January change

January was  good month for change in the good ole jar !!

As I had mentioned in December, there wasn't quite enough of anything to roll a full roll of anything. yes I know I could taken the jar and tossed it in the change counter at the bank, but if you know me, you know I love the physicality of rolling the change.

I knew January would be bigger because I was going back to pure jars and cash, with no CC or debit use for purchases. Anytime I get change, it goes into the jar and boy it sure adds up.

I had a lovely roll of toonies, a roll of loonies, 2 rolls of quarters, and a roll of dimes.

That's right, a big total of $100 in change. I won't get that big of one again this year I suspect :-)

I took this money and happily applied it to my Line of Credit. I am aching to get this balance down into the $4000s and then beyond and with this $100, I did it :-)

Thanks change!! I really appreciate the snowflake you made!

PS - I also had 2 rolls of pennies, but having that $1 all on it's own bugged the heck out of my anal retentive personality. I just couldn't put $101 in there. I know, I know, I have issues. My pennies will wait until they bring me to a $5 amount or can join with a couple rolls of nickels to balance out. With our government no longer making the penny and phasing it out, I wonder how long it will be that I will be collecting them and taking them in?

RRSP Update

Today I got an update in the mail on my RRSP. I was anticipating seeing it over $5500 with the addition of the $1500 in December. Imagine my surprise when my balance was just under $4400.

I scanned the information. Yup it went from January 1 to Dec 31 of 2012. But nowhere did it show the new addition. I called the bank, but the investment professional-- who handles my account while my regular one is on mat leave-- was already gone for the day. I called the 1 888 number and the nice woman on the other end of the line was able to help me.

"it looks as though they printed off your yearly statement a wee bit early and didn't include the addition at the end of December'

whew...it  was processed but just didn't make it on the statement.  I am glad I called or it would have bugged me as I wondered.

Based on the last statement before the December addition, it looks like it has gone up.

End of November $4241.72
End of December $4386.97

my 1 year personalized rate of return was 7.32%
My rate since it's inception is 5.44%

I look forward to the next one with the new $ added.  How exciting it must be for you folks who have loads of money in yours. I am so glad that even though it was late when I started....it wasn't too late to start.

Sunday Night Chit Chat

Thanks to Carla at 1/2 Dozen Daily, for sponsoring this.

Here are my two pics. The first is the shirt I hope DS picks. Looks sweet with the vest. I wonder if he will appreciate what a vest can add to a suit?

The second is the snow as I shovel mom and dad's driveway for the second time today. The ridge at the edge of the drive is about 2 . 5 feet high. Much better than mine, which is nearing 5 feet . No place left to put the snow.

What am I reading?

I am still working on The Eleventh Plague, for school. Oh lookie!! Blogger will let me put up pics again!

What am I watching?

I went back to the library on Thursday and picked up Disk 2 of Bones - Season 1 and watched it this weekend while I blogged and did some marking. One of my favourite episodes ever of this show is the Christmas episdoe of Season 1. It just resonates in so many ways for me. I am loving this luxury of borrowing the whole season for the library. Feeling rich and spoiled without putting out cash :-)

What am I listening to?

I am listening to DS's game on the radio tonight. He's been away all weekend on a road trip and I am so appreciative of the radio play by play coverage they provide. He does a great job and I feel as close to being there as I can, without being there.  I shoveled twice today at home and at mom and dad's. The second time I shoveled listening to my little transistor radio. Made the time pass faster though I got a couple looks from passer bys as I commented outloud to the broadcast.

What am I baking/cooking?
Today was hamburger soup. It will give us a good supper for one night, lunches for a few days and then some to freeze.



What am I happy I accomplished?
I am happy I hit the city with mom to get started on grad shopping. The special events of the rest of this year are going to go by superfast and I need to get moving on things.

I also went to a clothing store where I have a couple of reward certificates. I got a new pair of jammies and a shirt for work at zero cost to me :-) wheeee


What am I looking forward to next week?

Gosh it's just  a really busy week with the boys writing finals and me with school. I just hope it passes quickly and with the least stress possible. I hope I use my time well to help in the de-stressification. I am also looking forward to running to the bank Monday or Tuesday and making a payment on my line of credit that will bring it down under $5000

The graduation process begins

Yesterday mom and I headed to the city to look for a shirt for DS's graduation. Selection in small town/ no stores is limited so we hoped the city would give us a few more options.  The shopping for the grad is a tradition of sorts with my mom. While the granddaughters have all picked out their dress on their own, the grandsons have all shopped with gram for their shirt and suit. She has pretty good taste and knows far more about suits than I do.

 Usually the grad goes with gram but with DS's hockey schedule that isn't possible. So while he was on his roadtrip, we shopped and sent pics to him. He was slow in replying (team stuff) so I defaulted to his prom date and sent them to her. We narrowed it down to three and when DS replied, he was in sync with us :-)

We brought two home for him to try for arm length and size etc and personally, I hope he likes the blue one.   It's crazy how much a nice dress shirt and tie can cost. Fortunately they have to dress in suit and tie for hockey so  he will wear it again a lot.  Next stop - suit shopping.

I watched a few girls trying on prom/grad dresses while we waited and it is definitely more complicated with girls. Most already have theirs and have started their settings with the photographers. We are waiting til spring and doing most of ours outside. We will also do some at the rink before the ice goes out.

Photographers are SO expensive. I look at the grad pictures these days ( or wedding or engagement or pregnancy) and am constantly surprised at how much fancier they are these days. We just stood and smiled ( or attempted to) and that was that. Now it's location shots and glamour shots and sooo much more. And the cost of packages? holy dinah!!! I waffled back and forth on which photograher today and honestly, my decision was based on what I can afford. My niece is going to take  them for us. She has a lovely new camera and has been doing some engagement and baby shots. And let's face it....boy shots aren't nearly as exciting as girl ones for grad. There is no gown to twirl or hair to pouf up.

 It should be a very interesting experience for me. Hopefully I will learn something for round 2 with the next son.

Brrrrr

Well the week has started off with a bang. It's -33C out and with the wind it's something like -46C.  DH and I had our vehicle plugged in all last night otherwise they wouldn't start today. I switched my plug in to DS2's car when I left so hopefully there is enough time for his to warm up before he goes. We only can plug in two or we blow the breakers. Ahhh gotta love old, limited wiring. It needs to be upgraded but of course there are $$ attached to it. I wonder how  much a night of plugging in costs? I am afraid of the answer. We tried a timer once and it kept blowing the breakers as well :-)

With this weather some kids may not come to school. We aren't a big bussing school like some of our sister schools are. Those schools, on days like today, operate at 50 to 70 % attendance. We will have fewer gone. It also means inside recesses all day.  I had a parent once say "so what's the big deal? I keep my kids in on cold days?" I laughed and said "do they get squirrelly?" "oh yes" she said, "a bit"..... "multiply that by 300", I smiled. OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH was her reply.    lol of course you have to keep them in. It's just not safe for them outside in this weather, though there will be some who beg to go out.

For some mysterious, magical reason, I seem to have a pulled groin muscle (says google). It started on Saturday morning and progressively got worse. I can't lift my leg up into my vehicle (or the couch, or the bed, or stairs) without hoisting it by the pant leg and aching in pain. Should prove to be an interesting week at work.   If it gets worse I'd like to take a day or two off to rest it, but I am having trouble finding substitute (supply) teachers who are willing to come into my room. I have had to cancel 2 appointments in the past 2 weeks as I could not find a replacement. fun fun fun :-)

I feel very out of the loop as I didn't really catch up on housework and laundry over the weekend. machines are in the basement and getting down there and back up was tough. Perhaps tonight will be a better night for it after staff meeting and getting DS2 home from curling, fed and off to work.


I greatly enjoyed my borrowed disk 1 of season 1 of Bones, from the library on the weekend. I wanted to go right back and get the next one, but that is silly. other things have to get done around the  house and work too.

I hope you are all keeping warm today if cold weather has come your way. I will happily send this weather on if anyone wants to share :-)

Happy Monday all

Ahh sweet weekend

Sorry for the awol. I have been well (colitis wise), just very very tired. Work has been emotionally exhausting and I have been getting to bed early to try to catch up on rest.

On the way home from work I stopped at the library and I reminded myself why I love the library.

I stopped to look for   a book containing some slam poetry I have been searching for, for work. No such luck. But while I was there, I stocked up for the weekend and it felt so much like  spoiling myself.

I'd load pictures but, well, blogger has been more than a little persnickety.

I picked up a Michael Buble CD to give myself something to listen to while I clean. I picked up a couple books that hopefully I can curl up with and read. I grabbed Season 1 (disk 1) of BONES. I have been wanting so badly to buy it lately and I know, deep down, I don't need stacks of TV series on my shelf to be watched once, or maybe twice. I am hoping that borrowing it from the library will get it out of my system :-)   I also borrowed 2 Weight Watchers magazines and a copy of House and  Home. I have no money to decorate but it's nice to look at house p*rn now and again and imagine :-)

I got the same rush bringing those home, that I do buying something similar. Interesting.

DS2 had to work last night and we were off to DS1's game.

Free entertainment from the library and free admission to the hockey game and no stopping at the booth for snacks = spend free evening full off all kinds of fun.

Sunday Night Chit Chat

inspired by Carla, at 1/2 Dozen Daily

 

 

What am I reading?
 

 

The Eleventh Plague, by Jeff Hirsch. I started this book a couple different time last year but got distracted with other things. It's one for school. For those who like dystopic novels, this is one for you.

 

What am I watching?

 

In a bit....The Good Wife, finally. I have been missing it.  Women's network picked up the second season in syndication so I can also enjoy a double epsisode on Tuesday evenings or Sundy mornings. I usually go with the Sunday mornings while I enjoy my coffee and bake.

What am I listening to?

My washer and dryer running. Is that sad???

What am I baking/cooking?

Supper was at mom's tonight so we enoyed baked ham and scalloped potatoes. Delish, and some for leftovers for lunch. Today's baking was banana muffins so there is something for lunches or quick grabs for the boys.

What am I happy I accomplished?
I am working on taking things more.............calmly......as they happen and reducing my stress. I think I did a good job of that this week.

What am I looking forward to next week?

Well it's a full week of school and a whack of evening activities. As well, DH will be working OT all week so I will be doing it on my own. I need to be organized so things don't throw me off. I am looking forward to my weigh in this week to see how I am doing.

 

 

 

 



Where the money stands

as of January 5th

Debts
Mortgage - $28 957.05
LOC - $5841.49

Total Debt - $34 798.54

Savings/Planned Spending
TFSA/EF - $2045
RESP - $12 300
RRSP - $5700
Celebrations Goal - $655



Thoughts: I have started whacking away at the Line of Credit. Even if I made each of the minigoals for it of $500 each (as listed on my goals page), I still would be making the final payment in December of 2013. It is feeling a bit like a planters wart on the bottom of my foot and hanging in forever. I had warts on my feet when I was in Grade 2. I recall having to go in for a day procedure and having them burned out. Not fun.

I am happy I have one of my goals started. Celebrations is a big part of of 2013 so it was important this goal gets met first.

I am hoping that next month's update will bring me in under $34 000.

Back to work and first snowflakes

Well the holidays are over and it's time to head back to the regular scheduled programming. As I write this it's still dark outside and I know it will be as I head to school. One of the best parts of spring coming (slowly) is that it will slowly get lighter, earlier. It surely can get a bit depresssing when you arrive at work in the dark and leave in the dusky/dark.

To start the new year off in the right way regarding debt reduction, I am heading to the bank at noon, to make a lump sum payment on my line of credit.  If I don't, there is a good chance it will just disappear.

I am using the $36 I won on my Christmas gift scratch and win tickets, and $60 that is leftover from my jar $ last week. I will joyfully add this $96 to the beginning of my snowflake jar on the side panel. I am now under $6000 owing and heading down to my next mini goal of $5500 owing.

May this be a sign of many positive moves to come.

Starting the new year out with a smash

literally...

...as in snow drift in the middle of the road and a car without much clearance and bright sunlight masking it.

...as in both AC condenser and radiator both damaged.

....as in Thank goodness for a nephew who was around yesterday who could go with DS to the site to wait for the tow truck.

...as in $180 for a used radiator probably....that's the quote we have today from one place. jury out on AC portion.

...as in hey welcome 2013 Murphy. you look a lot like 2012 murphy

...accidents on the road everywhere as they were heading home

....towtruck driver also hit drift on the road though his clearance was higher

....towtruck driver went into the ditch trying to hook up to the car. nephew towed him out. Free tow in nephew's future as thanks.

I can't control a lot of what happens, I can only control how I handle it. I can't control a lot of what happens...I can only control how I handle it (If I keep saying it, it will work, right? :-)

2013 Plotting, Planning and Pondering

A fresh start to a fresh year....full of promises and potential.

My goals are not terribly different than other years. I am still in the 'getting things organized' phase of this budget and planning life of mine.   Since the goals are not radical, I thought I would try to do my first infographic. I have no experience in this and it's very  basic, but it's the first of many new things I thought I'd try this year.

Please check out my page on Goals 2013 for more details.

Wishing you all the best for today and for 2013. Thank you to those who continue to come here and read, and for those who comment. Your presence keeps me motivated and strong and connected.