July change

There wasn't a whole lot of spending in July where I got change, so there really wasn't a lot of change to roll.

I have one roll of toonies with a value of $50 to take to the bank today. I will put that money towards DS2's trip. Every little bit helps.

One pay cheque away

I have been putting off writing this entry, mostly hoping things would get better and it wouldn't be a stressor.  Close your eyes and wish for it to go away and it will, right???

Money is not going well for us these days.

In mid June, DH hurt his back at work. He was in and out of emergency, off work for quite a while and even now is only on half days.  His boss is saying there is no possible way it could have happened at work and has put some pretty negative feedback in his reports to Workman's Compensation.

DH brought home a net wage of $286 for the month of July. It's been 6 weeks since he was hurt and there is still no progress on his WCB case. We called Monday and his case worker was out and the girl we spoke to told us brand new information ....his case is in dispute as 'questionable'.

This has taken a big  hit to DH, both financially and emotionally. He is a hard worker and can always be counted on. His boss, whom we thought he had a good relationship with, is being a real jerk about this. Some of the things he has said to DH have been very hurtful. Liar. Old. Useless. Pansy

I really would like to push on this, but DH doesnt' want to rock the boat. We both realize that if he causes a stink they would find a way to 'let him go' at some point. DH doesn't really have a whole lot of skills and would have a very tough time finding employment I think.

He usually brings home just under $1100 net every two weeks. Not a whole lot. We divide up the bills 70/30. His bills from our joint life are the mortgage $600, Electricity and Natural Gas. He also has his vehicle payment, his truck insurance, fuel etc etc.

Needless to say, $288 would not go a long way.

He is stressed and depressed, angry and moody.

In the past he has resisted any conversations about budget and expenses and any attempts escalate quickly into fights.

He hit a huge emotional low on Monday after he found out his case was in dispute.  I paid the electric and gas bills for him. The gas bill is just for furnace and water heater and obviously the furnace hasn't been used in quite some time. Apparently they have been very low estimating usage and there is no record of DHs phone calls when we were asked to call in actual readings.  So July became a catch up month to the tune of $386. I called and they went over our usage etc, but the bill stands as accurate.  It was the straw, for DH. It will transfer money tomorrow to cover the mortgage on Aug 1. So that is $1000 gone out of my budget which would have gone towards college, DS's trip. RRSP savings etc etc.

 It's  a team thing and I am not going to let a payment go by without paying it, but I am worried as this may go on for quite some time. It has brought home how incredibly close we are to living paycheck to paycheck.

Week 4

Well it was an interesting month. From a Wow!! week 1 with tons of walking and 6 lbs lost to an illness that seems to have taken my energy and my mojo. "life is what happens when you are busy making plans'

I made my goal of walking 100 KM. I know that I didn't walk as much in week 2, 3 and 4 as I did in week 1. Would have been interesting to see where it could have been.

My weight...well I ended up gaining 1 lb this past week so that puts me at a loss of 6lbs over the month. Not shabby, but with one week at status quo and one week of a gain, I can't help but wonder w here it could have been.

I know that if I don't watch what I am doing, that six pounds would be gained back within 3 weeks. I gain fast. yo you dieting over the years will do that to a girl.

I liked the energy I felt when I was walking lots and drinking an ocean of water and eating tons of fruits and veggies. All that fresh produce wreaked havoc with my colitis though.

The past week I haven't move nearly as much, I have had no energy (but a lot of Netflix) and I felt like crap, physically and emotionally.

Pretty telling for sure.

RRSP Update

I received my quarterly statement for my RRSPs this week.

When last I wrote about this I had received my April statement saying that I was sitting at $8414 and had had an increase in the value of my portfolio.

As of this statement, I am now sitting at a value of $8622, which gives me an increase of $208 over the past three months. 

I am looking forward to seeing this value be at $10 000, which it should be if I put $1500 in before December 31st. 

All sounds great, however I have not yet started saving that $1500.  Once I get DS down to college and start to see how all the money issues work out, then I can get started on a solid plan.

I opened my plan in Feb of 2010 and it is a mix of bonds and equity. While $10 000 isn't much when I read of the RRSP/401K plans of others, I am glad I at least started. Better late than never, but to those young'uns out there.......earlier is much, much better.

Passport? check

Last summer on my to do list was taking care of DS2's passport for his trip to Greece in Spring of 2015. I was on it! I got pictures done and everything. And then it just never happened. No clue why. I am guessing my friends laziness and procrastination.

Enter this summer and my registering him for his trip and we get to the "Does this traveller have their  passport yet?"

ohhhhh right. I really should get on that. But I have until April of next year. No worries.

Then came his revelation that he would like to come down with me when we go to get DS1 settled in college. Yeah a passport would definitely come in handy for that.  We are driving down.

So  while he was home 2 weekends ago for a family wedding I sent him to get passport pictures done. His pics from last year were expired. Cost $15.

We filled in the documents and got him to sign everything while he was home, and then off again he went. We have a local office we can take it into but the wait list is 6-8 for the passport to come that way.

So off to the city I went where they get processed much faster.

You can get a 5 year or a 10 year passport. 5 Years would get DS2 through High School and his 4 years of schooling so I went with that. Cost $125

It should be here in 2 weeks, so plenty of time before we go. *knock on wood*

third week

 

Week 3, the momentum slipped a bit. Mostly I think from being sick. I did walk and I am 'thisclose' to meeting my monthly goal of walking 100KM.  With the weight, I didn't track as faithfully. I ended up losing 1 lb.

One week to go.

Where is my motivation from week 1?

On the mend

Well that was no fun. I started feeling off on Sunday. Dizzy. vertigo maybe?  I didn't move much because that made my head spin.

Monday wasn't much better and something else felt off, but I couldn't put my finger on it.  I woke up Monday night/Tuesday morning and was in massive pain on my lower back on the left side. Kidney country. I was sweating bullets and sick to my stomach repeatedly. I managed to sleep until just before 6 when another wave of it hit me. I've never felt anything like this before so off to the ER I went.

I would like to say that I faced this bravely, but the pain was so searing that I found myself tucked in a room in ER, sobbing. The DR on call arrived and turned out to be one of my parents from this past school year. He ordered blood work and had them put me on IV with a shot of morphine and something else that went in my arm.

About two hours later everything came back and it looks like I managed to get a wicked infection in my kidney.  They sent me home with a handful of prescriptions to get filled. DS had to come get me.

Tuesday night/Wed morning I had the same pain but not nearly as strong so I toughed it out and laid around again for most of yesterday.

I am starting to feel semi human again and managed to go for a little walk. I hated that being sick made me feel like I was wasting my summer days.

The total cost of the three meds they put me on was $56.43. After insurance (co pay) I paid out $18.75 for them. One of them wasn't covered by insurance.

Today I hope to get at some of my laundry and paperwork. Four days on the couch have put me behind.

a quieter week two

There was no change at all on the scale for week 2. We had a wedding on Saturday where I indulged and it looks like that undid any progress I may have made. Better try for week 3 I guess.

Walking was curtailed due to family events and being sick. Most of my walking came from Tues, Wed and Thurs to be honest.  I am glad I got it what I did, when I did.

Cheque please

DS1 and I made a quick trip into the city yesterday. He had some things he had to pick up and wondered if I wanted to go along for company.  I jumped at the chance for some quality 1 on 1 with my boy.

We always have great conversations when we drive together. For most of the drive we talked hockey....his old team...his new team...future possibilities. I have always said he should become a sports broadcaster. He can recall details of players, teams and games with amazing accuracy and analysis. I marvel that he can do that, but 'forgets' to pick up his towel off his bedroom floor.

He educated me on what his role will be with his new team and gave me insight on who the new cast of characters will be. I learned the most on our discussion of the NHL camps happening this week. Two of his former teammates are at camps right now, and several of his soon to be teammates are there now. It's going to be an exciting year playing with such talented young men and he is excited at his chances for growth.

Anyhoo, back to the cheque. While we were in the city we were running into a box store at the edge of town so DS could grab something. My eyes caught a piece of paper on the sidewalk outside the store. It was a folded in two cheque. DS reached down to grab it and it was made out for $600 and signed, but NO name on the TO line. I always worried that one of the boys would lose  a cheque when we sent them with one for something and I always filled in the 'to' line.

There was a name and some information on the cheque owner but no phone number. It was from a small community not far from the city. I sat on a bench outside the store while DS went in, waiting to see if someone would come running up with a panicked, frantic look in their eyes. No such luck. I googled the name in the white pages but  no phone number came up. So I called the bank number on the cheque, which was local and let them know what I had found and asked if they could contact their client to let them  know. She took down some cheque information and thanked me and suggested I tear up the cheque.

Still waiting for DS I tried googling the last name and the town, and found a listing with the same PO box number. We are talking small town of about 500 ppl.  I took a chance that the number was the father of the owner of my cheque and called. No one answered so I left a short message on their machine, and DS and I went on our way.


As DS and I drove home, I realized this might very well be our last road trip, just the two of us, like this, and  tears starting rolling down my cheeks. He looked at me and laughed and said " I wondered how long it would take for you to do that."  Brat LOL


When we got home last night I had two phone calls to my cell....one from the mother of the cheque owner and one a bit later from the son. Both were so thankful and appreciative that someone honest had found their cheque. It was a lovely feel good moment.

DS asked if the thought of just cashing that cheque for myself crossed my mind. I said no, for two reasons: one....it just would not sit right with my spirit, and two....the cheque would be traced back to me :-)

DS said that if it could have been totally anonymous in the cashing....no chance of tracing, there is a chance he would have cashed it.

So I throw it out to you. If you found a cheque for $600 on the ground and could cash it totally anonymously, do you think you would? :-)

a good start

(the following post is completely non financial related so feel free to skip if you like.  May I recommend THIS LINK on Tales from the Trenches. She is going on holiday to Europe and shows her amazingly well thought out packing plans. I bookmarked it for future reference. I hope she has a great time)


Ahh first weeks. Full of optimism, possibility and enthusiasm. They are like the beginning of a first day when everything is wonderful.  I have had more first weeks than I care to even consider over the years.

It was a good first week. I walked lots. I moved more around the house. I followed my WW points plus plan and diligently recorded it. I ate lots of fruit and veggies, although that created colitis concerns.

You know those tiny little, almost imperceptible  flutters you had the first time you were pregnant? Was that the baby moving? or indigestion? or my imagination???

I had those on Sunday as I was heading out on my walk. Just felt like my pants were the tiniest bit looser. imperceptible. or totally my imagination.

I made good inroads on my walking goal of 100KM for July. I walked a total of  36.97KM

Not too shabby for an old obese woman. And I sweated on those walks. and huffed and puffed, which is beyond sad, but it shows I worked hard for what my body is able to do.   I swear I had a screen shot from last night that showed my KM but it wasn't there this morning. Just this older one, shown below.  bummer.  I didnt' notice this until after I already walked this morning so that is a lost opportunity. For a type A like me, it bugs me. lol

Anyways the screen shot will give you an idea of what the program tells you. This one shows I did a slightly shorter walk, but walked it faster.

 

I definitely love this app.

 

 

So after the weigh in this morning I can say that I successfully removed 6 lbs from my body. probably mostly water, but I will take it, quite  happily. (For those about to OMG please remember that really large people can lose a lot in a first week)

 

 

I am proud of what I accomplished.  I have made a list of 20 items that I hope fit me over the next couple months. They are things I bought that I wore once and then gained, or that I bought that ALMOST fit, and ..... never did.  Among those are a winter coat I bought either during the 12/13 winter season or the 11/12 season. It was one of those 'not quite fitting but if I just lose 5 lbs..." failures. Not sure if I even like the coat anymore, but I am going to fit it! lol

 

Also on that list is my son's jersey from his hockey team last year. Yup that's right...I  couldnt' fit it, especially around the belly.  Continuing on that trend is his new jersey with name and number that he got at a ridiculous discount for mama when he was down at the college last month.

 

My problem is not successful week 1s. It's falling off by week 3 or 4 and then gaining it all back again. I am REALLY good at that.

 

Cost: well WW online is $22 a month so this week cost me $5.50

 

That's about it other than food.

 

Onwards to another week.

Where the money stands

as of July 7th

Debts
Mortgage - $23 937.76
LOC - $776

Total Debt - $24 713.76


Savings/Planned Spending
TFSA/EF - $5000
RESP - $18 100
RRSP - $8000 
DS2's trip -$1650
Plates 2014 - $1200
College Savings - $3050

The debts are slowing getting smaller, but that will all be different two months from now. While DS is applying for student loans, the projected number will be small because he is receiving some scholarship money. But the scholarship money is not a full ride (but we definitely appreciate it) so there are a load of debts coming. The future expenses are stressing me out. I know this is a choice we are making and we are going into this understanding that, but the costs are still stressful. I suspect a good part of the stress is the same any first parent experiences  who is sending their first child off. I am not sure how to 'show' the debt on here as it will be something that constantly fluctuates.  It is definitely going to be a whole new world of experiences for him and for his mother as well.

DS2 is all registered for his trip now with EF tours. I opted to pay in 3 chunks...registration, one due..today (shoot I better pay that) and the big chunk due 90 days before the trip. The first chunk was $99, the second is $700 and the rest is just over $3000.  It is about the same cost as his brother's trip to Italy. I am excited for him to be able to go. It was a life changing trip for his brother and I know it will before Ds2 too.

All  of these are  choices we are making, and not frugal ones, but it is our path.

Happy Blogoversary to me

Somehow my fifth anniversary got away from me last year, but I remembered this year.

It's my blogoversary!! Six years ago I started on this amazing journey of money awareness. It has brought me untold wealth of the non monetary kind.

I had spent 6 months getting ready for this, maybe even 8. Reading blog after blog, books, watching Til Debt Do Us Part before I took this leap.

The Money Tree blog was not created to become a big money making, internationally known venue. That is great for some but it wasn't the path I wanted. It was just for me to start to organize my thoughts, to plan, to become visually accountable.

My first comment on here made me silly giddy. I have to admit it was a bit of a rush. I was so honoured that someone with an established blog, deigned to notice mine.

My journey has been a process of learning experiences and awarenesses. 

I undoubtedly made choices that others would not, but that is where the personalization comes from.
 
My visits to others blogs have opened me up to so many different lifestyles and viewpoints on money. Thank you for writing.

Those who visit my site and comment have given me gifts of their time and insights and supports, or things to ponder. Thank you for reading.

One of my favourite posts from that first month of blogging is This One.  It wasn't my very first, but it was an important step in my journey. It was where I really started to look at things: bills, money, distribution......and start to become aware of how much I had, and where I needed/wanted that money to go.

Starting is the biggest step for most of us. It moves us from wishing or hoping or dreaming, to actuality...to the learning. It's a scary step because we are going to learn things about ourselves and our lives, that we may not be ready to learn.

My first year blogoversary post really showed the evolution of my thoughts. Feel free to read it Here, if you like. If you are beginning your money awareness journey, the collection of my thoughts may help you frame your own path. Or not :-)

While I am not American, I see July 4th as my own Independence Day. It reminds me of the day I started to believe I have a lot of control over my money destiny.

I hope you all have a wonderful day. Thank you for being a part of my journey.

Tiny packages of richness

That's how I think of today. There was nothing fancy about it. Nothing spectacular happened.

But I have this overwhelming feeling of being at peace.... of appreciating the minutiae of the day.

I did a great long walk this morning. Over 5K. I walked part of it with an old friend who had a few minutes for a 'walking coffee break' as she likes to call it. We used to teach together but are in different buildings now. She is heading to Uganda in 2 weeks on a Gorilla expedition. She is excited about shooting them.....with her camera :-) Such a brave and adventurous lady.

I decided today I was going to dye my hair. I can't justify the salon expense this round. I explored online and found a few colours that might work. The few times I dyed my hair myself it went very very dark when I was shooting for reddish brown. I wished I had kept the top of the box so I would know the colour. I know I blogged about it on here  but darned if I could find the entry.  I walked, yes walked, down to our little local drugstore. My top choice was not there, but my second one was.

It even ended up being free. One of my students had given me a lotto 6/49 ticket in my year end thank you card and I won! $10. The dye was $8.88 plus tax. Thank you student!!

It turned out pretty well. Not as reddish was I was hoping but not as dark as I feared. I may have to try that other choice next time. $8.88 is much better than the $80+ it would cost me at the salon, though I know they would have done a fantastic job.

I spent the afternoon outside on my little patio. It is now  1 year and a few days old. It was such richness to be able to be out there, the wind blowing gently and just....be at peace...read...rest. I didn't want to come in (and I am not a stay outside for hours and hours kind of girl)

On the reading list was a WW magazine, a Good  Housekeeping magazine and Phillipa Gregory's The White Princess.

Here is a shot of my little oasis. Not fancy, but mine.

We bbq'd for supper. Pork chops and corn on the cob and ate outside. DS1 was home although DS2 was not. It was nice to just be together.

After supper I went for another walk. It was warmer than I thought. 25C. too hot for me but hey, a little sweating helps the body burn fat right?

I came home to curl up again outside, where I am, still. I don't seem to want to come in even though it's getting chilly out with this wind and some rain's coming. It is as though I am trying to freeze time by staying out here.

Such simplicity, but such incredible wealth.

CC problems? again?

It seems like we just nicely sorted out DS1's MasterCard issues from April. It took hours on the phone, mostly on hold, multiple calls, visits to the bank and documents to sign, and after 8 weeks, it was finally sorted out.

His new BMO MasterCard arrived the night before he left for the US. His BMO US$ MasterCard never did, despite a fee for having it rushed.

He is home now and brought his online statement to me Tuesday, showing me that there was a credit from the online company the thief brought from. We had already been credited for those purchases so this set off alarm bells. The last time this happened the credit showed first on  his account and then a purchase. I was worried this would be the case again.

We called the BMO line immediately and only had a 7 min wait to talk to a rep. That was a nice change. She said that the fraud department had put an alert on this transaction the day it went through and that we would need to talk to them to find out the details. Of course it was July 1 and they were not open that day. She gave us the direct number to call the next morning.

So yesterday we called. It was a 62 min wait on hold. Still better than the almost 5 hours I did in early May, but still unacceptable IMHO.

The fraud department checked this and that and concluded that bmo did a second recredit on this transaction for some mysterious reason. I asked him to double check that bmo did it and not the company. He did, and assured me the card had not been compromised. 

What a relief.

As for the US $ MasterCard...after 8 weeks it never did arrive. He went to the branch and the staff there were astounded. They called for him and we are assured it will arrive this week. We shall see.

While on the topic of CCs, I made him phone Delta airlines yesterday. When he was flying to come home, his first flight was delayed and delayed and then cancelled. Electrical troubles they said. When he checked his luggage he had to pay a $60USD fee for oversized bagged (all the equipment he got from the team). When it was cancelled, the passengers all retrieved their luggage. The airline assured said he would have to pay the fee again when he flew out the next day, and the first fee would be cancelled.

It never was. So he called  yesterday and explained to them and it sounds like we will get the first fee credited back. I will be watching to see.

DS  said to me 'They said they would credit I back. I just trusted they would"

Powerful life lesson, mama said. No one has your back except you and you have to be on top of things yourself and speak up.

We shall see if this lesson works.

Ahhh growing up in the world of invisible money :-)

He had a wonderful time there. Loves the team, the community, everything. He laughed when they said he has an accent.

Update: The BMO  US mastercard arrived today in the mail. 62 days after we requested it.
But it's here :-)

It all began with a shower curtain

Those of you who are long time readers of my blog will know I live in a ridiculously tiny house. This decision was (lack of) income based at the time. I honestly feel like the tiny spaces contributed to this becoming a home where I am not terribly comfortable having people gather.  Self created paranoia? probably a good part of it.

After visiting the girlfriend's parents' house last weekend, I am even more aware of how tiny mine is. Theirs is by no means a McMansion. Probably 1300-1500 square feet. But it's well laid out for a house built in the mid 80s.

I can't wave a magic wand and make mine bigger. I could buy lotto tickets til I am blue in the face and I am not going to win :-)

I haven't done any renovations/redecorating since DS was in Grade 7. We did major updating then on things that had been around since the 1950s.  That cost a boatload of  cash and that was some of the first debt I paid off when I started this blog.

So after a day of feeling down and my I am in charge of my life awakening yesterday, I decided to do some little bits.

Off to Walmart I went, which is the least expensive shopping option here in town. I have to say there wasn't a whole lot of colour variety  available. The browns are still in. I chuckled to see that my current 7 year old one and all it's accessories is still there and a good seller. Most of my house has that nutmeg brown that is just a shade or two darker than neutral. It was a big switch from a house of only white walls everywhere.  I found one I liked that added a couple pops of colour in, but let me keep all my accessories and towels etc. There are blues and greens in with this, in case you can't tell from my too dark photo.

I could have chosen new accessories but doing the math, I was nauseated at how quickly it added up.  So one shower curtain and it's cute little rings was all I got for the bathroom.

Exiting that section of the store, I came across the little mats that go in front of doors. I have needed one for inside my front door since before Christmas when the last one died. I spotted one that has so many of my favourite colours in it, and after a good long look, it went into the cart too.

The total for the two items came to about $45 with taxes. I have been tucking a small amount money away each cheque for 'things for the house' and I dipped into that fund to make it happen. I started with $400 and that brings me down to $355

I saw a few others things I would like to get to freshen up things but I need to have a long think before I just start spending money willy nilly. It took me too long to save up that money.

Bringing it home, I was really quite amazed at how those things lifted my spirits. All those TV shows of women who shop for that quick rush every day came flashing into my head and I laughed aloud when hanging up the curtain. DH was confused and I tried to explain it to him, but I don't think he got it.

While I am not likely to become a shop a holic, I can see the draw for pretty things. I have to be satisfied with this for now and plan. It did prompt me to do a ton of cleaning and tidying yesterday though. Lots left to do in a neglected house but it will happen.

I went for another walk last night and we BBQ'd the steak I bought the other day and did a few ribs. DS1 graced us with his presence.  We ended the night with a little fire in the firepit and drove to watch the Canada Day fireworks.

All in all it was a good day, and a MUCH better one than the day before.

A focus for July

This summer, even more than others, I am realizing how much of a different phase of life I am in right now.

DS2 left yesterday for his camp. He will be home in 2 weeks for a wedding, and then gone again until August long weekend.

DS1 is still with his gf's family and I 'think' is coming home today. Not sure

DH hurt his back in June and hasn't moved much from his chair in weeks.

So it's me...to spend my time as I wish and make use of it or waste it. It's a lot of just me time to fill. The majority of my friends are my work friends and while we are close during the school year, we use the summer to take a break and be with our families.

The potential for alone-ness is huge. Not searching for  a poor me pity party and I am trying not to give one for myself.

So with a lot of alone time to fill, and a desire to not spend it all watching tv/Netflix or reading, a plan must be created.

It must be something I can do alone. It must have the potential to fill a lot of time. It must not cost anything, or very little. It must rejuvenate my soul and make me feel like I have done something of value this summer.

The answer is quite obvious - move more and lose weight.

I always start July exhausted and feeling bloaty and blimpy from a poorly managed June.  I am incredibly overweight. I feel like crap.

 I am not starting this month quite as high as I have in many Julys of the past but it's still in the clinically obese realm.

Voila! A focus.

I have my WW membership that is alternatively a blessing or a money waste. I will turn it into a blessing. A $22/month blessing.

I have my Nike Walk/run app on my phone. I think it cost me $4.99 a couple years ago. While I don't run, it still gives me times and a tally and is a motivator.

So the  first goal is 10 lbs for July.

Even more important, is to MOVE.

Walking helps me connect to the community, to nature. It makes me feel alive and purposeful. Moving makes my old and overweight body feel good.

My colitis is manageable. As long as I am aware of when I ate I can time when it is relatively safe for me to walk without getting into an emergency situation.

Goal number 2 is to walk a total of 90 KM in July. That breaks it down to about 3 km a day, and when I walk, I generally walk twice a day.

It is do-able. and motivating

And so, this morning I threw my hair up into an unflattering bun, tossed on my shoes and headed out.

I will report  my progress on Tuesdays, as that is my Weigh In day as well. I am hoping blogging about it will keep me focused and accountable.

Here is my first screen shot of my walking 'total'.

Wish me luck?