april recap: i attended the raleigh sports club's annual banquet with my dad and got to meet steve logan, former ECU football coach. i celebrated my Savior's death and resurrection (went to Good Friday service at Bay Leaf with my parents and Easter service at RFA). i cut about 3 inches off my hair...i still have my ponytail but it's easier to manage. highlights will come the week before my birthday and trip to the beach in june. :)
even though it happens all the time, i am always amazed by how quickly time passes. 2017 is already one-quarter complete, my birthday is just a month away. my exam is just a couple weeks away. once my exam is over, getting everything squared away and ready start the house hunt/buying experience will become the next focus -- never a dull moment. memorial day weekend will bring an extra "fun" day off from work. i'm taking 3 days off in the middle of the month, but that's for final exam prep...not so fun. :/ here's my 'to do' list for may 2017.
finances.
1. snowball #1: PIF in april! :D :D :D
2. snowball #2: pay at least $300.00 paid $202.00 5/19; $1500.00 paid 5/24; paid $1500 on 5/26; paid $500.00 more on 5/30 balance is down to ~$500.00!!!
3. snowball #3: no minimum payment due; pay at least $50.00 paid $140.96 on 5/19; paid $1500.00 5/24; paid $1500.00 5/25; paid $1500.00 5/26; paid $500.00 more on 5/30 balance is down to ~$800.00!!!
4. rent/water/misc. payment: $1037.64 due 5/1-5/5
5. bills: car insurance (balance PIF 4/21), cell phone ($80.00), electric ($56.00), internet ($41.00)
6. 31 day challenge: no extracurricular spending (no hfcs soda, packs, non-essential shopping, etc.)
to pay down/pay off my credit card debt faster, improve my credit score and to put me in a better place to buy a home this year; and, after careful consideration of my options -- i took out a 401k loan. i requested more than my debt to be able to put some of it into a savings account to go towards the home purchase in some way. i chose a 3 yr term because i was more comfortable with that bi-weekly amount than a shorter term. the benefit that if i leave my current job before the 3 yrs is up, i can carry the payments with me instead of the balance being due at one time. i also upped by allowances by 1 for my taxes. so today, i got about $30 more than i have been. my bi-weekly pre-tax payments are $165. so essentially, i lose $135 from each paycheck. BUT, since i won't have credit payments to make AND if i pay my car insurance premium in full in july like i plan too, on non-rent paychecks, i would have at least $500 left over. the current plan is to throw most of that, if not all, into my savings account. i'll have that $1k emergency fund in no time at that rate...and would be able to afford to get new brakes -- which i will at least need before next winter, if not before (probably before!).
fitness & health.
1. sleep: get at least 6 hours of sleep each night (preferably 7-8)
2. sweat: work out at least 5 days a week"Murph" on 5/29
3. stretch: stretch and roll muscles at least 3 times a week (evenings ok)
4. face: continue using R+F daily; use diy clay mask once a week
5. hair: use leave-in conditioning treatment 1-2 times a month
6. oral: brush/floss/use act after every meal, including at work; start oil pulling 2-3 days a week
7. 31 day challenge: no soda (hfcs, caffeinated or caffeine free), limited candy consumption (portion!), portion popcorn for work, no packs beginning may 1
8. no alcohol until after 5/17 (or for the entire month; but at a minimum, the first 2 weeks)
fun.
1. church: 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28
2. mother's day 5/14
3. paul's birthday 5/15 (#44)
4. study 5/1-5/16
5. exam 5/17
6. get a massage! :)
7. steam/iron clothes!!
8. memorial day weekend: sort/organize/purge!; organize my files; rehang gallery walls and art; gather items for a family yard sale; fill/touch up paint holes; etc.NONE of that happened...maybe over my birthday weekend in June
work.
1. transportation meeting 5/2
2. town council 5/4
3. pb meeting 5/11 cancelled
4. off 5/15-5/17
5. water resources webinar 5/24
6. rpo meeting 5/25
7. boa meeting 5/25 cancelled
8. office closed 5/29
9. memorial day ceremony 5/29
10. pay days 5/5, 5/19
even though it happens all the time, i am always amazed by how quickly time passes. 2017 is already one-quarter complete, my birthday is just a month away. my exam is just a couple weeks away
finances.
6. 31 day challenge: no extracurricular spending (no hfcs soda, packs, non-essential shopping, etc.)
to pay down/pay off my credit card debt faster, improve my credit score and to put me in a better place to buy a home this year; and, after careful consideration of my options -- i took out a 401k loan. i requested more than my debt to be able to put some of it into a savings account to go towards the home purchase in some way. i chose a 3 yr term because i was more comfortable with that bi-weekly amount than a shorter term. the benefit that if i leave my current job before the 3 yrs is up, i can carry the payments with me instead of the balance being due at one time. i also upped by allowances by 1 for my taxes. so today, i got about $30 more than i have been. my bi-weekly pre-tax payments are $165. so essentially, i lose $135 from each paycheck. BUT, since i won't have credit payments to make AND if i pay my car insurance premium in full in july like i plan too, on non-rent paychecks, i would have at least $500 left over. the current plan is to throw most of that, if not all, into my savings account. i'll have that $1k emergency fund in no time at that rate...and would be able to afford to get new brakes -- which i will at least need before next winter, if not before (probably before!).
fitness & health.
1. sleep: get at least 6 hours of sleep each night (preferably 7-8)
2. sweat: work out at least 5 days a week
3. stretch: stretch and roll muscles at least 3 times a week (evenings ok)
4. face: continue using R+F daily; use diy clay mask once a week
5. hair: use leave-in conditioning treatment 1-2 times a month
6. oral: brush/floss/use act after every meal, including at work; start oil pulling 2-3 days a week
7. 31 day challenge: no soda (hfcs, caffeinated or caffeine free), limited candy consumption (portion!), portion popcorn for work, no packs beginning may 1
fun.
6. get a massage! :)
7. steam/iron clothes!!
work.
