Top Referrers for May

Here's just a snapshot of where some of my visitors come from. I'm grateful for all readers, whether I am linked on their blog, or just a snippet on their bookmarks :-) It's always exciting to see visitors from all over Canada, the US, the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and more. Thank you for linking me, bookmarking me and visiting me.

1) Saving for Later  (Eastern Canada)

2) Jessie's Money  (Western Canada)

3) No More Spending  (Out of the UK)

4) It's me. Sam (Maritimes, Canada)

5) Girl Makes Cents (Ontario, Canada)

Updated Blogroll

Just a bit of housekeeping on this gloomy (again) Friday morning. I tidied up a few expired blogs. I added a few blogs I've been reading for awhile.

And JP Kitty: Won't go down without a fight

where are you? I miss reading you.



Out of Money Experience - a lovely Canadian blog

Home Owner by 30 - a fellow educator's blog from Long Beach California

Milestones - I've been a secret reader for quite some time :P

Alright, so about that $80

As discussed a couple days ago, I have $80 allocated for my 'other' jar, when I change up my budget as of the end of June. This is following Gail's magic jar method. Many of the things the other jar is used for, I already have covered in different areas of my budget: bank fees, boys' activities, pet food etc.

so what to do? what to do ? with that money.

I could:
a) whap it on my debt (that's where everything extra currently goes and maybe I AM obsessing a bit too much.
b) add it to my montly EF deposit, which would bring that up to $90 a month
c) add it to the $ I put aside for the boys' activities. I currently put $300 a month in there but I haven't upped that amount in 5 years and costs keep going up.
d) add it to the money I put aside for xmas/summer goals. I currently put in $140 a month so that would up it to $220
e) I could up the boys RESP by $40 each a month
f) I could up my RRSP contribution by $40 a month to bring it up to $165 a month
g) I could add it to the newly formed 'clothing' jar which would bring that up to $180 a month
h) I could leave it where it is, and if it's not used, snowflake it.

so so many choices. I love having choices but they all are justifiable.

Thoughts??????

Week 9 on the jars

Perhaps I am becoming  more focused (obsessed) with paying down debt as I was disappointed that only 10% of my jar money remained on a week when I didn't buy any personal care items or anything for the house. The groceries ate up their share and a bit more. I think my husband's comments triggered that. I didn't go hog wild or anything but I made sure we had everything we needed for the weekly menu. Also I  bought  extras of some of the staples we use to fill up some of those empty spaces in the cupboards. I probably willl do this for awhile until the sting of his words goes away.

I need to be buying more fruit and veggies. I just feel rotten lately. Totally exhausted. I come home  and start supper, then flop down on the couch and nap. I fall asleep instantly, which is something I never used to do. I'm in bed by 10 and exhausted then too, only to wake up tired and with a headache over one eye. Yanno you can only do that for so long before it starts to take it's toll on you.

The 10% left will go towards debt. I am working on the second $600 lump sum that will knock another month off my loan.

Last Month of School

Well June 1 is finally here and though I really try not to, the countdown is on. One month of school left and so so much to do. This is the point where all the units  are needing to get wrapped up. Time to get ready for year end field trips and year end awards program. Time to be working on report cards and thinking about next year. It really makes your head whirl.

I have to be smart and use my time well so I am not overwhelmed and get behind. THAT is a horrible feeling and causes way too much stress.

Best plan of attack? Writing it all out on a calendar and getting the to do list ready. Being prepared is the only way to survive.

Today is the first day in about 2 weeks the sun has shone and I think, the first that it won't rain. Here's hoping as we have had quite enough of the wet stuff.

Happy Tuesday everyone and Happy First Day of June