And the last one bites the dust!

I am SO excited!  Due to an unexpected bonus, my last credit card is paid in full!  This is WAY ahead of schedule and puts me back in the position - financially - to start school again this summer.  


Of course, there are still other issues on the table, so no final decision on that as of yet.


But for now, I'm celebrating being debt free - minus some medical bills and this crazy old house!

Progress!

17 days into the month, I am happy to report I paid off my smallest credit card!  I had expected this to take until at least mid-March, so I was a bit excited.  I was able to cut the additional $67 necessary in just the first 1/2 of February!  


Actually, I shaved that much - plus a few dollars more.  Those few dollars were immediately sent to the other credit card company, and now I am moving towards the next marker.


Area:  Finances
Marker #3: Pay off credit card #2 


Now, with the amount I originally had in the spending plan for credit cards, this would take 9 months - meaning it wouldn't be paid off until November.  If I can sustain the amount that I ended up paying in February, I could have it paid in 5.5 months - meaning mid-July.  However, I know of at least one utility bill I still need to make adjustments to.  If that change saves what I am expecting it to, it would mean paying it off in 4.5 months.  That puts us at mid-June - still too late to start back to school this summer.  


So, my goal is to find the money in the spending plan to pay this off even earlier.  Let's see how it goes.

Day 6 Focus on Health

Whew - I've made it to the final day of my lifting/driving restrictions!  Now it's time to focus on regaining my health.  Though this area is somewhat easy to mark progress in at times, it is also hard to define in a long term range - I mean, the ultimate goal is to 'be healthy.'  


I believe I'll just use the same format as I am using with the finance area for now.  My current goal in this area is to be within my 'healthy weight' range.   I have other goals that I want to achieve in this area - walk 'x' amount, lift 'x' amount, etc., but I guess I'll use those as markers along the way, or perhaps I'll use those as future goals.  Either way, it will all lead to a more healthy weight.  


I'm not sure yet how I want this to look before I return to taking classes.  However, I know it must start NOW.  


Thanks to the contrast running through my system from the testing, it was important to already get going with the first project.


Area:  Health
Project:  Hydrate (ongoing)


A day of no water will leave anyone a bit dehydrated.  Though I was hooked up to an IV for a few hours before discharge, I only finished about 1/2 the bag.  So it has been important to stay hydrated since discharge.  


Now that I can move a bit easier, I can start a physical project.


Area:  Health
Project #1:  Physical activity - walking
Period of time:  10 minutes/day - 3 days


This will get me to my re-check with my electrophysiologist.  Once he clears me, I can start increasing.


In the morning, I'll step on the dreaded scale and take some measurements - not my idea of fun.  Once I have my starting point, I can set my first marker.

Want vs. Need

Some people have a really hard time with this one - myself included.  When one has 'extra' money, it can become even more difficult to avoid mixing the two.  Here's my 'in the moment' example:


I've been slowly remodeling my house.  Most recently, I started the project of the large living area.  Now, I have a set amount going into the project account every month, but the balance is currently fairly low.


A big test popped up over the weekend.  I opened my newspaper to grab the coupon inserts and circulars.  I don't always look at all the circulars - I mean, why look at Office Depot if I need no supplies, right?  Well, I glanced through and saw the Conn's circular.  On the front page was a 43" flat screen TV - exactly the size I've been watching for for this room.  I've been watching the prices for the past few months, and this is a good deal.  It's an anniversary special, so the price is only good this week.  I wanted to run out and grab it!  Of course, I'm on driving restrictions, so it gave me time to think about it.  


It is the right TV and the right price.  However, I don't have enough in my remodeling account to cover it.  I'm close...really close, and could probably squeeze the extra amount needed out of this month's budget...if it were a NEED.


Now, I'll admit I might lean a little more towards grabbing this new TV if my old one wasn't working, or if it was the last thing needed to complete the project.  However, I currently have a working TV in this room and there's still a fair amount of work to be done on the project.  I might also lean more towards grabbing this IF my credit cards were paid off, but they're not.


So, as much as I hate passing up the $200+ savings, I will - with the hopes one will again go on sale for this amount when I am ready to make the purchase.  Now that I know one can be found for this amount, I will be much less likely to pay more for one when the time comes - I hope.