Another Year Past

It is hard to believe that we are facing another new year, it seams like 2010 just flew by.

I haven't made any New Years resolutions as of yet, but I plan on spending the rest of the night reflecting on my failures and triumphs of the past year.

Happy New Year to you all.

I look forward to the possibilities of the upcoming year.

Cha Cha Changes

I know I have been gone for a while, but working in retail during the holiday season does not leave an individual with a lot of free time. Also, there have been some financial changes going on in my life as of late.

I can scratch 2 items off my 35 before 35 list.

After all of my car drama I bought a new car (#34). I ended up not getting any of the cars I listed, I purchased a new Mazda 3 and I love it. I financed through my credit union and got both an unbelievable rate and a great deal through their auto adviser program.

I also am about to pay off my credit cards (#9). I applied for a consolidation loan through my credit union and while it is not finalised yet, I am pre approved for a loan to pay off my cards. So, while I am trading one debt for another I will be able to pay less in interest over the life of the loan.

I am planing to pay extra to both of these loans and pay them off early.

Off to update my side bars.

I Hate My Car Part 3

Well, it finally happened.

On my way home from work my car cut off while I was driving.

Thankfully it happened in an area where I was able to pull off the road safely. I called my mother (it's funny, why is it whenever your in trouble the first call you want to make is to your mother?), then I called AAA and had my car towed to the dealership (after sitting on the side of a busy rural road for an hour).

During this ordeal I learned a few lessons

1. If you are having problems with your car DO NOT drive it until it is 100% fixed.

Make the people at the shop believe you. Your life could depend on it. The car could have cut off while I was on the highway.

2. Keep your cell phone fully charged and get a car charger.

While on the phone with AAA my phone started to die and I did not buy a car charger. Thankfully my mother came looking for me and I was able to use her cell phone.

3. Get road side assistance and pay for the extra coverage.

If my mother did not have the premium policy I would have had to pay $5 per mile for towing my car.

4. Get a GPS.

My car broke down in the middle of nowhere, If I didn't have my GPS I would not have been able to tell AAA where I was. That's the problem with Florida, too many little cities. Who ever heard of Thonotosassa, Fl ?

I don't think I will ever feel comfortable driving that car, even if they are able to diagnose the problem.

I better start test driving some cars.

I Hate My Car Part 2

My car is back at the dealership and after numerous test drives the car has not cut off on the tech and they have no idea what is wrong with it. I think they think I am a con artist trying to pull a scam, when all I am is an angry b@*%h pissed that I spent $813 on an unneeded repair. Since I do a lot of driving I need a reliable car, I think it is time to retire my beloved car.

I have my options narrowed down to 3 contenders

1. Nissan Versa - $14,245
2. Honda Fit - $15,830
3. Toyota Yaris - $15,887

I was approved for a loan but my loan offer expires on Sunday. My mother thinks I should wait 3 months and buy in December.

Does anyone have any input on any of these cars?

I Hate My Car

Number 34 on my list of 35 before 35 was to buy a new car, this was something I was hoping to put off until I was 35. Unfortunately after $1500 of repairs the car is still cutting off at long stops. The car has been in and out of the shop for the past 3 weeks and no one can seem to find the problem and the car does not stall when they test drive it. I even drove it around with a mechanic from the shop and the car did not cut off once.

I don't know what to do anymore.

If the car can't be fixed (once they figure out what is wrong with it) I just flushed $1500 down the drain.

Closet Handbag Designer

If you have been following my journey through my many, many blogs you know I went to fashion design school. While in school I learned all of the essentials to become a fashion designer, draping, drafting, textiles etc. While I liked designing clothes, I loved designing accessories. It started with home decor accessories (pillows, place mats, shower curtains) and evolved to fashion accessories. My favorite accessory to make was handbags, I started with clutches and ended with weekend bags. The bag pictured above was made 2 years ago and I haven't sewn since.

I can't remember what made me stop sewing, I'm sure it was a combo of work stress (back then I worked with a pack of ass h&%$s) and working too many hours (12 hours a day will suck the creativity out of you).

The idea of designing and sewing again never left my mind, I would spend hours lurking on Etsy and Art Fire to see what the other crafters and designers were doing. I've done all the research into DBA's, business licences, suppliers.

So, what's stopping me?

I don't know.

New Budget

I have updated my side bars and have become both depressed and hopeful at the state of my financial affairs. Repairing my car ended up costing my $1536 which left me with only $500 in savings. I am trying to decide if I want to put that money back into my savings account or put the money toward paying down one of my credit cards. Now that I know my credit score has improved to the point that a bank was willing to give me a car loan (I was approved, but I turned it down) I am now obsessed with the prospect of paying off my credit cards.

I would love to have them paid off by this time next year, but I know that would be next to impossible. I am now willing to make the necessary sacrifices to get this monkey off my back. My goal is to buy a new car by December of next year.

Here is my new budget.

Monthly Income - $2000

Sallie Mae - $600
Direct Loan - $200
Electric - $200
Cable/Phone/Internet - $170
Cell - $100
Master Card - $100
Amex - $150
Visa #1 - $140
Visa #2 - $90
Snowball Credit Card Payment - $200
Savings - $50

I can't believe that I am throwing $680 a month on credit card payments.

My first goal is to pay off my Amex, it has the highest interest rate. I called them and asked for a lower interest rate, they told me they could not lower the rate on past purchases but could give me 7% on new purchases. I am tempted to do a balance transfer but I don't want another inquiry on my credit report.

726 Isn't what It Used To Be

I am sad to say that my car is back in the shop again and this time it may cost me all of my savings ($2000 down the drain). I started toying with the idea of buying a new car and decided to pull my credit score. Much to my delight my credit score has risen by 26 points to an all time high of ........

726

I was so excited that I decided to try and consolidate my student loan at a lower interest rate. Well, the student loan market isn't what it used to be, I could only find on company that was doing consolidations and they want a cosigner.

Then I decided to try to pre-qualify for a car loan, I am still waiting for a response.

I guess in today's credit environment a score of 726 isn't what it used to be.

MyFico.com has a credit score simulator, you input certain scenarios and it tells you how it will effect your credit score. According to the simulator if I make 3 payments of $800 over the next 3 months my score will improve to the 731 - 771 range.

Time to rework my budget.

35 Before 35

I have been trying to thing of ways to make this blog more interesting. Half of the reason that I do not post regularly is because I don't have much going on in my life right now. I think my last blog was more interesting because I was working toward specific goals.

After surfing around on the Internet I found several blogs where people are trying to accomplish a certain amount of goals before they hit a specific age. Therefore here is my 35 before 35 list, in no particular order.

1. Lose 20 pounds
2. Grow out my hair until it is bsl (bra strap length)
3. Learn how to apply makeup and wear makeup everyday
4. Go to a thrift store
5. Develop personal style
6. Become a nurse
7. Ride in a hot air balloon
8. Start a side business
9. Pay off my credit cards
10. Renew my passport and take a trip overseas
11. Take a trip to Chicago
12. Open an IRA
13. Learn how to hem pants
14. Sew a complete outfit (jacket, skirt, pants, and shirt)
15. Donate unwanted items to Goodwill
16. Work out 3 times a week
17. Not watch TV for an entire week
18. Go on a speed date
19. Bake a 3 layer cake
20. Fly a kite
21. Eat vegetarian for 1 month
22. See an opera
23. Decorate an entire Christmas tree with hand made ornaments
24. Eat dinner in a restaurant alone.
25. Visit a Fashion Week (not necessarily New York's)
26. Make and sell something on Etsy (or Art Fire)
27. Build an ottoman
28. Go to the shooting range and fire a gun
29. Take care of my nephew all day, by myself
30. Take a yoga class
31. Learn French
32. Pay for the meal behind me at the drive through
33. Learn how to swim
34. Buy a new car
35. Fall in love

I plan to take this list on 9 items per year until I have done everything.

What is on your list?

M.I.A

I know I have been M.I.A over the past month, but a lot of changes have been going on and I did not want to post about them until things have settled down.

1. I have a new job.

In previous post I have written about my work schedule changing, working long hours and not being paid for them, and the possibility of my position being eliminated. I am glad to report that I got a new job with a better schedule that will allow me to take classes in preparation for nursing school.

2. I opened a store on Art Fire and Etsy.

Ever since I discovered Etsy 4 years ago I have had dreams of opening a store and selling some of the things I learned to make in design school (I need to do something to justify the $600 in student loan payments I am making every month). I haven't made or listed anything yet, but I am excited at the prospect.

3. I am recommitted to my financial goals.

With leaving my last job I paid off the charge card I opened (the only way employees could get the discount was to charge it on a store credit card), seeing that zero balance has made me eager to pay off the rest of my cards. I am making good progress with my Amex and now that I don't work where I used to work I shouldn't be making any more nonessential purchases.

I'm back, and I plan to start posting more regularly.

Working In Retail Can Be Hazardous To Your Financial Health

Looking at the calendar I realized that it has been 3 years since I moved in with my mother. In these three years I haven't made any significant changes in my debt total. Granted, I am in better shape than I was when I started, but I should be out of credit card debt by now.

But I'm not.

So, I looked around the house and realized why I am still in credit card debt, I have been doing too much shopping.

Working in retail makes it very hard not to shop, between the employee discount and markdowns you can get some fantastic deals. Here are some of the items that I have purchased over the past year and what I paid for them.

1. Black leather Coach handbag - $150 Retail Price - $350
2. Brown leather Coach Handbag - $100 Retail Price - $350
3. Purple fabric Coach Handbag - $85 Retail Price - $350
4. Armani Watch - $85 Retail Price - $295
5. Dolce & Gabbana Sunglasses - $10 Retail Price - $295

Can you see why I bought these items?

I have improved, everyone of these items was paid for with cash, I did not charge any of them.

But now that I want to go to nursing school, and I am just sick of being in credit card debt, I am banning myself from shopping. No more shoes, bags, clothes, etc. From now until my credit cards are paid off I will not make any frivolous purchases.

There are a few more things I want to buy

This jewelry box
This embroidery machine
This software.

But they can wait.

Postponing Nursing School

As you read in my last post I have been working a lot of hours in the past couple of weeks. Due to this I haven't been able to study for the nursing school entrance exam. I was planning on taking it September 9th, but I do not feel prepared.

I have decided to start taking the pre requisites for RN and continue to study for the exam and try for the LPN program in Fall 2011.

In order to accomplish this I realise that I am going to have to get a new job relatively soon. My current working situation requires too many free hours and leaves me exhausted with little time to study. Also, night nursing classes are 5pm to 10pm, and my current work schedule wouldn't work with those times.

I am 31 and I hate to loose this much time, but I need to take these classes anyway so I guess it all evens out in the end.

Salary Vs. Hourly

From the time I was 16 and started my first job I would say to my self "I can't wait until I get a salary job." After the events of the past week I declare "I never want to work a salary job again."

Over the past week I have worked about 60 hours, and am only going to be paid for 40.

Why did I work so many hours, you ask.

The owner of the store I work for was flying in for a store visit. That turned everyone in the store into a crazy person trying to prepare for the visit. I would get to work at 7 in the morning and not leave until 9 at night.

I am so tired.

How old is Jamal? Correction

Sorry, typo.

Jamal is 25 and Henry is 14.

Gotta love that algebra.

Damn you Al-Khwarizmi!!!!!!!!!!!

ohnoamy and nicoleandmaggie were correct.

What Are You Thankful For?

My birthday was last weekend, I am now 31 years old.

While eating dinner with my family I started to feel depressed. I was reflecting on my life and how it did not turn out the way I thought it would. While discussing this with my sister she said to me

"Your life could be a lot worse, find something to be thankful for."

So.........what am I thankful for?

1. I have a job.
2. I have somewhere nice to live.
3. I have $1800 in my savings' account.
4. My car is paid off.
5. I am relatively healthy.
6. I have a very supportive mother.

So far that is all I can think of.

What are you thankful for?

How old is Jamal?

A few weeks ago I posted about the TEAS exam and the problems I was having with the algebra portion on the math section. I also posted a question from the practice questions that was just kicking my butt. Two of you answered the problem.

Lindsay and nicoleandmaggie were correct

Jamal is 14.

This one problem has caused me many a sleepless night trying to figure it out.

I just completed the practice test for the math section and got 48 out of 60 correct.

Not bad, but not good enough.

Slow Going

I know I have been quiet lately, that is because I have been studying for the TEAS exam.

In order to teach my self algebra I bought a GED study guide, the book is thick as hell but it is very good. After years of teachers and tutors giving up on me because I couldn't get the concepts I am now doing algebra. I am so proud of myself.

I am hoping to be able to take the test in early September, score in the 90's, get accepted into a LPN nursing program and start the rest of my life. But, if I don't score high enough I will start to work on the pre-requisites for the RN program.

3x+7=13. Solve for x

I finally received my study guide for the TEAS exam and boy is my brain tired.

The study guide is broken down into 4 sections

1. Reading
2. Math
3. Science
4. English

I am not worried about the reading and english sections because I have always excelled in those areas. Science has me a little concerned because it has been years since I have studied any kind of science. But the math has me terrified. Math was my worst subject in school, I barley got through it the first time.

I have basic math down pact, but algebra is not my friend. I mean, when is the last time you used algebra in real life?

Can anyone solve this problem?

Jamal's age is 3 less than twice Henry's age. The sum on Jamal and Henry's ages is 39. How old is Jamal?

a. 14
b. 39
c. 21
d. 25

I may have to find a tutor online.

Thank god for the Internet.

Step 1

Today I received my acceptance letter to my local community college, I am one step closer to my new future. The next step is to apply for my transcripts from all of my previous colleges and have them sent to the school. I also have to go in for orientation and academic advising.

In order to get into the LPN program I have to take the TEAS exam and get at least a composite score of 88%. I ordered the study guide and a GED study guide online and hope to start studying by next weekend. I am giving myself a month to study before I take the exam.

I found an online forum all about nursing (allnurses.com) and some of the stories I've read are horrifying. There are people with high test scores and 4.0 GPA's not being excepted into the programs.

Good thing I have a back-up plan.

Water Water Everywhere

How much water should you drink in a day?

I Googled that question and found this on the Mayo Clinic web site

• Replacement approach. The average urine output for adults is about 1.5 liters (6.3 cups) a day. You lose close to an additional liter (about 4 cups) of water a day through breathing, sweating and bowel movements. Food usually accounts for 20 percent of your total fluid intake, so if you consume 2 liters of water or other beverages a day (a little more than 8 cups) along with your normal diet, you will typically replace your lost fluids.
• Eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Another approach to water intake is the "8 x 8 rule" — drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day (about 1.9 liters). The rule could also be stated, "Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day," as all fluids count toward the daily total. Although the approach really isn't supported by scientific evidence, many people use this easy-to-remember rule as a guideline for how much water and other fluids to drink.
• Dietary recommendations. The Institute of Medicine advises that men consume roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day and women consume 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day.

I hardly drink anything through out the day, I'm surprised that I haven't died of dehydration yet. I was doing o.k. with my water intake for a while but then I fell off the wagon.

My first step toward better health is to drink 9 cups of water per day.

Currently I carry 1 700ml (1 pint) bottle of water to work with me every day, to get the 9 cups recommended I would need to drink 4.5 bottles every day.

To make this more economical (and earth friendly) I will buy gallon water bottles and drink half per day.

Wow, I am going to be spending a lot of time in the bathroom.

You're A Hard Habit To Break

In my effort to lose weight and eat healthier I have realized that when it comes to certain foods I have no will power. If I can get my hands on them I will eat them as fast as I can. Therefore I have decided to make the effort to not purchase these items anymore.

1. Frozen pizza
2. Cadbury chocolate bars
3. Tyson jumbo wings of fire (frozen hot wings)
4. Oreo's
5. Keebler Fudge Shoppe Fudge Stripes

Why is it that the food that taste the best are the worst for you?

Not buying these ever so delicious items will help me cut back on my spending too.

Why Nursing?

A few days ago Superstar Genius asked why am I now interested in becoming a nurse or dietitian with my background in retail.

These are questions I asked myself numerous times before I made my final decision, here are my reasons - in no particular order.

1. I never liked retail.

Retail was a means to an end. When I was in college I needed a job to pay the bills, I tried to get an office job but with no clerical experience I could not get one. I started out as a sales associate and worked my way up to manager. Working all of those hours took a tole on my GPA and limited the places I could apply to after graduation. I decided a job I hated was better than no job at all.

2. Visual Merchandising jobs are few and far between, and are hard to get.

Most stores do not have visual merchandisers, the few that do are either getting rid of them or have had the same employees forever. To go corporate I would have to move to New York and try to get a job from to small pool of available jobs.

3. I have no desire to open my own store, nor the capitol needed to do so.

I have been in retail long enough to see the way people act and treat stores. I would never want to take that risk with my own money.

4. I like helping people.

As a nurse (my first choice) or a dietitian I would get to help people feel better and live longer. In retail all you are doing is trying to get people to spend money they don't have and open credit cards they don't need.

5. I have to go where the money is.

I have been trying to pay off debt for years and it can not be done on $12 and hour. Nursing is an in-demand field that pays well.

As far as going back to school, once accepted I could be done with school in 4 years. In the grand scheme of things 4 years is not a long time, I will be 35. I can either be 35 doing a job I hate with no future or doing a job I would love (or at least like) with a future and a good income.

Good, Bad, or Ugly, these are my reasons.

How Do You Pay For Gas?

I am a pay at the pump kind of girl, there is nothing I hate more than walking into the convenience store, wait in line behind some idiot who is picking his lotto numbers, walk back to my car, and then pump gas. I like the convenience of sticking my card in the card slot, pump the gas, get my receipt, and drive away.

Here lies the problem.

Due to the fact that people like to tamper with credit card readers, there is always a chance of your credit card information being stolen. Because of this, I pay for my gas with a credit card instead of my check card.

This in turn stops me from maintaining a zero balance. I start off paying the charge in full the next day, but after a while I start to let it pile up.

Perhaps I should start paying with cash.

New Budget

Current Budget

Income - $2000 per month

Sallie Mae - $600
Electric - $200 (estimate, most of the time it is less)
Cell Phone - $70
Phone/Cable/Internet - $170
Credit Card 1 - $90
Credit Card 2 - $140
Credit Card 3 - $250
Gas/Groceries - $200
Student Loan 2 - $200
Savings - $80

When I start classes the $200 I am paying to my second student loan and the $80 I am saving will be going toward tuition.

Possible Future Budget

Income - $1440 per month ($12 per hour)

Sallie Mae - $600
Electric - $0 (my mother will have to take over this bill)
Cell Phone - $70
Phone/Cable/Internet - $100 (my mother will have to take over the phone part of this bill)
Credit Card 1 - $30
Credit Card 2 - $140
Credit Card 3 - $150
Gas/Groceries - $100
Student Loan 2 - $200
Savings - $10

When I start classes the $200 I am paying to my second student loan and the $10 I am saving will be going toward tuition.


Or....

Income - $1760 per month ($14 per hour)

Sallie Mae - $600
Electric - $140
Cell Phone - $70
Phone/Cable/Internet - $170
Credit Card 1 - $90
Credit Card 2 - $140
Credit Card 3 - $250
Gas/Groceries - $100
Student Loan 2 - $200
Savings - $80

When I start classes the $200 I am paying to my second student loan and the $80 I am saving will be going toward tuition.

Until the final word comes down (or I get a new job) I am living week to week.

Minimum Payment Warnings

You gotta love the minimum payment warnings that credit cards come with, they are helping me plan my assault on the credit card demon that possesses me.

Awhile back I paid off my Master Card, since then I charged it back up and was carrying a balance on the store charge card I got for work. I am glad to say that I just paid off my Master Card for the LAST TIME, I am taking it out of my wallet and giving it to my mother to hold.

Next on my hit list is my American Express with the ridiculously high interest rate (29.99%). According to the MPW if I pay $126 per month I can have the card paid off in 3 years. That is to long for me, I want to have this card paid off in 1 year. That is going to be hard on a $1400 a month budget (remember, I have a pay cut coming any day now.) I am going to try to up my payment to $250 a month and throw any extra money I get at this card.

Moving On

With all that has been going on over the last few months I have stopped reading a lot of the blogs that I used to live for. With this new blog and vow to post once a day I have tried to catch up with my online family.

It seams that everyone is making great progress with their lives and crossing goals off of their to-do list. Everyone has new jobs, paid off all of their debt, are getting married, or buying homes. I am still in the same amount of debt, am about to be making less money than I have in years, and am going back to school for the third time. This is why I deleted my facebook page, everyone has these great adult lives and I still don't have two pennies to rub together.

All I can do is be inspired by everyone's progress and find new blogs to read.

Weight Loss - Take Two

I have wanted to loose the same 20 lbs for years, but have been lackluster in my approach at best. This time feels different due to all of the changes that are taking place in my life all at the same time.

I am not only trying to loose weight but become healthier also. To accomplish this I need to reduce my daily calorie intake, eat healthier meals (increase vegetables), and exercise.

Vital Stats

Height - 5' 6"
Weight - 155 lbs

Body Measurements
Bust - 35.5 inches
Waist - 31 inches
Hips - 43 inches
Thigh - 25.5 inches
Arm - 11.5

Blood Pressure - 113/77

My goal is to get down to 125lbs - 130lbs and to eat healthier. Following The Biggest Loser food pyramid I need

4 servings of Fruits & Vegetables
3 servings of Protein
2 servings of Whole Grains
200 calories of extras

My meals should be structured

Breakfast
1/2 protein serving
1 whole grain serving
1 fruit serving

Snack
1/2 protein serving
1 fruit serving

Lunch
1 protein serving
1/2 whole grain serving
1 vegetable serving

Snack
1/2 protein serving
1 fruit serving

Dinner
1/2 protein serving
1/2 whole grain serving
2 vegetable servings

I am going to start next week after I spend this weekend menu planing and grocery shopping.

Closet Crafter

Ever since I graduated fashion design school I have become a closet crafter with secret dreams of opening an Etsy shop. I have made a few things here and there (tile coasters, handbags, and most recently a jumpsuit for my sister. I must say, sitting up to 3am sewing has brought out my desire to begin crafting again. I don't know how I will find the time between work and school but I will do my best. I find I work the best with written down goals.

Craft Goals - To be completed by December 31, 2010

1. Make messenger bag for school
2. Make a mosaic vase
3. Sew one article of clothing

I am off to inventory my stash of fabric.

Back To School, Yet Again.

As I stated in my last post, my position is going away and I have decided to train for a new career and give up retail. I am going back to school to study nursing (or nutrition) and start a new career. This time I am being smart about it and going to a community college first and get an A.S. The tuition is $89 per credit hour and the school will let you pay in installments, I am trying to not use anymore student loan money. After I graduate I will try to get a job in a hospital that offers tuition reimbursement and let them pay for my B.S.

I received my acceptance letter from the community college today and have to go in and speak with an adviser. Before I can apply to the nursing program I have to take the prerequisite classes

Anatomy 1
Anatomy 2
Micro Biology
Sociology

and pass with at least a "C".

Competition to get into nursing school is tough, so I am going to work very hard to pass all of these classes with A's.

If I do not get accepted into the nursing program I will pursue nutrition.

Words Of Wisdom From The Great Kenny Rogers

How do you know when it is time to give up on a dream?

For me the time has come.

My dream was to become a corporate level visual merchandiser for a major retailer. I have spent the last 8 years and an obscene amount of money chasing after this dream. Just when I thought I was making some progress the rug was pulled out from under me. The department store that I work for is getting rid of the visual merchandiser position. Within the next few weeks I will be forced to take a lower paying ($12 an hour) managerial position or have no job at all.

This was the final blow. I have spent the last 8 years applying for corporate level visual merchandising positions to no avail. The current state of the economy and the fact that most of these jobs are in New York is not helping. I didn't know what I was going to do, I thought about moving to New York to further pursue the career of my dreams but realized that New York is filled with qualified candidates. If they could not get these jobs, then what chance did I have.

I was driving home from work, crying and depressed when I heard Kenny Rogers sing a song I have heard a million times but never paid much attention to.

The Gambler.

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.

It helped me realize that sometimes you just have to stop, I don't want to spend the next 8 years chasing after a dream. I have decided to change my career.

While I don't relish the idea of going back to school, it is time to grow up and pursue a real career. I have decided to either become a nurse or a dietitian.

Hello

I have had many blogs over the years, blogs about crafting, blogs about finance, etc. In years past I have had the leisure time to maintain numerous blogs at once, but not anymore. Circumstances in my life have changed to the point that I decided to start a new all inclusive blog about the new adventure I am about to embark on.

This blog will cover topics that are paramount to my new life

School
Finance
Health
Crafting
Job Hunt

I hope this new blog will help someone else decide that if they are unhappy with something in their life find the courage to start over.