After this latest round of craziness, I've been left feeling frumpier, older, and just generally less happy with my appearance. Pre-pregnancy I was within 10lbs of my pre-pre-pregnancy weight. With hormones and a ton of chocolate, I've managed to bring that up another 10lbs. Those 10lbs really show. I was telling myself that it would go away naturally, but I think what I really need is to start taking better care of myself.
I still have 4 punches left on my gym card, so if I can find a good time to work out for the next month, I'm covered for the month, but I need more than a 1x a month gym excursion to get my mind, body, and spirit back in shape.
So, the perpetual list maker, I made a list. Each month, I need or would like:
An appointment with my counselor (not covered by insurance, $140/session)
A weekly visit to the gym (new gym near my house is $45/month, great price!)
For the summer, a personal trainer to get me back into the swing of things (same gym has a great deal, 8 weeks membership plus 6 one on one 1/2 hour sessions for $195, and includes nutritional counseling and plans) (future deals are $45/ 1/2 hour session or $/35 if you commit to 6 months, if I can find or be placed with a partner it's $30/$25 for the same, I'm really hoping I could go down to 1x a month and fit it into the budget, if for no other reason than accountability)
A haircut. (maybe $60 with partial highlights at e cheapest place around, theoretically I could go every 6 weeks and make it work into a monthy budget better, but I think right now I need a routine)
New clothes (even working out, my stomach is just different, and it turns out my body shape turns to an apple shape, not terrible, but the belly is there. I need to find more attractive clothes until I can get back to lean, I'm thinking a $50/month budget for 1-2 discount outfits or shoes for a few months, and maybe more when I actually look better).
The problem here is that I added it all up and I'm at $500 in maintenance costs. Right when we are taking on a larger mortgage and going back to two cars...And I have no income over the summer...
We are offsetting some of the cost by canceling cable (google chrome here we come) getting solar panels through a leasing company (no up front cost and a lower monthly rate for electricity) and reducing our nanny's hours over the summer (she watches another chic during the summer, so we will only get her once or twice a week to reinforce German).
Our costs are set to increase by $500/month without my personal improvement plan.
Nanny costs will reduce from $1400/month to around $700/month for the summer
I already have a personal budget of around $250/month for me (which includes counseling and breakfast out on days I work).
We have been managing to save around $1000/month prior to the costs associated with selling a house.
I'm never great at math, and this Makes my head hurt! I'm looking for ways to cut back my maintenance plan, but without spending money on stuff like that one of two things happens. A) I end up spending the money anyway (I'm not very good at staying dedicated to my budget) or B) I end up in a rut until I decide I need to do something for myself, and then I go on a binge of self care...
So there you go. Accountability in its infant form. It's a work in progress.
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