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This summer I replaced most of my workout clothes - I haven’t bought anything new in 6 years, which is crazy. Most of it was great quality, but a couple of the colorful leggings were quite see-through, which is NOT a lewk I’m going for. So a few hundred dollars will be going back in my account! I’ll call that a win. 

Yall, June was a monster. So much happened. I didn’t even post anything other than my May 2019 goals update last month because so much insanity was going on. And clearly July isn’t any less insane, because I’ve neglected the blog altogether. Sorry about that! But I’m back to give you the lowdown on how things are going in my money and my life.

I made a big dent in my consumer debt this month, but I did transfer some savings to do it because (A) I had a large payment due and I would have had to incur interest if I didn’t pay it…I also changed my W4 allowances because apparently I have had 0 withholdings since I got this job 2017. That’s crazy! Each paycheck is now ~$100 more, which means I’ve freed up ~$200/mo for reducing that consumer debt.

My consumer debt is finally *truly* on the decline, and as some of you may have seen in my Instagram stories last week, I’m almost to the point where I am finished with the “paying off each statement balance in a very particular order” merry-go-round. My reading list is still just as long as it was last month, because I’m falling down on the job.

While I haven’t accomplished everything I hoped to accomplish with the blog in the past year, I have certainly accomplished more than I thought I would in certain ways….and getting this thing off the ground imperfectly is a heck of a lot better than not getting it off the ground at all, amirite? 

March and the beginning of April was hectic with my final of 3 bridesmaid adventures for 2019 consuming most of my free time. First, there was a shower, then a Bachelorette party in mid-March and finally the wedding the first weekend of April! It was all so much fun, but VERY expensive.

Over the years I’ve started doing a few things to get my clothing ready to store and to help keep it in shape for years to come. I’m also a picky shopper, so the stress of having to replace big-ticket items is something I try to avoid at all costs. Seriously, who are these people who allegedly shop as a hobby? Spending money to make sure your clothes, shoes and accessories stay clean, in good repair, and looking nice is one of the best investments you can make, especially if you buy higher quality items to avoid fast fashion (or if you’re on a clothing ban like Angela over at Tread Lightly, Retire Early)

February always sucks, but at least this year it was productive! Except for the reading books thing. My bedside stack is at least 6 books high right now. IT WILL HAPPEN. But not in February…

This list is intended to be for temporary financial situations - like a government shutdown, for example, or the time between graduation and a job start date. This list is not specifically intended to be used as a general money management strategy, but frankly, if it helps you get current on your bills, have at it. I’m not going to judge you improving your situation if improving your situation right now would mean a 16% interest rate on a credit card vs a 300% APR on a payday loan.

I know using credit cards will cost you money. And this may not be the solution for everyone, but it worked for me, and you shouldn’t feel ashamed if you’re facing some kind of paycheck interruption and you don’t want to (or can’t) rely on your emergency fund for any meaningful length of time. Do what you have to do to stay afloat.

2018 was the year I committed to my mental and physical health, pretty much no matter the cost. It was the year of 2x/week personal training, weekly therapy, binging ER, and letting my brain rest when I wasn’t working on my blog or doing things with my people. The foundation is sustainable enough that I can build on it BIG TIME in 2019 without spending nearly as much money.