July Goals

1. Save $2,000

Yep, that’s right, 2K. The payment for the work I did on the curriculum and a little bit of my summer school money are going to be coming in at the end of the month, plus I’m going to save some of the money from the AP reading. Of course, I’ll be sweeping at least 1K to my debt when I make my August payments, but I need a safe place to keep this money in the meantime so it doesn’t accidentally get spent!

2. Develop a new budget

I got a raise back in January that was retroactive to July 1, 2009, so I’ve been getting back pay on all my paychecks since February. Well, that ends on my first paycheck in July, so I need to adjust my budget accordingly. Also, since I now have a lower car payment, I’ll need to factor that in, too.

3. Keep NYC spending to $200 or less

I’m going to NYC next weekend to help my sister apartment shop. I’ll only be there Friday – Sunday, but I love, love, LOVE NYC, so I tend to go a little wild with my spending when I’m there. I think $200 is reasonable, though, since our accommodations will be free.

4. Read at least two books

I’m one page into A Short History of Women by Kate Walbert right now, and next up is The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I’ve been seriously slacking on my reading recently, but I think I should be able to finish these two without too much of a problem.

5. Maintain a positive attitude

One really weird thing about me is that I hate summer, and this time of year I really tend to get down in the dumps. I want to make a concerted effort to stay positive and keep myself healthy by drinking lots of water and eating a healthy diet, and getting out of the house – even when it’s 100 degrees out (I’m not exaggerating, it’s actually supposed to be 100 degrees on Monday).

So now I’m off to take a power walk around the neighborhood, and tonight I’ll be enjoying a homemade pizza and some red wine! Have a great Friday night everyone!