Thirteen Things I Have Gained from Blogging

1. In honor of the retirement of the Thursday Thirteen, I figured this was an appropriate theme. And number one on my list is the confidence I have gained from the Thursday Thirteen! My blog wasn’t read by many before the T13, and when the first set of management changes happened, Leanne trusted me enough to be one of the new co-hostesses of the T13! This brought me new readers, thus boosting my confidence. My posts are VERY different now than they were pre-13, and so most of the things I have gained from blogging came out of the T13!!

2. Friendships! I have met so many amazing people through blogging, and that is soooo the stereotypical answer, but it is very true.

3. A new outlet for writing! I used to write creatively alllllll the time, but once I got into college I was writing so much for my classes that I didn’t want to write anymore. Blogging brought me a way to write and enjoy it again, and it’s even renewed my desire to write creatively!

4. My 101 in 1001 has given me a visible platform to write down goals that I’ve been wanting to achieve, and an audience to keep me accountable.

5. The Works-for-Me Wednesday meme has given me so many fantastic tips that I have used in my everyday life!

6. Through blogging I found FlyLady, which is a life altering event! ‘Nuff said!

7. Also through blogging I found Bookcrossing.com, which has revolutionized my thoughts on books and has jumpstarted my pleasure reading, which also stagnated with all my college reading!

8. As I have discussed before, I was very environmentally-conscious when I was younger. Blogging brought that back!

9. As someone who is committed to breast health awareness, blogging has been a great platform for sharing what I know and connecting with women on something that may save their lives!

10. An outlet, of course! When I get excited or worked up about something, online is on of the first places that I go!

11. Blogging has also led me into the world of personal finance management. It’s made me aware as I am leaving college on the importance of saving, budgeting, and investing, something that I will be thankful for for the rest of my life!

12. Blogging on my personal blog has led me to create another blog, Reading Red Letters, my faith blog. This has been a great way to connect with other Christians online, and has led me to many great online blogs and resources that have aided me in my walk.

13. And, in case there was any doubt . . . BLOGGING IS FUN!!!!!!!!!

Thanks so much for a great couple of years with the T13!!! I have so much enjoyed getting to know people, and I hope to stay in touch with you as we continue blogging!!!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Leave me a comment and I’ll give you a shout out!

Thirteen Things about LINDSEY

I’m back to Thursday Thirteen-ing! Yay!!!

1. Since I withdrew from grad school, I need to get a job. And I have no idea where to start, cause I thought I wouldn’t be doing this search for another 8 months. Any ideas? Know of any jobs in North Carolina?

2. Now that I’m not going to school every day, I’ve got a lot more time on my hands, and I’ve been accomplishing a lot at home. I’ve sorted through a lot of things and I’ve gotten a lot of cleaning done.

3. With that free time I managed to buy ALL my Christmas presents! As in, I’m done! Unless something pops up last minute, my presents are finished.

4. I’ve also gotten all my Christmas cards addressed - still haven’t written them, but the addressing is done.

5. And since I’m updating on my life and goings on, I should mention that I’ve made progress on my 101 in 1001! Today I am 32.47% through with the time, and I’ve completed 37.62% of my tasks. I’m pretty excited about that! Since I last posted about the 101, here are the things I’ve finished:

6. I completed #2 - regularly updating my faith blog, Reading Red Letters. I would still like to update more often, but I have been doing well thus far, and hopefully it will continue to be this way!

7. My brother Bo is a freshman in college, and #7 on my list was keeping in touch with him. Not only have we kept in touch, but we see each other fairly often - once every other week or so. It’s been great, I’m so glad that he’s up here!

8. I’ve also got #14 down - I’m regularly flossing, LOL!

9. And regularly taking my vitamins (#16).

10. Well, #28 was to set up a new place to live after graduation, but now that I’m not in school, I guess that I completed that one back in July, LOL!

11. With my new budget I’ve maintained saving $5 a day (#32) - hint, I take it out of my account as soon as I get my check.

12. #49 was to maintain cleaning apartment at least once a month. Now I have FlyLady. ‘Nuff said. (P.S. - you should ALL be FLYing!)

13. One of the best things about living with Matt and Ben is that Matt is very into politics, and he knows that in general I am not an idiot, so I can ask as many stupid politics questions as I want and he won’t judge me. So I ask them all the time - check off #51!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Leave me a comment and I’ll give you a shout out!

Thirteen Things about PERSONAL FINANCE

I’ve been working on my personal finance situation a lot lately! Here are several tools and tips that I’ve come to depend on!

1. PearBudget: I know I’ve talked about this before, but I just have to put one more plug in. Everyone needs a budget, at least when they’re first getting started with personal finance management, and PearBudget is a great program that is free, super easy, and will keep you using it! I’ve been on it for more than 2 months now, which is a HUGE achievement, LOL!

2. Next, you need a way to keep up with your accounts. There’s the old paper and pencil checkbook ledger, but we’re on our computers for everything else, why not managing our finances! I’ve used both Microsoft Money and Quicken Personal Finance, and they are both great tools!

3. Almost any personal finance site that you read tells you that you need to have an emergency savings fund, just in case something happens like you have to go to the hospital, or you get laid off. The amount that goes in this fund varies - a great place to start is $1000, and many sites recommend you keep 3-6 months worth of living expenses. The most common complaint: I can’t afford to put money into an emergency savings fund! The most common reply: You can’t afford NOT to do this. I’ve got 2 that I’m working on right now. My immediate emergency savings fund is through my bank, and I’m currently building a long-term (the 3-6 months one) emergency savings fund in a high-interest savings account. The immediate one is in case I need the money RIGHT NOW - I can get it from an ATM. The long-term one is accessible within a few days, and it will grow because of the interest! Free money!

4. High-interest savings account? How do I get one of those? I’m currently setting up accounts through ING Direct, and I’m LOVING it so far. The interest rate is 4.4% - how crazy is that?! Accounts like these are run through the internet - there is no physical bank, and you don’t get checks. They’re just savings accounts. There are many other financial institutions, but ING allows you to set up sub accounts, which is too cool! I have sub-accounts for my emergency fund, travel fund, medical expenses fund, etc. And all are gonna earn 4.4% interest!

5. I Will Teach You To Be Rich - I’ve blogged about it before, but again, I have to mention it. There are so many different concepts, ideas, and terms that I am so clueless on, and this site explains them in a simple, no nonsense way that will make things clear! Amazing.

6. Don’t want to wade through all the personal finance sites? Then just get the goodies through the Carnival of Personal Finance every week! You’ll find topics about EVERYTHING, and there are three or four sites that I’ve found through reading the carnival that I’ve stuck with.

7. Get an Entertainment Book. They only cost about $20, but there are hundreds (probably thousands) of great coupons and savings in the book. Well worth the money spent!

8. Invest. There are many different kinds of investments (see my #5, he explains them all), but make sure that you are investing. The type of fund that I keep seeing more and more recommendations for is a Roth IRA, which I am still learning about. It involves investing your money and paying the taxes now, and then when you withdraw it, it will be tax-free (no matter how much more taxes are at the time).

9. Another great way to invest - the stock market. Ahhh, don’t be scared. If you read up on what to do, and find a great place to invest with, then you’ll do fine. And the place I’ve seen mentioned over and over again is ShareBuilder. As soon as I start to receive a regular income (aka, when I get out of grad school), I will be investing with ShareBuilder - the fees aren’t bad, and they’re not gonna try to trip you up because you have no idea what you’re doing.

10. Shop at discount stores and buy in bulk! You’ll be amazed at how much you can save at places like Costco and Sam’s Club! However, be wary . . . pay attention to the costs, and divide by how many you’re getting. Are you really saving? Discount stores can be great as long as you play it smart!

11. Take advantage of websites that offer promotions. For example: you need to buy a book for your Bible study in two weeks, and there was a CD you were wanting to get. You could go to Barnes and Noble or Borders that is right by your house . . . or you could go online and get them from Amazon.com for cheaper. And if you spend $25, it’s free shipping, so it’s like you bought it in person. You just have to wait a few days. So why not go for the discount? Or, even better! Do you buy books/DVDs/CDs/software/toys/groceries a lot? Do you shop on Amazon.com A LOT?! Then become a prime member. For a reasonable fee you get free 2 day shipping and significantly discounted overnight shipping. I was offered a free 3 month trial, and I loved it so much that I paid the fee. Now I NEVER buy these things from expensive stores in person! Click here for details!!!

12. Cook at home - don’t eat out, don’t go to fast food restaurants. I’ve been experimenting with my spending lately, and it’s AMAZING how much I’ve saved in food costs!

13. Want a great new opportunity to save HUGE on virtually anything you can buy online? I’m an IBO member, and we sell everything - we have our own product lines as well as partnerships for huge discounts on stores like Barnes and Noble, Office Depot, Dell, Things Remembered, Shop.com, Joann’s Fabrics, and SOOOOO many more! We run the business through Quixtar. The discounts alone are worth it, but if you’re a member, you get a check back based on your purchases and the purchases of your customers. Take a look, and if you’re interested in buying something, let me know! I can set you up as a client with ZERO obligation. Or, if you want to take a great opportunity and are interested in making some money, let me know, and we’ll discuss!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Leave me a comment and I’ll give you a shout out!

During the Blogathon 2006 I posted about a new budgeting tool that I had started using called PearBudget.

Now that it’s been another month into my using this AMAZING tool, I just wanted to post again about PearBudget. You download a simple Excel document, and you assess your current spending patterns. The spreadsheet walks you through (baby steps people) setting up a budget, and how to maintain it EASILY! You put in your categories and estimated expenditures at the beginning, and then you start on whatever month you want to - since we’re still early in the month, how easy is that? You can update it at your leisure (the website has recommendations on this, but I update everyday - it’s just too easy not to).

Currently they’re working on a new version that I can’t WAIT to see. This current one is so easy, I can’t imagine what they may come up with next!! I’ve never had a budget and the thought of creating one TERRIFIED me. But this took me about half an hour to set up, less that 2 minutes to maintain every day, and I’ve been using it religiously for 2 months.

Budgeting made easy? Works For Me!