Another school year is starting. You know what this rolls us into? Sean's third and LAST year of law school. This time next year, I'll be married to a lawyer. We'll be done with school (well, he'll still have Continuing Education Classes and he might get his LLM - lawyer teaching degree - and if I get bored I might go for my MBA). It's crazy to think about.
Sean's working at a MedMal (medical malpractice) law firm. He's really not a fan, but it's a foot in the door, a paying gig, and something to put on his resume. Everyone has to start somewhere, right? He's also starting up an IP Clinic at the law school. The clinic division is for people that can't pay for things (like taxes and and child custody cases), and has never had an IP version before. It'll be for entrepreneurs and start up businesses, so they can make sure they're not violating copyright laws and putting themselves in the ground before they're even alive. It's great to show that he's pioneering this new clinic, and he'll be working with area lawyers too. Connections!
I've paid off my car this month! It's an extra $335 in our pockets, which is being split between paying my school loans off and savings for a house.
Speaking of a house...no not yet. We're waiting until Sean gets a permanent job. It's really frustrating because there are a bunch of houses in the area we like for less than $200k, but we just have to be patient. Our CD with our wedding money matured this month and just went into a savings account instead of being renewed. This is driving me crazy - there's so much more money than I'm used to, just hanging out! Argh! Must not touch it!
We're also going to have to start saving for Sean's bar. It's going to cost us rought $5k for Sean to graduate. Seriously? Between bar prep classes ($1-3k) and the bar itself (which is a thousand dollar test), it's going to cost him that much after school. I think it's a cheap shot, but he can't practice without it, so the charges are sky high.
There's not much else going on, other than weddings galore. Makes me miss planning my own!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Ch Ch Ch Changes - From Consumer to Crunchy.
Guys, I'm going crunchy.
And it's weird. And kinda scary (but not really).
I've never been an all-natural, no medication kinda girl. Ever. Nature and I don't really get along - hell, I almost went to the emergency room when they did my allergy test when I was 8. I did go to the hospital the first time I rode a horse. I probably would be dead from an asthma attack if not for inhalers, allergy shots, and regular doses of antihistamines.
But then I got married to a law student, and started supporting a family of 2 (+2 pets) on a single, entry level income. And I started getting thrifty. And all-natural? Yea, turns out it can be pretty cheap.
I don't really go out of my way for it either. I have a very limited amount of things too. I make my own frozen dog treats, I make my own face wash, and my own lotion. And I've started using oat flour and almond oil. And I make my own bread (sometimes).
I'm going slow. Maybe one day I'll make my own laundry detergent. But until then, know that I'm not crazy. Some of the crunchy stuff? Yea it doesn't work as well. So I don't continue it. But the stuff that does work? True Believer.
Oh, and as for allergy medications? I'll never give those up. And the local honey thing doesn't work when you're as bad as me.
And it's weird. And kinda scary (but not really).
I've never been an all-natural, no medication kinda girl. Ever. Nature and I don't really get along - hell, I almost went to the emergency room when they did my allergy test when I was 8. I did go to the hospital the first time I rode a horse. I probably would be dead from an asthma attack if not for inhalers, allergy shots, and regular doses of antihistamines.
But then I got married to a law student, and started supporting a family of 2 (+2 pets) on a single, entry level income. And I started getting thrifty. And all-natural? Yea, turns out it can be pretty cheap.
I don't really go out of my way for it either. I have a very limited amount of things too. I make my own frozen dog treats, I make my own face wash, and my own lotion. And I've started using oat flour and almond oil. And I make my own bread (sometimes).
I'm going slow. Maybe one day I'll make my own laundry detergent. But until then, know that I'm not crazy. Some of the crunchy stuff? Yea it doesn't work as well. So I don't continue it. But the stuff that does work? True Believer.
Oh, and as for allergy medications? I'll never give those up. And the local honey thing doesn't work when you're as bad as me.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
2012 Olympics!
First of all, I'm incredibly ticked off at NBC's Olympic coverage. As in, can we elect a different news channel to cover Rio? I'd rather watch anything other than NBC.
1. They cut the opening ceremony. Because the "program is tailored for the U.S. television audience", clearly we wouldn't appreciate a tribute to the London bombings. Clearly we would rather see an overplayed Michael Phelps with the hasbeen of Ryan Seacrest. Thanks for making THAT choice for us NBC. I think the choreographer has it absolutely correct when he says "It brings to mind the question ... that maybe it's too truthful."
2. The NBC commentators talked over the ENTIRE opening ceremony. There were parts that we missed (either because of talking or just plain editing it out), parts we couldn't hear, and dumb comments that most people could care less about.
3. Why can we not see anything live? Nothing. Unless we have cable of course. But really? NOTHING?
4. NBC isn't playing coverage of less popular sports. So fencing, judo, and archery? Nope, no exposure. They'd rather broadcast the entirety of a 5 hour bike race than cut to anything else.
/frustration
Among the positives though? I loved what I saw of the opening ceremony. I think Britain knew they couldn't compete with the sheer mass of China's, so they went a completely different route. I know they made the right choice. It told a history in a very creative way. I wasn't a big fan of the MTVish section, but I LOVED that they included the creator of the WWW. Sure, the torch lighting wasn't "creative", but it was meaningful with a perfect impact. To be honest, I thought the entire ceremony was very...London. Understated. Meaningful. Poised.
Now, let's go Team USA!
1. They cut the opening ceremony. Because the "program is tailored for the U.S. television audience", clearly we wouldn't appreciate a tribute to the London bombings. Clearly we would rather see an overplayed Michael Phelps with the hasbeen of Ryan Seacrest. Thanks for making THAT choice for us NBC. I think the choreographer has it absolutely correct when he says "It brings to mind the question ... that maybe it's too truthful."
2. The NBC commentators talked over the ENTIRE opening ceremony. There were parts that we missed (either because of talking or just plain editing it out), parts we couldn't hear, and dumb comments that most people could care less about.
3. Why can we not see anything live? Nothing. Unless we have cable of course. But really? NOTHING?
4. NBC isn't playing coverage of less popular sports. So fencing, judo, and archery? Nope, no exposure. They'd rather broadcast the entirety of a 5 hour bike race than cut to anything else.
/frustration
Among the positives though? I loved what I saw of the opening ceremony. I think Britain knew they couldn't compete with the sheer mass of China's, so they went a completely different route. I know they made the right choice. It told a history in a very creative way. I wasn't a big fan of the MTVish section, but I LOVED that they included the creator of the WWW. Sure, the torch lighting wasn't "creative", but it was meaningful with a perfect impact. To be honest, I thought the entire ceremony was very...London. Understated. Meaningful. Poised.
Now, let's go Team USA!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Budgeting.
I've never really followed a budget before. Seriously. I've just always followed the idea of "spend as little as possible" - it sounds terrible, but it's true. But now that Sean has a job where he's labeled as an independent contractor, we have to make sure we track his income and save for his taxes - as nothing gets taken out of his paycheck.
So what better time than to calculate how much we spend? Our first goal is to just track our expenses. We want to be able to make a realistic budget that we can be following by next year, but without knowing what we spend in the first place, it would be near impossible. And tracking we are.
And it's almost sickening what we spend in some areas.
We've spent $170 eating out this month. ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY. Now granted, it was kind of a strange month, but still. We over spent on groceries too, but we also hosted a 30+ person BBQ for the 4th of July. Clearly food is our biggest vice. I started budgeting on the 3rd of the month, and after seeing what we spent on food the first weekend, we've definitely been watching that already. It holds us accountable for what we spend. With Sean working, we have that money to spend, but we shouldn't be, ya know? We could be using that to pay off our car loan, or student loans, or savings for a house. Even if we only saved HALF of that money, we would have $720 in a year. That's 2 car payments (which is almost a mute point, because my car is paid off next month!).
In any case, keeping a budget (or even just a record), is amazing. Never realized how good it would be for us. :)
So what better time than to calculate how much we spend? Our first goal is to just track our expenses. We want to be able to make a realistic budget that we can be following by next year, but without knowing what we spend in the first place, it would be near impossible. And tracking we are.
And it's almost sickening what we spend in some areas.
We've spent $170 eating out this month. ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY. Now granted, it was kind of a strange month, but still. We over spent on groceries too, but we also hosted a 30+ person BBQ for the 4th of July. Clearly food is our biggest vice. I started budgeting on the 3rd of the month, and after seeing what we spent on food the first weekend, we've definitely been watching that already. It holds us accountable for what we spend. With Sean working, we have that money to spend, but we shouldn't be, ya know? We could be using that to pay off our car loan, or student loans, or savings for a house. Even if we only saved HALF of that money, we would have $720 in a year. That's 2 car payments (which is almost a mute point, because my car is paid off next month!).
In any case, keeping a budget (or even just a record), is amazing. Never realized how good it would be for us. :)
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Thursday Night Catch-Up
First and foremost, for those who don't know, Sean got a(nother) job!! He's making calls to follow up on claims for a malpractice suit - it's not what he wants to do, it's not glamorous or fun, but it makes $12/hr and it's an actual paying job. And something on the resume.
So now he's working two jobs - one paid and one unpaid (at the free tax clinic). He's still also got his summer courses. He's been super busy, but that's how it goes. I've lost my housedude though. Guess I'll have to do some laundry :p
Work's settled down a lot, even though we're smack in the busiest season - guess it helps to have a full staff! I've been working my normal 40 a week, which is sooo wonderful. I just got back from a business trip to St. Louis. It was just a short 2 day trip, but I got a company car (and credit card) for a few days for it! It was a great trip, and we got to meet a lot of the big guns in the area. I love meeting the higher ups, and learning about all of the opportunities I have within the company. The whole having a career thing? It's pretty awesome. I seriously love my job.
Bowser got his manly bits chopped today, but he's taking it like a champ!
I've gotten 2 wedding invitations in the mail this week, and I'll get at least one more by the time the year ends. Two of the weddings are on the east coast, which kinda sucks, but we'll make it work (especially with Sean's new job!!). I'm excited though! I <3 weddings.
Life. Awesome.
So now he's working two jobs - one paid and one unpaid (at the free tax clinic). He's still also got his summer courses. He's been super busy, but that's how it goes. I've lost my housedude though. Guess I'll have to do some laundry :p
Work's settled down a lot, even though we're smack in the busiest season - guess it helps to have a full staff! I've been working my normal 40 a week, which is sooo wonderful. I just got back from a business trip to St. Louis. It was just a short 2 day trip, but I got a company car (and credit card) for a few days for it! It was a great trip, and we got to meet a lot of the big guns in the area. I love meeting the higher ups, and learning about all of the opportunities I have within the company. The whole having a career thing? It's pretty awesome. I seriously love my job.
Bowser got his manly bits chopped today, but he's taking it like a champ!
I've gotten 2 wedding invitations in the mail this week, and I'll get at least one more by the time the year ends. Two of the weddings are on the east coast, which kinda sucks, but we'll make it work (especially with Sean's new job!!). I'm excited though! I <3 weddings.
Life. Awesome.
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