Mid Week Update of sorts

My eating has suffered in the past 1 ? 2? weeks because the schedule of my mom and mine don't sync - there are times when she's home to cook and I'm not, and vice versa. My vegetables and fruits intake fluctuated dramatically. The fruits lately sucked and I don't fancy the thought of biting into cold, dry cherries. I'll be home for dinner but not sure if she'll cook as she's just had a work shift...

Given how it is, I will make a mental note to ask her to get the house filled with greens by Wednesday as the supermarkets probably won't get restocked with nice stuff over the long PH weekend, yikes.

The weekly walks in the park has virtually fell by the wayside - no trips had been made to the park at. all. Must get back on the wagon during the weekend when out of things to do! Catching up with reading and past issues of magazines will also be on the radar. Hopefully I'll declutter a bit (WHO declutters on a New Year against the tradition?! No one.) and start getting the blog sale up. Been sitting around this forever and not started a thing.

The considerations of getting a post-grad degree had also diminished - partly because after some thoughts, I realized I am not likely to become the candidate that they're looking for - those intangible attributes that can't be bought / doesn't come automatically with qualifications on a piece of paper. The degree probably might add *some* value to my current job, but it might not. There's also the thought of taking some online courses and purchase the end-of-course certificate and add it to my CV, some certificates maybe better than nothing at all. 

Career Talk

Over the past few days I've dabbled with the idea of taking up a post-grad degree. When I looked up the actual program that (1) could serve some purpose if I were able to have a career change, but (2) I don't have the slightest interest in the subject matter, the figure made my heart sank a bit. Getting past the cost factor, which I think was OK even though it exceeded my guesstimate, there are lots to think about.

The considerations were: interest, difficulty (course work), necessity/purpose, time and cost.

Personal interest was self-explanatory. It is also linked with difficulty, it's a degree which requires lots of readings and dare I say, exposure. There's also an exchange program linked in the degree but that's optional (seeing that some may have work constraints like I do), if they pick it there'll be additional costs there. As for necessity and purpose, well, if I've become a different person (in thinking), there might be good chance that I can get into a better position, but IT WILL BE / IT IS difficult to get in. There's no guarantee I can make it even after taking this degree. If I decided to take this degree, 2 years later I'd be facing an even more tricky situation: having spent time and money on the degree, should I go for it or not? 

I should probably add that the "better" position will mean a great change in my entire career lifespan. I would be working under (much) more stress, working more late, and be always, always on the go, like almost 24/7. And it's not just for a handful of years, it's the entire career span. Damned if you do, damned if you don't! There is absolutely nothing "better" about the better position except for the $$$. The goddamn $$$. More $$$ means more stress and responsibility, less freedom. Can I stand pressure? From my past experience, not very so. [Edited to add: There isn't any other benefits that I can identify to - those include getting to know the top tier seniors and networking and such - these don't add value / happiness to my life so I'm not counting it in the consideration of things.]

I think a post-grad degree might give me a sense of security in my current job, but does it have to be an over-achieving one? One that I need to pursue regardless of my interest in the subject? I doubt if I'd do well in a subject which I loathe. There are some happy mediums: subjects that I'm OK with but still not interested in, they cost cheaper and are linked to my job. On the other hand, the subjects I am interested in, they would not directly help my career either. But if I ever decided to take on a post-grad degree, shouldn't I pick something more multi-purpose (aka allowing me the chance to switch to an entire different position) besides adding qualification to my resume? Tough choice! 

The discussion went on with my dad and a relative of mine. The relative was of the opinion that I should go for it as I'm still young, if there's a time to take a chance, it's now. My dad, on the other hand said something more reflective - he said that a good career would follow me until 60 or 65, but a good family would follow me until the last day of my life. He was more of the opinion that I (a woman) should think about the future (what if) I decided to have children. He thinks I should choose whatever that makes me happy and comfortable. 

Mid Week Update: This and That

As deep winter is upon us, I have a hard time falling asleep / feeling warm indoors. We had endless rain with 11-12 Celcius for the past 2 days, which makes everything colder.

I struggled whether to turn on the heater (small, portable one since we live in an Asian climate), but at the end I figured it won't be worthy to take it out from the shelf and have it open for 2-3 days and then back to the shelf again. Not worth the trouble...BUT, boy was I freezing in the bed. I had icy feet and hands after wrapping myself under the blankets for an hour = difficulty sleeping (reduced hours!). Not too sure about having a hot water bottle as I'm afraid they'll leak and I'll have burns, or an electric blanket (although I have been thinking about it A LOT). Guess I'll put on some fleece socks tonight and see how it goes. Maybe a hot foot soak before bed.

Taking a look at the figures so far in January, I am on track with the budget. My transit pass still have leftover money from last month and then at the beginning of January I topped it up as well. It looks like I'd have money left over to carry forward in February. The biggest expenditure so far (budget-wise and real spending-wise) is medical. Gotta suck it up because it should be doing me good and is necessary.

After months and months of searching, I finally found a pair of glasses, it was very close to what I'm looking for, and the price is acceptable (not cheap though), and it shall be good for 3 years plus. I also knew the shopkeeper (a coincidence...) and he gave me a discount as well. Will be picking the finished product next week. I had hoped to reduce the wear of contact lenses (made my eyes soooo dry) by getting new glasses. My old glasses are scratched on one side and looking through from it was not a good experience, and it gave me physical headaches. The new glasses had been budgeted for and will be settled by the amount I put aside, which is good because there's less worrying on finances, yay! There is a possibility that I *might* get a cheapo version of a similar frame (costs 1/3 of the price of the ones that I just bought), to extend the shelf life of the new ones. But I don't need that *right now*, so definitely will sleep on this one.

I was telling a friend today that I had NOTHING that I want. You're right, absolutely no "wants". And I have mixed feelings about it: there was hardly any time that I'm not obsessed about something I saw online/at the shop; at the same time I'm happy because this is a right move in the right direction (frugality)! I have also noticed I browsed online stores much less, and spending only on necessary things so far (food or utilities). Now, I do have a few things that I "need", but I decide to save them for another day! They are: a warm duvet, a sleeping bag, a tea strainer (maybe), a travel kettle, sunglasses.

A thought struck me the other day: nothing, no one is looking out for me. Me being the middle-income earner so is not qualified for subsidized housing (cheap rent for life at a certain flat), nor was I a high-income earner that I can just dump part of my savings as down payment and start a mortgage right away. The position I'm at is quite "embarrassing" in a sense that I'm stuck in between. And no policies are looking after the "in-betweens", the society isn't built to look after everyone. This has also got me thinking about my career (!!!), I have tried going for other opportunities but the door was closed. Since I don't have a specialty degree, there's not so much doors for me to knock on., never mind a higher salary. Well, what about studying another degree? There's something that can add value (aesthetic) on the resume but will it make me more likely to get the job that I'm after? Possibly, but it's not easy at all. Questions, more questions and more thinking on this one.

[Edit: I realized the above paragraph might come off sounding whiny, but it's all very true, day-to-day questions for someone in their 20s to think about, especially if you have 35+ years ahead to work and to make financial decisions based on the way the society is constructed. The other day I overheard a washroom janitor saying she makes 24k per month but she works 3 jobs (!) to get that amount. I don't know her family situation, but I guess my point is, the society has policies to look after people like her, but none that look after people like me. So naturally, the (financial) worries that she has or I have, are different.]

In other news, I've been more active in looking for other income opportunities...been trying some paid surveys, only time will tell if they work out. Having said that, any suggestions from those who are reading / doing this? I'm worried that some sites are just scams.

I did so-so for the goals laid out past week, here they are:

- Read 30 pages of the said book read 5...really need to get this book finished!

- Update playlist for workout 50% done

- Jog 1x (or walk if calf doesn't allow to jog) done...with inner struggle and resistance (it was COLD!)

- Hand tiny gifts to DB's mom, done bring over the mincemeat tarts hopefully soon

- Make outfit plan on Sunday I have come to realize this isn't going the way I wanted...but will try for another week

- Make a list of items for blog sale nope, but must get it done soon

- Continue the glasses search done, but need to start looking for DB's pair!
- Gather some nice food for a former co-worker for lunch next week will do tomorrow since today is a No Spend Day
- Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize (face) think this is a YES
- Get to bed by 2330 (need to get better at doing this. Haven't been getting enough sleep lately and hence crankiness) Did this only for last night, since I had icy feet and hands, it didn't help much to fall asleep quickly


Goals for coming week:

- Spend 8 hours on side-hustle (been neglecting this for a while!)
- Get the other 50% of workout playlist done
- Jog 2x this weekend (ambitious I know!)
- List items for sale
- Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize, with face mask
- Get to bed by 2330
- Pick up samples and gifts from stores
- Schedule dental visit in late February
- Pick up new glasses
- Take a relative to lunch (my humble treat)
- Call / pop by the store to ask about recycling program this year

Next week will be a spendy week but I aim to have all expenditures happen on the same day: medical, meals out with friends and such. Spendy, but planned, nothing going out of the budget numbers / frivolous. The best kind, yes? :-)

In the 2015 personal development goals page (HERE), I've mentioned that I want to be surrounded by people who "do good". Well, I dropped a volunteer form to the local food bank last week (don't ask me why I have this idea...it just suddenly occurred to me), let's see if I'll hear from them later on. With Chinese New Year coming, I suspect the requests/visits they plan should be more than any other time of the year (next to Christmas), so there's good chances they need somebody to help out. It's been years since I last dabbled with the idea of volunteering, and it's a huge step for me. I'd be helping in an area close to where I live if things work out, which is always a bonus!

2015 Family/Friends goals; Career goals

Family & Friends goals:

1. Take parents to travel and experience more
2. Continue being good to those family members who are good (aka get over the black sheeps)
3. Reconnect with friends by texting more and meet up occasionally

Goal (1) will be accomplished, depending on the time that my dad can walk away from the office, be it long or short, we are definitely going on a trip. If we're going on a long trip then I'll have to do more planning work; if it's short trip then I'll just sign everyone up on a decent tour so I don't need to worry about anything, and my parents would feel more comfy sitting on a coach as well.

Basically I've come to terms with goal (2) that there's always some black blood in the family and that nothing can be done to mend these fragile and broken relationships, plus it isn't like I'm the only grown-up to think about this, every other person has their responsibility in this too. 

Goal (3): o be honest I quite enjoy having weekend off and I try not to schedule many meetups with friends over the past year, instead I chose to spend more time with my parents. However there will always a few friends that I'd meet from time to time, I just need to remember to text them more.

Career goals:

1. Limit occasions of official lunches/farewells unless attendance is an absolute must, and when needed be, socialize and be present
2. Remain cordial, maintain a cordial, purposed and respectful distance with others. Avoid being too friendly with anyone, and stay away from gossip-mongers at work
3. Have outfit planned out for the week every Sunday
4. Consider taking a masters degree

Not much to say about these, just to keep working quietly and get through each day with some sanity (hence I bring my brown bag and eat alone).