How did I do last month?
Save 20 per cent of my income. Done, even beyond 20 percent. Unfortunately, it’s going to be wiped out by that tax payment, humongoid phone bill, and a bond (at least that’s refundable) for the power company. And by wiped out, I mean to the tune of almost two months’ solid saving. Booo. I’d like to hit $10k at the end of the year, so will have to get cranking on bringing more in.
Try one new (to me) dinner recipe each week. Well, BF has been taking charge of dinners as he gets home before me, but he’s a whiz at knocking together strange yet delicious concoctions. Menu planning is sort of happening…we’re making a conscious effort to go into the supermarket with a rough outline, at least.
Run once a week. Again, I missed one week in the aftermath of the move, but made up for it with an extra long one the week after! Plus, we now live next to a huge park with field, basketball court and tennis court. T and I have been walking over to play our version of tennis (simply getting the ball over the net counts as a win) in the evenings.
Make an upwards career move. Did some freelancing work which may or may not lead to future opportunities. Either way, it was great for experience. In terms of the day-to-day, my new duties are all going well and I feel like I’m really getting into the groove of it.
Donate to charity. Grr, don’t think I’ve done this since last month…the past few weeks have been so hectic. Must make up for that next month.
I’m also sloooowly trying to get through my list of books to read (you’ll find it at the bottom of the booklist page). Most recently, I finished In My Father’s Den.
Other books I’ve read this month and really enjoyed:
Kindred
Octavia Butler
Picture this: you’re a “modern” black woman who suddenly finds herself waking up in the heyday of slavery in the American South. The premise is a bit stretched (I mean, come on, this woman suddenly starts getting sent back in time each time her ancestor’s life is in danger?) but the story itself is vivid and jarring – a powerful reminder that although slavery is behind us, it wasn’t all that long ago.
Kane and Abel
Jeffrey Archer
Again, a really unlikely plot sees two starkly different men’s lives interweave as they try to best each other. Born on the same day on opposite sides of the world – one in war-stricken poverty and one in the lap of WASP luxury – fate ensures their paths are irreversibly entwined on the journey to build their individual fortune and legacy. Written 30 years ago and set more than a century ago, it reflects the views and conventions of the time, but still a flaming good read.
Under the Rose
Diane Peterfreund
Sequel to Secret Society Girl (which I haven’t actually read). A tale of a secret societies among elite universities where members meet in underground tombs, call each other by code names, make friends with the other rich, well connected “knights”, go through hazing and…well…everything else pretty much sounds like what a frat/sorority is, from what I know. Except that they’re highly secret and nobody ever reveals that they belong to one. Seriously, are these for real? Because from the author blurb, it kind of sounds like they are. And I don’t know if that’s more scary or amusing.
instead of dinner recipe, why not try something like a lunch recipe during the weekend? or even an easy recipe… like if you’re used to making mashed potatoes for dinner, try scallopped potatoes instead or baked chips.
The three books you listed sound AMAZING. How do you find out about what good books to read? For me, I usually end up going to the classics section in the library and if I’ve heard of it but never read it, then I’ll go in. But I’d like to read some more modern books. I think I’m going to read Kindred!
Sounds like you did pretty stellar on your goals for this month!!
@Pear funny you say that, we will be making scalloped potatoes this week! Which reminds me we haven’t had breakfast for dinner in a while….
@Newbie Kindred is actually a really old book – from the 70s I think. I have a lot of trouble finding new books to read. Sometimes I go look in Whitcoulls or something, or read reviews in mags/newspapers. Otherwise I often comb through the ‘recently returned’ shelves at the library – sometimes there are some gems in there.
Hey,
I really enjoy this reflection on your goals.
Totally agree with #2 Investing Newbie about your books.
Have you considered joining Amazon’s Associate program? It’s an affiliate program, where you link up to their products and get paid commissions for sales.
You might be able to make a few extra bucks.. plus, it saves me the time it takes typing those books into Amazon.
Good luck and enjoy the weekend!
I like ‘Kane and Abel’ but prefer the sequel, ‘The Prodigal Daughter’ about Abel’s daughter Florentyna. (The first half might be repetitive, though, if you’ve just read Kane and Abel.)
good job on the goals!!
Oh and secret societies* are REAL!! there are a bunch at my undergrad college. my best friend (since the first year of college) recently revealed to me that he is a member of one of them…they used to meet at night randomly and pull silly pranks. I never suspected and never even knew this society existed! However, I highly doubt that it was anything more than a bunch of people getting together for fun–no crazy hazing or evil agendas or government-overthrowing plots…
There are a few other societies at my college which are highly visible (they paint their symbols on the sidewalks): one where people NEVER reveal that they are a member, another where all is revealed upon the member’s death, and another where you find out who they are at graduation…crazy, huh?!
*i may or may not be a member. 🙂