So, the last 4 weeks have been crazy crazy, but very satisfying in the weirdest way. To explain, you all need a little background. A few days before Christmas, Trevor and I realized we'd completely messed up our budget and that we had about 15 transactions that were going to clear the bank after it hit zero... about 2 days before pay day... Uh, oh no! Pretty much all you can say. Well, we got through that fiasco (minus $500 in bank fees, merry christmas) with the help of our family dearest and good ol' fashioned personal stamina, ha ha.
Christmas was pleasant. We like our family.
December 26, 2008; 7200 South I-15 on-ramp. Trevor spent the day at work, and was on his way home to change for his show. Truck in front slides on ice. Trevor brakes his speeding car (10 mph is apparently too fast for the conditions according to the police officer), but slides into the truck which is positioned in his lane of traffic. Long story short: Day after Christmas, no snow plowing, angry cop, and freezing temperatures = $112 ticket and $500 deductible for undrivable car. Happy new year.
The only up-side to all of that is that we DO have rental car insurance and we were able to drive an SUV up to Idaho cram-packed with Trevor's family for 1 of 2 funerals New Years weekend. Up-side, indeed. Trevor's grandma, who he knew less than he'd liked, passed away just before Christmas, and we all decided we would feel much better about going to the funeral. I think we're all glad we went. For me, it was sort of a day full of awkward hellos, goodbyes, and yes-i'm-fine-how-are-yous. The couple times I met his grandma, she seemed like an entirely sweet lady, and learning more about her only firmed up that feeling.
The day before Trevor's grandma's funeral, we went to MY grandma's funeral in Salt Lake. I didn't know her as well as I'd liked either, but I'm glad I went. Again, it was a day full of yes-i'm-fine-how-are-yous and oh-it's-so-good-to-see-yous (while thinking, "who the heck are you?") I It seems there was a lot I didn't know about my grandma, and a lot I'll probably never know. For now, I'll have to stick with remembering her red bathroom, her make-up and teasets she let me and my cousin play with, her beads for making jewelry, and her crazy love of indians. Maybe all that's a little skewed because I was only like 8 when I knew her, but it's all I've got.
The whole funeral weekend made me realize how much I need to just love the family I've got now. Even through divorce and changes--I just need to do my best to not dwell on obvious barriers.
So, after that week, Trevor and I continued our life of no money spending. Kind of hard for us--we like our freedom :) I thought I was going to hate it, completely. But after 4 weeks, it hasn't been that bad. It seems that Trevor is better at not buying little things than I am. What? I enjoy the simple pleasures in life, yeesh. A couple weekends ago we used some Christmas gift-cards (thank you, Heidi) and got ourselves a little sum'm-sum'm. Trevor got a freaking awesome new coat on clearance for $15, and I got a fancy wrap/shawl doohicky (like the one the chick on the RC Willey commercials wears). It felt nice to have a reward for our good budget keeping.
I finally found the exercise bike that's right for us (for $50!!!), and purchased, and hauled it away using the band van (scary! 15-seaters are bigger than you'd think; but I did a good job). Trevor's work took all the employees and their dates out to dinner last weekend at Rodizio Grill--very good, but I don't think I've ever been so incredibly meat-sick. You should go there, at least once, though, if you ever get the chance. Especially if you're a man. Trevor is trading his phone again because we found out the Palm Treo only supports 2 gig memory cards--which is "so not enough" for Trevor. He also decided we somehow had enough money to get a used xbox 360, so I guess we'll be saving up for more games over the next few months.
Today, our car is finally done in the shop, and we have to go pay our deductible. I think Trevor is so ready to be done with the rental car too. Although the claim with the insurance company is not finished because the dude in the truck is totally lying about everything! I finally re-registered my car for $189 (it expired in October!), and paid Trevor's ticket $112, and am now making plans to re-register Trevor's car at the end of January, safety and emmissions included for $200ish, and get caught up on our overall vehicular maintenance by the end of February.
I can't help but think of where we would be today if we had been saving AND we hadn't had all these weird expenses. We'd have, like, $1,200! That'd be amazing...That's a vacation. But, then again, we wouldn't have started saving like we are if we hadn't been slammed with the expenses. So wish us luck in continuing our budget. We've been pretty lucky so far, seeing as we've had the leeway to get the bike and the xbox. I think I'm finally honing my budgeting skills--I haven't been the greatest in the past.
As far as my other goals (I decided to only show you the ones I've been good at :) it makes me feel better):
- Pay off this one loan we have with a certain relative BEFORE summer comes. We only have $150 left!
- Find a way for either me or Trevor to start school again. I am resolved to take a math class as soon as we are able.
- Finish reading Robert Jordan's book 1 of The Wheel of Time by January 15th. Okay, so not done yet. Page 533/782. Very small type, I remind you.
- Follow THE budget. See blog above :)
- Purchase one of the exercise bikes I've been oggling. CHECK.
- I also feel accomplished because I finished watching the John Adams series last weekend. It was a complete success. Perfect. You should watch it.
