Another Credit Score Increase!

I know I just checked Credit Karma a few days ago, but I got the urge to check it again. I'm glad I did, because my score increased another 20 points! I'm now at 686! I'm really thrilled!!! (hence all the exclamation points ;)) I think I can make it to 700 this year!

I should be thanking M, because this is really because of him. (Good thing I picked up lots of Jelly Babies and Easter candy today! It can be a little present ;))

This may also be partially because Macy's or Capital One decided to play nice? (I sent them letters requesting they remove the negative marks they left on my reports)

Well, whatever the reason, it's great news. :)

Apartment Update

Well, we saw the apartment this morning. I was initially a little... repulsed... by how small it was. I'm pretty sure it's the size of our living room. It would mean getting rid of a lot of furniture. I'm also not sure if our bed would fit in the bedroom (we have a california king). It comes with a parking space, but that (unsecured) space is in an alley behind another building. There's one closet. My clothes wouldn't fit (nevermind M's); I would have to either buy one of those standing closets, or put clothes away in plastic containers. We would no longer have a washer/dryer, we'd have to use the communal ones (not terrible, but a pain). The building is not secured, so strange people could walk right up to our front door (though that's the same as with a house).

So, there are all the cons. Pros are that it would mean a decrease of $800/mo in rent. We can do a 9 month lease, so we can buy and move into something of our own early next year. It's not available until June, so we have time to sell our excess furniture. It's right down the street so the move will be easy.

When I first moved up to LA, I was living with M in his parents' house. So we've shared one room before. There was a lot of tension... but it meant I went to the gym a lot more. ;) At least here we would have a living room and a bedroom to which someone could escape.

I'm really not sure what to do. What do you think? Do the pros outweigh the cons? Or should we keep looking? I took another look on Craig's List and there were some 1 bedrooms (in the area we want) for closer to $1100 (a savings of $950/mo!). Unfortunately, they were all available now. But that gives me hope for finding something like them come May.

Possible Apartment?

I wasn't planning to seriously look for apartments until next month (since we're not moving til June), but I have been looking on and off on Craig's List (since I was doing job searches anyway). And lo and behold... I think I found something! We're going to see it tomorrow. I'm excited because it opens up exactly when we want to move, it would mean a $400 decrease in rent for each of us, and it's close by, so the move would be easy. And they have a flexible lease!

I'd love to have a place secured this early! That would definitely take the stress off. :) But we'll see - for that cheap, it could be the size of a closet. :(

Fitness Splurges

When I was in high school, my parents paid for the occasional tennis lesson. I would really love to get back into the sport, and paying for private lessons would definitely be one way to do it. But... I have to face it that I really don't have the money right now. Maybe one day. :)

When that day comes, here's what I'd do:

• have an hr private lesson 2x/mo ($80/session)
  
• take classes 2x/wk ($120/mo)
• play doubles with friends on the weekend
  

As for right now, I'm thinking of taking a class at the local community college (in addition to doing the free option above - playing with friends :)). It would mean getting up at 7:30am, but it would only cost $20 (for the entire summer) and I think it would help me get my butt into gear. I'm also looking into getting a swim pass for a local swim complex... haven't been in the water in ages.

One of my problems is finding the motivation to get out and exercise by myself (because M never gains a pound and thus is never interested in exercising)... it's tough! I was going to the gym for awhile, but I suddenly stopped (I had a project due and convinced myself I had to stay in the house and focus). I know when I start up again it'll be much easier to do it the second, third, (etc) times. But it's doing it that first time that's so difficult.

How do you all get yourself motivated to go out and exercise? Does paying for classes, lessons, gym memberships help? And what works better for you - a morning routine or an evening one?

Lethargy

Spring Break started on Thursday night, and other than engaging in a few social activities (maybe too many?) I've been incredibly lethargic and unproductive. I somehow pushed myself to do the laundry, but when it was dry I just threw it haphazardly on the bed. (I hate folding and hanging! argh)

I was planning on having today be the first day of my no-spend week. (since I'm on break, I can eat all my meals at home and don't need to go anywhere, so don't need to use any gas) But M and I had a tiff this morning, and I felt like I had to settle it with the best way I know how... Cupcakes.

So 9 bucks went to three lovely, delicious, heart-mending cupcakes. I feel like it was money well spent. ;)

(Side note: the $31 I spent on books in the middle of the night, however, was not money well spent. I have to stay away from Amazon past 2 am. It's too easy to push "place my order" even when my eyes are half-closed)

Another Wedding

I think I've said before that M's mom is getting re-married in September, and that we'll be flying over to Europe to participate.

I learned today that one of my family members is also getting married soon, and M and I have been asked to attend. It's supposed to be a family reunion, because my great-grandma and grandpa are also flying down. (Although, there are so many family members already in that state (in the same city!), that they basically can have a family reunion every day of the week)

It's only one state over from mine, so it's not as much of a journey, and expenses will be kept low because we can stay with my grandmother. But... I'm already dreading it. I try to avoid going there (there being Arizona) as much as humanly possible (which means I haven't been there since I was a minor and dragged by my father).

I would like to apologize in advance to people from Arizona, because I'm sure there are plenty of nice, educated, non-racist, non-bible-thumper Arizonans, and positive aspects of living there (which I would be interested in hearing). But I haven't really come into contact with those fine people. I have come into contact with a lot of hicks (including some of my relatives); almost roasted under the sun; and found myself bored to tears staring out at the flat, dull landscape. I would pay $1000 not to go there.

So why, despite all that, have I decided to go?

1. I haven't been there in over 5 years. (maybe people have changed? maybe the city has changed?)
2. M hasn't met anyone on that side of the family other than my grandma.
3. I feel it necessary to keep up some ties with family.
4. Motivation to lose weight? If I don't, I know I'll get some wonderfully judgmental comments!
   

Anyway, that said... I have no idea how I'm going to get together money to pay for either of the trips. Arizona will just require gas and food (oh, and present); but Europe will on top of that require plane tickets, hotel, and transportation...

I just need to remain focused on getting the full-time (or well-paying part-time) job before the end of May. Even if that means going back to being a legal assistant or paralegal. That's an avenue I haven't really been pursuing... at this point, it won't enhance my resume at all (it may even hinder my prospects?). But money is money... I'll do what I have to do. (Which maybe means working over the summer full-time then quitting and leaving the job off my resume)

Credit Score Increase!

I am now at... uh... 666!? That's a little creepy. Not that I'm superstitious or anything. ;)

This is from Credit Karma, so I'm hoping my real score is a bit higher? Also, I'm not exactly sure why the score increased... I only just paid off my credit cards/car loan last week. Don't the credit reporting agencies take 30 days to take into account the changes?

I suppose I'll pay for my real credit score in May. That's when we'll be apartment hunting, so I can hand a copy to the landlords.

Anyway, I'm pleased. :)