A lovely day

It was fantastic to sit back, relax and get my world organized again. I curled up with my 'bills in a box' organizer and sorted, stapled, organized and filed.

There is such a feeling of control or power when one is organized.

I also got in two lovely walks today despite the thick grey skies.

Now the fun part is over and duty calls. One more fundraiser evening and then I am DONE until fall. wheeee

A relaxing start to holidays

It feel so wonderfully naughty to sleep in until 9 AM this morning instead of getting up at 6:30. No place I have to go, til later (one last sports fundraiser obligation) and a day of possibilities.

I spent some time last night going through jars and envelopes and organized that part of my world. That felt good. After a whirling June I felt I was so far behind and out of touch with my finances. I hate that feeling. I know know me. Only a few months of letting that go and I'd be back to my old habits.

I reviewed my budget and decided that I will keep it status quo until the September check. September brings a small wage increase but it also means union fees etc so I won't know my take home salary's final mark til January of next year.

I know I will have to work hard this summer to spend as litttle as possible, especially in July. August brings big ticket weeks that will cost me for sure. I will need to set aside $ for fall school fees, school supplies, new clothes if the dratted kids keep growing as they have as well as start up fees for their teams and organizations. We're also away for a week at a training camp for the older so that one will cost too.

Worked into this is making sure I put every little bit extra down on Loan 1 so that I can pay that off sooner and then double whammy my new vehicle loan.

I've done an hour of curled up with a coffee reading blogs so I think it's time now for a lovely walk outside before it rains. Exercise and diet are tied for #1 priority with back on budget.

Have a great day all and thank you to those who visit my blog.

the end is here :-)

School's out!! School's out!!

I sound like a little kid...and I feel like a very very old lady.

We handed out report cards today and for awhile now, summer is here and I can relax for a bit. I've been going 18 hours a day for the past month, as I'm sure my blog readers have noticed, by my absence. June is crazy busy and I am absolutely exhausted.

I came home today to an empty house. The boys are somewhere with their father, but neither cell phone is on so I guess I will find out the details later.

My finances took a total hit this month. Budget was pretty much thrown out the window.

I have decided to just zero out the jars for the past month, pay off the MC debt, fill my tank with gas and buy groceries with anything left and LET GO of which jar it came from.

I will curl up and pretty up my storage envelopes and prepare them for July.

July HAS to be back on jars or I will be in very big trouble. I do not want to be in big trouble again. Not when I have done so well and when I have a new payment to make now.

New sidebar and a frustrating June

My documents came today for my loan for the new vehicle so it's officially official that I owe a huge chunk of cash. I added that sidebar and it's daunting to say the least; but self inflicted daunting. I WILL pay this off sooner than the 5 years/60 months period. I will :-)

June has been lousy for keeping track of money and spending. It's totally out of control. Besides the year end field trips and teacher gifts, a wee token for the bus driver who takes really good care of them, staff party, staff retirement gift, and the dvds I make for my students (hence purchase the dvds and cases for burning), I am wayyy over budget. Add to that my parents' 50th anniversary: decorations, gift and our restaurant supper.

YIKES

I can't wait for school to be done so I can get back on track and figure out how much damage I did. I do NOT want to be the old me.

working the snowflakes

I took the money I had set aside for snowflake this month and ran to the bank. Using it to put down as lump sum on my loan payment, I was able to get that amount jusssssst under $10,000. It was nice to see that again. Between the loan #1 and getting money set aside for RRSPs, I think I have my new targets chosen.