in one year, with only two months missed. Compared to the previous attempt of 18 posts in six years, I'd say I finished 2016 pretty strong!
Here's to a more successful 2017!
Here's to a more successful 2017!
Friday, December 30, 2016
Revised Financial Plan
An unexpected event + new understanding of loan issues + WIFYR registration = reworking of my previous plan outlined in this post.
It's frustrating, but that's just how finances work.
I'm just over 30% finished with Step 2 since my laptop issue. I desperately want to finish that, but it's going to have to take a back seat for a moment.
First off, I totally forgot about saving up to attend WIFYR next year. I'm going to attend one of the Five-Day Workshops. In it, I get the chance to participate in a group reading of novels that's overseen by a published author as well as a group pitch session with an agent. It's a golden opportunity to get my foot in the door for eventual publishing and it will motivate me to write. Unfortunately, it's $505 but it will be worth it. So for the next while, any extra money is going toward paying that off.
Next is the unexpected financial obligation, which I'll put all extra money into once WIFYR is paid off. Only THEN will I be able to get back on track toward my Month Ahead. So the revised format looks like this:
(1) [COMPLETED]
(2) -$505 (WIFYR)
(3) -$$$$ (Unexpected)
(4) $2,600 (32.1% completed)
(5) $15,600 (9.1% completed)
(6) -$$$$ (Student Loans)
(1st) [Completed 6/30/2016]
(2nd) Plasma/OT/Babysitting ~~> WIFYR Registration (finish mid-January)
Loan Extra ~~> Student Loans
(3rd) Plasma/OT/Babysitting ~~> Unexpected (finish February)
Loan Extra ~~> Student Loans
(4th) Plasma/OT/Babysitting ~~> Month Ahead Budget (finish April--June)
Loan Extra ~~> Student Loans
(5th) Babysitting ~~> Emergency Fund
Plasma/OT/Loan Extra ~~> Student Loans
The reason why my MAB completion time has a wide window is because I can only plan out/sign up for overtime no more than two months in advance. Chances are extra overtime will cut my time significantly.
There's also the matter of tax refunds, but that will be going into one of my student loans. Ideally, I'll be able to finish the one I'm snowballing on, which will give me the opportunity to pay off two, possibly three next year! As previously mentioned, in 2015 I paid off my Wells Fargo college loan, this year I paid off my credit card debt, and next year I should pay off 2-3 Federal Loans.
Fingers crossed!
It's frustrating, but that's just how finances work.
I'm just over 30% finished with Step 2 since my laptop issue. I desperately want to finish that, but it's going to have to take a back seat for a moment.
First off, I totally forgot about saving up to attend WIFYR next year. I'm going to attend one of the Five-Day Workshops. In it, I get the chance to participate in a group reading of novels that's overseen by a published author as well as a group pitch session with an agent. It's a golden opportunity to get my foot in the door for eventual publishing and it will motivate me to write. Unfortunately, it's $505 but it will be worth it. So for the next while, any extra money is going toward paying that off.
Next is the unexpected financial obligation, which I'll put all extra money into once WIFYR is paid off. Only THEN will I be able to get back on track toward my Month Ahead. So the revised format looks like this:
(1) [COMPLETED]
(2) -$505 (WIFYR)
(3) -$$$$ (Unexpected)
(4) $2,600 (32.1% completed)
(5) $15,600 (9.1% completed)
(6) -$$$$ (Student Loans)
(1st) [Completed 6/30/2016]
(2nd) Plasma/OT/Babysitting ~~> WIFYR Registration (finish mid-January)
Loan Extra ~~> Student Loans
(3rd) Plasma/OT/Babysitting ~~> Unexpected (finish February)
Loan Extra ~~> Student Loans
(4th) Plasma/OT/Babysitting ~~> Month Ahead Budget (finish April--June)
Loan Extra ~~> Student Loans
(5th) Babysitting ~~> Emergency Fund
Plasma/OT/Loan Extra ~~> Student Loans
The reason why my MAB completion time has a wide window is because I can only plan out/sign up for overtime no more than two months in advance. Chances are extra overtime will cut my time significantly.
There's also the matter of tax refunds, but that will be going into one of my student loans. Ideally, I'll be able to finish the one I'm snowballing on, which will give me the opportunity to pay off two, possibly three next year! As previously mentioned, in 2015 I paid off my Wells Fargo college loan, this year I paid off my credit card debt, and next year I should pay off 2-3 Federal Loans.
Fingers crossed!
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Unfortunate financial hiccup
Regrettably, on November 30th my laptop died.
I'm certain I've had it for at least (if not more than) 5 years. I planned to buy a new one with my tax refund, but my laptop had other plans. Being a writer with various other hobbies, my laptop is somewhat of a livelihood for me. I needed another one straight away.
Thankfully I'm blessed with a computer-savvy dad and brother-in-law, so the experience of choosing a new laptop wasn't stressful. Plus, my brother is going to be amazing and pull off all my old files so I can avoid a company overcharging me for it.
Finance-wise there is good and bad news. The good news is that because I've been working on Step 2, I had enough to cover the expenses. The bad news is that I lost 55.84% of what I had been saving. I'm now at 24.2% of my goal.
I'm not going to lie, it's a depressing setback. I was hoping to start off 2017 budgeting on last month's income but those dreams are no longer possible, especially now that we're in the holiday season.
Yet it's moments like these that remind me of why I'm doing this in the first place. I can't imagine how stressed out I would be had I not a savings to dip into for this emergency. All I can do is keep moving forward and continue to hone my financial know-how. It will get easier as time goes on.
I'm certain I've had it for at least (if not more than) 5 years. I planned to buy a new one with my tax refund, but my laptop had other plans. Being a writer with various other hobbies, my laptop is somewhat of a livelihood for me. I needed another one straight away.
Thankfully I'm blessed with a computer-savvy dad and brother-in-law, so the experience of choosing a new laptop wasn't stressful. Plus, my brother is going to be amazing and pull off all my old files so I can avoid a company overcharging me for it.
Finance-wise there is good and bad news. The good news is that because I've been working on Step 2, I had enough to cover the expenses. The bad news is that I lost 55.84% of what I had been saving. I'm now at 24.2% of my goal.
I'm not going to lie, it's a depressing setback. I was hoping to start off 2017 budgeting on last month's income but those dreams are no longer possible, especially now that we're in the holiday season.
Yet it's moments like these that remind me of why I'm doing this in the first place. I can't imagine how stressed out I would be had I not a savings to dip into for this emergency. All I can do is keep moving forward and continue to hone my financial know-how. It will get easier as time goes on.
Friday, November 4, 2016
Month Ahead Check-in
As you can see by the image on the bottom left side of the screen (scroll down a little bit) I'm nearly halfway through saving up for my Month Ahead Budget. Hurray!
I must admit I'm disappointed that Step 2 is already taking more than twice as long as Step 1. To be fair though, Step 2 is a greater sum and in comparison, it's far better that I spend more time saving up than paying off. Not to mention the fact that with two family trips my availability for babysitting, donating plasma, and overtime has been shortened. Then there was the Emergency Preparedness . . . I suppose I actually have done a decent job at this. I just need to be patient.
There's also the matter of the holidays coming up, and while I have a Christmas sinking fund, it's still going to be a stretch. However, I AM doing all I can to make homemade presents this year, so hopefully that gives me a bit more wiggle room. Plus, my parents have ever so graciously allowed me to take over my brother's phone while he's on his mission, so that's ~$60/month I can allocate elsewhere!
My plan is still to finish Step 2 by the end of this year, end of January if I really have to. It might end up being the low end of my monthly budget (because my total is a high end approximation), but it'll still count. As I've said before, once I can start budgeting on what I earned the previous month, I'll have a far easier time of controlling my finances.
Oh--one quick tip I found! I'm going to research which credit union would work best for me and then put some money into a checking account. This would serve multiple purposes. First, it will safeguard my money so it's not all in one spot. Second, I can bring that debit card with me on road trips, so in case my purse gets stolen they don't have access to all my money. Third, I can use that debit card purely for my Etsy business. (Maybe I should use two credit unions? One for travel and one for my Etsy business? I'll have to dwell on that) I got the third idea from reading one of Dave Ramsey's articles in the newspaper. Quite ingenious.
I must admit I'm disappointed that Step 2 is already taking more than twice as long as Step 1. To be fair though, Step 2 is a greater sum and in comparison, it's far better that I spend more time saving up than paying off. Not to mention the fact that with two family trips my availability for babysitting, donating plasma, and overtime has been shortened. Then there was the Emergency Preparedness . . . I suppose I actually have done a decent job at this. I just need to be patient.
There's also the matter of the holidays coming up, and while I have a Christmas sinking fund, it's still going to be a stretch. However, I AM doing all I can to make homemade presents this year, so hopefully that gives me a bit more wiggle room. Plus, my parents have ever so graciously allowed me to take over my brother's phone while he's on his mission, so that's ~$60/month I can allocate elsewhere!
My plan is still to finish Step 2 by the end of this year, end of January if I really have to. It might end up being the low end of my monthly budget (because my total is a high end approximation), but it'll still count. As I've said before, once I can start budgeting on what I earned the previous month, I'll have a far easier time of controlling my finances.
Oh--one quick tip I found! I'm going to research which credit union would work best for me and then put some money into a checking account. This would serve multiple purposes. First, it will safeguard my money so it's not all in one spot. Second, I can bring that debit card with me on road trips, so in case my purse gets stolen they don't have access to all my money. Third, I can use that debit card purely for my Etsy business. (Maybe I should use two credit unions? One for travel and one for my Etsy business? I'll have to dwell on that) I got the third idea from reading one of Dave Ramsey's articles in the newspaper. Quite ingenious.
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