Budgeting Woes 1.13

It is indeed time for us to once again tackle the topic of budgets. Here's the thing with starting a new job while working at your old one. It lends a false sense of security.

Money is coming in hand over fist, you're hating life due to the crazy amount of hours you are working, but still you have money to purchase a laptop, you can go on this trip, you can do this thing... and then.... reality hits home; and you're stuck with the sad realization that working full-time was not the answer to your  money woes. 

Especially when that new job included new bills. Or perhaps better worded: New bills get added because people assumed a new job = more money. 

So now were stuck in a finical hole. No savings to speak of, and lots of bills. 

(This is one of those ranty posts I was talking about earlier this month) 

As of now, the amount I owe is about $40 short of the amount I'm getting paid. Hopefully. With my luck this will be the cheque that calculates all the time off I had over the New Year holiday. 

This month I got not one but TWO cell phone bills. One from last month, and one because I switched to a new plan with my family. Ultimately it will save me some money, but not for a while.  Kaching! $125 

The last two months my utilities were up from $70 a month to over $200. Not chump change in my book. 

Not to mention all the normal expenses living on your own brings. 

So instead of running around thrift store hopping, or paying off my debt to the Library looks like I'll be spending my Saturday at home. 

Planning ways I can survive the next two weeks on beans and rice. Or oatmeal and rice. I also have a frozen pizza, and some eggs. 

*sigh* 

My biggest frustration is due to the fact that I want to save, but can't. Its either save everything, and spend nothing but on the absolutely necessary; or not worry about anything and spend and spend. 

There's got to be a happy medium. 

Does this mean I have to get yet another job? Work two jobs? Where does that leave school? Not to mention time to live life? 

When did I become and adult and how can I leave? 

<end rant>

Written: 1.11.13 

C25K- Week 2 [COMPLETE]

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Wooo! Week 2 is on the books people, as hard as the last run was, I'm really happy to have completed two weeks of this. This week, we had more life obstacles to navigate around, our church's VBS was all week, which meant our runs were later, we had to change days twice, and we even added another person to our group. 
This week, I was able to force myself into bed quicker, but still found myself wide awake (...♫ ♬ yeah I was in the dark, and i was falling hard, wtih an open heart....♫ ♬) around 1AM. I wish I were up to running in the morning. Maybe this week we can try a "bit" earlier in the day. Maybe running buddy?? 



Week 2 
Brisk 5 minute warm-up walk. Alternate 1 1/2 minutes of jogging and 2 minutes of walking for a total of 21 minutes.


Week 2 Day 1 - Walk/Run

Duration00:31:00Pace00:13:49  Distance 2.22 miles 

Great run. Back at my parents house, added a friend for this one, so we weren't going as fast. 

Week 2 Day 2 - Walk/ Run 

Duration00:31:00Pace00:13:49  Distance 2.22 miles 

Recently we had a veteran's cemetery built about a mile down the road, So my amazing friend(s) thought, flat paved area = great running place. I don't get spooked easily about things, but I can admit running at 10:30PM in a cemetery didn't make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Sure there were four of us in all but.. Anywho. I felt really good after this run, despite being sore from sprinting around BARE FOOT during a game of capture the flag at VBS the previous day. I can honestly say, running shoes are worth their weight in gold.  

Week 2 Day 3 - Walk/Run

Duration 00:31:00   Pace 00:13:21  Distance 2.29 miles 

Horrible horrible run. I don't know if its because we ate right before running, or what but jogging/running was incredibly difficult this night. I felt as if I'd never run anywhere before, gasping for breath, cramping 

This week we learned: 

• Never eat more than an hour before a run !! 
• Have things lined up to get in bed immediately upon returning home.
• Perhaps find some exercise to do on off days.

Hello Bloggity!

Erin 
Erin is 
Erin is tired
Erin is tired of waiting 
Erin is tired of waiting for the paperwork from the bank.


Why?


Because
Because without
Because without that 
Because without that they won't 
Because without that they won't give her the check, to give to the dealership. 


(yeah ok that didn't work so great) 


I, like everyone else, hate waiting for things. Especially when I've already created a time line of how things should go in my mind. When I spotted "my" car on Saturday afternoon, I just felt that I'd finally found the car for me, and I needed to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. 


There was six *I's* in that last sentence. 


I figured if I could get my parents out to look at it on Monday, I might be driving home with said vehicle on Tuesday at the latest. I had everything laid out...


Yet here we are Tuesday...a week later, and don't feel like we're any closer to getting it than we were last week. I have to believe that if it will work out, things will fall into place..and considering my track record with large things, its not a surprise. Unfortunately that doesn't keep me from stressing about it. 

Right now we are waiting on some paper work from our credit union, that was supposed to be here...Saturday. 

Now, let me just insert here, that I have NOT been impressed with the customer service with this place. I used them because, my parents have bought every car through them, over the years, and it  was suppsedly "quick and easy" because knew them. 

In a nutshell, these people are very slow when dealing with ME. 

With my parents? Two days, in and out. 

But when I talk to the loan officer, I get the condescending, "Oh I know you're young, so this is how its going to go..." tone. I don't get called back when I leave messages, and I have to call multiple times before I can speak with the only loan officer there. 

My mother was not happy about that treatment so she decided to call, and low a behold.. I got a call back! 

Anyway, Monday they "supposedly" sent out the information, via two day air. (Why they didn't just fax it, I don't know)  Thursday, still nothing. After calling about five times, we finally agreed to put more money down, so that my monthly payment would be smaller. (Thanks Mom, Dad!) 

So guess what that meant? Time to adjust the paperwork all over again! I literally could have cried, but was willing to give them at the CU the benefit of doubt. 

Well here we are Tuesday afternoon. Still no Package. 

So I call him. 

Voicemail.

And call him again.

"Hi we were wondering when the paperwork was scheduled to arri.."
(cuts me off) "Oh today or tomorrow morning ok? Than.."
"Oh ok, well have you spoken with the dealership? We dont' want them to sell the car out from under us"
(chuckles) "Yes of course, they know things are the works ok? We'll talk at you later" 

My own dear mother went into Mama Bear mode, and immediately called him back. Now my mother is a very meek and mild person, but she can get her point across..that and she has the advantage of being a mature adult. 

Not saying that I'm not mature, but he's not going to talk down to her. 

Argh!? 

Had I known it would take this long, I would have started the process first thing Monday morning, but ...you know God knew this would happen, so I've just got to let it go and ride the waves as they come. 


Question of the Day: If my friends go Whitewater Rafting this weekend, should I put my intense fear of water aside and go as well, or do like I did last year and hang out on the banks of the Nantahala... (which I didn't mind at all, I mean afterall...who would there be to take photos?! :)