How a teacher's mind works...

...so I am at the school today finishing the 'getting ready for first day' process. It's a lot of sort and put away...copy and get in the right piles...that sort of thing. Nothing of giant consequence. Ask any teacher I know, they have to get the room sorted, decorated and put to rights before they can get down to the real work.

So one of the other teachers comes in with a bag of duotangs from Staples. Our kids have a school supply list that they fill before they come to school and duotangs are on it, but sometimes WE want duos for something specific and it's just better to have extra on hand. (one of those out of pocket, no reimbursement things). She says "Duotangs are 9 cents at Staples!!!!". Immediately I salivate, thinking ohhh I HAVE to get some at that price. They were 33 cents two weeks ago when I got MY boys their school supplies. I use them in colour codes for different things and the kids again, bring their own, but I have extra on hand. If I want a blue duo for suchnsuch, and they don't have one, I just get one out of my box and give it to them.

So I go into my box and see how many of each colour I have. I have a paperbox FULL from past year's purchases. Different colours. I don't need any. But I want some. 9 Cents!!!!!

So I go take my big box of them into her room and slam it down on a desk and say "THIS is all your fault". and we both laugh.

Do I need any? Nope.

Will I succumb and run before I go home tonight? *shakes the magic eight ball* 'chances are favourable'

After all, I have NO pink ones and I'm low on green.

man it's like this ALL year long, but worst, during school supply season LOL

Organization - one of my favourite tools

My favourite organizational tools EVER is my Mom's Family Organizer. I stumbled across this about four years ago in Costco and just thought it was the best idea ever. Trying to keep track of appointments and events on a small calendar just wasn't working. There just wasn't enough space to write everything in and still have it legible.

I found this and peeked through the sample copy on display and couldnt' believe the space inside. It seemed perfect. Granted it takes probably 1/3 more space up on the wall where you hang it, but I had the room.

The first year or two, I had it all incredibly organized. Each person had their own colour, special events had THEIR own colour etc. I loved it.......until............other people started writing on it. Now it wasn't that their contributions were not welcome. It was that.......they refused to honour the colour system and everything was all wonky. For an anal retentive like me, it drove me NUTS. Not being anal, they were unwilling to compromise.

So I had to let go of the colours and just be glad I had a great space to write on. One of the best parts is............STICKERS!!! For anyone who has been reading awhile, they know of my passion for stickers LOL. All kinds of stickers. for bday, sports events, special days, doctor appointments, library visits, mechanic trips etc.

When I did a very expensive costco restocking trip last night, I got my new one for the next school year. It was $9.99 Canadian, I believe. I curled up this morning minus my coffee (out of filters) and started jotting down the dates I know. There is a ton when school first starts up and all their activities begin and it gives me much peace of mind. It's also very scary to look back on and think "HOW did I make it through that month?"

Let the year begin!!!

Small goal attained

On Tuesday, I added the final bit of $ to max out my very first, albeit small, RRSP contribution. The goal was $1000 and it is now sitting all nestled in a savings account after Christmas.

The goal was originally $1500 but for some reason that number, combined with all the other things I needed to do for school start and fall goals, kept stressing me out. So I lopped it down to $1000 and felt better immediately.

My goal for next year's is $1500 and I will keep increasing it from there. Sometime next year my first consolidated loan SHOULD be paid in full, so I will have some extra money there to put towards it and make it a more reasonable amount.

Still, I am pleased I actually was able to accomplish this for the first time. I wish I were only 20 though and not the venerable age of almost 40 when I am finally starting to 'get it'.

It's back to work today for me. Time to start earning $ again. Happy Day all.

A tale of $25

I spent some time this morning sorting and bagging up my bottles/cans for recycling. About 30 minutes to sort....20 min driving time there and back, and 30 min in line and at my turn. What did I get in return? $24.50. I count that as a snowflake so rounding that off, I will tuck in $25 into my snowflake wallet and at the end of the month, I will put it down against my consolidated loan. My 'wish goal' for snowflakes is $125 so, $100 more to go.

On the way home I stopped at Shoppers. I needed a 4L milk(1 gallon), a box of my cereal (on sale), a covergirl blush, and a covergirl mascara (on sale). My cost there.. $24.55.

So in the blink of an eye, I spent virtually exactly what I just 'made' at the recycling depot. It goes, that fast.

Granted they are from different compartments of my money, but really, it's all the same money and they voided each other out.

It sure made me realize that saving, and watching what you spend, can be two completely different things.

a First

I just realized that I start back to school day after tomorrow and I have spent a total of $10 on my classroom. The start of the year can bring anywhere from $200 to $500 on things for set up.

I put a moratorium on that kind of spending for school start this year. A girl can only have so much stuff before she's not using any of it. It was a struggle a few times not to hit the teacher store when I was in the city, or just 'pick up a few things' at Staples, but I perservered.

Heck I didn't even go to Teacher Appreciation Day at Staples this year for my free tote bag and stickers etc.

What did I buy? I large desktop calendar to help keep things organized. Could I have survived without it? probably.

I am very pleased with myself.

Thank goodness for those envelopes

From January to June, anything that was leftover from the week's jars, went into their corresponding envelopes. My categories are: Gas, Groceries, Household, Spending and Dining. I have to admit it was really fun to watch the 'extra' grow in the envelopes as the months passed. Here and there the money was dipped into. For example, I used $250 from the Gas envelope to pay for my package policy when it was due in March.

It's a very informal kind of 'savings'.

I didn't keep that same system for the summer as expenses were different. That is something I'll have to fix for next year. It was nice though to have that money stored away when I needed it. I used most of the household money when we were purchasing shrubs and gravel for the front yard. I used the dining out money when I was in Toronto. I used my savings money for the dining out we did for our five days of hockey camp. I have a bit left in the household and a bit left in the gas envelope so now I have to decide if I want to keep those as extra in those envelopes, or if I wish to take that money and apply it to a target, say a lump sum payment on my first loan.

It's nice to have that kind of decision to make.

Summer's officially over

School starts this Thursday so my wild and crazy unpaid, yet free time, is now gone. I always say July crawls and August goes warp speed and it was no different this year.

I always enter this 'last week' with regrets at not having used my time better, done more interesting things or gone fun places. I really need to work on reframing into positive lenses.

• I got to see T for the first time while on conference
• I had a great week with my older son at hockey camp
• I didn't totally destroy my budget
• I have spent less than $10 towards my classroom start up this year (a big desk calendar..that's it)
• My kids both went to camp
• We/they, got in some more camping
• I had a very successful garage sale
• We got the fence scraped and painted, and the front flowerbeds, landscaped

Not too bad I guess. Certainly not packed with things from start to finish though.

This is a crazy busy week. By end of Wed I have to:

• finalized expenses for the two weeks I was away (DONE)
• Pay off MC/Visa and work out how to handle the rest of back to school expenses (DONE)
• Wash all bed linens
• Vac all carpets
• Wash all floors, clean bathrooms
• Have the kids pack up their school supplies in their backpacks (DONE)
• Have their rooms spotless
• Do some baking for lunches
• Register for hockey (DONE)
• TRY to menu plan for next week's busy first full week of classes
• Get to my classroom and finalize it's readiness for school start
• Withdraw $ for jars. Payday is tomorrow. (DONE)
• Sort and take in recyling. (DONE)

Ok now my head is whirling. Have a great day.

school supplies

First off I will reiterate that I am jealous of the US readers out there. Your prices for school supplies are less than half of what ours are up here. I watch the commercials out of the US for sales on at places like Target and drool with envy and wish I had a magic beam to zap down there, shop and then come back up :p

I hit Walmart with the kids Tuesday, armed with their supply lists. I had already gone through what they already had that was good from last year, and what we had in our own supply bucket at home that they could use. Still, the costs were crazy. Things sure do add up.

The list wasn't anything out of the ordinary:

• 1 new backpack as DS1 's was toast after three years of use ($34.99)
• 1 -5 Star binder ($20.99)
• 2 - 1.5 inch binders for DS2
• pens and pencils
• erasers and a few glue sticks
• looseleaf, dividers and reinforcements
• Kleenex (tissue)
• duotangs and a few notebooks
• pencil crayons x 2
• markers for each
• scotch tape for each
• black sharpies
• geometry set for the younger
• cheapie calculator for each ($2 each)

I am doing this from memory so I know I'm forgetting some. I'll add to it when I am back home and have the list in front of me.

Total cost $170

New plans/goals for the fall

Morning everyone. I'm curled up in a hotel, waiting for DS1 Sleeping Beauty to wake up. We are away at sports camp and our first ice time is in the afternoon so I let him sleep in a bit here.

Before my trip, my budget/finances were causing me stress, I think, because I am doing too much too fast OR I'm doing it in the wrong way. I kept re-doing numbers over hoping to get different answers or finish a debt sooner.

My goals at that point were:
a) Pay off Loan #1 early, by end of June 2010 (it matures in March 2011)
b) Take the money I was using to pay Loan #1 and double pay off my vehicle loan

This made me feel stressed because I didn't know how I would meet my goals of xmas money each year, RRSP money, and other goals like the new laptap I am going to need as the one I am typing on is three years old and, growing weary *pets her current laptop and reassures it that it's a wonderful and valued member of her family and to please not die this year*.

The premise of my aquiring $ for these sorts of goals were lump sum amounts that appear every now and again in my life. Well that is not a realistic way of making these goals part of my daily life and budget and THAT is what I need to do. Then it is little bits coming out regularly and not me panicking hoping the large amounts don't disappear.

So while I tinker with the actual amounts, here are my current important yet not as stressful goals for the fall. There is no $ attached to this or deadline, as I find that if I do NOT attach those things, the goal is met faster.

a) Pay off the MC/Visa for this summer, the T trip and this current (and costly) week away in hotel for sports camp
b) Pay off all the back to school bills such as supplies, a few new clothes, school fees, and start up costs for their extra curricular activities.

~~For the above two goals, (not counting the T trip) the estimated costs are close to $3000.~~

c) Max out my first ever RRSP, which is small, but a start.
d) Make the equivalent of one month's lump sum payment to Loan #1.
e) Put some money in each of the new target bars (which I will discuss another day)
f) If there is anything left 'extra' by the end of December then put it towards more lump sum payments.

A through D I want to make happen before Dec 31st. After that, whatever else I can do in that time period, is bonus. I have other plans for January.

Now I don't have tons of $ free so these are giant goals to be sure. What helps is that as of this paycheck (I think), I have maxed out my auto contributions on my paycheck for Pension and..........lordy the other one escapes me at the moment. I will get that extra money (about $300 a month) to play with along with a bit of a raise ($100ish) a month.

We shall see if this works. I have accepted plans and goals do and sometimes Must change and that is not necessarily a bad thing.

Well sleeping beauty is waking up here so time to get him moving and to the fitness center and get his hiney on the treadmill. Happy Day all!!

My working holiday - T, the cost

Ok last one in this series. These latest posts have been more of a reflective tool for me before school starts up again and my world starts spinning so fast I can't remember the little things.

The trip itself (flight, accomodations etc) were handled by my employer as I was sent on their behest.

Total costs for my trip were $520
Per Diem I will get back $200
Cost out of my pocket $ 315

Where did all this money go? Well I honestly didn't do any shopping in the big city so that isnt' a factor, unless you count the box of Gravol I got for the flight home or the razor for.........errr.........my legs. It went on seeing places, eating things and drinking things.

CN Tower entry $35
Hockey Hall of Fame $15
Blue Jays Game $40
ROM $24

Entry costs $114

Travelling costs (trolley and subway) $20. I am rounding up here plus adding in the change I gave one of the conference attendeees from wayyy out of country, who came along with us on the subway.

Souvenirs
1 practical thing each for my children and their father (hats and a tshirt) = $80

Incidentals at the drug store $22

Total Cost so far $246

The rest went on food in the airports, and the bits of wining and dining from the remainder of the trip. Frugal? hell no! Saved for? I had $200 worth of my 'savings' allowance tucked away in an envelope for this, so mostly, yes.

Could I have done better? Sure, but not if I stayed with the main group. When a large group is making food destination decicisions, sometimes even the cheapest thing on the menu is not cheap by small town girl standards. I could have NOT gone to the tourist sites but then, what is the point of being a first time (maybe only time) Tourist in Toronto? It would be different if I had a trip like this several times a year, or once a year even, but I rarely get anywhere.

I didn't get anything for myself. I figured the trip alone and the experience was my souvenir.
Thanks for listening and sorry for blabbering on and on :-)

We now return you to your regular PF blog where I wonder where I'm getting the money for school supplies and back to school activity fees.

My working holiday - T the place

I walked so much on this trip I have blisters. Seriously. I can't stress enough having proper footwear that is tried and tested.

We had a wonderful time exploring different parts of the city. First there was Chinatown which was lightyears away from anything I'd ever seen. NOW I understand when ppl on PF blogs say "buy your fruits and veggies at the markets". Makes total sense as the prices here are 3x as much as these city market place prices. Chinatown was a mixture of voices and busyness, sights and signs I couldn't read and more than one thing I didn't recognize. We didn't have a ton of time to explore, more just a surface level.

After that we dipped our toes in Kensington Market. There wasn't tons of time but it was lovely having a pain au chocolate and a latte at Wanda's Pie in the Sky. I had trouble deciding which lovely, decadent pastry to choose. I could see spoiling myself for breakfast here every weekend.

We then took the streetcar trolley down to Roger's Center to catch the Blue Jay's game. I will be the first to admit I am not a baseball fan. I certainly understand the concept of the game and played it as a child but I haven't followed it and couldn't begin to tell you any of the players on the team. Still, it was very exciting to head to a Major League game and experience it. There was a massive downpour and huge T storm as we headed there. Boy lightning sure echos between those tall skyscrapers. Makes a girl jump!!

I loved the game. It was not so much just the game itself, but the entire experience: the crowds, the different shops inside, the food, the roof being opened partway through the game. Let me tell you, seeing that roof open and seeing the CN tower directly across, RIGHT THERE, was pretty amazing. The game was good too :-) We won.

We hit the CN tower. I realize it is the cliche of tourist attractions in Toronto, but hey, I'm a tourist!! I have to admit that my knees knocked a bit as we approached it and got a neck cranking view of how high it really was. It cost the earth to go in and see things but this was a once in a lifetime experience. Unless I bring the kids, I probably won't go again. I learned I have some fear of heights. Who knew? I have to admit I didn't know a lot about the structure and was quite amazed by all the different parts there. Main viewing level, outdoor viewing level, glass floors, theater, gift shop, 2 different restaurants and the tummy churning sky pod.

The lines were too horridly long but one does have to be patient. I think one of the most humbling experiences was listening to the different languages there. SO many folks from around the world, yet all their excitement, regardless of the language base, sounded very similar. We ate at one of the restaurants at the top of the tower. Not terribly frugal but quite the site, being able to dine and see the city was something I won't soon forget. This is one of my favourite views from a porthole window at the tippytop of the skypod.

I took my kids, in spirit, to two different places. For the older, I went to the Hockey Hall of Fame. It was pretty impressive to see, but I have to admit, it would have been far far better seeing it through his eyes. They have done a wonderful job setting up the different displays and have a great mix of audio, visual, theater, interactive, plus all the trophies. The gift shop was slighly biased. There was a lot of different items from the teams but the slant definitely was towards the Leafs and the Habs. There ARE three more teams in Canada :-) plus all the US ones.


For my other child, I hit the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum). It has everything a wonderfully geeky kid would want to see. Rocks and gems, dinosaurs and bats, and even an Egyptian mummy. The Dead Sea Scrolls were there but there wasn't time to go in to see them. I did get to see a bit of The Book of the Dead. I can see it would be a place I'd love to visit in chunks over a period of time were I to live there. Almost too much to take in at once and do a good job of it.

We walked a bit down Bloor Street, which houses the 'fancy' shops, like Chanel, Hermes, Gucci, Tiffani, Sephora etc. Apparently there are supposed to be stars that shop here but if I passed one, I did not notice. Far far too rich for my blood. I felt even too peasant class to go near the door. lol

We saw lots of different parts of the city and ate wayyyy too much food and drank way too much ............'liquid'. I have to say, I don't know how you big city folk do it. Tempting drinks and treats at every twist and turn. I gained about 5 lbs but being bigger, I gain fast (and lose slow). I tried a few things I'd not had before, but I am far from an adventurous eater.

It makes me want to go and travel more and see more of the world.......heck even more of Canada. I am wayy too much of a homebody and rarely go far at all. Now if only I had the $$ to support what I can see would be an expensive habit.

My working holiday - T the people

I admit I was skeptical as I set off on my journey. There is this stigma often attached to big city folk that it is a dog eat dog world out on the streets....an 'only for myself' mentality.

I have to say that 99% of the folks we encountered from Toronto were incredibly friendly and helpful. Anywhere we went, if we were lost and needing direction, it was easy to ask folks for direction. What was even easier was the wealth of folk looking at us "poor tourists" and coming over asking if we needed help finding something or somewhere. I really was impressed and surprised by this. From suggestions on which way to go to a place, to tips on taking the Rocket, which restaurants or cafes to try out or safe shortcuts. We had a lot of 'I'm going the same way..get off at the stop I do". We even had one couple who helped us get off at the right stop for the Roger's Center stumble across us later and ask if we'd found all the things we needed and make suggestions for a few other things to see.

Despite the feel like the crowds of people were on high speed and only interested in their own destination, it was reassuring to know folks WERE approachable.

The two downers were: the security guard at the Eaton's Center who said it was NOT possible to get from A to B, when we were told it was and later found out it was. *grumbles ...sending us out in a torrential downpour*. The second downer would have to be the ticket staff at the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum). We had prepurchased 'fast track' tickets from our hotel to avoid line ups. When we got there, we were 25 minutes in the 'fast line', while the counter folk argued over which line we should be in and who should take care of us. They then decided it was Mikey's job. Mikey, it would seem, was having a long visit to the restroom and was incredibly grumpy when he returned eventually to his station.

All in all I was pleasantly surprised by the overall nature of the general folk on the street. Sure helped a great deal for this little lost prairie girl, trying to get IN to her map to see which way to go :-)

My working holiday - T the place

For my regular readers, you know I went last week for 5 days to Toronto for a conference. For those who are willing to sacrifice sleep for the experience, there was ample time to explore the city outside of work time. I wasn't sure how to tackle the wealth of experiences I had for this blog so I am chunking it up, to the pleasure of some and the dismay of others I am sure :-)


I had never been to Toronto before so it was definitely a different experience for me. For a girl from the prairies, it was a head tilting, eye raising experience. Now bear in mind I am not in the extreme south prairies where it IS flat with zero trees. In the midland prairies there are rolling hills...there are trees, lovely ones in fact. One of my favourite views is the canola fields as they are so rich in colour. Sadly we were about 2 - 3 weeks too late for the maximum effect from the sky. We have few (no) tall building in the prairie towns save for the required grain elevators :-)

Now in the city, IT goes on for miles, and miles. I am sure that much of what I saw from the air was extending into the outlying suburbs as the city grows and expands. It still was pretty overwhelming. And beautiful in it's own way. There was a whole lot of gawking as we drove from the airport to downtown to our hotel. I can see how it takes preplanning and early departures in order to get from one place to another. I could just see the fuel/transportation costs going up in my 'if I lived in the city' imaginary budget. I am so used to it taking fewer than 15 minutes to get to the farthest place I'd want to be around here LOL

The buildings were pretty impressive. A myriad of old stone mixed with new sleeker stone or glass buildings. It was hard to imagine that many people inhabiting so many office buildings and condos. What got me was that those lights stay on alllll day and alll night, even weekends. What a horrid waste of power. I've seen several studies including Mythbusters, which show that for longer periods of time it is NOT cost efficient to leave them on. Still it gave me a voyeur peek into several different buildings from my hotel.

The pace of life and number of people was quite a shock too. It was hard to 'stroll' and see what you were walking by without being caught up in the flow of those who were walking with a mission and timeline.

I have to say that despite the fact that the garbage strike was over there, the amounts of trash bags outside of buildings was amazing. It certainly didn't enhance the smells, which were far from fresh. As you walked you caught whiffs of the trash bags, or the aroma coming up from the vents in the sidewalks, or from some of the people themselves.

I was overwhelmed by the humidity. Having it at 42C with the humidex and 100% humidity with no rain was staggering for this dry heat prairie girl. My clothes stuck to me in most unpleasant ways and I was sure everyone passing by could see it LOL. I was frequently wiping my forehead off or defogging the insides of my sunglasses.

It was definitely a fun place to visit and see and I am so glad I went.

~~ coming soon: T - the people~~

A rainy Saturday

We're running today between rounds of hockey but this pouring rain has really inspired me. Bread machine is going, banana and carrot muffins just came out of the oven and homemade beef stew is simmering on the stove. Such good smells! Just something about rain that inspires that in me. Too bad I only get inspirational a couple times a month. I would be a terrible stay at home mom and not use my time properly.

One of my nieces is heading off for year 3 of university and finally moving off campus to her own apartment. Each of the aunties is getting her a wee something to start off her apartment. I drew 'basket of cleaners' so I'm putting together my list of things like laundry basket, laundry detergent, dish soap etc. It's amazing how many things are 'in my house' that we take for granted. It's nice to have a bit of $ to be able to do this.

Happy Day All!

Where the money stands

ok ok I know this is late. July may have been slow but August is FLYING by.

As of August 1, 2009

Debts

Mortgage - $38,905.79
Consolidated Loan - $8913.82
Vehicle Loan - $28,837.13
Total Debt - $76,656.74

Savings
Christmas Fund - $1000
Emergency Fund - $1000
RRSP - $250

Total Savings - $2250

Home From Toronto

Well after a whirlwind 5 days I am home from my conference. What a great experience and what a completely different way of life there than my little town on the prairie. I plan to write about it as soon as I blink more sleep from my eyes after a long day of travel.

One thing I realized while I was there, was that my budget was not aligned properly to reflect what I truly want to do and experience. I am stressed to the pin about goals I have artificially placed on myself. Too much too fast methinks.

To that end, the first step I will do is reduce my RRSP contribution goal from $1500 to $1000. For those who have big RRSP contributions this will seem like such a paltry and sad amount. The fact is though that with the way my money was structured, it was too much to accomplish by the time goal I had in mind. All I did for a week before I left was figure out dozens of different scenarios that might help me achieve this faster.

The second step I will reconsider is my heavy plan of paying off the loan so much earlier and then moving to make double payments on the new vehicle loan.

This summer has cost me more than I wanted and planned. I need to make summer budget lines so that my kids and I can LIVE and ENJOY too. All I kept thinking about while in Toronto was how much my kid would have loved it and how much there is I want to show them and have them experience.

There is a lot to think about.

away for a bit for some adventure

Ok not completely an adventure. It's work related. A conference. But it's with a group of colleagues and we do have down time in the evenings. We're headed to Toronto tomorrow. Aside from one flight in there 17 years ago and getting picked up and straight out of the city, I have not been there. It's going to be a wonderful adventure. We get to stay downtown I believe and the city is ours to explore at night.

I know we're taking in a Jays game. I'm not a baseball fan (hockey girl) but it will still be exciting to see a MLB game. I know we're going to toodle about Younge street and take in the sights and food there. I'm not sure what else is on the list.

Funny it feels like I've been waiting for this trip forever, and now that it is here, I'm not as excited as I thought I'd be. Perhaps that is because I'm barely awake right now :-)

I'll let you know about the trip when I get back.

Have a great week! Jolie