Ahead of my usual month end post, I decided to go ahead and post a bit of a mish mosh of updates, so I don't make that post overly long. Of course, that means this one will be instead lol.
Today is payday, and so even though I am off, I am sitting at the work computer to get bills paid. I've been checking emails as they come in, just because the new message notification bugs me.
An email came in from the head of HR, stating that our wellness stipend for this year is being increased from $250 to $500. There was some other stuff about expanded guidelines for what is eligible, but those didn't impact me, so I didn't pay much attention haha. I already claimed the initial $250 back in February (I purchased a smartwatch), so I now have another $250 to play with. We have until November 15 to submit to receive reimbursement by the end of the year. Conveniently, this coming Monday, I am making a large wellness purchase - our new benefit for a fancy spin bike starting with a P begins, and I am ordering one. Our discounted price for the model I am ordering is $1145 plus tax (estimating around $1250 total). I have been saving my pennies for this, and have the full amount put aside, so no need for financing. Well, this bit of news reduces my effective price to $895 before tax. That's not so shabby at all. And since I have the money set aside already, when the reimbursement comes in, I can put it towards whatever I choose. It'll likely be put towards the big credit card that I'm trying to get paid down.
Next piece of good news, I checked the status of my STAR rebate while I was on this computer, and a check has been issued for me, so I should be receiving that next week, depending on how long the mail takes. Last year I received $2100-something. This year's is $1930 and change. That will be split between savings, the big credit card, and the remaining balance on the little credit card.
My mother and I went to get our COVID boosters last night. Other than getting tired very early, and going to sleep pretty early, I feel completely fine. My arm is a bit sore but that's to be expected. I pre-emptively took today off just in case I felt poorly, but I'm not mad about having a day off either way! While we were in CVS, I did a bit of shopping, and had a lot of deals stacked on my card. My subtotal came to $105, and after all of my deals were applied, I paid $21. That's pretty impressive, even for me. Out of that haul, I got a new heating pad that's very nice, a year's supply of allergy meds, and a few other things. I also got another $5 in ExtraBucks to spend, so I'll probably save that for when my CarePass is issued in November, and put it all together to stack some more deals.
School is going very well - I am coming up on about 6 weeks left in the semester. In the first half of the semester I was taking 2 classes for popular software programs, they have ended, and now I am taking another half semester class for another software program. These are programs I use daily at work and have for years, so I basically just need to do the assignments, and I will easily pass the course - actual grades are not given for these, they are either S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory). For the 2 completed classes, I could have not submitted the 3 last assignments and stil passed haha. I still have As in my 3 major classes (anthropology, algebra and stats). The rest of the coursework is laid out for anthro and stats for the rest of the semester, so if I were feeling really ambitious, I could complete most of that work early and not have to worry about it. The work for algebra is released weekly, so I can't do this in advance, but overall, I'm feeling great about my progress.
In two weeks, I can start re-taking the 3 CLEP exams I did not pass over the summer. I am planning to use different study resources. The econmics exams were very close to passing scores, so hopefully this gets me close enough to pass this time. I was a bit lower on the accounting exam, so if I don't pass that one, I will just take the class in the next few semesters. Either way, I will be getting reimbursement of the $90 in test administration fees refunded as soon as I submit my scores.
I ultimately decided to extend my school roadmap out an additional semester. I am feeling very burnt out right about now - between taking 15 credits, having a very busy season at work, pushing hard on my weight loss journey, getting myself into a more optimal financial position.....I'm TIRED. If I extend another semester, that allows me to take a lighter load this spring, plus allows me to claim another semester's worth of tuition reimbursement. It means I'll obtain my degree in August or December 2023....which really does not matter, I am not looking at any deadlines to complete except those that are self imposed haha. I think this tweak to the plan is better for my overall mental health. I still do have timing for a semester off built in there, depending on when I am able to get in for plastics. If I don't need to take a major semester off, and instead can have surgery in the summer, then it may end up being faster anyway.
I think that's enough babbling for now....I'll be back on Monday with my October summary!