According to Athena

There’s been a whole lot of moving and shaking going on over here in blog land lately! Last week, not only did I get a blog makeover, I decided to change my blog name as well. That’s right, you read that correctly. I decided to retire Serendipity and go by my real name, Athena. What gives?

Well, as you may have been following, I have changed a lot over the years and my blog has too. Once focused on getting myself on track with my finances and keeping myself accountable, it’s grown into something more. It’s grown into a place where I can share what goes on in my life, no matter big or small, and it’s been a place where I can receive continuous support no matter what life throws at me. And for some reason, I just see Serendipity as the old me, the old me who has come so far and worked so hard for a change. Now that I finally have that, I decided to cut the strings and let go.

Serendipity helped me get where I am today and for that I’ll always be grateful for my online pseudo name. Perhaps I’ll even miss it at times where I can’t blog as anonymously anymore. But, I’m ready to move on and I’m ready to see what else my new blogging adventure has in store.

Don’t worry, I’m going to still blog about personal finance. That is still such a big part of my life and is definitely not going anywhere. I’ll still share my budget, saving challenges, tips and goals. But I’ll also be blogging about resources you can use, book reviews, songs, adventures in my new chapter in life and anything you’d like to hear and read about. I’ll just do it in a more Athena style.

Is it scary to be a little less anonymous and use my real name now? You bet! Am I excited? Tremendously. And I hope you are too!

I would like to ask if you currently have me in your blog roll, to please update my new name and url = accordingtoathena.com . If you would like to exchange blog links, please leave a comment below so I can get started and spread the blog love! And if you can, please take a minute to stop by the blog and check out the cool new design! Andrea from Nuts and Bolts Media designed the beautiful layout and header. I also use her for all of my blogging services such as consultation and hosting. She’s amazing, easy to work with and comes up with the funniest pictures on Twitter.

Let’s get this party started!

Athena

Since I just keep adding more and more travel and trips to my plate, I decided to participate in Carla’s savings challenge! This month, and the following months also might be tighter than usual depending on Hey Jude’s pay schedule with mortgage banker training and I want to make sure I can hit my savings goals no matter what. As for traveling, I have a trip to California which is pretty much paid for ( depending on my airplane ticket cost), Vegas in June and Disneyland and FinCon13 in October. I’m more worried about my trips in October because those are going to cost the most. I also want to finish funding my emergency fund since that’s important too. My plan is as follows:

1. Save the $330 needed to finish funding my emergency fund.
2. Save $333 needed to hit half way in my travel fund.
3. Buy a tire for my car ( not really saving anything but still needed anyways with temperature rising)
4. Make $450 in additional income to help with savings goals.
5. Keep variable spending low to possibly save even more for travel goals.

I’m kind of nervous but I have faith that I can do this if I watch my spending. I still have some projects I want to do that will require spending ( postage, craft supplies, house projects) but I can keep my costs low and can hopefully save $100-200 additionally. Fingers crossed!

Have any savings goals you want to hit?

Serendipity

One thing that always gets me through is my faith. When things seem tough, I know this too shall pass and what will be meant to be will happen for me. I put things in Gods hands, pray and stay positive. I heard “Between The Raindrops” on my iPhone last week when I was being negative and it made me feel better. God is there for me and when the going gets tough, I just need to remember it. I still get bad thoughts and I’m still over anxious, but it definitely helps.

1. Lifehouse- Between The Raindrops

2. Joan Osborne- One Of Us

3. Jaci Velasquez- God So Loved

Hello friends! It’s Monday and time for another installment of Monday Mashup!

• This weekend Hey Jude and I went to the Renaissance Festival. I received free tickets from work and took $40 out for spending money. We bought amazing chocolate, beer ( Ace Pear Cider, where have you been all my life?) , admission to smaller exhibits within the festival like the execution museum and have $7 left over out of our budget. I’m so glad we went and had a great time!

• This weekend was also Easter! Hey Jude’s mom was out of town but we met his dad at church and had a wonderful brunch with him at their house. Hey Jude and I spent the night before coloring Easter eggs and baking Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes ( recipe), which turned out great and are currently being enjoyed by everyone in the office. The Easter bunny came to our house too. My basket was filled with Hello Kitty goodies and my favorite chocolates. Hey Jude got a cool frog basket and candy with an iTunes gift card. I wonder who got him that?

• Hey Jude starts mortgage banker training today! He put his two weeks in and they only ended up having him stay one week at his previous job so he had a week off to relax and prepare for his new job. Training is four months and it’s basically like school. This is the time where he will be acquiring his licenses as well so it’s important for him to stay in the game. I’m excited for him and can’t wait to see him succeed. 
• Speaking of mortgage banker training, budgets will be tighter in our household. Since we’re not sure what his pay schedule will look like, we’re not going out to eat or doing as much as we would like to do entertainment wise until we get a feel for his pay. The next four months will be the tightest because after then we will have his base salary kick in and he will be able to start making commission. So, we’re looking at a lot of eating in and Netflix. 
• I’m going to Vegas in June! M’s son graduates from high school and she invited me to attend the ceremony. I’m not sure yet if I will be going to that, depending on Hey Jude’s work schedule, but I will definitely be going to the graduation party. I’m excited to see M and W and spend time with them. Even more of a reason to pinch my pennies.