Kat bank

I'm not going to lie here. I've dug myself into a tight financial hole.

One of my paychecks is going to rent, cell phone, and car insurance, which leaves barely anything left to divy up between credit cards, medical, and food, not to mention gas.

The other paycheck is my car payment, it leaves a little bit more to take care of food.

I make too much, but not enough, which is pretty much the story of my life. I had become very comfortable with not paying rent, and had a significant chunk of leftover income to spend on whatever I want. Which is why I bought my car.

It makes me nervous that I can be broke 3 or 4 days after my pay check deposits in my account.

I've joined on mint.com with all of my money related accounts. It's nice to be able to see it all there in front of you. Charts, graphs, budgets...all of that. It certainly does help me confront my lack of funds, instead of me naively neglecting the fact that I am absolutely spent. I have maxed out everything I can, I barely pay my minimum payments....i am just too far gone after I meet my large obligations.

I'm just too used to always having cash. I need to start thinking frugally, as much as I hate that. It's a mindset I've personally never had to get into, but my mom was a pretty good example. Somehow she pulled herself out of bankrupcy and purchased her own house, after only 3 or 4 years of bankrupcy. If she can do it. I can do it.

I am thinking it would be best for me to actually pull out the remainder of my cash after a check into cash and then only allot myself so much for the week. This actually sounds like a good idea. I might just do that. Hmmm!

For my team so while you sleep ima scheme
We see through, thats why nobody never gon believe you
You should do what we do, stack chips like *hebrews*
Dont let the melody intrigue youCause I leave you, Im only here
For that green paper which the eagle

Dream Board

Amazing how fast this year has gone by so far. Better make the most of the rest of 2009. 9 is my favorite number!

I made a dream board with my friend Lisa in the early days of 2009. You can write down your goals, or you can make awesome visual displays of it, and I am a visual person...so I was pretty excited to create my dream board.

In the winter I tend to feel a bit SAD, so most of my goals were intended to make me feel better about me, life, my future, my dreams. It's a board full of happy images, basically. I mentioned my sleep habits a bit, becuase I was in desperate need of more satisfying sleep, which I've accomplished due to my new medications for my hyper thyroidism.

I have nice stomachs featured pretty prominantly on my board due to my insecurity of my pudgy tummy. I wanted a visual motivation for what I think is attractive and where I want to get to, or even a little closer to.

Anyways, here's some close ups, and then the full board:

If you try the best you can
If you try the best you can
Dinosaurs roaming the earth

Belly Dancing

Tonight I had my last belly dancing class with Natalie(Jen couldn't make it). We pick up again in September.

I have to admit, I've been doing a lot of partying in the last week or so because of my birthday, but also because I don't like feeling lonely.

I did belly dancing for 8 weeks, and after each class I've felt more physically comfortable with my body. Not because I've gotten skinnier or leaner, but because rounder bodies are beautiful in belly dancing, whereas poles are not. I'm not saying I'm fat or skinny here, I'm just saying I feel ok being where I am. It's not something I focus on.

It definitely has built up my core muscles a bit, the first couple classes would leave a sharp sensation in the center of my abdomen.

I like that I committed to something and completed it. I like that I feel happier about myself, and I will return to the class in September. It boosts my confidence and gets me sweaty.

When I got home I had a lite ceasar salad and a fat free pudding cup.

Natalie and I are interested in taking up a beginner hip hop class. Then we could create a routine fusing belly and hip hop together! And we talked about yoga as well, which makes my heart sing. Check this out for some serious inspiration.

Goals

It's suggested that if you write out your goals, you have a higher chance of succeeding at them. So here's to that idea.

1. Life goals- things I want gravitate towards

• I want to live in another country
• I want to go to school, specialize in communications/public speaking/history/business
• I dream of owning my own lounge, emphasizing on chill, music, and hot chocolate
• I want to get involved in the community that I live in

2. Health- Habits to form now for a healthier lifestyle in the future

• I'm comfortable with my weight, but not the lack of muscle definiton. I want to burn the fat, and replace with muscle. this would be beneficial when I get older.
• I want to be happy with the skin I'm in. I am going to take better care of it, including preventative aging measures, to secure healthy looking skin as I age.
• I need to be physically active. I am going to join more sports, dodgeball was definitely a gateway sport for me.

3. Materialistic- things that aren't really important to attaining happiness; but actually are

• Money, I need more of it. Budgeting, discipline, saving all need to happen
• Fashion. It's kind of funny that I'm putting this as a goal, but I'm never satisfied with my attire, and how you appear to the world definitely shapes it's responses to you. I would like to have a more classic put together look. The more timeless it is, the longer it will last in my closet, making it worth the initial cost.

I have more to add, and I will when I remember them. I am counting this post as an action towards my goals.

Naturally, I'm worried if I do it alone Who really cares, cause it's your life You never know, it could be great- Take a chance cause you might grow

Check-in with Kat

My name is Kat. I'm 24. I live in Seattle in a safe and quiet neighborhood. I currently work for a government agency as a receptionist. I am in reasonably good health, I've had some flare ups with my skin, my right knee gets agitated though I walk it off, and I have a cataract in my right eye, which is noticeable but it's not bad.

I'm feeling a bit stressed, but mostly about things I do have control of such as money, work, and a bit of my health through lifestyle choices.

Why am I doing a Self Improvement Project? I feel like I am not living up to my potential, I'm settling for normal, I'm being normal. I have a lot of energy that I need to focus on something for the good of the future. I'd like to say I'm working towards being a super being, someone that makes a difference, someone that feels accomplished and satisfied with their many choices. I want to be healthy, I want to be successful, I want to inspire other people to rock out every day they are fortunate to still be alive.

My next post will list goals for myself to accomplish, be it short term, long term, or just baby step goals.

With each blog post I must be positive, and site at least one progressive action towards a goal.

Love the life you live, and live the life you love