Weekly Review: Surviving Spending
This week found me down visiting family and attending the crappy appointment that was making this month so awful. The silver lining is that the crappy stuff is now over and we can continue on with our regularly scheduled lives. Spending was a little more expensive this week in the ‘shopping category’ as I bought a few things for summer and a shiny Bamboo Splashpen drawing tablet (more on this later). Food and dining was also more expensive as I took my family out for a ‘Yay, we survived” lunch after the crappy appointment was finished.
Everything else was okay for spending. As this month draws to a close, I have to say I’m happy with the goals I set to survive this month. By taking the time I needed to concentrate on staying sane this month, I believe I avoided a lot of the usual pitfalls I might have originally fallen into.
Weekly Review: Surviving Life Under Construction
1. Goal: Keep my impulse spending to a minimum – PASS
I’m really happy with how I’ve done with this goal, despite having a lot of extra stuff on my plate, I was able to resist temptation three out of four weeks. I will be honest and say the Bamboo drawing tablet was not something I had planned to buy right away; but I had the extra money and just ended up going for it.
The drawing tablet is just a fancy mouse – I use it to draw all the Michelangelo art you’ve been seeing lurking around my blog lately. It has been a lot of fun to use and I’ve been able to experiment with the way I express myself on my blog. You’ll probably see more like it in the future.
2. Goal: I will keep a list of things I can do when I’m feeling anxious – PASS
I didn’t write out a formal list of things I could do when I was in this kind of mood – but I was successful in riding out the low moods with some good distractions. I spent a lot of time putting together things for the blog, reading good books, spending some time with friends; and enjoying being outside between torrential downpours. 😉 I wasn’t able to curb all my McDonald’s visits but I was able to keep it down to a minimum.
3. Goal: I will schedule a couple hours a day for my crappy task – PASS.
It was done. It was happy day when I finished that task. Need I say more?
4. Goal: I will start hiking at the local park three times a week – FAIL
Yeah, this didn’t happen. I got out to the park but nowhere near three times a week. I was over-enthusiastic when I made this goal, I think.
I can’t even begin to tell you how glad I am that this month is coming to a close. I was so done with June on June 2 but now that it’s really done, I can heave my sigh of relief and go into July much happier for it.
How was your June, readers?
I’m a total list-maker. If I don’t have a list, I get so overwhelmed and just shut down instead of being productive and making progress. I like the idea of having some sort of list to help me when I get this way or just anxious in general- a relaxation list! Haha.
Good work on all of your passes this week! I’m glad you made it through your crappy appointment without too much pain. Now, onto good things!
Hey Kayla! Yeah, I find a list helps me build structure into my day. Apparently without a list, I feel chaos is the only other option so I don’t end up trying to do anything.
List = Good
No List = Ruin of society
Thanks for stopping by. 😉
Sounds like a good week! Maybe with the hiking goal it would help if you set it a little lower. Just getting into a successful habit is a big first step, and you can always do more at your own pace.
You hit the nail on the head there Matt. I was a little enthusiastic with my goals – I’m going to go with getting out to the park once a week to get me started. One step at a time.
June has been crazy. We have had no time to sit down and relax. I don’t like being on the go this much, so I am hoping that July will be a little slower, but I am sure it will be go, go, go!
Hey Grayson, Finding balance is always a hard thing to do, I think. Especially if you’re a bit of a go-getter. It’s hard to imagine what the point in scheduling in downtime when there’s so much to do! The secret, I’m learning, is that there will always be stuff to do and we have to choose the pace at which to accomplish these things. That to do list ain’t goin’ nowhere so take some time1
I think the weather really affected my mood. I also went through a lot – a renter ending her lease, allergy testing, flooded basement, and more…But overall there were positive things like my wife’s birthday and having a bonfire for the first time at our house. I’m also ready for July!
I know what you mean, DC. We had solid rain here for most of June and I was nooooot happy. Not even a little bit. It’s amazing how much what the weather is doing can affect our moods. Well, I’m glad that you’ve survived all your June excitement. Cheers to July!
My twins graduated this month (although I’m still young and beautiful), so I also was just trying to survive. Next month is our family vacation, so I’m not thinking I’ll be overly productive for about another four weeks….
Nicely done, Joe. Family vacation sounds like a fantastic way to spend your July! I really need to get on that vacation train! Congrats on your twins graduating – all accomplished while you are young and beautiful. 😉
3 out of 4 is not bad. I think you did a great job. You should get out and hike though. My June flew by so fast I can barely remember what happen. I really started working on getting new client for my off and online biz as well as working on my blog. My brother moved down full time with us so we are still adjusting.
I agree on the hiking goal – something I plan on making the most of this summer. It’s free, it’s fun and relaxing – who can argue with that set up? It sounds like you’re working hard on getting some business stuff happening so good for you!
We’re getting a renter in our basement this August so I imagine we’ll have to do some adjusting to her being in our home as well. Good luck with everything!
June was a lot better than May at least. Allergies gone, beautiful weather, couldn’t ask for more.
Yay for increase in beautiful weather and decrease in allergies!
Keep on it, Lindsey – you’re doing great! Hiking is a huge one for me too – there’s something about the beauty of nature…..