Brandy's Success Diary

Korrie said:
yea, i've been there...paying bills is a blessing and a curse at the same time! lol I just got my student loan...4 grand, and after I paid all my bills, 2 mths of rent..ok and a little shopping (sarah palin anyone?) lol I have $100 left..it lasted 3 wks! sucks.

hows school going??? are you excited about the upcomming semester??? i know i am! i'm finally in clinicals!!! yay!
Click to expand...

I'm excited for my last semester. I am finally able to take the most complex culinary classes, and of course I am excited that it is my last semester!
 
I have made myself an exercise regime. I wonder if I will be able to stick to it. I really hope I do. I ate SOOOO much today that it disgusts me. I am too tired to post much more.
 
Hi Brandy. Sorry you had a bad eating day. Monday is a nice, fresh new day and new week for you to get back on track. You can stick to it!! just go for it. I am assuming no yoga in the am;) lol See you tomorrow!!! :D
 
Hey Michelle! Bad days happen... but youre right. Monday is a great new day to start. Its like I'm seeing things from a different perspective now.
 
Monday. A new start. This week I am keeping track of every aspect of nutrition from the food I eat, because I have to for a project in my nutrition class. I'm keeping track of Dan's too. I have a lot planned for today. I have no idea what I am going to eat, but its going to be really healthy because it has to be recorded on a project! Exercise today: 45 minute walk; 15 minutes step aerobics before bed, and 15 minutes of lifting free weights.
 
Awesome that your class is making you do this!! Nothing like a little grade motivation!! :D lol Here's to an awesome week!!
 
:iagree: Yup, a little grade motivation is a good thing. I'll be doing the same thing soon for my class also. Maybe some solid tracking for a week will pull out a new set of habits? Good luck to you!
 
reluctantcabbie said:
:iagree: Yup, a little grade motivation is a good thing. I'll be doing the same thing soon for my class also. Maybe some solid tracking for a week will pull out a new set of habits? Good luck to you!
Click to expand...

I agree. Good luck with that assignment this week. I also like your plan to move into your own place next year. :)
 
I will reply to everyone a bit later. I just need to vent before I start crying. I feel like my family's goal is to make me feel belittled, and stupid. My mom calls me for the first time in 2 weeks... not to say hello; but to tell me that I owe her for the past 3 months- and she is going to take away my car if I don't pay her. I pay her $50 a month because she helped me buy the car I own now. But she knows I am desperately trying to get more hours at work, and she knows my car insurance is going to be canceled at the end of this month if I don't pay them $750. And she doesn't even say "love you" or anything like that. She just says "hi. Just giving you a friendly (says that word VERY sarcastically) reminder that you owe me for 3 months, and if you don't pay me by tomorrow I am taking your car away".... WTH? I just said.. "yup. Thanks. Talk to you tomorrow. Bye" She knows that I'm struggling. Even her husband says "its better to owe you then to cheat you out of it". Its her. She knows I will pay her as soon as I can. Its not like i spend ANY money on myself. It only goes to bills. PART of my bills. Dan pays my cell phone bill, puts all the gas into my car, and then helps me pay whatever I cannot afford at the end of the month. But she has to get on my case?? I understand whats going on.... and I'm doing my best. Things are hard. Life is hard... I know that. And never again will I be doing business with family... because I know that my mom will not shut up about the fact that I owe her money. She will just BITCH at me for years unending. I am going to have dinner, and then throw on my jacket and go on a nice long walk by myself to think about how to calm down and handle my life.
 
aww, I'm sorry brandy that your mom is treating you that way :( I've got one of those moms too...so I can sympathise. I don't know what to tell you.I could say "don't let it get to you" but I know how it feels. Do you think she'll actually take your car???

I hope the walk does you some good ((hugs))
 
Hey Brandy sweetpea! Sorry your mom called without starting the conversation on the right foot. I as a mom and also one who helped my son get his loan, knows the deal. But, I would never just call up my son and make him feel bad for being short a few months, if I know he's trying his best to pay things. It's hard out there, and it's even harder when your a young person and trying to make it by. I think she should have opened up the conversation on a positive note, that way when she finally gets down to the point of the payment, it wouldn't sound so harsh. Do you think she's having some financial set backs herself?? Do you think she thinks your spending your money on other stuff first?? Maybe she just doesn't understand the picture, and she's just reacting out of stress or something. I would just call her and tell her your trying your best and you don't want her being angry at you, and you would rather be on the same page with each other. I know it's hard, but maybe..... it will help. Good luck sweet cheeks I'll be rooting for you. And your right, we all have bad days, but luckily we can pick right back up on a positive note the next day. AHHHHH Those fresh start days are lovely. Go for it and keep plugging along, it will get better, it will!!!! Hugs and Love to you!
Kim
 
Hi Brandy,
I agree with Miss Ladybug. I am sorry you are having issues. For the future you know family is generally bad to do business with. I am stuck in a thing with my mom that was meant to help both her and I but now we are stuck and can't get out of the situation mainly because she won't so I am saddled with a house I don't want. It stinks. I know I have mentioned this before but maybe you could check out and . He is someone who is helping my family work out it's issues with debt. I know you are still young and don't have ducks in a row yet but his teachings can give you a great start! He has a book out: Total Money Makeover I think is the title where he lays down the steps and he even offers classes around the country. If you are interested he is highly recommended by me.
I know you are feeling swamped right now. Things will get better. Is there a paper route or something you can pick up to help pay your mom off? I know you are busy and crazy but maybe there is something you can fit into your schedule to help make some extra money?
 
Korrie: I just don't know if she'd actually take away my car. It wouldn't surprise me. I honestly believe my mom might be bipolar or something like that. She can be nice and sweet one minute, and then the next her only goal would be to make me cry. Its very stressful.

Kim: She understands. I know she knows what my financial difficulties are. I think she is assuming that I buy stuff for myself...but the honest truth is I don't spend a damn penny on myself. I can't afford to!

Michelle: I need to check out that website/book. I will as soon as I get a spare few minutes. As for needing extra money, I should really go get a second job. I've been weary of it, but I really need to. I keep going back and forth... back and forth in my mind on whether or not to do it. It is possible for me to get an extra job for the weekend time. I have "off" time Friday night, Saturday night, All sundays, and all mondays. The rest of my week is taken up... but I bet the (dun dun dun) MALL would have some openings for seasonal help. I hate the mall around christmas time because being around that many people in such a crowded place can give me panic attacks. But if I just work hard on keeping myself calm I will be find. Fine enough to pay my bills, and thats really all I'm looking for. I could also apply at Panera Bread, which is right next to the mall near me... and I'm already a baker so I bet they would hire me. :D
 
So yesterday was going well until I went to the grocery store, and found fat free pringles that only had half the calories. 14 chips was 70 calories, and 0 fat. Good deal? Yes.But I hate the whole package throughout the night! So no more of that for me! Its hard to choose healthy foods when Dan's parents do most of the grocery shopping. Don't get me wrong, I am very thankful that they let me live with Dan, rent free, and they feed me. But its just difficult to choose wisely because his family doesn't eat very healthy ANY of the time. But this morning I woke up before his mom headed off shopping for the day (she goes every Tuesday), and she asked for some suggestions. So I said nonfat yogurt, apples and other fruits that are cheap, fresh veggies like celery and carrots, raisins, and sliced turkey. I don't know if she heard me say turkey... but she said yes to all the other things. Now I might actually have some healthy snacks and such. Lets hope this week is a good week because I have gained back a lot of the weight that I originally lost. It sucks, and I need to work on it. Its called "will power" and I lack it. lol. But I'm doing my best to get it back. To motivate me even more I am going to apply for a second job for the christmas season. And even though I cannot afford to buy a lot of gifts this year, I need the money for bills. Mishi actually made my final decision for me. I was originally going back and forth with the decision...but I made it up when I realized that I CAN do it. I CAN handle all the extra work, and still have an organized life. My life will be even busier now; but its better than being broke. And last night I cried for about an hour after the mom call thing happened. So dan and I went on a drive and talked about finances, and that everything would be ok. Before we can plan on saving up more money, Dan needs to pay off about $1000 to $1700 in debt (so he will still have a hefty sum he owes...but it will be more manageable), he needs to get his own car... and I need to have enough money to keep up with my bills. Once school bills are out of the way it will be a lot easier. I only have $500-$600 to pay for next semester and then I won't have to worry about it ever again. :D And a second job will give me less time to sit at home on my butt, and more time to earn money! Dan is getting more hours, I should be too.

This morning I had an apple for breakfast, so I started off on the right foot. Tonight I am going to my mom's house (I hope it goes ok), but thats not until 6:00pm. For now I am going to sit for the next hour and plan for my day, go out on a walk, then come back and get ready to go out and apply for jobs while Dan goes to pick up his video game that came out today.

I can handle a stressful life, with a lot of work hours...because it makes it easy to make my "plans". Easier for me to have time management while busy than it is when I'm bored. Because once I am up and working, its easy to go on that walk afterwards, rather than finding the motivation to get up and do it when I am just lazing around. Does that even make sense???? I don't know. I'm going to go start my day off right, and keep it going in the right direction.
 
Good Morning my friend!

I to wishy washed around about a second job, not that my current job doesn't pay the bills, I just want to stash away for the winter so I can easily take a nice vacation or something this summer. It just seems lately every time I have money in the bank something seems to take it faster than it can accumulate, like my car is a prime example. It's practically new, yet I'm spending 700.00 today to get it back from the garage, who would have thought an air compressor would cause major issues with other parts in the engine. But, it's things that come that are totally unexpected that has drawn me into thinking about taking up a second job for the holidays. I "DON'T" want to put anything on credit this holiday I want to be able to throw down cash only, so I think the part time night job might just help me do that. But then I start thinking about "TIME" management and if I'll lack off big time in my exercises if I do the part time job, I mean I really need to stay with the workouts or I have a a feeling I'll really fall off the wagon and it will be really hard to get going again.

I can tell you what, I can place money on it right now that we are not the only ones out there right now thinking about taking up a second job, in our economy right now, it's like everyone can use that extra dollar. I say good for you on doing it, if it feels like the right time and you feel good about doing it, then it shouldn't cause any extra stress in your life to do so. I'm still debating myself, but honestly a little extra cash never hurt anyone that I know of. HAHAHAHAHA

Good luck to you sweetness, whatever decision you make I'm sure will be the right one. Take Care
Kim
 
Makes sense to me!! I am glad that I helped in even a little way. Honestly Dave Ramsey is so ingrained in my head that "getting a 2nd job" is what he would say lol. Especially now while you can because working more jobs when you have kids is hard! Time you need to work is time taken away from them and you just want to be in a better position and now, while your kid free, you can afford the time for those second jobs and pay off debt and even save up money. Holiday work sounds perfect because there is only a few months of commitment. I can't believe it's your last semester of school! I know you said it but it just sank in lol. That will be awesome. What are your plans after?
 
Hey dropping in to say HI and love the silly face pic lol me and my son love taking silly face pictures lol! I saw those pringles to and they have the flavored ones now instead of just the plain blah lol.I have been trying to add healthier snacks like my apples and peanutbutter those are yummy lol.
Well try to stay away from STRESS I know its hard lol.Tammy
 
Hello everyone!! I don't think any of you know how happy it makes me to come online and see that people have commented. I feel like I have support, love, and care from people who have only read my thoughts. Its a good feeling. I am still waiting for Dan to get home from work, he should be calling any moment. I spent time and plucked my eyebrows and did my makeup really nice, and it makes me feel good about myself. And even after my last post, I'm still "wishy washy" about doing it, because being "new" is such a nervous moment. But, you are ALL right. It'll be good. I have some extra time, and when I'm young, I might as well start saving and getting myself in a comfortable place for when I decide to have children.

Kim: extra money hasn't ever hurt anyone! Unless they get robbed of it. lol. I think I could push myself to get that extra money.

Mishi: I don't have children, and I should be saving up for them N.O.W! I want to start "trying" to have children within the next 3 years, and I should have extra money for that.

Tammy: Stress is inevitable, at least for me. I get stressed about even the littlest thing sometimes. Its good to have Dan here to tell me that everything is ok, and I'm doing great. Its really nice to have ALL OF YOU here to tell me everything is ok and that I'm doing ok.
 
I still have $175 to spend on myself from birthday money I recieved, and put straight towards my school tuition bill. So with my $175 I am going to buy myself a stationary bike. I will buy it either December or January... so I can have it for the winter months...but I still need to save up enough money to be able to afford taking it out of my bills. I want to get an elliptical for my house...but its just out of my budget right now. A stationary bike will keep me moving throughout the winter months, and I can put it right in front of my television, so instead of sitting on the couch, I can sit and use the bike! :D I have plenty of nutritious foods in the house, so I will be happy to eat healthy for the next week and more!

Tomorrow's food plan---
Breakfast: Fiber One cereal (sample my mom gave me), with 1/2 cup 2% milk.
Lunch: Key Lime Pie non fat yogurt with 1 box of raisins.
Snack: 1 apple, or 3 stalks of celery.
Dinner: unknown.
 
Hey Brandy Babe, howz it going? Sounds like you've hada couple of stressful days here. You getting anywhere with the mom situation? (I'm on both side of that one too, I'm a parent of adult children wh can drive me nuts sometimes:biggrinjester: but my mom drives me nuts too so...0

I think the stationary bike thing is an excellent idea! Could be I'm biased because of my cycling preference but... Just a thought too, if you want to stretch a dollar... check out craigslist, tons of exercise equipment barely used sometimes because it collects dust in most peoples houses... pretty cheap sometimes too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top