Budgeting

I used to be really good at budgeting. It helped that I lived at home after college & my parents were amazing and didn't make me pay for a lot of things: such as rent and groceries. Those are two huge expenses! I understood how lucky I was, trust me, but I still thought of myself as 'so good at saving' too because the money they saved me I put aside instead of blowing through it.

Now, I still don't blow through money, but since I got my house- & almost all my savings went into it- I feel I am still acting like I have this chunk of money in the bank. I need to be more realistic! I have a wedding coming up, a puppy, maybe someday another puppy (or kitty, or baby, we'll see!); gas prices are continuing to climb, I have to pay to park & take the commuter rail now & my new job gives me coffee breaks -AKA- go buy breakfast/coffee/something breaks. Plus the normal: groceries, clothing, heat, & all the continuous house renovations/problems we will have since we bought an older house!! AHH!!

I need to learn to budget. I'm clearly not as good at it as I thought, and it's hard to stop 'living the life you are accustomed to'! Going out for dinner on the weekends are something I really look forward to! :-( But it has to be done!

Anyone out there have some good budgeting tips they can give me?!? I need a plan!!
Thanks for listening guys :)

All the small things...

I've had almost a full work week at a 'normal 9 to 5' job, and I am really enjoying it. What I am not enjoying is all of the adjustment that has to happen to become comfortable with my new routine in life. So although I initially wanted to blog about the job, what I am going to blog about are the 'small' details that are driving me crazy because my whole life has just been turned upside down. Literally.

I love working the day now, but I really miss Chewy. He really misses me too, I know because Kelly has been taking him out every day to give him a pee break (out of the goodness of her heart!) and the first few days he wouldn't pee and she said he seemed sad. This truly broke my heart. He's used to me being home all day and Steve home all night, I can only imagine what he was thinking with neither of us around for 9+ hours! Luckily, he's a dog, and dog's are also routine-based and by the end of the week now she says he's a bit happier and peeing when she takes him out.

I HATE public transportation. Not just because it's not reliable, busy, and disgusting, but also because it makes my 8.5 hour workday into a 12 hour workday. I have to go by THEIR schedule, and hope that it is working so that it gets me into work on time, and home at a decent hour. I'm debating biting the bullet and paying to park at MIT. Wicked expensive, not to mention gas prices are going up, and I'll have to walk farther because I'm the newbie who has to park in the farthest parking lot available. Yet, all things considered, it might be the best for me...We'll see...

Then once I get my routine down I will be able to fit in miscellaneous things like the gym, grocery shopping, and laundry. Steve is trying to help by throwing in laundry, and then taking out only what he needs the next day. Classic man. But at least he put a load of laundry in, right? :-p

Tomorrow night Steve will be going to the casino with his guys. I plan on relaxing alone and just taking it all in. I want to process this week better. Weigh the pros and cons. Study micro. Drink wine.

I'm so excited! What a nerd :-)