Anticipation. Preparation.

Anticipating , preparing and saving for big expenditures.

I hope everyone have a great 4^th of July!

On the heels of Independence Day, preparing for hefty expenses just seems so appropriate, doesn’t it? Financial freedom at its best!

The great part of the anticipation, preparing and saving for this week’s task is that it’s completely personalize-able (is that even a word? I’m going to go with it).  For example, what one person may consider a large expense another may not, such as a new appliance or a car.

By now you should have a good idea of how much you would like to have in emergency fund and be contributing to this regularly. Similar to how you had to decide what would be considered an emergency, it is necessary to anticipate what you will be spending lots of your hard earned money on.

Two examples of what Mr. A and I have come up with are:

• Used pickup truck. This is important to us, as we do a lot of our home reno ourselves and we either have to spend money renting a truck or borrow a friend/family members.
• Addition to our house, probably the biggest expense we will have in the next 15 years or so
• Coming up with 30K for grad school

Maybe you want to redo your bathroom, or plan a once in a lifetime vacation. Even planning on splurging on a new wardrobe can be applied here! These expenditures can be as grandiose or basic as you like- the key is to be prepared and only spend what you can truly afford.  By being mindful in your finances, you learn to spend your money carefully in ways that will reward you long after you swipe your card.

I hope this post gave you the kick you needed to start thinking about what large purchases you want to make and come up with an action to make this happen, #debtfree of course!

Xoxo A

Why We Aren’t Traveling This Holiday

  
Happy (almost) Independence Day! 

In previous years, Mr.A and I have packed up and headed north to enjoy this holiday with our families in both New Hampshire and Maine. 

This year we are doing this different. With work and school work at an all time high for Mr A, we decided to stay home. While we certainly miss enjoying partaking in all of our usual festivities (hello, town hall bingo!) we are really embracing being present  this year. 

First off, we are saving tons of money as we don’t have to fill up the gas tank on my SUV as well as other miscellaneous costs we typically incur- such as going out to eat with friends, souvenirs, etc. Plus the overall rush to drive four hours and deal with traffic just isn’t as appealing.

So this weekend, we are taking a deep breath, getting some misc odds and ends done around the house, sitting in our yard enjoying an adult beverage, and even doing some BBQ hopping tomorrow. 

Whatever your plans are- whether you are away for the weekend or taking time to hit reset, enjoy! 

Xoxo A 

Emergency Funds- Yes, you need some

Welcome back, fancies- I’m so excited to share this series of getting your finances together… like the adults we are!

An emergency fund is a type of a savings account. I recommend opening a separate account that you put money in just for any potential emergencies- different from a rainy day savings account.

How much money you put into the account is really up to you- but the larger your balance, the more peace of mind you will have when something goes drastically wrong. I recommend 6 months worth of your incomes- as long as you are currently living within your means, this gives you time to get back on your feet.

Obviously it is unrealistic to start of just putting six months of income away, but start small by contributing a set amount of money each pay check and soon you’ll be only your way. It’ll feel good to reach your goal, even if it takes two years to save up six months worth of incomes.

Wether you are creating this account by yourself or with a significant other, you need to come up with what qualifies for emergency and what does not. This varies from person to person. What will you consider an emergency and what will be taken out of a rainy day savings or put  on a credit card?

For some people, a leaky roof repair or the cost new furnace constitute as reasons for emergency fund withdrawals. Others are more stingy, and vow to only dip into these funds if one loses their job and supplemental income is necessary.  There are  no right or wrong answers, but setting ground rules from the beginning helps avoid unnecessary spending of this money.

Have you set up your emergency fund? What do you consider an emergency? What do you think is the most difficult part of this task?

Bonus: Sunday Food Prep Inspiration!

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! It’s a rainy Sunday here just north of Boston, perfect for binge watching Scandal! 

After a killer morning workout and a run to the market, I spent my morning getting some food prep done to prepare me for the week. 

What are you doing to prepare for the week? 

 
Peanut butter and choc chip oatmeal “muffins”, six cut up kiwis, 2lbs of fresh sliced strawberries, a pint of blueberries rinsed and ready to be inhaled, plus an adorable little butternut squash (I didn’t plan on buying this, but it was just  calling my name!) all roasted and ready to be a side for tonight’s dinner. 

Enjoy! Xoxo A 

#100happydays

7 simple things that gave me happiness and gratitude.   The ability to run (albeit, slowly)  Fresh Air    A little throw back to my dad for Father’s Day  Our very own backyard. No matter what the construction status is.   The quilt from my late Nana   Greek yogurt for all it’s protein to get me through the day. Running into these little pups on my lunchbreak walk.

Confession Post : When Finances Are Scary

Even if you aren’t in your 20’s this is such a good financial check list- no time like the present!

I once read somewhere that people create (the majority) their own anxiety. For many people, the unknown is very scary, especially when it comes to finances.

What IS an IRA? ROTH? 401K? Do I  have one? SHOULD I have one?

Sometimes it just seems its much easier to just not try to understand what all of these term means because it is so overwhelming. I can’t be the only one who didn’t learn these in high school, right? So let’s do this together- no matter where you are financially.

First thing on my list is figuring out how to even log into my 401k situation and see what is going on there.

My posts for the next few weeks will be featuring each item on this list.. Tuesday we will start having an emergency fund.

Comment if you have specific questions or items you want me to address.

PS- Don’t forget about tomorrow’s #100happydays update!

Photo credit: Levo.com

House Projects

Do you dream of owning a home that you can both afford and love?

It sounds cheesy, but I’ve been chasing the American dream since I can remember. I moved a lot growing up, and never really felt attached any particular house, so the idea of sticking with one house and making it our own was overwhelming to me at first. I just always thought that once I got sick of this house and we were making more money we’d buy another house. Repeat every 5-6 years.

With hard work and prayers, I’m now realizing how much smarter it is financially for us to stay in our current home and make it our own. Right now we live in a cape style house and have recently come up some concrete (no pun intended!) plans to convert our house into a colonial.

Construction is set to start circa fall 2016/summer 2017. Check out my pinterest board (Green Street) for the floor plans we have.

In the meantime, we are still plugging away on house projects that won’t be torn apart once construction starts. Mostly we’re ignoring our second level and focusing on the yard, kitchen and living room. If Mr. A and his father were not so handy, there is no way we would be able to afford grad school x 2 and home reno.

The take away message is don’t bite off more than you can chew with a house- but make sure you can envision the end result.  Maybe your house isn’t your dream home, but pick small projects, buy painting for dummies, and watch endless Youtube videos. I’m not the handiest person, but you learn. You make mistakes but it’s about the journey.

I can’t wait for the day that J and I are sitting on our (currently non existent) patio sipping wine and taking in all that we accomplished on our home. There is just something so rewarding to doing it yourself.

Here are few pictures of the home reno we’ve done so far. How do you budget for home projects? Are you a do-er or do you hire contractors? I’d love to see your projects of #homereno!

The one rule we always follow is: Put all costs on the credit card to help rack up points and pay it off every month.
  The never ending fence project. Started Fall 2014- still not done. But progress! J and I disagreed about this fence for weeks- I wanted this fence, he wanted a solid fence. I won. For perspective- he is 6’3. That’s how tall the fence is. Why would we need this to be solid? I was afraid at 5’1 I’d feel like I’m in a prison.

 Remember me saying we had two (not one) old sewer tanks to remove? Here’s the big hole. We saved tons of money but pumping them out ourselves (with a pump of course) and J broke up all the concrete himself. It still costs us extra for tool rental and to dispose of the concrete, but nothing close to the $3,000 we were quoted by contractors.

 The time we had to re paint the kitchen walls and ceiling.My triceps still hurt.

  We took down the wall between our kitchen and dining room. The picture is standing in the dining room- below is standing in the kitchen. Ignore ugly cabinets- those deserve their own post. Only cost was the sheet rock, dumpster, wood for beam, tool rental and paint.

 After 600+ days I finally got the TV mounted above the fireplace. Mr. A and his dad did all the work to make it so no wires are showing. Only cost was the PVC piping.

100 Happy Days? Count Me In!

I can’t think of a more important reason to become #debtfree than happiness. Never do I ever want to owe anyone a damn thing (sorry- I get heated when I’m passionate!)

Money does not create happiness, but it can steal from your happiness. So  many people think that having student loans, car payments, mortgages and credit card debts is just how life is and that they have no control over this.  This couldn’t be further from the truth! You CAN be debt free and then, only then, will you know what it’s like to have complete freedom.

You deserve the happiness of living debt free. You are wroth. And you can do it.

A few weeks ago I stumbled across a website called 100 Happy Days and made a mental note to go back and check it out more thoroughly and what this is all about. This is actually a happiness challenge.

According to their website, only 71% of people do not have time to complete this challenge (note- I did not say competition!).

So what does this challenge consist of? Take one picture of something that makes you happy every day for the next 100 days. The end.

There is also more you can do like share your photos using certain hashtags and registering on the website. It’s up to you how involved you get. Or not.

I AM IN! I love that this challenge is not a competition, so there is no competing for who is happier and that it costs nothing. Plus, I think it’s a great reminder how happy you can be without a trip to Nordstroms.

Who’s joining me? I’ll be submitting my own photos every Friday (starting 6/26/15) in addition to my Tues/Thurs posts. I will also be featuring some fellow challengers pictures here as well… so comment below if you are up for me to share your happiness and I’ll send you the info!

BONUS: follow me on insta (@agoulette) to see more happiness and share your happiness with me!

More info on the challenge (which I take no credit in creating, etc) can be found at: 100happydays.com

Zucchini & Summer Goals Update!

Remember that post about growing my own food? I’m still working on it! And by working on it, I mean watering the plants once a day when I bring the dog out to pee.

Due to our backyard being a construction zone, I decided to transfer the seedlings from the empty egg cartons to some pots I found in the basement. This way, the plants can be moved around and not disturbed by that digging/pumping/blasting/etc that occurs on a weekly basis. Somehow in the midst of this, I managed to mix up the seedlings and had no idea what was growing. Of the four pots I transferred seedlings into, only two pots have things growing in them, and apparently they are both zucchini.

So much for cukes and tomatoes.

Here is an update on what the plants look like today… does anyone know how big zucchini plants get? And are flowers common on zucchini plants? Honestly, if I get one darn vegetable out of the entire deal I’ll be happy.

  
Is anyone else gardening this summer? What do you have growing and do you have any tips for me? I’m hoping to get more into it next summer when our backyard is not under any construction.

Part 2: Summer Goals

I’m so excited to have strike quite a few things off my list- How is your SBL going? Have you added anything or crossed anything off? Let me know!

1. Read more books! I’ve been reading like crazy and can’t get enough. Here’s what on my list:

The Nice Girl Syndrome by Beverly Engel

Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

Best of Me by Nicolas Sparks

Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent

2. Watch Season 3 of Orange Is The New Black. No explanation needed! ps- if you haven’t already, definitely read Piper’s book!

3. Go to the beach! Seriously I live 15 min away from a handful of amazing beaches and didn’t go once last summer  Done! I’m considering buying a season pass for $112, I think I’d def use it! 

4. Run My First 5K. I’m signing up for a fun obstacle course run with my cousin in August, so looking forward to this!

5. Sit in my hammock and sip wine. Star gaze. Daydream. Cuddle.

5. Spend time with my BFF from New Hampshire. I haven’t seen her since December thanks to 173 miles between us and opposite work schedules.

6. Spend time with my nephews. My oldest nephew starts high school in the fall. 

7. Hike. J and I always plan one hike a summer which I complain the entire way and have at least one breakdown before get to the top. 😉 but it’s always so rewarding in the end! (Mostly when I’m off the mtn and eating ice cream)

8. Nantucket/Martha’s Vineyard. This is a wild card, not sure it’ll happen. Neither Mr A or I have ever been, and I would love a long weekend away, so to be continued!

This Is What It’s All About

  
Happy Little Friday, fancies! 

Due to my 18 hour whirlwind trip to northern NH, I’m posting super late so by the time you read this, it might even be Big Friday- bonus! 

This post is not about money at all- instead,  it’s about knowing that where  you are right now is where you need to be and trusting your path.  I want to share with you a moment I had today that spoke so loudly to me- and I would love to hear any of  your “ah ha!” moments that confirmed to you that you are on the right path.

Part of my anxiety that I spoke about on Tuesday was exacerbated by this trip to see my nephew graduate 8th grade. Due to Mr A’s work schedule he was not able to accompany me so I knew I’d be attending the ceremony alone, but that wasn’t the stressful part. 

For no particular reason, my brother and I had not spoken for a year and a half. The last time I saw him was in a less than ideal circumstance. We live different lives and are busy with our own stuff. He also lives in 1998 without any texting, email, Facebook, insta 😉… You get my point.

That being said, I feel very blessed and grateful to be part of my nephews’ lives as much as possible.

Last night, we stayed up until 11pm (on a school night!) making dubsmash videos and taking selfies. I even got the opportunity to drive them to school on their last day today. My heart was overfilled with joy and pride  to see how grown up they are. I may or may not have sat in the parking lot for an extra five minutes just watching them. 

These two little guys even let me take them out for a breakfast date this morning before school. 

After inhaling  a Shirley Temple and more bacon than one boy ever  should  , my oldest nephew shared something with me at breakfast that made me so incredibly proud and realize this is what life’s about.

 I’ll leave you with this. Real name not used. 

“Hey Aunt Ashlee, remember that kid Kyle that  everyone yelled and cheered real loud for at my graduation last night? Well, we always do that, my whole class. Kyle has some disabilities and everytime  he gets a problem right, even an easy one, or accomplishes anything, we always make a big deal. Because that’s the right thing to do Ya know? And we really are proud of him, he works hard”