So, this is my first post. Where do I begin? I guess at the beginning...ok enough of being a wise girl! :)
My main goals for this year are to lose weight and get my personal finances in order. Now that higher education is officially behind me, I need to really get myself in order to be better and do better. Here is a rundown of my plans for each of these goals, including where I am currently.
Weight Loss
My mother and I started our own weight loss plan earlier this month (February). Being that my finances are currently out of wack, I can't afford to join a high-end weight loss program. So Mom and I decided to make some adjustments in our eating habits such as limiting carbs, avoiding sweets, white sugar, white rice, white bread, eating more fruit and veggies, drinking more water and watching portions. Also, of course, there needs to be some physical activity. I was going to a gym that's near my home regularly until last Monday when my membership expired. This gym will be the only thing other than groceries I will spend money on while trying to lose weight being that I'm the type of person who will not seeing any weight loss progress unless I exercise. I learned this during my many other ill-fated attempts at trying to shed pounds. My mother uses the Ab Lounger in the basement for her daily dose of exercise. When the weather improves, we both vow to take advantage of the long awaited beautiful spring days to take some long brisk walks.
The gym that I was a member of is excellent. It's not that expensive and it's in my 'hood so if I get really inspired I can walk there. The prices are $5 everyday $50 for 3 months and $99 for six months. I usually go for the six months price. The last time I was there they were offering a promotion that offered the six months for ten dollars less than the usual asking price. I'm trying to catch this promotion before it's gone. It's a damn good deal. And being a member of a gym may help me stay on track with this weight loss goal because I'm around other people instead of doing it alone.
I'm really ready for this change. Right now, it's more of a need than a want! Currently, I'm proud of myself that I am not finding an excuse for eating the things that I know are not good for me. In fact, I don't even have a taste for any sweets, chocolate, alcohol, or french fries (my weakness). I'm not saying I never will have another craving, because I do have my moments, but when I see scale numbers going the other way, or when I see clothes get a little bigger, and I'm feeling more energetic, and me and Mom's faces are getting smaller, this all makes me want to keep going. not to mention shocking the hell out of people that haven't seen me in ages and angering some others that won't be able to take the sudden change in me! Even if the scale numbers are still on one number for a little time, that's okay. At least it's not getting higher. Of course I don't want that needle to be stuck on that number forever, but just as long as it remains stagnant and not increase! My short term weight loss goal is to lose 60 lbs this year and the long term is to lose 130 pounds by this time next year. I feel that if I take this weight loss slowly, I may have a better chance of succeeding. Once and hopefully for all!
Personal Finance
Well folks, this is certainly a horse of a different color. I haven't had a full time job in a long while. I've been doing promotions and living off of loan refunds throughout my attempt to obtain my Masters Degree. I graduated from the Masters program in May of last year and I have been unable to secure a full time position ever since. After sending countless resumes, revamping resumes, stressing over writing impressive cover letters, and preparing for interviews I never get a call back for, I've experienced a lot of disappointment and depression. Not only do I have expenses that I need to take care of such as car insurance, car repair, nagging bills and helping my mom run this household, but there also needs to be a emergency fund set up, a Dell Preferred Account pay off (my only credit card debt), and of course, the infamous student loans. They are still in deferment but the interest is increasing. So, that's another issue.
In September of last year, I signed up for two temp agencies. One of them, I haven't heard anything from since my interview but another one surprised me last month with an assignment after three months of interviewing with them. Those little dollars I earned for that assignment has really helped out a lot. ?I was at my wit's end. After my last promotion ended, I still had no job and had no idea where the next dollar was coming from. Although the assignment only lasted for four days, that paycheck increased my moral and that negative in my bank account! It's not at all as much as I would've like it to be, but it's a start. I have more in those accounts now than I've had in such a long time. So I at least feel like something's changing.
I interviewed for another assignment last Tuesday. It was for a receptionist in a doctor's office. It wasn't for me and I think the person that interviewed me felt the same. So on Friday, the director of the temp agency placed me at another assignment starting tomorrow, Monday. It's at an airport that's thankfully not too far from me. I'll be doing clerical work. Believe me, I didn' t obtain a MS to be a receptionist or administrative assistant for the rest of my days, but right now, I need something!!! Something that will help me get to next level, whatever it may be.
The author of one of my favorite PF blogs, Give Me Back My Five Bucks, is motivated to watch her budget by having a month long ban against buying lunch while at work. She has even motivated her subcribers to do the same. Since I'm happily one of those subscribers, I think I will follow suit. The job that I start tomorrow don't allow workers to go out for lunch, being that it's in an airport and security is understandably tight. So this will motivate me to brown bag it. This will also allow me to save money as well as keep me on track for my weight loss efforts. So all is good, so far!!!! :)
I am a strong believer that when God closes one door, another one opens. If this assignment doesn't work out I'm certain there will be another. But if this assignment last for more than a month, here are the things I'd like to do with the earnings:
1. Repair my car
2. Save at least $100 a week
3. Limit money on buying food
4. Save Some More!!!!
and getting paid every week will certainly be welcomed!!!!
So, that is basically who I am and what I am about these days. I look forward to recording the progress of these goals and maybe soon I will start posting pics of my weight loss progress. Please stay tuned!!!! :-)
Well, I'm kind of exhausted today, not necessarily because of the day's endeavors but more so because I arrived at this assignment a little earlier than I expected. I woke up this morning at 5:30 am after hitting the snooze buttom about five times. I was out of the house at a quarter to 7 and walked to the very first bus stop to catch the bus, so that was my exercise for the say. Yay! I got there at around 7:30 am. Due to the fact it's an airport, I had to wait for someone to come down and escort me upstairs. Problem is, although I was instructed to be there at 8:15 a.m by the director of the temp agency, I wasn't escorted until five minutes to nine! Granted, I was there super early. Maybe a little too early but at least they can't hold that against me. Anyway, once I went through the metal detectors and through security, I was setteld in. Basically, I work in human resources for Duty Free America. So the next time you go into a Duty Free America shop at an airport here in NYC, chances are I had something to do with that person that sells you a tube of Chanel lipstick to you or a Hermes bag. And if you can afford a Hermes bag, feel free to come to the Human Resources office and give me a tip. I would greatly appreciate it. Overall....I'm not crazy about this job. I have a problem with the fact that I have to be escorted to the ladies room by a employee because I don't have ID. Not being able to go out for lunch is cool. Today I bought some apples, tangerines, and grapefruit that Mom packed me. So the only money I spent during my work day was the four dollars it took me to get back and forth to the location. Which in reality, I didn't spend because I'm using my mom's MetroCard transit check card that she gets through her job. I went to the grocery store after work and bought a few things: oatmeal for breakfast, tuna fish, relish and mayo with canola oil for a tuna sandwich lunch, multigrain tostitos and salsa for a snack when I get home. I'm going to bring an empty water bottle so that I can feel it from the water cooler that's at the job. I brought a water bottle with water in it from home but of course the security took it at the gates. Boy, if I had a dollar for every poor bottle of water that's left at the gates by travellers, I probably wouldn't need to work. But that would be in a perfect world.
