I met a former neighbor of mine at CHOC!

I actually saw one of my former neighbors at CHOC!

I couldn't believe it!

This is one of the neighbors that I had that I still consider a friend.

She didn't tell me too much of why she was staying at the homeless shelter. She only told me that there were financial problems that she was having.

It was good to see her and talk with her.

Well It's The Start Of A New Year!

I remember one of the staff members at CHOC saying how he had more problems not being homeless then he had when he was actually homeless. I can so relate to this!

There are bills that have to be paid (and on time) and there is a little boredom that comes with both living in a shelter and actually having your own place.

I made a budget for myself and it seems that I need at least another hundred dollars a month just to break even. I didn't have this problem when I was living at the shelter.

I'm grateful to finally have a place to live that I can call my own. It's not a perfect life but what is perfect?

I do miss the people at the shelter - both the staff members and the residents who are still living at the shelter.

While at the shelter there was a meeting and the shelter's policy was discussed. We were told not to think of the shelter as a permanent place to live, only a temporary stop on the road to getting and living in our own place.

I find it kind of miraculous that I'm able to have an apartment and even being able to have a car. People ask me about that car too. I was able to purchase the car for $200 and the paperwork cost more than the car did! LOL! The car needs some work and my car inspection is coming up soon.

I have bills but I also have a budget that I have to stick to.

All in all I have been blessed with many good things happening in my life.

I hope 2014 is the best year of my life!

I just got finished creating a budget for myself and it doesn't look too pretty. I would have to make at least $100 more and even then that's just for the minimum.
The rent that I pay is the biggest expense that I have so far.
Little things add up!

Of course I'm going to have to do some adjusting if I want to come out even by the end of the month.

I really don't want to cut anything out of the budget that I made because it is at its bare minimum now!

Snowed In

Well this is Tuesday and I'm kind of snowed in. But today I went out and started my car because its just been sitting for the last few days.

I'm kind of glad to be snowed in because I went shopping and got some groceries the day before it was expected to snow. We have had 2 snow storms in the past 7 days.

The community college that I go to was closed today because of the "anticipated" weather. But we really didn't have to go to school today because it was "reading" day.

I don't have to go back to class until Thursday and I hope the snow is gone by then.

I had made an appointment to get my car checked at the dealer for tommorrow but I re-scheduled it to a later date. Hopefully the snow will be gone by then.

I'm doing laundry now and getting ready to eat some left-over turkey for dinner.

Nearing The End

Well, I'm nearing the end of the semester of the college courses I am taking - which I'm not doing very well in.

My panic attacks have quieted down a bit after I had a meeting with one of my CTI people. Basically what he said was that I shouldn't worry too much about it and that there may be a lot of options for me. I don't want to leave my apartment. It's cozy and I have a cat now.

Before the talk with the counselor I was worrying very badly. I just tried to calm down and I will have to cross that bridge when I get to it - hopefully being able to stay in my apartment.

I'm at the college now waiting for the teacher and after this class I can go back to my apartment.