Money, and the Triple Threat

I know I've said this before...but I love tinkering with money. I love thinking about it, managing it, saving it, budgeting it, and yes...spending it. I know myself well enough to know when I should avoid certain stores...how many credit cards I can have open at one time, and when to return that dumb audio-book.

Here are just a couple of tips. Take them, leave them...these work for me. I'm not at all saying that they will work for you. Actually, I'm not even sure anyone but Kelly S. will think any of this is interesting in the slightest... :). Here we go:

1. For the entire day today think about every purchase it terms of how many hours of work you had to put in to pay for that thing you have in your hand. $50 may not feel like a lot, until you say to yourself, "hey, I literally worked 4 hours for this thing in my hand. Hmmm, maybe I don't need it that badly (unless it's toilet paper...please buy the toilet paper).

2. For me, I really like getting packages. One way to stop myself from even perusing the "$1" section at Target (the quotes are there because some items cost up to $3 and the whole lot ends up being a lot more!). I found that I can indulge these two revelations about myself with this:

www.citruslane.com

$25 a month (I think it's worth it) for a few little treasures from Citrus Lane, some $1 store finds and others are really much much more. The goodies are mostly for kiddos but a couple of things have been really nice that we both can use. Last month we got a book that was worth the $25 by itself! But we also got Honest Co. body wash, a deep steep stick, and snacks! This month we got the best little hat, some really nice sunscreen (that is all natural, etc. etc.), a sand toy, and sidewalk chalk with a holder! I realized that I could skip going to Target all together and rely on these little boxes at a reasonable cost...but ONLY if you stop sneaking into Target on your days off...that's fodder another post! Believe me, if I didn't know these would be delivered to my door every month I would find things in any store that I "needed."

3. Here's the Triple Threat part:

     ********Spending money on your credit card for things you "need" is a triple threat against you and your financial glory.

              I. You just spent $50 that you don't have until your next paycheck with money that isn't yours.

              II. That $50 will rack up $8.50 of fees (on a 17% card like one of mine was) if you don't pay it off.

             III. You, like me, could (and would) have used that $50 to pay down other charges you've already made onto your card...getting yourself out of debt that much quicker. Or, you would have provided for your family and would not have had to use that money to pay down stupid credit cards...chew on that!

So instead of having a charge of $250 on your card, you now have $350 on your card.  See the difference??? I did. That $50 charge will actually cost you MORE than $100. And I returned that $25 audio-book that I thought I desperately "needed." That charge is set to go straight back onto my credit card. And tomorrow I'm going straight to the library to get it for free. Sometimes you can put your tail between your legs and return the item. You can do it.

Unfortunately it isn't just that easy. I want so badly to tell you that this is an easy gig. But alas, it is not. I learned from the many financial planning classes I've taken that your debt to credit ratio is important. The more credit you have and are not using to the limit the better. So, in theory, the more credit you have the better...that is, if you can use it for gas ONCE a month and pay it off you will earn credit.

I'm Kristen and I'm a Shopaholic. It's only been a few days since I last spent. Today is a new day. At one point in my life I had many cards (like 10) and I have, indeed, closed down many of them for fear of racking up the sort of debt that tightens my throat when I think about it. I have one remaining credit card that reminds me of the life I used to live and could be living again if I lose focus. This one is one that I recently paid off and then transferred two other balances to at 0% for a year. Then it goes back to 9.9% which is still much better than the 17% I was paying.

I have four other credit cards. One has a relatively small balance which I will pay off (with any luck) within the next month or so. The other is a high interest, high limit card with no balance that I may close. Both of these are dangerous.

My third I don't think about much because it's a discover that I have another 0% APR balance transfer on. I WILL pay this off within the year and never pay a cent in fees. I carefully calculated the balance to be paid off within 15 months of opening it.

My last card is my Victoria's Secret card that I use every six months and pay off fully within the month of using it. It seems odd to me that of all my cards this is the one I am truly responsible with.

So the paradox is really owning credit cards and using them once an month AND paying the full balance down every single time....and being a shopaholic. But hopefully your Citrus Lane box with never be late and you will not lose focus on your budgeting. And if you ever want to hear me pontificate about things like "debt stacking," balance transfers, budgeting for any number of paychecks/people, and possible tips on keeping yourself out of Target's "$1" section...just let me know.

Progress

The list is actually taking a life of it's own in my brain.

I write lots of lists...every day. I'm looking at about 4 right now lying around my desk. No shame.

Here is my progress on a few of the 30 for 30 list:

1. Read 10 books (0/10)
    I have a list of books that I want to start with. I'm not sure I want to share them here. Haha.

12. Run a half marathon (1/13.1 miles)

     That felt so awesome. The last couple of miles were hard. It was also kind of weird coming in alone. I'm so used to having Chris there with a cow bell.

16. Go climbing. Even just once. (0/1 climbing experience)
     Not yet, but I've scheduled this one for my birthday to get things started off right!!!

 

17. Organize my car so that it is less likely to get and/or stay dirty. (0/1 car)

      The inside of my car now contains very few objects. The last two things to check off for this one to be done is the trunk and vacuuming. I keep finding crazy things in that trunk...lol. I have a system that I love. I require myself to take EVERYTHING out of the car that I took into the car on that particular trip. Plus, I have to take one piece of trash or object left behind. Since there is nothing left in my car, I guess it worked! That way, you leave nothing behind and you aren't overwhelmed with lots of other stuff. Just figure out what to do with that one extra item.

18. Obtain 5 new personal fitness training clients. (3/5)

     As most clients are, a couple of these are fairly temporary...but hey, this is my grand entrance back into personal training and I'm damn proud. And I love all of them...which is rare.

20. Save up money for the INSANITY workout DVDs. (3/ 3 easy $39.95 payments +   shipping, handling and processing and shipping again)

  Thanks James! Now I just have to start using them. Lol.

25. Pay off my Bank of America card (0/$300)

      We're down to the last $218. This will be gone along with another card at the end of this month. Wow. 10 years.

28. Read a book with River every day. (0/365 books)

     Even though I have started this one I'm not going to start the count until the 26th. So far it's going really well. I have a great audience! And we've recently gotten some awesome books!!!

29. Take her to the park once a week. (0/52 weeks)

      Just like 28 this one is going very well, but I won't start the count yet. I love running around outside with my kiddo. She's pretty darn great.

31. I want to visit the beach with River for the first time in her life.

     Even though I had originally thought that this one would be a long shot...I'm getting my tickets to Cali soon! Thank you Jessica! I can't wait to see you.

30 for 30

So...I'm turning 30 in a few weeks. Go me!

Looking back at all my last postings (and then reverting some of them back to drafts-haha) I have learned I'm a list-y sort of girl. I like lists. Often, I can feel weight magically lifting from my shoulders as I write them. They give me a sense of control. That is, if I look at them every day. The ones in my earlier posts are from pre-baby times. I did very few of those things. I forgive myself. It's been a crazy few years! It's time to dust of those lists and bring them back to life. Although, now instead of 101 things in 1001 days (ridiculous!) I'm doing 30 for my 30th birthday. Well, if you actually look at the list there are 31 things...because technically this will be my 31st year of life. Some of them are really goals and some are one time, easy things I really really want to do. I've taken off the things that don't feel as important, added so many that I know realize are very important and rounded it off to 31 things to do starting now (a few weeks early for my 30th birthday) and continuing into my 31st birthday in 2014. Part of the reason I'm starting now is that my half marathon is right before my birthday. Big accomplishment for me. Also, if I don't start now, I'll forget. After all, my spirit animal is the goldfish. So many good and bad attributes there. Always new beginnings! So there. This one is going on my fridge:


1. Read 10 books (0/10 books)

2. Drink at least 4 - 24oz nalgenes of water per day for at least 1 month (0/30 days)

3. Meditate for at least 20 min. per day for at least a month (0/30 days)

4. See an opera (0/1 show)

5. Memorize "Put Your Back Into it" by Ice Cube, upon request of PBJ. (0/13 verses)

6. Cut out fast food for at least a month (0/30 days)

7. Give a dollar to every homeless person I see for a whole day (0/? homeless people)

8. Compliment everyone I talk to sincerely during one whole day (0/? people)

9. Visit Self Serve (0/1 visit)

10. Be on time (5 min. early) to everything for a week. (0/7 days)

11. Get my annual pap exam (0/1 test)

12. Run a half marathon (0/13.1 miles)

13. Beat my time at the Rattlesnake Triathlon (0/3 events)

14. Self yoga practice at least 3x/week for at least 1 month (0/12 sessions).

15. Eat only organics when possible...try for a full week (0/7 days).

16. Go climbing. Even just once. (0/1 climbing experience)

17. Organize my car so that it is less likely to get and/or stay dirty. (0/1 car)

18. Obtain 5 new personal fitness training clients. (1/5)

19. See the new Ryan Gosling movie (0/1 flick)

20. Save up money for the INSANITY workout DVDs. (0/ 3 easy $39.95 payments + shipping, handling and processing and shipping again)

21. Spend at least 2 hours per week organizing the garage. (0/20+boxes)

22. Learn to use my MP3 player and put music onto it. (0/25 songs)

23. No facebook for one full day. (0/24 hours)

24. Begin learning Hindi again and have a conversation with someone who is fluent
. (0/1 conversation)

25. Pay off my Bank of America card (0/$300)

26. Set a real “bedtime” routine for River (0/4 hours per night)

27. Keep eye contact every time I speak to River (and for most of the time when she's speaking to me.) (0/10 min per day)

28. Read a book with her every day. (0/365 books)

29. Take her to the park once a week. (0/52 weeks)

30. Take her on a hike once a month. (0/12 hikes)

31. Since this is technically my 31^st year of life, and this one is a long shot anyway….I want to visit the beach with River for the first time in her life. I so want to see the beach again. However much of a long shot it is it’s my dream and I’ll dream it if I want to.

 

Anuugacchati Pravaha

Go with the flow
Follow your inner goldfish

What makes Goldfish happy?

Recently, I picked up the book I had been actively avoiding for some time now. Why, you ask, would I avoid a book? Well, in all honesty, because it was popular. I frankly couldn't imagine why I would want to read a book that everyone else in America seemed to enjoy.

On the recommendation from a friend that I love very much, I started reading it. It was 50% off when I bought two books. Pretty good deal. The other book that I bought was Forrest Griffin's new book "Got Fight." I wanted that because he's one of Chris' favorite fighters (but, really that title goes to our very own Carlos Condit) and because it looked fun.

I was going through other random books and had decided on getting some other book. Then my brother called me (yes, on my phone) in the bookstore. He was a few isles over and couldn't find me. As I walked back the way I came after finding my little brother, I saw it. I saw the book that I wanted. "Eat Pray Love."

It doesn't sound like me at all. Pray in the title? Really? OMG, don't ever NOT buy a book just because of the reasons I just mentioned. This is probably one of the BEST books I've ever read...the plot line is simple enough and very good, but the real reason I love the book is because of the writing. It's amazing. She is inspiring with every word on the page.

Not to sound cliche, melodramatic, etc., but within the first 34 chapter, it has literally changed my life. And I hate the word 'literally.'

Not that I'm a newly divorced, then newly heartbroken 30-something that has some amount of money from her amazing writing (enough to travel for a year), but the take home messages are clear enough. The message from the first 34 chapters is becoming a mantra to me this month. Find what makes the Goldfish happy. What the hell does she want? What makes her lose her mind in fits of happy giddy silly sunniness? It's different (a lot different) from the first list I put on here.

And actually, in my own humble opinion, way more interesting.

It starts with a new found addiction for language. And not Italian (which is the author's favorite), but the less "traditionally beautiful" languages. I love Spanish and Hindi and I love listening to the guttural German and the awkward sounding Gaelic. For now, I'm learning (or in the case of Spanish, re-learning) the first two.

Spanish: Because, what the hell; I'm a Martinez whose dad speaks Spanish, lives in NM, has a large number of students who speak it, and has already taken years of it (don't act so surprised). Hindi: See my last blog post that went something like this- "Wa wa wa, I want to go to India real bad. Wa wa wa. Must go or I will lose my mind." Accurate enough?

I found these sites with video lectures teaching these languages for free! Oh what a day and age we live in. I'm making it a point to become fluent. I have now programmed 101.3 La Kalle into my car stereo right next to 97.7, 93.3, and 104.7. I think that my brother's station of choice may still be there as well (that thick carnival type Mexican music). And I will continue to order my horchata as mediano horchata porfavor. Since there is no Hindi station I'm going to have to rely on my sanskrit book, the website, and the set of CDs Chris was so kind to give me for Christmas.

This new found fascination with being happy also somehow includes my love for my city. I'm not actually sure if it's because I love Albuquerque or just the way it looks. I found this amazing blog of the best Abq. skylines while looking up photos of the Big I. This actually came about when I realized that I should probably keep my eyes on the road while driving the big circle from 25 N-40 E instead of ogling what I find to be one of the most beautiful and interesting projects in our grand city. But, I digress. Here's the website: http://www.city-data.com/forum/city-vs-city/243120-best-skylines-each-metro-size-14.html

Maybe you won't find it as enchanting as I do. Maybe you are jaded against all those red light/van tickets. Maybe, like my father, you think of the Bank of the West building as grotesque and old. While Chris is telling me to look at the scenery (meaning the mountains- and don't get me wrong, they are what makes the skyline gorgeous), I'm way more interested in my trip away from my foothills home. The first thing I see on my way down Copper is that damned Bank of the West building glinting gold under the rising sunlight. Oh how I love that picturesque view. Sure, I'm crazy, but that's the kind of stuff that makes us different.

27

I was called "Mom" by Cassia on my 27th birthday...hmmm. Good birthday gift...

Finishing off my list of 101

35. Obtain 5 new PFT clients. (2/5)
36. Save up for some Sephora makeup (0/$1 billion)
37. Reduce my use...of products (eg cleaning products, shampoo, toilet paper...)
38. Save up money for the INSANITY workout DVDs. (0/ 3 easy $39.95 payments + shipping, handling and other dumb fees)
39. Spend at least 2 hours per week cleaning the house.
40. Finish Eveliina's birthday gift. (3/4 of 1 really late gift)
41. Put together 10 playlists (0/10)
42. Get at least 20 new fitness CDs (0/20)
43. Learn to play the banjo. (0/1 instrument)
44. Speak less, write more.
45. Attend at least one hot yoga session (3/1)
46. Be consistent in taking all of my pills for an entire week (none missed) (105/15pills x 7 days)
47. Graduate Jeanne to 7.5 lb. weights
48. Check my pft schedule every day.
49. Take one day off per week for 6 months. (0/24)
50. Sleep 8 hours per day unless sick.
51. Do not text for an entire day. Pick up the phone and have some human to human contact. (0/24 hours).
52. No facebook for one full day. (0/24)
53. Reward myself every day without fail. Even at the end of non-productive days.
54. Attend hot yoga 3 x per week for a month (0/12)