Allowance

Do you give yourself an allowance? Spending money? blow money ??(though I really dislike that term) 

I give my kids $10 a week to do with as they please. they are almost 16 and 13.  I considered giving them more and having them budget for things like clothes but I don't think we were ready for that.

I give myself $20 a week.  For whatever I please. It's kind of nice to have that little bit of money should I want to grab something for lunch during the week. I'm at the rink multiple times during the week and that money could go for a Timmy's en route to the rink or something from the concession.

I've saved the leftovers as well. Perhaps I might want to save for a higher priced skin care or hair care product. I have to admit though that it takes forever to save dibbles of allowance leftovers for something bigger.

Sometimes I spend the whole $20. Sometimes I spend next to none.

When I think of the larger, monthly sum, then I get squirmy. $80 a month!! That turns that lil $20 into something bigger and I think 'wow I could be using that elsewhere in the budget'

Still, I think a girl (or guy) needs a little something so that it isn't so tight that you start to hate the whole process. I want to stay healthy in terms of my budget lifespan and debt payoff.  Just my opinion.

A healthy chunk

51%

yup that's right .... 51%

I was paid on Monday. That fun day when there is cash in my account. Then I spend that day and the next two skipping about moving money from this account to that or beginning the bill paying process. It's a bit like an easter bunny hopping about and distributing fat free calorie free eggs.

The day I get paid I remove the money that goes to my debt and to my savings goals.
So out comes the vehicle payment.

Out comes the money for RRSP, EF, XMAS, Summer etc (I am currently done my goals for that for the year and using that for debt.

Out comes the money I put in an account each month to help pay for costs of the boys' activities and fees.

Out comes the extra money I have between now and Christmas as I've maxed out on CPP and EI contributions. That money is also going towards debt.

What's left behind is the money for the jars for the month, the boys' allowance, RESP money that comes out on the 1st, utilities, money set aside for annual fees/expenses (like Costco), gym membership etc.

When I take out all those first things, I am removing 51% of my cheque. I hadn't really thought about it in that way before, but that's what is happening. Now all the things that makes up the 51% are good. Well ok the vehicle debt is bad but I walked into that with my eyes wide open. and I am glad I have a bit of extra money right now to make an extra payment (or two) on the vehicle each month to get it finished faster.

It does really make me realize  how much is going towards that debt and I often wonder what wonderful things I could be doing with that money, did I not have debt.

However getting rid of my van was a good thing. I hear the engine's gone on it now. Could be the way the new owners drove it, but one never knows.

I know when I am done with this debt I will need to be saving for other big things.... washer and dryer and getting very old....the boys' will be going to university and I won't have enough saved.....they will be getting married one day....

It's frightening when you think of all those things.

Free Samples (Canadian)

It's that time again for those who enjoy the free samples from P and G

https://www.pgbrandsampler.ca/en_CA/home.php

Last round I got a sample of new Crest Mouthwash, the Crest White strips and a Febreezy thingie.

enjoy

confession

shhh . just between you and me k? lol

I really really hate writing things down for my weekly spending out of my jars.

I have my budget per week and my overall budget.

I have my categories: groceries, gas, spending, clothing and gifts, entertainment.

I never go over my weekly set amount.

But I really, really really hate writing down each expenditure...ex every grocery purchase.

I was really good at it when I first started the jars in 2008 but the novelty is long gone. I do try every now and again and it is a fantastic way of seeing where the money goes and how frequent you spend it.

for a girl who likes lists and notes and to do checklists, it surprises me

Smackdown! on that vehicle loan

In the far corner, an ominous but compact white SUV, great for hauling kids and hockey and gear and fantastic on snow and ice, weighing  in at $19 721.73, is VEHICLE LOAN.

And in the near corner, with glorious red tresses that don't behave most days, sparkling blue eyes and a distinctive laugh, weighing in at.................too damn much  and ... NYOB :-) is jolie.

Now VEHICLE LOAN has been tag teaming with INTEREST to fight jolie at every opportunity. INTEREST has been biting away at jolie repeatedly, starting with almost $200 a month.  Point for VEHICLE LOAN.

Jolie counter attacked with  a second full jab each month, picking away at INTEREST's stamina bit by bit until it's $60 less  a  month now. That means more hits to VEHICLE LOAN's principal. Point for Jolie.

Feeling a resurgence of energy, spurred on by maxing out her CCP and EI contributions and a whack of snowflakes, jolie hits VEHICLE LOAN with a one, two! extra payments this month, pounding 2 extra months off the end of the loan.

VEHICLE LOAN is now due to be finished in Oct of 2013 instead of June of 2014 if there are no more extra rounds by jolie.

but extra rounds there will be!!

Jolie laughs wickedly, tosses her hair and cape over her shoulder, and climbs out of the ring to go to work.

Things to be thankful for

It's only fitting on our Canadian Thanksgiving to take a bit of time over my tea this morning to reflect on what I am greatful for. Far too often we get caught up in all the crazyness of life and forget to give thanks for the little things.

So for this Thanksgiving, in no  particular, order are mine:

• Our family is growing. Including the boyfriend/girlfriends of our post high school nieces and nephews, there are 27 of us now. We were fortunate to have all but four of them home.
• We had a delicious supper at my mom and dad's; turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, roasted turnips and carrots, home made buns and four different kinds of my mom's homemade pies.
• My niece travelled home from Calgary with my great nephew, just nicely out of hospital, so we could all share in his 7 week old adorablness. He goes for another round of tests Wednesday. She surprised my mom by coming home and mom cried to see her and her great grandson.
• It was absolutely gorgeous weather yesterday. The grandsons and 3 granddaughters all tossed around the football. We sat on the patio and enjoyed conversation and beverages.
• We curled up around the firepit outside last night. Laughter, good natured ribbing and some guitar and singing.
• The 'gift' was located yesterday morning in DS2's closet and is no longer a part of our household.
• I still have one more day left this weekend to relax and enjoy time with family (after a quick run to the school to get an evaluation done)

Have a great day together everyone.

Where the money stands

as of  October 10th

Debts
Mortgage - $35 946.24
Vehicle Loan - $19 721.73

Total Debts - 55 667.97


Savings
EF - $2000
XMAS 2010 -$1000
RRSP = $1500


Total Savings - $4500

Planned Savings
RRSP Portfolio - $1000
RESP - $5000
 
So my debt is down by less than a thousand. That will pick up as I make extra payments on my vehicle loan.
 
The RESP grew as the $3000 bequest from their late grandfather's estate came through so I threw that on to their account.
 
I acheived my RRSP goal for the year.
 
I am going to be taking the XMAS 2010 $ off the list as I will be starting to spend the $ soon.

the things we do for love

It's really hard to fight a love that strong and I'm not quite sure what to do, or if there is anything I do. You see, there is a girl who loves DS2 with all her heart. Her face lights up when she sees him. All she wants to do is sit near him and happiness radiates from her. I think he loves her too, but not nearly with the same intensity.

All summer she brought him gifts. I'd stop her at the front door and say 'Look I know you love him, but he is not going to accept this gift and it needs to stop.' The look on  her face.....the devastation. So she began to try to get him gifts secretly, showing me she was empty handed, and then I'd turn around and there she was, again, trying to give him something.

It stopped when school started. Maybe it was the weather. Maybe things just got busy. But last night, she tried again. I told my husband something was up. You could just hear it in her voice, but he wouldn't believe me. She ran to DS, so excited to share with him and then tripped. and lost her gift. oh the heart wrenching cries that came from her.

The gift is still there, in DS's room. We looked for an hour but couldn't find it. It's amazing what you can get done at 1 AM when the men are all searching for the gift and you can't go back to bed, because that would be rude.

We did not find it. We gave up after 90 minutes. DS slept on the couch and his door is firmly closed.

Here is the gift.

I don't seem to have a pic of her on my laptop. She's a calico long haired maine coon. And she loves her DS2 LOL

Things that make me smile today

• The absolutely gorgeous fall weather we've been having in SK the past 3 weeks. Mid 20s. ahhhh
• That I can go to bed with my window open and sleepw ith the fresh air wafting over me
• That I don't have to make the boys' lunches today
• My sick tomcat is back to his usual playful self
• I got up a bit early to get a head start on the laundry that breeds whilst I sleep.
• The sound of Canada Geese flying overhead as I wake up
• It's Friday!!

Finally cracked under the 20 grand mark

It's taken 16 months of regular payments and  a few extra ones, but I finally have my loan under $20, 000. finally. I still haven't quite payed a full 10 thousand yet, but that will come this week when I add on my extra payment. It will be nice to reach that point.

I feel like this loan is going to really start dropping. I not only have the extra $600 a month to pay down, but a bit more, now that I've hit my RRSP, EF and XMAS goals for the year. Well until Christmas I will have the 'bit more'. Then I will start on my 2011 goals.

I look forward to this debt falling faster than it has. Just between last month and this month, on my regular payment, I paid $10 less interest, which means the amount going to the principal each month is rising. wheeee.

Bad Blogger = This n That edition

I apologize. Things have been beyond busy and crazy and I just can't get into a routine that keeps my head above water.

School is insane. Our primary fundraiser is a magazine drive and I get  the happy job of tabulating sales online and handed in...how many of each kind of special magazine..the special prizes...the general prizes etc. Blarggghh. It's about 40 hours of work all together. *smiles sweetly and does her part* LOL

DS1 has been busy with hockey. He has practice after school each day. keeps us busy driving. If he gets his license in November that will help out a great deal. He is away ...wayyyy across the province playing hockey this weekend. In 12 years of hockey at about 50 games per year that brings us to 600 games..... his father and/or I have been there for all but 2 of them. Those games have taken us all across SK, across the western provinces and one trip to Europe. We let him just go with the team this weekend. Parents aren't needed for the trip and honestly you get to see your child rarely for it. We decided we would save $ by not going. It will also be good for him to have a bit of independence. Still, it's really hard not being there. Thank god the league has online stats being posted/updated about every 5 min during the game so we can see what all is happening. DS1 also started hunter's safety last week. 2 nights a week.

DS2 is adjusting to High School though I feel even more out of the loop on what is happening in his classes and homework. I guess deep down that is my problem not his. ahhh motherhood. He's busy with his Concert Band as well. 2 days a week at noon and one evening a week. Scouts takes up another night.

We had bad news with  my new great nephew. He got sick last week and my  niece ended up phoning the "new mom" hotline where no question is a stupid question. She described his symptoms and fever and they said to get him to the Children's Hospital in Calgary, near where she lives. He's been in Intensive Care since. While the fever has broken, the bad news came. He has ZERO white blood cells. nada. zip. The enzymes in his liver are completely off the chart. not good. They are doing a battery of tests, one of which is for a disease called  CMV which doesn't have a good prognosis for newborns.  We've been in touch from afar and my sister went down there to be with her.  My mom is so sad and it's hard for her to be hundreds of miles away and not able to help, even if she could help.

My good friend's father passed away. He took a tumble and suffered a blow to the head. My heart aches for her and her family. Her father and mine had a lot in common and yesterday when my dad was up on a ladder I wanted yell at him to get down!!

Mom and dad have been waiting for good weather as they were putting up siding on the house. My sister drops by yesterday to say 'hey did you know dad is trying to put up siding all by himself????" oh good lord. I call out to my husband and say "hey did YOU know dad is trying to put up siding by himself????" Nope. So off we went yesterday to help get the house wrapped and the edge/base pieces installed. The siding itself isn't too hard; it's just all the prework that is tedious and time consuming. We had supper at mom and dad's yesterday and that was probably a good distractor for them to not think about the baby.

DS2 and his father are back at it today and supper again at mom's. Cooking is her happy place so I"m not going to argue with her LOL DS1 is sad to miss out on family building time together. He loves it. That and the bbq ribs gram is making for supper :-)

ok back to work for me. Thanks for your patience.