While I’m waiting to pick up my camera, I’ll continue to post exorbitant amounts of text here. 
I’ve felt quite motivated at general life improvement lately so I’m enjoying tracking this phase. I’ve almost paid off my credit card, I have three different savings accounts growing (small, but growing), and I’m trying to buy less. I’ve been doing a pretty good job not buying much in the last few weeks, including cutting back on my biggest indulgence, eating at restaurants and coffee shops. I made a detailed budget for the month of September and although it’s been tweaked for various reasons, I’m really trying to stick to it. However, I did splurge by purchasing not one, not two, but three Groupons the other day. What can I say–I’m their target audience. And I don’t regret it. I got:
-Five personal training sessions at a studio in my neighborhood at a huge discount. I’ve checked out the training studio’s website out before and thought it looked appealing. I have never really learned how to use workout equipment or do weight training or even exercise in front of people. So I figure if I start with the personal training sessions, this guy can show me the ropes and then I can transition to the much less expensive group classes. If I actually go through with five personal training sessions, I’ll be a changed person. I’ve wanted to do something like this for years but always chickened out.
-A sixty minute deep tissue massage. The first and only professional massage I’ve ever had was with a Groupon earlier this year, it was amazing, and massages are basically the number one service I look to Groupon for (deep tissue only, no Swedish, thank you). At 50% off they are situated more in my price range comfort zone, and I have a lot back pain and crave massage constantly.
-A hair cut, deep conditioning treatment, and style. Super cheap since it’s at a cosmetology school. I’m easy enough for a student to handle–no layers, nothing complicated, just cut off a few inches and I’m good to go. What I really care about is having someone else do all the work involved in blow drying my enormous mane.
I’m fantasizing about using all three Groupons on one day–work out, get a massage, and then get my hair cut and styled. I’m not sure it will be feasible…but that would be one great day.