No financial worries

The third of 4 expected refund checks came recently and that went straight for house repairs. That -plus this month’s debt snowball payment - caused us to pass the 25% mark in debt payoffs in one year (approximately).

Which leads me to today’s thought: It is more important ot know where you are going than to get there quickly.

Other than that, there is not much to report. I love my new employer - this is not the same place where I worked in the spring. I share the lounge fridge with the whole school staff so I can't really keep food in there for cooking - that would take up about 3-4 different lunch bags to conceal condiments, fresh veggies, soymilk, etc. like I did at my old job. 

So, I eat out more than I used to. I'm a bit too tired to tally up the cost right now, but I know it's cheaper to eat out than to rent (at least for me it is). 

I sent Jefferson and his cousin-dog stuffed animals today. I've been holding the animals occasionally while I drive to make sure my scent is on them. I kissed them before I put them in the packaging to send home. Jefferson is the wallpaper on my laptop. I sure do miss him. 

Not being concerned about finances has led me to thinking about other areas of my life that need prayer and attention - like some legal issues I'm helping my sister with, spiritual guidance concerning the kids I teach, and people in my life who are ill and need healing. 

I know that sometimes hardships draw us closer to God. I don't know if my financial hardships really did that, but I feel (and have been feeling) like they just drained me and made me too tired to pray about or think about anything else. All of my prayers and needs seemed to center around finances. I didn't like that. 

Meals for $5?

What a difference 8 months makes! Pizza Hut and FedEx Office both offer free wi-fi now. Taco Bell, one of my former “go to spots” is closed for renovations. The gym has rearranged equipment and the televisions are out (so I can’t watch Judge Judy). 

Without refrigeration or cooking facilities like I had at the old school, my diet is pretty restricted. Whatever I buy, I have to eat. I can put food in the school fridge that is shared with 60 other employees. 

So, that could mean my food budget blows up. Don’t want that to happen.

So, I’ve been looking for places where I can get a good hot meal for $5. One $5 meal a day leaves money for fruit and staples to keep in the car. Then I will I stay in my food budget. There are some foods I will be able to cook in the microwave when school gets into full swing (baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, scrambled eggs).

Here are some ideas of go-to places: 

Subway

KFC has new $5 meals

BK veggie burger meal

Pizza Hut personal pizzas are $5 (Little Caesar’s has $5 pizzas, but too big to eat in one sitting)

Ledo broccoli and cheese soup bowl
Olive Garden soup and breadsticks 6.50

Celeste personal pizzas (frozen) - $1

That’s enough to frequent a new location 5 days of the week.

Sleepless and Sweating

August 31, 2014

Yesterday evening,  I couldn’t get my car window to roll up. I’ve had trouble with this window before. By 11:00, my eyes could barely stay open, but I needed a place to sleep that had security. I needed to feel safe sleeping with one window all the way down, but not fear getting caught. If I went back to the hospitals, a security guard would notice the window and come over and take a look.

I went to a parking garage where I could park 2 hours for free. The plan was to set my car alarm, nap, and drive out after 2 hours. Then, I would turn right back around and come back in. However, there were so few cars parked in the garage that I couldn’t blend in. I was sure the security guard would notice me leaving and entering repeatedly because there were so few others there. So, I slept the first 2 hours and left. 

I drove away trying to figure out where else I could go. While driving, I drove past a Laundromat in a familiar neighborhood. It’s open 24 hours and there is a regular police presence in the area. People were coming and going. So, I parked there and slept in the front seat. I may have looked like someone who fell asleep while waiting for the laundry to get done.

I’m happy that this summer has been atypically cool and I didn’t have to worry about mosquitoes.

September 6, 2014

So, last night was the most miserable night I’ve tried to spend in my car. Even the weather forecasters described the weather as “brutal.” It’s hot and humid. I woke up drenched in sweat after an hour. I drove back to the Laundromat and went to sleep (still sweating, but not as much), with the windows cracked. In the morning, I drove to an above-ground garage, where the temperature was much cooler and there was actually a small breeze. I stayed there for half the day. Now, I'm at the library trying to keep cool and stay awake (since I didn't sleep comfortably). 

Storms are predicted for tonight. I can’t wait. They will bring a cold front with them. 

Anniversary

Today's thought: 

Your struggles give you a testimony to  help others. You can't be a student forever. Be a teacher.

August 31, 2014

This is my anniversary. One year ago today, I was preparing to spend my first night in my car.

What we have accomplished:

- eliminated credit card debt

- begun renovations on the house

- begun paying down student loans

- established an emergency fund (and it has come in handy!)

- given to others

- learned survival skills (cooking on a grill, staying warm)

- become more disciplined  (more punctual, more organized, better at planning ahead)

- learned that I have some courage and dedication that I didn't know I had before

This upcoming year’s goals:

1. One year from now I want to be back in an apartment with my dog Jefferson back in my care.

2. I want my parents’ house to be fully renovated with them living in it (they won't have full-size appliances or central air conditioning, but we will all celebrate nonetheless).

3. I want to be current on student loan payments.

4. I want to continue to have an emergency savings fund (it won’t be complete by then, but I don’t want to raid it).

5. I want to give to causes I care about.

6. I want to still be at this current job contributing at least the minimum to the matching 401K. 

Someone visited my world of one

A few days ago, someone made a donation on my blog. I felt a very strong sense of pressure mixed with anxiety.

I feel so accountable to use that donation wisely and stick to the plan of renovating the house and getting out of debt. That donation was like listening to a cheerleader. I really appreciate it. 

I write this blog to help me organize my thoughts and release emotions. I don't share the information in this blog with anyone I know personally. No one in my life knows about this blog. So, for a stranger to come across the blog and offer some encouragement - I feel like a visitor just stepped into my world of one. 

Thank you, donor!

How do you know who the rich people are in your life?

August 14, 2014

On the Get Rich Slowly blog today, the topic was about asking people you personally know for financial advice if they are where you want to be. Someone brought up an excellent question in the comments section – how do you know WHO is where you want to be? It’s taboo to talk about money!

While I still have a lot to learn about PF and a long way to go to get where I want to be (about 4 years according to my spreadsheets), I still think I’ve learned enough to share with others. The challenge is finding the BEST WAY to share. With immediate family I can easily bring up the topic of personal finance without sharing too much about my situation (unless I want to). With friends, I found it’s easiest to mention Dave Ramsey or Michelle Singletary and how I’m following their advice – not how I’ve arrived. Two people have been receptive to that so far.

It’s easier to talk poor than to talk like I’m doing well. I think that’s because I’m surrounding by so many other struggling people that talking like I’m doing well without offering to help others out seems insensitive. 

Also see my post on 7-27-14 along the same lines of this subject. 

Locked out of Storage Unit

August 14

Today I left the gym and headed to storage to change my clothes. Then I remembered that I left the key card to the storage building INSIDE my storage unit! I still had on yesterday’s clothes. No department store was open at 7:30 am so I could at least buy a different shirt to wear to work.

I decided to go and see if somehow I could get in. Maybe another customer would be there, or the staff would be empathic enough to open their office doors early for me.

Plan B: wear the same clothes to work that I wore yesterday. I would divert coworkers’ attention from my clothing using my charming and bright personality, enhanced by engaging conversation and eye contact that just takes in the soul!

As it turns out, the storage office opens at 7:30, so they had no problem letting me in.

But, man, I’ve got to keep up with the key card better.