Goals for this week, 3/16 - 3/22

I didn't get as much done as I wanted this past weekend, so I'm going to lay down specific goals for this week and next weekend in order to (hopefully) get everything finished up...

Mon: Study for W&T... get completely caught up on past reading; Exercise for 1 hour Failed! :( Hopefully I can get this finished on Friday/Sat.

Tues: Do assignment for EL

Wed: Do assignment for EL DONE Exercise for 1 hour Failed :(

Thurs: Exercise for 1 hour in the morning Failed :( No exercise so far this week!!

Fri: Go to follow-up eye exam DONE; Call dentist & reschedule filling DONE; Order contacts DONE; Go to drycleaners DONE & get pants & shirt repaired (ready to pick-up next week); Read for class & review notes; Put items up for sale on ebay; Make a Gyno appointment

Sat: Study for MP (9-2)

Sun: Start research for EL memo (9-1:30); Go to yoga (2-4)

Meal Plan

Last week's meal plan went pretty well... up until the end of the week, where it fell apart. (We didn't feel like cooking on Friday, M went to a party on Saturday, and I went to visit my mom yesterday)

I'm going to make a renewed effort this week! :) Kicking things off with stuffed peppers...

Vegetarian

• Asparagus and tofu stir fry
• Stuffed peppers
  

Fish

• Tilapia with bok choy

Chicken

• Stir fried chicken and asparagus

Red Meat

• Take-out

Kindle Review

As of today, I've owned the Kindle for 2 weeks. I've finished reading one book on it. I've downloaded 2 books, and M has downloaded 1.

I think I've spent enough time with it now to give a more accurate review. I'm including the pros and cons I posted in my cursory review, and adding more to it. I bolded the features I thought were really useful.

Pros:

• E-ink - just like reading a real book (you can read it out in broad daylight too)
• Free (and fast) wi-fi lets you download books on the go
• Wide selection of books, newpapers, magazines, and some blogs
• Amazing battery life (I've only charged it once since the initial start-up charge)
  
• Light and thin (about the weight of a small-ish paperback) - it's easier to hold than a real book, because you don't have to turn the pages.
  
• fits in your purse
• basic internet browsing for free
• plays MP3s (I haven't used this function yet -and probably never will, since I have my iphone- so I can't say too much about it...)
  
• No more need for bookshelves; don't need to pack huge boxes of books when you move!
  

Cons:

• You have to pay for (almost) everything. (to make up for the wi-fi being free, I assume) You even have to pay for blogs.
• White is the only color (this is a really minor con... and I assume they made it white so it would stand out? makes it easy to find in my purse, at least) - easily smudged... I somehow already got mine a little dirty!
  
• Restricts your ability to share books with others
• Does this weird "flash" when you turn the page - apparently it's the e-ink loading and it helps prolong battery life? It's a little distracting. - I got used to it.

It seems that Kindle books, on average, are $2 less than whatever the Amazon price is for the normal book. I noticed a few promotions where the e-book was much cheaper than its real counterpart (I saw one book for 50 cents, and another one for free), but I don't know how often that happens.

I'm really happy with it so far. I just wish I didn't have so many real books in the cupboard left to read.

Book Giveaway!

HarperCollins has graciously offered to send out a copy of the book "Captain Freedom" to 5 of my lucky readers.

Please leave a comment by Friday, March 20th at 11 a.m. PST. The first five people to respond will get a book.

What happens when…

Superman hits a flock of geese?

Batman loses the raspiness in his voice?

Spider-man gets caught in his own web?

Chances are you’ll run into them on Skid Row with Captain Freedom, protagonist in G. Xavier Robillard’s new novel, CAPTAIN FREEDOM (Harper; Trade Paperback; On Sale: February 3, 2009; $13.99), a satire about a disgraced superhero’s search for a new career, his true archenemy... and a girlfriend, by the award-winning writer of the hilarious blog, All Day Coffee.

Tzadik Freidman (alias: Captain Freedom) has had it rough: first a fall from grace on the world stage, only to be followed up a disastrous dinner party and a fruitless goose chase for a sidekick to his help boost flagging comic book sales. Things start to hit the proverbial fan after Freedom does a stint in rehab and runs for political office. Robillard’s wild ride of satire riffs on celebrity, politics, Hollywood, the fashion world, upper management, current events and much more, including the beloved world of comic books.

_______________________________________________

Click here if you want to browse inside the book. It sounds like a lot of fun! I'm going to see if I can get it on the Kindle. :) Speaking of the Kindle, I'm going to do a review tomorrow!

Update on Debt Progress

Braces: $2005

• Payment - $439/mo
• Done 7/1/09

Capital One: $849

• Payment - Now $30/mo; Will increase to $200/mo on 8/1
  
• 0% interest ends next month
• Done 10/1/09
  

Visa: $7798

• Payment - Now $300/mo; Will increase to $669/mo on 8/1
• $66/mo interest charges
• Done 8/1/10
  

Car: $8368

• Payment - Now $370/mo; If we move into a cheaper apt, will increase to $570/mo on 7/1
  
• Done ~7/1/10

If the above works out, I'll be consumer debt free by the time I graduate. Then I can focus on (finally) paying M back, and then tackle my depressingly massive student loans (after my six month grace period). I really REALLY hope the economy is doing better by then...
________________________________________________________
Loan from Bf: $10000

• Payment - Now nothing; will increase to $1439/mo starting 8/1/10
• Done 1/1/11

Student Loans: ~$177758

• Payment - Now nothing; will increase to ~$1400/mo starting 11/10
• Done... ???
  

Budget Review

Included in Budget Skeleton
Rent: $1050 / 1050
Cells: $120 / 120
Food: $40 / 200
Drugstore: $0 / 20
Debt: $1139 / 1139
Gas: $22 / 40
Health Insurance: $0 / 99
Total = $2371 / 2668

Not Included in Budget Skeleton
Kindle Books: $25
Dry cleaners: $40
Household: $14
Cook Book: $16
Movie Tickets: $33
Parking: $3
Total = $131

I have $5067 left in my checking, and $344 in my long-term expenses account. I have 2 months and 1 week left before I get another loan payment. If I stick to the above budget skeleton, I'll need $6386 to make it through. Including my paycheck, I'll have about $6200, so I am going to fall a little short... Hopefully I can sell a few things on ebay this month and make up the deficit.
______________________

Calculation as of 3/23/09:
Money on-hand: $5819
Money to be earned from job (now-4/24): $560
Total: $6379
For April/May will need - $5336, plus rent for June 1st = $6386

--> I'm about $20 short, but that should be fine. Might receive 4k last week of May.

Update on March Goals

Since it's already almost mid-March, I thought I would take a look at how I'm progressing on my goals, and make a plan on how to tackle them over the rest of the month. :)

School

1. Devote one full day to studying every week (M, F, or weekend). -- I'll study most of the day tomorrow.
   
2. Devote several hours every Friday to reviewing my notes. -- I'll do this tomorrow. I didn't do this last Friday b/c I was studying for the MPRE.
   
3. Study for and take MPRE.
4. Prepare for and complete interview portion of Ethical Lawyering (50% of grade). -- I can't start this until Mon night (when we get our assignment).
   
5. Feel like I'm on top of the material for all my classes by the end of the month. -- Working on it!
   

Exercise

1. Go to yoga (at least) 1x/week -- I will go this Sunday, and every Sunday after that.
   
2. Go to the gym (at least) 2x/week -- I'll go tomorrow morning and Saturday morning. And then starting next week, I'll try to go MWThF mornings.
   
3. Do some type of exercise for 30 mins daily -- I've been doing a lot of exercise at work (moving boxes, running back and forth), so I guess that counts?
   
4. Start tracking my exercise/eating habits in my fitness blog again. -- I was doing this, but I got bored of it again. Not sure if I'll continue.
   

Finance

1. Call and/or write Macy's and Capital One re: removing negative marks from credit reports. -- I'll do this on Saturday or Sunday.
   
2. Sell a few purses on Ebay. -- I'll do this either tomorrow or over the weekend.
   
3. Only spend $200 on food! -- So far I'm good!
   
4. Check job postings 1x/week. -- I've given up on checking for now because they're so dismal...
   

Health

1. Go to Lenscrafters and get an eye exam (I have a free coupon!). -- Scheduled for Saturday.
   
2. Buy new contacts. -- Will do this after my eye exam.
   
3. Continue following skin and teeth regimen. -- Good so far!
   
4. Go to the gynecologist... once I find one I like. -- I'll pick one this weekend and call them on Monday.