My First Four Week Challenge

A few months ago, I signed up on a website called Nerdfitness. It's a site geared towards 'nerds' (thus the 'nerds' in nerdfitness) that pushes personal health and growth by teaching you to break down your goals and rebuild yourself, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally.

It's a great site for two reasons:

1. The program encourages small changes (cut down on soda drinks) at your own pace rather than big changes (DIET; Capital DIE Capital T). And I know from personal experience that the small changes work. I didn't just get up one day loving to run. No, that took many tries before the thought of putting on running shoes brought a smile to my face.

2. The social community. They have a big presence on their Facebook group. They also have a forum. You would think it would be a problem having so many different types of people with their own viewpoints and backgrounds, but it's not. No matter how different, we all have the same goal: to improve who we are. That becomes a good environment to be supportive. Also, they aren't family or friends so I have the freedom to rant and rave that I don't have when my soundboards are bias.

Anyway, the point of this post. The forum does a monthly (4week) challenge and the next one starts this weekend. I'm going to attempt my first one using my four goals as my 'Mega Quests' (that is what they are right? Quests? And the Mega makes them sound extra cool.)

I even did a 'postit wall' because... reasons.

Post Its!

It's hard to read from the photo but I have one row with the Mega Quests (CPA, run a sub30, Pay mortgage, Nanowritmo). The next row are each task I'll concentrate on in the next four weeks to accomplish the quest, and the last row are ideas for future tasks.

So the next four weeks:

- Pass the CPA task: '50 MCQs'.

Yes, I am technically done with the exam since I can't do anything until I receive the score in August. That doesn't mean I did, in fact, pass. I felt good about it when I did the AUD section last month (was it really just last month?) but I really should keep on top of my studying on the off chance I didn't pass.

If I *didn't*, then I have a really short amount of time to reschedule, restudy, and retake AUD.

I believe the score is released on August 17th. The exam schedule has four windows when you can take an exam and each section can only be taken once per window. The Q3 window closes around September 10th. So that's what? About three weeks?

If I didn't pass in the Q2 window (last month), I have the Q3 window (August 17- Sept 10).

If I happen not to pass the Q3 window, I only have the Q4 window (November... just November) to try again before my FAR exam section expires.

Confused? Yeah, no one understand how this CPA exam is structured.

So, yeah, despite being done-ish, I still need to practice. More MCQ's are in the future until I officially know my score in August.

- Run a Sub30 5K task: Yoga

I ran a Sub30 once before a couple years ago but I was doing a lot of cross training at the time. I was training for a full marathon and a sprint triathlon. In order to do that, I was biking, climbing, had a trainer for weight training, swimming and, finally, running.

No surprise my time on baby 5Ks improved.

And I want to get back to that level of fitness. The problem comes in A) motivation and B) I'm just f-ing tired right now with all that is happening in my life (aka stressed out).

Yeah, yeah, fitness will help with the stress and motivation is just taking a step at a time.

I recently purchased the Yoga program at nerdfitness because I liked the goal-oriented way it teaches. I just have to go on the website and *do* it.

Yoga is good. It works on strength, on stretching, on breathing - All the important things needed when doing other fitness activities.

As Nike would say: 'Just Do It'.

- Nanowritmo task: Read for 30 minutes

I still need to get to a better place mentally and emotionally before I can get back into writing stories. Journaling I can do sporadically. A writing prompt every once in awhile. This blog.

But I'm not at this point where I can sit and focus on the art of writing a story.

So I'm taking this one slowly. Just concentrate on reading for 30 minutes a day. And it could be any type of book; a book on writing, on accounting/finance, or a fiction novel. I have a full shelf on my bookshelf, I might as well read them.

And maybe then, I can get geared up for writing more.

- Pay Off My Mortgage task: $0-20 per day on takeout/eatout food

This is a tricky quest mainly because it is so large and will take the longest to complete. I just got back from a vacation and that was a lot of money to spend. I also will likely work on the kitchen remodel this year (goal is by the end of 2017). The fact that I don't have the budget for a new kitchen is what is stopping me, but I'm at that point where it needs to get done sooner rather than later. (Damn, I really hate my kitchen right now).

So I can go big on this quest or I can go small.

I am going small.

No matter what I do, I will be putting a bandaid on an open wound the way my budgeting has been. So, I believe the best way to begin this challenge will be to work on my weakest spending habit: Take out food and Eating out. I easily spend way too much for the convenience of not cooking at home and that needs to stop.

This doesn't mean I can go cold turkey. Trivia nights and going out with friends means I will still eat out in restaurants. So I'm limiting the amount I spend each time I do go out to $20 (including tip). On off days, I'll concentrate on not spending at all but I'll still allow some room for those 'f- it days'.

And that's it. Hopefully I'll be more active on this blog going forward with a new mindset.

Onwards my Four Week Challenge!

2017? What happened to 16?

Well... yeah. So this happened.

And by "this" I mean a ton of stuff since the year and a half I last posted.

There is a saying: "Life is what happens when you're busy making plans."  Life pretty much batted me around like a cat with a crumpled piece of paper.

Why, Life? Why?

I think I'll get right to it:

-Pass CPA Exam (2 Days??!!)

I am on my last section! Within a year and a half I passed AUD, FAR, lost AUD, then passed BEC, and REG. I hate that I have to redo AUD after I already passed it once and so I shall do it again!

Onwards to Saturday!

-Running

Ever since I somehow talked a co-worker into half-marathoning, I have gained a new running buddy and the ever increasing running pains that comes with running long distances for long periods of time. (As my great-aunt alwayed said: "never get old".)

My toes are hurting which is means I need better shoes, which I can't do because I have another half marathon on Sunday and I am not sure which is the lesser of two evils: running in brand new, unbroken sneakers or running in ones that make my toes hurt. The choice would have to be the devil I know verse the one I don't.

Onwards to Sunday!

I will be tired after this weekend...

-Nanowritmo (??)

No idea. Next!

-Mortgage (13.0yrs)

I've been plugging along on this. I'll soon be at the milestone where I lose my PMI so that would be nice. I have been tightening on the budget the past couple weeks after I took a look at how bad my spending habits have gotten.

The reason for my budget scrub is mainly because I got a bump in salary this month (as I said, life happened. Some for the good!) and I wanted to see where my money was going. Yeah, the money definitely was going... into take out food and other odds and ends. It's not like I needed a new front door, right? (The answer is 'yes, yes I needed a new door'.)

So enough is enough! I don't need to spend so much (except on new sneakers due to influence of hurting toes. I will treat you better after Sunday, I promise.) I have decided that maybe it was time to go back to some aspects of my old financial lifestyle: like reading finance blogs/books or no cable bill.

I need to bump up the savings. Then I can kick at the mortgage...one day.


So that's it for now! Once the exam and race are done I can buckle down for new and exciting things!

I am making plans, Life! Come and get me!

The Five Month Update

This, my friends, had been a rough summer.

With a close relative passing, my bad habits finally betraying my health and the overall realization that I am officially in my third decade, I have been trying to deal with it all solo.

Mid-life crisis (Quarter-life? Mid-quarter?) amplified.

I'm feeling better. I took a trip to South America to visit a cousin and getting out of my usual routine helped immensely. I think I needed to remind myself the joys of freedom and travel.

But I'm back and ready to learn new things and gain new perspectives:

 -Pass CPA Exam (13mths)

I passed AUD! A 75. Barely, but I did it. Now the clock is ticking and I have until the end of October 2016 to pass the three other sections. The next one is next week (FAR) and I'm not sure whether or not I'll pass. I am determined and persistent though so, even not, I'll keep on trying.

What is keeping me going is that what I'm learning will be beneficial for my job- not in the sense of raises or promotions, but in just knowing the material. The bosses are looking into how to record an entry and I'm seeing similar questions on my practice exams.

It's about learning, connecting, and understanding that makes the stress worth it.

 -Running

It was a hot summer and I've been busy CPAing so my running has been non-existent. I've done some spin class every other Sunday and some walking but that's about it. I know, sad. And I can't imagine getting back to the running regime I once had.

But I'm slowly getting back into it. Started with the basics last week with Couch to 5K and I've been trying more yoga to prevent anymore knee pain.

As much as I want to get back into half marathons again (Edinburgh!), I also realize I have to ease my way back to better fitness. I plan to sign up for a 10K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving and go from there.

 -Nanowritmo (1mth)

 It's coming! It's coming! I do want to give another go and I have been writing more. I got a nice journal and I've been writing in it for the past couple months. It does make me happy as my pages get filled more and more.

But... journaling is not the same as noveling. I'm not good with telling stories, just ask anyone who has listened to one of my anecdotes (As many children do, I blame my father). Writing a novel is something that needs a lot focus and practice.

It might come down to my CPA exam. After next week's exam, I want to get right onto the next one- REG. This means that my next testing window that I can be ready for is Q1. If I schedule first day of the testing period, that leaves me three months start to finish on one of my weakest areas. Focus might go in that direction and I would try Nanowrimo next year instead.

 -Mortgage (14.5yrs)

 It's been a few months on the refi and it is nice seeing my principle dwindling faster than before. Since I just spent money on a trip to South America and I have trip and projects coming up soon, I need to play catch-up on my finances. Until that happens, it's minimum payments on the mortgage. When I get my cushion back, I'll attempt paying more into the loan.

My grandfather passed away a few weeks ago. I've come to take a long, hard look at myself, my life and the continuation of life after death.

There are some things I'm either going to fall back on and other things in life that I need full focus on. I'm still trying to figure out what 'things' and how.

Still have the long term goals: 

 -Pass CPA Exam (18mths)

I failed AUD with a 72 and retook it a couple weeks ago. I won't find out if I passed until May but I'm working on (slowly) studying for the FAR section. I plan to take that in either July or August.

-Running

My knee still hurts a week and a half after my second half marathon this season (hot, long, tough run). I decided that I will forgone the next one I signed up for (May 2nd) and concentrate on strengthen training and stretching as I believe this is why my knee is hurting.

-Nanowritmo (6mths)

After hearing about keeping a 'one sentence' journal, I decided to give that a try. I've been liking it so far since there is no real pressure on getting a certain words and/or time down. It's whatever in my head that goes down on paper. Baby steps.

-Mortgage (15(!)yrs)

I officially closed on my refinance last Friday. Overall, it ended up being a pretty good deal. I bumped my monthly payments by about $100 but I cut my loan down by 10 years. I can't wait to see those tiny chips in my principal turn into much bigger chucks.

Stuff is Happening in 2015

For good and for bad, the long term goals are coming along:

-Pass CPA Exam (18mths)

Having a retake on AUD this Friday. I'm working the MCQs so I gaining a little more confidence on the possibility of passing this one. If I do, then the clock begins on the 18 months for the rest of the three sections...

-Running

Ick, this one is not good. I have less than a month for a half marathon and the bitter cold has impeded my training. Not only that but my cross training (swim & bike) did something to my back and now I'm hurting. I need to heal up a bit before I can concentrate on running and, apparently, strength training. Spring cannot come soon enough.

-Nanowritmo (10mths)

Well, this one is also being backlogged because of studying (...and procrastination in general). What I really need to do is switch out my 'TV' time for 'book/write' time. Work in progress...

-Mortgage (24.2yrs)

Big change here. I can no longer ignore the fact that refinancing is *really* good to do right now. If I can move to a 15yr loan, I'd be increasing my monthly payments by about a $100 (plus closing costs) but my interest would drop like crazy and I'd cut 10 years off the loan. Long term, it'd be stupid not to.

2015 Resolutions:

- Read a book (30 mins) everyday

- Pass at least two CPA exams (4 sections total)

- Run 10 half marathons

- Complete all current financial goals

- Go on 2 overnight backpacking trips

- 365 Project

- Nanowrimo in November

It seems like a lot but I am pretty confident I can achieve them all if I commit myself to keeping them.

Going mobile

I just got a new phone today. I cringe about it because this doesn't help with the budget but an upgrade was needed. The nice thing is that I now have more memory for apps, including the blogger app!

 Now, I just need something to write about...

Pre-Holiday Blues

I'm feeling a little better on my finances. I've caught up with my credit card bill and was even able to start adding a little back into my savings account. I'll start to feel even better once I have more of a cushion.

The savings account isn't bad (in fact, it's pretty good) but it's not 'three month worth of expenses' crazy good like I had before I kept getting hit with big $2K+ expenses. Some hits were planned (Europe trip, CPA) and some not planned (vet bills, new car), but all happened within a year. Now, it's just playing catch-up.

Such is life.

I'll have my tax rebate next year but, for now, I just have to get through the joy of the holidays. I definitely will consider less with presents this year and I was hoping to get a new iphone 6, but I may hold out at least until after Christmas (or until I break my current one, whichever comes first).

I really want my long term goals to be short term; case in point...

I know I want to work on Nanowrimo this year (instead of next year as planned), and I'm very tempted to do it. I have a story in mind with strong characters and an idea for an interesting plot.

The problem with doing it this year is twofold; one, I still haven't worked at and practiced enough to feel confidant that I will be able to write 50,000 words in one month. I've gotten better in the past year. It's the whole fact that I'm writing more than I have in the past that I want to do it. But I'm not sure I'm at *50K* better. And two, I have other things in mind to do during the month of November. Study for CPA, exercise more, finish up on stuff at work.

I haven't been motivated to study for the CPA so that's a monstrous task that will become even harder if I add 'write a gazillion words a day' to the list.

But then, an off-handed comment from a co-worker got me thinking. "Why aren't you studying for AUD?" I was planning to study for FAR again because that was the Mount Everest to this CPA mountain and I wanted to get that done and over. Except if I wasn't studying at all, then...yeah, what's the point?

So, AUD is still fresh in my mind and one of the easier sections of the CPA exam. I'd rather study for that during the holiday season than FAR *and* that may still allow me time for Nanowrimo this year.

If I do try Nanowrimo this year, I will definitely wait until I complete the first week until I involve myself with writing groups. No starts and stops this time around.

...This may work. I just have to get committed.

Pay Day!

Money in...and money out.

I really have to work on being mindful about how I spend money. I've been doing alright these past couple of weeks but I could do better....

Oh! Or I could sign up for another race. Decisions, decisions..