January Wins!

Here's how my New Years resolutions are going, which were outlined here...

1. My debt is down to $2,700. When I last posted, it was $5,100. My credit card is totally paid off. MAJOR WIN.
2. The only new thing I've bought for myself this year is postage stamps. I needed new work gloves, so I put it out on Facebook, and my friends gave me a pair they weren't using. I needed a onesie for this Onesie Pub Crawl I'm doing next weekend in KCMO, and I borrowed one that fits perfectly from my housemate Shannon. I also needed a dress for an event last week, and borrowed a fun sequined one from Shannon. MAJOR WIN.
3. I'm doing okay on the gut healing- it's busy season at work, so I've been ordering Evolve Paleo prepared meals. They're DELICIOUS and have all the right ingredients, but I think I need a higher proportion of vegetables to heal my gut. So much meat.
4. No protests yet... There was a women's march, but I had an all day event. I asked my more political friends to loop me in on any upcoming protests, especially environmental ones.
5. Blocking off 3 nights a week to have time to myself has been amazing. I'd like to tell you that I spend these nights in the bubble bath, but I mostly use them to catch up on work/emails/computer tasks. It gives me huge peace of mind, to feel like I'm caught up. When I run out of work to do, I either watch Steven Universe with my housemates, or I go to bed early and read. I've been fresher for social/date nights, too (Mostly... The other night my partner and I fell asleep on the couch together at 9 o'clock because we were both so exhausted from our respective weeks, but I think this is still a romantic way to spend the evening... Sleep snuggling!). MAJOR WIN.

I've bent the rules of my Spending Freeze a little bit... I was supposed to do penance for any "oops!" money that I spent on Wants-not-Needs... But since I had an excellent month and more than hit my goal for January, I'm letting myself off the hook. So I indulged in my precious leg wax, and a few meals out. The goal for January was to just pay off my credit card, and I not only did that, but I sent an extra $400 toward my car payment. I'm pretty proud of myself.

It has been difficult and a little embarrassing to say no to people who want to get together and spend money (drinks/coffee/meals) so I've been suggesting that we hang and do free shit instead, and everyone has been more than happy to do that. The shame is all in my own head. I've even had a few friends offer to treat me to brunch or drinks, which makes me feel loved all over, and I try to accept graciously, even though it's gratitude mixed with some shame. Nobody wants to feel like a mooch.

So that's how it's going. Thursday can't get here fast enough... I love the first day of the month, because I like to wake up early and set up my budget on mint.com, which I look at every single morning. It brings me joy.