There goes another $500

I went last night to sign my sun up again for his band program. They meet in the evening once a week. They also meet 2 noon hours a week for practice. He absolutely loves the program and even moreso, the conductor. They did a lot of great things last year concert-wise.

The painful part was the payment tonight. The cost??? $500

Here's how it broke down:
1) cost of the program - $150
2) cost of the instrument rental - $150
3) fundraiser payout - $200

ouch

The program is well worth the fee.

The rental...well it's cheaper than when I used to rent one out of the city.

The fundraiser payout - well it's either work 8 bingos (5 hours each) for $25 a shot, or payout $200. That's saying my time is $5 an hour.

On their own, each component isnt' bad at all...but together, it bites!! hard.

sigh. ah well. good thing I saved up for this.

Rounding up for Ronald MacDonald house

Our local grocery participated in a Round up for Ronald MacDonald house for a month. It started sometime in August and wrapped up last week. Customers, whether paying in cash, debit or credit, were given the option to round up to the nearest next dollar and that change would go to the charity.

It seems like such a small amount to give. I mean at most, it's 99 cents per visit. While your pockets don't fill with change, it's a rather non threatening way to donate money. No one is going to knock on your door or call and say 'our books show that you gave to our cause last year....how about this year too?"

If you pay via debit, it makes that bank statement look slick with zeros :-)

I wonder if they will let folks know how much this store was able to contribute during that one month period? It would be nice.

Where the money stands

Debts
Mortgage - $36 195.18
Vehicle Loan - $ 20 191.55
Total Debts - 56 386.83

Savings
EF - $2000
XMAS 2010 -$1000
RRSP = $700
Total Savings - $3700


Planned Savings
RRSP Portfolio - $1000
RESP - $1755

Another extra payment bites the dust.

I hit the bank yesterday to pay down another extra payment on the principal of my vehicle loan. Though the teller each time is different, they seem to know what I am talking about when I ask to do that....that's a huge bonus :-)

Since I started being in a position to make extra payments on this loan in late spring, I have knocked 5 payments. With the interest I have saved, I knocked an additional one off, bring the total to 6 payments gone.

The loan was originally due to be finished June of 2014. I have now happily brought the final payment into 2013. December of 2013 to be precise. I know, I know, that is a lifetime away. My DS1 would be at Christmas of his first year of University at that point.

My goal is to get this paid off before DS1 graduates from High School which is June 2013. Given that I am in a position (knock on wood) right now now to continue to make both the regular payment and an additional payment each month, this goal is quite achievable.

Still, the darn loan is over $20 000. It's been 15 months and I haven't yet paid off 10 grand. I am just under at about $9500 paid off. It would have only taken about $200 to get it under that $20 000 point but I just can't swing it this month.

I will have to be patient and wait until the beginning of Oct to get that rush of accomplishment.

P and G free samples

I 'think it's only Canadian but I am not sure.

The new free sample kits are available.

I went here to request mine.

P and G free samples