awol and a lesson February 24, 2009
Posted by deepali in personal growth.add a comment
I’m gearing up for my imminent departure, which requires completion of some major tasks at work, and of course, the packing/cleaning/meaning. So things are pretty quiet around here.
I did, however, spend a few days in sunny Southern California (for work, but it was still nice!). The weather was fantastic, and I did get to recharge a bit, even if I was working almost the whole time. It really makes me think about how much I need sun and warmth.
I also learned a few things about myself. I used to think that I was not a people person, but such is not the case. I am just easily frustrated, which has nothing to do with anyone else, and everything to do with me. And is, I think, something more readily addressed.
But I do have a few impressive people skills – most importantly, my ability to create an environment for open communication. In some ways, I make an excellent mediator. It has me thinking a bit about conflict resolution, and whether I might have the appropriate skill set for that.
I also seem to have the ability to be a horrible nag, and yet also get people to delivery anyway. 
february goals week 3 check-in February 21, 2009
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1. Get rid of unnecessary items. Not much done this week as I’ve been out of town. Did leave some things on the sidewalk.
2. Finish report. Got a lot of work done at the meeting and am confident I have something fit for internal review.
3. Pack up everything for storage. Was out of town….
4. Sell furniture. Hoping to clear this out the last weekend in February.
5. Find time for yoga, dance, and maybe even running. Not much this week, though I am going to try to make yoga today.
6. Finalize plans for Mongolia. Need to pick up my visa, and I think I have an apartment.
7. Get remaining medical issues cleared out. Still need to address billing issue!
8. Submit thesis for publication! I think I will have a chance to address this later this week.
9. Restrict spending. This was so-so. I am out of town right now so at least I am on per diem.
Week 3 will be focused on everything that didn’t get done.
february goals week 2 check-in February 14, 2009
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1. Get rid of unnecessary items. More things taken to donation. Hooray!
2. Finish report. Full drafts sent to my committee, and this weekend I’ll do some editing.
3. Pack up everything for storage. See #1. Also packed a few boxes.
4. Sell furniture. Hoping to clear this out the last weekend in February.
5. Find time for yoga, dance, and maybe even running. Pilates once, and yoga once this week, and that was it. 
This weekend though, I am going xc skiiing (or hiking if there is no snow).
6. Finalize plans for Mongolia. Still waiting on apartment news. Got my visa stuff submitted.
7. Get remaining medical issues cleared out. Typhoid shot done, contacts picked up, billing issue being addressed.
8. Submit thesis for publication! Ha.
9. Restrict spending. I was mediocre this week. Had to get groceries for camping trip, and a few other frivolous expenditures.
Week 3 will be focused on fixing billing issue with oral surgeon, accomplishing goals at work meeting, cleaning up chapters, figuring out my rental car for Honolulu, making 2 dance classes and a few yoga class, and taking remaining items to work for sale.
how to lose money February 11, 2009
Posted by deepali in budget, personal growth.add a comment
Sometimes I think I’m a little too compulsive about budgeting and saving. What’s $2 here and there, right? I think we get a little overly fixated on finding ways to tighten up in these little ways, and we miss out on the other ways we bleed money.
Take for example, my inability to make a flight. This is not a financial issue. It’s not a spending issue. It’s a weird habit I have of just not getting to the airport on time. I don’t know what the problem really is, but it’s amazing how much the airlines will get you. Only once have I had an airline bump me onto another flight – the rest of the time, I have to go with the “flight change” option. First, they make you pay the difference in fare (which is a LOT if you are booking a flight for the same day). Then they charge some administrative fee which I hear is somewhere around $100 now. For any given single event, I’ve paid $300-$500 for my mistake.
Then there’s the long history of not bothering to get my license plates updated. Warning – do not attempt to drive around in expired plates. In some places, it’s a jailable offense. In others, you get slapped with a large fine. I know I’ve shelled out hundreds of dollars for a simple failure to get updated tags. Again, not a spending issue.
I’m also easily distracted. I love shiny new things. I get fixated on some new hobby and end up outfitting myself for it, just in time to move on to the next new hobby.
So then it occurs to me that, like much else in life, financial problems are the symptoms of other underlying problems. For me, I suspect laziness and a distate of bureaucracy, polished with a touch of arrogance. I hate waiting when I could be doing something else. I also hate planning (although I also love planning). If there’s one thing the next year will teach me, it’ll be a little patience!
a little bit more reflection February 9, 2009
Posted by deepali in declutter, happiness, misc, personal growth.1 comment so far
I’m decluttering and getting rid of a lot of stuff in preparation for my departure. 14 years is a long time to accumulate a bunch of crap! It got me thinking about how I’ve thought about clutter and simplicity and downshifting in the past, so I thought I’d browse the archives and produce these gems:
out of clutter find simplicity
february goals week 1 check-in February 7, 2009
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1. Get rid of unnecessary items. I got rid of a bunch of clothes, and am boxing up some other things. Lots of sorting today as well.
2. Finish report. Reviewing all but one chapter this weekend.
3. Pack up everything for storage. See #1. Called family friends to see about storing some stuff.
4. Sell furniture. Not yet, but measured and took pictures for facebook and then craigslist.
5. Find time for yoga, dance, and maybe even running. I made it to pilates once, dance twice, and yoga once. Will go to dance (2 classes) and yoga today.
6. Finalize plans for Mongolia. I have to pick up my visa, and I finally booked a flight. Still waiting on apartment news.
7. Get remaining medical issues cleared out. My oral surgeon is being a pain about billing, so I have to get that sorted. I’m waiting to hear about my contacts order. Made an appointment to get a typhoid shot. Emailed around to ask about rabies. Also made an appointment for the rest of my teeth.
8. Submit thesis for publication! La la la….
9. Restrict spending. I was ok this week, about 25% under budget. Nice!
Week 1 will be focused on fixing billing issue with oral surgeon, getting chapters cleaned up, working on little additions for chapter, figuring out my rental car for Honolulu, making 3 yoga classes and 2 dance classes, taking all donation items for used sale at work to drop-off, and getting all my clothes not going to Mongolia boxed up.
how to get rid of debt February 4, 2009
Posted by deepali in budget.5 comments
Everyone has the secret to getting out of debt. Some even make you pay for it, ironically. It’s nice to think that some of these tricks and tips will get us there faster, but the truth of the matter is there is only way to get rid of debt:
Pay it off.
It is my firm belief that you should not have to pay anyone to help you get out of debt, unless you cannot count. Other than that, there is no reason why a person can’t manage a reasonable cash flow. We have a lot of reasons for why we think we can’t, but at the end of the day, money in/money out is not a concept too difficult for any of us to grasp.
So, we know cash flow management isn’t the problem. What is?
This is of course the key. Anyone who is reasonably trying to pay off debt knows that they need to spend less than they earn (or earn more than they spend), and use some of that excess towards debt payment. The hard part is getting yourself to the point of making money in > money out.
How do you get there? I think this is where we put the “personal” in personal finance. Because, I promise, the “problem” is not money or finances or budgeting. An inability to maintain a steady flow of debt repayment is similar to an inability to stick to a daily calorie limit. It is, in a word, emotional.
And this is why you shouldn’t have to pay for help to get out of debt. Because there is nothing wrong with getting emotional about money. There is, however, a danger in allowing that emotion guide your financial decisions. The sooner you can truly see the thread that ties your emotions and your money together (often, in a big jumbled knot), the sooner you can unravel it. And the sooner you will be out of debt.
No secret. No fees. Just a little self-awareness.
february goals February 1, 2009
Posted by deepali in goals.3 comments
So my last full month Stateside for a while. These goals should be obvious. 
1. Get rid of unnecessary items. Everything I do not want in storage or in Mongolia needs to be gone.
2. Finish report. My main project for work should be in its final stages before I leave.
3. Pack up everything for storage. My goal is to have everything packed, so the only “loose” things are those I’d be taking to Mongolia.
4. Sell furniture. I need to get rid of everything.
5. Find time for yoga, dance, and maybe even running. I want to aim for 6 days of activity.
6. Finalize plans for Mongolia. I’m in the final stretch!
7. Get remaining medical issues cleared out. I have to get my contacts, maybe glasses, and one more dental appointment, and I’m set.
8. Submit thesis for publication! I have to do this this month.
9. Restrict spending. I really need to cut back on the craziness and save as much as I can in this next month. So I am hoping to come in at least 25% underbudget.
Week 1 will be focused on 4 yoga classes, 4 dance classes, getting shots, getting an update on my visa and housing situation, getting rid of things I know I’m giving away to friends, getting full drafts of chapters ready, entering edits on thesis, calling family friends to find out what they can store for me, finding out what is in my pantry so my grocery shops are cheaper, getting my flight, and making the last dental appointment.
