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As we head into the long weekend here and I say goodbye to July, I took the money I had left from my June-July budget, and deposited it in my savings, targetted for RRSP. Adding that $200 to the $250 that was already there and I am almost 1/3 of the way to my target.There won't be jar updates for this month or for next. All the extra cash will be heading towards the unbudgeted categories of the Toronto trip and the week long hockey camp in another city. My hope is to come through end of August/school start, unscathed, and get back onto diligent jar categories for Aug-September. It worked so well for me from Christmas on, and I hope to recreate that as I meet the RRSP goal and figure out where to go next.
It seems all I have done this summer is do and redo the numbers as I try to figure out the best way to get my RRSP goal done before Christmas. I play different number columns over and over and I'm driving myself crazy.I have hit the point where I begrudge the money flying out for groceries, gas and expenses. I am getting miserly with 'fun' money and as a result I think my boys are having a very dull summer. Then I feel guilty for not being a better mother and giving them more of the experiences they love to do.and around it goes.I can't say as I am enjoying these feelings. Makes one anxious, depressed and fretful.
About 6 months ago I paid off the Bank of Mom Loan so that has come off the sidebar as something to keep track of. It really was good to see a personal loan of mine that I actually paid off in full :-) Made me proud.I also updated the personal (consolidated) loan. The payment came out today and I am, after 16 months, at more than 50% paid off. It's a 36 month loan so I am a wee bit ahead of schedule. yeah me :-)This loan is due to mature March 26, 2011 according to the original loan agreement but I am going to do everything possible to pay it all off by June 26th, 2010. Then I can take that amount and pay double on my vehicle loan every month.*crosses her fingers that all goes according to plan*
We headed into the city yesterday. The primary goal was to get DS1 new equipment for hockey as he's grown immensely since last season ended. We braced ourselves as we knew this was not a low budget trip. It wasn't. Not even a little bit. It's the price we pay for having him in sports, and at the higher level of sports he will be at. He needed new skates (the most costly of all the items), pants, shoulder pads, a new bag as his was pretty much toast after lasting three seasons, and a new stick. Total cost for the boy's base needs: $1349. Scary hey? And that is only about half the equipment. Fortunately the gloves, shin pads, elbow pads and helmet still fit. I'll still need to put out about another $100 for his mouth guard (note to self: get that done next week). Money is all about choices and yes this is indeed a costly one. But we don't smoke or drink.... we don't gamble or ski....we don't have expensive summer and winter outside toys. I know far too many folks who spend their cash on those items. Choices.
Ok the reason I had payday in " " is that technically as a teacher, I do not get paid in the summer or for the summer (though tons of folks out there sure think my summers are paid time off LOL)
I get paid for the 10 months of the school year. Now being horrible with money, I took advantage of our division (district)'s kind program that allows me to divide my salary by 12 and not 10, so I can actually have money coming in, in the summer.
A bonus of this is that for the July and August cheques, I do not have to pay union dues, pension contributions and insurance, as those only come off during the actual paycheques. So each July and August it's a bit of a surprise how much that cheque will actually be. This month I net an extra $650. August should be about the same.
I am so grateful for this extra $1300. I have to tuck it aside and use it for the start up fees for fall. Here is what I estimated last year for these activities. It will be interesting to see what this year brings. As soon as I get paid, that extra money is going into a dif account until it is time to use it. I am estimating about $1600 this year but it depends on fees for their sports/band/school.
