Posted in Monthly Goals

August 2023 Goals Recap

Posted on by teresamunoz91

A little bit late but here are my results from my August goals.

  1. Read 10 books * always the easiest goal forme to accomplish
  2. Go to the gym 5 times x didn’t go at all
  3. Run 5 times x nope
  4. No eating out x definitely not
  5. Go for a walk 3 times a week x nope
  6. No more than $300 for groceries x spent a little more than this
  7. No shopping at Bath and Body Works * did this
  8. Post 7 times on my blog x only posted 1 time
  9. Post 3 times on YouTube x didn’t post at all
  10. Go to the beach once with my daughter x went once to Huntington Beach with my daughter
Posted in Monthly Goals

August 2023 Goals

Posted on by teresamunoz91

I didn’t do a good job at all with my goals last month. Hoping to set more attainable goals this month.

  1. Read 10 books
  2. Go to the gym 5 times
  3. Run 5 times
  4. No eating out
  5. Go for a walk 3 times a week
  6. No more than $300 for groceries
  7. No shopping at Bath and Body Works
  8. Post 7 times on my blog
  9. Post 3 times on YouTube
  10. Go to the beach once with my daughter

Posted in Monthly Goals

July 2023 Goals Recap

Posted on by teresamunoz91

Here’s how I did on my goals this month.

  1. Post 10 times on my blog x I came close, posted 7 times (including this post)
  2. Walk 15 times x Forgot to keep track, but I definitely didn’t go out for a walk 15 times
  3. Read 15 books x I read 12 books
  4. Post 3 videos on YouTube x Posted only one video
  5. Grocery budget $300 x I was only over by about $40
  6. Eating out budget $100 x I Spent $151 eating out, this includes money spent at work. The good thing is that it was less than last month. Will try again next month.
  7. Run 5 times x Only ran 1 time

After going through all of my goals, I think I either set goals that were too high or I just didn’t try hard enough. Next month I will try to set more realistic goals for myself.

Posted in Year Review

Looking Back at 2022

Posted on by teresamunoz91

I normally write about the previous year in January, but this year I procrastinated so much that it’s now July and I am finally sitting down to write everything that happened last year.

2022 felt a little bit more like pre covid times. Covid was (and still is in 2023) a thing, but it’s no longer as bad as it was in 2020 and 2021 because most people have been vaccinated. Races are now in person, theme parks have fully opened, and most people have started traveling again.

Last year, I spent a week in Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon with my daughter, two sisters, and my sister’s boyfriend at the time. We went in January to celebrate my birthday and my daughter’s birthday. We had so much fun. it was the first time my sister’s boyfriend, my sister, and my daughter went on an airplane. Traveling with a toddler (my daughter was 3 years old at the time) was a bit tricky because I had to take her car seat, stroller, and she wasn’t potty trained. We got to visit many places including Vooddoo Donuts, the Space Needle, pike Market, and Powell’s City of Books. I really want to go back in 2024, but during spring time.

I spent most of 2022 being unemployed. I had quit my job in late 2021 in order to focus on Athena Rose, my handmade soap business, full time. Unfortunately, it didn’t take off as well as I expected. I ended up getting a summer job working at an after summer school program in Monterey Park. I worked there for about 6 weeks. It was then that I decided working with kids was not something I wanted to do with my life. I spent the next few months looking for a job. Got an interview and hired within 3 days of filling out an application. I have now been working at the theme park since November 2022, so about 8 months now. I work as a cashier in a few restaurants. I never thought I would want to work customer service again or in a restaurant, but I actually do enjoy my job. I do eventually want to get back to selling Athena Rose products and Selena’s Sweets baked goods.

In 2022, I got to spend a lot of time with my daughter, going to the park, Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios, and Disneyland. I also got to read a lot. I read a little over 200 books, which is way more than usual. Overall, 2022 was a good year for me.

Posted in Theme Parks

Things I Don’t Buy as Frugal Mom Part 1

Posted on by teresamunoz91

My daughter and I live in Southern california, LA County to be specific. This means we live near three theme parks: Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Disneyland Resort (this includes Disneyland and Disney California Adventure also known as DCA). We go to the theme parks pretty often and I’ve learn what is good to buy there and what to avoid.

Things I Don’t Buy at Theme Parks as a Frugal Mom

  1. Balloons- These can be pricey and I don’t want to be stuck holding them the whole day
  2. Bubble wands- Also pricey and I know my daughter will break it after one or two days.
  3. Popcorn Buckets- I don’t usually buy popcorn anyways and they are always coming out with new ones. If I bought every single one I liked, it would take up too much space in my home
  4. Drink bottles- Same as popcorn buckets. These can also be a bit pricey and I don’t want to collect things that will just gather dust in my home.
  5. Snacks like churros, popcorn, cotton candy aka things I can get most places

Things I Do Buy

  1. Snacks that I can only get at that specific theme park or their specialty items
  2. Pins- I don’t buy them every time, but every once in a while I do buy pins especially if there is something happening during my visit like the Boysenberry Festival at Knott’s Berry Farm or an anniversary at Disneyland
  3. Lunch- I usually like eating a big breakfast before getting to the theme park and then I can splurge on one meal which is lunch.