the pluses and minuses just keep coming (new +/– thread)

[milesofsparks]

today:

–   I am home sick
–   I get sick too often
+  I feel a lot better after doing some basic yoga
–   I am basically the tin man when it comes to flexibility
+  I got to see my barista friend who is awesome at a cafe that's a little to far to get to on work days
+  mmmmm macchiato
+  homemade Greek yogurt in a minute!
+  kittens are awesome
–   except they just unplugged the internet and I had to crawl around behind my desk to get it back
+  still, though, they are adorabler than ever lately
–   new people moving in upstairs, rather noisily
+  at least the construction is finally over!
+  also, February is over.
+  finished my taxes:  I get a little money back!
–  I'm torn about where to put the money:  debt, savings, travel, apartment, fun?
+  the sun is shining
+  I love sunny days with melty snow piles
+  the new cat-scratching post should arrive today
+  I ordered rust-colored leggings and navy-colored thigh-highs, so I can wear my new skirt soon
 

on the whole:  +

[Bernard]

put it toward debt reduction, this is my urgent message to you

+pasties
+chocolate frosting from ad hoc
-headache
-monday
-sick baby
+++potty training (would really hate to deal with diarrhea + diapers)
+++best husband on earth

[milesofsparks]

put it toward debt reduction, this is my urgent message to you

the problem is the debt is so huge (thank you fancy-pants graduate school) that it's a drop in the bucket.  I will likely divide it a bit--I have very little savings at the moment which is making me worry a lot, so some there, some towards the highest interest rate student loan debts, and a little towards making my life a little less grim.

I hope the chocolate frosting cures your headache and the best husband on earth magically heals the sick baby!

[DCDave]

Economically, if your debt is accruing at a rate higher than the tiny interest you would get off savings then it doesn't make much financial sense to put the money in savings rather than in debt.

[milesofsparks]

except that if something happens, I can use the savings to solve the problem.  for me, having at least a small buffer in case my paycheck is late, I loose my job, etc. is important.  it's not like I'm socking away loads of cash--I'm just trying to build up a reasonable buffer for solving problems and reducing daily money stress.  I'm also working on increasing my income, which I think is a better solution to the debt issue.

[elpollodiablo]

I think my ultimate debt solution will likely be dying with a lot of debt.

Take that, potential children!

[davy]

At this point, I'm basically counting on getting a job in public service so my student debt will be wiped away in 10 years.

[milesofsparks]

also, I didn't say that a substantial portion of my monthly income goes toward debt as it is--it's not like I'm slacking off on that front. 

[andronicus]

except that if something happens, I can use the savings to solve the problem.  for me, having at least a small buffer in case my paycheck is late, I loose my job, etc. is important.  it's not like I'm socking away loads of cash--I'm just trying to build up a reasonable buffer for solving problems and reducing daily money stress.  I'm also working on increasing my income, which I think is a better solution to the debt issue.

Yeah, don't listen to DCDave.  Money in a savings account is not an investment, it is holding cash, like a business holds cash on its balance sheet for operating funds even though it may still owe large high-interest loans.  I think you should have enough in savings at minimum to live for 3-6 months paying bills rent loans etc. plus a one month checking buffer.  If you don't, you should put excess cash there until you do, and then you've got enough money to contend with about any financial emergency that comes your way.  Then you can pay down your debt at your convenience, without having to worry about the possibility that one averse event is going to render you incapable of paying any of your bills, thus putting you in default/turning off your electricity/making you homeless.

[Bernard]

then you can pay down your debt, which is by that point much larger
I suppose you'd have to factor in job security and your other resources

[andronicus]

I mean your principal isn't going to double in the 6 months it takes you to save a reasonable cash buffer.

[Ashley]

-  I should probably think about getting some meds for anxiety.  The past few days have been increasingly rough.
+ Coming to the point that I know thats what I want to do is hard but its likely a good thing.
- Finding a regular doctor is hard when you don't have a provincial health card, I have no idea if I should get one or not.  I feel like I have to commit to this province when really I still live most of the time here but some of the time in Newfoundland.

++ I have a hamster!

[G.C.R]

- I just shut my thumb in the door
- Sore throat just erupted into sneezing fit, I do not need a cold in the second week of uni when it is still summer.
+ I got a letter from Gary!
edited to add:
+++ meeting with producer on monday
- a little nervous about meeting with producer on monday
still, +

[milesofsparks]

good luck with the meeting, GCR!

– there is a raging headache monster devouring my brain
– work is explosive and everyone is stressy and cranky
+++++ I just talked to the vet and Mojo and Scout's surgery went perfectly:  Scout is just waking up now, and Mojo's been awake for a bit
– the vet tech called my kitten crazy (that would be Mojo)
– they're probably really scared and stressed right now.  poor kitties
+ I got to meet Bowler and Fedora kittens last night.  they are unbelievably adorable.  eeeee!
– I want my kittens back now!

[davy]

-  E took Finn to Granbob's for the rest of the week

+ Party at my place

[Bernard]

yay for positive health outcomes for kitties (and people)!

+ I'm married to somebody I'm totally freaking crazy about
+ my baby is determined to get practically her whole foot in her mouth
+ she slept long enough for me to eat lunch
+ the wheat I'm sprouting for Iranian New Year isn't dead yet
+ I saw a pelican drop a fish and another one jam in there and snatch it up
+ I had my camera with me

today rules

[donblood]

jm emailed FT about his Naw Ruz schedule, and no lie, before I remembered what that meant I was like "That's gotta be some rapper I've never heard of"

[elpollodiablo]

The only rule is that there are NAW RUZ

[jm]

NAW NAW RUZ








GUESS WHO'S BACK

[Bernard]

haha! I like it.

[Anne the Man]

-I broke a lampshade
+WITH MY HEAD
-Ow

[jm]

+ came in to work an hour early so I could get out an hour early so I can be responsible and load up the van for the Tusk show and be there on time and all that
- coming in early means waking up early, and man was that ever a mistake.

[davy]

-  for some reason, I'm sitting around in the dark listening to the mix CDs I made for my wedding 7 years ago

+ they're really good

[davy]

I played "Androgynous" at my freaking wedding?! Seriously?

[Maaik]

When I finally bought Let It Be a while back, I regretted not hearing it soon enough to include that in my wedding music.