The Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Week

To put things simply, I've had quite a bit of bad news this week that has the grand potential to totally ruin my plans and dash my dreams of moving to Placencia, and all my plans in general. I hope to press on with my preparations in hopes that things will work out for the best, or at least how they are meant to. It's been really tough, and it looks like I might be going it alone to Belize. As we all know, things fall apart. I still hope to move there in two years, but my plans might change if I no longer have my partner in crime by my side. I may not get the chance to move to Placencia. I may move instead to Cayo, or to Belize City for a time to work for an importer if possible and rent a room from my close family friends. There really is no telling at this point, except that I know I want to get out of New Orleans and this stupid beehive apartment where I live, and this hum-drum life that threatens to ruin my sanity. I'm doing everything in my power to make myself a healthy, well balanced, conscious, and a sustainable member of society. But at this point, I really just want to run away.

CSW is coming up in T-minus 47 days. That is really scary. I have not yet purchased my seat for the exam, but 9 slots are still available. $225 is a lot for an exam. I don't want to fail it ever again.

I'm working on cutting back on bills. I cancelled regular cable yesterday, which will go out on February 1. In its place, I've gotten Hulu Plus for $7.99 per month. I have the Roku box with Netflix and Pandora on it already, and my boss has a digital antenna he doesn't need any more that he will let me have. That means I still get the local channels! The total expenses of my TV before the switch were hovering at $116 per month, sometimes more if I'd purchased an On Demand movie. Now, those charges will be $23 per month with Netflix included. My internet is still the same, but depending on how this goes, I may boost my internet speed so I don't have any time-out issues.

All things considered, this should save me at least $90 per month. I also plan on making a very strict food budget for the week, and keep my food costs to around $50 per week. That's $200 in food per month, versus what I'm doing now, which is probably double that.

So now it's time to work up a new budget now that my finances have changed some and expendable income has gone down. Don't forget (and I can't) that we will still be splitting the January utilities that come in to be paid in February.

$2200 - Current Monthly Income
- $764 - Rent
- $55   - Internet
- $23   - Total TV  (Netflix and Hulu Plus)
- $60   - Power
-$200  - Savings
-$100  - Credit Card Payment
-$200  - Federal Tax Payment (only thru June)
-$108  - Car Insurance
-$125  - Sofa Payment (only thru April)
-$55    - Gym Membership

This gives me $510 left over for the month, or $127.50 per week. I can live with this, but I'm hoping to trim more fat where I can to boost my savings, pay off the Credit Cards and the Couch as quickly as possible, and to make things easier to manage.

I'm going to start with purchasing all my veggies and very few proteins as locally as possible. Hollygrove Market and Farm is about one mile from my apartment does a $25 weekly basket full to the brim with local veggies. I plan on going to Cleaver and Co. for any meat products I may use. For instance, this week I plan to go get a pork shank and/or sausage for red beans and rice. Other basic staples I will purchase as usual from Winn Dixie. I think I can eat quite cheaply this way. Again, $50 per week is all I will spend on food! That brings my weekly total down to $77.50 expendable income.

I currently have enough money in savings to pay for the CSW, though I plan to save for the CSW out of my expendable income and not touch my savings.

Basically, all in all, I am living on a shoestring budget, but hoping to do all the things I should do (like work out, eat right, read and not watch TV, study) without any of it that I don't.

Those things aside, I am a really, really sad broken-hearted girl this week.

The Saving, Studying Type

Today marks the official start to my savings for the move to Belize! I officially scheduled a transfer of $100 into savings from a paycheck I haven't even collected yet... That brings my current savings to $375, which is 2.5% of our $15,000 goal. That said, I MUST get on Wes to make sure he is saving! Don't forget, $3,000 of that $15,000 is in the poor ol' minivan, whose name is Charlemagne Shminny-Van. Charlemagne is burgundy, and well... who can forget Charlemagne?

Speaking of Charlemagne, I've begun my studying in earnest. I plan to get up every morning one hour early to go to a nearby coffee shop and study before work. Today, check. Only about 90 more days to go! I also have one of my wine importers helping out and giving me a bootleg up-to-date copy of the CSW study literature (SHH, internet, don't tell!)

I just did 45 minutes of yoga and made myself a green bean casserole. Next up, reviewing my notes from this morning, studying the Piemonte map, and maybe a wee bit of TV.

So what kind of motivation does a girl need today for tomorrow morning?

 Tou-can do it! 

Inventories Cont'd.

It's my all-time favorite activity! Tabulating all the worldly things I own and deciding what to get rid of and what to take with me over an ocean!

Thats so easy. 

So let me pick up where I left off:

Red means not taking

Green means coming to Belize

Blue means not my decision, or unsure

Living Room Cont'd

Electric fan COMING!

DVD Player Doubtful.**

Wireless Router Unsure about this...

Roku Box Don't need it

Loads and loads of artwork STORE

Buddhist Mirror COMING!

Desk Lamp STORE

All the crazy stuff inside the desk STORE, except for maybe a few essential computer cables

Dining Room Area

Bar/bookcase STORE or toss

4 Champagne Flutes Bringing 2, possibly

4 Schott Zweisel Tasting Glasses Bringing 2 possibly

Myriad rocks glasses Bringing 2 possibly

1 Brandy Glass STORE

Cream Lamp STORE

Ice bin/wine chiller STORE

Kitchen-aid stand mixer STORE

Big Box of clothes to donate DONATE

Kitchen

Tupperware Containers Store most, donate/toss old stuff

Plates STORE

Mugs STORE

Bowls STORE

Silverware STORE

Glasses STORE

Mardi Gras Cups Toss or store

Pots STORE

Pans STORE

Baking Sheets, Muffin Tins, Pie Pans STORE

Toaster STORE

Blender STORE

Food Processor STORE

Hand Mixer STORE

Small camping stove Not quite sure. Could come in handy. Don't know yet.

French Press for Coffee Dunno, but most likely STORE

Keurig Coffee Maker STORE

Regular Coffee Maker STORE

Spices (lots and lots of spices) Up to Wes, but he'll probably say STORE or TOSS

Cambro full of flour STORE or TOSS or use up before we go

Cambro full of rice STORE or TOSS or use up before we go

Cambro full of sugar STORE or TOSS or use up before we go

Mixing Bowls STORE

All sorts of spoons, ladels, whisks, etc. Up to Wes, but he'll probably say STORE or TOSS

About 10 knives Wes, but we're probably going to take 3 or 4

Sharpening stone COMING

Refrigerator Magnets Store 'em. Don't need 'em.

Something like 20 kitchen towels Taking 10, because Wes uses these like papertowels

Bedroom

Desk for TV STORE

Playstation 3 w/ 2 controllers Up to Wes

Playstation Games Up to Wes

TV STORE

Stereo System STORE

Jewelry Box STORE most, Take some less valuable items paired with outfits/dresses

Accessories (in other boxes) STORE

Belizean bowl with rings/frequently used jewelry Take

   

     Contents of Dresser

     Socks (appx 20 pair) Take 10 pair, store, toss, donate the rest

     Underwear (appx 10 pair) Take good ones, possibly buy new, toss old

     Bras (appx 5) Take all

     T-Shirts (probably 20-25) Take appx 10-15

     Blouses (probably 15) Take appx 5-10

     Work-out shirts (probably 5) Take all

     Work-out bottoms (probably 5) Take all

     Sweat pants and pajama pants (probably 7-10) Take 5

Bed STORE

Bed Clothes and Sheets STORE, but bring a set of high-threadcount sheets to fit rental bed

Two nightstands STORE

Two lamps STORE

Hello-Kitty Alarm Clock STORE, but purchase new one for travel

Book Light TAKE

Box of foreign currency STORE

Binoculars (don't ask me) TAKE

Stuff on Wes's nightstand Up to Wes

Wine cooler STORE

Candleholders STORE, but take Buddha candle holder

Two Mayan Site prints STORE

Two full-length mirrors STORE

** I'm thinking of buying a cable that will connect the Macbook to the TV so as to eliminate the need for other electronics. If Wes decides to take his PS3, this will be the electronic device we'll use.

Next up..

Bedroom Closet

Bathroom

Now that we've discussed all that tons-of-fun stuff, I'm going to log my progress on other fronts. I had the flu this week, so my work outs have been horrible. I tried doing yoga on Wednesday but ended up drowning in my own cold sweat and snot doing a few downward dogs.

Today, I'm planning to go exercise at the gym, then go to the coffee shop to study for the CSW and for the Google Talk online meeting of the TVB book club. We're reading Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth," which I've read a few chapters of before, but got stuck on. Now I'm on chapter 8 and enjoying it. 

It gives me a lot of tools to use to diffuse stress, to see events and actions for what they are, and how to treat people better. 

Must.Break.Through.Unconsciousness

The entrance to Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave

That said, I'm really focusing on my goals. I put in 4 good hours yesterday studying for the CSW. I've devised a two-pronged approach for this exam-- I'm studying two subjects at one time, and switching back and forth between the two so my mind doesn't get bored. Rest assured, these topics are totally different. For instance, now I'm studying the wine regions of Italy (today is Piemonte), and viticulture. It's like studying geography and science in school.  

Alright then, BREAK! Off to gym, then to study!

Lead No. 1

Talked with my close Belizean friend today who lives in New Orleans with me whom I've known for years. Just told her about the move.

I absolutely, totally forgot that good friends of mine, Belizean friends, whom I used to work for in one of their Baton Rouge bars, now own a resort in Placencia.

How could I forget?

The Placencia

Are there any coincidences in life?

I plan to talk with them soon. And hopefully on and off throughout this whole process. Hopefully Wes and I can take them out to lunch or dinner and chat them up (Domenica?). Maybe even better, we cook and pair them a dinner.

But where?

...think think think...

Maria's house? I told her last time we'd love to cook and pair them a dinner... muahahah...

Bare Necesseties

Now comes the time that we're going to begin sorting the wheat from the chaff. It's super-important that we not take too many material posessions down with us to the Caribbean for a few reasons--

1. We can't afford to bring all our junk
2. I don't use all the junk I have anyway, and what better time to purge?
3. I don't want to clutter my newfound and hopefully simpler life with all my bookshelf knick-knacks, 3 copies of Catcher and the Rye (which I hate), assorted mismatched coffee mugs, and bath gel I got as a gift but never got rid of or used.

We're going to start having to keep account of the things that we use every day, or use enough to warrant keeping around. Our time-frame of items we need to bring is going to be the first year in Belize. Since we don't plan on returning from Belize until our year is nearly up (hopefully the Holidays of 2015), we've got to make sure the stuff we take is stuff we need and will use.

This also means we're going to have to start making a list of things that are important to us but not available in Belize. For me, this means stuff like beauty products (good sunscreen, anyone?), clothing, and wine books. For Wes, it means some spices, kitchen utinsels, and chef coats. We've got to make sure we have exactly what we need and nothing we don't.

That said, let me begin by taking a rough inventory, then I will key it in the following way:

Green: Coming to Belize
Red: NOT coming to Belize
Blue: Unsure or not my decision

Hall Closet
Umbrellas Need 2 collapsible, donate rest
Cat Litter Box Will acquire in Belize, donate or trash
Craft Box Store in Alexandria
Motorcycle Helmet Store in Alexandria
Wine Collection Store in Alexandria or with a trusted wine friend in town
Electric Radiator Store in Alexandria
Christmas Decorations Store in Alexandria
Folding Table Unsure, but definitely not coming to Belize
Tool Boxes Wes's Decision, but most likely not coming to Belize
Random Storage Box of Mystery: ??? But it can't be that important
Electric Lantern UNSURE
Battery Powered Fan Coming to Belize
Sewing Machine UNSURE, but unlikely (bulky)
Sand Anchor beach table and beach umbrella:Unsure, but may be coming
Travel Hammock: Yes!!
Rolling ice chest named Merlbert: Wes's Decision, but too bulky in my opinion.

Living Room
Books, books, books and more books: This is a toughie, so I may take a few often-used wine books like my Atlas and CSW guide as well as a handful of novels and cookbooks. I will limit myself to taking 15 books (geesh, this is still like 25 lbs, but I'll put them on my carry-on)
- Wine Books
- Cookbooks
- Novels
- Old School Books: STORE
- Photo Albums: STORE
Shelved candle holders and knick-knacks: STORE
Bookcases (2): STORE
Sofa: STORE
Coffee Table: STORE
TV: STORE
TV Stand: Donate or pitch. It's old and wobbly
DVDs: I will pick my 5 favorites and take them
DVD Holder: STORE
Cat Tower: Donate or pitch. It's old and shredded.
Pink Chair: Donate or pitch. It's old and shredded.
Wooden Stool: STORE
Wicker Chair: STORE
Rocking Chair: STORE
Antique Desk: STORE
Pinboard: STORE
Printer: ??? But definitely not coming
Computer & Charger: COMING! This brings up a good point-- see below**
Files: I will keep these easily accessible at my parents' house in case I may need them to mail me something. I will only be taking my passport and Louisiana I.D. with me, as I will need little else (as far as I know)

**There MUST be a way to protect my cute little Macbook from the horrible things corrosion does to computers caused by sea salt in the air. You can't naturally put the whole computer in a cute case, because it relies on air circulation through it's little fans while it runs. Different websites advocate putting some sort of filter over the fans, but others say it's best to put a small dehumidifier by the computer, and when not in use to store it in "SLEEP" mode, never off, somewhere air-tight with silica gel or with some other desecant to dry it out. Keep it in a closet away from windows. This sounds like a job for a tupperware box, or something like this Otterbox Computer Case!

Alright, so next I'll take further inventories of other rooms in the house and make those tough decisions.
I'll also soon be discussing the day-to-day activities I currently perform, and what I'm going to have to do to arrange for those things in Belize.

To CSW or not CSW

So, now it's decision time.

I've set myself goals for this year and next, as you see in my first post. So, after a little research, I've looked into the schedule for the CSW exam (Certified Specialist of Wine) through the Society of Wine Educators. Don't forget, I sat for this exam in Houston in September and failed by 3 questions.

Guess what? They are offering this exam in New Orleans on March 8.

MARCH 8.

MARCH 8?!

Basically, I'm terrified. It's $215 for the exam. It's a huge blow to me if I fail again, both emotionally and monetarily. I cannot afford to fail. That's the last date the exam is offered until next year in New Orleans, and I hate to fly and go through all that hassle if I can just take it in town.

I don't yet have to make a decision, as there are 10 seats left available as of today. I do NOT feel prepared, but I've got to get myself prepared. 

So, I suppose I'm going to go for it. (How's that for mental fortitude?)

...and hence I'm going to make myself study for at least an hour a day during weekdays, and at least 2 hours each available weekend day. This is cumulative, so I can break it up into 30 minute increments during the day if I so choose. 

Anyone want to start naming growths?

The "B" Word

Budget. We mean budget. And this is going to be ongoing and changing as we go.
I thought I'd start of with a nice, relaxing pic of Belize, just to remind me why I'm doing this.

Ahh, that's better.
This is the Frieze at Xunantunich. This is a plaster mould of the original, which is tucked away safely behind it.

To begin, we've set out to save as much as we can and eliminate all unnecessary expenses. (Yeah, right!) Based on our current incomes, we can begin saving $400 per month, and I plan to start on my next paycheck, Jan 15. I'm two months in on paying off a 6 month note on a new couch, and once that's over, saving and paying off all credit cards should get better. I hope to have one credit card paid off by the end of February, and I will then immediately direct the funds I was using per month on paying that card on to the card with the larger balance but lower interest rate. I also will be looking for a raise sometime this year, and if so, I would hope to designate the majority of that cash to the savings, hopefully getting to $600 per month at least by this time next year.  So tentatively, lets look at $4800 in savings the first year, $7200 for the second year = $12000 savings so far that I am estimating for manageable savings. Again, this does not include selling either of the two cars. According to Kelley Blue Book, my current car could fetch a hard $3,000 in additional funds. I might invest a bit in small maintenance to get this price, like a $25 fan belt, and a good whack with a rubber mallet to get a bumper ding out. I do not mind selling this car, so this means we could realistically save $15,000 or so. 

So now that I've told myself how to manage some of the funds that are more or less fluctuating, let's talk about spending those savings!

Firstly, the obvious is we need to get there. The initial idea is for one of us to take a trip down before the official move date and get the rental place together, and possibly a car for lease if we'll need it. I'm hoping for the first 6 months that we will NOT need it, and we can use bikes or lease a golf cart for the majority of our needs. 

Plane tickets:

Currently, one-way tickets look like $479 per person. We plan on moving during the cheapest period-- the winter, or rainy season. This said, we will also be taking more luggage than normal on this flight as well, so let's estimate around $550 per person, all included. 

$1100.00--     Two one-way plane tickets in January

$675.00--       One round-trip ticket to Belize to "set up shop" ** we may or may not need this if we can do things online. If so, this could be a real money-saver. 

$600.00--       Tourism Fees (monthly $50 per person) for the first 6 months

$1200.00--     Residence Fees (monthly $100 per person) for the last 6 months
$125.00--       Bringing the cat on the plane**
$100.00--       Veterinary Exam for the cat before flight

That's what I know right now. I've just signed up for The Belize Forum in order to gain more information (and hopefully connections) on the topic. Again, we'll be looking for a 2 bed, 1 bath. I'm going to do a good bit of research there. Looks right now a 1 bed, 1 bath on the Placencia peninsula runs around $500-$600 per month (overestimating here). That means we'd probably be somewhere around $700. That's pretty much what we're paying now. I haven't yet done research on how much cable/internet costs, nor water, nor power. These are all things I'm going to have to estimate for the first 6 months in order to save for. We'd only need internet, no t.v., and possibly a window-unit in the bedroom. Don't forget, this place will need to be furnished.

So lets see how we're doing so far.

Total estimated savings--     $15000
Total expenses known--      $3800 (This includes our bonus round-trip ticket for scoping it out)
Amount remaining--            $11200

If we want to do a quick estimate, we can suggest $700 per month for our rental, and $50 per month for internet, and $50 for water for 6 months is $4800. We should be safe and hedge two more months without income in case jobs are scarce, so $6400. That would leave us with $4800 for expenses for the first 6 to 8 months. That would be $800 per month for the first 8 months between us. That sounds good, considering what we're working with now, but I want to be as conservative as possible. I'm sure this number will dwindle even smaller as we go, so start big!

** Let me expound briefly (stream of conscience style) about bringing the cat via air-plane. We will most likely be using Continental for flights, as they are the most reliable to Belize. They do not allow in-cabin flights of animals across international borders. She would have to be checked into the baggage claim. Continental Airline Pet Rules. She must be accompanied by the pertinent documentation needed to enter Belize as well as an Airline Health Certificate issued within 10 days of departure. I guess we'll have to tack on a $100 charge to get her checked out at the vet before we go. So let me edit and say I'll need THREE copies of Kitten's paperwork. I want one to go with her, one to stay with me, and one to go ahead to Belize.

That being said, I'm going off to work on my next assignment-- getting in shape! Here's hoping I make two miles today!