February.

Priorities
Get the office ready for some heavy study sessions
Order/purchase mirrors for living room (above bar) and stairway


January 31 - February 2

got some stuff done but not enough; watched the Chiefs win the Super Bowl.

February 7-9

got a lot done except for going to church and studying. 

February 14-16

got a lot done except for going to church and studying.

February 21-23

meh. spent time with the guy (Friday), shopped with my mom (Saturday), and played racquetball with my mom (Sunday)

February 28 - March 1
Friday = gym after work (Y), meal plan/make grocery list
Saturday = clean the bathrooms; hang mirrors; grocery shopping; Lauren Daigle with my mom in G'boro
Sunday = STUDY

Other...

Cancel other PIF account

Call HVAC guy to move thermostat

Call garage opener guy
Call electrician about adding outlet in garage for freezer & updating some lighting

Pay HOA for Feb-June ($700)

Mid-January Update

It's about halfway through January. Since I am all about making this year one of the best ever, I thought I would start doing a mid-month check in to make sure I am staying on top of my monthly and yearly goals and intentions.

It's only been 2.5 weeks but I am going after my intention to be consumer debt free by the end of February, and have at least 3 of the 4 accounts closed by June. In order to do so, I essentially cashed in some investments left over from when my grandma passed. I didn't take everything at one time because I didn't want to blow it and have nothing to show for what she'd done for me. I'm glad I waited. Because as Dave Ramsey says: "Debt is not a math problem, it's a behavior problem." Isn't that the truth?!? So this year, I'm trying to be INTENTIONAL - not only when it comes to my finances, but also with every other area of my life. To be more mindful of how I spend my time and with whom I spend it. To be mindful of the limited days before my next attempt at the certification exam and to go all in on the effort -- lots to read! To be mindful of my emotional and physical health -- making the time to go to the gym and to rest, to read. With all the good things that happened at the end of last year to really set this year up for success, how can I not take these goals seriously?!

I've been at my new job for almost two weeks and I gotta say, being a newbie is HARD. It's been a long time since I've been new anywhere (over 7 years) and I'm in this weird head space. I went from being one person in a small town doing a bazillion things to being one in a zillion with not much to do (yet). I will say that I LOVE being downtown -- other than having to pay to park ($14 a day!), it's everything the small town was missing -- places to eat for lunch, GF options, things to do after work (hello happy hour), my bank is literally a skip away with the YMCA in between. I hope the 8-5 picks up and pushes the weirdness out.

**UPDATE Thursday, January 16: The only real update I have as of today is that I am SUPER close to having one of the two remaining credit cards PIF. I made my last $1,000.00 payment this morning, so I have less than $300 to go! Then, once that account has a zero balance, I will leave it along for 60-90 days and then go ahead and close the account. Because...two other accounts that are PIF and one has been just sitting there since September 2018 with a zero balance. Talk about LAZY! :( So, the goal is to get the first two closed by the end of February and then have this account closed by May.

I am gearing up for the long weekend. It will be the last long weekend until April, so I need to make the most of it! Hopefully I will be able to check a lot of tasks off my January list come Tuesday. :)

**UPDATE Friday, January 17: It's official! One account is closed. One down, one to go! :)

**UPDATE Friday, January 31: <$2,000 to pay on last account; mailed check to cover HOA dues for the next 5 months; shelled out $$$ for a new exam prep course & books.

New Year, New Decade

more reading, less scrolling.

more social, less media.

more celebration, less comparison.

more prayer, less grumbling.

more rejoicing, less ruminating.

more purpose, less deadlines.

more moments, less stuff. 



It's hard to believe the new year has begun -- and a new decade! The end of 2019 was pretty fruitful and I was/am excited for the arrival of 2020. Everything is really starting to come together and it's looking like 2020 is going to be a great year...at least the first part anyways. :)

My goals for the new year are mostly the same as I seem to make every year, but so much has been happening that it feels like it will *actually* happen this year! These goals include becoming debt free (except for my house), passing my certification exam, conquering "Murph", reading a book a month, and staying on top of my household chores. Oh, and finding a good guy to spend time with because as much as I don't "mind" being single, I am tired of wasting my time on the wrong ones.

JANUARY - JUNE 2020
1. Pay car insurance in full
2. Close two credit accounts
3. Pay off balances on other two credit accounts by end of February (thanks Grandma!)
4. Close fourth account (let it have $0 balance for 60-90 days before closing)
5. Conquer "Murph" in May
6. Pass my certification exam in May (STUDY! STUDY! STUDY!)
7. Have a garage sale (& promptly donate whatever doesn't sell)
8. Pay HOA for February - June (funds hadn't rolled through yet for January payment)

BIRTHDAYS
- Dad (February)
- Mom (March)
- Bestie (March)
- BIL (May)
- Me (June)

JULY - DECEMBER 2020
TBD

OTHER GOALS...
a. Read at least 1 book each month (studying counts?!)
b. Attend church regularly (Saturdays?)
c. Get sweaty/burn calories at least 5 days a week (my gym, racquetball with Mom until it's warm enough/light enough for tennis), YMCA after work)
d. PURGE A LOT: shredding, throwing away, donating or selling! I have WAY TOO MUCH stuff!
e. Call garage guy to fix wall control for my garage door
f. Call someone to come tweak my shower (trade the tiled wall for glass)
g. Get my personal e-mail inbox under control!

Purging seems to be the theme for 2020: Purge the debt, the excess clothing, accessories, home decor, the excessive content in my inbox, etc... and to read more, do the things that give me joy!