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31 Day Reset: Day 10 – Budget Reset

I’m participating in the 31 Days to Reset Your Life program at Happy Black Woman. The program is designed to help you evaluate your goals and priorities and think of them in the context of your life today and how you might be able to refocus on what’s important. Read on to learn about my experience with the challenge!

The moment I saw the title for today’s reset exercise – Do One Thing – I knew what was in store. Rosetta asked us to take the elements we envisioned on our life map yesterday and do one of them. Complete the task or set it in motion. I had listed that I wanted a clear budget that could be easily followed. I made a budget probably around a year ago but hadn’t revised it since we moved, so everything from both of our incomes to the rent was different. I had been meaning to revise it but simply hadn’t had the time – everything else just seemed more important. Until tonight!

It felt so good to take a close look at our finances and see where we’re spending our money and what an equitable division of the bills and rent will be. We were pretty close to being right, but this solidifies our shots in the dark and makes them truths.

Thank you Rosetta for giving me an excuse to start my life map in action!

-N.C.

What I Learned from My Move Across California

I moved from San Diego to the bay area this weekend. I grew up here, so it’s like coming back home… but not really, because I’m coming with a new perspective, new life, and new attitude (and a boyfriend!). As you can imagine, making such a huge move was not an easy process, but in the end, a success! Here are a few tips I learned along the way.

  • I get by with a little help from my friends. Wow. Absolutely, by far, the biggest thing that made an impression on me was the generosity of people around me. I cannot count the number of times I felt intense gratitude that so many people stepped up to help me. I will never forget those who pitched in – and I hope to pay it forward!
  • I underestimated everything. And I mean everything. I reserved a 10 foot truck when we really needed a 14 footer. I thought two days would be plenty of time to get my life in order between my last day at work and packing/loading day. I had no idea I’d have to spend Friday morning packing instead of loading. Whatever it was, I underestimated it. I think the lesson learned here is to be flexible – because no matter how off I was on something, we identified the problem (this truck is too small), brainstormed a solution (calling other moving truck companies), and took action (returned the truck and got something new).
  • Moving is a great time for a fresh start. I’m already starting to create new habits that I hope will catch on in this next chapter of my life. I truly will be starting a new routine – working full time and going to grad school – so I’ll need to learn to balance everything. It’s easier to create change when other things are already changing… so away we go!

I’m anxious and excited to see what happens next. Wish me luck as I embark on new challenges, with a new job, in a new masters program, in a new place!

-N.C.