Finally, a break!

Is it true? Am I really done with my spring classes? Seems a little surreal that I am no longer responsible for studying something! I don't know how to feel........
While I'm super excited about not having class I am hoping that I get selected to take this summer school course, just call me an over achiever lol

While I have this free time I plan to finish up as much as possible in terms of wedding planning. We only have 66 days left...... which really means I have about a good 45 days to get it all set! My biggest task to tackle at the moment are the wedding invitations. I took the DIY route for this and while I have the wording down pretty good, my biggest challenge is finding a design to fit. I want it to reflect both mine and Lewis' personalities without seeming fake or commercial..... Haven't found anything that speaks to me yet, but I know it's out there!

Really though, where has the year gone?
Along with the invitations we still need to choose a place to do the cupcakes for the reception, send out final payments, finish pre-marital counseling, talk with the Reverend who will be marrying us, hash out the final details for flowers, book the hotel for the night/weekend.......the list of little things to complete is a mile long. I'll just be glad when all of it is done and all I am responsible for is showing up with my dress on a hanger lol.

When you look at it, I'm not truly getting a break ....... just shifting gears!

Oh! OAN: For all my folks who are doing the money challenge that I talked about way back in January HERE..... It's Week 19, have you been keeping up with saving ya money? I can honestly say that it can be difficult to part with it at times, especially when you are a little strapped for cash.... but I've been pretty disciplined and I'm proud! The challenge is really about to take off now too, from here on out it's big savings! It's never too late to join either, just check out the link for the challenge!

New Year Money Challenge

I was cruising through my Facebook news feed when I noticed something one of my friends posted. It was a  photo of dollar amount to deposit every week for 52 into your bank acct. The amount increased by the number of weeks, for instance at 24 wks you would deposit $24...... and by the end of the year you would have saved over $1000! I am definitely going for this one because one of my goals for the year is to save over $500 outside of the money that I already set aside. Now what I plan to do with this money is a total secret, even to me lol. Here is the photo:

I think this is a easy, fun way to save up some cash...... without even realizing it! What do you think? Does this entice you?

Might need a job......

So since school is out, I basically don't have much to do but plan my wedding.......  but this problem is already beginning to be a good AND bad thing.

 Good thing: I have all day and night to pick, prod, fantasize, and put together the most important parts of my special day without much interruption.

Bad thing: Remember when I mentioned before that while I was in school I had a work-study job on campus? It was a convenient little job in the student writing center where I worked about 10hrs a week and we got paid twice a month. On top of that I could still file for unemployment compensation 2x month as well...... So I'm good, right?  NOPE. Sadly, because I won't be taking at least 6hrs of summer school I can't work at the writing center this summer AND I just realized that my unemployment benefits are about to be dried up come next month.......

Which is about to leave me in a tight crunch money-wise. My fiance` is bringing home most of the bacon so I don't technically HAVE to work, but I do feel the need to contribute to the wedding savings. I don't want him to be the only saving, ya know?  I would set aside money every pay period to put in the savings acct. just to feel like I was doing my part. Pretty soon I won't be able to so easily and that don't sit right with me! I'm thinking maybe I can get a little part-time job for the summer or maybe do little temp jobs here and there to make a little change and just put it all towards the wedding? Or cross my fingers that I receive a call back soon from one of the hospitals I interviewed for to start a on-call position. Until then, I'm going to be even more conscientious about what I'm doing with my little money :(

Dang, there goes my new shoes.........

Got Goals??

As yet another year winds down, it's time for me to crank out some goals to achieve. I started doing this about 3 yrs ago when I was in a situation that I didn't care to stay in much longer....I made a few long-term goals and then created a lot of short-term goals to help me get to my long-term ones. I've stayed pretty consistent and I've achieved a lot by doing it.... so why stop now?? Here goes:

Long-term goals:

• Get my credit card balance under $100 (or really close; probably like $300...that balance is sky HIGH!!) 
• Make nothing less than a B in my nursing courses
• Save over $1000 for the yr
• Grow my hair out to BSL (bra strap length)

Now to make my long-term goals happen I have to create little goals to stick to.... these are actually the hardest ones because if you don't achieve them, there is no way you can win the big race!!

Short-term goals:

• Put about $140 towards my credit card every month
• Look over/ study about 1-2hrs everyday... read assignment BEFORE class
• Deposit at least $50/mth into savings
• Moisturize and seal 3x wk and protect ends

My goals seem doable huh? You would be surprised at hard I find it to actually stick to these things!! Especially the studying goal... I am such a procrastinator :/ and if it bores me, there is NO WAY I can stay focused on it! I have to try super hard though cause I barely made it through my first 8wks of nursing school and that scared me and my fiance'.....it's go hard or get kicked out! 

With the whole putting money on this and that it's all good....I just have one teeny roadblock: I DON'T HAVE A JOB. I've been unemployed and getting unemployment for the past 6 months...and that ish is coming to an end REAL quick. Matter of fact, I just received my full benefit payment today so come the first of the year I'll be ALL out. I've been applying for positions but only in the nursing assistant area.....I feel like goin outside of healthcare work they won't be considerate of my schooling. I was offered a work-study job on campus that I will look into once the school opens back up.... and I know they will work with my school schedule, it was designed for that very reason!!  Eh, doesn't hurt to stay optimistic right?