Suddenly Cold

Seattle is a fun place to live. One of the best things about it, of course, are the unexpected weather changes. Two days ago it was hot and sunny. Now we're into day three of the usual: cold and rain. Nobody really knows how long that will last. And I don't really mind, except for the fact that it totally took me by surprise this time. It's my first winter out of my own. And I never realized that the things on windows called curtains actually serve a bigger purpose than hanging decoration.

My mom warned me too. She said I'll need some heavy curtains to keep out the cold, as well as a bed, which would make me warmer because I'd be further away from the floor. I brushed her off. Summer was a comfortable time, and I thought it's always gonna be like that. But i was wrong. For the past couple days I've been going to bed and waking up in freezing temperatures, (which I'm sure are the reason for the headache that persistently won't go away for the past twelve hours). My empty space feels extra unwelcoming and uninviting now. Suddenly a lump sum of money for a bed and a mattress seems like a good investment. As always, mom was right.
Moving out on your own will make you realize all sorts of things you didn't know before! One of them is that parents are much smarter than you think. Not that I ever doubted that... just that once again it has been confirmed. If you just moved out on your own... listen to mom and get some curtains and a bed! Because once winter comes, you'll need both! Trust me!

My Building Never Sleeps

Almost done with a very intense and important meeting with my supervisor, all of a sudden I heard a.... marching band. In the middle of the afternoon on a thursday. Of course, if you're working in my building there's technically nothing that you should be surprised at, because in a year of working here I've realized that the most unusual things tend to happen right next to it! Below, are just a couple examples:

Example #1: The marching band, along with a set of cheerleaders, arrives in front of my building in a Seattle Duck Tour boat/bus... whatever that thing is called. All those people pour out of it and station themselves in front of the entrance. The cheerleaders do their routines and a steady stream of passers-by walk right in the middle of them. The whole shebang is there because of the opening of the new U-W floor and the fact that they just won a football game. Totally understandable, but hilarious nevertheless considering the time of day and the fact that the rest of the offices in the building are attorneys and medical professionals.

Example #2: The traffic is off the hook. Police have blocked out Union St. starting from 6th Ave. and down till 4th Ave. The SWAT team truck pulls up. There's been a bank robbery on the corner of 6th and Union involving a bomb threat. My entire office gathers by the window on the 11th floor that overlooks Union perfectly to watch what will happen. The SWAT team truck doors open and out comes a... Robot. It's gonna go into the building and try to disharm whatever explosives it may contain. Not that curious about what will happen next, and concerned more for my safety than a happy ending to the story, a bunch of us quickly pack up and leave... Better safe than sorry.

Example #3: We look outside draws by an unusual amounts of smoke in our windows. Across the street there's a bus on fire! Firetrucks fill the street making traffic really BAD. I really have nothing more to add to this one actually.

Example #4: Starbucks people downstairs talk about a client who streaked by in the morning in nothing but a speedo. They say he lost a bet... I guess that's something you'll only see from the first floor instead of eleventh...

It's a fun working life in Seattle!

Living in Seattle -- a lot of randomness and nothing in particular.

Something occurred to me on the bus this morning. The only people qualified to write about cities are those who don't live there. Because the dwellers of the city aren't as fascinated by it as those who want to move there. Maybe it's the mentality of wanting what you don't have and not valuing what you do. But since I've moved to Seattle, all I do is go home after work. Am I exploring the city like I thought I would when I move and have 'more time?' Not so much.

But of course, it might be because the exploration money I had before is now all being used up for Rent. This said, I should technically be writing a lot of posts entitled "free things to do in Seattle." But since I'm not being forced to look for them, I'm not finding them. A post I've had in the works for a while are "places with great views." But all work on that piece of literature ceased once I moved into my one-bedroom. Because the most spectacular view ever is right out of my window. Oh the laziness of man...

Maybe I'm just going through a change of values and routines though. After all, before, I knew enough about things to give helpful advice. Right now I don't know enough about anything, pretty much. I've exhausted my stories about apartment hunting and retail therapy. But I don't know jack about grocery shopping and bill juggling yet. People have mentioned that they feel they are reading about a celebrity when they are on my blog. I don't see how. Right now my life is pretty boring. Work-home-cook-sleep. Maybe rollerblade and go Salsa dancing. But lately it's been sleep. Maybe I'm sick.

Wow, this is an unusual post since it really doesn't have a point. It just proves that I can ramble on forever if I had to. Let's just say this was practice for "stream of consciousness." But I'll also say that while writing it I got a few excellent ideas for future posts. In this sense, it was worth it for me, as boring as it must have been to read this for you. Oh well. It's my blog :)

blogaboutfaith.blogspot.com

My new blog, dedicated entirely to my faith has been born. That topic is really something I can talk about non-stop, but since this blog is supposed to be a lighter read, I've touched upon it too briefly for my personal taste. I will attempt to be faithful to both blogs. (Today, it obviously hasn't worked...) But as always, I promise nothing, as that tends to permanently hinder any progress I accomplish in the tasks I take on. I won't feed the second blog on my page (at least not yet.) So if this is the part of my life that you're interested in... just go find it under "My Profile."

Happy reading everyone!

Smart Finance

I'm not an expert at this by any means. But this is definitely an area that I am very interested in. This interest was probably sparked by the fact that I spent two years working for a financial advisor. If nothing else, it has placed me at a comparatively good place for a year-and-a-half out of college, and living in a city considered one of the most expensive in terms of income to cost-of-living ratio. This post will probably be nothing new, other than a person in her early twenties actually following certain guidelines which WORK. Here they are.

1. Pay off credit card debt.
 Duh. Easy. Done. I actually have nothing more to say about this line other than I don't understand why people keep dept on their cards. It makes me personally VERY uncomfortable and I strive to always have the balance paid off in full. What can you POSSIBLY need in your twenties that would be worth the headache of debt?

2. Don't charge stuff to your credit card.
This one I actually struggle with. And technically charging less than 1/3 or your total credit to a card is O.K., and even good for your credit history, so no biggie. But for me it's a matter of personal discipline and living within my means. Since I'm not about to purchase a house or anything else that would require a stellar credit score, I can afford not to charge stuff right now.

3. Pay off your loans.
My family helped a lot. But I allocated a HUGE chunk of money to paying off my student loans before interest rates kicked in. That was the reason I chose to live at home and commute for an hour and a half each way for a year instead of moving to Seattle right away. Some would think that's a waste of life. But the lack of "freedom to do whatever I want" for a year now allows me to REALLY have that freedom. Without being obligated to a bank and without the load of a loan on my shoulders. It required iron discipline, but the result is priceless!

4. Keep your old car.
Unless your job requires you to look rich (consider switching jobs then by the way.) But if you're fresh out of college, and your car gets you from point A to point B, stop trying to live a life you can't afford. That car is good enough to get you to work, is probably really efficient in terms of gas and mileage, and is probably not even that needed if you live in a city with public transportation. If you're trying to impress people... you know what's impressive? Wisdom and genuineness. Eventually people will find out that that you're really head over heels in debt because of that BMW. And that just comes off really really immature.

5. Live in a place that you can afford.
I WOULD advise to get a roommate, but that'd be somewhat hypocritical since I don't have one. What i DO have is a small (but happy) one bedroom that I pay just a little over 1/3 of my total gross monthly income for. I practically don't feel the pinch on my paycheck. It's great! If you have the opportunity, take the time to look around, because you CAN find a good place in your price range. Mine doesn't stink with that old-apartment-building scent, and is otherwise an excellent combination of new renovation and old-world charm. It's small, but has a killer view of sunsets and the Puget sound. (Can you tell I'm in love with my place? :)

6. You DON'T need everything at once.
As much as my mattress annoys mom, I will wait until I have money saved up to buy a bed, instead of charging it. I already got a couch. Everything else was jacked from parents. If you're moving out for the first time, see how much stuff you can get for free from loving relatives and friends. Then go on craigslist.com and find the "free" section. True, it has a bunch of junk there, but you can also find some really cool stuff! Then invite your friends for a housewarming party. (If your place is small, invite them one-by-one.) See what they get you. THEN buy stuff you still need. (At TJ Maxx and Ross, mind you, not Bed, Bath and Beyond and Pottery Barn.) Buy as you can afford. Makes stuff more valuable.

7. Know your prices.
Before I knew them only on clothes. Now I'm starting to learn about food. It's important to know how cheap you can get things and where they are sold. It's important to shop around and figure out where good deals are. If you live in a city, take the time to walk into private shops and international supermarkets. Not only do they have cool food, but they also often carry things cheaper than the American chains. Knowing prices applies to services as well. Regularly check what cell-phone companies offer. Bargain to lover your bills. Mention competitors' rates. Dispute questionable fees. Cancel items you don't use. Take the time. It's well worth it.

8. SAVE
I don't have this one down yet. My savings account is unimpressive. But it makes me uncomfortable to be locked into a year-long lease with nothing to back up my promise to pay up on a monthly basis. So I'm striving to build up my savings to have at least the amount of rent, gas, and electricity until the end of my lease. I wish I could just put the money away all at once, but unfortunately I have to make baby steps. For now I'm disciplining myself to avoid certain things I'd like to do that would be unwise. What I would've spent on those, I put on my savings instead. My account isn't growing fast, but it's definitely growing. Hopefully I'll be able to allocate a set sum to put away into savings every month in addition to these little drops of cash.

9. Plan ahead and shop ahead.
Christmas usually a difficult time? Buy presents throughout the year! Most likely you'll find a better deal and a better present as well! This way, you won't have a big chunk of money missing right away, and Christmas time will be joyous instead of spiteful. Same goes for birthdays. I buy presents for all my girls at Victorias' Secret semi-annual sales. I pay less than if I would've gotten it right on the date of their day. But I can get them MORE stuff this way, and I save the time it requires to drive to a store and find a good gift.

10. Tithe
(Please note my strategic placement of this one under number 10 :)
Sounds redundant? Religious? Weird? Backward? It works wonders! It's not your money anyways. It's God's money, and He was gracious enough to give some to you. I will admit, sometimes I delay my tithing, but this one I feel most guilty about, because this one actually brings me the most blessings and the most income! I always pay off what I owe God, and I strive to pay Him back first. Why? Because I practically see that it works! Because whenever I've talked to people who are clearly wise about their money, successful in their business, and abundantly blessed, they all told me the same thing. Tithe. And give over that, if possible! Don't make enough to give extra? Give the stuff you have instead of money! You probably won't even miss it. And the person will be blessed like sometimes you don't even know. This paragraph is getting long, so I feel like I will have to make a separate post on giving. :)

These are my general guidelines for smart finance. What they offer you is peace of mind. And that's worth all the small financial sacrifices in the world! (I'm sure that an even wiser person would add investing to this, but I'm not at a point where I'm comfortable enough to try it yet.)

Smart Shopping

I'm back. See what happens when I promise to do something? My little friend "Stubborn Procrastination" visits. But to tell you the truth, I was utterly uninspired to write, since things occupying my mind right now are not to be made public. But alas, today I'm back with a neutral topic, full of inspiration and creative juices!

Over the weekend I've been blessed with a visit from a close friend from Portland, with whom we were supposed to shop for stuff to make my apartment cozier. Instead, we spent the time shopping for clothes. Typical girlish behavior. But while helping her decide on stuff, I realized that I would make a very good personal shopper. As we all know, I excel at opinion, and constructive criticism (when asked.) Selling that would be a PERFECT job for me! This said, I will save all you faithful readers some money on my services and give out a few tips on how to buy things that won't end up in the back of your closet collecting dust. To score a good deal, ask yourself these questions before buying. Be HONEST. You probably hate when people lie to you. Why lie to yourself?!

1. Do I already own this?
Of course you don't already own exactly what you're holding in your hand, you're not stupid, right? But think about it hard. Is there a VERY close version of it in your closet? If it's the same style in a similar color palette, put it down! You really don't need two pale yellow pencil skirts with silver buttons in the front. Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating. But you really don't need two grey pencil skirts. One's enough. If the answer to this question is "yes," don't even bother taking an item into the fitting room. Save yourself some time.

2. Do I need this?
True, $7.99 might be a heck of a deal on an H&M t-shirt. But how many t-shirts do you already own? A penny saved is a penny earned. For $7.99 you can eat a nice lunch, buy two cups of coffee, or feed a kid somewhere abroad for a month. Or you can start a savings account. Gotta start with something, right? Why not this $7.99? If all of a sudden you realize that you already do own 15 turquoise t-shirts, put this one down and don't take it to the fitting room either.

3. Where would I wear this?
If you don't have an answer to this question you shouldn't be in the store in the first place. I'm going to assume that you are being good to your bank account and shopping for some specific place or event instead of just for the heck of it. "Just for the heck of it" shopping never leads to anything good... Trust me.

4. Does it fit me?
This question is tricky. Because technically anyone can squeeze themselves into a stretchy pair of leggings. "Can I squeeze myself into this" does not necessarily answer the question of fit. If you look like European sausage instead of a person, most likely the item on you does not FIT. Get a bigger size. Conversely, if you feel inspired to pretend you're a ghost and scare your kids... the item does not FIT. Get a smaller size.

5. Does it fit EVERYWHERE?
I'm sorry to disappoint you, but if the sweater you're trying on is an XS and your hands end halfway before the sleeve does, you are in the wrong store to buy sweaters. There being no smaller/bigger size is no excuse to purchase an item that doesn't fit perfect. Yes, there are tailors and all glamour magazines advise you to get one. But seriously, are you gonna? I have yet to find a person who was unable to find a store where things fit their body type. Whether it's Guess, H&M, or Fred Meyer, is a different case. But hey, to each his own!

6. Does the color look good on you? 
This one is self-explanatory, but might require a second opinion. And please, please don't trust the sales-person on this. They are called that for a reason -- they're there to SELL you stuff. Ask a person trying stuff on next to you. Or the person you're with, who hopefully is a trusted friend who won't lie to you, and also possesses a great taste in clothing! You probably already know some colors that go well with your look. But don't be afraid to try new ones. It can cheer you up, if nothing else.

7. Does the style look good on you?
If you have no clue, seriously do consider hiring me... But assuming you are at least somewhat dressing-yourself conscious, be honest on this one. You might love A-line skirts, but if they make your legs look half the size they should be, A-line is probably not the style for you. If high-waste short skirts make you look like a giant baby who is only missing a binkie, avoid the trend!

8. Does it go with a lot of things you already own?
If you are having trouble putting the ornamented cardigan that hits your hips and has three buttons in the middle together with anything in the store... chances are there are only two things in the entire universe that you can wear it with. Even more likely is that those two things aren't in your closet. Save yourself the headache, and don't buy stuff that requires extra effort to match up with anything.

9. Will the material stay the same after washing/wearing?
Some items tend to come out of the washer... deformed. Don't buy a sweater that will shrink or get those little balls of wool on it after its first night out. That shouldn't happen if you're taking care of the item the right way. Most of the time you can tell just by looking at the item in the store, or reading the content label.

10. Is the item easy to care for?
Did it wrinkle just from traveling from the hanger to the fitting room? There is nothing that looks less put together than a wrinkled skirt. Investing in a better quality material is probably well worth the embarrassment of looking like a mess. Is the item dry-clean only? That's not the worst scenario if its one of those that will only need a couple visits to the dry cleaner a year. A worse scenario would be a "wash separately with like colors on warm on the night that the full moon coincides with Friday the 13th on years that end with a 7." O.K., I get carried away again. But seriously. If the color of a skirt is bright orange with blue flowers, picking out "like colors" might be a problem. Check that tag.

11. Is the item worth the price?
A black dress that can be worn to church, work, date, or dinner is probably well worth the money. But a grey t-shirt shouldn't cost any more than $10.00. Trust me on this. I'm no cheapskate in clothes (we all know I've recently almost shelled out bank for a pair of Lanvin flats.) And I did go through my phase of $80.00 t-shirts, realizing at the end that they fade/stretch/wear out just as fast, if not sooner, than the ones from Ross I've purchased for $5.99.

12. Do I have the money?
If there's a toss-up between rent and a pair of Prada boots, I say go with rent. But seriously, don't buy it if you can't afford it. No matter how well it fits, how good it looks, or how much it's worth. You lived fine without this item up until this point, right? You'll do fine without it later as well.

13. If you bought the item, don't take the tags off!
I've said this before and I'll keep repeating it again and again. Sleep on it. Don't take the tag off until you're ready to wear the item. Unless it's your wedding dress, return the item if it's close to the return deadline and it still has the tag attached to it. If you haven't worn it within 30 days, you'll NEVER wear it.

Favorite Place on Earth