A [kind of] New Woman

I am one of those people who make New Year’s Resolutions. I try to make them realistic, but not too easy. For example, I can say I’m going to give up Indian food, Jim Beam and HBO. With nooooo problem. Because I don’t like the food, drink the booze or have cable. Done and done!

No?

All right…

My 2013 Resolutions

One new vegetable a month*

I almost said one new vegetable a week, but that seemed way too ambitious. I can’t even think of 52 vegetables. Not that I don’t love my steady diet of broccoli, spinach, green beans, peas and asparagus, but it’s time to mix it up. To that end, here are few cook books I’m going to use to help me out.

Eat your vegetables, Arthur Potts Dawson

The art of cooking with vegetables, Alain Passard

Cooking with fruits and vegetables, Claire Llewellyn

*I will not, however, be eating any form of mushroom.
They taste like dirt, people.

Stop saying sorry

I apologize for everything. I apologize for stuff that’s not my fault, for events that I have no control over, things that have nothing to do with me. I apologize when someone does something to me! It’s stupid and doesn’t get me anywhere. These people will help me.

Manage my money better

I pay my bills on time and all that jazz. But I really should have way more expendable income than I do. Like way more. Especially since I quit smoking (2011’s resolution) and added an extra $4000 a year to my pocket money. Where is it going???

Also, managing my money better would mean I could donate more to charity, which is always on my resolution list. I’m so fortunate to have the life I have. I should absolutely be helping others in need. For real.

I signed up for  Mint.com, a website that pulls all your financial accounts into one place. You can set a budget, create and track goals and [gulp] see where your money is really going.

The behavior gap : simple ways to stop doing  dumb things with money, Carl Richards

The debt-free spending plan : an amazingly simple way to take control of your finances once and for all, JoAnneh Nagler

The only budgeting book you’ll ever need : how to save money and manage your finances with a personal budget plan that works for you, Tere Stouffer.

30 Day Hot Yoga Challenge

I am going to do 30 days of Bikram (hot) yoga, in a row, without a day off. Frankly, I think this will be the hardest resolution to keep. Because of work and chores and things that constantly interrupt my fun, there will be days that I have to go to the 6 a.m. class. In the dead of winter. Probably on my bike. From the South Side to Lawrenceville. To say that I’m not a morning person…well, this could be ugly.

I plan on starting February 1st and going through to March 2nd. Now that it’s out in the universe, I have to do it. If I succeed, I am totally buying a pair of yoga pants with bling on the butt. Because I will have earned them.

Pray for me. Happy 2013!

-suzy

Money Matters

With banks, foreclosures, and economic woes in the news these days, are you feeling confused about how best to handle your money? Perhaps you’ve always been strapped for cash, and now you’re ready to buckle down and figure out your finances. Or you’re at a place in your life — whether it’s your first job, your first kid, or retirement’s looming — where you need to figure out your next steps.

While the library has many, many books on the subject, we also recognize that there are other ways to absorb information.  For those who would rather start with a person to explain things, we have partnered with the Financial Education Consortium of Southwestern Pennsylvania to offer Money Matters: A Personal Finance Speaker Series.

Starting this Saturday, April 18th, and continuing through June 13th, you can come to the Main Library in Oakland and hear experts speak about housing, budgeting, credit, investing and insurance. Here is the line up:

Saturday, April 18th, 3:00-4:30 PM
Smart Housing – Making Good Choices with Sarah Newman of NeighborWorks® Western Pennsylvania
Learn about renting versus owning, your rights as a tenant, understanding the home buying process and becoming familiar with local programs for low-income and/or first time homebuyers.

Wednesday, April 29th, 6:00-7:30 PM
Get a Handle On It: Credit and Debt with Jada Grandy of Fifth Third Bank and Iris Valentin of FDIC
You can do this. We’ll help you to evaluate your credit, repair it and stay safe from unwise use of credit and predatory lending.

Saturday, May 16, 3:00-4:30 PM
Budgeting – Hold on to More of Your Money with Amanda Burkhart of ACTION Housing, Inc. and Bill Long of Operation HOPE
Learn the fundamentals of budgeting and cutting back on spending so you can save more, invest more, and worry less.

Wednesday, May 27, 6:00-7:30 PM
Understanding Investing – Taking Care of Ourselves and Our Kids with Larry Garvin from the PA Treasury Department and a speaker from BetterInvesting, Pittsburgh Chapter
Don’t let the economic downturn scare you away from investing in your family’s future! Now is the perfect time to learn more about investing in your retirement and your children’s college education.

Saturday, June 13, 3:00-4:30 PM
Play it Safe: Insuring Your Assets with Ed Cerezo and Kevin Kerr of The Kerr Agency
Protect yourself and your loved ones with appropriate levels of insurance. Learn more about the ins and outs of auto, home, health, life, and renter’s insurance at this informative presentation.

-Kaarin