Forgetful

Two words:

STICKY.  NOTES.

This refers to 1) actual post-its, 2) the sticky note gadget on my Mac Dashboard, aaaaaaand 3) the sticky note app (or whatever the proper term is) on my work Dell.

Without STICKY NOTES , I have no idea how I would remember that the envelopes for this month's rent bills shouldn't be sealed, or that Guillermo is taking next week off, or that I have a chiropractic appointment at 10am today, or that I have to sit home from 9am - 1pm tomorrow waiting for someone to come and fix my dryer????

Well, I wouldn't remember it all; it's that simple.  My brain is so weird.  I can remember the first and last names of everyone in my 8th grade class, but forget an appointment within minutes of making it.

THREE CHEERS FOR STICKY NOTES!

Beneath the Mountain O' Dolls

Last night's episode of Hoarders distrubed me in ways I never thought possible.  Phyllis' hoard of dolls? It gave me nightmares.  Thank God my sister-in-law called me in the middle because I really needed to turn it off and I wasn't going to do it on my own!

When I watch shows like Hoarders, I go through a cycle of emotions:

• Shock (C'mon, you can't help but be shocked at first!)
• Sadness (Because these people are so visibly lonely; it hurts to listen to them.)
• Frustration (Dude, that's 17 years worth of DOG HAIR that you're refusing to get rid of.  Seriously?!)
• Sadness (Because after the temper tantrum, there's almost always a moment of clarity for the hoarder.)
• Hope (Usually, the houses get cleaned up!  I always have my fingers crossed that the aftercare provided is helpful enough to, you know, allow the dog hair to be vacuumed up from now on.)

At after it's over, I am left with the realization that material things are not important.  Our memories are important.  And people are important.  Not dolls.  Not teddy bears.  Not your baby blankets or your collection of pint glasses.  All of those things are replaceable.  But relationships?  Relationships aren't.

My Name is Rachel, and I'm addicted to Lists.

I am LIST CRAZY this morning (yes, before 8 o'clock).  Here is a list of all my To Do Lists!

• To Do Today
• To Do This Week at Home
• To Do at Home in the Next Month
• To Do at Work Tomorrow
• To Do at Work This Week
• To Do at Work before July
• To Do for My Future
• To Do for Rebecca's Bridal Shower (!!!)

I'm a little overwhelmed just looking at this!  BUUUUUUT, having lists keeps me on track.  They also make me feel accomplished...there's absolutely nothing better than checking off tasks on a to-do list!

Wish me luck; these lists are proof that this week is going to be a doozy!

Credit Card Myths

In keeping with the credit card theme, check out this article, brought to you by LearnVest:

5 Credit Card Myths You'd Regret Buying Into

Credit Cards: Good or Evil?

Here's a little fact about me:  By the time I was 23, I racked up a huge amount of credit card debt.  Like, $30,000 worth.  (Ugh, even writing that makes my stomach turn.  It's possible I've never admitted that before.)  It was awful.  I struggled just to make the minimum payments.  The worst part?  I had no idea where the money went.  There was absolutely nothing to show for it.  Except huge bills, ridiculous monthly interest charges, shame, embarrassment, and a headache.

The decision to stop spending was the easy part.  I scaled back my lifestyle and was able to move back home (embarrassing but true).  And, most importantly, I CUT UP MY CARDS.  Every single one.  I used my debit card exclusively for the entire time it took me to pay off the debt.  Which, btw, I did!  By 2009, when I was 28, I was 100% credit card debt free!!!!!!

Being in debt sucked.  No, it more than sucked.  It made me feel ashamed; it was my deep dark secret.  But the experience taught me a very valuable lesson:  Credit cards can be EXTREMELY dangerous.  I remember making my last payment and thinking "I will never, ever, ever get myself into this situation again."

Believe it or not, now I use credit cards ALL THE TIME.  Does that surprise you?  Did you think I'd be too traumatized to go back?  Well, I was traumatized, which is precisely why I feel safe using them again.  After being in such crushing debt, I know how important it is to treat credit cards like debit cards.  Which means, I spend only what I can afford and I pay the bills in full every month.  IF YOU CAN DO THAT, then using credit cards can be a positive thing!  But if you can't, they can be trouble.

Listen, credit cards have their benefits:  You can earn points on them which can be redeemed for rewards like cash or gift cards (this is my favorite perk and really the reason why I use them).  Plus, they can been extremely helpful in an emergency.  An emergency vet visit?  It's going to cost you big bucks and if you don't have the cash, credit can be perfect.  It's all about sticking to what you can afford, not over spending, and treating your credit like cash.

Habits of Organized People

I am an admitted list lover.  Which means that whenever I come across a list, I am intrigued.  So of course this list of the Top 10 Habits of Organized People caught my eye.

Here are my 3 favorites:

#9) MAKE YOUR BED EVERY MORNING.
Ha, love it.  And you know what?  I totally agree.  I used to have the mindset "I'm just going to mess it up again in 12 hours, why bother?"  Plus, let's be honest, an unmade bed can be really inviting.  But making your bed magically makes your room appear clean.  No joke.  Aaaaaand, it keeps dust and other yuck from getting on your sheets when you're not there.

#5)  MAKE LISTS.
Well duh I love this one (hello, admitted list lover).  Lists are important to me for a few reasons.  Let's discuss: my lists remind me of what needs to be done; they help keep me focused; AND they give me a sense of accomplishment.  C'mon, looking back at a to-do list that is all checked off?  It's an amazing feeling.  I highly recommend it.

And last but not least,
#1)  CREATE A HOME FOR EVERYTHING.
Believe it or not, even I, the Wannabe Organizer, struggle with this one.  But whether it's papers, band-aids, magazines, shoes or sunglasses - if they have a home, then they will a) be out of the way when you don't need them and b) easy to find when you do need them.  So that pile on your coffee table (or, if you're like me, on your 2nd stair)?  Go through it immediately.  Find homes for everything.  Don't stop till everything has a place to live.  You'll thank me, I promise.

Routine, Habits...and Blogging

Now would probably be a good time to talk about the power of ROUTINE.  A routine involves actions that you perform regularly. (If you would like the actual definition, check it out here.)
A routine is designed to create habits.

Here's what:  I DO NOT HAVE A BLOGGING ROUTINE.  And, therefore, blogging is not a habit for me.  Which means, it is often overlooked.

My goal for May is to integrate blogging into my routine.  Someone once told me that it takes 6 weeks to build a habit.  Is that true?  I have no idea but it's stuck with me and it's what I go by.  Today is May 7th.  By the end of May, I should be well on my way to creating a real blogging habit.

Let's go.

My Day Job

Work is hard.
I am tired.
Too tired to even go through my mail.
Or put my shoes anywhere other than right by the front door.
Or hang my jackets in the closet, instead of on the back of my kitchen chairs.
I even ALMOST paid my taxes a day late.  That's how bad I am these days.

I need to reevaluate my routine.  This new job - it takes a lot out of me.  More than I thought it would.  Which means other parts of my life are suffering , which doesn't really work for me.
So it's time to rethink.

Whenever there's a change in one aspect of your life, it's important to recognize the effect it has on the whole of your life.  And it is an ongoing process.
For example, in 6 weeks, my "training period" will be over and then my schedule, stress, anxiety will change again.  Which means I have to be open to making other changes at that time too.

If you're like me, you try really hard to keep your work-life and your personal-life separate.  But no matter what you do, they're undoubtedly connected...and a change in one often leads to a change in the other.

(Easier said than done, as always.)

Good Morning!

How about a quick tip for you early this Saturday morning?

Stop trying to change what works.  

Concentrate on fixing what doesn't.

Good advice for organizing, good advice for life in general.  And easier said than done.

The Worst Exam Ever

I should update you on where I am in my CPA exam saga...

I'm taking a break.
Maybe a forever break, I haven't decided for sure.

I have mixed feelings about this.  I feel like a failure; I mean, I planned on being finished with this exam by now.  Instead, I haven't managed to pass any of the 4 parts.  (Cue the violins!)  On the other hand, I feel like I'm finally taking control of the situation.  I've been seriously struggling and all but gave up on the last 2 exams.  How is that an effective strategy?
At the very least, I need to reevaluate my study plan (because what I'm doing OBVIOUSLY isn't working!) before I spend the money, time and effort on preparing for the next round.  But, more importantly, I need to reevaluate my career goals.  I decided to take the CPA exam because I thought I wanted to BE an certified public accountant.  But do I?
No.  Not really.
I mean, don't get me wrong - there are parts of accounting that I actually like (that statement earned me about a zillion nerd points).  But I don't want to be an accountant.
I want to be an organizer.  I want to help you organize your finances.
And people - I want to work with people.
So maybe this CPA exam isn't a necessary.  Maybe there's another (better?) way for me to get to my goals.  Like have I mentioned this graduate program I'm looking into?  Um, yeah...

Sometimes it's important to take a step back from a situation.  So that's what I'm doing.

And now if you'll excuse me, Extreme Couponing is on and I'm obsessed.

New Sport: X-Treme Couponing

I have a new TV obsession:
EXTREME COUPONING on TLC.

I am both in awe of these Coupon Queens...and terrified of them.  Their "stockpiles" - their word, not mine - are downright unnerving and spill over into virtually every room of their homes.  More toilet paper, cereal and hot dogs than any person will ever need, ever.  Is the end of the world really coming?  Because these ladies are totally prepared.

(I told you it was terrifying!)
But I'll be honest, even if I think they're borderline nuts-o, anyone who can get out of the supermarket with $600 worth of groceries for a mere $6 (!!!) has earned my respect.  Truth be told, I'm a crappy couponer; as in - I don't coupon beyond checking out the weekly specials as I'm shopping.  Oh well, I also don't have a stash of canned reserves under my bed or spend 5 freaking hours trudging the aisles of my local grocery store with a 3-ring binder in hand, ha.
Anyway, of the 4 women who have been featured so far (only 2 episodes have aired), my favorite is the woman who has the amazing can sorter; it rotates her canned goods so she's sure nothing spoils.  (Um and yes, I know canned goods take like 823227 years to spoil, but with the amount this woman has...its possible to get to that point.)

If you haven't seen it, please take the half hour and check it out.  It's worth it.  (Worth it?  Hm, I feel like there's a pun in that line somewhere.)

PS, while I was looking through the TLC website for the link to this show, I stumbled upon 2 interesting articles with coupon-related pointers:
10 Best Websites to Save You Money
5 Extreme Coupon Tips for Novice Couponers

Travel Size

I took some time off this week to visit my little brother in DC.  I am not a good traveler.  I'm anxious, stressed and I'm a TERRIBLE packer.  This time, I vowed to at least change my packing habits.

My problem is simple:  I pack too much.  Too many clothes, shoes, accessories, just too much of everything.  For example, this trip was only 2 full days.  The old me would have packed at least 3 pairs of shoes (options, people, options!) BUT the new me only brought 1!  My all purpose, green Chucks - in case you were wondering.  And guess what?  IT WAS FINE.  

I also gave my travel toiletry bag an overhaul.  Straying from my normal skincare routine is not an option.  And not because I'm so set in may ways!  Nope, I just have really fussy (read: bad like I'm still 14) skin.  So I normally travel with my normal-sized stuff.  But they take up so. much. space.  So I caved and invested in travel-sized versions of my regular skincare products.  Then I raided Target's travel-size bins too, for shampoo, conditioner, contact solution, etc.  The result?  A much lighter and more streamlined toiletry bag.

I'm still having a problem with my on-the-go make-up.  Again, I have fussy skin so I can't stray from my regular make-up.  I use Bare Escentuals, which I think is amazing.  However, it sucks to travel with.  It's messy and requires so many brushes.  It may take a couple more hotel-stays to find a solution to this!  I'll let you know what my trial-and-error turns up...

I Love LearnVest Daily.

Let me start by saying that I LOVE LEARNVEST DAILY.  And I would highly recommend subscribing to their newsletter.

That said, here are 2 of their recent articles I found particularly interesting (and funny, if you're a financial nerd like me):
Your Top 15 Money Pet Peeves
Money Mistakes and Biggest Splurges: LV Reader Survey Results

You mean I have to keep that?

As an organization-obsessed accountant, there's one question I am asked over and over:  HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO KEEP THIS?
And the answer is...drum roll please...IT DEPENDS.
(Yeah, not what you want to hear, sorry.)

But don't worry, there are only 3 time periods you have to remember:  1 year, 7 years, and forever.
Keep for 1 Year

• monthly bank and credit card statements (keep year-end summary!)
• monthly/quarterly brokerage statements (reconcile to year-end forms before tossing!)
• monthly mortgage statements (keep year-end summary!)
• paycheck stubs (reconcile to year-end forms before tossing!)

Keep for 7 Years

• W-2 and 1099 forms
• year-end credit card statements
• info pertaining to business expenses claimed on your tax return
• annual mortgage statements
• property tax info
• info pertaining to any other tax-deductible expenses
• alllllllllllllllll the back-up info to the tax returns you filed in the past 7 years

Keep FOREVER

• annual tax returns
• info pertaining to the purchase price of investments
• home improvement records
• receipts for major purchases (for as long as you own the item)
• beneficiary designations

See?  That really wasn't so complicated.  Now go ahead and get rid of all the stuff you've been keeping
unnecessarily!

A2Z

I am sad to report that A2Z Organizational Solutions has been put on the back burner.  Last week, I made it official by canceling our website.  Eventually, I plan to seek out a new (and better) website host, I'm taking it slow.

I want to be an organizer and I believe in A2Z.  But sometimes life moves in a direction you don't expect and you have to be flexible.  So this is me, being flexible.

A2Z will be there for my partner and I when we're ready.  We aren't dissolving the partnership or letting go of the dream. We're just accepting and admitting that it isn't a priority for either of us right now.  And if we aren't ready to put the effort into it, then we should be honest about it and, at the very least, stop incurring expenses.

I am excited by the prospect of what A2Z can be and I know there will be a future for it.  But I am also happy with the decision we have made for what to do with it now.

The truth hurts, but it's always the best option.

Stay Motivated

Here's the truth:  if you want to be successful in anything you do, you have be (and stay) motivated.  This is something I have a problem.  Do you?  I am good at lists, I am good at goals, I am even good at the planning...it's the follow-through that trips me up.

A few weeks ago, Real Simple (one of my favorite resources, fyi) put together a list with 9 secrets of motivated people.  I just wanted to take a minute to talk about the 3 that I found most interesting and helpful.  But feel free to can read the entire article here!

#1)  When you make a plan, anticipate bumps.
LOVE THIS.  Maybe it's my business background, but the idea of contingency plans is so important to me.  C'mon people, things never go as planned!  There are always hiccups, setbacks, and even dead ends.  But that's okay, as long as you are ready for the twists and turns.
But you don't have to go and find a working crystal ball on eBay or whatever.  Just be ready to change your plans and don't allow yourself to get rattled by the changes or too discouraged to regroup and move forward.

#6)  Make yourself a priority.
Ugh, I am TERRIBLE at this.  So terrible, that I actually feel guilty when I consciously take time out for myself.  The truth is, however, that if you don't put yourself first, then who will?  YOU are just as important as everyone around you; so treat yourself just as well.  Which means investing some time and effort in the things that matter to you.
You can't reach any of your personal goals unless fulfilling your needs are at the top of your to-do list.  So move them up there!

#10)  Remember the deeper meaning.
Okay, okay, this one sounds cheesy and maybe that's true but it doesn't make it any less important!  It is a million times easier to stay motivated while working toward a goal if it is a goal you feel a real connection to.  For example, a lot of people choose to run or walk in charity-related events.  Why?  Because they are interested in the exercise opportunity AND they are undoubtedly connected to the cause.  It's the connection that makes the running easier.
So make goals for yourself that truly mean something.  This will push you to stay moving at a good clip on the right path.

Car Insurance Woes

I bought a new car...and my car insurance went up a ridiculous FORTY PERCENT.  I expected it to go up a little.  My car is financed and brand new so of course I have full coverage.  And of course full coverage on a 2011 car is more than on a 2008.  But 40%???  Unacceptable.

Which led me to do some research.  Which led me to some very helpful articles:
7 Ways to Overpay for Car Insurance
Cheap Car Insurance, The Smart Way

Which helped me make the switch to a new insurance company!  Saved myself $400 just by doing some reading.  Not bad at all.

Insider Tips To Groupon

Huge fan of Groupon, LivingSocial and other deal-a-day sites. But it's soooooo easy to get carried away with them! Afterall, deal is only a deal if it works for you.

Great article about how to make sure your love of deal sites doesn't take you down:
Insider Tips To Groupon

PS:  Did you know that you earn Swagbucks if you buy coupons through Swagbucks Daily Deals?  And if you don't know anything about Swagbucks, find out more.  And if you don't have an account, get one.  Now.

You mean, I can't have 3 closets anymore?

It's official:  My sister is moving in!

The countdown to May 1st begins.  Which gives me about 6 weeks to make room for her.  The bedroom is already empty.  But the closet?
Whoops.  Full.

Spring cleaning will be especially important this year, ha.  Aaaaaand, I will need to learn to SHARE closet space.

This is potentially mission impossible.  But I will keep you posted.

The truth about tax refunds...

Want to know a secret?

WE DON'T LIKE BIG TAX RETURN REFUNDS.  Nope, we don't like them at all.

This is the time of year when you hear everyone talking about getting their tax returns filed, so that they can get their refunds, so that they can spend their refunds.  Well, have you ever stopped to think about why you're getting that refund?  Because guess what:  Most of the time you are getting money back because you put too much money in. 

Yup, you heard me:  You gave the government too much money!  So that refund you're waiting for?  You could have been spending that money ALL YEAR LONG.  (Or making money off it, if you chose to put it in an interest bearing account.)  But instead, you handed it to the government and you let them keep it without charging them interest.

That was very nice of you.

So if you are getting big refunds every year, take a look at the W-4 you filled out with your employer.  Make sure the information is up-to-date and accurate.  Because you deserve your money!  Stop lending it out for free.

Excuses, excuses.

I've been a little overwhelmed lately...and my blogging has suffered.  Last week, I publicly promised to be better.  And I was!  Because I did some research and made a new list of topics I want to cover.  What I was not better with was posting actual entires.  Oops and sorry.

Okay but I should back up:  Why am I so overwhelmed?
To answer that question fully, there's something you have to know about me - I do not do well with change.  Yeah yeah yeah, change is positive; change is necessary.  In fact, I would even agree that change is generally good.  But that doesn't mean I have to like it!  It makes me anxious, it makes me nervous, it makes me feel out of sorts and it definitely takes me out of my comfort zone.  To deal with the stress, I've developed my own coping strategies, which mainly revolve around my being a little bit manic-y.  (Ah, there are worse things, right?)  The key is managing my anxiety and the energy it produces, harnessing it, and using it for good.  It's a struggle for me and probably for those around me too.  But this is who I am, like it or not.

Okay okay, now back to WHY I've been so overwhelmed (and so sucky at blogging) lately.

Here's the deal:  By May 1st, I will have a new job, a new living situation, AND I will (fingers crossed) be enrolled into a new graduate program.  (Whoa, see?  That's a lot.)  I'm excited about all of them and I know I'm making the right decisions...but, let's be honest, I'm scared too.  Mostly because each one will require me to alter my current routine.  In other words, things are going to CHANGE.  A lot.  (A lot, a lot actually since I've decided to go with 3 big changes at once.)  As a result, my head's been all over the place lately.  Peace out, Effective Time Management!  Welcome to the World of Manic-y Rachel, ha.



Good enough excuse for you?
No?
Yeah, excuses are lame.  Sorry, again.

What I've been up to lately...

I don't know what it is but I have been on a serious redecorating kick lately.

I repainted.  Like my entire condo.  Which was a little bit of a nightmare because of the time, money, and MESS.  But worth it.  SO worth it.
I bought new lamps.  (Obsessed over new lamps, actually.  Luckily, HomeGoods is nearby.)
I bought new pillows for my couch (courtesy of urbanoutfitters.com):

I bought new artwork for my bedroom:

And my kitchen:

And my office (all courtsey of allposters.com, by the way):

I built this (yay for Target!):

(Now home to various office supplies, as well as my purse collection.)

Not to mention the fact that I've been coveting new rugs...but area rugs are expensive!  No fair.

And I absolutely love all the changes.  I walk into my house and think "This is me.  This is where I live."  There's really no better feeling than having your space reflect you.


(Hmmmm, how about pictures?  Good idea.  Stay tuned.)

PS

Oh, and ps:  I did buy that new car.

I walked in (sort of already planning to walk out with a shiny new SUV) and when the salesman asked "how can I help you today?", I smiled and said "make me want to buy a new car."
And it went from there.

Financially, I was able to keep my monthly payments the same, which was very important to me.  However, to make that possible, I had to put additional monies down.  At first, this made me extremely uncomfortable - my goal was to use my old car as the downpayment.  But that wasn't realistic.  Prices have gone up, for one; so even though I bought the same car, it costs more 3 years later.  And two, the new car had a few more bells and whistles.
The old car just wouldn't cut it alone.

I could afford to put down the extra cash.  I just had to convince myself that was an acceptable choice.  IT'S NOT AN ACCEPTABLE CHOICE FOR EVERYONE.  This kind of purchase is most definitely a splurge.  It is not a necessity.  And if you can't afford it, then you shouldn't do it...

..because as enticing as that new car smell is, it is not worth extra stress when it comes to how you're going to pay your bills.

Blogging Fail

Aaaaaahhhh!  I have so many ideas for posts running through my head right now.

• budgeting
• merging finances with your partner
• redecorating ideas
• new storage solutions
• the benefits and dangers of routine

I don't know where to start; that's the problem and probably why you haven't heard from me in a week.  See?  Even the Wannabe Organizer needs help getting her head together sometimes.  

I promise I'll do better this week!

Kindle Update #2

Okay, I'm a believer.  A convert.  A fan.  A lover.  A hater.  Whatever.  All I know is that I very much like my Kindle.

Is it the same as reading an actual book?  Um, no.  It doesn't feel the same, smell the same, or even look the same.  And, of course, you can't highlight.  But you know what?  I got used to it.

While I miss my highlighter, there is a "highlighting" feature.  It's really just underlining but I really didn't mind.  It also shows you the passages most often highlighted by other readers.  (This feature is both cool and unsettling.  I'm not so much into someone somewhere collecting this sort of information about me; however, it is interesting to see what everyone else thinks...)

I was worried about not feeling accomplished.  With an actual book, you can see your progress.  How can you do that with an ebook?  Well, of course they've figured that out!  In the bottom left-hand corner, it shows your progress in terms of percentage.  Not bad.

And there's just no contest when it comes to ease and convenience.  It fits so easily in my bag and there are no worries about folded pages, etc.  It was an absolute dream last Thursday when I was stuck at jury duty for a good 7 hours.

So in the past few days, I read exactly 3 books on the Kindle.  A trilogy of books, to be specific - the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  In truth, I COULD NOT put them down.  (FYI, did you know I have another blog?  Yep, I'm a wannabe reader too.)  I loved this series so much, that I found myself disappointed that I didn't have physical copies of them.  Like I felt a need to have them in my hands, rather than just on the screen.  And it occurred to me that this is the biggest problem with an ebook - what happens when you connect with a book in such a way where you need it?  Here's the solution I came up with:
A major selling point of an eReader is the fact that it cuts down on clutter, streamlines your library, and ultimately saves you money (because ebooks are cheaper).  And it's true, I read a lot of books that I'd be fine never seeing again.  But every once in a while, I fall in love, like I fell in love with the Hunger Games.  And it just doesn't seem like enough to have it trapped on a screen.
So when I come across a book that sparks something in me, I AM ALLOWED TO BUY IT.  Which means that sometime this week, I will be in possession of Suzanne Collins' amazing trilogy.  I will be able to look at it in my bookcase and actually see it sitting there.
And when I read a book that's just okay (or worse...because we all know that happens sometimes), I will leave it with the Kindle and never think about it again.  In other words, this Kindle will serve as a tool is weeding out the books that don't deserve a place in my house.

The thought of my bookcases soon being full of only books that move me...well, there really aren't any words for how amazing that will be.

Is there New Car Smell in my future?

In the spring of 2008, I bought a new car.  This was an incredibly difficult decision for me because I am weird and was absolutely in love with my old car.  It was a 2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport, red.  It had almost 200,000 miles on it when I let it go, but they were all my miles and I loved having them with me.  But a little fender-bender (not my fault, FYI) left me with a banged up car and $3,000, which was probably more than the car was worth anyway.  I knew it didn't make sense to fix the Jeep.  I knew it was time to move on.

I wanted a similar car:  a small-ish SUV, 4WD, around $25,000, and I wanted it to feel like a truck, not a car.  Almost everyone told me that I was stupid - why an SUV?  You can get more for your money if you get a car, dummy.  But, HELLO, I'm a teeny, tiny person; LET ME HAVE A BIG CAR SO I CAN FINALLY BE BIGGER THAN SOMEONE.  Geez.

Anywayyyyy, I chose a Ford Escape for basically one reason:  0% financing.  Yo, that's like free money.  I'll take it.

And now it's 2011.  And my car is in good shape.  And I owe LESS than it's worth (which is amazing).  And they're offering 0% financing again...

So, I'm thinking about making a trip over to the dealer this week.  I mean, if I can find the same car, only newer, for a price after trade-in that allows my monthly payments to stay the same...um, why wouldn't I get a new car????

There's a possibility I can make this work.  My fingers are most definitely crossed.

Taxes Schmaxes

I worked as a staff accountant for a private accounting firm for 5 years and from mid-February to April 15th, I all but slept in the office.  Why?  TAX SEASON.  (Ugh, even just thinking about those days makes me tired.  I can't lie - I don't miss it at all.)

Even though I don't have to work Tax Season anymore, I still have to deal with Taxes...and so do you.  By now, you've probably received all of your tax forms.  You might even have them in a neat little pile on the edge of your desk - your W-2, 1099s, a 1098-T if you're in school, maybe an unemployment form (yep, I know, times are tough).  Well, what are you waiting for?  Stoping staring at them and do your taxes!  

I mean, seriously: if the government owes you money, don't you want it?

Stuff those forms in an envelope, send them to your accountant or march them into H&R Block.  Or do them yourself!  Last weekend, I used TurboTax to file my step-brother's return.  Such an easy program to, even if you feel like the word "taxes" is a foreign language; I highly recommend it.  (Plus, it files your federal return electronically FOR FREE.  A nice bonus.)

So take a deep breath and get it over with!  I promise, it's really not so bad.

Kindle Update!!!

Okay, it's official:
Last night, I began reading my first Kindle book ever.

Verdict so far?
Love it.
Yep, I'm as surprised as you are about that reaction.

Could also be a result of the book, which happens to be very good - The Hunger Games, in case you were curious.  But, for now, I'll give credit to the Kindle.

Congrats, dude.  So far, it looks like you're going to stick around for a while.

Where does the time go?

The CPA exam is kicking my ass.  For almost a year now I've been studying for this 4-part beast.  Did you know that they design the test for failure?  Truth.  For each section, LESS THAN HALF of the applicants that sit for the exam actually pass.  That's in-freaking-sane.  That information makes me feel slightly better when I know that at this point, I have taken all 4 parts...and failed all 4 parts.  (I've taken BEC twice...and failed it twice.)  And on February 17th, I'll be sitting for the FAR section (again), a section that literally scares me to death.

I know there's a certain magic in thinking positively, but I am really not sure I can do this.  I studied like a crazy person for the first round and failed.  I have never put so much effort into something and not been able to accomplish it; it's been a hit to my confidence, to say the least.  So motivating for Round 2 is daunting.  I'd be lying if I said a huge (HUGE, huge, huge) part of me wants to quit.  Can I have a successful career without being certified?  YES, absolutely.  But my pride is kind of at stake here.  The worst thing would be to look back and feel like I quit just because it was too difficult.  Yuck, who wants a regret like that?  So I'm trying again.  Even though it feels overwhelming.  And even though I honestly feel like I can't do it.  (Yep, that's right - I said "can't".  I told you I'm having trouble thinking positively.)

Forget all the accounting information I'm supposed to be learning - I've learned a lot about myself through this process.  One of the biggest things I've had to deal is my propensity for procrastination!  I am a Master Procrastinator and, holy moly, the dedication it takes to keep on track with my studying regime is almost beyond me.  In fact, maybe it is beyond me.  One thing's for sure - it's putting my time management skills to the test.

For as long as I can remember, I'm always doing everything at the last minute.  From school-work to work-work, I'm right down to the wire, every time.  Throughout my MBA program, I secretly hoped that my procrastinating would get me in trouble.  But here's the problem:  I'm really good at it!  Too good.  I always get my work done and I always do it well.  So, I've never had to change.  But being a procrastinating pro doesn't mean I don't have to manage my time.  If anything, I have to manage it more effectively because I usually have less of it to do what needs to be done.

I'll let you know what works for me:
I find that my time is best managed when I write things down in a planner.  Old fashioned?  Yeah, probably.  So, fine - I'll accept punching your schedule into a BlackBerry or an iPhone or whatever too.  There's just no doubt that having a written down list forces you to be accountable for how you're spending your time. (PS, this tip directly relates to creating a budget with your money).  Don't worry, I have a post about that coming up soon.)

I also find it's helpful to take a few minutes at the end of the day to think back and write down what I actually did.  This is beneficial in a few ways: it ensures that I'm sure about what was done and what needs to be done; it means that I know exactly where my time goes everyday; and recounting what I do everyday makes me feel incredibly accomplished.  Which is EXACTLY what I need with something like the CPA exam.  That way when I fail my practice tests and feel really down, all I have to do is flip through my planner to remind myself of the effort (read: blood, sweat and no-joke-for-real tears) I put in.  Believe it or not, this reallyyyyyy helps me stay on track.  It's proof to remind me that I'm actually doing something.  And that's a great boost...



...especially when I feel like the only thing I'm good at is procrastinating!

My biggest fear...

Here's something not a lot of people know about me:
I'm terrified of becoming a hoarder.  I very literally have nightmares about it!
Don't laugh.  It could happen to me.  It really could...
Sometimes I feel like I'm only one traumatic event away from living surrounded by piles of junk and making excuses for why the all the food in my fridge has turned to green liquid.  I watch Hoarders.  I know the warning signs.  Here are the ones I exhibit:

1. I catch myself stockpiling.  Whether it be cleaning supplies, office supplies, personal care items or other nonsense household items...there is no doubt that I have a. lot. of. stuff.  Worse?  I get anxious when I think I might run out of something or when I think something I use will be discontinued.
2. A few weeks ago, my grandmother found some pencils with my great-grandparents' names etched on them.  My sister said "Hey, give them to Rachel!  We'll find them in some plastic container 10 years from now."  And she's right.  I like to save things.  Right now, I have 3 plastic bins in the storage space under my stairs filled with childhood memory items.  I have 1 bin in my office and a trunk in my mom's basement.  While that may not seem like a lot, I'm only one person!  And I'm only 29.  I'm only going to collect more things I want to save.
3. I have the ability to ignore spaces in my house that overwhelm me.  For example, I use one of the bedrooms in my condo as a "storage" room and when I felt like it was too full, I simply closed the door.  Out of sight, out of mind.  Not good...
4. I like to shop.  I am very careful not to spend beyond my means, but I do spend!
5. I can be messy.  Clean?  Yes.  Tidy?  Um, most of the time.  But I am definitely guilty of not picking up the laundry on the floor and I don't immediately put everything back in its place.  And, living alone, there's no one I answer to if it doesn't get done.  Sometimes I do feel like it gets out of hand, at which point I just buckle down and do it.  But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about the day I don't.
6. I feel emotionally attached to things.  An old mix tape, a ticket stub from a movie, a hemp necklace I made when I was 13, a picture someone drew for me - they all mean something to me and I would feel sad giving them up.  Right now, I can manage that attachment and am able to purge some things without feeling too badly about it.  But what if it becomes more difficult for me?  Am I doomed to a life surrounded by piles and piles and piles of stuff?

Guess we'll just have to wait and see...

Daily Quick Cleaning Checklist

Totally use this checklist to help stay on top of my cleaning!

Daily Quick Cleaning Checklist | Real Simple

Giving in to the Kindle...

Two years ago, my brother-in-law bought my sister a Kindle.  She is the PERFECT Kindle candidate:  she's an NYC girl who reads at least a book a week, and we're talking big, giant, hardcover books.  Lugging them around all day wasn't ideal (but it was a good workout!).  So, for her, it was love at first use and that didn't surprise me.

Here's a little perk about getting married - you get presents forever.  Last year, a year after their wedding, my sister and my brother-in-law received two brand spanking new Kindles as a wedding present.  The best part was that Ellie's old Kindle was still perfect, so guess who got it?  Her lovely older sister, of course.  So I am now the proud owner of a Kindle...

...except I'm not so proud.

Because I don't think I like this whole e-book craze.  Because I love BOOKS, like actual, physical books.  I like the weight of them, the way the pages feel, the way you can immediately see how much you've read (or haven't read) and I love highlighting.  I always read with a highlighter and whenever I come across a line that speaks to me, I make it glow yellow (or pink or sometimes orange, but yellow is my favorite).  You can't do that with an e-book.

But, I'm going to try to give in.  The reality is that my book cases are full (ahem, I also like looking at my books...something else you can't do with an e-book!) and the organizer part of my brain screams "DO IT!  Don't bring more books in here!  Keep your space clean, sleek and simple!"  This, of course, goes against the side of me that says "But books are so pretty!  And look at everything I've read!", ha; quite a struggle I have going on in my silly head.  

Plus, let's face it, e-books are where we are headed.  It seems like everyone I know is using some form of e-book reader.  Which means...

Okay, Kindle:  you and I will try to make this work.

(I'll keep you posted.)

An Easy Way to Save!!!

Hey, guess what?  YOUR PAYCHECKS HAVE BEEN INCREASED BY 2%!  (Find out why here.)  Have you noticed?  Maybe not; 2% certainly isn't a lifestyle-changing amount.  But it's something!  Think about it this way:

What if you put 2% of your gross paycheck into a savings account every pay period?  Let's say you make $2,000 every 2 weeks.  2% of that (and yes, I needed a calculator - don't judge!) = $40.  $40 per pay period multiplied by the number of pay period in a year (26 if you're bi-weekly) = $1,040, plus interest if you're putting it into a savings account, by the end of the year.  Even if you're making $1,000 every 2 weeks, you end up with $520.  Not bad, especially when you're used to that 2% going straight to the government.

Of course, you can also put this money toward any debt you may have.  That works, too.

But no matter how you slice it, we have a great opportunity here!  Saving without feeling it.  Can't do better than that.

More snow?

I am officially OVER snow.  I remember being in elementary school, middle school, high school and getting so excited at the prospect of a snow day.  I'd set my alarm for earlier than normal and when it went off, I would dial the hotline number and waiiiiiiit for the words "school will be cancelled today".  Then I would roll over, smiling, and go back to sleep.

But now I'm a grown-up.  And snow days are frustrating.  Because snow work days?  Yeah, not so much. Plus, even if there is a "snow work day", I STILL HAVE TO GET MY WORK DONE.  Deadlines don't get snowed out.

So, here I am - sitting on my couch.  Watching the snow fall.  And waiting for it to end.

While it's snowing pretty good out there now, it won't be a snow day for me.  But, I've already been snowed in THREE TIMES this winter.  Not cool, Mother Nature, not cool.  It's been rough for my work-life, but great for my house.  Why?  Because being housebound gave me the opportunity to face my closet demons, literally.  I've always wanted to go by the "one in, one out" rule, but let's be honest - its very difficult to stick to.  The result is over-stuffed dresser drawers, sagging closet bars and no where to put any more shoes (gasp).

Unacceptable.

But cleaning out my closet?  Wow, how unappealing.  Which is why I put it off for so long.  But this snow had other plans for me.  And after a certain amount of time being snowed in, cleaning out my closet didn't seem like such a bad alternative.  So I buckled down and I DID IT.  I focused and repeated the same questions over and over:

1. Does this fit?
2. Do I even like this?
3. When was the last time I wore this?

IF it fit, then I moved onto #2.  IF I liked it, then I moved onto #3.  If I couldn't remember the last time I wore it or if it was over a year ago, bye-bye.  (I admit it - I was a little more liberal with the shoes.  Isn't knowing you have a problem the first step?)  And ta-da!  A little effort, a little time, a little honesty and I have room in my dresser drawers, I'm no longer afraid that my closet will collapse and I now have room to buy a few more pairs of shoes.  

(Yes, I am most excited by the shoes...)

I'm baaaaaack!

When I grow up (I'll be 30 this year - is that grown up? Uh oh...), I want to be an organizer. Since the last time posted, I have done the following to try and achieve that goal:

1. Finished by MBA
2. Decided to sit for the CPA exam
3. Spent HOURS and HOURS and HOURS studying for the exam
4. Failed it
5. Let myself be sad about it (but not too sad)
6. Decided to do it again
7. Currently devoting my free time to studying for Round 2
8. But most importantly, I STARTED AN ORGANIZING BUSINESS with my friend, Jaci

Yep, not a joke. A2Z Organizational Solutions is legit! Except that between the time it was formed and now, I was hired as an in-house accountant for a management company that oversees a residential rental property. So have I had time to focus on my new business? Nope. Which sucks.

But I am recommitting myself to it. To A2Z and to this blog. I AM A WANNABE ORGANIZER, dammit. It's time I start acting like one.

What does that mean? It means that I will be sharing tricks, tips, as well as other resources here. So stay tuned, people! I promise it'll be worth it.