This weekend I took a trip home to see my family. My sister, mom and I went to scout a potential location for my sister's wedding - nice place, super expensive. She finally settled on one that she loved and that was priced right, with lots of stuff thrown in. She's been following the frugal bride information and so far is finding great ways to keep costs down.
I also spent $20 on entertainment for Saturday, but had a no-spend day on Sunday. I've got to go back and check things as i've been laze at marking my no-spend days. Things were very quite for the most part. Though we had some family stuff to get through, it went pretty well.
This evening I'll have to double check my budget jars and account to see how things went. I know I have money left over in a bunch of the categories this month, I'll be snow-flaking that back to the debt. I want to get this done before the bank closes so i can move the money today and not tomorrow.
I've also made $200 extra on side stuff this month, and have begun negotiations on the monetary stuff for work. First portion has gone well, I will be getting overtime to finish a massive project I just don't have the hours to get through during a day. For as long as it takes I'll be staying a couple of extra hours on some days and working Saturdays until this project is done. The good news is I can do this when I want to and not be stuck into a daily thing with it. What that means is nights I have things happening after work I can leave if need be. I've just got projections as to when certain portions of the project will get done. So far I'm ahead of the game.
The second half of the negotiations will be taking place next week sometime so we'll see what other concessions will be negotiated.
I'm pretty happy with the overtime project so far. C works until about 7:30 every night so I've got some time to myself and some time to do some overtime available to me before he gets home.
I'll have to post later on my progress with the budget this month. I'm pretty sure I've overspent somewhere I'm just not seeing it right away.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Unified can still be Separate
Yesterday I spoke a bit about how the influences of your family can drive the choices we make - both good and bad. Today I want to explore a little more the plan that C and I are working together.
We moved into our place on the 1st of September, and have been loving every minute. I am nearly serene in my happiness. C is much more relaxed, much less stressed, and I dare say happy as well. We sat down and figured out a plan for our life together. That plan includes wanting to be consumer debt free prior to going into home ownership. Our plan has us both consumer debt free in the next 2 years. We plan to then save for the house and increase our retirement contributions. We should be ready with a down payment 2 years after the debt free date. This means 5 years after moving into our apartment we'll be moving out again. It's slower than we would want, but that's the result of the choices we made 5 years ago before we started dating each other that we are now paying for.
It's quite eye-opening to see the tangible consequences of our choices that long ago.
We are both on a budget - separate from one another. We are both on a debt repayment plan - separate from each other. We live in the same place, split the rent in half, alternate grocery shopping and laundry card filling, do little things for each other, clean the place together, and relax both separately and together. This works for us because we each have debt that we aren't proud to have. We each want to get it gone without the help of the other because it's not fair to ask each other to pay for the other's bad decisions. We are doing this so there can't be any resentment over who's debt is stopping life, who paid for more of the debt, and any other similar argument that could arise. it keeps us sane, and lets us individually deal with our creditors. We can keep track of any calls that may come, or letters reminding of payments that may have been missed - should any get here. Though, part of the goal is to never have one of those again. We both HATE those (neither of us use that word lightly, so it is definitely a true hate).
So, while our plan is unified, we are separately marching the path to get there. Our budgets are separate, our debts are separate. Our lives are together, yet still leave room for separate time, interests, friends, likes etc.
We are not married yet, but that is on the life plan, as are children, a house and travel. Currently we are separately moving forward to the place where the paths can effectively and naturally join to continue the journey. We track separately but celebrate together. We are Unified but marching Separately down the path.
and we are doing this so we set ourselves up for financial success for life. So we aren't borrowing to build a life and dodging creditors like his family. We aren't putting having liens put on things because of poor money judgements, or getting every card under the sun and maxing it out without repayment like my father. We will be saving like my mom and grandparents, and his grandparents, so one day when our children and grandchildren need help we can be there to offer it.
I love the open communication of our lives together. I love that Gail's show helps us reinforce the behaviours we are using and give us the gut check when we let our thoughts wander to the dark side of wanting now Now NOW!! I love how we celebrate the payments with a glass of wine and favourite movie - or an On Demand show we like. The wine was a prize (we have three bottles to get through) and the movies we own already, and On Demand is part of the service provided by Rogers to us. Thrifty, Inexpensive, fun and soul-fulfilling. Our time together is financially responsible, even when we choose not to be. Unified is still Separate in my house.
We moved into our place on the 1st of September, and have been loving every minute. I am nearly serene in my happiness. C is much more relaxed, much less stressed, and I dare say happy as well. We sat down and figured out a plan for our life together. That plan includes wanting to be consumer debt free prior to going into home ownership. Our plan has us both consumer debt free in the next 2 years. We plan to then save for the house and increase our retirement contributions. We should be ready with a down payment 2 years after the debt free date. This means 5 years after moving into our apartment we'll be moving out again. It's slower than we would want, but that's the result of the choices we made 5 years ago before we started dating each other that we are now paying for.
It's quite eye-opening to see the tangible consequences of our choices that long ago.
We are both on a budget - separate from one another. We are both on a debt repayment plan - separate from each other. We live in the same place, split the rent in half, alternate grocery shopping and laundry card filling, do little things for each other, clean the place together, and relax both separately and together. This works for us because we each have debt that we aren't proud to have. We each want to get it gone without the help of the other because it's not fair to ask each other to pay for the other's bad decisions. We are doing this so there can't be any resentment over who's debt is stopping life, who paid for more of the debt, and any other similar argument that could arise. it keeps us sane, and lets us individually deal with our creditors. We can keep track of any calls that may come, or letters reminding of payments that may have been missed - should any get here. Though, part of the goal is to never have one of those again. We both HATE those (neither of us use that word lightly, so it is definitely a true hate).
So, while our plan is unified, we are separately marching the path to get there. Our budgets are separate, our debts are separate. Our lives are together, yet still leave room for separate time, interests, friends, likes etc.
We are not married yet, but that is on the life plan, as are children, a house and travel. Currently we are separately moving forward to the place where the paths can effectively and naturally join to continue the journey. We track separately but celebrate together. We are Unified but marching Separately down the path.
and we are doing this so we set ourselves up for financial success for life. So we aren't borrowing to build a life and dodging creditors like his family. We aren't putting having liens put on things because of poor money judgements, or getting every card under the sun and maxing it out without repayment like my father. We will be saving like my mom and grandparents, and his grandparents, so one day when our children and grandchildren need help we can be there to offer it.
I love the open communication of our lives together. I love that Gail's show helps us reinforce the behaviours we are using and give us the gut check when we let our thoughts wander to the dark side of wanting now Now NOW!! I love how we celebrate the payments with a glass of wine and favourite movie - or an On Demand show we like. The wine was a prize (we have three bottles to get through) and the movies we own already, and On Demand is part of the service provided by Rogers to us. Thrifty, Inexpensive, fun and soul-fulfilling. Our time together is financially responsible, even when we choose not to be. Unified is still Separate in my house.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
The House that Borrowing Built
I haven't blogged a lot about my family or my boyfriend before but reading Gail's post today got me thinking about a financial situation I'm aware of in C's family. This only recently spilled over to me and has spawned a serious of events that ultimately led to C and I getting our own place.
Basically it is this idea of credit and borrowing money. My boyfriend's family - save thankfully for him now - have been operating under the impression of entitlement and have all borrowed money to the hilt for the houses they live in, the items they use for entertainment, clothing, car etc. I saw them struggle to meet bill dates and pay the full amount while I was living there. I watched a mother talk a son into buying a house so he wasn't "throwing money away renting". I have now watched a son lose a job and have to go to the bank with his significant other to ask for an adjustment to the mortgage amount they have because they now can't afford that much mortgage. I've had to deal with a brother who couldn't understand how a mother and a brother can afford to make mortgage and bill payments on a house and stay floating on their incomes. (After truly looking neither of them pay anything on time and supplement their wants before their needs) In the end it has come down to Gail's discussion on budgeting, living within your means, what a need and a want are and how to get yourself out of debt and on the right track to life that have moved him away from believing the facade and finding the reality of their situations.
Yes it will take about 5 years before C and I will be able to handle a house - that's debt paid off and appropriate 20% down payment saved. Yes we'll be renting for now - which is way cheaper and easier to handle while we dig out of our debt. Yes it was difficult to understand how people have what they have, until we sat down and talked to them candidly about how they got where they are and their respective issues with being there.
What spawned all this was when C and I were looking for a place of our own. My someday-mother-in-law actually told me to call my family up and ask them for the down payment on a house so we could get one of our own, and then said "well how do you think "we" did it?" after I told her that was out of the question. I was quite unnerved by this, very appalled at the audacity, and absolutely furious that it was assumed that I would just skip right over and expect the money. My grandparents are retired. they worked hard for their lifestyle, and where would I be borrowing a down payment that I still had to pay back for a house I can't afford in the first place.
It is amazing that some in a financial crisis don't see it as a problem. It is amazing that some still jump headlong into things they truly can't even hope to afford and then get a wake up call when the creditors turn their backs and want the money back. I've listened to the phone calls, I've been in a similar situation when my dad and his money skills got into trouble (he's horrible with money and knows it now!).
On a personal note, C and I sat down to discuss these money issues and our goals for life. We decided no more late bill payments (by him). We decided we don't want creditors calling all the time for us, and to get that accomplished we pay bills on time every time. We decided that we should be out of consumer debt before we take on the big mortgage debt of life. In order to do that we needed to come up with a repayment plan that has us both debt free in three years - we've been working this plan since June of this year. I say we because we are both on board now - not just me. We have cut up our credit cards - both have one each hidden for the absolute emergency cases that require a bunch of quick money right away. We are contributing to our futures so we have one. We are living on a budget each that keeps us within our means. We are no longer protected by overdraft on our accounts. We are both working towards having $3000 in our accounts as a base amount so the need for credit is pretty much nulled except to maintain our credit scores. I am contributing to an emergency fund and savings plan - something he'll be doing once his debt is gone.
In a nut shell, we decided as a couple to walk the right path in our financial life. "No-fun Gail" really helped me talk about all these things with C and gave him something that he could watch and decide for himself it was the best way. I watch "No-fun" Gail weekly, and C listens - he doesn't always sit and just watch with me, but he truly does listen to her. He calls her "No-fun" because she's a kick in the pants each weekend when he "wants" with such force that I want to hit him. And when he loses sight of our goals. Truly though her real nickname is "Real" Gail, because she makes everything tangible and real for us. It might take longer than we want - cuz we both get impatient waiting - but we'll know that we'll be building our house on a solid financial foundation with a proper down payment, and the ability to handle the mortgage without stressing out over money. Instead of building on borrowing, and fighting about money all the time, or not being able to make bill payments on time.
All I can say is, it may take us a bit of time, but by gonnit we'll be doing this right. I get a tick every time someone calls looking for money - probably stems from when my parents split up because of my father's money issues, and then again when I moved in with C's family - every day we'd have someone calling for one of them. I'm tick free now, we pay our bills pretty much when they arrive - after a thorough review of course, and there hasn't been one call yet for us. I'm happy to keep it that way!
In the end, it may have taken us a little while longer than we both wanted but the Gail way is definitely better than the entitlement way of some people we all know!
Basically it is this idea of credit and borrowing money. My boyfriend's family - save thankfully for him now - have been operating under the impression of entitlement and have all borrowed money to the hilt for the houses they live in, the items they use for entertainment, clothing, car etc. I saw them struggle to meet bill dates and pay the full amount while I was living there. I watched a mother talk a son into buying a house so he wasn't "throwing money away renting". I have now watched a son lose a job and have to go to the bank with his significant other to ask for an adjustment to the mortgage amount they have because they now can't afford that much mortgage. I've had to deal with a brother who couldn't understand how a mother and a brother can afford to make mortgage and bill payments on a house and stay floating on their incomes. (After truly looking neither of them pay anything on time and supplement their wants before their needs) In the end it has come down to Gail's discussion on budgeting, living within your means, what a need and a want are and how to get yourself out of debt and on the right track to life that have moved him away from believing the facade and finding the reality of their situations.
Yes it will take about 5 years before C and I will be able to handle a house - that's debt paid off and appropriate 20% down payment saved. Yes we'll be renting for now - which is way cheaper and easier to handle while we dig out of our debt. Yes it was difficult to understand how people have what they have, until we sat down and talked to them candidly about how they got where they are and their respective issues with being there.
What spawned all this was when C and I were looking for a place of our own. My someday-mother-in-law actually told me to call my family up and ask them for the down payment on a house so we could get one of our own, and then said "well how do you think "we" did it?" after I told her that was out of the question. I was quite unnerved by this, very appalled at the audacity, and absolutely furious that it was assumed that I would just skip right over and expect the money. My grandparents are retired. they worked hard for their lifestyle, and where would I be borrowing a down payment that I still had to pay back for a house I can't afford in the first place.
It is amazing that some in a financial crisis don't see it as a problem. It is amazing that some still jump headlong into things they truly can't even hope to afford and then get a wake up call when the creditors turn their backs and want the money back. I've listened to the phone calls, I've been in a similar situation when my dad and his money skills got into trouble (he's horrible with money and knows it now!).
On a personal note, C and I sat down to discuss these money issues and our goals for life. We decided no more late bill payments (by him). We decided we don't want creditors calling all the time for us, and to get that accomplished we pay bills on time every time. We decided that we should be out of consumer debt before we take on the big mortgage debt of life. In order to do that we needed to come up with a repayment plan that has us both debt free in three years - we've been working this plan since June of this year. I say we because we are both on board now - not just me. We have cut up our credit cards - both have one each hidden for the absolute emergency cases that require a bunch of quick money right away. We are contributing to our futures so we have one. We are living on a budget each that keeps us within our means. We are no longer protected by overdraft on our accounts. We are both working towards having $3000 in our accounts as a base amount so the need for credit is pretty much nulled except to maintain our credit scores. I am contributing to an emergency fund and savings plan - something he'll be doing once his debt is gone.
In a nut shell, we decided as a couple to walk the right path in our financial life. "No-fun Gail" really helped me talk about all these things with C and gave him something that he could watch and decide for himself it was the best way. I watch "No-fun" Gail weekly, and C listens - he doesn't always sit and just watch with me, but he truly does listen to her. He calls her "No-fun" because she's a kick in the pants each weekend when he "wants" with such force that I want to hit him. And when he loses sight of our goals. Truly though her real nickname is "Real" Gail, because she makes everything tangible and real for us. It might take longer than we want - cuz we both get impatient waiting - but we'll know that we'll be building our house on a solid financial foundation with a proper down payment, and the ability to handle the mortgage without stressing out over money. Instead of building on borrowing, and fighting about money all the time, or not being able to make bill payments on time.
All I can say is, it may take us a bit of time, but by gonnit we'll be doing this right. I get a tick every time someone calls looking for money - probably stems from when my parents split up because of my father's money issues, and then again when I moved in with C's family - every day we'd have someone calling for one of them. I'm tick free now, we pay our bills pretty much when they arrive - after a thorough review of course, and there hasn't been one call yet for us. I'm happy to keep it that way!
In the end, it may have taken us a little while longer than we both wanted but the Gail way is definitely better than the entitlement way of some people we all know!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
It's Christmas Season!
Ok - It is officially Christmas Season!! We are one month away from that family time of year, when we slow down, walk in the snow (if there is any) and gather with our families for traditions and merriment. My family has always been big into traditions - but this is the first year that both my sister and I aren't living at home, so I guess we are a little in transition. I want to get home soon to help mom with the cookies and fudge making - yes we make our own fudge!!! The cakes are already curing in their respective alcohol, ready for baking next weekend to let the spices take over.
I'm half way done my shopping and have spent $510 on Christmas so far. Except for C and my best friend and her husband, the rest I'll probably bake for. Not too bad - some of the gifts I've had since May when I saw them and had the money for the gift itself. The other's I used my expense money from the beginning of the month for because they are coming from a couple of us.
I love this time of year because I love to bake and cook up a storm with all the yummy treats that come out now. This will be the first time I attempt fudge on my own, and the snowball cookies we make that are super duper tasty. This will cover off the remaining gifts I have forgotten about, and round out some of the ones I have thought of.
I think I'll probably do a bunch of mini mincemeat tarts too - they'll be nice to give as gifts to people.
Alas, it seems it's time to get my holiday baking list together and get going on things so they are done. I'm behind already because of the illness I was knocked down with earlier - but I've had some great relaxation time!
What do you do for gifts for friends and family? Are you a swapper? A secret Santa person? A ware giver (baking or cooking)? Do you puzzle over each gift looking for that perfect something you know they'll just love? Do you do stockings for family still?
I'd love to hear about what yo do with your family at the holidays - and now that I'm living with C, what do you and your partner do just the two of you, for the holiday?
I'm half way done my shopping and have spent $510 on Christmas so far. Except for C and my best friend and her husband, the rest I'll probably bake for. Not too bad - some of the gifts I've had since May when I saw them and had the money for the gift itself. The other's I used my expense money from the beginning of the month for because they are coming from a couple of us.
I love this time of year because I love to bake and cook up a storm with all the yummy treats that come out now. This will be the first time I attempt fudge on my own, and the snowball cookies we make that are super duper tasty. This will cover off the remaining gifts I have forgotten about, and round out some of the ones I have thought of.
I think I'll probably do a bunch of mini mincemeat tarts too - they'll be nice to give as gifts to people.
Alas, it seems it's time to get my holiday baking list together and get going on things so they are done. I'm behind already because of the illness I was knocked down with earlier - but I've had some great relaxation time!
What do you do for gifts for friends and family? Are you a swapper? A secret Santa person? A ware giver (baking or cooking)? Do you puzzle over each gift looking for that perfect something you know they'll just love? Do you do stockings for family still?
I'd love to hear about what yo do with your family at the holidays - and now that I'm living with C, what do you and your partner do just the two of you, for the holiday?
Monday, November 23, 2009
A cheap weekend
I love lazy weekends!
I especially love them while you are still not quite over the illness you've been fighting. I got the flu just over a week ago. The only thing left is a pesky, flemmy cough - that is in no way unmanageable, just slightly irritating. I returned to work on Thursday after spending 5 days in bed/on the couch, resting and trying to let my body heal itself. Sleep is by far my best defense against any illness. For most of the second and third days I was unconscious in bed - every 3 hours or so. So that would be 3-4 hours of solid napping, then awake for about 2 and repeat, until Monday. Thankfully I was able to post-pone my exam that was supposed to be written on Wednesday, until a time in the future that both suits the professors schedule and mine. A nice thing - and the first time I've ever had to move an exam for any reason.
So back to this weekend...after having the flu I was not to interested in rushing into anything overly physical. I tried to curl my game on Thursday but had to leave because I was getting dizzy, hardly able to function without coughing, and barely had any sense of what I was doing. Though I could not find a spare, I should not have even attempted to play the game. Foolish me. No worries or anything, I went home and straight back to bed.
This weekend, C had to work overtime on Saturday (time and a half for him!) so I was able to sleep in until 10am, enjoy a lazy day to myself - which I red the third installment of the Twilight Saga, from 10am until 5:30pm when I finished the book. then watched two movies and went back to bed. Sunday was also lazy - Action Force cartoons in the morning, Gail over noon hour, did some dishes, and cross-stitched some of the present I'm giving to my best friend, and basically watched movies all afternoon yesterday. I did a little grocery shopping prior to The Amazing Race last evening, and that's about it for the weekend.
Saturday was a no-spend day, Friday was a no-spend day. Sunday and Thursday i spent some money - $51.50 on groceries Sunday, Gas, Book, and bills on Thursday. I have just under 2 weeks left in my budgeted money for the month ( I have to get to next payday for a top up), and so far I"m ahead of the game there I'd say! About time too!
Today will end up being a spend day - because Car Insurance comes out of the account, so I'll probably use some more of my entertainment budget to get the last book in the series tonight. Then I'll have something to do at lunch and after work this week. Though I should be studying some more - so I'm ready for the make-up exam.
Oh and I was inspired to start taking a look at my 2010 budget this weekend too. I have to wait a little longer to see about any potential raises so I can't finalize everything, but I do have scenarios set up just to see how things go. I have realized that if I can secure the equalization raise, I will be able to make a larger debt repayment, and have a bit more wiggle room in the budget at the same time. Paying my debt off faster will then free up the money to start moving it to the house savings fund, and increase my Retirement contributions to start making better use of the room I have there. Things look fantastic when I get my debt paid off. Hopefully soon I'll be able to nail down the exact date of that happening. I can't right now since there's a chance it will be sooner than the current one I have.
I love lazy weekends!
I especially love them while you are still not quite over the illness you've been fighting. I got the flu just over a week ago. The only thing left is a pesky, flemmy cough - that is in no way unmanageable, just slightly irritating. I returned to work on Thursday after spending 5 days in bed/on the couch, resting and trying to let my body heal itself. Sleep is by far my best defense against any illness. For most of the second and third days I was unconscious in bed - every 3 hours or so. So that would be 3-4 hours of solid napping, then awake for about 2 and repeat, until Monday. Thankfully I was able to post-pone my exam that was supposed to be written on Wednesday, until a time in the future that both suits the professors schedule and mine. A nice thing - and the first time I've ever had to move an exam for any reason.
So back to this weekend...after having the flu I was not to interested in rushing into anything overly physical. I tried to curl my game on Thursday but had to leave because I was getting dizzy, hardly able to function without coughing, and barely had any sense of what I was doing. Though I could not find a spare, I should not have even attempted to play the game. Foolish me. No worries or anything, I went home and straight back to bed.
This weekend, C had to work overtime on Saturday (time and a half for him!) so I was able to sleep in until 10am, enjoy a lazy day to myself - which I red the third installment of the Twilight Saga, from 10am until 5:30pm when I finished the book. then watched two movies and went back to bed. Sunday was also lazy - Action Force cartoons in the morning, Gail over noon hour, did some dishes, and cross-stitched some of the present I'm giving to my best friend, and basically watched movies all afternoon yesterday. I did a little grocery shopping prior to The Amazing Race last evening, and that's about it for the weekend.
Saturday was a no-spend day, Friday was a no-spend day. Sunday and Thursday i spent some money - $51.50 on groceries Sunday, Gas, Book, and bills on Thursday. I have just under 2 weeks left in my budgeted money for the month ( I have to get to next payday for a top up), and so far I"m ahead of the game there I'd say! About time too!
Today will end up being a spend day - because Car Insurance comes out of the account, so I'll probably use some more of my entertainment budget to get the last book in the series tonight. Then I'll have something to do at lunch and after work this week. Though I should be studying some more - so I'm ready for the make-up exam.
Oh and I was inspired to start taking a look at my 2010 budget this weekend too. I have to wait a little longer to see about any potential raises so I can't finalize everything, but I do have scenarios set up just to see how things go. I have realized that if I can secure the equalization raise, I will be able to make a larger debt repayment, and have a bit more wiggle room in the budget at the same time. Paying my debt off faster will then free up the money to start moving it to the house savings fund, and increase my Retirement contributions to start making better use of the room I have there. Things look fantastic when I get my debt paid off. Hopefully soon I'll be able to nail down the exact date of that happening. I can't right now since there's a chance it will be sooner than the current one I have.
I love lazy weekends!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
An illness and 5 straight no-spend days
Well folks it got me. Yep, got me good.
Friday I woke up and thought ok today is Friday and my sister's stag and doe. Gotta make sure i've got everything I need ready and get out there at a half decent time to help set up and what not. By the time I got to work I realized something was seriously wrong.
Body aches were starting - and progressively got worse all day, and my throat was just killing me... oh oh!! Darn boss of mine that was getting sick has given it to me. No more phone sharing.
Friday night I knew I was to sick to make the drive from Kitchener to Streetsville for the Stag and Doe, and that I would probably infect someone while I was there - but it's my sister's stag and doe and I'm the maid of honour can't not go! Grr....
Made the most of the night - had a nice time, and everything went really well - felt like crap but I"m good at hiding that part.
Saturday morning however was quite another story. Can I tell you it's been a while since I've had a fever that long and felt that bad? Fever Saturday - check. Fever Sunday - check. Fever Monday yep check. That's three days of sleeping every 4 hours in intervals round the clock - under 3 blankets, with a sweatshirt, jogging pants and socks on and STILL not feeling warm. My boyfriend basically told me that at one point he came in to see how I was, laid down beside me and nearly called someone because I'm telling him I can't get warm, but I'm radiating like a heater - and my skin is red, my forehead feels like it's been in the sun for hours and yet I just can't get warm.
Not fun. Here I thought I had a cold with a cough and stuffy nose, only to get told yesterday when I went in for a refill on my puffer prescription that I have the flu.
Ok sure - the flu now comes with cold symptoms and a nasty, unrelenting cough. umm... kay?!?!??! I thought the flu was supposed to make you vomit and have diahhrea, not be able to keep food down and force you into liquids. Well this is new!
I'm back at work today - after three days off and a weekend of delusions. I feel almost better physically except for this stupid cough I can't get rid of, and I'm no longer dizzy when standing or delusional in the afternoon from lack of sleep, or too much, I don't know.
Don't feel too bad all things considered. Truthfully though, after 5 days of this I don't want it back - flu or cold. Still think I've got symptoms from both sides though - someone at work had a nasty cold, then the boss got the flu...my body seems to have taken some from both and mixed it around. All in all I've been very relaxed, caught up on sleep, and attempted to study for an exam I've had post-poned due to illness (flu like symptoms). It's the worst way to get some time off, but the best thing for that time off since you can't do anything except rest. Truthfully I'm gonna miss my soap today though (good thing for on demand!)
The best part is that I've not spent a single penny in 5 days now. The worst is there's a bunch of work to catch up on. Budget looks nice, jars still have money almost all the money in them, and my C did the grocery shopping himself this weekend in light of my illness. He even got me a reading light for the living room, and a lap-top cooling system for my computer. Such a sweet man I have! And though not flowers, I'll definitely get more use out of each item, and for way longer!!
Have a healthy week everyone!
Friday I woke up and thought ok today is Friday and my sister's stag and doe. Gotta make sure i've got everything I need ready and get out there at a half decent time to help set up and what not. By the time I got to work I realized something was seriously wrong.
Body aches were starting - and progressively got worse all day, and my throat was just killing me... oh oh!! Darn boss of mine that was getting sick has given it to me. No more phone sharing.
Friday night I knew I was to sick to make the drive from Kitchener to Streetsville for the Stag and Doe, and that I would probably infect someone while I was there - but it's my sister's stag and doe and I'm the maid of honour can't not go! Grr....
Made the most of the night - had a nice time, and everything went really well - felt like crap but I"m good at hiding that part.
Saturday morning however was quite another story. Can I tell you it's been a while since I've had a fever that long and felt that bad? Fever Saturday - check. Fever Sunday - check. Fever Monday yep check. That's three days of sleeping every 4 hours in intervals round the clock - under 3 blankets, with a sweatshirt, jogging pants and socks on and STILL not feeling warm. My boyfriend basically told me that at one point he came in to see how I was, laid down beside me and nearly called someone because I'm telling him I can't get warm, but I'm radiating like a heater - and my skin is red, my forehead feels like it's been in the sun for hours and yet I just can't get warm.
Not fun. Here I thought I had a cold with a cough and stuffy nose, only to get told yesterday when I went in for a refill on my puffer prescription that I have the flu.
Ok sure - the flu now comes with cold symptoms and a nasty, unrelenting cough. umm... kay?!?!??! I thought the flu was supposed to make you vomit and have diahhrea, not be able to keep food down and force you into liquids. Well this is new!
I'm back at work today - after three days off and a weekend of delusions. I feel almost better physically except for this stupid cough I can't get rid of, and I'm no longer dizzy when standing or delusional in the afternoon from lack of sleep, or too much, I don't know.
Don't feel too bad all things considered. Truthfully though, after 5 days of this I don't want it back - flu or cold. Still think I've got symptoms from both sides though - someone at work had a nasty cold, then the boss got the flu...my body seems to have taken some from both and mixed it around. All in all I've been very relaxed, caught up on sleep, and attempted to study for an exam I've had post-poned due to illness (flu like symptoms). It's the worst way to get some time off, but the best thing for that time off since you can't do anything except rest. Truthfully I'm gonna miss my soap today though (good thing for on demand!)
The best part is that I've not spent a single penny in 5 days now. The worst is there's a bunch of work to catch up on. Budget looks nice, jars still have money almost all the money in them, and my C did the grocery shopping himself this weekend in light of my illness. He even got me a reading light for the living room, and a lap-top cooling system for my computer. Such a sweet man I have! And though not flowers, I'll definitely get more use out of each item, and for way longer!!
Have a healthy week everyone!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Explaining myself
Ok - seems I need to explain myself further on this raise thing.
To begin, I have undertaken an entirely new position on top of the rest of what I do for the company - which is Office Manager come Accounts Receivable, come Environmental and Health and Safety Coordinator. Throw in a dose of Acting Plant Manager and Lab Technician and you have what I do in a year for the company. Since July I'm also the Sale Representative. This position was previously held by one person. He was making a salary somewhere in the area of 60% more than my current pay rate. As you can see, at any other company I would actually be three or four people. Since taking on this new position I am now doing the work of 4-5 other people.
The raise amount I spoke of in my last post of going in to negotiate a 15% raise, takes me from my salary, up tot he base pay that everyone else (aside from the lab technician) started at to do their one job. I am one of only three women who work for the company - one is a part-time accounts payable, one is the lab technician, found to replace the fact that I was doing that as part of my duties until last September when we found you needed one person to be solely dedicated to it, and myself. The Lab technician is being paid 95% of my previous salary, to only be the lab technician. The company as a whole was able to offer everyone at the beginning of this year. I was someone who garnered a raise, but with the fact that I'm still doing the equivalent of 4.5 peoples work, I know that I deserve another one.
What I'm going after is an equality in the salary, keeping in mind that I'll still be doing all the work I'm currently doing, but will be getting a more representative wage to keep doing that. I save the company lots of money for doing what I do - in that we haven't had to hire someone else to help me out yet.
I am in a unique situation that I would not otherwise be in. At any other place I would be happy asking for a 5-10% raise. though at any other place, I would only be doing one job, not 4.5. So, while I understand that there is the economy thing, and I understand that there aren't very many opportunities like mine for this much of a raise, I feel that I'm very just in asking about it.
This doesn't mean I'll get it and that is fine. Incidently, the 25% I'm asking for initially is the difference in my current salary to the next lowest salary. That is the difference between us.
And as an aside - the person making 25% more than I am, does not have an post secondary education, is trained by me, when he makes mistakes they are cleaned up by me, and when he needs information on the job goes only to me. I advise the partners of issues and suggest ways of solving the problems, I make sure the rest of the team has what they need to complete their job correctly, efficiently and to the customer's satisfaction. But I do not make what the rest of the team does. and when someone needs to stay late to get the stuff done that's me. If someone else on the team does a job outside normal working hours they get overtime pay. I do not.
So while 15-25% is definitely a huuuuuge amount to be asking for, especially now in these economic times, the savings to the company by me asking for it, instead of hiring someone else to come in to alleviate some of my work, is equally as huuuuuge.
The alternative is that I stop doing the tasks I currently do, let them hire someone else, and continue to make what I am doing less of the job I once was. Not that I'm opposed to this by any stretch of the imagination, because the day is coming when I'll need the help, in this economic time finding the money for a complete salary is a greater task than finding the money for a raise for me. 2/3 of the new person's salary can be saved by giving me the 15% raise.
An example:
We'd be looking for a receptionist, to look after data entry, answering phones, completing faxing and filing, and looking after receivables. This person would start at (just for this exercise) $38,000. The raise I'm looking for is 15% of my salary - and for purposes of this exercise that 15% would be $5,000. Instead of being out $38,000 per year, the company is already paying me my salary, so adding $5000 a year to that salary saves them $33,000 a year. In this economy it seems like a better option to give a raise to a work-horse rather than hire a new horse, train them and hope they stick around for a while.
For some of you, this would be the equivalent of taking on a new position for a leave of absence, ranked higher in pay class than yours, but still doing it for your current pay. The person who did that position before their leave of absence was making more than you, but work has decided they want you to do it because you have shown you are capable, but won't upgrade the pay to go with it. Effectively telling you that although the person who did this job before you made X, you aren't worth X so we'll pay you X-5. You were good enough to take over the position so they didn't have to hire a replacement, but you aren't good enough to earn what that person was earning simply because you are you and not that person.
Also - and I'll apologize for this now - it would be the same as some of the inequalities in salary based on the gender difference between the workers. As a man doing JOB 2 you earn $65,000 per year. A woman doing JOB 2 replacing you is only entitled to $50,000. You do the same job. You've been with the company the same length of time - even got hired on the same day. She outperforms you on some of the indicators, but in all other aspects of the job, your work is the same. Because she is a woman she isn't entitled to make the same wage you as a man are. The difference in pay would represent a 30% increase if she were to be equated to your salary. (Difference is $15,000. $15,000 is 30% of $50,000). Would she be right in asking for a 30% pay increase?
Like I said, I know that 15% is a lot for a raise - no matter what the economy is doing. I do the equivalent work of about 4 people at any of my competitors companies. Let's say each of those people make $40,000 per year. That's 4 x $40,000 = $160,000 per year in salary pay outs. I do not make $40,000. I do not make $80,000 (2 $40,000 people). My salary does not even represent 1.5 salaries of the math from above. So while 15% or even 25% seems quite huge, in the grand scheme of things this is only a drop in the bucket compared to the expenditures we could have.
To begin, I have undertaken an entirely new position on top of the rest of what I do for the company - which is Office Manager come Accounts Receivable, come Environmental and Health and Safety Coordinator. Throw in a dose of Acting Plant Manager and Lab Technician and you have what I do in a year for the company. Since July I'm also the Sale Representative. This position was previously held by one person. He was making a salary somewhere in the area of 60% more than my current pay rate. As you can see, at any other company I would actually be three or four people. Since taking on this new position I am now doing the work of 4-5 other people.
The raise amount I spoke of in my last post of going in to negotiate a 15% raise, takes me from my salary, up tot he base pay that everyone else (aside from the lab technician) started at to do their one job. I am one of only three women who work for the company - one is a part-time accounts payable, one is the lab technician, found to replace the fact that I was doing that as part of my duties until last September when we found you needed one person to be solely dedicated to it, and myself. The Lab technician is being paid 95% of my previous salary, to only be the lab technician. The company as a whole was able to offer everyone at the beginning of this year. I was someone who garnered a raise, but with the fact that I'm still doing the equivalent of 4.5 peoples work, I know that I deserve another one.
What I'm going after is an equality in the salary, keeping in mind that I'll still be doing all the work I'm currently doing, but will be getting a more representative wage to keep doing that. I save the company lots of money for doing what I do - in that we haven't had to hire someone else to help me out yet.
I am in a unique situation that I would not otherwise be in. At any other place I would be happy asking for a 5-10% raise. though at any other place, I would only be doing one job, not 4.5. So, while I understand that there is the economy thing, and I understand that there aren't very many opportunities like mine for this much of a raise, I feel that I'm very just in asking about it.
This doesn't mean I'll get it and that is fine. Incidently, the 25% I'm asking for initially is the difference in my current salary to the next lowest salary. That is the difference between us.
And as an aside - the person making 25% more than I am, does not have an post secondary education, is trained by me, when he makes mistakes they are cleaned up by me, and when he needs information on the job goes only to me. I advise the partners of issues and suggest ways of solving the problems, I make sure the rest of the team has what they need to complete their job correctly, efficiently and to the customer's satisfaction. But I do not make what the rest of the team does. and when someone needs to stay late to get the stuff done that's me. If someone else on the team does a job outside normal working hours they get overtime pay. I do not.
So while 15-25% is definitely a huuuuuge amount to be asking for, especially now in these economic times, the savings to the company by me asking for it, instead of hiring someone else to come in to alleviate some of my work, is equally as huuuuuge.
The alternative is that I stop doing the tasks I currently do, let them hire someone else, and continue to make what I am doing less of the job I once was. Not that I'm opposed to this by any stretch of the imagination, because the day is coming when I'll need the help, in this economic time finding the money for a complete salary is a greater task than finding the money for a raise for me. 2/3 of the new person's salary can be saved by giving me the 15% raise.
An example:
We'd be looking for a receptionist, to look after data entry, answering phones, completing faxing and filing, and looking after receivables. This person would start at (just for this exercise) $38,000. The raise I'm looking for is 15% of my salary - and for purposes of this exercise that 15% would be $5,000. Instead of being out $38,000 per year, the company is already paying me my salary, so adding $5000 a year to that salary saves them $33,000 a year. In this economy it seems like a better option to give a raise to a work-horse rather than hire a new horse, train them and hope they stick around for a while.
For some of you, this would be the equivalent of taking on a new position for a leave of absence, ranked higher in pay class than yours, but still doing it for your current pay. The person who did that position before their leave of absence was making more than you, but work has decided they want you to do it because you have shown you are capable, but won't upgrade the pay to go with it. Effectively telling you that although the person who did this job before you made X, you aren't worth X so we'll pay you X-5. You were good enough to take over the position so they didn't have to hire a replacement, but you aren't good enough to earn what that person was earning simply because you are you and not that person.
Also - and I'll apologize for this now - it would be the same as some of the inequalities in salary based on the gender difference between the workers. As a man doing JOB 2 you earn $65,000 per year. A woman doing JOB 2 replacing you is only entitled to $50,000. You do the same job. You've been with the company the same length of time - even got hired on the same day. She outperforms you on some of the indicators, but in all other aspects of the job, your work is the same. Because she is a woman she isn't entitled to make the same wage you as a man are. The difference in pay would represent a 30% increase if she were to be equated to your salary. (Difference is $15,000. $15,000 is 30% of $50,000). Would she be right in asking for a 30% pay increase?
Like I said, I know that 15% is a lot for a raise - no matter what the economy is doing. I do the equivalent work of about 4 people at any of my competitors companies. Let's say each of those people make $40,000 per year. That's 4 x $40,000 = $160,000 per year in salary pay outs. I do not make $40,000. I do not make $80,000 (2 $40,000 people). My salary does not even represent 1.5 salaries of the math from above. So while 15% or even 25% seems quite huge, in the grand scheme of things this is only a drop in the bucket compared to the expenditures we could have.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Raise amounts
Ok everyone - I had a really good question on the post about negotiations so I thought I'd do one on raise amounts.
I have worked in a few different industries - ones where there is a set performance evaluation procedure and ones where there isn't. My raise amount of 15% is slightly high for most industries. My raise amount comes from the fact that my company is small, I know what the base pay is for the level I want to be at is and I know that there are people who have been with the company less time than me making this amount. While I am not in a union with this company, there are certain things that I do that my company relies on me for, that should warrant the pay equity.
Typically if I were any other place, the most I would hope for, unless exemplary work above and beyond the call of duty on multiple occasions was the case, I'd be looking for a solid 10% increase. Many companies have indicators in place that will help you with this. If you work in a company that does not have anything in place for raises, it would be a good idea to sit down and look at everything you've accomplished in the position since you began.
This list of tasks that you complete, and projects you were a major contributor too will help you find the key points that you should highlight in the communication with your boss. For me, my task list runs about 2 hand written pages of everything I was doing (until a year ago). There is a distinct portion of that list that was used to hire someone else, however I am now the stand in when that person goes on holiday. I also do things like stand in for a plant manager, and currently I am looking after the sales section of the business, due to some internal restructuring. Previously that position was held by a company partner (obviously making quite a bit more than I am to do that job). This is where I am getting my numbers from. In my first year with the company I helped keep running the entire plant while we searched for a new manager. The position was offered to me 4 months in with the company but I felt that I lacked sufficient experience and time in the industry to properly handle to position and thus helped look for a full-time new person.
All of these things lend themselves to reasons why I feel I deserve the raise amount. One last thing is that I was told how much was available for my raise at the beginning of this year. While I was not given the full amount available, I feel that my work this year warrants the second half of that amount now. I am also one of two people with enough work on their plate to warrant hiring another person. The problem is I have to convince them of a raise prior to this, otherwise I will not ever get there. The company I work for hasn't given raises in a very long time so I know my window is small to receive a second one.
If you are looking at judging your own work, do so with a non-biased eye. Try putting yourself in your bosses shoes when evaluating your work and see if you can see things from their point of view. This will help when you are met with reluctance.
For instance, currently I am the Sales Manager, Accounts Receivable, Client Care and Customer Service, I am working on year end reporting for the plant division, I do monthly summaries of material movements, quarterly summaries, and yearly summaries and audits. I handle Environmental Compliance, Health and Safety and Driver Training. I am also well versed in Environmental and Municipal regulations that govern the work we do. In between all of that, I carry our 24 hour emergency line with me, am typically the only person physically in the office for the clients to actually speak to and do any and all requests from all sides of the company. That means I'm also the Office Manager. Oh and I'm also the problem cleaner-upper and the mistake corrector. Not only my own, but everyone elses. And in case that wasn't enough, I am aiding the database designer to complete a comprehensive database for our needs, and will be running the testing and duplication of the current database until everyone is happy with everything. I will have help with testing, but mostly it'll be me finding the bugs.
So you can understand why I have so many hats, and why I'm looking for a raise. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to get much more than 15% of my current salary (Did i mention I'm salaried?), but ultimately I'll start at 25% and let them talk me down from there. Can't hurt to try. Worst they can say is no.
Typically 10% per year is a good amount to go for though. This will take care of cost of living increases (generally about 4% per year) and give you a bit more for good work. The previous place I was in gave me 10% after a year and a half with them, and would have given another raise but I left for the current job I have. (At 13% above the new amount at my old place, and a probation raise of 15% after my first 3 months). After two years with them they gave me a 16% for the first two years worth of work. Since I've taken on the work of another manager for the second half of this year, and straightened out the receivables and am currently on top of those, I'm hoping I've done enough to warrant the next 15%.
Perhaps I've lost you. Here is a different way to look at it...
if you make $30,000 per year now (gross), a 10% increase would put you at $33,000. If you make $45,000 now, a 15% increase would bump you to $51,750. (15% of your current gross salary, plus your salary is how I'm getting this). 10% is quite a jump for most places.
When I was with the City, we had to complete performance evaluations, goals for the year and outline one major project you'd like to undertake. They used key performance indicators to help the workers understand what they had to do to get their 10% for the next year. Each year both the boss and the worker would fill one out, sit down and discuss them, find projects and undertakings that were coming up that the worker could show they abilities in and outline areas of improvement that were necessary. At the end of that, you would determine what your goals for next year would be, and then submit those to the commission of the department you worked in. He/She would review those with your manager and determine the value of your increase, if you deserved one. You know those salary listings of $45,000 - $65,000, well that would be how you would move up through that range. Sometimes you'd cap out and then a job re-evaluation was used to adjust the pay grade associated with it. Once the re-evaluation was complete, you'd end up with a new range and continue to be able to excel in the position. If there wasn't a change, it was time to find a new pay grade position.
I hope this help some of you out there with your decision to approach your manager with the idea of a raise in mind. In case you are wondering, i have not had that meeting yet, but when I do I will begin by asking if there is a chance that I might be able to increase my pay at my company. Depending on the answer to this will then dictate the direction I take in the discussion. if things seem open to hearing about why I think I warrant an increase, I'll open the negotiations. If it is shot down immediately, I'll know that if I want more money I may have to go somewhere else.
Good luck - I'll keep you all posted about my negotiations and their outcome!
I have worked in a few different industries - ones where there is a set performance evaluation procedure and ones where there isn't. My raise amount of 15% is slightly high for most industries. My raise amount comes from the fact that my company is small, I know what the base pay is for the level I want to be at is and I know that there are people who have been with the company less time than me making this amount. While I am not in a union with this company, there are certain things that I do that my company relies on me for, that should warrant the pay equity.
Typically if I were any other place, the most I would hope for, unless exemplary work above and beyond the call of duty on multiple occasions was the case, I'd be looking for a solid 10% increase. Many companies have indicators in place that will help you with this. If you work in a company that does not have anything in place for raises, it would be a good idea to sit down and look at everything you've accomplished in the position since you began.
This list of tasks that you complete, and projects you were a major contributor too will help you find the key points that you should highlight in the communication with your boss. For me, my task list runs about 2 hand written pages of everything I was doing (until a year ago). There is a distinct portion of that list that was used to hire someone else, however I am now the stand in when that person goes on holiday. I also do things like stand in for a plant manager, and currently I am looking after the sales section of the business, due to some internal restructuring. Previously that position was held by a company partner (obviously making quite a bit more than I am to do that job). This is where I am getting my numbers from. In my first year with the company I helped keep running the entire plant while we searched for a new manager. The position was offered to me 4 months in with the company but I felt that I lacked sufficient experience and time in the industry to properly handle to position and thus helped look for a full-time new person.
All of these things lend themselves to reasons why I feel I deserve the raise amount. One last thing is that I was told how much was available for my raise at the beginning of this year. While I was not given the full amount available, I feel that my work this year warrants the second half of that amount now. I am also one of two people with enough work on their plate to warrant hiring another person. The problem is I have to convince them of a raise prior to this, otherwise I will not ever get there. The company I work for hasn't given raises in a very long time so I know my window is small to receive a second one.
If you are looking at judging your own work, do so with a non-biased eye. Try putting yourself in your bosses shoes when evaluating your work and see if you can see things from their point of view. This will help when you are met with reluctance.
For instance, currently I am the Sales Manager, Accounts Receivable, Client Care and Customer Service, I am working on year end reporting for the plant division, I do monthly summaries of material movements, quarterly summaries, and yearly summaries and audits. I handle Environmental Compliance, Health and Safety and Driver Training. I am also well versed in Environmental and Municipal regulations that govern the work we do. In between all of that, I carry our 24 hour emergency line with me, am typically the only person physically in the office for the clients to actually speak to and do any and all requests from all sides of the company. That means I'm also the Office Manager. Oh and I'm also the problem cleaner-upper and the mistake corrector. Not only my own, but everyone elses. And in case that wasn't enough, I am aiding the database designer to complete a comprehensive database for our needs, and will be running the testing and duplication of the current database until everyone is happy with everything. I will have help with testing, but mostly it'll be me finding the bugs.
So you can understand why I have so many hats, and why I'm looking for a raise. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to get much more than 15% of my current salary (Did i mention I'm salaried?), but ultimately I'll start at 25% and let them talk me down from there. Can't hurt to try. Worst they can say is no.
Typically 10% per year is a good amount to go for though. This will take care of cost of living increases (generally about 4% per year) and give you a bit more for good work. The previous place I was in gave me 10% after a year and a half with them, and would have given another raise but I left for the current job I have. (At 13% above the new amount at my old place, and a probation raise of 15% after my first 3 months). After two years with them they gave me a 16% for the first two years worth of work. Since I've taken on the work of another manager for the second half of this year, and straightened out the receivables and am currently on top of those, I'm hoping I've done enough to warrant the next 15%.
Perhaps I've lost you. Here is a different way to look at it...
if you make $30,000 per year now (gross), a 10% increase would put you at $33,000. If you make $45,000 now, a 15% increase would bump you to $51,750. (15% of your current gross salary, plus your salary is how I'm getting this). 10% is quite a jump for most places.
When I was with the City, we had to complete performance evaluations, goals for the year and outline one major project you'd like to undertake. They used key performance indicators to help the workers understand what they had to do to get their 10% for the next year. Each year both the boss and the worker would fill one out, sit down and discuss them, find projects and undertakings that were coming up that the worker could show they abilities in and outline areas of improvement that were necessary. At the end of that, you would determine what your goals for next year would be, and then submit those to the commission of the department you worked in. He/She would review those with your manager and determine the value of your increase, if you deserved one. You know those salary listings of $45,000 - $65,000, well that would be how you would move up through that range. Sometimes you'd cap out and then a job re-evaluation was used to adjust the pay grade associated with it. Once the re-evaluation was complete, you'd end up with a new range and continue to be able to excel in the position. If there wasn't a change, it was time to find a new pay grade position.
I hope this help some of you out there with your decision to approach your manager with the idea of a raise in mind. In case you are wondering, i have not had that meeting yet, but when I do I will begin by asking if there is a chance that I might be able to increase my pay at my company. Depending on the answer to this will then dictate the direction I take in the discussion. if things seem open to hearing about why I think I warrant an increase, I'll open the negotiations. If it is shot down immediately, I'll know that if I want more money I may have to go somewhere else.
Good luck - I'll keep you all posted about my negotiations and their outcome!
Negotiation Points for a Potential Raise.
After speaking with my Gail Club last week, I have found that I need to have a clear direction to my thoughts on negotiating a raise from my company.
I had many great suggestions, so this post will be on negotiation points.
It seems lately that the economy has turned and affected a great many people. I am fortunate to be working for a company that may see a slight down turn in business in one sector but a large upswing in another.
If it needs doing, I do it. If it needs fixing, I fix it. If it needs training, I train it. If it needs help, I help it. Got the picture? Ok. Essentially I wear many hats during my day. I have had a section of duties replaced by another body - who is now making what I did before my raise this year, and only completing those specific duties for the money. Perhaps I'm the fool here.
Needless to say, there are a few things I'd like to get out of negotiations:
1. More money.
2. An extra week of vacation now (to 3 weeks paid) and a extra one after 5 years (to 4 weeks paid)
3. Some way of having the time to complete the last of my studies, as ultimately it betters the company if this is done.
I am looking for, ideally, a 15% increase in my wages for next year, as well as the extra week off paid. If I'm able to also work in a stipulation that gives me the ability to take the remaining courses to complete my education then that's a bonus.
My bottom line for negotiations is this - a 15% increase in wages and one extra week off a year paid. If I can't get the education stipulation os be it - I'll figure out another way of doing this. In case you are wondering, I have many hats, I'm not allowed to work overtime, and I'm supposed to be only in the office during my alloted time frame, so those hats often get moved around to only wearing the highest priority that day. Needless to say I push a lot of work until the end of the week, once things slow down that I can plug away at the rest. Often there are times when I'd like to use a weekend to complete some things but since I'm not supposed to I don't. Lately this small factor is catching up to us as a company, thus the need for the meeting.
There are lots of reasons for things that I'm not "allowed" to do, and I ill not be discussing them, so please don't ask.
The point is I do about 4 people's jobs in any given week, sometimes in any given day, and I only make my current wage. If we split the work and hire someone else, they'll be making a comparable salary to do only one of the fours sets I currently do. It's time to discuss this since I'm finding an inequality here.
My meeting is supposed to happen this week, so I'll be spending some of the day working out my proposal for them.
Any suggestions would be helpful, as to your potential approach. In case you are wondering the 15% would bump me up to be equal with what most of the workers here make, and mean that although I do most of their job for them, save for physically doing the job, and I have to make sure they are trained, it would go a long way to showing that I'm an equal contributor to the company. Which is ultimately what I'm looking for.
I"ll post more about this once I've had a chance to sit down and figure out my proposal.
I had many great suggestions, so this post will be on negotiation points.
It seems lately that the economy has turned and affected a great many people. I am fortunate to be working for a company that may see a slight down turn in business in one sector but a large upswing in another.
If it needs doing, I do it. If it needs fixing, I fix it. If it needs training, I train it. If it needs help, I help it. Got the picture? Ok. Essentially I wear many hats during my day. I have had a section of duties replaced by another body - who is now making what I did before my raise this year, and only completing those specific duties for the money. Perhaps I'm the fool here.
Needless to say, there are a few things I'd like to get out of negotiations:
1. More money.
2. An extra week of vacation now (to 3 weeks paid) and a extra one after 5 years (to 4 weeks paid)
3. Some way of having the time to complete the last of my studies, as ultimately it betters the company if this is done.
I am looking for, ideally, a 15% increase in my wages for next year, as well as the extra week off paid. If I'm able to also work in a stipulation that gives me the ability to take the remaining courses to complete my education then that's a bonus.
My bottom line for negotiations is this - a 15% increase in wages and one extra week off a year paid. If I can't get the education stipulation os be it - I'll figure out another way of doing this. In case you are wondering, I have many hats, I'm not allowed to work overtime, and I'm supposed to be only in the office during my alloted time frame, so those hats often get moved around to only wearing the highest priority that day. Needless to say I push a lot of work until the end of the week, once things slow down that I can plug away at the rest. Often there are times when I'd like to use a weekend to complete some things but since I'm not supposed to I don't. Lately this small factor is catching up to us as a company, thus the need for the meeting.
There are lots of reasons for things that I'm not "allowed" to do, and I ill not be discussing them, so please don't ask.
The point is I do about 4 people's jobs in any given week, sometimes in any given day, and I only make my current wage. If we split the work and hire someone else, they'll be making a comparable salary to do only one of the fours sets I currently do. It's time to discuss this since I'm finding an inequality here.
My meeting is supposed to happen this week, so I'll be spending some of the day working out my proposal for them.
Any suggestions would be helpful, as to your potential approach. In case you are wondering the 15% would bump me up to be equal with what most of the workers here make, and mean that although I do most of their job for them, save for physically doing the job, and I have to make sure they are trained, it would go a long way to showing that I'm an equal contributor to the company. Which is ultimately what I'm looking for.
I"ll post more about this once I've had a chance to sit down and figure out my proposal.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The End of Tuesday
So I sit here watching a rerun of a favourite show and thought I'd take a few minute to update the blogging world. Pay day was Thursday. I've allocated everything that should be going somewhere. I even paid $589.28 to my debt. I have another $500 payment scheduled for next pay day. I am NOT one of those lucky Canadians who get tomorrow off for Remembrance Day. It is not a stat holiday unless you work for some kind of governmental building that didn't negotiate it out, or a company that managed to keep it as a given paid holiday for their workers. I am one of those persons who are working tomorrow. *le sigh*
In other news. I've finished 2 books this month already. This evening I have finished the project I was working on - I have to iron it and sew the backing down but it's done otherwise.
Also in other news, I will be having a meeting with my superiors to discuss the current work I'm doing and what we are going to do about it. I'm hoping for a discussion on my current wages for the work I'm doing. My hope is that I'll be able to negotiate a wage increase for the work I am doing, and the pile that is coming in about 12 days. Life is about to get hectic. Perhaps I'll even be able to negotiate some overtime for some of this work.
Something else I did today was check out what would happen to my debt repayments if I am able to negotiate a raise. Sine i understand approximately how much I'll be looking for in that raise, I figured out that it will effectively take my current Debt Free Date of December 31, 2011 to March 31, 2011. Which is a lovely birthday present for my 32nd birthday.
Well that's about it for today I guess. It is late and I have to work in the morning.
Good night Tuesday!
In other news. I've finished 2 books this month already. This evening I have finished the project I was working on - I have to iron it and sew the backing down but it's done otherwise.
Also in other news, I will be having a meeting with my superiors to discuss the current work I'm doing and what we are going to do about it. I'm hoping for a discussion on my current wages for the work I'm doing. My hope is that I'll be able to negotiate a wage increase for the work I am doing, and the pile that is coming in about 12 days. Life is about to get hectic. Perhaps I'll even be able to negotiate some overtime for some of this work.
Something else I did today was check out what would happen to my debt repayments if I am able to negotiate a raise. Sine i understand approximately how much I'll be looking for in that raise, I figured out that it will effectively take my current Debt Free Date of December 31, 2011 to March 31, 2011. Which is a lovely birthday present for my 32nd birthday.
Well that's about it for today I guess. It is late and I have to work in the morning.
Good night Tuesday!
Monday, November 09, 2009
A Monday of all Mondays!
All I have to say is holy cow!
First, the weekend was fabulous. For C's birthday we went to see Cirque de Soliel under the Big Top - Ovo - was fantastic! I spent Saturday morning reading while see was at work, the afternoon enjoying his company and just sitting with him while he relaxed before we left. Sunday, the actual day of his birthday, we got up, made breakfast and watched The Action Force cartoons. We cleaned up the apartment, did the dishes, and laundry, then went to his grandparent's for a lovely dinner. I managed to read again for most of the day. I completed one book and got half way through another - that's about 1000 pages of reading just for those who are counting.
As for the money thing...
Bought my Mom, Gramma and Poppa's Christmas gifts, C's birthday gift was already paid for in advance, parking for the event and gas that was needed came form the work expense account I set up. I spent $55 on myself for the first time in a long time and have $60 in the work account for any hidden travel costs that could arise this month. That's enough for about 2 gas fill-ups provided I don't let the tank get below a quarter.
I have removed the money for the jars for the month and will be spending $34 tonight at the chriopractor's. It's off to kickbox after that, then home for some reading time. I'm 2/3 of the way through New Moon. I can understand why people are enjoying this series so much. And I have not biassed myself too badly with the movie trailers. I have not yet seen the movies, and I'm almost afraid too - I still can't see Robert Patterson as Edward but that's just my opinion.
So far this month, I have finished 1 book, nearly two, I will have to study a lot harder for my next exam. I did not put in the effort i should have for the mark I was looking for. I know this as I received my mark back and was upset with myself on it. So, time to buckle down and properly prepare for this next one.
That's about all I have time for on the update. Sunday was a no spend day.
First, the weekend was fabulous. For C's birthday we went to see Cirque de Soliel under the Big Top - Ovo - was fantastic! I spent Saturday morning reading while see was at work, the afternoon enjoying his company and just sitting with him while he relaxed before we left. Sunday, the actual day of his birthday, we got up, made breakfast and watched The Action Force cartoons. We cleaned up the apartment, did the dishes, and laundry, then went to his grandparent's for a lovely dinner. I managed to read again for most of the day. I completed one book and got half way through another - that's about 1000 pages of reading just for those who are counting.
As for the money thing...
Bought my Mom, Gramma and Poppa's Christmas gifts, C's birthday gift was already paid for in advance, parking for the event and gas that was needed came form the work expense account I set up. I spent $55 on myself for the first time in a long time and have $60 in the work account for any hidden travel costs that could arise this month. That's enough for about 2 gas fill-ups provided I don't let the tank get below a quarter.
I have removed the money for the jars for the month and will be spending $34 tonight at the chriopractor's. It's off to kickbox after that, then home for some reading time. I'm 2/3 of the way through New Moon. I can understand why people are enjoying this series so much. And I have not biassed myself too badly with the movie trailers. I have not yet seen the movies, and I'm almost afraid too - I still can't see Robert Patterson as Edward but that's just my opinion.
So far this month, I have finished 1 book, nearly two, I will have to study a lot harder for my next exam. I did not put in the effort i should have for the mark I was looking for. I know this as I received my mark back and was upset with myself on it. So, time to buckle down and properly prepare for this next one.
That's about all I have time for on the update. Sunday was a no spend day.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Perhaps there's some hidden savings I don't yet know about...
Ah Wednesday! Middle of the week, evening of class, visit with best friend, long long drive...
I've been reading around the block at some pretty amazing accomplishments of my fellow finance bloggers lately and have come to the conclusion that I must, MUST be more disciplined in my efforts to get to debt free. I squandered a few opportunities to get myself out earlier, but no more!
I've also found some pretty interesting future events that may aid in this quest. One being the need for an expense account for work - to combat the sudden travel and eating items that seem to pop up unexpectedly these days. A second one being the opportunity to negotiate myself a raise. In both cases this will alleviate the strain that has arisen on my current budget, and afford me opportunities to increase my efforts in paying back my debt. Also, I have to confess something about my current debt repayment. Prior to July I had applied for a card with a 0% introductory offer to balance transfer some of my current CC balance to effectively pay no interest while I pay this amount off. If the situation I was in had stayed the same, I would have been using the amount for rent as part of my debt repayment, and effectively paying both off quickly with concrete firm steps forward. Since the situation changed pretty much the next month, I will not be saving as much in interest as I had originally calculated, I have to pay rent, and so the amount for debt repayment is not as much as was anticipated.
That being said the speed at which the debt bar is moving is quite sluggish - I'm not impressed and currently regret the transfer of the original funds.
I have saved myself a potential $345 dollars for making the switch though (based on the current interest rate on my current credit card over one year) So, based on all this, I have a debt free date of November 2011. That's 24 months from now.
I would like to move this date closer to present, so as to be able to begin saving for a house of my own, and a wedding in the future, and move from our current apartment into a lovely place to begin a family in. Ultimately I like the idea of buying and paying off a house in which I can grow old and only worry about maintenance and up-keep costs in the later years of my life. I also like that fact that I'll have the option later of selling, recovering some money and moving to a retirement community or something when the days become lonely. In case you are wondering, it is a genetic trait in my family that the women live until their 90's, get ill and pass on near 95. The husbands usually check out round about the 80 mark, so there is a full ten years worth of life I'm anticipating being alone for. My Great Grandmothers (all four of them) passed between 94 and 97, my Great Great Grandmother passed at 96, my Great, Great, Great Grandmother passed at 92 - you can see the trend here. Alas, an inevitability only ended by accident thus far (any woman passing before then went in some kind of horrible accident so say the geneology pages of the family history). Our men, however, are hard working labour types, that retire, spend some time at home and then pass near around the 78-82 mark. My Grandfather is 78 this year.
I digress...
My point here is this - I need to find ways to cut back on my expenses, increase my debt repayment amounts and live within my budget. A raise is a nice way, but I'm sure there are other things in my budget I have yet to look at...
One place I know of is in my cell phone. I have a land line for home use, which I use more than my cell phone now. I have a work cell phone that is with me 24/7 and I use more since my personal cell has a 416 number and is long distance from anywhere else. The problem is I locked into a 3 year contract with my current provider and I have 2 years left on my contract. Though, C has said he wants to get one so we are starting to look at plan sharing rates and things. Perhaps this will save some money across the board. We'll have to see. Otherwise we'll get him one and I"ll dump my non-work number.
Other places I could cut back may be in entertainment - have people over instead of going out for things. I'm starting to make my own foods now so this will help save some money on the Food budget. keep in mind I only pay for half of that in a month. C handles the remainder. Once school is finished I"ll save a little on transportation - driving to London for night classes gets expensive. However, once night classes are done, I have day classes left - so this may still be the case for a little while longer. This is also a source of negotiations for work - as part of my degree will have a Chemical Distinction with it, making me the only trained chemical person in the company...
The Clothing and Gift's Budget is spent on Gifts - I haven't bought clothes in forever - in June I bought myself a sundress for the summer. So Gifts is where this goes. I have had weddings and birthdays that this has been used for, otherwise I'd be saving it for sometime in the future - Christmas probably.
My Miscellaneous Category is $22.50 for the month. For me it's like a "just in case" jar. I don't know if there is anything I can do with it. That leaves Medical at $125 per month, and Entertainment at $58.50 per month. Medical I get $1500 from the company for anything medical. I have to pay up front and then wait for the reimbursement cheque later. This $125 is reflexive of this amount. What that means is, by the end of the year, if I do this right, I"ll have a surplus in the category I'm budgeting because of the reimbursement. I do not get all of it back - as it is a taxable benefit, but I get most of it back. If i take the $125 out each month and faithfully add it to this jar, I'll have a jar filled with $1500 - taxes at the end of the year. I can then reset the budget and use the surplus in the category for debt. Once the debt is gone, Emergency Fund, House Savings, RRSP contribution, Wedding Money, Christmas presents or something else will get the money. The trick is not to touch it until year end. This will add about one extra payment a year to the debt plan.
I also have to set up a fund for work expenses - using work expense money. This will include meals out with clients, extra gas due to work travel, and some money to repair the car with. Keeping this fund topped to $500 should be sufficient. Each cheque I get will put back the money I spend so this will be an ever constant fund. Any surplus from mileage will go to a car repairs for the year. Effectively this will mean that work will end up paying for the car repairs I may need through out the year, as well as regular maintenance tune-ups I make. A nice bonus for me - and perhaps a reduction in my transportation budgeted money.
2010 is two months away. I'll have some expense cheques coming back, an extra paycheck in December and a Christmas Bonus cheque to help set up all the jars to start the new year. It will give me the buffer I need to stop living paycheck to paycheck and begin living on last months' money this month. This will ease some of my stresses over money I think, have the added bonus of starting off on the right foot for the new year, and help me stay on track so I can better roll with the punches, and my homies!
(Wow this got long!) Thanks for reading!
I've been reading around the block at some pretty amazing accomplishments of my fellow finance bloggers lately and have come to the conclusion that I must, MUST be more disciplined in my efforts to get to debt free. I squandered a few opportunities to get myself out earlier, but no more!
I've also found some pretty interesting future events that may aid in this quest. One being the need for an expense account for work - to combat the sudden travel and eating items that seem to pop up unexpectedly these days. A second one being the opportunity to negotiate myself a raise. In both cases this will alleviate the strain that has arisen on my current budget, and afford me opportunities to increase my efforts in paying back my debt. Also, I have to confess something about my current debt repayment. Prior to July I had applied for a card with a 0% introductory offer to balance transfer some of my current CC balance to effectively pay no interest while I pay this amount off. If the situation I was in had stayed the same, I would have been using the amount for rent as part of my debt repayment, and effectively paying both off quickly with concrete firm steps forward. Since the situation changed pretty much the next month, I will not be saving as much in interest as I had originally calculated, I have to pay rent, and so the amount for debt repayment is not as much as was anticipated.
That being said the speed at which the debt bar is moving is quite sluggish - I'm not impressed and currently regret the transfer of the original funds.
I have saved myself a potential $345 dollars for making the switch though (based on the current interest rate on my current credit card over one year) So, based on all this, I have a debt free date of November 2011. That's 24 months from now.
I would like to move this date closer to present, so as to be able to begin saving for a house of my own, and a wedding in the future, and move from our current apartment into a lovely place to begin a family in. Ultimately I like the idea of buying and paying off a house in which I can grow old and only worry about maintenance and up-keep costs in the later years of my life. I also like that fact that I'll have the option later of selling, recovering some money and moving to a retirement community or something when the days become lonely. In case you are wondering, it is a genetic trait in my family that the women live until their 90's, get ill and pass on near 95. The husbands usually check out round about the 80 mark, so there is a full ten years worth of life I'm anticipating being alone for. My Great Grandmothers (all four of them) passed between 94 and 97, my Great Great Grandmother passed at 96, my Great, Great, Great Grandmother passed at 92 - you can see the trend here. Alas, an inevitability only ended by accident thus far (any woman passing before then went in some kind of horrible accident so say the geneology pages of the family history). Our men, however, are hard working labour types, that retire, spend some time at home and then pass near around the 78-82 mark. My Grandfather is 78 this year.
I digress...
My point here is this - I need to find ways to cut back on my expenses, increase my debt repayment amounts and live within my budget. A raise is a nice way, but I'm sure there are other things in my budget I have yet to look at...
One place I know of is in my cell phone. I have a land line for home use, which I use more than my cell phone now. I have a work cell phone that is with me 24/7 and I use more since my personal cell has a 416 number and is long distance from anywhere else. The problem is I locked into a 3 year contract with my current provider and I have 2 years left on my contract. Though, C has said he wants to get one so we are starting to look at plan sharing rates and things. Perhaps this will save some money across the board. We'll have to see. Otherwise we'll get him one and I"ll dump my non-work number.
Other places I could cut back may be in entertainment - have people over instead of going out for things. I'm starting to make my own foods now so this will help save some money on the Food budget. keep in mind I only pay for half of that in a month. C handles the remainder. Once school is finished I"ll save a little on transportation - driving to London for night classes gets expensive. However, once night classes are done, I have day classes left - so this may still be the case for a little while longer. This is also a source of negotiations for work - as part of my degree will have a Chemical Distinction with it, making me the only trained chemical person in the company...
The Clothing and Gift's Budget is spent on Gifts - I haven't bought clothes in forever - in June I bought myself a sundress for the summer. So Gifts is where this goes. I have had weddings and birthdays that this has been used for, otherwise I'd be saving it for sometime in the future - Christmas probably.
My Miscellaneous Category is $22.50 for the month. For me it's like a "just in case" jar. I don't know if there is anything I can do with it. That leaves Medical at $125 per month, and Entertainment at $58.50 per month. Medical I get $1500 from the company for anything medical. I have to pay up front and then wait for the reimbursement cheque later. This $125 is reflexive of this amount. What that means is, by the end of the year, if I do this right, I"ll have a surplus in the category I'm budgeting because of the reimbursement. I do not get all of it back - as it is a taxable benefit, but I get most of it back. If i take the $125 out each month and faithfully add it to this jar, I'll have a jar filled with $1500 - taxes at the end of the year. I can then reset the budget and use the surplus in the category for debt. Once the debt is gone, Emergency Fund, House Savings, RRSP contribution, Wedding Money, Christmas presents or something else will get the money. The trick is not to touch it until year end. This will add about one extra payment a year to the debt plan.
I also have to set up a fund for work expenses - using work expense money. This will include meals out with clients, extra gas due to work travel, and some money to repair the car with. Keeping this fund topped to $500 should be sufficient. Each cheque I get will put back the money I spend so this will be an ever constant fund. Any surplus from mileage will go to a car repairs for the year. Effectively this will mean that work will end up paying for the car repairs I may need through out the year, as well as regular maintenance tune-ups I make. A nice bonus for me - and perhaps a reduction in my transportation budgeted money.
2010 is two months away. I'll have some expense cheques coming back, an extra paycheck in December and a Christmas Bonus cheque to help set up all the jars to start the new year. It will give me the buffer I need to stop living paycheck to paycheck and begin living on last months' money this month. This will ease some of my stresses over money I think, have the added bonus of starting off on the right foot for the new year, and help me stay on track so I can better roll with the punches, and my homies!
(Wow this got long!) Thanks for reading!
Monday, November 02, 2009
Oh Sweet November
Oh Sweet November, if you look like Keanu Reeves I'll enjoy this month even more! HA!
I digress...this is the second day in the second last month of this year. That means ladies and gentlemen, you have 53 Shopping days left before Christmas!!
this weekend was lovely. I spent some much needed time with C, cooked my heart out and accomplished some great projects. I am now the proud new owner of leftover Butternut Squash Soup that tasted fantastic, as well as 2 Banana Bread Loaves! and too boot, my C, actually enjoyed the Butternut Soup! Normally he isn't one for this but i added a second potato to the recipe I used and left out the brown sugar (it only called for a tablespoon), used my Magic Bullet Juice Maker as a blender and whipped and blended that sucker into a lovely foamy dish! Mimi would be so proud! So far we each enjoyed a bowl for dinner last night, and I'm about to indulge a bowl for lunch today. I have started another book - though this one won't come with review (perhaps maybe a brief one). In case you are curious, it's the Twilight series I've begun.
My sister and her now-fiance gave me the first two books for my birthday back in April and I'm just now getting a chance to sit down with the books. I have not yet seen the movies so I am entering this unbiased, though I have seen commercials so perhaps I'll figure out if I can truly see Robert as a vampire.
Also, I managed to complete my project yesterday, after a second trip to Michael's to retrieve thread to complete it. I truly don't know what the person did with all the colours from the original kit, but I found very close matches and thus finished that. I also watched two movies, played my farm game, cleaned the kitchen 3 times - once from leftover dishes and twice from the baking and cooking I did. I want to go home after work to complete the vacuuming and laundry I did not do this weekend.
Now on to my budget. I decimated the money I alloted in each category, more because I moved money around than any other reason, and because those Regionals were much more costly than I had thought. I will be getting a mileage check back for about $600 though so that will go a long way to putting back some of the money I used. I also taped into that money I had set aside for Christmas originally, so as not to end up in overdraft.
So Goal One was not met, goals 2 and 3 were poorly done. My reading goal was complete and my project goal was complete though.
This month I will be sticking to my budget, taking my budget binder everywhere, and being diligent with writing things down. Also, I have another exam that I'd like to get an 85% on, and I'd like to complete another book this month. Though, I'm not sure about the book completion - I have one exam and a writing assignment due the first week of December, that will require me to make sure i"m on top of my homework this month. Perhaps I'll strive for half the book.
December will see the end of one course so I'll be able to fly through a couple of books that month.
I am not changing my budget though. I want to get to the end of this year on this one and reevaluate then. I will be setting up a new category for January though - to incorporate my work related expenses with a jar that will replenish itself from the cheques I receive back. Then when I reach the end of the year, and I have a surplus I'm not using, I can take that money and snowball it right to my debt.
Ok so here are the goals:
1. Spend only what is alloted in each category
2. Take my budget binder everywhere
3. Write everything down
4. Read half of the first book in the Twilight Series
5. Study hard and obtain an 85% on my exam in the middle of November
6. Finish Christmas Shopping
I digress...this is the second day in the second last month of this year. That means ladies and gentlemen, you have 53 Shopping days left before Christmas!!
this weekend was lovely. I spent some much needed time with C, cooked my heart out and accomplished some great projects. I am now the proud new owner of leftover Butternut Squash Soup that tasted fantastic, as well as 2 Banana Bread Loaves! and too boot, my C, actually enjoyed the Butternut Soup! Normally he isn't one for this but i added a second potato to the recipe I used and left out the brown sugar (it only called for a tablespoon), used my Magic Bullet Juice Maker as a blender and whipped and blended that sucker into a lovely foamy dish! Mimi would be so proud! So far we each enjoyed a bowl for dinner last night, and I'm about to indulge a bowl for lunch today. I have started another book - though this one won't come with review (perhaps maybe a brief one). In case you are curious, it's the Twilight series I've begun.
My sister and her now-fiance gave me the first two books for my birthday back in April and I'm just now getting a chance to sit down with the books. I have not yet seen the movies so I am entering this unbiased, though I have seen commercials so perhaps I'll figure out if I can truly see Robert as a vampire.
Also, I managed to complete my project yesterday, after a second trip to Michael's to retrieve thread to complete it. I truly don't know what the person did with all the colours from the original kit, but I found very close matches and thus finished that. I also watched two movies, played my farm game, cleaned the kitchen 3 times - once from leftover dishes and twice from the baking and cooking I did. I want to go home after work to complete the vacuuming and laundry I did not do this weekend.
Now on to my budget. I decimated the money I alloted in each category, more because I moved money around than any other reason, and because those Regionals were much more costly than I had thought. I will be getting a mileage check back for about $600 though so that will go a long way to putting back some of the money I used. I also taped into that money I had set aside for Christmas originally, so as not to end up in overdraft.
So Goal One was not met, goals 2 and 3 were poorly done. My reading goal was complete and my project goal was complete though.
This month I will be sticking to my budget, taking my budget binder everywhere, and being diligent with writing things down. Also, I have another exam that I'd like to get an 85% on, and I'd like to complete another book this month. Though, I'm not sure about the book completion - I have one exam and a writing assignment due the first week of December, that will require me to make sure i"m on top of my homework this month. Perhaps I'll strive for half the book.
December will see the end of one course so I'll be able to fly through a couple of books that month.
I am not changing my budget though. I want to get to the end of this year on this one and reevaluate then. I will be setting up a new category for January though - to incorporate my work related expenses with a jar that will replenish itself from the cheques I receive back. Then when I reach the end of the year, and I have a surplus I'm not using, I can take that money and snowball it right to my debt.
Ok so here are the goals:
1. Spend only what is alloted in each category
2. Take my budget binder everywhere
3. Write everything down
4. Read half of the first book in the Twilight Series
5. Study hard and obtain an 85% on my exam in the middle of November
6. Finish Christmas Shopping
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