Setting Up The New Computer

I've been slowly setting up my new computer with e-mail, downloading the programs I need for my personal web site and all those other fun things one likes to have on a computer.  Open office is a huge program and the download said it would take 4 hours to do. I think I'll down load it on Friday when I'm home and can keep the computer from going into sleep mode and disrupting the download.  Thanks to all who suggested it!

One thing I will be setting up is Quicken to my computer. I've noticed that I am not that diligent in manually tracking my spending.  I've used Quicken before and it forced me to track my spending and categorize my expenses.  I've made the decision that I'll start using Quicken again. I get to the end of the month, go to recap my expenses and sort of wonder what, why and how I spent money.  Even by keeping all my receipts, I still shake my head in wonderment over my own lack of self control and sense of spending justification. For what ever reason, holding myself accountable to Quicken's reports seems to keep me on a smart money track.

New Computer is Home and I'm Loving It!

My new computer arrived on Thursday to work after I left for the weekend. I ran to the office Sunday morning and picked it up. I've been slowly playing with it. I dismantled the old ancient desk top I'd been borrowing, dusted off my desk and set up the new lap top. It looks very spiffy! I am pleased.  I just have to set up my two e-mail accounts so that they can both download to one e-mail program.  I have my old earthlink e-mail address that my family still uses, despite me giving them my new e-mail address tied to my personal web site.  The really cool part is it has picked up the neighbors wifi and I shamelessly surfed the internet last night on the wifi. 

As I get motivated and organized, I'll boot up the old lap top, tranfer over the files I need and I have just ordered an external hard drive that I'll use to back up all my old photos and files.  I want to keep this laptop "clean and organized".  Heck, I probably will toss half the photos and the files. 

The other exciting part (or at least to me), is I may be getting a really good all in one fax/scanner/printer, either for free or at least at a deeply discounted price.  An aquaintance had ordered an all in one for an employee who was working from home and they no longer are employed by that company.  The unit is about a year old, in really good shape and the offer was made to see if I wanted it. If the price is right, I'll take it. I just have to do some research on what the units cost and what the toner costs.  If it fits into my limited budget, I'm going to bring that puppy home this weekend.

I Love On Line Tracking

I just love Fed Ex and UPS on line tracking!  I've been tracking my new laptop's trek across the country like some kids track Santa and his sleigh on Christmas Eve.  It's taken a week since I purchased the laptop for it to arrive on this coast. It originated in California and when I logged on to UPS this morning, it said the package was out for delivery! Yes, a whole day early! It was scheduled to arrive tomorrow to my office and I won't be here, I'll be at the weekend job.

In fact, I hear a truck outside the office right now, could it be my trusty UPS man? Or the charming Fed Ex lady? Or non of the above? No, right now it's just one of our vendors pulling up in a large noisy truck.

Ah well, I have an exciting weekend planned of doing laundry and settting up the new laptop. Any suggestions for an e-mail program that is not Outlook or Outlook express? I did not purchase the wildy over priced  MS program pacakges that were offered (since I know from past experience I only use two out of the 5 or 6). I'll just purchase Word and Excel after my trial period ends. I get a 60 day free trial period of the various MS programs.

New Purchase and

I am so happy to be heading out of town for the weekend, it was an interesting yesterday here at work and I just want April to be over! My neighbor is going to watch the animals, my car has gas, I'm packed, I need to get some cash from the ATM, and I'm ready to go.

The other good news is I FINALLY purchased a new laptop! With today being pay day and even with my stupid overdrafts this week, I had the funds to pay cash for my new laptop. It has all the bells and whistles I need and then some, and even a web cam I don't need. My almost 8 year old Dell can be permanently retired once I get the new model up and running!

I'm hoping I can do some quality blogging at home instead of dragging and dropping a file to my travel drive, and then uploading my posts to blogger at work.

I had an unexpected "performance review" with my boss yesterday. I had all of 4 hours notice and was dammed sure I was going to either get a further reduction in hours or get the proverbial boot. Thankfully, it was neither. I'm not getting an increase in hours or pay, but at least I still have a job. I'll post about this interesting experience later.

Have a great weekend!

Progress and Update

I'm a bit turned around this week,not posting as I should, but an update non the less~ due to two small checks coming in the mail, I have been able to update my progress. I've added the money from the extra work to the appropriate account. Nice to see it increase. I need to add in my Student Loan (yes I'm STILL paying off student loans.) to my side bar.

I did price computers on line today. My boss said I could have one of the monitors from the office (15 inch flat panel). That will save me some money. I built a basic computer on line and it went form $399 to $700 by the time I added in the software that I need and that was without the monitor.

I paid my bills for the first part of the month (student loan, phones, electric). I wondered why my electric bill was so high, then I realized because of my (now former) messy desk, I did not pay the July bill. Even with running an AC, my August bill was comparable to last year. I am curious to see what the bill will be for September. I also went around and unplugged all the unneccessary electronics and am curious to see if there is a change in my rate.