Nathaniel got the job! He found out right away. He went this morning to the corporat office to do the drug testing, background check, etc. Once all that is complete, he will have training, and then be an official Community Manager! Next week he's going to start temping there and in the meantime, he's going to continue temping where he's at right now. So it all works out nicely. Except for the fact that we wil be breaking our current lease, which isn't up until August, but maybe we can work something out. Hopefully.
On top of salary, we get free rent and utilities. Medical insurance for $10/pay period. I'm not quite sure on the details of that, like if or how I would be covered. An additional $10? Full price? I have possible coverage I'm not even using at work. My boss will cover a portion. I don't have a lot of motivation to search for a plan when I have a pretty good, free one through my mom. Even though i'm not a dependent, so i really should get my own.
There's been some confusion about what the apartment is, because Nathaniel's friend used to work/live there, and said it'sa 3bdrm. His boss called it a 2 with a walk-in closet. We have it figured out that the latter is correct, but the closet has been converted into a bedroom. I don't know how that works, but I don't care. Our current place is a spacious 1bdrm with a walk-in closet and i've gotten really attached and don't want to go back to a broom closet.
We can have pets here! There is a white cat that has been following Nathaniel around at the property he's currently at. He says that he's been getting complaints from the residents about it meowing at their doors all the time. He keeps asking if he can keep it. I'm down as long as he is POSITIVE it doesn't belong to anyone. How sad would that be if we took someone else's pet. He says he is sure it's a stray/abandoned. I also want to go to the pet store and see if this one beautiful gray Lynx/Siamese cat named Kiki is still there. We were there looking at rats and didn't even know there was a cat shelter there, but there he was, staring at us with his big blue eyes and it was love at first site. We are also going to get a rat, which i'm most excited about. ;)
So i'm not sure when we are moving in, just some time next month. Once that happens, our only regular expenses would be gas and groceries. We are going to upgrade our car insurance from the state minimum, but besides that, we'll still be trying to live frugally to build up savings because we have no emergency funds or anything. Although we know that if something were to happen, the Lord will provide, and we have a spare credit card. ^__^
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Praise Him
I've been a little brat. The economy is spiraling and here we are, still doing fine. Yet we read Scriptures together for the first time in months the other day, and we already missed last night! I've never been good about a personal daily devotion, but i used to have a little morning routine. Then i slacked off and i've been so bad about even gettin up at a reasonable time for work. I don't even eat cereal anymore, but just grab a bagel or muffin (that Nathaniel toasts) for the car! Not only do we both have full-time jobs (he's a temp and was getting no work for a while, and was unemployed before that), but he gets overtime, i have vacation and sick pay, got a bonus this week, and my salary (also a blessing to be off of hourly because now i get paid holidays) is up for review for an increase next month.
PLUS Nathaniel has an interview this afternoon for position as manager with the company he has regularly been sent to. He made friends with the manager at another property, who help the person who is quitting get her job! So when this opened up, he faxed Nathaniel's resume to his boss, who is going to Nathaniel at work today. So not only does he have an interview, but he is getting PAID for it. This job would be great because it's a free apartment on top of salary plus insurance and benefits.
So dude. It's not like we aren't grateful, but i feel we aren't grateful enough. I feel like we better make sure we aren't materialistic and remember to rely on Him or God will take it all away and force us to. Not that by relying on Him we are somehow earning any of this. It's all solely by His grace that we have anything but death.
So that's where i'm at. How are YOU doing economically and/or spiritually?
PLUS Nathaniel has an interview this afternoon for position as manager with the company he has regularly been sent to. He made friends with the manager at another property, who help the person who is quitting get her job! So when this opened up, he faxed Nathaniel's resume to his boss, who is going to Nathaniel at work today. So not only does he have an interview, but he is getting PAID for it. This job would be great because it's a free apartment on top of salary plus insurance and benefits.
So dude. It's not like we aren't grateful, but i feel we aren't grateful enough. I feel like we better make sure we aren't materialistic and remember to rely on Him or God will take it all away and force us to. Not that by relying on Him we are somehow earning any of this. It's all solely by His grace that we have anything but death.
So that's where i'm at. How are YOU doing economically and/or spiritually?
Monday, April 20, 2009
Making My Home a Haven
First, I forgot to post this follow-up to the post "Bye-bye Hanukkah"
I've been having the blogging itch but in between work (and how tired it makes me), a web design project, and keeping the house somewhat in order, I haven't had much time, although i've been reading here and there. Mostly skimming for deals. Hey, now that the economy's down, i'm not so crazy, am i? I've got things to do tonight also, but it's so hot i'm going to wait until the sun goes down. It was 97 in Long Beach. I seriously felt like i was going to pass out at work. Is it fall yet?
I'm working harder on trying to save money, but, believe it or not, I'm not very disciplined for that. Pretty much, our budget is "don't spend." I started using Quicken Online, and set goals based on average. I went over in groceries already but I'm hoping that I stocked up pretty good and have enough so that we don't have to eat out (not so much with me, but Nathaniel is a big fast food grabber). I made a bunch of burritos, only to find out that Nathaniel doesn't like the texture of the celery in them. Yet i'm happy to report i think they cost about thirty cents each. Tina's are $0.25 but they are smaller and not as good. I got 10lbs of ground beef for $7.98 at Staters. ^__^
Neither creamer nor milk has been quite hitting the spot for me in coffee, so I tried soy milk and i think I found a winner! Esp since I got a 64oz carton of 8th Continent for $2.75, which spit out a $2 off for Silk at the register. Then I got a 12oz can of Don Francisco's for $4.99. So even though i spent nearly a hundred, I saved over $40 and am pretty stockpiled. So it was a good trip. Even though i couldn't find spring roll wrappers. Which blows my mind, considering that i live in Little Saigon.
Morning Routine: Make coffee & get ready. That's all i have time for. Nathaniel takes care of breakfast and lunch since he leaves after me and is faster at getting ready.
Bedtime: It's supposed to be 10p to read Scriptures, but the internet is distracting so we've been ignoring the alarms Nathaniel set on his phone and going to bed at 12 or 1a. Also skipping reading...yeah, so not good. We gotta pick up on that. I hope he doesn't get home too late tonight. He's at some sort of planning meeting with the worship team leaders at church.
Choosing Love: I have been trying to be organized and prioritize so that i'm not working on a website for hours and making Nathaniel do the dishes all the time. I pass on onions, pork, and other foods he doesn't like in recipes. I'm keeping my eyes open for times when i don't choose love.
Evening Routine: Clean up kitchen, shower, read the Bible. Not sure how much to count as evening. Everything from getting home? Make dinner, eat it while watching tv, internet time. As long as we don't spend to long on the internet, it's okay for me to browse Facebook and read blogs while Nathaniel looks at lolcats, comics, and guns/boats/apartments/whatever his main interest is that week. That's what we do, but is that a routine? I don't think we need to set one. I think as long as we make sure the dishes are done before doing anything else, we are accomplished. I used to think one must never rest, but I eventually learned that a little R&R is good for the body. A time to replenish energy for the next day. I just wish i could do more with that energy than just go to work, but at least it brings in money and i have my weekends. I don't dislike work. It's a good job and i have more energy in general than i did at Knott's.
Waking Up: This is where we struggle. I used to not have a problem getting up (i'm a morning person) but Nathaniel's fondness for sleep has rubbed off on me. I too have realized how comfy a pillow is in the morning. Not a good thing! It takes three alarms with all snoozes to get us up. I like to get up at 6:30a. I try and try but then just end up dreaming about it instead. I need something to get me up...you know how fast a person can bolt if they are late or going somewhere exciting? I just have to think about not being stressed because of rushing. Hmm...not enough. I need to set my personal time with the Lord in the morning. That will get me up. I hope. Marriage has been a blessing because we can help each other get ready in the morning by splitting up tasks. So why is it still taking so long to get out the door? Probably because before i never drank coffee daily or ate breakfast and i hardly ever made my lunch. I think i was a morning person at some point...just so long ago i can't remember. I need to get up when i wake up!
Thanks for the post about the camera on your blog. We found it! It was in my duffel bag...which I looked in twice and Fred once...found it on the fourth search after asking St. Anthony for help. By the way, it was Uncle Ken and Uncle Dave, neither had it. Now there are pictures of Grandma's view and some funny Annabelle/magnifying pictures on the camera. - Auntie MAnd
After finding such a prized object there was much rejoicing! - StevenANYWAY
I've been having the blogging itch but in between work (and how tired it makes me), a web design project, and keeping the house somewhat in order, I haven't had much time, although i've been reading here and there. Mostly skimming for deals. Hey, now that the economy's down, i'm not so crazy, am i? I've got things to do tonight also, but it's so hot i'm going to wait until the sun goes down. It was 97 in Long Beach. I seriously felt like i was going to pass out at work. Is it fall yet?
I'm working harder on trying to save money, but, believe it or not, I'm not very disciplined for that. Pretty much, our budget is "don't spend." I started using Quicken Online, and set goals based on average. I went over in groceries already but I'm hoping that I stocked up pretty good and have enough so that we don't have to eat out (not so much with me, but Nathaniel is a big fast food grabber). I made a bunch of burritos, only to find out that Nathaniel doesn't like the texture of the celery in them. Yet i'm happy to report i think they cost about thirty cents each. Tina's are $0.25 but they are smaller and not as good. I got 10lbs of ground beef for $7.98 at Staters. ^__^
Neither creamer nor milk has been quite hitting the spot for me in coffee, so I tried soy milk and i think I found a winner! Esp since I got a 64oz carton of 8th Continent for $2.75, which spit out a $2 off for Silk at the register. Then I got a 12oz can of Don Francisco's for $4.99. So even though i spent nearly a hundred, I saved over $40 and am pretty stockpiled. So it was a good trip. Even though i couldn't find spring roll wrappers. Which blows my mind, considering that i live in Little Saigon.
Morning Routine: Make coffee & get ready. That's all i have time for. Nathaniel takes care of breakfast and lunch since he leaves after me and is faster at getting ready.
Bedtime: It's supposed to be 10p to read Scriptures, but the internet is distracting so we've been ignoring the alarms Nathaniel set on his phone and going to bed at 12 or 1a. Also skipping reading...yeah, so not good. We gotta pick up on that. I hope he doesn't get home too late tonight. He's at some sort of planning meeting with the worship team leaders at church.
Choosing Love: I have been trying to be organized and prioritize so that i'm not working on a website for hours and making Nathaniel do the dishes all the time. I pass on onions, pork, and other foods he doesn't like in recipes. I'm keeping my eyes open for times when i don't choose love.
Evening Routine: Clean up kitchen, shower, read the Bible. Not sure how much to count as evening. Everything from getting home? Make dinner, eat it while watching tv, internet time. As long as we don't spend to long on the internet, it's okay for me to browse Facebook and read blogs while Nathaniel looks at lolcats, comics, and guns/boats/apartments/whatever his main interest is that week. That's what we do, but is that a routine? I don't think we need to set one. I think as long as we make sure the dishes are done before doing anything else, we are accomplished. I used to think one must never rest, but I eventually learned that a little R&R is good for the body. A time to replenish energy for the next day. I just wish i could do more with that energy than just go to work, but at least it brings in money and i have my weekends. I don't dislike work. It's a good job and i have more energy in general than i did at Knott's.
Waking Up: This is where we struggle. I used to not have a problem getting up (i'm a morning person) but Nathaniel's fondness for sleep has rubbed off on me. I too have realized how comfy a pillow is in the morning. Not a good thing! It takes three alarms with all snoozes to get us up. I like to get up at 6:30a. I try and try but then just end up dreaming about it instead. I need something to get me up...you know how fast a person can bolt if they are late or going somewhere exciting? I just have to think about not being stressed because of rushing. Hmm...not enough. I need to set my personal time with the Lord in the morning. That will get me up. I hope. Marriage has been a blessing because we can help each other get ready in the morning by splitting up tasks. So why is it still taking so long to get out the door? Probably because before i never drank coffee daily or ate breakfast and i hardly ever made my lunch. I think i was a morning person at some point...just so long ago i can't remember. I need to get up when i wake up!
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