Hello! It's been awhile, huh? 2018 didn't quite go as I had planned but I am ready to crush my goals in 2019! My main goal is to build my savings and pay off my credit card debt. I am loosely following Dave Ramsey and I'm on baby step #2. Baby step 1 is to build an emergency fund. Baby step 2 is to pay off consumer debt. I have 3 credit cards I am working on paying off, totally roughly $16,000. I'm documenting this more regularly on my Instagram @Simply_Hayford.
There was a time in my life I owed over $50,000 on multiple credit cards, student loan, car loan, and a personal loan. I know I could be further into my debt free journey by now, but I have come a long way! And I'm ready to be free of this debt for good!
One way I'm able to make a little extra money to go towards my debt, it using sites such as Swagbucks and savings apps like Ibotta. Since starting Swagbucks a couple years ago I have earned $1,267! That is nuts! I used to cash out for Amazon gift cards but I'm now cashing out to PayPal and using it to make extra payments to credit card #1. I have made $264.46 with Ibotta, again cashing out with PayPal. Neither one takes a lot of time to do and it's easy money. To sign up, please click HERE for Swagbucks and HERE for Ibotta.
I am also selling things on Facebook Marketplace, but I'm running out of things to sell! I've cleaned out the kids toys and clothes and my own stuff as well. I'm still finding things around the apartment, but selling is becoming more difficult with people not showing up or backing out last minute. So frustrating! Eventually I'll take what I have left to goodwill and just be done with it!
That brings me to my other main goal...decluttering, organizing, and minimizing. It's going really well and you can see some photos on my Instagram of my progress. I'm also trying very hard not to spend unnecessary money, which helps with minimizing and paying down debt, but I greatly struggle with this! I enjoy buying my kids little things but I'm trying hard to resist.
What are your goals for 2019? What areas, if any, do you struggle with?
Friday, February 8, 2019
Thursday, February 4, 2016
New Years Day 5K
As promised, albeit a month late, here's my race recap of the New Years Day 5K. This is the 4th time I've run it and this year it moved to a new location. I made sure I got there early enough to find the place, get a good parking spot, and get checked in. I ended up being there way too early and it was freezing! My dad was there as a volunteer photographer and we huddled in his car until we absolutely had to go out.
The race made some weird loop so you ended up running the same part twice. And of course there were some decent hills coming back. Doing them once was okay but twice was no fun! I jogged what I could and walked when I needed to. Overall I felt really good during this race, I just didn't like those darn hills!
I have a hard time not "racing", but being pregnant I know I need to just have fun and not push myself too much. So I had a goal but it was a very loose goal. I wanted to finish in under 45 minutes, which I knew was completely doable. I was very happy to see the clock as I finished- under 40! My official time was 39:24. It's not even my slowest 5K, which is awesome! I ran a 5K when I was about 2 months pregnant with Jack. It's the only time I ran and I actually downgraded my registration from the 5-miler. I finished that in 42:37. So to be over 5 months pregnant and finishing in under 40 minutes is so amazing! I'm really proud of myself for continuing to run, even if it's only twice a week.
Here I am waving at my dad:
I'm running a virtual 5K next week and per doctor's orders, I'll need to switch to walking in about 2 weeks. I'll update with how January went and how February is going. I'll try not to let a whole month go by in between updates!
The race made some weird loop so you ended up running the same part twice. And of course there were some decent hills coming back. Doing them once was okay but twice was no fun! I jogged what I could and walked when I needed to. Overall I felt really good during this race, I just didn't like those darn hills!
I have a hard time not "racing", but being pregnant I know I need to just have fun and not push myself too much. So I had a goal but it was a very loose goal. I wanted to finish in under 45 minutes, which I knew was completely doable. I was very happy to see the clock as I finished- under 40! My official time was 39:24. It's not even my slowest 5K, which is awesome! I ran a 5K when I was about 2 months pregnant with Jack. It's the only time I ran and I actually downgraded my registration from the 5-miler. I finished that in 42:37. So to be over 5 months pregnant and finishing in under 40 minutes is so amazing! I'm really proud of myself for continuing to run, even if it's only twice a week.
Here I am waving at my dad:
I'm running a virtual 5K next week and per doctor's orders, I'll need to switch to walking in about 2 weeks. I'll update with how January went and how February is going. I'll try not to let a whole month go by in between updates!
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Gender Reveal
A few weeks ago we found out baby's gender! We had the sonographer put the results in an envelope which I then passed to a friend. She baked a cake and brought it over the next day so that our son and my dad could be a part of it. It was so fun!
It's A GIRL!! We are overwhelmed and overjoyed! I was up half the night preparing myself to cut into a blue cake (which would be just as exciting), so to see pink was just incredible.
Here's my 20 week baby bump:
Thanks to long hours at work, exhaustion, and holiday stuff, I didn't work out for 2 weeks. But this past Saturday I got in a 4 mile run and it felt great! I'm planning on a New Years Day 5K and will post about that next week. Now I need to wean myself off of the excess sugar that Christmas brings. Too many cookies and m&m's! I just want to throw away everything that's left. I think I just might do that...
I hope everyone has a terrific New Years!
It's A GIRL!! We are overwhelmed and overjoyed! I was up half the night preparing myself to cut into a blue cake (which would be just as exciting), so to see pink was just incredible.
Here's my 20 week baby bump:
Thanks to long hours at work, exhaustion, and holiday stuff, I didn't work out for 2 weeks. But this past Saturday I got in a 4 mile run and it felt great! I'm planning on a New Years Day 5K and will post about that next week. Now I need to wean myself off of the excess sugar that Christmas brings. Too many cookies and m&m's! I just want to throw away everything that's left. I think I just might do that...
I hope everyone has a terrific New Years!
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Turkey Burnoff
Every year my local running club puts on a Turkey Burnoff race the Saturday after Thanksgiving. You have the option of running either 5 or 10 miles. Last year I did 10 and I really enjoyed it. This year, being 19 weeks pregnant, I knew I would not be able to do 10 but decided to go for the 5!
I've been running 30-35 minutes (2.5-3 miles) a couple of times a week and it's going well. I was thinking a 5K would be my limit but knew I'd be able to do 5 because I could walk if necessary. I did end up walking up the hills but ran the rest of the time, just more slowly.
About half way through, an obviously pregnant woman passed me and ended up finishing before me. I mention that she was obviously pregnant because I don't think that I am there yet. If you know me, then it's obvious! But if you don't know me you might just think it's how my body is shaped. Or maybe I had too much stuffing on Thanksgiving. ;)
After the run I asked her how far along she is and she was 29 weeks! She looked great and it's definitely motivating. I've decided to run the New Years Day 5K the running club puts on every year. I'll be 24 weeks pregnant by then!
My dad has been volunteering with the club, taking pictures at some of the races. He happened to be at the finish line of the Turkey Burnoff and it was great to see him!
Here are some of the shots he got of me:
And one from another photographer who was on the course:
My belly looks huge in these photos! I don't think it's really as big as it looks. And these are one of the only pairs of pants that are fitting me right now but I refuse to buy new ones that I'll only wear for a couple of months. I'll make it work! Thankfully I have some bigger shirts that fit well.
This is a new experience but I'm loving it. Being a woman who is growing a life, I already feel strong and amazing. Add running to the mix and it goes to a whole new level. I'm amazed at what my body is capable of doing!
I'm doing my best to make more time for exercise and to eat (mostly) healthy. I know it'll make a big difference come delivery time and for that alone I'm highly motivated to continue!
I've been running 30-35 minutes (2.5-3 miles) a couple of times a week and it's going well. I was thinking a 5K would be my limit but knew I'd be able to do 5 because I could walk if necessary. I did end up walking up the hills but ran the rest of the time, just more slowly.
About half way through, an obviously pregnant woman passed me and ended up finishing before me. I mention that she was obviously pregnant because I don't think that I am there yet. If you know me, then it's obvious! But if you don't know me you might just think it's how my body is shaped. Or maybe I had too much stuffing on Thanksgiving. ;)
After the run I asked her how far along she is and she was 29 weeks! She looked great and it's definitely motivating. I've decided to run the New Years Day 5K the running club puts on every year. I'll be 24 weeks pregnant by then!
My dad has been volunteering with the club, taking pictures at some of the races. He happened to be at the finish line of the Turkey Burnoff and it was great to see him!
Here are some of the shots he got of me:
And one from another photographer who was on the course:
My belly looks huge in these photos! I don't think it's really as big as it looks. And these are one of the only pairs of pants that are fitting me right now but I refuse to buy new ones that I'll only wear for a couple of months. I'll make it work! Thankfully I have some bigger shirts that fit well.
This is a new experience but I'm loving it. Being a woman who is growing a life, I already feel strong and amazing. Add running to the mix and it goes to a whole new level. I'm amazed at what my body is capable of doing!
I'm doing my best to make more time for exercise and to eat (mostly) healthy. I know it'll make a big difference come delivery time and for that alone I'm highly motivated to continue!
Monday, November 23, 2015
Announcement and a Pumpkin Run
So I've been a bit MIA but I have good reason....I'm pregnant!
We're so excited, Jack especially! I'm doing my best to have an active and healthy pregnancy so that I can have a natural delivery. I was induced with Jack due to having mild preeclampsia and I don't want to go that route again.
On Nov. 7 I ran the Great Pumpkin Run 5K with a friend and we carried 3 pound pumpkins the whole way. It was a lot of fun!
We're so excited, Jack especially! I'm doing my best to have an active and healthy pregnancy so that I can have a natural delivery. I was induced with Jack due to having mild preeclampsia and I don't want to go that route again.
On Nov. 7 I ran the Great Pumpkin Run 5K with a friend and we carried 3 pound pumpkins the whole way. It was a lot of fun!
I'm 18 weeks pregnant now and feeling pretty good. I ran 3 miles this morning without any problem. I'm going to continue with short runs (2-4 miles) as long as I'm able. Then I'll focus on walking.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)