Money in.....................money out

Well as quickly as it came in, it has gone. Money in, money out. One day I am 'rich' and the next I am back to same ole same ole. It was such a sense of elation to get the cheque and rather bittersweet for it to be all used up.


I have to admit that temptation reigned supreme as I struggled with what I wanted to do with the money and what I SHOULD do with the money.


So what thoughts entice me away from my goals and purpose???

1) I would love to put the money down on a trip to take my boys to either Toronto/Niagara or else out to Victoria. I have exactly two summers left before DS1 is graduated and our world  changes. I am running out of time to do this.

2) I could take them away during the Easter break. Our quick jaunt away in February did wonders for our spirits and our mother/sons bonding time.

3) I spent some delicious moments at arbonne.ca. I love their products and I could spoil myself greatly with some product.

4) I could go get my hair cut, coloured WITH more than one tone, and a nice pedicure for my winter ravaged feet.

5)  I could buy these amazing Michael Kors shoes for $160. Forget that I have

NOwhere towear them LOL

6) I could succumb to temptation and buy an Ipad or Ipad2 for about $750, plus case, plus accessories, plus plus plus.

7) I could run, not walk but RUN to amazon.ca and clickity click order my Kindle and a boat load of new titles for the boys and I. I'd share. Honest.

8) When we were in Edmonton, I visited the Michael Kors store and drooled over this purse (before the clerks 'you don't belong here' looks got to me. It is only $300 ish lol

9) OR I could throw all caution and sense to the wind and get the purse I drooled over for the low price of $2295.

so what did I do????????? I was boring, dear readers. very very boring. I marched myself to my bank yesterday, deposited the  money into an account and then had them whap $1200 down as a lump sum payment on my loan. That was the equivalent of 2 months' payments. Instead of it being done June of 2014, I am now at April of 2013. My goal is to have this paid off before DS1 finished Grade 11, which means June 2012.

ahhhh but it was nice to dream.

A nice bump to my snowflake jar

A blizzard of dollars has made its way to Saskatchewan. It joins what is hopefully, our last snow of this winter which is coming today as well.

One thousand two hundred and forty  beautiful lil irridescent droplets from the sky. Well Ok it's from the Federal Government.

Now often a person doesn't like it when a bunch of guests pop over but I'm glad these guys came. In fact, I wish they had brought more friends with them LOL

I will pop my refund onto my snowflake jar for March. I will get to see them for a very short period of time and then they will leave again.

Welcome snowflakes. thanks for stopping by!!

A sidebar completed

Thanks to that happy joyous day called PAYDAY, yesterday, I was able to complete a sidebar goal. I spent about an hour running around to my two banks and I did so happily :P

At bank one I deposited some cheques and withdrew Jar $ for the week. At bank two I deposited some cheques and moved money into my High Interest Savings. I was able to move enough to finish off my new (this year) goal of Back to School $1500. It is going to be a big relief to have that money when it come time to pay school fees, buy school supplies, and put some towards those back to school extra curricular activities. It looks all pretty and green and 100% filled in.

I have three savings goals left on my sidebar. I will complete them in the following order:

• Christmas - $1400
• RRSP - $1500
• TFSA (EF) - $1000

Barring unforeseen problems, the Christmas goal will be finished at the end of July.

This n That

wow it feels like I never get here anymore. I have been reading diligently, all the wonderful things you have all written,but I haven't had a chance to sit down and write.

There have been 2 funerals in my world in the past week. Very tragic circumstances. One was a lady who sometimes worked at our school (casual) who was unwell last week, diagnosed with cancer by Friday and passed away yesterday. It's so  unbelievably sad. The other was not 'natural causes' and very sad too. We had word this week as well that two other teachers in neighbouring schools have been diagnosed with cancer, both very late stages so it either progressed  quickly or they were diagnosed late. Our school staff communities have been pulling together trying to support in whatever ways we can.

We need so very badly for spring to come. Everyone is sick at work. The lack of sunshine this winter has caused folks to be more sad/depressed etc.

DS1 is still on the hunt for a part time job. While I can't go IN to the stores with him, I am having to step him through the process. We did a resume together and I have shown him how to fill in the different kinds of application forms. I stepped him through how to speak to a manager, the things to say and the things not to say. I hope something comes around for him soon.

There have been lots of family issues at school too, with  my students. I've been doing lots of one on one counselling and it starts to take a toll on a girl.

Beyond that, it's payday today. I will be busy today transferring  $ around and taking care of some bills. There should be a few sidebar updates soon. My tax refund is not yet in but as soon as that is in, I will be applying that to my vehicle loan.

The winds have been bitter cold this week so it's been inside recesses. We are all going a little bit stir crazy.

A great classroom visit

I was really excited to welcome two visitors to my class on Friday. They both work at a local bank and are there on behalf of a program called Junior Achievement. One of the girls is the one I taught who handles my RRSP.

We are currently exploring careers, budgets and money in our Career Guidance course and this fit in perfectly. The ladies spoke  on money with my students. They described the different forms of currency (cash, debt, prepaid cards, credit cards) and how all those systems really work. I was surprised to learn several of them didn't REALLY understand the concept of debit cards vs credit cards. They spoke on how important it was to establish a good credit history and how things like their cell phone bills can affect it, even at their early ages.

They played money/budget bingo  and ran through a bunch of consumer purchase scenarios. The ladies taught them about consumer rights and business owner rights.

It was a fantastic opportunity for my kids to ask questions to 'real money people', and ask they did. It was great and it is a presentation I am going to continue to book, year after year, as I think the lessons they learn are really important.