2020 Goals

It’s that time again! Here are my 2020 Goals:

1. NO MORE CREDIT CARD DEBT

I spent a lot of this year cleaning up my own messes and not progressing on my debt snowballs. I’ve now saved up enough cash in my bank account that I should not need credit cards. I’ve got an emergency fund and a budget! There’s no need to give American Express anymore of my dollars. Also, I have Wells Fargo and the Way2Save program takes $1 out of my checking account and puts it into savings every time I make a debit card purchase – I like to think of this as generating my own rewards which feels safer.

2. $2,000 Citi Loan

I did a balance transfer that charges me 50 cents a month interest – way better than my American Express and student loans! But according to the snowball, this has to go so I can put that monthly payment towards the next debt!

3. $7,000 Student Loan #2 of #4

I’ve decided that I am no longer going to let these bitches rack up interest while waiting for America to do something about the student loan crisis. I’m also less and less confident that I will ever get forgiveness through the IDR program. I have 3 loans left totaling $109,000 and they started at $75,000. I’m sick and tired of paying these minimums and watching the interest stack so I’m going to attack these. I already paid off a $3,500 one a few years ago and now I’m going after the $8,500 one. I put some of my bonus towards this one so we’ve only got $7.000 to go in 2020!

4. Get Under 30% Body Fat

I’m at 32% right now so this should be feasible if I actually stick to eating and fitness guidelines. I ran a 10-miler this year and then injured my hip while adjusting to orthotics so I haven’t been very active since September. I signed up for a personal trainer and plan to do more classes and shit this year.

I’m also doing FWFG Kula’s HOME – 30 Days of Yoga in January….thankfully, it starts tomorrow!

5. Get Some Education

I have talked to my supervisor about some exams I’m interested in taking at work….we’ll see what they have to say. I’m at a good point in my life where I’d like to hunker down and do something difficult that will advance my career again.

6. Fill Some Sketchbooks

I love small sketchbooks and have been journaling in them more and need to continue this trend. It’s good for me! I also love doodling and collages so this should be an easy way to handle creativity.

I can’t promise I’ll update often but I do love going back and seeing how far I’ve come.

7. Do Good Shit

I almost forgot about this one! I just want to do more good shit this year. I want to donate more blood and help dogs and just give more to my community. Always looking for more opportunities!

Week 21 – Pre-Vacay Cray Cray

A lot went on this week but I’m through it and FINALLY ON VACATION.

General Health

I was down .2 and I’m amazed. I have been bad about logging and need to work on that shit.

I walked with my friend a few times this week and have not done a whole lot else.

GYM July 2016 – June 2017: 87(as of 5/22) /120 

Be Creative
Lots of struggle with knitting this week – I’m having a hard time with patterns! it’s only knit knit perl perl and I’m struggling. I think I get it for awhile and then I yarn over on accident and still have  a hard time fixing my mistakes.

I was gifted a circle loom and several more skeins of yarn by another friend. SO THANKFUL TO MY LADIES! This is a quick, easy way to make a loose-knit hat.

Financial Goals

Pay Down Some Mortgage
I literally put $10 just to say I did something.

Frugal AF
I worked an event on Wednesday that left me with 5 entrees and several desserts and that became lunch and dinner for a few days! Thus stretching our groceries just a bit more.

I also cleaned someone’s home for some spending cash for my weekend.

Did I mention my friends are amazing and I haven’t had to pay for any craft supplies recently?

Mortgage: $788.65/$1,000

Professional Goals

Continuing Education Credits for Health License
I didn’t do much this week because it was the last week BEFORE VACATION.

Learning About Annuities
We did another one this week!

Blog Goals

A cool article
I don’t have much to say so here’s a cool article I’m reading about how millennials are working with what they have and doing what they need to do to live. Check it out here.

Weekly Updates
I MADE IT TO VACATION SO I GUESS I’LL TELL YOU ABOUT THAT NEXT WEEK!

WEEK 20!

Anyone else trying REALLY hard not to turn on the A/C? We had to cave this week.

General Health

Down 1.8 this week! WHAAAT? WW is WORKING!

I’m really pumped at how well Weight Watchers is working again. I found a really good group and we’re getting into the summer where fruits and veggies are everywhere!

GYM July 2016 – June 2017: 86(as of 5/15) /120 

Be Creative
You may have noticed my cover picture today….I was gifted all of these knitting needles and some stash yarn from a friend who got them from a friend. I LOVE ACCEPTING OTHER PEOPLE’S CRAFT STUFF! I have a pretty good stash started and I haven’t spent any money on it! I finished the scarf and am excited!! After a few attempts at trying to start a hat and the legwarmers….I think I need more help!

Financial Goals

Pay Down Some Mortgage
I threw $50 on that bitch this week.

Frugal AF
I biked to and from work most days last week thus saving myself $14.40 in SEPTA bus fares.

Mortgage: $778.65/$1,000

Professional Goals

Continuing Education Credits for Health License
I breezed through some chapters at work this week but still have a ways to go.

Learning About Annuities
We did another training on Friday!  Woo!

Blog Goals

A new perspective on bloggery
I read an interesting thread on Reddit this week asking how much time people devote to side-hustles. A lot of people said “Zero” and spend the time one would use on side hustles to enrich their full-time careers instead. I think there’s something to be said about that.

Weekly Updates
20 down and I kind of can’t believe it! 32 weeks to go. 1 more week until VACATION.

Week 17 and it’s gonna be….

Courtesy of 90’s 411

Sorry…as a product of the 90’s I can’t NOT make this joke.

General Health

Man…when I’m down, I am DOWN. Week 17’s WW mantra was to be kind to yourself and treat yourself as you would a friend on the same journey. I’m hard on myself. I am mad when I don’t accomplish my goals and even more mad when it’s because I am getting in my own way.

I DONATED BLOOD ON WEDNESDAY. So I’ve stayed on track with that side goal holla. I always feel better doing things that are for the greater good even though I hate needles. I was stabbed a total of 6 times last week between birth control, allergy shots, and blood donation.

My diet was a battle as we managed to get 4 boxes of Insomnia Cookies for Administrative Professionals Day (aka my bosses like me more than your bosses like you day) and I have very little control around baked goods. I also ate a LOT of barbecue so I bet weigh in is going to be rough.

Handling this new StepBet well still. 2 weeks down, 4 more to go!

GYM July 2016 – June 2017: 82(as of 4/28) /120 

Well…..at this point I would have to go to the gym every day between now and July 1 so I think I may have to shift this from July 2016 – August 2017 :( I’m going to keep going and keep trucking to do the best I can but it’s not looking great.

Be Creative
I’ve been knitting AND journaling again. I always get to work early so I’ve just been jotting a few lines down before work hubbub starts. It feels good to try.

I’m still reading “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck” by Mark Manson and loving it.

I’ve also taken to listening to podcasts instead of music at work and I’m finding it helpful. Personal finance, comedy, and personal growth seem to be my podcast genres.

Financial Goals

Pay Down Some Mortgage
I threw $61.40 in there just to get myself up to an even $700 by the end of April.

Frugal AF
Man, I’m just trying. I slip up here and there on food but at least they’re small. I need to find new breakfast options as I am starting to loathe oatmeal (again) and have fallen prey to the breakfast buffet downstairs because bacon. My budget gets blown one bacon at a time.

I’ve been listening to some personal finance podcasts and find them helpful:

Bad with Money with Gaby Dunn

Radical Personal Finance with Joshua Sheats

Mortgage: $700/$1,000

$300 by the end of June? I hope I can make that work in 2 months!!

Professional Goals

Continuing Education Credits for Health License
I have one more free training with our insurance company and I have not been doing my license stuff. I told you when I’m down I’m DOWN

Learning About Annuities
We’re not getting far with these and it’s a little annoying.

Blog Goals

What Do You Like About This?
Got any feedback? Is there a particular thing you like about my weekly updates? Are they motivating or whiny? Lemme know

Weekly Updates
Doin’ the damn thing.

WEEK 15 – HAPPY SPRING,YA’LL

6am. Monday morning. Trying desperately to get back on the gym game.

General Health

I was only down .2 this week but that’s still better than a gain and probably most certainly has nothing to do with the amount of pizza I ate. I’m not excited about weigh-in tonight because I was not good…including one day that I ate 100 points! Yikes!

I’m not gonna lie – I’m having a REALLY hard time getting back into the groove of my 6am workouts and normal life.

GYM July 2016 – June 2017: 78(as of 4/11) /120 

Be Creative
I did a lot of knitting when I went to my dad’s in Delaware this weekend.

Financial Goals

Pay Down Some Mortgage
I did not work toward this goal this week. I’ve been doing well but this week was a rough one financially so that didn’t happen and here’s why:

Frugal Fail of the Week
I went for my allergy shot on Wednesday and tried to stop by a new local coffee shop to try them on the way…..they were cash only. I don’t carry cash. So I figure I’ll just go to Starbucks instead along the way. I’m out of money on the app so I have to reload….and the reload minimum is $25. I go stand in the first Starbucks and a barista looks in the eye but does not acknowledge me and keeps holding a conversation with another barista. I count to 30 and walk out because I HATE THAT SHIT. I try to go to the other Starbucks closer to my doctor and they are closed because they can’t make coffee.

I get to work and sitting on my desk is a coupon for free coffee and pastry from Au Bon Pain. What a freaking waste of $25. SHAME.

Mortgage: $638.60/$1,000

Professional Goals

Continuing Education Credits for Health License
This thing called “tax season” should finally be behind me for the year and I can get a little breathing room to do this.

Learning About Annuities
Still waiting for that next session to come around

Blog Goals

A Comment! 
Shout out to David Carlson from Young Adult Money for taking the time to read last week’s post and comment! I read a lot of YAM and his comment reminded me that I need to be better about commenting [thoughtfully] on the blogs that I read more often.

Weekly Updates
I’ve noticed that I’ve been getting bad again about actually updating each section of this update. Stop it, me! You’re better than that!

And with this I pose a random question to you:
Have you ever had someone help you with your cover letter, resume, or job hunt? Was it free help or paid? Tell me about it please!

WEEK 12 IN THE BOOKS

General Health

Here’s how I’m doing with March FitCamp!  :

1. Respect nutrition –I rejoined Weight Watchers this week and have been trying to get used to the new SmartPoints system as it’s different than the PointsPlus I did last time.  The meal on the left is 10 SmartPoints…and I only get 30 per day.  Luckily, the FitPoints are a lot easier to obtain so I’m able to eat almost double my points thanks to WW sycing with my FitBit!
2. Do one legitimate straight-leg pushup – I’m noticing that the first 3 on-knee pushups suck a lot less when I do pushups but I’m still not very good.
3. Beat last month’s 13 days at the gym –BOOM! I was at 15 as of 3/24

GYM July 2016 – June 2017: 65(as of 3/21) /120 

 

Be Creative
I learned how to frog and am back on track with my scarf!  I also now have all the yarn I will need for my next project thanks to someone offloading a bunch from KnitPicks for $8

I picked up Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide To Thriving In The Age of Accelerations at the library and I think it will come in handy for blogging!

Financial Goals

Pay Down Some Mortgage
I was only able to put another $25 in this week but I still put it in!  Telling you all about my weekly progress on this is keeping me motivated to suck it up and throw the money in.

Frugal as Fuck
I feel like every day is a struggle not to spend!  I put $149.95 down on Weight Watchers this week but it will eventually be reimbursed by my health insurance which is a win!

I spent $33 on WW-friendly foods at Aldi and have a good pack of fruits and veggies for work tomorrow!

Mortgage: $556.50/$1,000

Professional Goals

Continuing Education Credits for Health License
I’m officially the worst when it comes to working on my CE – work has been busy!  It’s kind of a good thing!

Learning About Annuities
This got pushed to the end of the month…..sigh.

Blog Goals

Why The Fuck Are You Reading This?
I don’t know either!  I hope to wade through my drafts at some point and pull some more sideposts weekly but who knows!

Weekly Updates
Well I’m posting at least once a week

Week 8 Recap – Excited for March!

General Health

I reached out to a nutritionist to see if they can help me set the best macross for me in  myfitnesspal  and basically to have a professional tell me to stop being such a fat fuck.  I know what my problems are but I’m just not sure the best course of action and have some blog fatigue when it comes to trying to do the research myself.

This was the last week of Girl Meets Fitness and I definitely tried my best but was just unable to do all 5 days of workouts in the last 2 weeks – but I did sign up for her March FitCamp!  Donating blood killed my energy for Tuesday’s leg day but I gave it my best!

I am FIVE Weeks Down on the StepBet Challenge – ONE MORE TO GO!!!! AHHHHHH!
I also signed up for the next challenge that starts March 6 and my goals are a few steps lower so that’s exciting.

GYM July 2016 – June 2017: 48(as of 2/22)  /120

Sub-Goal: Donate Blood – I donated on 2/20!  It was quick and painless YAY!  I have scheduled my next one on 4/26 at St. Monica’s which is just a few blocks from my house.

Be Creative
I’ve been working hard on my knit-game and am a little consumed by it.  I went and picked up 2 more balls of merino wool yarn from Loop to finish it.  I learned how to change colors at Thursday’s knitting circle and I’m trying to get through the purple ASAP

I have been so preoccupied with my knitting that I haven’t been reading so that may be the goal that gets dropped!  Oh well!

Financial Goals

Pay Down Some Mortgage
I transferred $51 from my new Wells Fargo checking account to my mortgage principal this week.  $250 of my paycheck is going direct deposit bi-weekly into this WF account and I think it’s a good idea to keep that over there in case shit goes down and I need to pay my mortgage.

For this goal I will now not talk about what I’m saving to put into it but what actually gets transferred to the princpal!

Save Like a Motherfucker Frugal as Fuck
I grabbed a few extra snacks in my blood donation so we would have more things in the house to eat.  I found two pennies and a quarter on the ground.  I dug into the back of the work freezer for some chili I had thrown in there last month – it kept me fed through the work week!

My boyfriend’s birthday was Friday so I used a vacation day.  I was able to cash in some Opentable rewards to get a $20 gift card for our fancy dinner.  I got him a groupon for a massage and a few things he needed.

Other than that, we spent the weekend indoors eating crockpot mexican chicken and doing house stuff.  I [obviously] knit while running various videos and apps while he video gamed.  We did take a small trip to Lowes to get some gardening stuff together and started some plants!  Our thrift store Aero Garden needs a new motor so we ghetto-rigged this little setup:

Mortgage: $81.50/$1,000
Savings: Ummmm…..
So $2,000 towards each of these goals by June? Ummmmm….

Professional Goals

Continuing Education Credits for Health License
I went ahead and signed up for a CE course that I wanted to do because my free coupon code was about to expire and I didn’t want to wait.

Learning About Annuities
We start March 10th!

Blog Goals

Why The Fuck Are You Reading This?
Apparently to learn about my dayplanner because this week’s #TealTuesday was my record-breaking view of OVER 28 VIEWS!!! WOOOOO!  I think it did so well because I promoted through an Intsgram pic and shared it to my Facebook.  I don’t want to lose my Facebook friends to over-marketing through….so that won’t be a usual thing.

Unless my friends legit start getting in on #tealtuesday which I guess I still need to really define as a hashtag, huh?

Weekly Updates
I’ve gone through almost the entire first quarter doing these so that’s exciting!

It Doesn’t Always Pay to Bundle Insurance!

In the last year, I have called 4 different popular insurance companies to see if I can get cheaper rates for my homeowners or car insurance.  I have sat on the phone and given all of my information with both policies sitting in front of me and then we get to the numbers….

Their quotes are always higher than my current policies.

And when I tell the popular insurance those numbers….they apologize and say that I already have the best rates.  They can’t match!  What’s up with that?

So far, it has been cheapest for me to keep my car insurance with Geico and my homeowners insurance with MetLife.  I will say that I’ve been with Geico for a LONG time so I am getting a loyalty discount.

The bundle is often a marketing scam – you assume you’re getting the best price because it’s bundled but often it could be cheaper to stay sepearate.

Protips for Insurance Shopping

1. Be prepared to spend some time and just pick up the phone
So far I have yet to be lucky enough to have a quote generate over the phone.  I sit there and put all my info in then they ask me to call with a reference number….only to have to give them all of the information again.  Don’t waste your time online – call that bitch and cut out the beep boop boop middle man.

2. Have your policies and most recent bills in front of you
They’re going to ask you a lot of questions about your current policy and it’s a lot easier to answer instead of guess.  This also ensure that you’re comparing apples to apples.  It’s also a lot easier to throw a premium number at them before they can push you to start signing up for their insurance.

3. Don’t tell them the premiums you pay until the end
I have just always found this to be easier because then they will be quoting you apples to apples to what you currently have.  If you tell them the number up front they may try to just get you a policy that is closest/below that number but not for the same coverage.  See what the exact coverage you have would be the go from there.

4. Ask if there are any employer or alumni discounts
I save $21.69 on my car premiums just for being a Drexel alumnus.  Every bit helps!

5. Sometimes it pays to stay loyal
I also save $40.16 on my car premiums because I’ve been a client with them for so long – I’ve only had a mortgage for a year but I’m sure I’ll be calling MetLife in another year to see what can be done for me.

I’m very interested to see what other people’s experiences are with this!  Whatchu got?  Lay it on me!

WEEK 7 RECAP: Now Funky Fresh

General Health

I may have failed to mention that I had a dental checkup, well-woman, and physical in the last three weeks!  For most things – I was normal and healthy.  Some general health things I need to do – floss more, weight-baring exercise, and better diet.

Still trying to find the balance where I can eat fatty things and be healthy and closer to calorie goals.  myfitnesspal  has been great for water and calorie tracking…not much on exercise tracking because I’m having a hard time logging the Girl Meets Fitness workouts.  I just switch my FitBit to workout mode and pray it’s adjusting properly.

I am FOUR Weeks Down on the StepBet Challenge – OVER THE HUMP!

GYM July 2016 – June 2017: 45(as of 2/17)  /120

Sub-Goal: Donate Blood – TODAY IS THE DAY!  My appointment is at 5:30 but since I’m off today I may try to go earlier.

Be Creative
My scarf is coming along swimmingly!  I had one huge fuck up and my friend had to “frog” a few rows but I’m back in action!

Financial Goals

Well.  February is ALWAYS a really rough month financially.  Car insurance.  BJ’s (cheaper in the long run for meat than regular markets and buying in bulk keeps us shopping out of the freezer)  Higher utilities due to weather.  More travel expenses through the city in inclement weather.  Not to mention that I’m still waiting on the surgery bill from last month.

All hands on deck.  Batten down the hatches.  Time to get frugal as fuck.

Pay Down Some Mortgage
I closed my Qapital account this week.  The new bank account that I recently opened for a cash bonus has direct deposit and also gains interest!  It’s also directly linked to my mortgage account so I am confident that I am more likely to throw money directly into the principal.  Like the $31.50 I put in the other day just to even out the dollar amount in the checking account.

For this goal I will now not talk about what I’m saving to put into it but what actually gets transferred to the principle!

Save Like a Motherfucker Frugal as Fuck
It would appear that I’m the antithesis of saving like a motherfucker this month.  I had to dip in and I’m now negative for this goal.  I’ll be posting a few more posts on how I’m going to be frugal as fuck for the next few weeks.

Mortgage: $31.50/$1,000
Savings: $0/$1,000
So $2,000 towards each of these goals by June? Um….

Professional Goals

Continuing Education Credits for Health License
We started this training this week and I was told to wait another month or two before I start the CE credits.  Boo.

Learning About Annuities
Still waiting on this to be scheduled.

Blog Goals

Why The Fuck Are You Reading This?
Yeah I’m not sure – I noticed last week that I didn’t fully proofread my weekly update and had to fix it after and I was a bit mad that I didn’t proofread better!

Weekly Updates
I feel good about wiping everything but a few links from this and starting anew so I could a) break up the monotony and b) ensure we have less kerfuffles this week!

6 Weeks Down. 46 To Go!

6 Weeks of this has turned it into a habit – I keep in mind my goals each week as I do things and I think it’s really helping with focus!  I’ve also got a routine down that makes me feel better during the day.

General Health
I’ve been logging religiously on myfitnesspal  despite not staying within calorie budgets.  I joined the GMF February Fitness Challenge with  Girl Meets Fitness that started February 6!  Did I go to the gym on day one and do the youtube?  HOLY FUCK I ACTUALLY DID THE WORKOUTS!  I even did one of the days at home for a snow day – I only got 20 minutes in but it was better than nothing.

I am Three Weeks Down on the StepBet Challenge  I was pretty concerned that my rest day was on Thursday due to a snow day – I REALLY needed the sleep and laziness.  Sunday was rainy and NOT EASY and there was a LOT of house pacing and chores-doing.  Mad shout-outs to my weekly Aldi date who also needed to go to Petsmart and was happy to walk a few laps with me around the store before checkout.

I went to the gym A LOT this week – even Saturday!  It feels good to get up and do it.

GYM July 2016 – June 2017: 42 /120
GMF is definitely help me reach this goal – I did try to do one workout at home but it’s just too distracting!  I’m trying to get 5:30am to be my work week habit

Sub-Goal: Donate Blood – February 20th!

Be Creative
I got to make Harry Potter wands with my friend for her Harry Potter birthday party on Saturday.  Chopsticks, hot glue, paint, and pizza?!  Hell to the yes.  I had SO MUCH FUND doing this and booping people on the nose with them.

I’m still knitting!   I LOVE KNITTING!  I just have to get better so I can learn how to fix my mistakes as I get frustrated easily.  I (mostly?) learned how to tink* and am told my rows are pretty good.  I’ve found that this is a great activity to do while running SwagBucks videos are running on my laptop.

This basically sums up my challenges.

*”tink” means to knit backwards when you make a mistake – it’s just knit backwards HAHAHA

Financial Goals

Pay Down Some Mortgage
I’m up to $81.49 this week using Qapital – I added a few more rules ot try to get to that $100 faster and hopefully that works soon!  I guess I could, in theory, save the whole $1,000 through this but with the opening of the Wells Fargo account mentioned last week I think I’m better off pumping cash into that account because it earns interest.  I also took some of my rolled change money that I deposited into Wells Fargo last week and threw it at the principal just like the financial adviser I met with told me to do!

Save Like a Motherfucker
Soooo I forgot about this thing called “car insurance” that is due every 6 months so it was an all-hands-on-deck situation to pull $413 to get that paid before I got stuck with interest on the credit card.  It’s going to be a rough month.

Mortgage: $31.50 + $81.49 = /$1,000
Savings: $0/$1,000
So $2,000 towards each of these goals by June?Yeah I still got this.

Professional Goals

Continuing Education Credits for Health License
We started this training this week and I was told to wait another month or two before I start the CE credits.  Boo.

Learning About Annuities
Someone else at work is scheduling this sooooooo hopefully March or April?

Blog Goals

Why The Fuck Are You Reading This?
Yeah I’m not sure why you are either…but it’s good for me right now!  I know that I need to produce more content that is going to be for YOU but it feels like I’m doing a lot of good things right now and I need to roll with that.  Progress.

Weekly Updates
I definitely need these updates more than you need them.