Okay - update on the physical stuff first: I have ABSOLUTELY fallen in love with spinning. It's become addictive. I didn't do so great the first time I went - but I talked with the instructor after class and she explained it's more interval training - click - light bulb on :) With that in mind, I was able to monitor my heart rate and endurance/effort better. I've switched my heart rate monitor over to the % HR to be displayed and that has also made a HUGE difference. I'm up to class number 9 as of this morning - and although I was incredibly sleep deprived from last night's adventure, I still did pretty well. I didn't burn as many calories, but I wasn't really expecting to! However, my recovery heart rate is getting MUCH better vs. my training heart rate. I've noticed several benefits to the class: 1) I am dropping some weight but more importantly 2) my ass and legs are shaping up like you would not believe. I've not weight trained my legs once yet (in part because I'm flat out beat when I get done with class), and I'm starting to see some definition and my ass is definitely getting tighter. WOOHOO!!! Going again tomorrow - they have an 8 AM class, then back to a normal schedule with it on Friday. I am going to have to vary the classes at some point - but right now, this is fantastic.
As for the financial part - that's going slower right now. I'm having some issues with my life insurance company NOT sending me the paperwork that I requested over 2 weeks ago. They are blaming the post office and "they cannot control the mail". Okay, my brother got his box of cookies we made in 5 days - we mailed them from Georgia and he is in AFGHANISTAN. This company is located in Utah - a letter from Utah with paperwork in it should not take longer than 5 days - we didn't even send the cookies specialty - just regular shipping. They are sending another copy of the paperwork out today. If I don't get it by the end of next week, I think I'll be speaking with a supervisor and they WILL find a way to send it to me electronically. How assinine is that? This is my money, and they are being dicks about it. However, when it's time for me to get a bill, I get those immediately . Go figure.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Why I'm starting a second blog....
My other blog is the personal venting space - this is will be designed to keep me motivated on my two newest goals. My friend and I are affectionately calling this "F & P Fitness" - which stand for Financial and Physical.
I picked up the "Total Money Makeover" book by Dave Ramsey. This seems to be an odd time of year to be starting a program that will get my finances under control - after all, we spend more $ at Christmas than any other time, right? Right. But, I think this is what I'm supposed to be doing for a number of reasons:
1) I was done with my Christmas shopping before Dec. 1st - this has never happened. So, I do not have the added stress of shopping right now.
2) I've been keeping up with my finanaces on a spreadsheet for about a year, and I'm still not ahead - hence the book to help me.
3) I DID attempt to take out a line of credit on my house with my mortgage company. I wasn't turned down, but it was not going to be enough of a savings to really help me, so I didn't do it - which is one of the things that Dave says you should NOT do.
As for the physical - it's easier. I've decided that if I feel like I'm going to buy something - I'm just going to go to the gym or go for a walk or do SOMETHING physical instead. There's no reason for me to buy anything anyways. I have a closetful of beautiful clothes that I bought when I was thinner that I can't wear. I don't want to spend money on new clothes being the size that I am right now. I shouldn't need to spend money - I just need to lose weight so 1) I will be healthier overall and 2) I can wear the clothes that I have that are gorgeous.
I always believe things happen for a reason - and I think that's really what is motivating me. Too many things have happened recently that are all pointing me in this direction. I talked with R and altho she doesn't want to get the book and she only briefly glanced at the Dave's website, she *says* she's going to do this with me.
I DO want to live like no one else, so LATER I CAN live like NO ONE ELSE. I've done this before, and I didn't know what it was called or what I was doing. But, I have been debt free in the past - so I know I can do it. It's all about behavior and motivation.
Tomorrow is liquidation day. I have a whole term life insurance policy, and have had it for 20 years. It costs me $30 per month - no big thing - for a $40K policy. The cash out value is about $5500 - in 20 years, I've only saved $5500!! Almost makes me sick when I actually ran the math at a higher interest rate (b/c of course, they are taking out fees!). I got $100K of life insurance which my job pays 1/2 of for $8 per month. So - no need for the other policy, but I DO need the cash out to start my snowball. I'm also rolling over the $ draining 403 b plan from Florida into a Roth with my stepsister. I know I'll have some tax hits on it - but it's not a ton of $ and I'm losing more $ than I am making in that account right now. I am a teacher - so we don't have the luxury of a 401K. I will worry about retirement and investing after step 3. Right now, I"m setting up step 1 at the local credit union (NOT linked to my regular bank) and then will begin my snowball this month.
As for physical fitness - my grad classes are DONE as of tomorrow - just one last online posting to one class - woohoo!! So, my evenings are free to workout to my heart's content. Plus, when I exercise, I tend to eat less at night - which is good for me and good for the wallet. I also found a workout buddy that goes to my gym as well - so we will start together this week (after her classes finish up Tuesday night).
Yep - it's going to be a GREAT month!
I picked up the "Total Money Makeover" book by Dave Ramsey. This seems to be an odd time of year to be starting a program that will get my finances under control - after all, we spend more $ at Christmas than any other time, right? Right. But, I think this is what I'm supposed to be doing for a number of reasons:
1) I was done with my Christmas shopping before Dec. 1st - this has never happened. So, I do not have the added stress of shopping right now.
2) I've been keeping up with my finanaces on a spreadsheet for about a year, and I'm still not ahead - hence the book to help me.
3) I DID attempt to take out a line of credit on my house with my mortgage company. I wasn't turned down, but it was not going to be enough of a savings to really help me, so I didn't do it - which is one of the things that Dave says you should NOT do.
As for the physical - it's easier. I've decided that if I feel like I'm going to buy something - I'm just going to go to the gym or go for a walk or do SOMETHING physical instead. There's no reason for me to buy anything anyways. I have a closetful of beautiful clothes that I bought when I was thinner that I can't wear. I don't want to spend money on new clothes being the size that I am right now. I shouldn't need to spend money - I just need to lose weight so 1) I will be healthier overall and 2) I can wear the clothes that I have that are gorgeous.
I always believe things happen for a reason - and I think that's really what is motivating me. Too many things have happened recently that are all pointing me in this direction. I talked with R and altho she doesn't want to get the book and she only briefly glanced at the Dave's website, she *says* she's going to do this with me.
I DO want to live like no one else, so LATER I CAN live like NO ONE ELSE. I've done this before, and I didn't know what it was called or what I was doing. But, I have been debt free in the past - so I know I can do it. It's all about behavior and motivation.
Tomorrow is liquidation day. I have a whole term life insurance policy, and have had it for 20 years. It costs me $30 per month - no big thing - for a $40K policy. The cash out value is about $5500 - in 20 years, I've only saved $5500!! Almost makes me sick when I actually ran the math at a higher interest rate (b/c of course, they are taking out fees!). I got $100K of life insurance which my job pays 1/2 of for $8 per month. So - no need for the other policy, but I DO need the cash out to start my snowball. I'm also rolling over the $ draining 403 b plan from Florida into a Roth with my stepsister. I know I'll have some tax hits on it - but it's not a ton of $ and I'm losing more $ than I am making in that account right now. I am a teacher - so we don't have the luxury of a 401K. I will worry about retirement and investing after step 3. Right now, I"m setting up step 1 at the local credit union (NOT linked to my regular bank) and then will begin my snowball this month.
As for physical fitness - my grad classes are DONE as of tomorrow - just one last online posting to one class - woohoo!! So, my evenings are free to workout to my heart's content. Plus, when I exercise, I tend to eat less at night - which is good for me and good for the wallet. I also found a workout buddy that goes to my gym as well - so we will start together this week (after her classes finish up Tuesday night).
Yep - it's going to be a GREAT month!
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