Always expect people to do something stupid... Top 2 Tuesday

Top 2 Things you've learned from your parents

My dad could write a book of proverbs, but here are a couple of my favorite...

1.  Find something you love to do and find a way to make money at it.  Along those same lines, he also preached that success is found by being the best at what you do.  Doesn't matter if you are a doctor, a salesman, or a plumber; loving what you do and striving to be the best are the keys to success.

2.  Marriage is finding someone you like enough and the rest is work.  Growing up, I never took for granted how much effort being married takes.  Matter of fact, my dad had to interject in one of my relationships and tell me, "It shouldn't be this hard already."  And he was absolutely correct.  When I finally met Matt, I was blown away by how easy it was to be with him.  Not to say that it's always been easy, but I know that being with the right person is half the battle.  The rest is up to us.

Oh, and that little tidbit in the title...  That was what he told me when teaching me how to drive.  And it was the best advice I've ever gotten.  Thanks, Dad.

Resolutions, Smesolutions

As you may have gathered by now, I'm not so great on follow-through.  So New Year's resolutions are kinda like setting myself up for failure from the start.

But this year...  This year is different.  A new job.  A new routine.  A new lifestyle. 

I may have to break my own rule a bit this year.  I know.  I'm such a rebel.

With this new employment opportunity, I know that I have the power to make some big changes for my family.  And that's a pretty strong motivator to rally against my lazy ways.

So, I'm creating a plan to set myself up for success and I want you all to hold me accountable. 

2011 Goals:

• Pay off credit card debt.  Since being laid off in 2008, we haven't been in much of a position to pay more than the minimum on our credit cards.  While on paper it seemed like there should have been enough money to cover our basic living expenses every month, there were many times we needed credit cards to put food on the table and gas in the car.  And unplanned expenses?  Pull out the Discover.  It makes me sick every time I balance the accounts to know that we are digging ourselves deeper and deeper into the debt hole.  So this is the year that it's going to stop.  According to my rough preliminary calculations, we should be bringing in approximately $1000 more per month.  I figured with that kind of extra income, we could get the plastic paid off in a year, no problem.  Until I realized that we are carrying $11,745 in credit card debt.  And once you add in interest rates ranging from 8.24% to 23.99%, it's actually more like $12,305 (should we pay them off in one year).  And $12,305/12 months = $1025/month.  So that doesn't really leave much for anything else...  But I'm not giving up yet...  If we get another good tax return this year, we should be able to throw another $3000 towards the debt.  And that makes it possible.  So, while I'm scared that I am biting off more than I can chew, the possibility of living credit card free is definitely worth it.
• Take more photos.  On New Year's Eve I was making our 2011 calendar on Shutterfly (I'm so good at planning in advance) and I discovered that I hardly have any good pictures of the kid after 15 months.  Coincidentally, that is when she began running walking.  So most of the pictures I took were blurry.  Or poorly exposed.  Which brings me to part 2 of this goal...  Save for a faster lens.  I've been pining for one since I bought my dSLR, but could never justify the expense.  However, I found a low-end 50mm f/1.8 lens for about $100.  And I think I will just have to find a way to purchase it.  So, if you see me on the corner with a coffee cup, please throw me some change!
• Spend more time on my marriage.  Since our daughter joined the family, I have this overwhelming need to put her first.  And honestly, I don't think there is anything wrong with that.  But I do recognize that perhaps my husband and I need some "non-parenting" time, both alone and together.  However, I feel like my time with her is so limited now that I'm working, that I don't want to leave her for a selfish desire to get out of the house.  But I want to work on that.  Because I know that we need that as a couple and as individuals.

I know it's only three goals, but I need to start small.  So, please keep me in line and if you see me straying, feel free to give me a little nudge (or a big shove).  And feel free to link up your 2011 resolutions/goals!

Next Post in the War on Debt Series: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Thankful Thursday

And so I continue my expression of gratitude...  in no particular order. 

I have to say that or my husband might get upset.  He gets sensitive when the dog gets more attention than he does. 

I'm feeling especially fond of my husband today.  Not that I'm not always fond of him.  And I think he'd agree that we may not always like each other, but we always love each other.  We're cool like that.

But he's typically a hands-off kinda guy.  Meaning that he lets me hold the reigns about 95% of the time.  And I'm good with that.  My OCD demands a little more control over the day-to-day.  But today was one of those moments that I thanked my lucky stars for him. 

You may recall from Monday's post, I had a little phone mishap over the weekend.  Well, after five days without a working cell phone, I'm still in Verizon purgatory.  And I'm about to chuck this stupid piece of technology off a bridge and move off the grid where I will never need to use a phone again.  And he sensed that.  He's great at dealing with my crazy.

So, in order to avoid the ugly process of moving out to the middle of nowhere and learning how to milk cows and generate our own fuel, he jumped in and started removing things from my overflowing plate.  Without me knowing.  Which ordinarily would send me into a crazy fit.  But today, it was a godsend. 

So, thank you for taking care of the insurance policy.  Thank you for cleaning out the fridge.  And thank you for marrying me.  Because I know that I come with a lot of baggage.   Without you, I'd be hiding in the closet in the fetal position, Sybil-style.  You calm me.  You make me a better person.