Hi guys, I hope you are all staying safe and well during this COVID-19 pandemic!
I read and hear about so many people complaining about not being able to do what they once did before the pandemic, so I wanted to share some inspiring, positive ways of how I have taken advantage of this time! 🙂
1. Attending Graduate School
I mentioned this in my last post. I decided to go back to graduate school because the GRE was being waived everywhere and some program costs were reduced. I have been toying with the idea for 12 years, so I decided to take advantage of it during this time. This is probably the one time in history I would be able to have this opportunity!
I start at Arizona State University, Online for my Master of Arts in Communication on Aug. 20. I will be done in May 2022. Economists are predicting the economy might not be “better” or “recovered” until 2021 or 2022, so it was the perfect time to go back. I do know some of this material that is being covered in this program but there is also some I don’t know. I also have some external resources that I am using so I won’t be in debt by the time I graduate.
ASU was always my dream school when I graduated college and although I never went for my undergrad, now I can go for my Masters! Hopefully by Spring 2022, COVID-19 will be done and I can go walk the stage. It’s only 10 classes, so 2 classes per semester, 1 class a session. ASU is divided into 7 1/2 week A and B sessions and not where you can go “straight through” the whole semester. Looking at the Sun Devil Facebook Group, I seriously don’t how the hell some undergraduate students are doing it. Obviously, you would normally take 18 credits a semester, but to have it broken up 3/3 into 7 1/2 weeks, it’s intense for them.
A sacrifice I did have to make was I decided to not freelance write as much for publications. It worked out okay in the end because either they a) folded. b) their editorial budgets are so slim and dried up or c) just can’t use freelancers at the moment. I did decide to stay with one though because they need good content and have a strong budget. My accounts that I usually do beverage demos at have also dried up. I just need to concentrate on the schooling, so if I take away my 2 freelance careers and replace it with the Masters program, it balances itself out.
2. Virtual Volunteering
There are so many people that still need our help during this time, whether it’s seniors, a food bank or a nonprofit for administrative work. For me, since I work full time still out of my house, I decided to sign-up through Ventura County Caregivers to take grocery lists for seniors in the county. Basically what I do is I call a few a week (or when I have time) by looking at the database to see who needs their grocery list taken down. It’s that easy and you can give back to the community! You can find opportunities through Volunteer Match.
3. Downsizing My Apartment
So there is a main reason I did this that I am not going to mention (although some of my friends know the reason why), but I will say that it feels good just to go through your cabinets and find items you don’t need or use anymore. I didn’t get rid of any many furniture but I got rid of A LOT of cabinet items – about half per cabinet I would say. It took me 2 Saturday’s in June to do it. I donated everything to the Goodwill down the street from where I live. Make sure you also take receipts that you can use to itemize when doing taxes!
Speaking of taxes…so besides itemizing the charity donations to Goodwill, I can also write off the virtual volunteering because I am using a percentage of my time on my personal laptop to do this. I can also write off my schooling with my laptop, tuition, books and other expenses going to ASU Online.
4. Updating My Will
When I told some of my friends this, they were shocked as to why I would do such a thing and how I could be even thinking about that. The thing is, having a will is a secure way to make it easier for your Power of Attorney to handle your estate if something ever happens to you. I had a will before I left Minnesota but I never updated it to California standards, something I should’ve done maybe 5 years ago. So it was time! Plus the laws out here are different than in Minnesota. And with my parents being in Florida and it’s just me out here, it’s a smart thing to do.
I actually have what’s called a “Simple Will” that has Last Will and Testament, Power of Attorney, Health Directive and a Statement of Interment, Cremation and Wishes. I got all of this on Legal Zoom for I think $130 a few months back. It’s super easy and the website guides you on what information to fill out on which section. You also will want to carefully think about some things before you begin, such as where you want to be buried, what do you want at your funeral, would you want people to donate to your favorite charity in lieu of flowers, etc.
You also need to get a will notarized and you can do it at a local UPS store. Just call ahead and ask if they have notary services. You have to pay so much per signature and you need 2 witnesses (just use the store employees, it’s easier), and I think for 4 total it was about $40? Or you can find a local person in your area who also does notarizing for a fee.
5. Traveling
This is a controversial topic with COVID-19 going on. If you feel safe and comfortable traveling, I say go for it, but if you don’t, then just stay at home.
So when I went to Sedona and Lassen/Mount Shasta, I took advantage of the cheaper airline prices and the airline credit I used when I went to Redding. Plus, the airports are so dead right now. Getting in and out of LAX took me about 20 minutes, usually it would take me 45 minutes to 1 hour.
I also got lucky in the sense that between Memorial Weekend through the Fourth of July Weekend, I would say about 90% of things were open for business. It’s not so much that way as I type this. I would highly suggest checking out the state’s tourism and governor’s website to where you are traveling so you can get an idea about what is going on. The only “wild card” I ran into was when I was going to Sedona. The riots were going on and the governor had put the state in an 8pm to 6am curfew, which wasn’t a big deal for me because I don’t like to stay out late when I travel anyway.
When you come back from a domestic trip you should try and avoid going out in public for 14 days – basically, just monitor your health to make sure you don’t have symptoms. I can say that nothing has occurred to my body since my 2 trips.
*** BONUS ***
Top 3 Things I Have Saved Money On
1. Coffee
I used to go to Coffee Bean or Starbucks every morning and get a small, nonfat latte with a shot of hazelnut or vanilla. My co-worker got me a gift for my 40th birthday: a coffee pot. I love my coffee pot and I have saved about $100 something a month. I love brewing different kinds of coffee. In this photo, it’s Dunkin Donuts Medium Roast and I am trying it with Coffee Mate Natural Bliss Sweet Cream. Plus it saves me a trip out the door in the morning!
2. Clothes
I haven’t bought much clothes since the quarantine began. I did buy a couple sun dresses from Nordstrom Rack for a cheap price and a skirt from Express Marketplace because I had a coupon, but other than that, no need for many clothes, especially for work!
3. Gas
I used to fill my tank up every 1 to 1/2 weeks because I would have to travel down to LA and execute accounts. Not so much anymore! Now I fill my tank up maybe every 2 to 2 1/2 weeks. Gas in my specific area is between $2.89 to $3.15. Before COVID-19, it was close to $3.89 to $3.99!
Write me on my Facebook or Instagram pages about how you have taken advantage of this time if you have! 🙂
