April 2017 Moolah

Spending was pretty much down to the wire this month. Good thing my Easter trip was cancelled due to a non-arriving Cyclone Cook! (not really)

	April 2017 Budget
Category	Spent	Budgeted Amount
Rent	$900.00	$900.00
Groceries	$333.67	$430.00
Internet	$26.33	$26.33
Electricity	$0.00	$50.00
Eating Out	$88.10	$150.00
Charity	$0.00	$50.00
Cell phone	$17.00	$25.00
Medical	$76.50	$90.00
Misc	$993.09	$700.00
Savings	$500.00	$500.00
Total	$2,934.69	$2,921.33
Remainder	$28.65

Income: $2,963.34

Not much leftover to save.

MISC
alcohol	$          68.49
entertainment	$          51.00
exercise	$               -
fees	$            4.00
gifts	$          88.79
goods and wants	$        177.27
transportation	$        250.00
travel	$        353.54
	$        993.09

For Misc spending, I applied half of my US road trip costs to May and half to April, had a few nights out for birthdays (which also account for 'gifts'), and went to Snowplanet for entertainment! So much fun. I'm hopeful that this will keep me on-track for spending in May even though I have lots of fun planned (and have already saved up for it!)! 

May & June 2017 Goals

I've combined May and June because I have a few weeks of work, then a road trip/family reunion overseas, then I'm home with my family for a month. I won't get a lot done in May, but June should make up for it! This is more of a 'while at home' goal list.

Two main goals for 2017:

1. Wake up/go to bed earlier. I use StayFocusd to restrict late night internet time. It works. In May, I'll aim to go to bed before midnight most nights.
2. Incorporate more movement into my days. I use break software to help with this. I've also pledged to walk at least 21 min/day (science says this helps increase well-being and boost moods, something I desperately need right now. It also has a ton of other health and community benefits).


Other (extra) goals for May:

1. Go to 1 work out class.
2. Keep up with once a week cooking. Week 1: 
3. Follow up eye exam with contact lenses.
4. Get my flu shot. 
5. Finalise all travel planning and packing for US trip.
6. Pull off a surprise birthday party for my best friend.
7. Have an awesome time on my road trip and family reunion and cousin's wedding.

Other (extra) goals for June:

1. Review my US retirement and taxable account allocations and investments.
2. Review my NZ retirement allocations and investments.
3. Review will, insurances, and Master docs.
4. Order Equifax and Experian credit reports from US.
5. Track vacation spending.
6. Look into peer-to-peer lending for extra cash (instead of savings).
7. Plan birthday ski trip for July/August. Booked accommodation & secured 4-6 people for each night, with room to spare. Have secured rides down and back. When I'm back, need to finalize people and save $$ for ski passes and rentals.
8. Make recipe book, add book from home.
9. Create ancestry book for both sides of my family.
10. Shop for classic pieces in wardrobe.
11. Product safety overhaul. review toiletry products and find safe replacements.
12. Check on US fed and state tax returns--have they been rec'd?
13. Complete $5K spend on Chase Ink Biz card by 3 Aug. I'm currently at a $3183 spend on June 6. I intend on adding ~$2K to my Kiva account, first testing it with $250 to see how it processes. I also will investigate KickFurther to see if that would work for me.
14. Update my LinkedIn and staff page profiles for work.
15. Send url of my personal research page to academic friends for review and tips. 
16. Back up laptop at US home.

And as usual, keep up with the following:

1. Log my daily habits (without judgment) to track moods/hormones/effects of behaviour experiments.
2. Make weekly goals.
3. Review monthly and yearly and lifetime goals. 
4. Monthly PhD treat: family reunion, cousin's wedding, time with immediate family, and W Coast road trippppp!. :)
5. Floss every day.
6. Stretch every day.
7. Meditate every day. 
8. Check my self criticism.

April 2017 Goal Review

Two main goals for 2017:

1. Wake up/go to bed earlier. I use StayFocusd to restrict late night internet time. It works. During April, there were several days that I went to bed before 12 am, with no extenuating circumstances. That hasn't happened in a very long time. Pretty proud!
2. Incorporate more movement into my days. I use break software to help with this. I've also pledged to walk at least 21 min/day (science says this helps increase well-being and boost moods, something I desperately need right now. It also has a ton of other health and community benefits). In April, I did OK at this.

Other (extra) goals:

1. Book eye exam for April. DONE 10/4/2017. Contact lens appointment forthcoming.
2. Get my flu shot. (Work hasn't offered it yet?!)
3. Mail state tax forms.
4. Apply for new cc for May travel. DONE April 7 2017. Applied for and rec'd Ink Business.
5. Host a game night. DONE April 8 2017
6. Go to 2 work out classes. NOPE.
7. Go on Easter road trip. CANCELLED DUE TO CYCLONE.
8. Finalise all accommodation for W Coast road trip.
9. Update my CV, LinkedIn, Twitter, blog, and staff page profiles for work. NOPE.
10. Revamp About Me page into My Research page with link to latest CV (make short CV and load as pdf onto website). Add photos to page, move text about me to My Research page. Fill in presentations page. Send url to academic friends for review and tips. NOPE.
11. Give one media interview. DONE. I have a ton to learn still, but it went well. *Pats self on back*
12. Back up home laptop.
13. Keep up with once a week cooking. Week 1: roast and glaze a ham & roast walnuts, make homemade dressing, cut up apples for apple-feta-walnut salad; Week 2: roast chicken, mashed potatoes/roast kumara, chop up apples and pepper for salad; make homemade dressing Week 3: eat up leftover lasagna, salad, and make breakfast bites. Week 4: roast chicken, roast veggies, salad stuff.
14. Log my daily habits (without judgment) to track moods/hormones/effects of behaviour experiments. DONE.
15. Make weekly goals. DONE
16. Review monthly and yearly and lifetime goals.  DONE.
17. Monthly PhD treat: Easter road trip with friends. Brows waxed. Haircut.
18. Floss every day. DONE
19. Stretch every day.
20. Meditate every day. 
21. Check my self criticism.