I did learn some things from this experience, however. 

Because she was an old friend, [...]]]> If all goes as planned, my roommate will be completely moved out by the end of the day on Sunday.  I have to admit, even with the loss of income, I’m relieved.  She’s a good friend, but she’s definitely a bad roommate.

I did learn some things from this experience, however. 

Because she was an old friend, we didn’t make any sort of formal agreements as to her lease or her responsibilities.  She wasn’t ever added to my lease (which I don’t regret) but we had no written agreement and our only real verbal agreement was “You will pay me $X rent on the first of every month.”

I should have better spelled out the household responsibilities.  I thought that was a given, but we clearly needed to have a chore list.  I know that’s common in group houses, just because there are so many people living there that it’s just easier to dole out the chores rather than wait and see who does what.  I just didn’t think it would be an issue in a two bedroom apartment.

I should have had her provide a security deposit.  Not that she did a significant amount of damage to things, but I have asked her to make sure she cleans everything before she moves out.  I am not convinced that this will happen.  Most notably,  she has been using my bedding for the past year.  While I am okay with that (it was bedding I used on the spare bed anyway), I requested that she take the comforter to the dry cleaner’s before she leaves.  As of yet, the comforter is still in the apartment.  If she doesn’t take it or offer money, I will be asking her for the money for the dry cleaning, but I hate to have to do that.  As for the other cleaning, if she doesn’t do it, I’m pretty much stuck.  The threat of not returning her security deposit likely would have helped inspire her to clean.  And if it didn’t, well, at least I’d have some extra cash to ease the frustration of cleaning up after her.

On the other hand, from my point of view, it’s good she didn’t have a year long lease with me.  She wouldn’t have signed it, since she wanted to move, but I also wouldn’t have been able to finally ask her to move when things got bad.  So that was possibly a mistake on her part.  I do think that my words were just the motivation she needed to actually start looking – she’s wanted to move to a “nicer” (read: more expensive) neighborhood for a while now.

So, lesson learned.  I’m not sure what my next steps are. I won’t be getting a new roommate before the holidays, but next year, I’ll probably start looking to see who’s out there.  And hope that the next one will be better.

Except that I’ve already spent it.

And not even on anything exciting.  Dental work and continuing legal education courses.  To be honest, I’m not sure which is more painful.  But [...]]]> Yesterday, I found out that I will be getting a very small performance-based bonus.  I’m pretty pumped about the recognition, and the money’s a nice plus too.

Except that I’ve already spent it.

And not even on anything exciting.  Dental work and continuing legal education courses.  To be honest, I’m not sure which is more painful.  But both are things that I need to spend money on, and it’s nice to not have to scrounge around in my other budget categories to make it happen.

So really, it’s a good thing.  This bonus is going to good use.  It’s just a little disappointing to not be able to have any fun with it.  Typically, I try to put half of every bonus into savings, but I’ve decided to let this one go straight towards these two expense categories, with any excess going into savings.

I feel like such a grown-up.  A boring, boring grown-up.  Maybe I’ll use a few dollars of the money and buy some ice cream to eat while watching the CLE courses.  Though that might undo the benefits of the dental work.

Being a responsible adult is no fun.  But making a good financial decision, while boring, feels pretty awesome.

Now, I don’t mean your actual looks.  You can be [...]]]> I’ve been in my current job for a couple of years now, but before this, I spent a whole lot of time in interviews.  One big tip that I picked up from many different interview panels is that how you look really has a big impact.

Now, I don’t mean your actual looks.  You can be tall or short, fat or skinny, brunette or blonde, and none of that will matter.  But how you put yourself together definitely will.

Of course, this advice may not apply to every job interview, but in general, I think that everyone should wear a nice suit to an interview.  A suit that fits well and looks professional.  It doesn’t have to be an expensive suit (though suits are not cheap).  But you should look nice and well put together.  Try to keep your pants from dragging on the ground, for example. 

I have had a lot of friends go on interviews lately, and after seeing what they wore to the interviews, I had to prevent myself from physically cringing.  It’s not that they looked bad.  In fact, most of them looked really good.

Perhaps a little too good.

Ladies, cleavage isn’t appropriate for a job interview (unless you are applying at Hooters).  While some interviewers may not be bothered by it, and some may even enjoy it, you’re risking looking unprofessional.   Same thing goes with a too-short skirt. 

Guys, you can look trendy without looking too trendy.  A friend of mine loves to wear spats.  I think they’re a lot of fun, and fine for the office, but perhaps not the best thing to wear to an interview.  You don’t know how others will take that.  Some may think you’re fun and interesting, but some may think you’re a goofball and not ready to work.

The one thing I was always taught by various career counselors is that it’s best to be a little conservative in your dress when you go to an interview.  Stand out with your personality and your resume, not with your clothing.  While they’ll certainly remember you if you wear a pink plaid suit, wouldn’t it be better if you were remembered as the interviewee who totally nailed the second question?

Looking forward, I’m not expecting great things for November.  I have finally decided to pony up [...]]]> Pretty much no change in my net worth over the last month.  It went up 0.13%.  Not much to write home about.  My investments dropped a bit, but the savings from the extra paycheck this month made up for that.

Looking forward, I’m not expecting great things for November.  I have finally decided to pony up the money for a professionally fitted mouth guard to help with my nighttime teeth grinding.  I’ve been using an over the counter guard, but it’s just not doing the trick.  I only get one set of teeth, so it’s a worthwhile investment.

I also am planning to purchase some Continuing Legal Education courses.  I need to take them to keep my law license, and my options are typically to buy CD/DVD classes or travel halfway across the country to take courses in the state in which I’m licensed.  Since my office won’t help pay for them, I choose the cheap (though boring) route, and one of the companies that offers the courses is having a 20% off sale for the month of November.  This is the first time I’ve seen them offer that kind of sale, so I’m probably going to drop around $500 and get that much closer to my required hours.  I am pretty sure that I can deduct the expense on my taxes, but I can’t say that helps all that much.

So November probably won’t be great, but at least it’s planned expenses and things I need, rather than splurging on shoes (which I also need, but that’s another conversation for another day).

H1N1 has hit my office pretty hard, and while I’m still healthy (for now!), there have been a lot of people out of the office, which means a lot of work for those of us still standing.  Not that I’m complaining about being healthy, of course. 

So with work, [...]]]> Sorry for the lackluster posts this week folks.

H1N1 has hit my office pretty hard, and while I’m still healthy (for now!), there have been a lot of people out of the office, which means a lot of work for those of us still standing.  Not that I’m complaining about being healthy, of course. 

So with work, keeping up with a running schedule, and trying to eat well and get enough rest so that I can at least try to ward off any illness circling the office, blogging has fallen by the wayside.

I [...]]]> My roommate informed me yesterday that she is planning to move out in November, provided everything works out with the other roommates in the shared house she’s hoping to join.  Technically, I asked her to give me a month’s notice, which she isn’t doing, but at this point, I’m just glad that she’s moving out. 

I guess we are an example of where the roommate situation can really go wrong.  She moved in a little over a year ago.  She was a graduate student at the time, and we had known each other since our freshman year of college, but had never lived together.  While she was a grad student, she wasn’t home a lot – which was good and bad.  Good in that I never had to really share my space, but bad because that meant I did all the household chores.  For the most part, I didn’t mind, since they were chores I would be doing anyway, but the little things did start to bug me – like when I had to clean the kitchen before and after the dinner she held for her friends, because she wasn’t going to bother to do it.

The situation really hit a breaking point when she finished school and didn’t find a job.  She was still paying rent, of course, but she was always home and still not helping with the chores unless I specifically asked her to – and even then, she often forgot.  She’s pretty absent minded, so I don’t doubt that she forgot, but after a rough day of work, it was annoying to come home and find her watching Jeopardy while ignoring the dishes in the sink.

So she’s moving out.  It means that my savings rate is going to take a huge hit.  I can afford the rent without her, but I just won’t have as much money to squirrel away at the end of the month.  It will make things tight.  But I think I’m going to spend a few months on my own and not jump right back into a roommate situation.  This one just didn’t work.

I’m hoping that our friendship isn’t totally ruined because of the situation, and I think it can be repaired.  I just think that we need a little bit of time apart.

Of course, she tells me she’s moving out the same day I came home to find that wonder of wonders, she actually vacuumed on her own accord.  Guess everyone can learn, if you just keep reminding them.

So who has plans for November?  I do!

That’s right.  Once again this [...]]]> Little late this morning.  Things have been crazy around here, and I didn’t get a chance to put a post in the queue yesterday and I’m just now able to stop and breathe, make some tea, and fire off a quick entry.

So who has plans for November?  I do!

That’s right.  Once again this year, I’m planning to participate in NaNoWriMo, a quest to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days.  I’ve done it for a number of years, and it’s always a fun adventure.  No, I’ve never written anything of great quality, but it’s fun to sit down and write a story and see what happens.  In previous years, I had grand outlines, characters, all sorts of things.  This year?  I have a bare bones plot.   I’m not sure if that makes things easier or harder, to be honest, but it should still be fun.

Anyone want to join me?

Not into the idea of fiction noveling?  A lot of people do NaNoWriMo in their own way.  Some people write 50,000 words of their own autobiography.  Others try to blog every single day.  Some write poems or songs.  Whatever your thing is.  It’s a fun adventure.  Take the challenge!

The answer that I got was that they couldn’t do much, but that I would be eligible for another [...]]]> Last month, my promotional rate with my cable company expired.  That meant my bill was going to jump.  Just what everyone loves to have happen.  So I called the cable company to see what they could do.

The answer that I got was that they couldn’t do much, but that I would be eligible for another promotional rate in three months.  I accepted that and hung up with the rep.

A few days later, I decided to call back and reduce my services.  Even if it was only a $10 difference, that $10 would add up over the months.

Surprise, surprise, there was no 3 month waiting period for a new promotional rate.  In fact, I was eligible for a better promo than I was on for the past two years, with no change in services.  So my bill is lowered, and I get to keep all my services.

Oh, and I have to go through this all again next year.  But it’s worth it.