Proud to be small

precious orders ready to mail

I know I haven't been in "the business" long.

I know I'm a small business.

but...

I know this is just the beginning.

I know my word is all I have.

I know my awesome customer service means a world of difference when it comes to online marketplaces.

I know I love working on each and every order that I get.

I know I enjoy collaborating with someone new to make something special.

I know that, even as I get busier + busier, I will always strive to make each customer feel like a person, rather than an order.

I know I've been given one shot and I have to do my best each and every day.

I'm not saying I'm doing it all right, cause I know I'm not. I know I have a lot to learn - but I'm ready, to learn + grow + share.

I'm proud to be small.

Measuring up - March 2009

Almost one year ago, T and I started aggressively tracking and systematically eliminating our CC debt. Currently this is the picture:

Card #1 - $0/$6,200 - 0%
Card #2 - $0/$8,500 - 0%
Card #3 - $4,534.03/$5,000 - 91%
Card #4 - $1,513.08/$2,000 - 76%
Paid vs. Total - $7,642.22/$13,689.33 - 56% of the way to CC debt elimination!

With an unexpected change in our mortgage payment (dropped back down to below where it was when we first bought the house) and the removal of our cable/internet, we are in stride to attack with a fury. We're so close and yet we still have to bide our time and dollars to finish strong. Barring any crazy emergencies, we should definitely beat our deadline of December 31, 2009...but lets just wait and see!

In other goal updates, I don't think I'm doing very well with not buying clothes. To clarify, I still haven't purchased any new clothes. I have looked at clothes that I want to purchase and have had a major case of the gimmies ("I want _____" screamed repeatedly.) Just thinking of taking a month off of debt repayment and spending! Oh the wants I have. I know that I shouldn't and it will feel better when I buy it later but I still have wants.

October measuring up- So many changes...

There are so many updates and I've been away for so long so here they go:

The O's have officially moved :(
EO and PM are coming back!!!
Small groups that have changed up a bit will be starting this month
My major teeth issues are being fixed (read: costing tons of $$)
We are still making a dent in our debt while realizing life must be lived
The economy gives me a :( boo face

So lets talk about how our goals went for good old September:

• add at least $75 in snowflakes to wedding fund - DONE! 124.96 to fund our wedding fun with friends
  
• read a book of the bible together during the month of September - Mark -FAIL! Made it through the first chapter...
  
• no eating out all month - so far, so good...I'm starting to have Jet's Pizza withdrawls... - DONE! By the end of the month it was habitual to cook dinner at home but we did enjoy our reward(s) when it was all over...
  

In light of my strong want to pull back and not be over committed/involved lately, we've decided against October goals...except that's kind of a goal...either way, ha!

Here is where our debt falls as of 10.1.08:

Card #1 - $2,347.23/$6,200 - 38%
Card #2 - $4,090.65/$6,500 - 63%
Card #3 - $1,418.95/$2,500 - 57%
Card #4 - $1,631.58/$2,000 - 82%
Paid vs. Total - $4,200.92/$13,689.33 - 31% of the way to CC debt elimination!

That's right, only 1% difference from last month...this is due to the eyes, the teeth and our decision to put some money away in savings as a mini buffer to rely on rather than our CC's in case something slightly major happens...mathematically not the best answer but it works for us.

Measuring up late - September

Lets not beat around the bush here...I've been away from the blog for a bit but the finances have still been taken care of...here's where we stand...

Card #1 - $2,424.99/$6,200 - 39%
Card #2 - $4,090.65/$6,500 - 63%
Card #3 - $1,446.38/$2,500 - 58%
Card #4 - $1,668.45/$2,000 - 83%
Paid vs. Total - $4,058.86/$13,689.33 - 30% of the way to CC debt elimination!

Goal recap to come...

Measuring up - August 1st

I know I'm a bit behind and with good reason. T and I took a much needed vacation this past weekend, camping up in N. MI! It was gorgeous and we got to spend some good quality time with each other, minus the Internets and other distractions.

Finances pause for no one though so here is my monthly wrap up:

We were on track to have 24% of our debt paid off by the end of July...and we bested ourselves and are at 27%! This might be one of the last months we're able to beat our forecast due the snowflakes being redirected for wedding expenses, but it still feels really good to see these numbers really moving!

Here are the new CC utilization percents, as they have been updated over on the side:
Card #1 - $2,727.79/$6,200 - 44%
Card #2 - $4,090.65/$6,500 - 63% (this one is going nowhere fast - 0% offer)
Card #3 - $1,519.26/$2,500 - 61%
Card #4 - $1,706.21/$2,000 - 85%
Paid vs. Total - $3,645.42/$13,689.33 - 27% of the way to CC debt elimination!

Tomorrow, I'll let you know how we did with our goals for July and our new goals for August!

Measuring up - July 1st

Here we are again at the first of the month and I have to say we aren't doing too bad.

As you can see on the sidebar over there, we have paid off 21% of our debt as of July 1st, and while we still have a long way to go, its really nice to see it start to inch down, a little bit at a time.

I think I would like to officially state our credit card debt elimination date as December 31, 2009.

I know that I've stated that was a personal goal and that I was trying to beat our current deadline of early 2010, but I can't resist the challenge.

Speaking of challenges, one of my favorite goals for July is to take my lunch to work everyday. This being Day 1, I would like to report that I was successful. Its always easiest on Day 1. I was aided by the large amount of left overs we had from a cookout last night at small group (super fun and my hair still smells a bit like bonfire!) I ate some delicious fruit salad, made by Mrs. G, and a ham sandwich, created by yours truly. Afternoon snack: marshmallows, left over from our s'more action the night before!