Snowball vs Avalanche, Avalanche wins!

Lately I've been using an app called Mint, it keeps track of your spending habits and balances. Not bad but could be better. Yesterday I decided to sit down and go through my finances because this year I am being hit with both school loans, state tax debt and other frivolous bullshit from 1 government agency who's name shall not be mentioned as Baba likes to say. I created 3 tables, the 1st table lists all my debts (Loans, CC, State Taxes...). 2nd table lists all of my recurring monthly bills (Rent, Internet, netflix, electric/gas...) and 3rd table lists all of my monthly expenses (Gas, Food, other)

In the 1st table I listed the balances, APR%, the minimum payment due and how much I pay in interests monthly. Since I have 5 major debts with various balances and APRs I was clueless as to which of these debts to focus paying off first? I had read online and been told in person that you're suppose to pay off your smallest balance first and work your way up to the bigger ones. Problem is I am more concerned about the interests being charged than paying off the smallest balance. This is known as the debt-snowball method, paying off your smallest debts 1st.

However I am more attracted to the idea of doing a debt-avalanche method where as stated on Debt Tips With the debt avalanche method, you pay off the highest interest rate first, and then keep going downhill (like an avalanche) with the next highest interest rate. This deAfinitely makes more sense and I have used several online debt calculators and I recommend using one called What's the Cost?. If you chose the interest option that's the avalanche method, if you chose the balance order that's the snowball method. According to this calculator I will be debt free in 8-9 years and will have paid about 8-9K in interest by using the avalanche method. This is somewhat depressing but not unbearable. I feel like I finally have a plan to get myself out of debt and yeah I'll be close to 50 when I am done but so what. Better late than never right! I am going to commit myself to the repayment plan and see it through. I should if I do the plan have paid off 2 CC within 10 months. This will give me a sense of victory! Next after I get home tonight from the adjunct dinner and lecture, I think I will make me some pie charts of the present and projected debt reduction! Then tape em to my wall so I have visual reminders to help me stay on track.

And speaking of staying on track, I have been pretty good about maintaining my daily commitment to eat at least 1/3rd-1/2 of my food be veggies or fruit. No way could I become a vegetarian because I love meat too much but I can be healthier.

Shabbat Shalom, the Sabbath is upon us, have a good evening everyone!

Your body is your Temple

I have always made a concious effort to include fresh fruits but not so much veggies in my diet. Lately though I've doubled my fruit intake and have added more veggies to my everyday eating habits and guess what? I feel fuller overall and am eating less. Amazing! I think the key to eating lots of raw fruits and veggies is to mix it up. Like this week there is a sale on berries (Blue, black & raspberries) so I've been eating that nightly with lots of whipped cream (low cal and taste so good with the berries mixed up). Ive also been eating more raw carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes plain or with hummus. I tried them with home made guacamole but the flavor gets blurred so instead I've been snacking the guacamole on organic tortilla chips, yummy. Plus I got mangoes and some tangerines along with banana on hand for snacks. I am pretty proud of myself for making these changes, I am sure my waistline which is quite bloated from a lot of the process food I've eaten during the very stressful times will slim down. I already feel more healthy even tho I had a cold over the weekend it was gone in 2 days with no lingering effects. I am determined to be healthier all around. As we Jews like to say our body is our Temple.

In other news Canstruction this year bombed and not in a good way. I was so disappointed with the lackluster variety of sculptures, I assume its a reflection of the economy? Same thing when I went to the Greek Bazaar this year, the one room called the Attic where church members donate things to be sold (yard sale style) is usually packed with stuff but this year it was bare and slim pickings. I think both me and Nancy were surprised. Again symbolic for the hard times our country is going through.

My friend had her baby boy last night, how thrilling for her and her husband. I am looking forward to seeing her in the hospital on Thursday. She will be released on Friday and is staying due to recovering from a C-section. After my anatomy courses, I have a lot of reservations about C-sections because you are literally cutting through four layers of abdominal muscles. Not good and I only imagine quite painful. It will be good to see her post pregnancy and its an exciting time all around. Also my friend Ronnie got engaged over the weekend too. Her fiancee contacted me about a month ago to invite me to the engagement party (in Maine) but due to lack of funds and time I had to decline. However a bunch of us here in NYC made a cute congratulatory video which Ronnie loved, Whee! And Baba has awesome news as well, there is a strong possibility she will get to move into a retirement community that is the Ritz Carlton or Waldorf of my hometown.

Lastly filming that tanker fire on the nj turnpike was an amazing experience in itself. Witnessing that raw level of energy with my own eyes and feeling the heat searing my skin nearby insane! I am almost to 3,000 views in 7 days. The 1st 2 days after I posted the video is when I got the highest volume of hits. And my video was featured on channel 7 ABCnews in all of their news reports of the day (noon, 5pm, 6pm & 11pm) and I was able to see it at the 5pm showing and Car-man saw it earlier that day at noon and told me about it.

Still tending my wounds

So its been a weird breakup for the past 1/2 year. We did not make a clean break but have seen one another on and off due to exuinating circumstances. At times it feels bittersweet but most of the time it feels damaged beyond repair. The whole "let's be friends" never really works if you ask me.

On to other news, I have a fun weekend planned. Tonight off to Westchester to visit Little Racoon's Mama. Tomorrow meeting Red Hots, Blondie, Little Orphan Annie, Car-Man, perhaps the Russian Spy too? We will go to the annual Canstruction event, where a showcase of sculptures made entirely from cans is on display. The admissions cost? 1 donated can of food. How can anyone beat that? All the cans are donated to food banks. This will be my 2nd or 3rd time I think?

Today is Veterans day and having a grandfather (WWII) and 2 great grandfathers (WWI) serve the USA in the past reminds me that we shouldn't take our civil liberties for granted. Thank you all to the fine Men & Women who help protect our country and freedom from tyranny. Without your loyalty, we would not enjoy the democratic life we have today! America is not perfect but she mighty damn fine and my personal top pick in all the world to live in!

On Par with Code of Harry

So Red Hots reminded me I broke one of my own codes (hey if Harry from Dexter gets to have a set of codes, why can't I?) one of them is to use codenames for my friends. Red Hots being just that, demanded I use one for my blog as I do everyone else. She's right, I am still me, sure I was down for the count. But being older doesn't mean having to be so serious!

Welcome Red Hots, we hope you like it here :D

Halloween '11

Blondie, Red Hots, Little Orphan Annie and I celebrated Halloween by feasting on Chinese food, pumpkin pie, candy apples and all other kinds of junk food that we really shouldn't eat but did anyways. Poor Little Orphan Annie was not able to partake in the face makeup portion of the evening due to work early the next morning, but here are the belated late 70s, early 80s inspired Halloween photos :)

Dunno what we were looking at but we're happy BFF forever (coined circa 1980s!)

Having an "Oh" moment if you will

I don't know why but this photo of Red Hots creeps me out, like some kind of neurotic monk or something?

Oooooh look at the pretty and I bet tasty for monsters, candy corn fingernails!

Blondie enjoying her albino 'Bianca' pumpkin

Watch out Lees press on nails!

Me signing PUMPKIN

a Star is born in the universe every second they say

Girls still wanna have fun!
*psst* Red Hots, you can't be trying to be a 'Deaf Whisper'!

Blondies attempt to be sexy, me I am trying to be coy, did we pull it off?

Red Hots behind a screen, yep that's where they keep her, for everyone's safety ;P

Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!

Close up of my infamous overbite, er I mean Kiss inspired star!

Looks like I am about to use the MM "CHA" like that MOUNTAIN BIG (CHA)!

Couldn't Blondie play Queen of the elves or fairy easily?!

Eye see u

Halloween '11 was a "blast from the past, Man!"