Ready for spring

SO, I am totally ready for spring. many exciting things coming up: my 25th birthday, trip to see my sis in Los Angeles, the Indy 500, weddings that I'm in, bachelorette parties, etc! Lots of fun things! Mostly, I'm sick of the snow and the cold and the pesky runny nose that I've had since November....and now my throat is hurting really BAD! ugh!! :(

Well, last night out of boredom and some excitement to plan something,anything (i love planning), I made a budget for the hubs and I. I never really made a budget that was very specific-just listed monthly income, monthly bills (too many), fun money, etc...well last night I decided to do what I've read is good advice.

You take 60% of your income and that if for your fixed expenses and food (so house/apartment payment, groceries, utilities, car payments, loans, insurance, etc) and then 40% goes something like this: 10% to paying off debt and then short-term savings when that is paid off, 10% to e-fund (which should be 3 or 6 months fully funded), 10% to retirement, and 10% for your fun money (going out, latte's, clothes, concert tickets, etc).

So, I did this last night and it works out pretty well!! Except I used the 10% retirement for the short-term savings because the hubs and I both have retirment accounts at work and would like to use the short-term savings for our vacations.

So, now we are ready to see the fruits of our labor! I have to say this is a great plan because before I did this (and I'm sure this is like most people), i spent way too much on random things here and there. I'd go shopping and buy whatever and not really budget. Now that the hubs and I have a fixed amount for our fun money, i will make sure i love whatever I use it on!!

Try it out with your finances and see if you like how it looks! It will also help you to see if you are paying too much in your house payment or car payments, and then you can scale back accordingly!

So today isn't the best...

Today has just been a crappy day. period. Taking 6 master's credits, working full-time and on average 45 hours a week (and doing two people's job while we wait until someone else is hired), trying to stay in shape, getting enough sleep, etc....is stressful. I really need a break....moving to the Marshall Islands with world teach sounds very, very tempting right now. I'm sick of the rat race!! Hopefully tomorrow will be better...

link to World Teach: http://www.worldteach.org/

This day in history..

Today is Obama's Inauguration Day..I never thought I would see this day! It is amazing! I was lucky enough to be Obama's senate page in high school. Although I didn't see him a whole lot, I did get to talk with him a couple times. Even back then, in 2002, you could tell he was different from everyone else. He had something..charisma...but you could also tell he really wanted change. He didn't want to simply argue back and forth between the two main parties, he wanted to unite people and bring CHANGE.

Today is an awesome day. I hope the next 4 and possibly 8 years we will see this change. We surely do need it.

So I thought you should know...

A couple things about me:

1) I really miss, I mean MISS living abroad..I lived in Australia my junior year in high school (I know a long time ago right..get over it..) BUT..it was one of the best years of my life..and I want to make more of those everlasting international memories (hubs included this time)

2) I am fiercely passionate about public health and universal healthcare...I think we should throw condoms into the streets..that might help our epidemic HIV/AIDS issue..but that's just me..

3) I am just starting to like myself..after almost 25 years..these days I look into the mirror and think.."Wow, I might be pretty neat after all!"

4) I have a crazy psychotic cat name Ruby..she is 2 and a half..I want to have a birthday party for her 3rd birthday..but the hubs says I'm crazy...hehe

5) I come from a family of 5, yes, 5 girls...where is my long lost brother?? :(

6) I am ready for SPRING!!!!

7) I have a shopping problem..but am learning to control it (mainly I buy magazines and shirts...weird...)

8) A nice vanilla latte makes my day

9) My hubs is the sweetest man I have ever known

10) I hope this time 2 years from now I am either in the Peace Corps or World Teach...

My first post

So...this is my first blog post. I wanted to create a blog because I see them EVERYWHERE and well, I like to be like everyone else ;)~ So join me, midwestern girl, as I ride along through this wonderful and complicated thing we call life.