Year One

 I became an RN Care Manager a year ago today. I have been a Nurse for over 30 years and I think that this will be my retirement job- but I have said that before, so there is no guarantee

But this is a role that has some real benefits- lower taxes, very short commute (6 miles) free parking- not the norm for our hospital- and I have to pack my lunch as the cafeteria has limited options and I haven't gotten a Starbucks latte at the cart here since I started. I am saving a ton of money!

On the downside, I have to update my CV- a task I really do not enjoy- and this is coming from someone who likes to write. Describing what I do with the families shouldn't be as hard as I am finding it.

I also have to get certified, which means taking the certification test- I am already dreading it and I still have a year before I am eligible to schedule it. It's difficult and some folks I work with have not passed it the first time they took it.

I have decided to start reading material early and try to slowly learn the language of the work. I say that because there are many things on the test (veteran benefits, worker's comp and rehab facility regs) that are no part of the work I do each day. My practice involved complex medical needs in children under 19 years of age. So not a lot of Medicare rules of reimbursement in my line of work.

At least I will ace anything related to children and young adults... I hope.

It's a challenge to prepare for a test that is still so far away- like the Nursing Boards all over again. But as I was told then, the worst thing to happen if I don't pass is taking the test again. And paying for it again.

We will see how it goes.

. 

2025 Resolutions

It is 2025 and I need to put my resolutions in writing to keep me honest: 

1. Get out of debt…. I let myself use a credit card for a holiday and things snowballed. I am in debt AGAIN for the first time since 2017 when I retired my consumer debt. It is unacceptable and I need to start all over again with the baby steps. AGAIN. I cannot be trusted with credit.

2. Manage my weight… I need to be at a healthy weight, and I am nowhere near this goal- I have gained over 30 pounds since Summer 2023. I am eating every fear and emotion. It stops now. 311 pounds is not healthy for anyone of my height.

3. Exercise more… I joined a gym on my birthday last year and now they are closing up shop, so I need to do things in a proactive way.

4. Creativity needs to happen every day. I need to write every day. Read every day.

5. Spend more quality time with my children… This goes with the condition “provided they let me” as family time to a teenager can be seen as a punishment, defeating the whole purpose. I would love to have weekly family game night… Wish me luck…

6. Cook at home more often… AKA, eat out less. Shopping at home first needs to be my new mantra

7. Spend less and save more… More on my spending fast later

8. Lower my expenses…  which means creating a budget and living under my means.

9. Work on my retirement fund and paying down my mortgage… with the pension changes, I need to be more frugal now in order to meet my financial obligations in retirement, which is only seven years away, God willing.

10. Declutter my house… My basement most closely resembles a storage container. I need to do better. And the Vets pick up. My first pick-up of 2025 is tomorrow.

There you have it. A sizable list to be sure. And I have had an almost identical list for more years than I want to acknowledge.

But the big one is my debt- I am ashamed to be in debt again.

I need an all- new spending fast. I have done it before with mixed results but it is the first of the year and so here we go:

Items I need to spend money on:
Mortgage/Home Insurance/Escrow: Not optional!

Urgent Home repairs… I don’t even want to write it down, it’s like asking for something to go wrong.

Utilities (keeping lights and water off as much as possible; keeping the thermostat at 65 and wearing a sweater when the cold comes)

Internet/ Cell Phone- because as much as I need to pay my debt, I need 911 ability and Amazon/Netflix and Disney so I am entertained while staying home.

Food (and I need to shop in cupboards and freezer first)

Doctor Dentist and Medication co-pays- cause healthy is happy

Car insurance/maintenance/gas/oil- I don’t have a car payment but need to keep my car road worthy

Birthday and Christmas gifts for my children: but simple is going to be it moving forward.

Debt repayment and emergency fund...


What I'm NOT spending money on:
Books… painful even to list… but I own a bunch I have not read so enough is enough

Cards - truth be told, I probably have enough cards in the house to last years

Clothes/Coats/and any other thing worn on the body.

Trinkets…AKA crap...There is a great deal of stuff that fits in this category...

New make-up, hair stuff- bands, elastics etc… I barely use the stuff and don't need any more

Bed linens/Towels/Houseware items…I have more than enough- as long as the coffee maker keeps working.

Decorative house stuff- I am done for now

I need to limit Amazon.com to needs, not wants- no more instant gratification