I signed up for a credit card that allows me to check my credit score for free:
Hurrah! Mine is 783.
As you can see, I have a rating of Excellent.
Just where I like to be. :)
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Tuesday, November 04, 2014
October!
This year so far has been pretty crazy. Between starting a new PhD, being evicted and moving to a (much!) more expensive house, each of my close family members declining in health, and an ever busier schedule at work, my life has been pretty chaotic and out of control. Things seem to be settling down a little bit now, though. Knock on wood, I feel that I've started to--barely--get back into a groove.
I've reviewed and thought a lot about money stuff lately and think I have the lay of the land, which makes me feel better. Next I need to make a solid plan. I have new flatmates that reduce my rent down to a cool $220 per week. That isn't too far off what I paid at my last place. I'll take it. My garage is rented, which is nice and helps with the budget, too.
After several weeks of just a burnt-out pace and driving myself crazy, I talked to my boss about getting more help at work. That help will start in January. Whew. I've also accepted that I can't do everything, and started to let go of control a little bit, as well as cutting myself some slack and letting myself breathe a little more. This is just how fast I work, I can't fit more in or do more. I can study and try new techniques to be more efficient, but until I figure that out, I can't conjure up more time to do things to the standard I have to do things for my bosses (and for me) to be happy.
There's nothing I can do about my family members. I miss them, and wish I could be home and present to enjoy them every day, but I can't. I just have to be there when they call, and keep in touch as much as possible.
On to the budget!!
There was an extra Friday in the month, which meant an extra paycheck (as well as extra rent paid). The AECT dividend was paid out--love that! And, I rented out my garage for some extra cash.
Savings of $727.09 went toward finishing off my $3K 2016 US Trip Fund (complete a year early!!), and towards my slush fund as I have several fun summer-y trips planned in the next few months!
I probably should put that toward my Europe Fund but...I'm not going to do that. :)
My NZ citizenship app was quite expensive: nearly $500 NZD. I didn't count that here--I pulled it from my US savings. But soon, I will be a real KIWI!
I've reviewed and thought a lot about money stuff lately and think I have the lay of the land, which makes me feel better. Next I need to make a solid plan. I have new flatmates that reduce my rent down to a cool $220 per week. That isn't too far off what I paid at my last place. I'll take it. My garage is rented, which is nice and helps with the budget, too.
After several weeks of just a burnt-out pace and driving myself crazy, I talked to my boss about getting more help at work. That help will start in January. Whew. I've also accepted that I can't do everything, and started to let go of control a little bit, as well as cutting myself some slack and letting myself breathe a little more. This is just how fast I work, I can't fit more in or do more. I can study and try new techniques to be more efficient, but until I figure that out, I can't conjure up more time to do things to the standard I have to do things for my bosses (and for me) to be happy.
There's nothing I can do about my family members. I miss them, and wish I could be home and present to enjoy them every day, but I can't. I just have to be there when they call, and keep in touch as much as possible.
On to the budget!!
| Oct 2014 Budget | |||
| Category | Spent | Budgeted Amount | Balance |
| Rent | $1,100.00 | $1,000.00 | -$100.00 |
| Groceries | $423.72 | $425.00 | $1.28 |
| Internet | $91.00 | $85.00 | -$6.00 |
| Electricity | $137.17 | $250.00 | $112.83 |
| Eating Out | $119.15 | $150.00 | $30.85 |
| Charity | $0.00 | $25.00 | $25.00 |
| Cell phone | $20.00 | $26.00 | $6.00 |
| Medical | $0.00 | $65.00 | $65.00 |
| Misc | $441.29 | $400.00 | -$41.29 |
| Savings | $600.00 | $600.00 | $0.00 |
| Total | $2,932.33 | $3,026.00 | $93.67 |
| Remainder | $727.09 | $1,991.62 |
Income: $3,659.42
There was an extra Friday in the month, which meant an extra paycheck (as well as extra rent paid). The AECT dividend was paid out--love that! And, I rented out my garage for some extra cash.
- Groceries were on budget awesome-sauce! I squeaked by, just barely.
- We went over in internet, just slightly. Very unusual, I'll keep an eye on it with the new flatties.
- Electricity is down now that it is warmer and we don't have to run the heater constantly. Yay!
- Didn't eat out very much--just takeaways really!
- Nada on charity and medical--normal for the cell phone.
- Misc:
- $8.80 on alcohol at a geeky function that was also quite fun!
- $30 in fees: trademe ads, passport photo for my citizenship application!
- $269 in transportation: cityhop, taxi's, airbus express. I NEED to cut down on cityhop, but I really miss the freedom of having a car at my disposal. I am thinking of getting a bike...
- $133.49 goods and wants: throw pillows, utensil holder, necklace, photo frame, food processor, pot holders, lightbulbs...
Savings of $727.09 went toward finishing off my $3K 2016 US Trip Fund (complete a year early!!), and towards my slush fund as I have several fun summer-y trips planned in the next few months!
I probably should put that toward my Europe Fund but...I'm not going to do that. :)
My NZ citizenship app was quite expensive: nearly $500 NZD. I didn't count that here--I pulled it from my US savings. But soon, I will be a real KIWI!
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