Day 211 - A Month into the Burn

Well I have now been in my new VISTA position for about 4 weeks and I feel like a LOT has happened! I am also a month into my official new budget, so I have lots to report back on as well as suggestions for improvement.

VISTA:
It is so awesome meeting small business owners in the city of Chicago. It is especially interesting meeting entrepreneurs in the neighborhoods CCV seeks to serve (low to moderate income). These business owners have a totally different set of challenges on top of running their business. I have primarily been working with clients on the Southside - Bronzeville specifically - assessing how I can help them build a marketing plan. Some of the clients are going through a more formalized process by enrolling in a 4-month marketing class that CCV has created and others I am just working on ad-hoc development. I also get to meet entrepreneurs with high-growth potential through our Challenge Grant application which utilizes a totally different set of skills in assessing. Needless to say I find the work interesting and I have things to keep me busy.

In terms of integrating into the culture of CCV I think I'm doing an alright job. The whole staff is very nice and welcoming. I'm getting over the culture shock of working with 14 people. I am also trying to get used to such a loose structure, like not reporting to anyone specifically and having no direct accountability for anything. I'm just trying to remain open minded and eager to learn as much as possible.

Budget:
Ugh - this budget is not fun. The way I currently have it structured is I am subsidizing a portion of my monthly income with my savings since my volunteer stipend isn't enough to cover my living expenses given my rent (which I knew would be the case). Since I don't want to totally wipe out my savings I'm trying to keep that subsidized amount low and subsequently am on a very tight budget. So...lessons learned good & bad:

Good:

• Using the Dave Ramsey envelope system has proven rather effective. It has primarily kept my frivolous spending to a minimum since I have very little allocated for shopping and entertainment - so once its out, its out!
• I used to think food was something I didn't have to track too closely, but I was wrong! Food adds up quickly. So I've been very conscious of actually creating meal plans so I buy just what I need and less food goes to waste.
  
• I actually feel like I see the city in a different way now. I'm on "the other side" somewhat, constantly thinking about where every dollar goes. I find it sort of humbling and a good life lesson. I'll definitely know the value of a dollar when this is over.
  

Bad:

• So the problem with having savings is just that. I have extra money in my account that I'm constantly aware of. I find myself sometimes thinking "well...I COULD get that...I HAVE the money..." but then I have to remind myself that good budgeting now will have a future Lauren thanking me (come next summer for example).
  
• Ivy. Ugh - I love that cat but she totally messed up my budget this month. Her vet bill was outrageous. And I spent a lot of time trying to figure out "how to make her comfortable" by trying different litters and litter boxes and foods and beds. My guess is she's pretty comfortable now. But I will have to watch spending on my little roommate.
  
• Socializing sort of stinks. I just can't go out to the bar or dinner or wherever as frequently. I mean I guess I COULD go and not buy anything, but that's a little weird.
  

In general the budget is working out. But I don't love it. And I'm not totally sure what I'm going to do come time to do big MBA application stuff. That's not a cheap process. I've started babysitting a little on the side and am trying to use that for "MBA savings" but I'll need A LOT more baby-sitting jobs before I have enough to cover the cost of visiting and applying to schools.
Well - every little bit counts.

Bring it on October!

Day 183 - Moving Right Along That Checklist

I feel that I am doing a pretty good job of sticking to my checklist of goals.   Today I submitted my MLT application which took me MUCH longer than anticipated.  (They need all sorts of crazy information like my ACT scores.  Um.  That was 2001...I have no clue.)  Also, I don't think that applying to MLT was stated as an official goal back in March, but its sort of a sub-goal of getting into B-School.

MLT is essentially a MBA Prep program for underrepresented minorities in business.  If you are accepted into the prep program you have access to personal coaching throughout the entire business school application (which is strenuous in itself).  The idea is to help strengthen applications of minorities to increase their chances to get into top business school programs and subsequently increase their presence in senior management positions.  It's pretty cool.  More info here.

I won't know if I'm accepted until November so for now I will just focus on the upcoming new job!  My VISTA service will begin on Monday and I'm so excited.  I'm excited to meet everyone at CCV, find out more about my position and just excited to be trying something new.  I'm also really scared.  I don't like to be bad at things so I hope I'm not bad at this job.  I also don't really like to be new at things either because it makes me feel so helpless.  But alas, I cannot just walk in knowing everything so I will be patient and try to soak up everything as fast as I can.

With the start of the new job. the reality of my new budget started sinking in as well.  It is going to be TIGHT.  I was at Target for nearly an hour struggling to distinguish between things I NEED and things I just WANTED.  In the end everything I had in my hands was just something I wanted so I tried to par down to just the items that seemed truly practical (air freshener?  I have a cat!  new cardigan?  it's cold in offices!)  There were a few truly good budget deeds I did today that I'm hoping is showing my new frugal mindset:

1. I only ate at home today.  Leslie and I made a delicious dinner of pasta, mozz, red peppers and spinach with a side of acorn squash (see picture).  It was cheap and made lots of leftovers!  
2. Megan and I wanted to meet up for drinks tonight but I knew that going out to a bar would rack up fast.  So I went over to Megan's to see her new place and just drank a couple of beers there.  Economical and more personal!
3. Despite Armageddon rains all day I did not break down and take a cab at all today.  I even normally feel a little iffy taking the bus at night, but I knew a cab from Lincoln Park would be expensive so I sucked it up and waited for the Diversey bus at 10:15pm.  Totally safe!  And only $1.75 :) 

So yes.  I'm getting there in every sense.  I am working along my personal and professional checklist, I am days away from my new VISTA position and I am working hard to stick to my new budget!

Day 161 - Part Two

oh.  and for those who wanted to meet ivy :)

Day 161 - Ah yes - now I'm 24.

Today was one of those days where I felt my age.

I woke up this morning, made coffee and oatmeal, and got ready for work.  I packed my lunch, I fed my cat and I caught the bus to the train.  I read my book while on the train and got my ticket out before the conductor asked.  I went to work and conversed with colleagues and carried out the responsibilities entitled in my job.  I ate lunch with co-workers and laughed at the daily activities of corporate life.  After work I got back on the train and had my ticket ready again.  I walked from the train station making a mental list of errands I needed to complete this weekend.  When I got back to my apartment I grabbed my mail and greeted Ivy.  I called my mother and my brother called me.  I made dinner for myself and read my book.  My friend Lindsey came over and met my cat.  My boyfriend texted to let me know he got to NYC safely.  I cleaned up my dishes, brushed my teeth, took out my contacts, pet my cat and got into bed.  

And it wasn't until I got in bed that it struck me - I have my own life.  I don't know why today this felt particularly pointed.  I think in your early 20s there is this tendency to forget that you aren't just "away" and that you'll be home again soon.  That's the mindset of college.  You are totally on your own...but not REALLY.  During college you are in a temporary place and time and soon you'll be home again.  But now I am home.  This is where I live.  I have lived here for 2 years.  I have my own job and I'm getting a new job.  I have my own apartment.  I pay all my bills.  I have a CAT.  I have friends that I made not just because I go to school with them but because I made friends.  And I keep them.  And I like them and they like me.  

And all of this is silly and rambling but I guess sometimes I just forget that I am my own autonomous self.  I don't even live in the state that I grew up.  I am 24 and I live in Chicago and I am living the life that I have created for myself.  

And frankly, it's nice.  

Day 155 - Goal 2 Complete!

I was waiting until I had given my official notice at my current employer before blogging, but now I can share that I accomplished my second professional goal: I have been offered a position as an AmeriCorps VISTA!  My year of service will begin in September.

I am absolutely pumped.  I have been thinking about this for a long time (nearly a year) and I'm so happy I was able to find an organization that aligns with values I'm committed to.  My Pre-Service Orientation is not until August 18th so I will not know more specific details until then probably.  But it is all very exciting nonetheless.

However, this means I cannot be willy nilly with my budget practices anymore.  I have to hunker down and actually stick to a budget since I am taking a SIGNIFICANT pay cut.  And I'm obviously not becoming a VISTA because I care about how much I get paid (I'm actually rather excited that I will be compensated at the level of poverty since this will help me truly immerse in the experience) but I'm afraid I have just gotten used to a certain level of spending.  

It will be challenging but I look forward to being thrifty.  It will help me grow as an individual and consider a whole new way of living.

More to come soon... :)

Day 145 - It's Not a Kitten, but Not a Bad Start

Today I became a plant person!  I am so excited about my two new additions in my apartment. I actually have other living THINGS in this space with me (hopefully the only other living things...).

I also just got back some artwork I had framed a few weeks ago.  I hung them all by myself which for me is quite a task.  I normally leave such an important responsibility to my boyfriend but I figured since I accomplished buying two plants I could accomplish hanging two pictures.  I even took pictures of the plants and framed art to share:

This plant is supposedly "eco-friendly."  I have no idea what that means.  Aren't 

all plants eco-friendly?  Either way I like it.  Apparently I can't post the picture of the other plant so I give up (I've tried like 6 times...must have an error in the file).  It is spiky and cute and lives in my kitchen.

And here is the artwork I framed and hung.  One is a portrait of my mom when she was in London in 1977 (coincidentally she was 24 then...the age I will be in a mere couple of hours) and the other is a print my friend Megan made a few years back.  

I am almost to the level of apartment completeness that I desire.  Just need a table and chairs. Which I THINK I will be getting tomorrow.  I found a great little round table with three chairs (one is maroon!) that would fit perfectly in my kitchen.  Justin was sweet enough to offer to drive to work tomorrow so we can pick it up on the way back.  I'm so excited - I hope it is still available tomorrow!

Now if I can just work on getting that kitten I want... 

Day 133 - Living Alone = Fantastic

People told me I'd feel lonely or scared or bored living by myself.  Absolutely not the case.  I think I like living alone almost TOO much.  Perhaps this will fade, but a month and half in and I am still doing splendid.  This is probably stemming from the fact that I have lived with roommates for the past 6 years and I was about done.

Oddly, since I started living alone I have had a heightened interest in cooking, cleaning and decorating.  Something about it feels more gratifying than when I used to do these things in a shared space.  Perhaps it always felt like I didn't get to fully enjoy the benefits of those things.  But now anything I do here directly impacts me and only me.  Excellent!

Cooking:

Today I made cranberry, walnut & raisin scones.  Delicious.  And tonight I am going to make a marinated vegetable salad that I can bring to work for a couple of days.  I am so over buying lunch at work.  It has gotten ridiculously expensive for mediocre food.  I'd much rather spread my dollar a little further on something tasty.  I am trying to plan out my meals ahead of time but it's still kind of hard.  I re-read Leo's 50 tips for grocery shopping and I'm still not there yet.

Cleaning:

I have always been a fan of a tidy and clean space (I frequently use that compressed air stuff to clean out crumbs and debris from my keyboard at work) but it is especially magnified here in my mini-kingdom.  I dust, vacuum and clean my bathroom once a week.  And I make my bed every day.  I still suck at laundry - but I'll get there.

Decorating:

Ugh.  This is going to be the downfall of me.  I am constantly thinking "hmm, I should go pick up a plant"  or "I should get a few more frames" or "I should swing by the custom frame shop to put that artwork in."  Decorating could be a dangerously expensive habit if I don't watch out.  Spending a lot of money is NOT the direction I'm trying to head.  I just got some art custom framed that cost me far more than I had planned.  I think I'll be going back to matting my own stuff.  I'm totally capable of doing it.  

All in all I think that I have really stepped it up on my domesticity simply due to the fact that I don't have cable.  I'm sure if I had cable I would waste an enormous amount of time.  You can only spend so much time online and reading so I have subsequently upped my domestic game.

We'll see how long this all keeps up...only takes 30 days to make something a habit!