At Loose Ends on Auto-Pilot

Um. So. I am discovering that I don't do well without financial goals. This much has become clear to me this past week, once I finalized all of my 2012 goals. I am finding it very, very hard to not focus on money, revamp my savings strategies, think about my investments and future, and switch gears to non-financial issues. I need a life, you guys!

I have automated everything that I can. My main financial concern right now is that my roommate hasn't paid her August bills yet. Not exactly a hardship!

I'm totally on auto-pilot, financially. I've honed and saved and strategized. My goals are now long-term, for the most part, and until 2013, I've kind of told myself that I don't need to worry about it. But I want to worry about it. It's fun for me (weirdo).

So I changed things up slightly. For the rest of 2012, my monthly overages will go to a new fund: my Move to the US supplemental fund. I already have $4K USD saved up for the move (and $3K and more than enough airpoints to get me home), but I feel like I may need more. $3K NZD should be doable.

I cut my $10K Non-Financial Slush fund in half to $5K. There was $6100 NZD already in it, so I've moved the $1K and change over to the new fund already. There is no need for $5K NZD for that. The dermatologist appt is $300. The cooking class is $300. The rest of it doesn't require more than $5K by any estimate.

On the other hand, setting up a new life in the US will cost $$. Temporary health insurance, security deposit and first and last month's rent, furniture if I can't find a furnished place, gas, work clothes, moving boxes of stuff to the US, food, a new to me car if my parents need their loaner back, etc. An extra $2K USD to add to my $4K USD fund won't go amiss there.

I guess that is what I will do, then! I wish I could concentrate on other things as easily as I can focus on money.

[ETA: my roommate just paid her August bills. So I guess I have no more money problems? This feels weird.]

Something I don't understand about business

So...email etiquette. If you send an email to someone and their PA answers for them (MantieChang@massey on behalf of David.Holsbrook@massey), do you write back to both of them? Or just your intended contact? In the future, do you just write to their PA or do you cc the PA?

So confused. I feel so bad for clogging up the PA's email inbox with two messages, but how can I be sure to reach the intended person?

[ETA: the PA has requested that I cc: her on all meeting requests. Problem solved!]

State of my Savings

I have $29,658.81 in my NZ savings account. I thought I'd break it down for myself. I can't separate it out into funds like at ING, so I do it in my head/blog/Excel!

$10K is my EF. This stays at whatever the interest rate currently is (3.4% today). This stays liquid for emergencies. And Murphy.
$3K is for my 2013 US Trip. I moved it to a 6 month CD*, earning 4.4%.
$6890 is for my House Downpayment and Europe trip funds. It is also in a 6 month CD*, earning 4.4%.  (I did some dyslexic transformations in my head when making the cd, and instead of investing the current total of $6980 [$3480 each], I only put in $6890. Whoops.)
$6112.33 is in my Non Financial Slush fund. This will get spent as I tick off my goals, in the short-term.
$666 is in my Trip fund for the balance that is due in January.
$2194.20 is in my Vanguard fund. Once it hits $3K, I'll transfer it over to USD and buy more shares in my taxable investment account.
$726.28 is in my Insurances Fund. For any deductibles or premiums that come up in 2013. I don't think I'll be renewing my contents insurance. It is sooo expensive.

*The CDs are only in 6 month terms because I don't know what is going to happen after April of next year, when my contract is up. I thought it best I have access to as much money as possible at that time, until I know what is happening with my career.

2012 Financial Goals Completed

Completed!

All of my 2012 financial goals as of now are completed. I seriously can't think of another financial task or short-term goal that won't be taken care of by my Non Financial Slush Fund.

Awesome!

Now it's only about wealth-building: getting that taxable account topped up and happy. Retirement, I'm coming after you with the full force of my saving might.

First, I may start looking at increasing my long-term goal allotments. So, warning: Europe trip and House Down Payment Funds, I'm coming after you, too.

Remaining 2012 and 2013 goals should be relatively easy to compose, given all that:

1) For the rest of 2012, save all excess monthly overages in my Non Financial Slush Fund for all those personal goals that have nothing to do with money. If I don't make it to $10K (hint: I won't!), oh well. I've already spent a bit of money while at home, so whatever is left will have to budget into whatever the remaining balance comes to.


2) In 2013, my first order of business is to save $3K NZD in my 2014 US Trip Fund (as per usual; if I move back this won't even be necessary and will be used to help me move and settle in again). I should be able to do this by April.

3) Immediately at the start of 2013: Increase automatic long-term savings allotment to at least $600 a month. That means $250/month to my taxable account, $175 to Europe Fund, and $175 to my House Downpayment Fund.

4) Within that long-term retirement taxable account fund: Save enough to get admiral shares in one of my taxable funds ($10K USD total) to get lower expense ratios. From 0.35% to 0.18% in my Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund would be nice! I will bump up my long-term savings goal to $9K to do so (I already have $3K in the fund).

After reaching admiral status in that fund, according to Bogleheads, I apparently need to get Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund to complement my above fund, or Total International Index fund to own a more complete index fund that is more tax-efficient, or another fund that I discover is most tax-managed or efficient (tax managed funds, maybe?).

After reaching my 2014 Trip fund goal, monthly overages will be applied to this goal.

5) Track every penny and stay out of debt. 'Nuff said.

Now that my main points of business (insurances, will/trust, EF, short term goals, etc.) are taken care of, I'm just on autopilot. And it is glorious!

The Truth About Car Sharing

Sure, car sharing sounds like an amazing idea. Have access to a car without the worries, cost, or hassles of registration, insurance, petrol, maintenance, parking, and on and on and on. Cut down on parking spaces and pollution in the city. But how good is it really?

       1. It is not as convenient as you might think.

The gas card is never in the same place. Once it was missing--I found it wedged in a under a seat on the floor once, after several frantic calls to the car sharing company, as I was running out of gas. You can only use the Shell stations, but they don't provide any maps to find them. (Grrr.)

The parking pass is sometimes missing or in the wrong place. I got in once and it was missing. I couldn't get out of the car park at all, not without paying the fine for 'losing' your parking ticket. As it was after hours and I couldn't get out, I had to miss a dear friend's birthday dinner.

At the car sharing company, you have to book during work hours, and you have to know exactly when you will use the car and how long it will take. I like convenience, so I usually just book for an entire day. It allows me that convenience I'm used to with a car and it ensures that no one will be using the car when I want it. But that is more expensive, which brings me to...

     

       2. It is still expensive.

I paid about $200 to be a member of the car sharing service for a year. It allows me to 'rent' a car for $15 an hour til you hit $75. So if you plan on using the car for 4 hours ($60) or more, I book it for 24 hours as it is more cost effective. For a weekend of use, it is $150! I have to pay $300 in excess (deductible) if anything happens.

       3. You have no control over the space.

Most people love their cars and treat them as an extension of themselves. It is another storage area--music, emergency supplies, favorite sunglasses, mp3 cords, GPS, etc. You have to bring all of that stuff with you and take it out of the car each time. You set your favorite radio stations, have the seat and mirrors set where you like them, but they all change when you car share.

Not only that, you have no idea what other people are doing in the car. I got in once and it smelled like terrible BO. Gross! Another time it was really dirty. Also gross.

      4. You really can't do much.

They allow you 100 free kilometers, then they charges 25 cents a km. That isn't as far as you may think...you can go 100 km in an hour and a half quite easily. For the cost of 24 hours, they should allow you more like 250 km. Then it would be a great option for overnights and weekend road trips (Coromandel! Bay of Islands! Tauranga!), in addition to tooling about town.

       5. What happens when things go wrong?

Once I came back with the car and another random car was parked in my designated spot. What to do? If I parked elsewhere, I'd risk being towed and get in trouble with the car sharing service, and the next person wouldn't be able to find the car. I had to wait around for a tow truck to come and tow the person, which became a total 3 hour ordeal because the first tow truck didn't fit in the parking garage. The second tow truck couldn't get INTO the parking garage because they had no parking pass. I had to do a crazy maneuver where I exited the parking garage, giving the tow truck my parking pass to allow him in. The tow truck driver then BROKE the parking garage gate. Finally, I had to wait while the guy towed the car and used my parking pass to leave. Then I got in trouble with the parking people because I let the tow truck driver in the gate with my pass. They almost called the cops on me, said I was a liar, and accused me of letting my friends into the car park for free. What ELSE WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO?! The car sharing service people were not answering their phones, even on the emergency line.

Once I couldn't find the car. It had been parked on the 8th floor, instead of the first floor's designated spot. How was I supposed to know that?!

Another time I got in and the tire was acting funny. Very wobbly, and I was supposed to take young kids around on the highway for work. Nope. It didn't seem safe to me. After about 3 hours, the people at the car sharing service came, drove it around, and said it was fine. I had missed part of my work event but wasn't allowed to leave the car. My boss was NOT happy about that. (I noticed the car was replaced after that.)

For all the reasons above, I'm considering discontinuing my membership to the car sharing service and just getting a rental car like I did before the service. I've just had too many incidences where it inconveniences me at a bad time.

Articles of Interest

This article is fascinating me today.

They waited six years to turn in their $5 million dollar lotto ticket so they'd be sure they were ready for the nonsense that would come after. The winner also decided to share the winnings with his brother.That is so fantastic! How did they keep that a secret for so long?! When a random hardship came up, like a costly car repair, they never thought, "Hey, let's go redeem that ticket now!"? That is some serious will power for $2.5 million each. I wonder if they racked up some debt because they knew the money was coming? Something tells me that they resisted that temptation...I wonder what choices they made differently in their lives because they knew they had that safety net??

Fascinating.

(Let it be known that I'd be ecstatic and feel set for life if I won about $100K.)

When The Good Stuff Isn't Enough

Work was great again today, even though I didn't get home and fed til 9:30 tonight. Just when I was sure I was done with NZ, when my awesome time at home had me thinking this is it, I'm quitting and moving back to the US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, I realized (again) why I always hesitate. My job is as rare and awesome as a unicorn shooting out rainbows out of its butt. I'm not stupid to not want to give it up, as I thought when I was at home and enjoying life with my family nearby.

Today I had the opportunity to go on my first print interview. Thanks to eemusings/NZ Muse, I got through  the experience without too much drama or nervousness, although there was plenty of apprehension.  Her tips helped make the article much more accurate, because I knew to ask the journalist to run the direct quotes by me and to double check the facts with me, which she was confused about/had written down incorrectly. (Explaining something to someone that a) has no understanding of the details of your discipline and b) wants to pull complicated facts out of your verbal diarrhea and simplify them for the masses is HARD.) I had thought that we'd have more of a conversation, following threads of a story, but the questions started immediately after 'hi.' It was, Hi, thanks for taking the time to meet with me. BAM--hard hitting question after question. Oh man, I don't know if I'm up for it ever again, but next time I'll try to be more prepared. It seems like however prepared I am, I am never asked the questions I psyche myself up for. Anyway, let's just say that in the US, I wouldn't get that opportunity. 

In the US, you are stuck with a very limited role. You do X and Y, and there are no opportunities to branch out and do Z. There just isn't time for that. I will miss getting to try on so many hats.

Another thing--I wrote my supervisor about the trip I'm taking in January. Due to a stupid mixup by the administration, I was initially told I had 25 days off a year with my new contract, but in actuality, it is only 20. I've already taken 20 during my trip home, but had already planned and paid for my January trip when I was misled. I asked my boss if I could take the days off unpaid instead, and she waived me off--"just put in the hours before you leave." She is amazing. 

I also asked if I could take some time to do a very unique, exciting, and excellent-for-the-resume field research opportunity that came up recently through some colleagues. It really isn't what I'm paid to do but is very related. When I asked about taking time off unpaid for that, as well, the boss lady told me it was part of my job. I'm getting paid to do awesome stuff I'd pay to do during my vacations. So yeah, there's that...

And it still isn't enough. I heart my job, big-time, but it just isn't working in NZ. I don't get excited about anything here except for vacations and my job. My friends are really great, but my personal life is less than lackluster. I end my days wanting more. More hugs, more conversations, more familiarity, more closeness. Facebook and Skype don't cut it. 

I told my boss about my dad not looking so great and said that while I hoped it didn't occur, there was more of a chance than ever that I may need to go home sooner than the end of my contract. For good, and for many reasons other than my dad. We'll have to discuss this seriously if a good job opportunity pops up back home before the end of my contract. If nothing comes up by the end of my contract, discussions about when they could let me leave will have to occur...my salary is guaranteed through at least July 2013, but my contract is up April 2013. Maybe May and June will be about tying up loose ends, shipping boxes, doing things one last time, and crossing my fingers that I land on my feet.

Well, No Wonder.

I've been meaning to try to figure out why my retirement balances seem to stay depressed when everyone else's have rebounded at various levels through the past few years after the 2008 market crash. I mean, really--I have less in my accounts than I did before the crash and rebound. That makes no sense, esp. since I have actually added money in taxable accounts since!

This year I moved my Roth IRA from T. Rowe Price to Vanguard. I initially wanted to house my Roth in Vanguard, but T. Rowe Price offers such a great way to enter into investing with low balances--for $50 a month, I was able to contribute. Compared with Vanguard's $3K minimums, there was no contest. Now that I can't contribute to my Roth legally, though (no US income), I decided it was better to have everything under one roof--Vanguard.

I moved everything to a Vanguard Roth account, and it's been in a money market account ever since. I took a look today at my portfolio analysis, and I've made a few investing mistakes along the way...

1) 100% of my investments are in stocks.
2) 100% of my stocks are large-cap.

Yes. No wonder. I am not balanced, diversified, or any of those good things that you're supposed to be. However, I have done some things right:

1) I have both US and international funds. (Probably too many intn'l funds, if I added my Kiwisaver funds to my  Vanguard portfolio.)
2) I only invest in no-load, low expense ratio index funds.

So to correct the situation, I've added a long-term bond index fund into my Roth IRA. My hope is to get my  retirement assets to 80% stocks/20% bonds. That cost $3K to buy, leaving about $1.5K for small and mid cap stock funds, but there are no funds with less than a $3K minimum. My holdings are now as follows:


Taxable account:
$3K in Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Investor Shares 

Traditional IRA:
Nearly $4K in Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares 
$3K in Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Investor Shares 

Roth IRA:
$3K in Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund
$1.5K in Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund


I guess I'll have to either wait until my balance increases to $3K or just put it all in the bond fund. What to do to get to a good place here?

My plan is to keep trying to balance everything out. I can add another $3K soon to my taxable account fund and try to get more small and mid-cap investments and keep my 80/20 ratio. The extra $1.5K is just going to have to go into my Roth fund, I don't want it sitting in a money market, not when I have nearly $50K NZD in savings accounts outside of it! I'm definitely OK on the risk front there. Suggestions and critiques welcome.

Proof of a God (or Karma)

Rumors rumors rumors. I've been hearing bad things about my last company since I left, but last week my old boss emailed me and told me it was all true (without me even asking).

They are completely shifting gears from a highly academic, highly varied research group to become solely commercial in one very specific facet of research. They laid off 6 people and hired 5 more in one week. My old boss was told that she needed to come up with her own commercial projects and funding or else she and her research group (what's left of it) are out, too. Kaput.

Along with that change, guess who is getting ousted at the end of this year? Thank God the new management has seen the light! They have also promoted someone in his place that is very deserving--I think he should run the whole company, actually, and now he's 3rd in command--so that's pretty awesome. They might have a shot at making it now.

The awful guy is still involved in one of the projects I'm on, though. I don't want my boss to save him like she did with me just for that one project (for which he is totally incompetent). Hopefully we can come up with a solution that doesn't  involve keeping him around.

Foreign Cell Phone Adventures

Most Americans don't know about this, but if you live overseas, it is common practice to get a mobile phone that can work anywhere ("quad band" or "GSM"). Once you arrive in a foreign country, you buy this tiny electronic cardboard or plastic card (similar to a microSD card in size) that you slide into a slot near the battery on your cell phone. This contains information that allows you to connect to that particular phone company's cell phone network in that particular country. Wherever you go, you have a phone number and the same working cell phone. (For data, check that the UMTS bands are compatible, although you can get 2G speeds on some GSM bands.)

It's complicated business. Each phone can "tune into" a different set of frequencies, kind of like a radio that only gets a portion of AM or FM. In the US, most mobile phone companies do not use SIM cards, and operate on frequencies that other countries don't use. Therefore, you take your phone to another country, it won't work--a) you can't plug in a SIM card and/or b) your phone won't tune into that country's frequencies. You are locked into your US phone company while you have that SIM-slot-less phone, unless you arrange for another company to transfer your number or whatever. The freedom of choice is taken away from you in the US. And I'm sure the companies love it that way.

When researching my new smartphone, I wanted to get one that worked in the US as well as NZ. This meant I needed a phone that took SIM cards. Right now, one of the only major carriers that has phones that takes SIM cards is T-Mobile. I normally use Verizon on my family's unlimited $10 a month plan, but I couldn't find much information about which phones (if any) take SIMs on Verizon. There could be a few out there, but I just found really conflicting information. Plus, T-Mobile allows you to use 'any unlocked SIMM phone' with their pay as you go plans. I loved that.

So I bought a Samsung Exhibit II 4G (or Samsung Galaxy Exhibit 4G, as they've now rebranded them). It takes SIM cards, it is quad-band. And I was able to get unlimited data (with 4G speeds up to 5GB) and text messaging and 100 minutes for $30 USD for a month. I didn't even use 1 GB all month, even with daily use, streaming videos, and using GPS for at least 15 hours. It was $179 at WalMart. I'm pretty sure I only got 3G speeds, though. Battery life is decent--I can go a few days without recharging.

The phone I bought was locked into T-mobile's network, and obviously didn't work when I got to NZ. I had to buy a code off of ebay for $24.99. It was extremely easy to use it to unlock my phone and start using Vodafone.

It is GSM Quadband; 850/900/1800/1900MHz UMTS Tri-band:1700/1200, 1900,850MHzUMTS.  The "2100" UMTS band is NOT the same as Vodafone's 2100 band, which I didn't know until I got here. However, very luckily, the 850 UMTS band is the band that Telecom uses nation-wide for 3G. LUCKY. (However, Telecom people tried to tell me that I'd only get service in the cities, which has towers that supplements 850 with 2100. I don't understand why I could only get service in cities when a) I don't get 2100 and b) 850 is nationwide and should be received by my phone. WTF? Maybe they just wanted to try to sell me a new phone??).

The 3G doesn't work on Vodafone (just 2G), but I should get 3G on Telecom all over the country. I'm getting my number ported over. If it doesn't work outside of the city, I'll be switching back to vodafone and dealing with the 2G nonsense.

I had to change the APN of my phone so that I could get on the internet once I was in NZ. (Don't ask me what that is.) It was easy to find the APN settings online and to change it on my phone, though. Hurrah!

I can always go back to Vodafone and their 2G service if I start to hate Telecom. So far, so good!

Is it just me...

Or is it Baby Season?! Lord, people must have been getting busy, cuddled up from the cold over the holiday season last year! It seems like everyone I know is having little ones now. Crazy. I even started to feel a little...not totally opposed to the idea recently. First, though, I have to actually find a date. A guy willing to spend time his free time with me.

Whew. This isn't going to be easy.

It is too bad I am on a different continent than the one I want to settle down on. I've already started to talk to my friends here about my goal to move away. Another friend volunteered to fly over from Canada and help me move--flying back home with me so that I could transport another 50 lbs of stuff. This is tentatively planned with her MS graduation next May. We'll be traveling around some islands beforehand, though. :)

September Goals Review

I had an enormous amount of to-do's in September. Some of them really fun, like going to visit my best friends in DC, and some more of a chore, like converting my bank account to a trust. That was a pain.

I didn't do everything on my list, but I had A LOT to do. I was shopping and catching up with people in between all this goal-reaching. :)

All that I didn't do in September are on my October goals list. A year is not long enough to do everything I want to do/change about myself!

Original goals:

1. NUMBER ONE GOAL: Sleep 8+ hours a night.  (all month)
2. Use SPF every day and night cream each evening.   (all month)
3. Floss every night.  (all month)
4. Use mouthwash every night.  (all month)
5. Eat breakfast every day.  (all month)
6. Get 30 minutes of light exercise 5x week.  (all month)
7. Write in gratitude journal every evening.
8. Do or say one nice thing to or for someone every day.
9. See HS friend. (Week 1 -2 ) Planned Monday.
10. See family. (Week 1)
11. See grad school friends. (Week 2) Planned Thursday - Monday.
12. See other HS friends? (Week 2) 
13. See college friends. (Week 3-4) Planned during last weekend.
14. Make list of places to visit in DC. (Week 1) 
15. Finish reading through camera CD. (Week 1)
16. Call L (Weeks 1 - 3)
17. Call Aunt. (Week 2)
18. Make rubbing of grandparents' stones in Arlington Cemetery for family book. (Week 3)
19. Scan photos of family for book.
20. get B&W film developed (dropped off Week 2).
21. Talk to mom re: Europe trip. (Week 1 - 4) Looks like she can't afford it, even with a free flight and hotels on credit card points.
22. Eye appointment. (Week 1)
23. Buy new glasses/orthoK. (Weeks 1 -4)
24. Order new contacts. (Weeks 1 - 3) Not doing this. Too tricky/expensive with new scrip and Ortho K and glasses.
25. Dental appointment. (Week 1)
26. Whiten teeth and fix chips. (Weeks 1 -4) They don't offer in-house teeth whitening at my dentist here. Will have to get this in NZ.
27. Buy smartphone (Samsung Exhibit II 4G?) and US SIM (T-mobile $100 gold). Port old phone #. (Weeks 1 -4)
28. Buy backpack.  (Weeks 1 -4)
29. Buy a new watch.  (Weeks 1 -4)
30. Buy boots.  (Weeks 1 -4)
31. Buy new luggage.  (Weeks 1 -4) gorgeous samsonite 29"
32. Buy a new laptop?  (Weeks 1 -4) Nope. Next year. Hope this baby holds out for that long!
33. Buy all on my US list.  (Weeks 1 -4)
34. Spend all gift cards.  (Weeks 1 -4) Still have $100 at Old Navy/Banana Republic/GAP left!
35. Start recording life and family stories from mom and dad.  (Weeks 1 -4)
36. Back up laptop.  (Week 3)
37. confirm voter registration and fill out absentee ballot form. Called Tuesday. They claim they've sent it to my NZ address.

Financial Goals:

1. Track every penny. (all month) 
2. Save $500 to long-term goals. (Week 3)
3. Identify exactly how much I have to spend in the US. (Week 1)
4. Make sure Mom knows where and how to access my accounts and passwords and important information if I pass. Write list of assets. (Week 1)
5. Make sure she knows what my assets are comprised of. (Weeks 1 -2)
6. See if she can make similar arrangements or documents as I have. (Weeks 1 -4)
7. Visit BoA location to move account to trust. (Week 2) Done but instead, just made a POD order (payable on death).
8. Confirm all other US accounts (HSBC) can be moved into my Trust account. (Week 3)
9. Look seriously into long-term care insurance for my mom. (Week 2)
10. Decide which funds to invest my Roth IRA in at Vanguard, with an aim to get to $10K in one account in one fund to qualify for Admiral shares by the end of the year.    (Weeks 2 - 3)
11. Balance portfolio. (Week 2)
12. Go through the Big Book of Everything to make sure I've covered all my bases. (Weeks 3 - 4)

To do at end of month:

1.      cancel Amazon prime on _ _ _ # _ _ _ account before 26 September.

2.     Save third August paycheck to Non-Financial Slush Fund or Vanguard Fund, whichever needs it the most after September spending is done. (Week 4)

3.     Cancel cc that will incur a fee in October. (Week 2) (need to do!)

4.     Cancel health insurance, vision, dental as soon as the month is over and I won't be using it anymore. (Week 4) (need to do!)

5.     change t mobile plan from $30 unlimited to pay as you go (need to do!)

6.     unlock smartphone via a code  (ordered Wednesday)

September Spending. Brace Yourselves.

Ooookkaaay. So I went nuts in the US. Spending was basically no object, as I had a freakin' laundry list of items to get, and what I thought was plenty of money saved up to spend on them.

I spent $5,235.22 USD, including all travel, eating out, gas, shopping, etc. I had saved up $4500 NZD and then I had $5K NZD overage from August and September. Luckily, I didn't even need to use all of it.

Of my laundry list, here is what I got/did:

Ortho-K contact lenses--$1200
eye appointment
new glasses (if OK doesn't work)--$200
dentist appointment
got chip in tooth fixed
hair cut
Toothbrushes x 4

Poof sponges x 4

Razors mach III refills

small wireless mouse for travel

Self tanner

Non soap body wash and face wash

small tub Vaseline

Face moisturizer SPF non oily non wrinkle

Ear plugs

tampons (I HATE the ones in NZ)

centrum chewable

Nyquil

Dayquil tablets

Advil

Advil PM

Hair ties

Headbands

Trivets

Apple corer

Sunscreen with insect repellent

Skype headphones

Tom’s spearmint toothpaste whitening non fluoride x 4 (?)

Toothbrush cleaner?

Compact umbrella

paper holder/comp monitor

windvent umbrella

world smartphone

mini mouse for laptop

Athletic ankle socks

Black ankle socks

eyelash curler

Long sleeved white t shirt for underneath sweaters and other tshirts

Chain for silver leaf necklace

Fake diamond earrings

Long silver necklaces

Ski boot/snow board padded socks

headbands

face sleeping mask

Exfoliating scrub face wash

Sunscreen

favorite snack foods

tooth whitening system

padded hiking socks

backpack

merrells

Zip off field pants

waterproof ski gloves

field pants x 2

Hoop earrings

work pants x 3

khakis—Old Navy

Lip gloss

Large slouchy brown purse

Firefly sweet tea alcohol—get small bottles

Black high heels

Brown leather Loafer shoes

winter boots, fashion (KEEN)

get film developed; walmart

Wool socks

Luggage—sears, online

Adidas sneakers!

workout watch

casual watch

Plus a lot more, mostly clothes and shoes.

There is a lot that I didn't get/do, as well. :( 

October Goals

September was a total one-off. While at home, I completely expected to fall off the health wagon, and I did. October will hopefully be about getting back on track in that regard.

1. NUMBER ONE GOAL: Sleep 8+ hours a night.  (all month. NO EXCEPTIONS)
2. Dress up once per week at work. (Weeks 1-4) 
3. Use mouthwash every night.  (all month)
4. Attend work out class 2x/wk (from Week 3)
5. Write in gratitude journal each evening.
6. Do or say one nice thing for or to someone each day.
7. Get 30 minutes of light exercise 5x week.
8. Call Voter Reg and get absentee ballot sent to NZ. (Week 1)
9. Make list of courses to take during my online class session at work. (Week 2)
10. Read through camera CD. (Week 4)
11. Read through Smartphone manual. (Week 4)
12. Call L. (Week 2)
13. Call P. (Week 3)
14. Start making family ancestry book. (Week 4)
15. Outline some questions for family history recording. (Week 1-2)
16. Contact dermatologist re: cost and mole mapping appointment. (Week 4) $300 for full mole mapping appt. in Nov.
17. Plan for November cooking classes. (Week 4)  booked and bus route planned out.

Financial Goals:

1. Track every penny. (all month)
2. Call HSBC and see if I can get POD or account changed to Trust. (Week 4)
3. Research funds and balance portfolio--Vanguard. (Weeks 2 -4 )
4. Buy funds with Roth IRA $$ from T. Rowe Price. (by Week 4)
5. When bond fund is bought, figure out a place for $1.5K left in money market.
6. Save $500 to long-term goals. (Week 3)

And I'm Back...

Back to NZ!

My trip went by so incredibly fast. I knew it would, and even in the middle of it, I had to stop several times a day and tell myself to enjoy it while it lasted. I loved being back in the US, with my family and friends and warm weather--oh the perfect, gorgeous weather!--and warm ocean water and great shopping and all the things I miss when I'm away.

As soon as I got back, I struggled to get my 70 lb suitcase up a hill to my house in the pouring rain. What a welcome. Work has been insane this week, and my vacation brain hasn't helped. I normally work over my break, or at least think about work a little bit. I did only a minimum this year--I merely deleted the junk emails and wrote less than five back to NZ--and so now I'm suffering from memory loss about where I was in all my projects, and how to do anything.

I need to talk to my boss regarding my growing urge to move back home. My dad really isn't doing well, and I wake up scared that I'll get a phone call every day. I want to be there for his birthday next week--I don't know if he'll have any more of them.

My goal is to move home in the next year. I hope I can make that happen in a way where I don't have to sacrifice my livelihood and passion.