Just as I had surrendered to the idea of having to cook Thanksgiving dinner, I get to my parents' home for the weekend, and not 20 minutes in, my mother calls my dad... she says she's flying in on Monday. No prior warning. For the sake of civility, I will pretend not to be dreadfully disappointed and displeased at this development. We don't know how long she will be staying for, or really, anything else besides that she returns on Monday.
Good news, I don't have to worry about cooking, and won't have to spend quality time with dad, and can instead focus on studying. Success!... Yay. Yeah, whatever.
In other news, I updated my side bars. So exciting to see them all slowly but surely reach the goals. The highest-interest loan will be gone by the end of December, leaving me with about $3k in SL2 at 2.5% and $1.1k SL1 at 5%, and about $4.5k total debt to start 2014. Much better than the $12.5k that welcomed 2013.
SL1 will be paid off by the end of Jan, then CC2 by end of Feb (because I lack the discipline to continue to let it crawl to zero, even if it is 0%). The rest of SL2 will be paid off by May, and that's when I reach my debt free goal. I may still modify the plans to make it happen sooner, but that is the base plan. The real battle begins thereafter, but that's for later. My budget book ends in December as I never wrote past it because I kept changing my debt repayment plans, and my 3-year life/goals plan also ends this December. Lucky me that I'll be busy until Dec 16, when I take my SPHR exam, and can't worry about making updates.
Speaking of it, studying has been going great, and I found a SPHR study audiobook for free through my Kindle and Audible.com. Lots of good material, and it makes me feel a bit more confident. Even then, it's still a bleak 49% chance of passing the exam, but I'll take whatever I can to improve my odds.
So, I am off to more studying and tonight I get to work at one of my supervisor's son's wedding. Looking forward to that!
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Thursday, November 21, 2013
But I really don't want to cook!
If you know the least about me, you'd know I have a non-eating problem. As occupational hazard that comes with such condition, I'm not that big into cooking. My dad and me being in the same kitchen is similar to dropping water on a pot of hot oil. So let's just say I wasn't exactly thrilled when the responsibility to cook Thanksgiving dinner somehow befell on me. Let me repeat that: not thrilled!
My mother is still out of the country until further notice. No further notice has ever been given, but she's still not back. She's working. Or something. Anyway! My older brother will be stuck with his side of the family Thanksgiving dinner. The rest of my younger siblings are useless and I am guilted into this for being the responsible one. Or at least the one that cares enough. In addition to dinner, it appears two of my siblings will be joining the uniformed services, so they leave the first week of December, and hence this dinner is kind of important. Or something. I don't get along with either very much, so I'm indifferent (or heartless--your pick).
My game plan: assuming the turkey my parents bought a year ago on Thanksgiving that's still on the freezer doesn't get up and walks away after I unwrap it, I'll try to cook it. None of us are turkey fans, and the few times my mother has tried, it hasn't been a good experience. Chicken is still the most popular, so I'll cook 1-2 if I can find some affordable whole chickens. Plus the turkey.
Then there are big meatballs, rice and pigeon peas, potato salad, spaghetti and pastelitos (mini empanadas), which are pretty much what our big dinners are about. My dad will help, of course, but I think that's as far as the assistance portion of the dinner goes. No idea on the budget, but I know it won't be cheap. And we don't have the recipe for the meatballs. Hmm... I'll get creative and try my hand at making bread while I'm at it, since there was a special kind of break from back home (called telera) that is not something we can find in the US, and it could be a fun excuse to bake.
Then we take some nice, smiling photos, play with the babies if present, and disperse to our rooms. Super fun togetherness time! Not.
My mother is still out of the country until further notice. No further notice has ever been given, but she's still not back. She's working. Or something. Anyway! My older brother will be stuck with his side of the family Thanksgiving dinner. The rest of my younger siblings are useless and I am guilted into this for being the responsible one. Or at least the one that cares enough. In addition to dinner, it appears two of my siblings will be joining the uniformed services, so they leave the first week of December, and hence this dinner is kind of important. Or something. I don't get along with either very much, so I'm indifferent (or heartless--your pick).
My game plan: assuming the turkey my parents bought a year ago on Thanksgiving that's still on the freezer doesn't get up and walks away after I unwrap it, I'll try to cook it. None of us are turkey fans, and the few times my mother has tried, it hasn't been a good experience. Chicken is still the most popular, so I'll cook 1-2 if I can find some affordable whole chickens. Plus the turkey.
Then there are big meatballs, rice and pigeon peas, potato salad, spaghetti and pastelitos (mini empanadas), which are pretty much what our big dinners are about. My dad will help, of course, but I think that's as far as the assistance portion of the dinner goes. No idea on the budget, but I know it won't be cheap. And we don't have the recipe for the meatballs. Hmm... I'll get creative and try my hand at making bread while I'm at it, since there was a special kind of break from back home (called telera) that is not something we can find in the US, and it could be a fun excuse to bake.
Then we take some nice, smiling photos, play with the babies if present, and disperse to our rooms. Super fun togetherness time! Not.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Mid month check up
See here... left to my own devices, I'll be quiet as a mouse and disappear here and there. Not that I don't enjoy blogging and following people, but I've had things to keep me busy. 4 weeks before my exam, exactly, but who's counting? Oh, yeah. I am.
That said, absolutely no new reports. I'm a horribly boring financial person, not that it is necessarily a bad thing. I have not incurred any new debts, spending is on track, and all continues to be paid as agreed, including snowballs. Christmas spending is also on track, and even at that I am finding savings (like getting a $50 Lowes card for my brother for $40 and a $50 certificate to buy toys for the kids for $25).
I have been aggressively saving my PT job's checks and reached the $500 I mentioned here in no time. Well, ok. It's actually $495.01, but it might as well be done. Although it is extremely late, I've started to seriously consider reaching my goal #3: Increase car savings by $2,000, not counting bonuses, and not counting the $2k I had to rebuild after paying off one of my consolidated loans. As of today, I had already saved $700. Adding the aforementioned $500 brings me to $1200. I could totally cheat and use snowballs for this with little consequence, but wont. The other $800 may come from a variety of places; I might be able to snag about $150 more on Friday from my part time job, another $275 and counting on credit card cash-back and offers, and give or take $40 from rebates and what not. Closing in on $1700. How to get the other $300 within 2 more pay periods before the year is over will be the real challenge, if I may say so myself!
I did come across an interesting situation: I had entered a charity-type raffle a while ago for $20 and forgot all about it, but it seems I won one of the prizes, retail at $120. My first two options: Sell it for cash and add that to my older brother's Christmas gift, since they're having a bit of a hard time, or give it as a Christmas gift. Let's just say I don't think anyone would really want this as a gift itself, and I can say this with a high degree of certainty. I don't need it myself, so I am not even considering (though I wouldn't mind it a lot to keep it, it's kind of neat). That leaves me with either sell it for money and get at least 80% of its value or keep it. It's a technology item, so donating it may be a bit iffy. What do you do when you get prizes that are nice to have, but you don't really need, and could have value in marketplaces?
That said, absolutely no new reports. I'm a horribly boring financial person, not that it is necessarily a bad thing. I have not incurred any new debts, spending is on track, and all continues to be paid as agreed, including snowballs. Christmas spending is also on track, and even at that I am finding savings (like getting a $50 Lowes card for my brother for $40 and a $50 certificate to buy toys for the kids for $25).
I have been aggressively saving my PT job's checks and reached the $500 I mentioned here in no time. Well, ok. It's actually $495.01, but it might as well be done. Although it is extremely late, I've started to seriously consider reaching my goal #3: Increase car savings by $2,000, not counting bonuses, and not counting the $2k I had to rebuild after paying off one of my consolidated loans. As of today, I had already saved $700. Adding the aforementioned $500 brings me to $1200. I could totally cheat and use snowballs for this with little consequence, but wont. The other $800 may come from a variety of places; I might be able to snag about $150 more on Friday from my part time job, another $275 and counting on credit card cash-back and offers, and give or take $40 from rebates and what not. Closing in on $1700. How to get the other $300 within 2 more pay periods before the year is over will be the real challenge, if I may say so myself!
I did come across an interesting situation: I had entered a charity-type raffle a while ago for $20 and forgot all about it, but it seems I won one of the prizes, retail at $120. My first two options: Sell it for cash and add that to my older brother's Christmas gift, since they're having a bit of a hard time, or give it as a Christmas gift. Let's just say I don't think anyone would really want this as a gift itself, and I can say this with a high degree of certainty. I don't need it myself, so I am not even considering (though I wouldn't mind it a lot to keep it, it's kind of neat). That leaves me with either sell it for money and get at least 80% of its value or keep it. It's a technology item, so donating it may be a bit iffy. What do you do when you get prizes that are nice to have, but you don't really need, and could have value in marketplaces?
Friday, November 8, 2013
Christmas Family
We got our "Christmas family" at work, gifts due the beginning of December. I happened upon a 4 year old boy who likes Disney's Cars. Very much like my nephews! So the hunt is on, and I'm in charge of his clothes. Normally we get them a coat, PJs, 1 or 2 outfits, shoes, socks, hats, blankets... or any combination thereon. Someone else is taking care of his toys, so I can focus wholly on the apparel side. I actually bartered a bit to get him vs an older girl, because I wanted to shop for young boys' clothes. You know, being an aunt and all, I ought to be knowledgeable of nephew's clothes' sizes.
I almost wish I had known this sooner, since I just placed an order yesterday to Disney Store for the two nephews. They both get a jacket and blankets with their names on them, and they were $9 each + shipping (they have two sales going on; one for 25% off and one for free personalization til 11/11, so if you're interested, go for it!). That's $40 out of their budget. Let's not forget 6.5% cashback combined between my credit card and cashback sites!
I have no idea where's the best place to shop for kids apparel that is price-sensible. I'll do some research tonight online, mainly in Amazon and ShopRunner eligible places, for the free shipping. And hey, worst comes to worst, it may drag me out to malls and outlets so I can get some clothes for myself. (HAHA, yeah, right. No). I'm just wishing for a weekend off between now and Dec 1st.
That said, tonight/this weekend is not one of those weekends off. I'm working after work (bleh), so I'll head out now for my lunch nap. Hope everyone has a great weekend. I'm loving the cold weather so far.
I almost wish I had known this sooner, since I just placed an order yesterday to Disney Store for the two nephews. They both get a jacket and blankets with their names on them, and they were $9 each + shipping (they have two sales going on; one for 25% off and one for free personalization til 11/11, so if you're interested, go for it!). That's $40 out of their budget. Let's not forget 6.5% cashback combined between my credit card and cashback sites!
I have no idea where's the best place to shop for kids apparel that is price-sensible. I'll do some research tonight online, mainly in Amazon and ShopRunner eligible places, for the free shipping. And hey, worst comes to worst, it may drag me out to malls and outlets so I can get some clothes for myself. (HAHA, yeah, right. No). I'm just wishing for a weekend off between now and Dec 1st.
That said, tonight/this weekend is not one of those weekends off. I'm working after work (bleh), so I'll head out now for my lunch nap. Hope everyone has a great weekend. I'm loving the cold weather so far.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Stores open Thanksgiving night?
I personally won't be going shopping on Thu OR Fri because 1) I have to work on Friday, 2) I don't have anything I'd like to buy with such urgency and 3) I don't like shopping. I will put it out there I HAVE gone out once during Black Friday, before I started working (so 6 years ago), with my dad. It was Friday, we left at 4am, stood in the freezing <40 degree weather for about 3 hours and had a good time. We only bought a GPS unit. We had nothing in mind, just wanted to hang out and that sounded like fun. And it was!
Back to working on Thu: I understand that'd suck if you have a big, close and cozy family and you want to spend time with them, or you have to travel between families to spread some of that Thanksgiving cheer. Only to return home, turn around, and go to work by 6pm. Though it is perfectly within the employers' rights, it's not "nice".
I would likely be one that'd work on that day because I'm a sad individual with nothing better to do on my day off besides make a few extra bucks, I'm a masochist, and I genuinely think it would be fun to see the chaos and the kind of sanctimonious people who shop in such an occasion while decreeing employers are the evil of the world for forcing employees to work during this family-gathering holiday. Let's ignore the stores are open because of people like them.
Let me clarify this: I am not for or against the notion of stores opening early or for or against shopping Thanksgiving Thu or Black Fri. People have their reasons and motives. Just wondering what other people around the PF community thinks about the whole issue.
Back to working on Thu: I understand that'd suck if you have a big, close and cozy family and you want to spend time with them, or you have to travel between families to spread some of that Thanksgiving cheer. Only to return home, turn around, and go to work by 6pm. Though it is perfectly within the employers' rights, it's not "nice".
I would likely be one that'd work on that day because I'm a sad individual with nothing better to do on my day off besides make a few extra bucks, I'm a masochist, and I genuinely think it would be fun to see the chaos and the kind of sanctimonious people who shop in such an occasion while decreeing employers are the evil of the world for forcing employees to work during this family-gathering holiday. Let's ignore the stores are open because of people like them.
Let me clarify this: I am not for or against the notion of stores opening early or for or against shopping Thanksgiving Thu or Black Fri. People have their reasons and motives. Just wondering what other people around the PF community thinks about the whole issue.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)