Review of my 2011 Goals

Maybe it is because the last third of the year I was in poor health.....or maybe it is because money started going out the window in February....or maybe because the kids' expenses have gone up, but I really don't feel that 2011 was  my most purposeful year for money, since I started blogging.

I started off so optimistic and eventually I just lost all control, and what is worse, all caring. Too sick to even log on to blog or to write down expenses and too sick to care.  I didn't like that feeling and I hope 2012 gives me different and stronger physical and mental energy.

So how did I do????? meh

My 2011 Goals!


Financial Goals
a) Boost Emergency Fund to $3000
FAIL - This was one of the sacrifices I made when I decided to allow DS to go to Italy on a school tour. Leaves me lots of room in my TFSA should I find the money to top it up.

b) RRSP 2011 of $1500
PASS - I debated lowering this amount to accomodate other needs. In the end (just the other day) I hit my goal and went to the bank and added it to my RRSP.

c) Xmas 2011 $1400
PASS - Goal was acheived and the money went fast.

d) Summer 2011 of $1000
PASS - Goal achieved as of January 25th

e) Pay $5000 extra on my Vehicle Loan
FAIL - I probably could have acheived this and during the latter half of the year money just seemed to slip through my fingers. I paid down $3000.

f) Save $1500 for back to school costs.
PASS - It felt so good to have that money in place for school fees, school supplies and a few new clothes.
Personal Goals
a) Go to the gym or get rid of the membership!
I got rid of the membership at the end of the year. Bittersweet feelings about that.

b) Read 25 books (6 read as of end of January)
FAIL - I read 21. I re read lots of others but didn't count them as new literature.

c) Try 10 new recipes
FAIL - I probably tried about 4. I really need to break out of my ruts.

d) Move more/Use my time better.
sigh - no comment

e) Lose 20 lbs. 
FAIL ish - I started off 2011 at my highest ever so it wasn't too wickedly hard to lose some. I went up and down over the year, lost a whack at the end when I was fasting and then gained some of it back when food entered my body. I lost about 17 pounds this year. Still have dozens and dozens to go.

A year of snowflakes

I continued to keep track of my little snowflakes over the course of the year on the sidebar of my blog. Tucking away the little bits of money that come from unexpected sources is such a great reminder of how a little can grow into a lot. A lot of my snowflakes came from change, kept and rolled. Some of it came from recycling. Some of it came from money I did not use from my weekly jars that I repurposed elsewhere. (perhaps not the truest definition of snowflaking, but one I add in).  I added in the rolled change my mom gave to me to put towards some of the boys expenses for camping and  hockey. I honestly can't remember if I put in the income tax return this year. I hope I did.  While I kept track of amounts, I didn 't write down the details of where those amounts came from.  Bad jolie. To be fair, I found the paper where I started, but that petered out before the end of January.

I really hummed and hawed over adding in the money that came in from my job action pay and my backpay. The job action pay came on it's own and it was clear how much I 'netted' from those lost days. (Half of my days wages after deductions). The back pay was much more challenging. The school division lumped it onto my regular paycheck in November. While I could see the gross amount, I honestly had no clue what the net of it might be. If November was a normal cheque I could have figured it out, but with EI and CPP Maxed out and Federation dues coming off and the 2% raise newly added, I honestly had no clue. I had requested the informationn seperately but was denied. 

I didn't use my snowflakes as wisely as I have in the past. Incidental expenses seemed to be everywhere and my spending was far less controlled than usual. The snowflakes did not have as purposeful an impact as they could have.

In total, including the work $, my snowflakes are approximately $4350. No small chunk of change, to be sure.

2011.. a quick glance

I was peeking through last year's posts and found this, and wanted to do it again. It certainly helps put things in a frame of reference for a glance at a  year.

For dates, I am using my information from the start of December for each years.

Debts
December 2010 - $52 410.25
December 2011 - $40 055.29

Debt was reduced by $12 354.96

kind of...really about $8000 and change. I added debt to the tune of just under $4000 which I will talk about soon...ish. le sigh 

It was not nearly as good as I wished but expenses happened so often, a good part of it offspring related. Some of it came through lost wages for the job action days.

Savings
December 2010 - $10 640
December 2011 - $13 250 

Total savings increase of $2610.

This included money from RRSP, RESP and TFSA. Not a huge increase. In 2010, the RRSP $ was added in November and this year I only did it yesterday so it does not show on this number. That is a $1500 difference. I cut the plan for 2011 TFSA in order to accomodate other expenses.

One last goal completed

I had an appointment at the bank today to discuss my RRSPs (teeny though they are). My growth doesn't show much in terms of dollars, because of the low amount, but the % is 2.2 which isn't bad right now, I am told.

I added $1500 for the year which was my original goal. I realize that it isn't much but this wasn't the best of my years thus far as a more money aware person, so I am glad there was something added to the pot rather than nothing at all.

What matters most

It was a quiet Christmas in jolieland. Those meds really knocked me for a loop and I have decided the trifecta of reg meds plus 2 temp meds did it to me. It was like I was on a 6 day drunk complete with permanent bedspins. I stopped taking the meds Christmas eve day at noon to give my body 24 hours to work them out and see if it was better. It was. I was still weak and tired and upright is a challenge but it was better. So the temp meds are out. I am taking smaller doses of the reg meds til I can talk to the dr. If this had been a work week I would have had to be off. I can barely function at home, let alone drive or be responsible for the education of kids.

Christmas eve we were to go to sister in laws. I couldn't move so off the family went without me. I missed out on family time and playing with new kitty time as well as food.  It was a lonely christmas eve but it was more important my kids went, than to stay home and keep a woozy mother company.

Christmas day was quiet too. We opened stockings, with mother laying on the couch then went off to my mom's for breakfast and to open gifts there. She is cutting back. Finally. Too big a family. Smart woman :-)

We came home after breakfast. My mom is so good about me being unwell. She takes good care of me. We opened gifts here and the men tidied up while I napped. DH went ice fishing with some of his family and I spent the afternoon sleeping more while the boys went over to my mom and dad's to hang out with the family.  This was an 'other family' Christmas so most of the grandkids with signfiicant others went to the other side for the day so there were only about 15 of us there. No babies. Only a few cousins.

We had a big  family supper with mom's usual yummy food. My appetite has been nada for quite awhile so I only ate a little.  The boys went to an outdoor rink with cousins to skate/play hockey and I came home to curl up.

I would give anything for energy and clear headedness. My house is a disaster and I grow weary of holding onto walls for balance when I walk.

Today the boys have been playing video games after sleeping in. Ahh the life of teens. DH is out fishing again and I have done teeny amounts of tidying sandwiched between long periods of resting with HGTV and Food network to keep me company.  Santa brought me a Keurig so I have had my first cup of coffee in a long while.

It's a brown Christmas here. Near zero, hovering slightly above or just below. Very weird for here. Didn't 'feel' normal at all. I can't remember a Christmas like this ... ever.

What really came clear to me over this time is the simple gift that family is. The presents mean squat. The tree means squat. It's just family time of laughing and being with each other and sharing life that means more than anything.

Where's Waldo? errrrrr jolie

Hey guys

I hope not too many of you have dropped me off your list. I have been a sick little puppy. I went in for my medical 'procedure' (alien probing) and have received the news that I have colitis. Not the best of news but not the worst either. It's a chronic, forever condition so I have a lot of learning to do about this new change in my life. I am on forever meds now as well as some temporary ones to try to clear up the inflammation and infection. It's good to have answers but sad to have a 'something' I have to worry about all the time now. The condition itself has been accompanied by it's usual symptoms as well as dizziness, massive back pain and utter and complete exhaustion.  It's the exhaustion that is doing me in currently. I took a few days off work to try to rest. I haven't any energy to do anything around the house. Needing a lay down after taking a shower or walking up the stairs is just sad.

I haven't watched over any money or spending.I haven't even been online. It's taken every ounce of my energy just to get the must do list done. I am so grateful for such a great staff who helped out and was so understanding (or tolerant :-)

I am glad I took care of my shopping and wrapping a couple weekends ago. I wouldn't have what it takes to get it done now. I am glad I am not hosting anything. My parents have been so good to me over this time, especially my mom. She has colitis too and knows what I am going through. My kids are tired of me being sick so they have some adjusting to do. I am hoping that I can gain some level of energy and normalcy soon. I miss being normal :-)  (as normal as I can be)

sick of being sick of being sick

Hiya all. been awol away. Haven't been well, still. Went to dr twice last week ( a record for me).  Did the blood samples and urine and ....stuff....samples.....twice. Might I say I sure do appreciate our medical system. No bill for any of those visits. I go for a lil 'procedure' next week to explore possibilities. Hopefully I will have some answers soon.

I have a lot of blog reading to catch up on and some writing I need to do for mine.

I spent most of the weekend in bed. Sunday I had some energy so I dragged DS2 with me to finish my shopping. Too fatigued to do it on my own. I came home, had a wee nap and then proceded to wrap all my gifts. I've never been ready this early before. Even the stockings are stuffed. I have two sets that are identical. Makes it easy to swap during the night without a whole lot of whispered stuffing.  Tonight I am writing out my to do list for school so I can get everything ready tomorrow night for the last few days before the break. Christmas concert on this week too.  I will be out of commission for Sunday and Monday and we shall see how spry I am after that :-) We go til Thursday next week.

Where the money stands

as of December 6th

Debts
Mortgage - $32 298.33
Vehicle Loan - $7 757.06
Total Debt - $40 055.39

Savings
RESP - $8700
RRSP - $2550
Christmas 2011 - $1200
EF - $2000

Gold party

I went on a short 45 minute adventure this afternoon to a gold party.

I hadn't heard of them before October. I'd seen a few invites on my facebook from various people. I wasn't even sure what they were, to be honest.  My only visual of selling gold was that annoying man on a TV ad (from Ontario, I think) that danced around and looked beyond ridiculous - and also the ad that said just send your gold in an envelope and mail it away and voila, they would send you some money back. Ohhhh yes and the girl on a TV ad that traded in her gold from an old boyfriend and made derogatory comments about his........and bought new boots for herself. Classy.

I am not sending things to a strange place in an envelope and I doubt I would give anything to the sad man dancing around in the ads. We don't have anyplace around here to take things like that to.

After about the fourth invite I decided I would go to one. I am fully aware that selling gold at a party like this would only get me 50% of what it was worth (if that) but I was  curious.

The lady hosting received 10% of the net made at the party (plus potential bonuses and % if others book a party). The lady grading the gold got 10% and I am guessing the rest goes to the boss of the party hosting business.

I really don't have much of anything, but found in a box downstairs a couple tangled chains I  hadn't worn for 20 years, a bracelet and a ring I think I bought myself in high school. Funny....I had totally forgotten I had that ring, yet I have purchased for myself (5 years ago and 3, I think) two rings that are the same style. I guess I must really like it.

It was interesting to watch. You get so much per gram, depending on the carat of gold. I watched 2 go before me so I could observe.

I came away with $100 in cash. Two pretty little $50 bills. I know if I knew of other places to go to I could have made more, but I went in understanding that, and was fine with it.

I tucked the money into the envelope where I am saving up for spending money for DS1's trip to Europe. He is contributing to the envelope as well. 

Was interesting, to say the least.

Happiness Is...

I have had a rotten two weeks since I posted. I was bogged down at work with report cards, parent teacher interviews and a lunch my class hosted for the entire school. DS2 has been sick. My dad was in ER/hospital, DH was in ER for extreme chest pains, DS1 was in ER with a sports injury and I have an undetermined illness that I have been waiting for 2 weeks to get into the dr for a 'short visit'. Let's just say I will end up needing a colonoscopy. Why have I been waiting? There have been no subs/supply teachers available due to so many activities happening in the district. They are all booked already. It's been hell *smiles sweetly*
I go this week to Dr. (yeah and omg scared)

So I figured I needed some recalibrating and refocus.

Happiness is...

• soft overnights which mean I don't have to scrape the windows in the morning
• the smell of fresh perked coffee in the morning
• the unconditional love of two cats who push their way into the bathroom in the mornings (I don't kid myself...they are there for the warmth :-)
• ppl who were in the hospital are out
• snuggled time with one of the new babies of the family.
• a possible job offer for DH
• backpay from the contract arrived though most of it was eaten up by deductions
• some warm days for end of Nov/beginning of Dec
• a wonderful staff who make it such a great place to go to work
• falling in love again with the jars and keeping better track of my money
• the support of my mom and dad
• scraping together money to make a  one month lump sum payment on my vehicle

sorry for being away for so long.