Reflections on 2016

The year of 'meh'

I seem so many posts on 2016 about people saying that 2016 was awful in so many ways. Politics. Economics. Deaths.

I don't dispute those at all.

For me 2016 was a year of  'meh', which is a great word to describe that indolent shoulder shrug. Sure there have been lots of bright moments, but I didn't feel like I accomplished much. Worse yet, I didn't have the physical or brain energy to do much. Or to care.

I mean when a girl who loves notepads and lists sits down with a brand new shiny notepad and can't summon up enough brain cells to make a list - any list - we know that things are truly off.

My health has been shitty. Literally and figuratively. 2016 was the year of colitis 'accidents'. Humbling and degrading all in one.

My energy simply didn't exist. I got things done. mostly. but bare minimum seemed to be the standard of 2016. Exhaustion and I were BFFs

There were good things. I made it through my first year at a new school. A new baby in the family. My dad's 80th. A wonderful visit to DS at the end of September.

I met all my planned spending goals. There weren't too many Murphy moments. I didn't meet my goal to pay down my LOC to under $10 000.

I didn't read much. Correction - I didn't read anything new. Didn't have the brain cells to commit to anything new.  I reread a lot of things. Rewatched things on Netflix. Zoned out on computer games.

I honestly feel like an old lady sitting in her chair, passing time with trivialities. Not living. Just waiting to die.

I want to LIVE. I don't know what that looks like in my health limitations, but I want to live. I want spark. energy. zest for experiences.

What works?

Well mini goals work for me.

Something different but not too different to activate my mind.

What didn't work for me... doesn't take a genius to see that nothing I am doing is improving my health. When I did little spurts of WW or walking. It worked. I felt better.

I know...jaw dropping revelations.

I am not sure what new things or different things I need to do, but it's either that or roll over and wait for it all to be done.

Not exactly going to win cheerleader of the year with this post. Not looking for pity. Just ............ saying 'outloud' all the things I have been feeling lately.

And there has been a spark the past few days. The post Christmas, new budget, new goals, tabula rasa kind of spark.

I'll take that :-)

2016 - A quick glance

As you can see on the top right of my blog, my debt is currently sitting at $28 255.12

Part of that is mortgage and the rest is the college LOC.

The LOC has gone up and down this year. I keep whittling away at it each month, but a couple times a year I have to add more to make tuition payments or cost of living payments.   DS1 still isn't eligible for Canada Student Loans so for now, this will  have to do. His scholarship covers some, but all the other pieces, certainly do add up. It definitely doesn't help that this is in US dollars and our Canadian dollar is taking a kicking when we need to convert.

DS2 isn't eligible either. He has received a few scholarships in smaller amounts, and the money he made last summer goes a lot farther when it stays in Canadian funds.

The final number below is indicative of only the  mortgage. Adding in the current college LOC (and not counting January Semester 2 payments),  if I added it all together it would put me back at somewhere between 2012 and 2013.



December 2009 - $70 771.99
December 2010 - $52 410.25 (down $18 361.74)
December 2011 - $40 055.29 (down $12 354.96)
December 2012 - $35 921.04 (down $4 134.25)
December 2013 - $25 925.49 (down $9 995.55)
December 2014 - $22 494.06 (down $3431.43)
December 2015 - $18 837.12 (down $3656.94)
December 2016 - $15 009.96 (down $3827.16)

DS2 has 6 months left of his program but whether there are any jobs in his field has yet to be determined. There was a massive freeze last year and that is still in place. A lot of the Sask jobs were taken by Alberta folk out of work and 'coming home'.

DS1 has 18 months left of a four  year degree.

I feel like I made some progress but I definitely could have done more.

A Year of Snowflakes

I feel like 2016 was a meh year in a lot of ways. Nothing horribly bad happened. I didn't suddenly hate money or budgets or savings.  I think between the meds I was on, and my health, I just didn't have enough brain energy to apply to money.  Seriously hoping 2017 shakes that off.

Snowflakes this year came from my change jars, leftovers from the weekly budget, but mostly, the income tax return.

None of this was "I earned extra money somehow" money.


In the past, this is how the snowflakes built up:

In 2015 the snowflakes were $8064
In 2014 the snowflakes were $3112
In 2013 the snowflakes were $3671
In 2012 the snowflakes were $3136
In 2011 the snowflakes were $4350
In 2010 the snowflakes were $5070
In 2009 the snowflakes were $4295

For 2016 the snowflakes came to $5872 with 60% of that coming from tax returns.

My change jar for 2016

One thing about blogging year after year is that while the entries may be boring, I can peek back in the archive for details from past years.

I honestly thought that like the rest of 2016, my change I rolled was 'meh'.  I was a little surprised when I counted up this year and checked previous years.

So here is the data I have:
2012 -$549.50
2013 - $980
2014 - $512
2015 - $642
2016 ------

So I had a few months of not enough change of any category to roll. The rest of the months had a bit of a predictability to them.

January - $0
February  - $100
March - $25
April - $0
May - $100
June - $100
July - $50
August - $100
September - $100
October - $100
November - $100
December - $50

For a grand total of $825

If I recall correctly I used the first $500 as  a non stress way of saving for Back to School costs for me. The rest went as payments on the College LOC.

I would have to say that of those two options, I got more of a rush out of the saving for Back to School. Took one thing off the budget line.

Oh Christmas tree

As I sit here sipping coffee (which may contain Baileys) beside my lit up tree, I don't have the heart to tell it that tomorrow is it's last day. The needles are dropping everywhere and as adorable as it is, it's time to go.

We have had a real Christmas tree for 98% of the holidays DH and I have been together. At first it was a habit, and then it was a fundraiser through hockey. The old, buy from us now and when your kid is at Pee Wee we will buy from you too.

I always felt guilty going to bed early when he's just sitting there, twinkling ever so prettily. Time is short with him so often I fall asleep on the couch, just for a little while, with just the glow of the tree.

He is the promise of family and togetherness and excitement. And days off from work. and not knowing what day it is.

Mr. Tree is the promise of too much food and sleeping in. Of just forgetting for awhile and staying in your jammies all day if you want. Of the heartbeat of my boys.

Of endless movies on in the background and losing myself in a book, and hockey hockey hockey

Once he comes down, it's like a giant neon sign blinking "reality sets in". Cleaning. sorting. budgeting. planning. school. yeah school. and marking. and planning there. and heavy thoughts about money. and health.

But back to the tree.....at least for one more day.  And the heartbeat of my boys.

I have DS2 for a few more days.

DS1 flies back to the US tomorrow. One more day with him and then he's gone until June.

My time with them is no longer quantity. but oh how I appreciate the quality.

And the twinkling lights of my little tree.

Boxing Day doings

Well DS2 is feeling a bit better. He was able to get up and shower and get some food to stay down, so that is progress. He even opened his presents. That may mean the tree comes down tomorrow. Or perhaps on the 28th to distract me from DS1 flying back to the US.

Today DS1 is still at GF's. I do believe he took part in a curling bonspiel. One of his cousins drove out there to partake as well.

As for me, today was a productive day. It started with Pirates of the Caribbean and worked its way through a few of the sequels. Then it was World Jr Hockey. 

That was in the background.

In the foreground I was a cleaning machine. I think that seems to be a Boxing Day tradition for me. Some sort of deeply ingrained...new things in the house, clean out some old things.  Whatever the psychological reason, it felt productive.

I got through four big drawers in the kitchen, the dreaded 'under the sink' and the pot cupboard.

I also did my dresser and got rid of clothes that were too small or worn out.

DS2's room smelled like the plague so everything in there had to be washed. Four loads of bed linens and then his laundry he brought home from College.

I even worked in a wee nap and a 45 min visit with sister 3 as she came into town to bring her MIL back from Christmas at their house up north.

I enjoyed my tree. I read a bit and I had a glass of icy cold wine (left the bottle in the non heated garage. I am lucky it didn't freeze and burst).

I hope this feeling of getting things done continues on tomorrow. I think I need to go through the big box of tree decorations and sort, tidy and purge.

I hope your day was greater, no matter how you spent it.

Christmas Day - Plan B

So Christmas Day didn't quite work out as we had planned.

By 10 AM DS1 and GF were up, but there was no signs of life from DS2. When I went to peek on him he was a sick little boy. I think he picked up the flu. He spent the day sleeping or in the bathroom being sick. Not his happiest Christmas Day.

DS and GF opened up their stockings and gifts. We got them a nice tent so that they have their own when they head off camping in the summers instead of borrowing one of ours.

We then headed over to my mom and dad's for brunch, after checking in with DS2.

That full brunch of bacon and eggs, sausage and pancakes tastes the best twice a year: once at Christmas brunch with my parents, and once at the lake in the summer when we cook everything outside.

My mom finally stopped buying gifts. There are just too many of us and it's silly to spend that kind of cash for a day. To compromise, she got everyone a copy of our family pic we took at the lake for dad's 80th birthday. Best present ever.

The kids headed off out of town to GF's place to spend the rest of Christmas and Boxing Day with her family.

We were supposed to head out to Sister2's place for her Christmas supper but with DS sick I didn't want to go that far out of town.

Instead DH headed over to his sister's and spent Christmas afternoon with them and had supper there. I stayed home to nurse DS2 and curled up to read by my tree, with a coffee and baileys.

Plan B was very peaceful and I was ok with that.

I even ( don't tell anyone) watched the Unauthorized Biography of Beverly Hills 90210 on TV. Had never seen it before and there was NOTHING on :-)

Right now it still looks a bit like Christmas morning with my tree lit up, my Christmas jammies on, snow lightly falling and DS's presents and stockings under the tree.

Christmas morning

Christmas mornings are very different when you don't have little ones. It's more of a 'when will they wake up' scenario.

The cat and I are curled up by the Christmas tree with  Diner's Drive Ins and Dives on, while I sip coffee.

The stockings are ready for the three of them to get up. WAY more fun filling GF's stocking than the boys lol

We talked a lot about the northern Christmas's we used to do before the family got too big.

Here is a link to when I wrote about them a few years ago.

Northern Money Tree Christmas Celebrations of Days Gone by

Classic Christmas Eve

I must be getting wiser because I appreciate Christmas on such a different level than I used to.

Perhaps it isn't Christmas itself, but the gathering of family and the moments that ensue.

DS2 finally made it home on the night of the 23rd, and DS1 and GF made it back to town earlier today so for a few hours I had all three heartbeats in the house.

The boys were busy wrapping the few things they bought. DS1 always tries to make it a challenge to open them.

DH had gone out ice fishing and by 4 PM we all headed over to my sister's for Christmas eve supper. There were 25 of us including 6 little ones. 

Food is always in shortage there............is our running joke. We are blessed to have an abundance of food on the table. We had a lovely supper with turkey and ham, potatoes and gravy, deer sausage, cabbage rolls and all the other little fixings.  My mom brought her home made buns and there was pie and cheesecake for dessert. Not that anyone had room right away.

It was fun to watch the little ones run and play. My nephew's three little girls were excited to see GF. They adore her and think she is a princess.

Games are a big part of our celebrations. We started with one where everyone puts a paperplate on the top of their head and one of the daughter in laws gave drawing instructions of a Christmas scene.  Then we played one I have seen on facebook videos. Person 1 has oven mitts on and a Santa hat. He or she has to try to open a tightly wrapped gift while the person beside them rolls dice.  If the roller gets doubles then they get the oven mitts and hat and get to tackle the gift.

DS1 went first and he looked like a reindeer pawing at the present in his oven mitts. He desperately wanted to use his teeth but that's against the rules.  When DS1 went he twitched as he is the camper and his reflex is to get out his pocket knife.   They had fun.

They also played Heads Up and some other new game but I didn't catch the name on that one.

GF had had to leave about 6 pm to go work a casual shift at a group home. She got back about 11 PM and we got home shortly before midnight.

Lots of laughter. Lots of food. Lots of people. Not much space :-)

my abc book list for 2017

So this year I thought I would try something a little different with my books. I have seen a few friends with a variety of ways to challenge or expand their reading.  Some went by author or category or subject.  I decided to try an ABC list by title to see if I can read one by each letter of the alphabet. If nothing else I will have read 26 books, which is more than I have in years past.

I have made a new tab at the top to keep track.

Really hoping this inspires me.

Relaxing start

Well DS2 isn't coming home until tomorrow now. Said he is not feeling well. He gets migraines.

It was a lovely morning just curled up here. My cat was deeply concerned when I didn't get up at 6 like usual and she was certain my alarm broke so she kindly woke me up. We dozed together for another hour and then I just got up. So much for sleeping in on my first day lol

It was so nice to plug in the lights of the Christmas tree and just curl up with my coffee and watch the news and then some HGTV...all with kitty safely curled up on my lap, purring.

It was a treat to have time (and mental energy) to read through some of your blogs and see what is happening in your worlds. I feel very out of touch. My own fault.

I spent a bit of time going through my budget lines and  making sure that all the planned charges to my CCs were paid off from their planned spending categories.

Our usual payday is the 25th of each month. Our district traditionally pays us on the last day of school for the month of December. So the 21st this year.  I made sure yest morning to quickly transfer that into my savings to be 'held' until the actual 25th. It would be far too tempting to think 'oooo I have lots of money' and spend recklessly while the kids are home over the break.  Much better to wait and then handle it like  the regular paycheck it is and allocate the money to the proper categories.

And now I am off to lunch with three friends. Though most of us work in the same building, it's pretty big and we never get time to just relax and talk. This is our Christmas tradition. Always a lot of laughter.

Last Day of School - First Day of Holidays

And..............let the holidays begin.

I was down 11 children today, for the last day of school. Three were gone out of the country and the rest............. no idea.  I have a very diverse group of students with some able to go away for the holidays and some that will be lucky to be able to pay their heat bill this month.

We were out at 2:30 (an hour early) and my first stop was the public library where I checked out FOUR books. Ahhhh the thought of time to read...........for pleasure. very exciting.

I got home to find a message from DS1 that he and the GF were on their way home from her house, so it felt like holidays were truly about to begin.

It was great to make supper together and share conversation....all those things that just seem to hard to ask by text or I forget to when we skype.  They both fell asleep on the couch after supper. The cat happily climbed up on top of DS and curled up for a nap too.

 They'd had a big day with her 3 year old niece. DS is still figuring out how much work it is to have little ones around and she was so glad to see her uncle that she stuck to him like glue. He had to take her tobogganing.  Then they took her to the rink and he was teaching her to skate. GF sent me a video of DS and the little one zooming about the ice. I am not sure who was laughing more or saying WHEEEEEEEE louder :-) 

We watched a bit of the Canada game for World Jr hockey. One of DS's teammates is playing on USA so we will have to catch one of those games too.

Then DS went off to play a pick up game of hockey so GF and I did some no bake baking. I hadn't made saltine cracker bark before so we attempted that. Turned out not too bad.  She wanted to make some oreo cheesecake balls so we made some of those too. Neither of us have good melted chocolate coating skills so they look more..............rustic than refined. They taste delicious!  We also learned that white chocolate is not the easiest to melt and managed to get it to seize up beyond repair.

Lots of laughter.

DS just nicely got home and is raiding the fridge.

DS2 will be home tomorrow

First round of Christmas grocery shopping

When the boys both went off to college last fall, I did not change my weekly jar allowance for grocery. Instead I tucked $20 automatically into a Christmas grocery jar. Any spare $5 or $10 went in too.

It was nice to have that money when I headed off today with DH to buy all the non perishable Christmas groceries and a few final presents.

First I made DH help me clean the fridge and tidy. You can't come home with bags of groceries and put them in a messy fridge or cluttered pantry. He grumbled but helped out.

It didn't take long to fill the cart with items from the list.  It felt good to have the pantry and cupboards full and ready to go.  It had gotten more than a little lean.

We just don't grocery shop the way we used to when the boys lived here full time.

Where the money stands

as of December 3

Debt
Mortgage - $15 009.96
College LOC - $13 245.16

Total Debt - $28 255.12



Savings/Planned Spending
TFSA/EF - $8200
RESP - $ all gone
RRSP - $13 473
Summer 2016 - all gone
Back to School - all gone
XMAS 2016 - in progress
Plates 2017 - $300

November change

 Happily it was a productive month for change.

Total of $100 which was placed on the Line of Credit.

• 1 roll of toonies - $50
• 1 roll of loonies - $25
• 2 rolls of quarters - $20
• 1 roll of dimes - $5

RRSP update

Among the pile of mail that came last week while I was distracted with Parent Teacher Interviews, was my RRSP update.

The last time I updated, my balance was sitting at $11 563.99.

I was excited to have it back over 10 grand, though I do realize that 10 won't take me very far when I finally get around to cashing it that in.

After my July update, I added $1500 to my account. That would bring it to $13 036.  My statement shows that I am sitting at $13 473.14. This is a gain of $400 over the past quarter on my Canadian bonds and dividends.

I haven't changed the proportion of my investments since I started. I really am not 'in the know' on this sort of thing. I am not a risk taker and I don't have a ton to play with. Or a ton of time.

Now onwards to saving towards next year's wee goal.

Checking in

Thank you to those of you who messaged or comments asking how I was. It's good to be remembered.


I have been in a state of meh.

Healthwise things aren't good and aren't bad. I have to carefully monitor when I eat in relation to how far I have to drive and will I be able to get to the bathroom. Accidents still happen. 

 I give everything I have in my power supply to work and come home and literally sleep til morning.  I knew that was what was happening but didnt' really REALIZE it, if that makes sense.  There's been a lot of soul searching on "can I do this for 8 more years of work" or "Do I want to?"    I am missing out of life but then again one does need an income and benefits. The students aren't suffering. I really do give it all there.

I finally met with the neurologist to go over the MRI results from the summer and find out what the small 'anomaly' is.   Know what it is? nothing. zip. nada. The person who read it (to get my cleared for my infusion drug) did not know how to properly read them. The neuro had been on 2 weeks holidays then. He said I am fine. No lesions or growths or clots.  I asked him if the tests that had been done would show if I had MS. He said absolutely and I am clear. He even went on to say that this new drug I am on for colitis is very powerful and is also a sister to a new drug coming out for MS so in his words I am 'doubly protected'.

Very good news.  A wasted trip to the city. But very good news. 


I have a meeting in a couple weeks with our professional board to go over options.  What does long term leave look like? Do I qualify? How does it affect pension? What kind of documents do I need? etc.

It would just be so much easier if I felt better.

My father isnt' great. His heart is having troubles and he had to have a urinary track surgery delayed as his heart wasn't strong enough.

Sister 3 isnt' great. Her struggles with mental illness are incredibly difficult and her husband has been off work the past few weeks as we are concerned about her being left alone.  Tough conversations there.

Sister 1 with MS is experiencing her "I am not at the lake" blues. The lake is so liberating for her. She can get on her scooter and go visit all kinds of people.  She is much more limited at home. A lot more energy expended to get to garage to vehicle to go somewhere. I am not sure how much longer she will be driving.

You know.....things like that :-)

Thank you all for caring.

Where the money stands

as of Nov 12th

Debt
Mortgage - $15 334.38
College LOC - $13 395.54

Total Debt - $28 729.92



Savings/Planned Spending
TFSA/EF - $8200
RESP - $ all gone
RRSP - $13 473
Summer 2016 - all gone
Back to School - all gone
XMAS 2016 - $1500
Plates 2017 - $300

Indulgence

(post title inspired from Sharon at Midlife Mom Musings)

I set aside money each month tagged 'household'. It's not much. $50. Quite frankly it often goes to something else. It's one of my least successful categories.

I actually spent money from it this month ( ok last month).  I ordered a new comforter set off amazon.  I have looked at this set for over a year and finally just hit 'order'. 

It arrived yesterday. The blue isn't as blue as the picture shows. Almost has a greenish tinge to it. I am ok with that, mostly.  And we burned the box it came in as we had a fire in the firepit this afternoon.

I haven't had a new comforter for our room since July of 1999. It was a dark blue with all those celestial symbols that were so popular at the time. I don't think it cost much. It certainly has had it's money's worth.

I figured that after 16 years I could let myself have something, instead of just for the kids.

this is the pic from amazon. My room isn't nearly as nice.

DH said "It looks like a hotel in here." I am going to take that as a compliment.

Where the money stands

as of October 7th

Debt
Mortgage - $15 656.23
College LOC - $13 395.54

Total Debt - $29 051.79



Savings/Planned Spending
TFSA/EF - $8100
RESP - $ all gone
RRSP - $12 400
Summer 2016 - all gone
Back to School - all gone
XMAS 2016 - $1500
Plates - $300 (used the bulk for DS1's plates. Saving now for next year for 2 vehicles. Should be the last time I have to do 2)
Flights - $700


It's good to be back down under $30 000 again. I hope I don't have to add to the LOC, but I suspect it will happen.

Finally used some air miles

I don't think I have ever successfully found seats on a flight for somewhere I wanted to go and been able to use my Air Miles.  

Between DS, myself and DS's GF's mom, we wanted to send her down to the US to spend her 'reading week' in November, with him.

As I said before, flights are ridiculously expensive from Canada to the US right now. It would have cost me/us $1100 to send her, with 1 stop  to a city about 2 hours from DS. He would then drive in to get her. If I wanted to send her there all the way, $1800.

On a whim, I checked seats for airmiles. I can't use them to get her all the way there...no flights to that little city, but if they were going to drive to get her from the bigger airport anyways....

No return flights.

So I explored one way tickets there, and one way tickets home. Score. She has to go through Toronto on the way down, but she would have anyways for the $1100 ticket. Oddly, there is an airmiles seat straight home.

I sure hope I did everything right to book them. Did it online. Tried getting phone call assistance for airmiles but they will only help if the flight is in less than 5 days. I tried the 'online chat' but was 2nd in their queue for 40 minutes. So book myself I did.

Two 1 way tickets for 3500 air miles and $160 cash. Score.

Again, fingers crossed I did this right. It felt good to actually be able to use them.

Home from the US

It was amazing. It really was. Probably the best of the trips I have done to see DS.

First - the drive. 17 hours there. 17 hours home. DH and I actually got along. Miracle. I don't think we have spent that much one on one time together in years. We were going to take my SUV but the night before when DH was checking the air, the valve literally blew out of the tire. So we had to take the truck.

The colitis - I was terrified I would have an accident on the drive. I mean, I have a block from my house, so that long a drive....... eek. I threw myself back on a high dose of steroids 2 weeks before we left to try to calm down the flare. I cut myself off food at noon the day before we left. For the drive there, and for the return, I had nothing to eat or drink. zero. nada. not a sip of water. not a mint. not gum. Any one of those things can trigger urgency.  Surprisingly, I wasn't dying of starvation. I didn't get the 'I'm hungry' dizziness or headaches.  I survived.  DH was amazingly supportive, which was a first as well.  It was greatly appreciative.

Funny, as we were driving, hour 12 ish, we went by a farmyard super close to the highway. I KNOW I smelled fresh brewed coffee wafting from the yard. It smelled SO good. We laughed as my senses must have been heightened.

The city - oh the weather was glorious. About 24 C. Amazing for end of October. We walked along a few of the scenic trails. We played in the huge waves coming in off the lake. Enjoyed all the sights. Hit a couple local breweries for a taste. Not really beer drinkers but it is very popular there. I learned I am not really an ale person.

The people - I found the parents group friendlier this year. Or maybe I am three years in and more comfortable. It was much more relaxed and chatty. There was a bonfire the first night we got intot he city but we were wiped from driving so far. We just met with our BFF parents and our boys and did supper together. Amazing pasta.

The parents did a brunch together, met for drinks before the first game, and again before the second at an outdoor patio down by the water. I still didn't get to meet all of them. Some are harder to approach - or maybe it' s my shyness. I have trouble around people who .........how shall I put this........are wealthier, have had more success, have all the fancy clothes. I feel .....lesser. They are probably wonderful people but it just feels different. Probably all in my head.

I also got to meet an internet friend..... a big longtime fan of the team whom I follow on twitter. We've chatted a bit on there. There was a jersey auction and she bid on DS's and won. She was so excited to get to meet DS and get a picture with him. She's met a lot of the players over the years and blogged that it was her #1 interaction with one of the boys from the team. The mama in me was 'awwww'. In their picture they are both laughing as he is 6 foot 4 and she is 5 foot 4 and he had to squat so they both could be in the picture.

The hockey. They won both their games. DS got to play in both games (which is less common - there are NHL draft picks here and DS is not on the top 2 lines). I even got to see DS score a goal and get an assist. I realized how much I miss when I don't get to see his games.

I need to tally up the costs for gas to see how much it came to. Certainly less than the cost of 2 flights at the current prices.

It was a phenomenal trip. We drove in thick rain from the border up and it snowed the night after we got home. I am so glad we didn't have to drive in that.

September change

Ok I am definitely not going to be successful at meeting my < $10 000 on the College LOC by the end of 2016.

But I will keep swinging.

Change this month was what seems to be a standard:

• 1 roll of toonies - $50
• 1 roll of loonies - $25
• 2 rolls of quarters - $20
• 1 roll of dimes - $5

For a total of $100. It went straight to a little lump sum on the LOC.

Definitely not flying

It's getting close to family weekend down for DS's hockey team. This will be our third trip down.

The past two years we have flown. Last year, I bought our tickets on August 16th for $547 each. Family weekend was at the end of October.

This year, it's at the end of September and what a dif the price is. I have been tracking prices since May and they are astonishing. They started out at just under $1000 each, which I was significantly more than last year. I thought they would drop. Nope. They maxed out at $1800 each for the same flight (about 6 weeks ago)  at the same time of day with the same airline. Over 3 x the price per ticket compared to last year.

The one month earlier is part of it. But should it be THAT much different?

We are even leaving on a Thurs and returning on a Monday. No Fri, Sat or Sun flights.

As of this morning, the best flight time is not listed anymore. The less optimal time is $1100 per ticket with 2 stops and crazy lay overs.

So drive we shall. 17 hours. x 2

I am very concerned about colitis needs across the long stretches without a small town (bathroom). It pretty much means I can't eat or drink during the journey.

We will add one extra  hotel night on the way down but will be powering home the last day. I will be exhausted going back to work the next day.

It will be interesting to see what gas costs for the journey. Certainly less than the $2000+ the tickets would be.  But we did have to take an extra day off work.

Health

I am sitting here with a great big smile on my face.   I just got back from a 4K walk. 4K

I haven't been able to do a 4K since last summer.   You really don't appreciate good long walks until.....you can't anymore.

Colitis has been bad.  My walks are restricted to a 5 or 6 block square around my house. Even then, I have come home in tears because colitis....didn''t want to wait for me to get home.

I also had something else develop this spring/summer. I have muscle strength loss and control on my left side. Stumbling when walking....like tripping over nothing. I have to be very conscious of making sure my left foot lifts properly.   Added to that, whatever muscle/tendon goes from the outside anklebone across the top of the foot, is unhappy. It goes tight and achy and by lunch at work it starts to hurt to walk. By 3:30 I am limping. Volleyball practice is rough. I get home and I can't even walk.

I ended up having an emergency MRI in late August and all I know is that there is an 'anomaly'.  I am waiting for an appointment with the neuro to find out the details.  My gut tells me MS but who knows.

If things don't improve, this will be my last year teaching and I will end up on disability I suspect. That should be an interesting paperwork journey.

Despite this doom and gloom  post, I go back to the first line. I got to walk 4K. It felt amazing to be outside in the fresh air and a few leaves starting on the ground, and walk.

Whatever else health  brings this weekend....I got to experience  a 'walker's high'

Have a wonderful Saturday, everyone.

Where the money stands

as of September 6

Debt
Mortgage - $15 979.23
College LOC - $14 400.16

Total Debt - $30 379.39



Savings/Planned Spending
TFSA/EF - $8100
RESP - $ all gone
RRSP - $12 400
Summer 2016 - all gone
Back to School - $150 left - I will buy some clothes for work
XMAS 2016 - $1200
Plates - $1300
Flights - $600

Money continues to be set aside each month for college. It changes frequently as the fees for textbooks and supplies come in. I will have to convert some of it to US$ toute suite as well, and that takes a  huge chunk out of what I have saved.

August Change

It was  healthy change month for me. I think I just tossed every coin I received when shopping, into the jar.

• 1 roll toonies - $50
• 1 roll loonies - $25
• 2 rolls of quarters - $20
• 1 roll of dimes - $5

Total for the month is $100. I am just getting a $100 bill for this. I could put it against my LOC, but I am waiting for DS1's tuition balance to see if I have enough in my US$ account. If I don't I will just be pulling from the LOC right away.

Summer to do check list

Well today I am officially back to work. We have three days of meetings and then it's game on with a new group of kids. Where on earth did the summer go?? I say that every year and every year it goes faster and faster.


My to do list wasn't thrills and chills so much as appointments and meetings and paperwork. Here is what got accomplished.

DS1

• found him a job
• filled in 1 piece of tax paperwork we were missing from spring
• dentist visit 1
• dentist visit 2
• dentist visit 3
• dentist visit 4
• ordered a replacement birth certificate for DS (original was found 4 weeks later)
• passport pictures
• trip to the city to get passport renewed
• ordered new I-20 documents for DS to get back into the States
• oil change
• driver's license renewed
• copy of insurance package policy for him to take
• updated banking at brick and mortar #2

DS2

• found him a job (though not in the category required by his program)
• we were contacted by his school 9 weeks after he started his job to say they found him one in the city. He had to decline. He already committed for the summer to job 1 and had a place to stay. There would have been no place for him to stay in the city for a 6 week job
• got his oil changed
• did 2 dr visits with him
• ordered paperwork for proof of enrollment and transcripts so he could apply for scholarships (and for insurance and RESP withdrawl)
• withdrew balance of RESP money for DS's tuition
• hardly saw him :(

Moi

• Oil change
• new windshield
• eye dr visit
• dentist visit 1
• dentist visit 2
• infusion visit followed by
• ER visit (followed by)
• MRI (followed by)
• meeting with a neurologist (which got postponed because he is on holidays for 3 weeks.)
• infusion
• RRSP meeting
• RESP meeting
• TFSA meeting
• 15 letters and 12 phone calls regarding insurance for dentist visits
• took kitty to vet to learn she needed follow up visit to remove 2 teeth or she would die from infection
• back to school pedicure
• back to school lunch with friends
• back to school staff party with my old staff

quick visit with DS2

At this moment I am a privileged mama. Both my boys are under my roof.

DS2 texted this AM to say he think he has strep and was driving the 2.5 hours from my sister's to go to see the dr. He brought with him 3 weeks of laundry.  He was working for 10 days then did his scout camp, orientating (is that a word?) the new recruits, then he was off up north for his annual 5 day Canoe Trip on the Churchill River system. "It was ONLY 125 KM mom" . lol

I sat in ER with him waiting for 2 hours and got to catch up with him. Pure one on one time, if you don't count all the strangers in there too.

They did swabs of his throat and those will get sent off for testing. He gets some time in his own home, for all that he says he did not feeling that missing home longing. He gets fresh laundry and a home cooked meal of his choice.

DS1 is off to the city for his 3 on 3 hockey tournament in a couple hours.

My laundry line is full of clothing drying and the washer is still going.

And I am  happy.


PS - does anyone know how much a 45 min load in the dryer would cost in $??? I am curious how much I save by drying things on the line.

Big dental summer

I certainly feel like I spent a  lot of time at the dentist this summer. Between myself and DS1 we were there six times. And the kitty went twice (to a different dentist lol )

DS needed 2 wisdom teeth pulled out, a couple fillings and some serious scaling and cleaning. He hadn't been to the dentist is years. Bad mother for sure.  All the staff there found him so funny and so charming. Said he made their summer. I am assuming it wasn't just financially lol

I went for my check up and cleaning and had to go back for 2 fillings. I also have trouble with a tooth that was filled then root canalled and now needs a crown. I am waiting on word from our health plans to see how much is covered.

DS is 21 so he had been phased out of our health plans. We had to provide documentation to both health plans. I had to pay each visit outright. The dentist office then sent off the claim directly to DH's (has to go through his first) and then I sent the balance off to mine. We are just starting to get those second cheques from my provider.

It did prompt me to sign up for online claims and direct deposit refunds so that was a good thing.

Between DS, myself and the kitty, I plopped down $2461 on my VISA. Can't wait for those last couple copays to come back and get that card back to zero where it belongs.

where the money stands

as of August 8th

Debt
Mortgage - $16 299.61
College LOC - $15 151.16

Total Debt - $31 450.77



Savings/Planned Spending
TFSA/EF - $8100
RESP - $5 600
RRSP - $12 400
Summer 2016 - being spent
Back to School - being spent
RRSP 2016 -  added to RRSP
XMAS 2016 - $700
Plates - $1500
Flights - $800

A few changes. I added $1000 to the TFSA and $1500 to the RRSP.  I am spending some of the Summer and Back to School money.  I have never really commented on the Flights category on here, or included it. I add $100 a month (most months) to this savings category. It is for flying DS home at Christmas. If there is leftover, I keep it in case I need to arrange a quick flight home for him in case of emergency. It's nice not to stress about how I will pay to get him home.

A flashback to the old days.

Sometimes I mourn for the way things used to be. Then I remember that it wasn't really 'me' who experienced the good old days, but my older sisters. By the time I came around, we had moved from the farm into town and we didn't get to the simple farm community experiences.

A couple hours from here is  a small, former 'regional park'. It was closed a good 10 years ago and is now privately owned. It was at these  little parks in the middle of nowhere, that countless weekends of summer fun used to take place.

The people who now own the land spent a good couple months hacking away at overgrown campsites and cleaning the place up for what they hope will become an annual event.  It was a mini, small town SK sports and music festival. Campers descended upon this 'good old days' park, brining with them 12 slowpitch teams and a 24 beach volleyball teams for a weekend of sports fun. The ball diamonds did not look like they had been dormant for a decade. Vehicles jammed in to watch the games, or to listen to the half dozen little bands that had been booked to come in. There was even a food truck there with some amazing food. Good, simple fun without flashy toys or fancy cabins.


DS went with his girlfriend and her brother, and joined in their slow pitch team. I had never been to this little spot on the prairies before and it took a good while to find it. Back road upon back road. Blink and you'll miss it.  For a kid who never played ball growing up, He did well. Hit a few home runs andmade some visually interesting catches. DH and I drove down and visited with DS's 'mother in law' while we watched the games.

We didn't stick around for the bands or the beer garden. I fear I have aged out of that.  I wish I had had experiences like that when I was their age.

Long Weekend Camping

Everyone was there. All my siblings, their spouses, their kids and their spouses/significant others, and all the great grandkids.  And dogs. 12 dogs. Everything from a little shitzu Pomeranian blend to Norwegian Elkhounds. Sister 3's german sheppard adopted me and wanted to play stick for hours. Despite that many dogs, it wasn't that noticeable... and I notice things like that.

Jake, jumping off the dock to get the stick I threw.

It takes a lot of schedule coordination to get everyone there, even for part of the weekend. Takes a lot to schedule food for that many people. My niece does a great job of creating the menu and dividing up the protein, veggies and fruit, breakfast items etc.

Mom and dad took up their fifth wheel. It will probably be their last time. He was exhausted just getting there. All the grandkids helped set up their camp. Sister 1 (with MS) spends the summer at a lake near us with her trailer so she just rented one of the cabins on the lakefront for the weekend. Sister 2 stayed with mom and dad. Sister 3 had her fifth wheel.  Four of the nieces and nephews had trailers. We took a little cabin above my sister, and two of my  nieces and their families crammed into another one.

We got there, quickly unpacked and DS1 and gf went off in the boat to fish with some of their cousins. The water was perfect. All the little ones use Aunty and Uncle for my kids and their cousins. It's just easier. DS was excited that his favourite nephew brought in his very first fish, all on his own. He is 6.  Here he is jumping off the dock.

Supper was a huge fish fry. We had fresh filets done in cast iron pans over the fire. My brother in law also brought up his Coleman 'deep fryer' and we had delicious nuggets of deep fried fish. There was also a big pot of chili for those who don't love fish. There was a massive tray of leftover perogies from those who were there Thursday night.  A variety of salads rounded things out. So delicious.

The owners of the private campground came and we gathered together for a family pic for my dad's 80th. It isn't until the end of August, but people will be away then so this was our opportunity.  All but one of the little ones was looking at the camera. A near miracle.

It was a great night around the campfire as we all just got caught up on what was happening in each other's lives. A few too many spruce beetles came in like drones towards the fire. They are so ugly and sly, and they bite.  We spent a good 45 minutes playing spot the spruce beetle, in the dark, before they landed on one of us.

The ones at the lake looked like this. 3 to 4 inches including their antennae.

Saturday morning was big breakfast day. Eggs, bacon, pancakes, hashbrowns, delicious fruit and toast. It sure helps that there are about 4 of those big Coleman griddles in the family, to cook it all. Everyone helps out with the little ones, getting them to eat and occupying them while their parents eat. We had all kinds of little ones...from 3 months old, 11 months old, to 18 month twins, up to the 6 year old.

After everything was cleared up the boats loaded up with everyone who was going out and off they went to fish, or tube or wakeboard. They got back about 2 and we had lunch, finishing just in time, before it started to rain. And it rained. Steady. For 12 hours. It wasn't 'on the water' weather.  We gathered in the cabins and one of the fifth wheels, pulled out the cards, and had a massive Kaiser tournament. They played from 3 til about 10 PM. Supper was crockpot lasagna and Caesar salad.

Sunday morning the rain was still coming down lightly and we couldn't get a fire to stay going for anything.  We did bacon and eggers or ham and eggers out of my sister's cabin and people took things back to their own place to eat. By 11 AM the skies had cleared and they had another lovely day out of the lake and campfire that night.

It was a great memory building weekend.

July change

It wasn't a big change month here.  One lonely little roll of toonies for a total of $50.

It will go to finish paying off the charge for kitty's surgery.

I leave you with a picture from my sister's little cabin rental where we are camping this weekend.  You can see her scooter on the right. We think this may be her last year she is able to camp. Very bittersweet.

Week 4 of holidays

This week felt busy and not laid back like the first week did.

I did my walks as often as I could. I cut my grass and my parents'.

I went out to my sister's Sunday for a family work bee. She has so much going on and is so far behind. DH spent two hours on the riding mower cutting her grass.  DS1 spent a couple hours in her labyrinth, which was terribly overgrown. Whipper snip to the rescue.  DS2 worked on her hedge which leads from her yard down to the highway.  I went in and did a week's worth of dishes and laundry from when she had all  her grandkids there. Mom and dad helped sister out in her pea patch picking 11 10 gallon pails full.

Then we went out and helped work the pea sheller, which I had never seen in action before. It seemed to take forever, but nowhere near the time it would take to hand shell that many peas.

We finished at mom and dad's with a lovely BBQ.

Despite all my walking and water drinking and 90% of the time excellent food choices, I did not lose. I maintained. I was bummed. I know it is 'that easy (finger snap) for me to fall off the wagon and go back to eating like I used to and the weight would climb back on. I was hoping for a loss again this week before heading into a long weekend of camping where food choices are much more delicious with many many more calories and fat.  I am fearful it would throw me totally off and my good habits of the summer will just be memories. It's happened so many times before.

RRSP Update

When last I wrote in May, my RRSPs had made some gain from the previous quarter.... a welcome sign. We left off with it sitting at $11 438.00

My statement this time shows $11 563.99.

A small gain, but at least it was a gain.

Third week of holidays

I saw a lot of DS1 during this week. He was home last Thursday to pack up and head off to his four day music festival. They left right after the Eric Church concert and got home in the wee hours of Monday morning. I had the crockpot going will pulled pork and had a pasta salad ready. They were ravenous when they woke up.  We got all the laundry done, tents and coolers cleaned out and his vehicle washed and ready to go.

I saw him again last Tuesday night as he had dentist appt #2 early Wednesday morning. They got home and had caught the Pokémon Go bug. It was funny watching them go out on the bikes hunting together. Wed morning was his dentist appt. Two wisdom teeth out and a filling. While he was in the chair his gf and I went out so she could catch a few poke. When we got back DS was choked we had gone without him. He was so funny with his mouth half frozen, full of gauze, cracking jokes left and right. The ladies in the dentist office had tears in their eyes. What a kid.  I sent him back to his gf's house with homemade beef barley soup and his prescribed Tylenol 3s. She sent me a pic later of him asleep on their couch with her two year old niece sitting on him 'reading' a book to her sleeping Uncle.

I have been doing a few more walks. I long for longer ones but when I get home and hit the bathroom right away, I know I made the right call doing a  shorter ones.  DS got re-added to DH's insurance so hopefully a cheque for his first dentist visit comes soon. We mailed those forms last Fri. His one yesterday was sent straight from the dentist to insurance so we may well get that cheque before the first one.

I was bad and went to the school on Tuesday. There was no one in my wing, not even cleaning staff. I was checking to see if my floors were waxed. They were so I set my timer and spent two hours moving my furniture back into my room and arranging it how I think I want it to be for the first month. I left a list for myself for the next time I go in, so that I use my time efficiently.


I read some this week. Went online and hunted for ideas for new units I want to do.

I watched what I ate and I drank a ton of water. And I lost weight.

Week 2 of holidays - appointments and paperwork oh my

In a sharp contrast to week 1 of holidays, week 2 was much busier, with more appointments and a ton of money put out.

Last Friday I finally upgraded my old IPhone4. It had been failing for over a year. The little round home button only worked sometimes. Texts were getting lost. The battery was draining at ridiculous rates.I had upgraded my IOS as much as it would let me but most of my apps needed a higher IOS to work (banking, fitbit, WW, news etc) It served me well though. Not one crack or scratch on it.

They finally reduced the 'cost' of a 2 year plan to $0 for a 5S so off I went. They tried to talk me into a 6S but that was $268 and I was not willing to pay that. I ended up paying just under $100 in total. $25 for the activation fee and the rest for a vehicle charger and an otter box. I used $50 from my VISA reward points to pay off half of the fees, and the other $50 I had saved up so the device didn't cost me anything. We shall see how much it changes my bill. My old plan was grandfathered in as long as I had the old device. They transferred all my contacts and pictures for me so that was a bonus.

DS1 came home from camping Sunday with tooth  news. He had a massive toothache which turned out to be  infected wisdom teeth on the top and bottom of his left jaw. It had been a long time since I had  him at the dentist. Bad me. Our actual dentist wasn't at the clinic anymore. He had retired. I know getting through on the phone is tough so I went in person at 8 AM Monday morning and got DS an apt for Tuesday to get things checked out...and booked myself in for a long overdue checkup and cleaning as well. DS needs three additional appointments to take care of the mess in his mouth. Good times.

Better still was the fact that he was no longer covered under DH's health care plan. Once you are 21 you age out unless you send in documentation that the kid is in college. I did it for my plan but DH did not for his. So I sent DH off to his HR rep on Tuesday to get DS added back in. The HR was new and didn't know............. much. I had to go in to explain what needed to be done and gave him the paperwork he needed to send off for proof.  Even though DS was covered under my plan, he has to go through DH's first, as DH's birthday comes first in the calendar year. My plan will refuse to cover until DS is re-added to DH's plan.

So I paid $176 outright and we have to wait til the plan is fixed and then we can start the paperwork. First to DH's plan and when that cheque comes back with whatever % of coverage, then I submit the rest to my plan. It is time consuming.

On Tuesday, DS and I headed to the dentist and then off to the city to get his passport renewed. I prefer going in person in case there are any problems on the form. We can fix them immediately. They do dozens a day there so they are well versed in what is needed. That cost $160 plus $22 for passport pics. I paid half and DS paid half.  Assuming he doesn't lose it or have it stolen, his next renewal is when he is 31 so I think he can handle that on his own then :-)

Wednesday was a double dentist day. Our cat is very sick and needed two teeth extracted. For those who aren't pet parents or who don't like cats, this will not be an expense that makes sense to you. For us, she has been part of our family for 10 years this fall and while I didn't like paying the cost, I did. We go on frugal for gas and groceries and any and all extra money went to this cost. Just under $700.  The next morning she was already her old self, happy and purring and rolling on our laps.  My dentist appointment and cleaning was $159. Not great news - 2 cavities, so back I go on the 26th to get those taken care of. I paid up front for it and the dentist office sent it straight off to my insurance, which will cover all of it. Hopefully that cheque arrives soon.

Last Sunday I had all the children home. It was great. I cooked DS's favourite meal and baked muffins and cookies for them both to take back with them for work. DS1's 'mother in law' won't take any $ for keeping him there, so I send things like laundry soap, TP, cookies and muffins and meals ready to go in the crock pot.

There was little reading this week. Lots more 'running around' and taking care of forms. I spent little time on my patio but we did have a fire one night and I got to relax there, watching it.  I walked though colitis was not very cooperative.  I watched what I ate. I lost weight. It was a very different week than week 1, but it was a good week.

Where the money stands

as of July 9th

Debt
Mortgage - $16 619.10
College LOC - $15 151.16

Total Debt - $31 770.26



Savings/Planned Spending
TFSA/EF - $7100
RESP - $5 500
RRSP - $10 946
Summer 2016 - $1000
Back to School - $500
RRSP 2016 - $1500
XMAS 2016 - $160
Plates - $1500

Not a whole lot of change. Some money went down on the LOC. I added another $500 to the Plates category. I now have 2 children vehicles I am handling. $1500 won't cover both. I need to figure out what to do with this. The bright news is that DS2 has only one more year left of school. Assuming he finds a job in conservation, I can begin to transfer some of the things I handle over to him as part of his 'hey you're an adult now. Welcome to the world of bills' training.

My next planned savings goal is for Christmas. That will take July, August and September, if nothing else happens (jolie snorts in derision  because things always happen)

First week of holidays...

...went so fast.

I wish a work week went that fast :-)

It was a quiet week off. To many, a boring week off.

For me, it was restful. I did baby walks outside (10 min ones seem to be the 'safe' distance before colitis wants to play). I dusted off treadmill and walked there too. I realize how sick I was. How weak. (and even more overweight). I think of the hour or more walks I used to do and feel sad that those are not currently in my wheelhouse.

I cleaned out many of those clutter collector spots: top of fridge, junk drawer, top of my dresser. Amazing how much crap collects there.

I had to send off copies of my tax form to my colitis med provider so they will (hopefully) continue to pay for the almost $4000 a shot med.

I sat out and had coffee at my little patio and felt the breeze and heard the birds.

I got to catch up on my blog reading.

I cut our lawn, twice. I cut my mom and dad's as well. Thought I was going to pass out (refer back to incredibly weak from illness and out of shape from.............yeah anyways).

I got the oil changed in my car.

I read and read and read.

I hung laundry on the line and watched it blow in the breeze.

I talked to two of my neighbours. Not much time for more than a wave during the school year.

I started watching Nashville on Netflix.

I did NOT crack a school book.  A record for me I think.

I ate fresh fruit and veggies. If I have to stay close to the bathroom I might as well enjoy!

I drank a  ton of water.

I lost weight.

I am very appreciative of this past week.

Evolution of the Jars

I know plastic ruins a LOT of lives, but five little jar shaped pieces of plastic saved mine. Honestly.

They provided a way for me to visibly control my expenditures.

Such a gift those little plastic jars were.

I started on Money Jars in December of 2008. It was an exciting day. I had started this blog 6 months prior and was using an envelope system. I laugh hysterically when I think of what I had been putting in those 'envelopes' for each category. HUGE amounts. Unnecessary amounts. Unrealistic amounts. Nothing like deciding what was going in the envelopes before considering my income, my expenses and my goals. Such a newb!! 

but at least I tried.

But 6 months into this little budget experiment of mine, I slowly grew wiser. The jars were calling my name.

What are these jars?   Well I had been voraciously watching every episode of Gail Vaz-Oxlade's Til Debt Do Us Part. Part of her way of helping people was calculating variable expenses and putting them in jars for people to SEE how much they had (or didn't have) for the week.

The sheer simplicity of it was genius.

Here was her premise of what to do. THE JARS


My original amounts were higher than what I have now, but I don't seem to have them written down in the blog.  I had five categories back then: Gas, Entertainment, Grocery and household items, spending money and Clothing and Gifts.

Since then my dollar amounts and how I handle them have evolved slightly. Here are two instances where I actually wrote the amounts down.

June 2010

1) Food and Household - $680 a month ($170 a week)
2) Spending Money - $80 a month ($20 a week)
3) Gas/Transportation - $200 a month ($50 a week)
4) Entertainment - $160 a month ($40 a week)
5) Clothing and Gifts - $100 a month ($25 a week)

And

August 2014
Gas - $60 a week
Entertainment - $40 a week
Spending money - $20 a week
Grocery and house hold items - $220 a week

I know when I first started I had amounts that required me to get bills other than $20s. That proved to be annoying as the machines didn't cooperate and it meant my going in to the brick and mortar. So I tweaked them not long after to reflect ATM cooperative 20s.


Over time...
I used to have my Clothing and Gifts in a jar but it proved to be easier to make this an invisible 'category' in my savings and just transfer it.

My gas money increased because gas prices kept soaring.

My entertainment money was cut in half. I wasn't using it properly and that other $20 could go to a dif goal.

Grocery went down to $180 when DS1 left and I reallocated that $40 a week towards money I was transferring to him.

I found this great post in 2009 that talked about how the first month of jars went. It was interesting to go back and read it after all these years.


I have to say, I have started and stopped a ton of 'new routines' for diet, exercise, money, housekeeping...you name it. The jars is the ONLY thing that has had this longevity.

If you are thinking of starting a system to help you save, or get out of debt, DO. Whether it's jars or envelopes or online tracking. Whatever works for you. Just start! Know that adjusting your amounts or how you do it is NOT a failure. It's showing you are learning from the experience.

Just start.

After 8 years of blogging...

... yup. It's 8 years today that I was brave enough to start a little blog that I didn't expect anyone to read. It was more for me. To document. To reflect. To plan. To motivate.

It did all of those things.

And a few people read it too.

I had nothing ground breaking to share. No big successes. No advice on investments (seriously, don't ask me! I am still fuzzy on all that after 8 years). No press. No media.

Just me, and my thoughts.

So after 8 years of blogging...

• I know a LOT more than I used to, but still have so much to learn
• I haven't carried a CC balance since early 2009 - but I do have a LOC I am working on
• I still put money in jars. Not 100% of the time - but a great deal.
• I still fake a payday four times a month, since I really only get paid once a month. I dutifully go out and pull out my weekly money. It works.
• I still budget and go over numbers
• I still make mistakes
• and spend too much on my kids
• and college, don't even get me started on this (voluntary) path
• I still get rattled by upcoming expenses, but going back to my spreadsheet is soothing...reassuring.
• I still plan ahead for things like Christmas, Summer, back to school. etc
• I still look for ways to save and ask questions to avoid surprises in things like phone plan, cable bill etc
• I still suffer from poor health but keep valiantly trying to get better
• I still get sad when a favourite blog disappears, or isn't updated
• I still roll change  and cherish its zen like feelings
• I rarely charge to my CC without going home immediately and paying it off
• I rarely buy books or magazines anymore.
• I still buy the occasional lottery ticket and hope and wish
• I still keep reading your blogs and learning from your experiences
• I still read and appreciate every comment, even if I don't answer them all

I don't have a lot new to say these days, and sometimes I go quiet. But every single success I have had moneywise, little or small, owes its credit to this blog and the community I discovered, 8 years ago.

One Red Paperclip

It's just after 7 AM. It's grey skied and cool but I am out on my little patio, sipping my coffee, listening to the birds sing, and catching up on my blog reading. In my jammies!  It's glorious.

The sheer privilege of time to do this is incredible. I certainly don't get this during the school year.  I am blessed.

My summer reading is from an activity I actually did with my class in Social Studies this year.  It was one of the highlights of their year.

My actual cover is far more simple. It must be from a different edition of the book.

It's an amazing story of a young man who set out on a journey to trade one red paperclip up, and up, with a goal of trading for a house.  He quickly realized that it was NOT that final goal of a house that was the richness of the experience.....it was the journey; the story of each trade and the social (and mainstream) media that were captivated by this unique adventure.

Here is a link to the webpage for those interested. 

http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.ca/

For many of us, it is far too easy to get our focus wrapped up in 'the end', that long away elusive goal. I know I do. As a teacher it's the next long weekend, or Christmas, or the end of the school year. As a mom of college kids, it's the next time they will come home, or I will go to them. As a woman with debt it's the next monthly paycheque.  As an obese woman it's the next time I step on that damn scale.

And when those moments come, they are not celebrated. They are not savoured. They are almost hollow.

And then the wait for the next end point begins.

Even now, in the beautiful gloriousness of this grey morning, I catch myself thinking of payday at the END of July, weighing in next Thursday, and the date my kids leave me. There is no joy in this kind of living.  I have little joy and it's all of my own creation ( or lack thereof)

Thus far, I have two favourite quotes from this book, and they both happened to be on the same page.

The first is for anyone who is looking to change something. Weight. Debt. Budget creation. The ones who stay stuck in the " I wish but I don't know how" phase. Been there.

"If you don't start, then how can you finish...It starts with a step. Just get a foot through the door and make your move. Right foot or left foot, it's your choice"

The second is for those for whom the end goal is the ONLY thing with meaning; who live a life that is missing the joy.

"If it works small, it might work big, but if you have fun along the way, it won't matter either way"

The start of summer

Yup I've been totally awol.   To give you an idea of how whirly my brain is, I didn't realize for a month that my favourite AM weather guy had moved to a Calgary station.  Miss that guy :-)

We finished school yesterday.  The first year at my new school definitely went fast. I guess that all do when you look at them in the rear view mirror.   It definitely is different in a High School than in an Elementary School. Far fewer 'events' happen at the upper end - no big track and field events, field trips, assesemblies...that sort of thing.  In a lot of ways it was nice to have so many of my year end responsibilities off my list - but I do miss the experiences. There was definitely more of a team atmosphere there - but perhaps this will grow.

It's a quiet Canada Day here. DS2 is working up north (double time and a half mom!! he said). DS1 is with his gf and her family.  They were home last weekend to visit. DS1 and DH built some shelving in the garage. To quote DS - dad and I only fought twice. That is a huge record for us.

My plans for the summer are inconsequential. No big trips planned. Just the one long weekend in August at the lake, as per usual.   I promised myself I would stay out of my school until July 25. I brought some things home that I will either do or not, but I won't let myself live there this summer, as I did in the past.  For this summer, I simply want to get healthy. rest. walk on my treadmill. drink lots of water. Hopefully my colon will heal, my knees will stop aching, my skin won't be lizard like, my head won't ache, and I won't be so exhausted 24/7. Not big goals, but vital ones. I am so tired of not living.

I am going to attempt to pull myself off milk for the month of July and see what changes that brings.

Moneywise - I have little savings goals and will continue to work against that darn debt.

June Change

June was " a good change month"

I don't think this is because I was wise with my money. In June, I am rarely wise. I spend more than I should. I eat out more than I should. I stop at Timmy's more than I should. But at least I kept the change (pathetic attempt at a silver lining)

I will take this money in next week and put it down against debt.

• One roll of toonies - $50
• One roll of loonies - $25
• 2 rolls of quarters - $20
• 1 roll of dimes - $5

For a grand total of $100. It looks great all rolled up. Waiting. Stored potential.

Where the money stands

as of June 8

Debt
Mortgage - $16 939.22
College LOC - $15 400.00

Total Debt - $32 339.22



Savings/Planned Spending
TFSA/EF - $7100
RESP - $5 500
RRSP - $10 946
Summer 2016 - $1000
Back to School - $500
RRSP 2016 - $1500
XMAS 2016 - $160
Plates - $1000

I have been avoiding this post.   First the good-ish. I added $500 to the plates (car tags) fund. I decided to combine money for TFSA and RRSP savings and put it all under my RRSP mini goal of $1500.  I will think about TFSA later.

College costs are kicking my ass. DS1 had a summer class that he a) needed and b) we had hoped would be covered. It wasn't. That was $2222 USD. They also moved as their previous landlord was wanting to rent their  house to family now starting college so he had a new damage deposit and rent for the summer. I had to add to my LOC to make it happen. So that is up.

I will start  hitting that LOC again toute suite.

Two years left of college.  Sure hope they appreciate it and get jobs.