Down to the wire

Just two more work days for tax season, and then we finally get a break! Starting in May, we go back to normal working hours (we have extended hours for tax season). I am quite excited to leave work 'early' again. For the first week or so I never know what to do with myself, because I always feel like I have so much free time. It's amazing how just one extra hour can make such a big difference in your perception of time. Mind you, it's actually more than one hour difference when you count in the fact that I usually stay late during tax season. Not as much this year as in past years, there simply wasn't reason to. I'm not sure how it's going to go in the next few weeks, whether we'll have enough to keep us busy or not. A lot of people go on vacation, myself included, so that always helps.

I worked it out the other day, and not only am I going to hit the bonus, but I'm going to get the second level! Unless by some chance I do not do any work all day today or tomorrow. That doesn't seem likely though. Not sure how I would get away with that, even if I tried.

That's all for now. Not much has been happening outside of work. I did some knitting, but that's about it. There is one piece that I still have to block and sew together, that I am resisting doing. In all my years knitting, I never really learned how to block. When I eventually get up the courage/drive to do it, it'll be an adventure. And probably not a big deal at all.

Almost done!

Well, things are slowly and surely making their way to the end of April, and the end of busy season. Also known as the not-so-busy season this year. There are only 9 more regular working days left. Depending on how work goes this week and next, I think I am in good shape to hit the first level bonus. I may even have a chance at the second level, which would be fantastic. I worked on a non-chargeable project that might turn chargeable, I just hope that if it does, it changes in time for it to count.

I am going to try to make it in early, but it's hard to motivate myself to do it. Since I'm not really busy, there's not much reason for me to go in early at all. I'm considering modifying that goal to include going in on weekends to do work. It's a two-part goal - get me to work on time, and increase my chargeable hours. Going in on the weekend accomplishes one of those.

The hardest part about the goals right now is making plans and following through on them. Work isn't all that busy, but there are occasional days where I do end up staying late. Those days also seem to always fall on the day that I want to go to the gym after work, and then it's too late by the time I finally leave. That was today and last Thursday. I went to a pilates class (using my yoga card) at lunch today, and wanted to follow it with some quality gym time tonight. But then I ended up getting a couple of clients responding to the questions that we sent them, and had to deal with all of that. And since it's been so hard to get chargeable hours, right now my priority is hours. Gym loses. Gym can win in May instead, when chargeable hours stop counting towards anything. Going to pilates at lunch was wicked though, because there was hardly anyone there. I never went to the after work ones, because they were always so packed. I went to yoga instead. But I think I might try to keep it up, because it's so convenient.

Spend-less

The buy nothing month is going well so far. Work has picked up a bit so that has helped keep me busy. The only challenge has been making sure that I always have a lunch prepared so that I can follow my 'no buying lunch' rule. It really is ridiculous how much more expensive it is to buy lunch vs. make lunch. I never, ever used to buy my lunch, and then I started being lazy and not making them. I'm hoping that after this month is over that I am back in the habit of making lunches and keep it up, except for days when I plan ahead to go out. Sometimes we go out as a group at lunch. But laziness should not be an excuse anymore. But so far my allowance idea is working out well. I haven't spent over, but I also don't feel overly restricted. I don't want to feel like binge spending after the month is over, and the allowance is helping me feel like I still have a bit of freedom. I think I will continue with it afterwards, but slightly higher and less restrictive on what I can spend it on. Really I just need to start budgeting again, and actually following the budget. Making the budget is easy, but I tend to have poor follow-through on sticking to it.

I've also inspired another friend of mine to do her own buy-nothing month. She hasn't started yet, but she's interested and kept asking questions about how to do it, so I think she might actually commit. I hope she does! My roommate that is doing it with me isn't taking to it very well (in my opinion). I think she's trying to completely spend her allowance, rather than using it as a max. We'll see how she does for the rest of the month. I don't think she's as committed to it as I am.

My timing is perfect for restricting my spending. I'm getting my tax refund next week, and this will stop me from going and wasting it on something frivolous. Instead it's going straight into savings. And hopefully I will keep it there. I am still undecided, but I am considering buying stock. I'm very hesitant though, because I am afraid of the stock market. Kind of silly since I have a finance background in university and with work, but I still am. Which is why I made it a goal to invest in a stock. Time to conquer my fears. We'll see how it goes. Since I'm on a payment plan for my school debt and there's no benefit to me to repay it early, I can pretty much do whatever I want with any extra money that I come into. Deciding what to do with it is the hardest part. I am a big ninny and am afraid of making a decision and taking a risk.