I gave up fizzy drinks. I haven't had one in 3 months. I used to drink an occasional soda until I was 22. When I went to the US to live there for over three years, my diet changed drastically to include at least two cans of diet soda if not more which resulted in weight gain. Top that with an inherited thyroid problem, you get obesity. For many years I struggled with my weight and although I lost some, I gained more. This year I hit an all time high as my weight is concerned and decided that this is it.
Before I started seeing a dietician, I gave up soda and all sorts of artificial sweeteners. I may occasionally have a Turkish coffee with a little sugar, or a small dessert but, artificial sweeteners are out! I drink water with meals 90% of the time. I drink ayran with some meals and I love it. As for filter coffee and tea, I never use any kind of sweetener. I like regular milk in my coffee and that's it.
Ever since I started seeing the dietician, I gave up sugar and white flour. I have two pieces of fruit a day and I consume only real whole wheat bread.
My energy is up and my blood pressure is the lowest it has ever been. I see significant improvement in my health and I am very happy about it.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Spring Cleaning: Your Finances
I think there is the idea of spring cleaning in every culture. This is the time when we purge, clean our closets, do some maintenance work at our homes.
This is also a good time to look at your financial status to see if you are on track. Remember those plans made in December or January? Now is the time to check them out. You can also look at your budget to see if you can make any adjustments. After all, the price of fresh produce starts to go down and your monthly food bill may also go down with careful planning and leaning towards fresh produce. Days are longer, weather is better so the use of electricity and the heating bills are supposed to go down.
Can you shop around for better terms for insurance? I did and saved a little. I also tend to use the public transportation more due to better weather and that saves me some on gas and car maintenance expenses.
Better weather also allows us to have some cheap fun outside such as bike rides, inexpensive picnic meals and strolls around parks.
Look at your budgets to see if there is a need for fine tuning. Anything that will help the budget is welcome.
This is also a good time to look at your financial status to see if you are on track. Remember those plans made in December or January? Now is the time to check them out. You can also look at your budget to see if you can make any adjustments. After all, the price of fresh produce starts to go down and your monthly food bill may also go down with careful planning and leaning towards fresh produce. Days are longer, weather is better so the use of electricity and the heating bills are supposed to go down.
Can you shop around for better terms for insurance? I did and saved a little. I also tend to use the public transportation more due to better weather and that saves me some on gas and car maintenance expenses.
Better weather also allows us to have some cheap fun outside such as bike rides, inexpensive picnic meals and strolls around parks.
Look at your budgets to see if there is a need for fine tuning. Anything that will help the budget is welcome.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Life is Good!
I woke up happy today. I had breakfast with mom. We went shopping and then went to sis. We had tea with her and my BIL. After that we went to a farmer's market and bought lots of fresh veggies and a huge, delicious watermelon!
The weather was beautiful, there were flowers everywhere and I felt so good! I feel like I can conquer the world:) Hope everybody is having a wonderful weekend!
The weather was beautiful, there were flowers everywhere and I felt so good! I feel like I can conquer the world:) Hope everybody is having a wonderful weekend!
Monday, April 8, 2013
Happy Birthday Sis!
Today my baby sister is turning 40! What does that make me?
a. 47
b. a dinosaur
c. old
d. all of the above
I remember the very day she was born. I was sick at home and I cried until my father brought her ID papers. I wanted to name her myself so badly:) Well I am not disclosing names here but I would like to say our names rhyme:)
She was very cute and very active as a child. So, I do not know how she became a couch potato!
Since we are seven years apart, there have been times when we were not very close. I was living abroad during her late teens. It took some time to get real close.
Now, I love her to the moon and back! Happy Birthday! I hope you live a very healthy and long life filled with all of the things and people you love!
a. 47
b. a dinosaur
c. old
d. all of the above
I remember the very day she was born. I was sick at home and I cried until my father brought her ID papers. I wanted to name her myself so badly:) Well I am not disclosing names here but I would like to say our names rhyme:)
She was very cute and very active as a child. So, I do not know how she became a couch potato!
Since we are seven years apart, there have been times when we were not very close. I was living abroad during her late teens. It took some time to get real close.
Now, I love her to the moon and back! Happy Birthday! I hope you live a very healthy and long life filled with all of the things and people you love!
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Busy... Hopefully!
This month looks like it is going to be a busy one if none of the clients slow down or cancel some visits. I have already put in 3 days of work. I will be putting in 4 more this coming week and the week after that. The rest of the program is not certain yet. Another 4 days would be great. Hoping...
On the 12th, I am leaving for Ankara and I will be there until probably 29th of April. I do not like to be away from home for more than a few days but I have promised my Sis and BIL that while they are away for their vacation, I will be in Ankara to keep an eye on my BIL's folks. They have a caretaker but, if I am around, my Sis and BIL will feel better about being away. Hopefully no emergency will happen and they will have a nice and relaxing vacation that they have deserved.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
13 more months to go!
I have only 13 payments left for the investment apartment! I owe less than USD 7,000 as of now. So happy! Below is a graphical illustration of my debt.
I wanted to get rid of the debt earlier but, that would have put me in a tight cash position so, I am glad I held back. The debt was three parts and I paid the highest interest part early. So, what is left is not so bad.
I am planning to use cash only for the bathroom and the interior doors. I have set a budget and would like to stay within that budget.
I wanted to get rid of the debt earlier but, that would have put me in a tight cash position so, I am glad I held back. The debt was three parts and I paid the highest interest part early. So, what is left is not so bad.
I am planning to use cash only for the bathroom and the interior doors. I have set a budget and would like to stay within that budget.
 |
| DEBT STATUS AS OF APRIL 2013 |
Monday, April 1, 2013
Choices
Yesterday I decided I wanted Chinese Food and mind you in this country it is expensive. There are 5 places that deliver to my area and their prices are almost the same. USD 5 for a single serving of Hot and Sour Soup, USD 14 for a single serving of a beef dish.
I know it is delicious and also probably full of ingredients that would negatively impact my diet. I reconsidered this "want" and instead of browsing the menu further, went to load some laundry.
Then I went to the kitchen and looked what I had on hand for dinner. I had meat patties in the freezer and lots of salad ingredients so, I decided to have what I had on my diet menu plan instead of Chinese Food. A big salad, 4 meat patties, 2 slices of whole wheat bread was what I had.. Delicious and satisying.
I took the money that I would have spent for Chinese Food from my wallet and put it in a jar which I will call my Great Getaway Fund. I am planning something big in 2014 or 2015 and will not reveal the details just yet. I can only say that I am planning a very long stay at some place I love.
Every month, I will gather the money, count it and exchange it for some foreign currency (wink, wink:) and put it in the bank in a special account. I can do this all online so the jar will be symbolic. So, basically after I count the money, I will purchase the foreign currency online and put the money in the jar in my purse.
I also cooked some artichokes for Monday and Tuesday dinners. I will have to eat lunch out on Monday but, I will probably have fish for Tuesday.
I know it is delicious and also probably full of ingredients that would negatively impact my diet. I reconsidered this "want" and instead of browsing the menu further, went to load some laundry.
Then I went to the kitchen and looked what I had on hand for dinner. I had meat patties in the freezer and lots of salad ingredients so, I decided to have what I had on my diet menu plan instead of Chinese Food. A big salad, 4 meat patties, 2 slices of whole wheat bread was what I had.. Delicious and satisying.
I took the money that I would have spent for Chinese Food from my wallet and put it in a jar which I will call my Great Getaway Fund. I am planning something big in 2014 or 2015 and will not reveal the details just yet. I can only say that I am planning a very long stay at some place I love.
Every month, I will gather the money, count it and exchange it for some foreign currency (wink, wink:) and put it in the bank in a special account. I can do this all online so the jar will be symbolic. So, basically after I count the money, I will purchase the foreign currency online and put the money in the jar in my purse.
I also cooked some artichokes for Monday and Tuesday dinners. I will have to eat lunch out on Monday but, I will probably have fish for Tuesday.
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