Updated sidebars and links

Hey all. Happy Tuesday. Today just FLEW by at work today. Am curled up for a bit waiting for the chicken strips in the oven to be done and thought I'd update a few things.

Firstly I updated my links. I've added a few that I've been secretly spying on for awhile. I've also deleted a couple that hadn't been written on for ages. If I've deleted you by accident or if you were there and are becoming reactive again, please drop me a line at joliereves at yahoo dot com and I can fix that right up.

I also updated my vehicle loan bar. After three payments thus far (57 to go) I am at a whopping 4 % paid off. I can't wait for my first loan to be paid off so I can target extra money to this one and get it paid off faster.

Happy Day all

Where the money stands

As of September 1st

Debt
Mortgage - $38,726.13
Consolidated Loan - $8245.67
Vehicle Loan - $28,424.45

Total Debt - $75,396.25

Savings
Emergency Fund - $1000
Christmas Fund - $1000
RRSP 2009 - $1000

Total Savings - $3000

so a small reduction in debt. A bit over $1300. pretty sad if one considers that on those three things, the payments total about $1800, plus a bit extra ($158) I whapped down on the consolidated loan. That interest really kills you !

Camping Thoughts

Camping was great. It was a good get away for the boys and our last shot at the great outdoors, probably, until next year. The weather was pretty amazing. We've gone Sept long weekends before and it's been raining the whole time or snowy. It's a whole different kind of camping then.

This weekend was HOT. Unusually hot. There was also a lot of wind where we were, particularly yesterday, and some rain yest AM and again last night. The boys had fun. Two rounds of golf, some fishing...their cousins came out Saturday with their seadoos and they each got a couple turns on that. They got to play with the cousins' dogs.

Not to be overlooked are the quiet camping moments. Chopping wood for the fire. Both boys are good at it now. Quiet moments just watching the mesmerizing glow of a contained campfire. The addition of copper pipe with old garden hose in it gave the beautiful 'magic campfire' colours of greens, blues and purples and are far more effective than the powers one can buy. A few games of cribbage where their mother beat them quite soundly. Peaceful moments.

We certainly ate well. Steak and veggies one night. BBQ chicken and potatoe salad another. A crockpot of chili and homemade buns was a great treat. Included in that are the usuals...hotdogs roasted over the fire...burgers on the grill. One of our favourites is the 'brunch'. Nothing beats the smell of bacon cooking outside and eggs done in a castiron pan over the fire. Pancakes and fruit to top it off with homemade chokecherry jelly.

I sure do appreciate my parents. My dad is in his seventies and mom is having her 67th bday this week. They used to camp for themselves. Now they go to give their grandkids the experiences They hold out in the fifth wheel and we go in the tent. They are pretty amazing folks and despite the annoyances my mom offers up from time to time, she truly does give from the heart and does EVERYTHING for her family. We are lucky to have them.

The costs?
camping site and pass for the weekend $90
gas to and from $60
golf was $14 per person a round
a bit for gas for the boat and some bait
the rest was munchies, as mom and dad insisted on bringing the food.

The memories?
cliche though it may be...priceless.

gone camping

After a crazy, hectic first week back, we're off to go camping for the long weekend. Fishing and golf, campfire and too much food. Tents and snuggling in. Have a great weekend all.

Snowflakes

Boy being back to school is exhausting, and busy. The days are run run run and the evenings are time on my on preparations and my kids' activities and homework. Craziness!

This month I am focusing heavily on snowflakes. The $ left over in the categories I usually tuck away and use later, like I did in July and August. I am going to attempt to take every dime not spent out of my jars and put it as a lump sum on my consolidated loan. As part of my most recent set of goals, the first thing to do is save all snowflakes and put $600 towards this loan. I also will have some extra cash on my Sept to Dec cheques as I have maxed out on my EI and CPP payments so that will help too.

Today I am running $88 to the bank to put down as a lump sum. This is from people paying me back for things I picked up for them on my most recent Costco trip. Only $512 to go on the first goal LOL.