money | Our Marriage Adventure

Waiting on Pins and Needles

April 4, 2013 By Stephanie

So, first let’s get the whole “oh my gosh Google Reader is leaving” out-of-the-way. Like many bloggers I’ve gone ahead and signed up with BlogLovin. You can find my profile HERE.

OK then – so the other thing that has been going on, which I’ve noted on my the blog’s Facebook Page is that Alex and I have both been going through job loss issues. Hello economy! Anyway, there is this company which I’ve wanted to work for, for quite a while, and that I’ve interviewed with twice in the past. Both instances in the past I’ve been in the “final two” but not been selected because they choose the internal candidate.

Which I think is AWESOME! Why? Well because that means they promote from within, and really who wouldn’t want to work for a company that constant strives to allow their employees to better themselves and their careers? See…awesome.

Anyway, so recently I was contacted by said company because a job I had applied for was, you guessed it - filled internally, BUT they had this other opportunity and was I interested in applying? So of course I answered yes and did a phone interview, etc. I was then called in for an “in person” interview this past Monday.

45 fremont 6 200x124 Waiting on Pins and Needles

photo:

Thomas Hawk

Y’all I prepped so hard for this interview its amusing. I made a custom designed resume in Photoshop to showcase my design skills based on what they are looking for using THEIR colors. I made a sales presentation using a previous employer of mine as the “customer” so I could show that I know how to 1. design a sales presentation 2. know a lot about the firm I am applying for and 3. can possibly bring a new client to them! Oh and on top of that I brought in samples of past Public Relations work I’ve done in the past. Y’all I busted CHOPS on this dang interview.

So now, I’m waiting and waiting to hear back. I did the whole proper follow-up email thing the day after the interview and got a response from the hiring manager (who was super sweet and liked that I have a southern accent and say y’all) saying the usual stuff but also reminding me to “stay tuned…” so of course that’s what I’m doing. But I’m going insane waiting.

I’ve clipped five magazines. Changed up the blog theme. Started three SMASH journals (more on that later). Gone “stress relief” shooting at the gun range. I’m about down to pulling out my hair. I am going to feel really dumb if I don’t get this job after all this hard work, plus I’m not sure what I’m going to do employment wise.

project life 2012 week 8 173x200 Waiting on Pins and Needles

photo:

vee*

I’ve tried to be smart by continuing to search and of course setting up additional interviews for next week as I’ve had them requested, but I really want this job. So I really hope I get a phone call tomorrow or I might just end up in a loony bin.

How have y’all been?

Filed Under: Family, House and Home, Random Thoughts by Stephanie Tagged With: Family, money, work 2 Comments

Re-Evaluating

May 2, 2012 By Stephanie

Why hello roller coaster of life…would you mind stopping the ride now?! In all seriousness, one of the things that’s kind of stopped up my brain lately has been stress. Stress from my job, stress regarding some personal things, stress from something silly like “What do I want to eat” … stress is eating me alive.

225672631297800054 uCBpUBUk c Re Evaluating

Source: polyvore.com via Gina on Pinterest

So Saturday I asked Alex to take on a more active role with our finances. I’ve handled these for a number of years because 1. I had more time and 2. I am better at it than he is.

(Not trying to come across snobby here, just stating what has been a well-known fact in our marriage.)

Alex has been asking and showing a lot more interest lately and finally on Saturday I just said

“Will you take over managing our finances?”

He knows that this is probably one of my biggest stressors / reasons to worry. Why – couldn’t tell you. I had a great childhood so that isn’t the root of my money fears, but man do I have money fears. So this is a HUGE step for me.

Alex has really stepped it up though and taken the initiative to get a planner, to ask me about our current set up, to define a way that he can use to manage the money, and to ask me to keep watching while he learns the ropes so to speak. The worry is still there, but man I feel better now!

How about you, What’s something you’d like someone to take off your hands?

Filed Under: Marriage Matters Tagged With: Alex, budget, money, Stephanie 5 Comments

Getting Organized

November 18, 2011 By Stephanie

I can hardly believe its halfway through November, but ready or not here it is. Of course that means that December is almost here which means I have already started itching for a brand new day planner.

I have one right now and it is my life. MY LIFE. I rarely leave home without it, unless its date night with Alex because well I don’t want to have a planner on my dates. Otherwise though, it stays in my black briefcase bag always available to me at a moment’s notice.

a99449d6 Getting Organized

This planner is great as it has a hard cover with a magnetic flap that I can use to tuck unpaid bills in so that I remember to pay them. Plus it has the weeks separated out so I can look at my week in a glance. Lastly it has monthly “notes” sections and blank notes sections where I can keep track of what bills I should be expecting and how much they were / are so I can plot our finances for months at a moment’s notice. In other words I use it to keep track of our bills, our activities, doctor appointments, and everyone else’s birthday. I also use it to keep track of work related dates that I might otherwise forget.

c07edb93 Getting Organized

Now I have an iPhone that I love and which keeps me pretty darn organized most of the time but I can honestly say that I could not function without my hard day planner. Next year however, I want to be a tad more organized with the blog.

As such I’ve decided I need not one, but TWO day – planners to function. One for my life and the other for this blog. Which leaves me undecided on what to get for each one. Clearly with a blog I need enough room to jot down ideas and topics for posts, but I don’t need a ton of extra space beyond that. However for the everyday planner I need weeks, months, AND little notes sections. Plus I sorely abuse these so they had better be durable.

Do y’all utilize planners for blogging or real life organization? What have you found works best?

Filed Under: Family, House and Home, Marriage Matters Tagged With: budget, Family, money, Stephanie 3 Comments

Budgets and Marriage

May 11, 2011 By Stephanie

There has been many a debate waged during this recession of the benefits and pitfalls for how to handle your money once you become part of a couple. I’ve watched friends wrestle with what to do as they move in together, become engaged, and even contemplate making big (think a house) purchases together. Since I’ve been asked before what Alex and I do, I thought I’d share in more detail than I have in previous posts. I don’t think I have the answers by any means, but Alex and I have managed to find a good system that works for US. (Every couple is different don’t let anyone tell you different.)

Alex and I decided back when we got engaged to have joint accounts. Why?

Well we’re old-fashioned and that’s what our parents did is a big reason. But also because there is an income discrepancy in our family and it seemed silly to constantly half to ask each other to “write me a check for…” so we just dumped it all in the same pot. When we did that though, we agreed it was 100% shared. Savings, bills, debt…you name it. All or nothing. Which meant when we went to get married, we paid off about $7000 worth of Alex’s bills that he had prior to meeting me. It also meant that the car I bought before we got engaged, he now had to take responsibility for as well.

How paying the bills works…well in short. I pay them. Basically, I pay them because I have access to a computer and am more computer proficient. I’m also better at money. HOWEVER, Alex and I manage to stay on the same page by having a weekly “finance” meeting. This ensures all of our bills are paid by making 1 person fully responsible for keeping track of stuff thus freeing up the “I thought you handled it!” confusion while ensuring the other person does not remain clueless. He also has full access and knowledge of all of our passwords so he can access the info any ol’ time he wants.

The weekly meeting thing may not be for everyone. I get that, but it’s the system that works for us because he’s a visual learner. So once a week we sit down and I read off our balance, then we literally go through the process of him writing down every bill that is coming out and check that is coming in for the next month in sequence. This puts him on the same level as me.

Lastly, (and this is the one that took the most work) we have an agreement. Anything over $50 we talk about first spending wise, everything else we are free to shop so long as we don’t break the bank without notifying each other. Oh and cash can be withdrawn for gift purchases with no questions asked so long as it’s worked into our budget. That typically goes “I need X amount of dollars for your birthday.” And then we figure out when and how to start removing the cash. This doesn’t always work. Sometimes we (mostly me) has a freak out about some innocuous purchase, but this is the plan we TRY to stick too.

click for source

Again, our system is by no means perfect and has definitely had some moments where we are both frustrated with each other. However, it’s a lot less frustrating for us as a couple to know exactly where we both stand financially than to hope the other person remembers to pay the electric bill or argue over who is going to handle the grocery bill this week. I also know that a lot of people choose to do separate accounts for the exact reasons above Alex and I choose not to.

Which are you, joint or separate, and why?

signature Budgets and Marriage