Today's post comes as a bit of a shock to me as I hadn't intended to write today.
Last evening I spoke with someone from MBNA about this mystery charge and the return of the funds etc. With cooler head and more knkowledgeable customer associate we determined that the product, although offered through affiliate of MBNA is not their product. We determined that I should wait to cancel my account until I know the refund has been issued. I have paid the funds for this bill so as not to incur charges today. I have it marked to check my account again on the 10th of Sept. to see if it went in. The customer service person has documented everything on my account about this and even took the time to call himself to verify the company and product and that there is no account for me with them. things are going slower than I had hoped, but there may be a silver lining afterall this trouble I've been through.
I've also looked into my gym membership and possibility of getting out of it. I learned that I have to stay in until December - when my 10 months is over - then I get two free months and I'm out of the contract. So this means I better start using the thing again as I have to pay for it until December. If I leave now I owe them the full amount of the membership upfront plus $50 for early cancellation. So it would cost me more. The good news is I only have 4 more months to pay then that is gone too. That will put $49.72 back into my available-to-move-to-debt money.
And, starting at the end of the month I'll be changing my Car Insurance over to another company that has agreed to keep my Aviva 9* rating, and effectively lowers my monthly payment by $11.93 each month.
So, I'll be cancelling my Telus tomorrow - and getting back $40 for my debt. I'll be moving my money from my savings accounts at the beginning of next month to top up to my limit to start saving the $15.95 a month on bank fees. I'll be able to move another $11.93 towards debt starting next month form the insurance savings and at the end of the year I'll also be adding an additional $49.72 to the debt.
So far that's a total of $51.93 + $15.95 to come and another $49.72 starting in January. All told I"ll have found an additional $117.60 by January to move towards my debt repayment. This moves my debt free date from end of November 2012 to the first paycheck in May 2012...a difference of 6.5 months!! I'm pretty sure I can squeeze that a little more along the way and end up debt free for my birthday in April 2012. A pretty lovely birthday present if you ask me!!
Oh ya, did I mention that there are rumblings of another raise coming at work too? We'll see if that happens for January too!! I've really noticed that every single penny helps to getting to debt free faster. Keep in mind too I'm waiting to hear about the tax return check from MK headquarters. That money has not been factored into the debt repayment schedule, and won't be until I know how much it is!
Thursday is payday. All of my bills for this month are paid. I have to set up my September jars and sign the paperwork for my new insurance policy. But then I'll have the ability to lay out my plan and start executing!! With the change in my car insurance, I've also been able to move when my car insurance payment comes out of my account. Though the last day of the month isn't always the best, it's the easiest to build around and a better day that some random number that is always between checks. This allows me to pile my payments for the end/beginning of each month. Now I've actually condensed the days when money is moving, which will be easier to plan around on a move forward basis. I can't wait to post my schedule for everyone!!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
A Four-Day Vacation
Wasn't a long time but it was a great time!
This past weekend le man and I took some time off work together. Le man had asked me to take a long weekend but didn't initially tell me what we were doing at all. We didn't stay over anywhere this whole weekend but it was awesome!
We went to Canada's Wonderland and played like kids for the entire day (arrived at noon, left at 9pm) We got rattled, and shaken, and bumped, and joustled, and learned we are not as young as we once were. We also got all our scary thrills out of the way. Didn't pay full price for the admission, but did learn a lesson about bringing your own food - $30 for a decent dinner was quite a kick in the pants. I was driven around all weekend which was a lovely change based on our destinations but $70 of gas factored into the entire weekend was much much cheaper than a hotel stay for $120 a night! Plus we had the added bonus of our own bed, pillow, linens, towels, bathtub, and all the food we wanted to eat whenever we wanted and no maid service to worry about.
Next I was whisked off to the Harry Potter Exhibit at the Ontario Science Center. Water, and snacks packed, we stayed the whole afternoon. Took a Potions and Elixirs class, and learned about Owls and Peregrin Falcons and Turkey Vulchers (incidently, ugly birds, but the only living organism that can digest E.Coli, Botulism, Anthrax and Salmonellea without so much as an upset stomach.) Apparently we should be researching the mechanisms in this bird to learn how to treat some infections. The Harry Potter Exhibit was a lovely exhibit - and it yielded a Christmas present, although I had planned on spending that money as yet. So, I'm done one present this year already! We saw a bunch of other exhibits while we were there, then popped in for a lovely visit with my family on the way home.
Sunday was a later start - recovery from the previous days events. We decided to take in the Butterflies and birds of the Wings of Paradise - to round out the body, mind and soul weekend we were having. A lovely, peaceful, tranquil place this is. Slightly humid to keep the insects and birds happy, but a lovely day. Spending an afternoon watching turtles climb on rocks, and butterflies land on patrons, and winged birds flight around between feeders was so calming it was difficult to remove myself from the tranquility and beauty of the garden there. A must visit for all in the area for sure.
Monday - movie and veg out day. Got dressed, picked up the fruits we need for the week, and the last few items for groceries, came home, and spent the rest of the day on the couch watching movies.
What a lovely weekend! And mostly a complete surprise!
I highly recommend finding a place in your area that is truly beautiful, and spending the day getting lost in its beauty.
This past weekend le man and I took some time off work together. Le man had asked me to take a long weekend but didn't initially tell me what we were doing at all. We didn't stay over anywhere this whole weekend but it was awesome!
We went to Canada's Wonderland and played like kids for the entire day (arrived at noon, left at 9pm) We got rattled, and shaken, and bumped, and joustled, and learned we are not as young as we once were. We also got all our scary thrills out of the way. Didn't pay full price for the admission, but did learn a lesson about bringing your own food - $30 for a decent dinner was quite a kick in the pants. I was driven around all weekend which was a lovely change based on our destinations but $70 of gas factored into the entire weekend was much much cheaper than a hotel stay for $120 a night! Plus we had the added bonus of our own bed, pillow, linens, towels, bathtub, and all the food we wanted to eat whenever we wanted and no maid service to worry about.
Next I was whisked off to the Harry Potter Exhibit at the Ontario Science Center. Water, and snacks packed, we stayed the whole afternoon. Took a Potions and Elixirs class, and learned about Owls and Peregrin Falcons and Turkey Vulchers (incidently, ugly birds, but the only living organism that can digest E.Coli, Botulism, Anthrax and Salmonellea without so much as an upset stomach.) Apparently we should be researching the mechanisms in this bird to learn how to treat some infections. The Harry Potter Exhibit was a lovely exhibit - and it yielded a Christmas present, although I had planned on spending that money as yet. So, I'm done one present this year already! We saw a bunch of other exhibits while we were there, then popped in for a lovely visit with my family on the way home.
Sunday was a later start - recovery from the previous days events. We decided to take in the Butterflies and birds of the Wings of Paradise - to round out the body, mind and soul weekend we were having. A lovely, peaceful, tranquil place this is. Slightly humid to keep the insects and birds happy, but a lovely day. Spending an afternoon watching turtles climb on rocks, and butterflies land on patrons, and winged birds flight around between feeders was so calming it was difficult to remove myself from the tranquility and beauty of the garden there. A must visit for all in the area for sure.
Monday - movie and veg out day. Got dressed, picked up the fruits we need for the week, and the last few items for groceries, came home, and spent the rest of the day on the couch watching movies.
What a lovely weekend! And mostly a complete surprise!
I highly recommend finding a place in your area that is truly beautiful, and spending the day getting lost in its beauty.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Rollin' Rollin' Rollin' Rollin' Come on!
Yes it's a line from a song. But that's what's happening right now.
News for this week - called Telus, asked about cost for getting out of my contract. Found out that it will be $20 for every month I have left - 14 months 22 days as of yesterday. I made my payment on the bill that came in on Monday, so we'll see if that changes things when I call back tomorrow and cancel it.
Cost to stay with Telus until the contract is over $40 x 14 months = $560
Cost to buy out of the contract with Telus now $20 x 14 months = $180
Money not paid to Telus = $380
So what does this mean for my debt repayment?
It means...drum roll....I will be able to send $40 more a month to my debt, moving my DEBT FREE DATE from the last pay day of November 2012, to the last pay day in October 2012. That's one less month I am sending my money to pay off my idiocy form the past. Hey man, one less month is one less month!! (Monthly contribution to debt will be $1140, form $1100.)
I will be submitting my MK paperwork this week too, so once that get verified, I'll be able to move that money over to the debt as well, moving my date up to the first pay check in October 2012.
I have a few other things to explore between today and my next Gail meeting, to determine what else I can divert to the debt, so stay tuned! I"m also looking into moving the money from my savings accounts back into my chequing account to stop paying bank fees - which will save me $12.95 + $3.00 per month!!
keep rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin'....
Oh - just so you know why I'm dumping my cell phone (yes I CAN live without it) - I have one from work. I"m the only person at work that doesn't use the work phone for personal use and have it paid for by the company. So I've decided to get on the band wagon and let work cover the phone and not pay for one myself!! Still with Telus, have texting capabilities back, one phone to worry about, big voice mail box, cost to me FREE!
I'd also like to take this time to thank Canadian Savings, his wife, and my AWESOME Gail Group for my butt kick!!
News for this week - called Telus, asked about cost for getting out of my contract. Found out that it will be $20 for every month I have left - 14 months 22 days as of yesterday. I made my payment on the bill that came in on Monday, so we'll see if that changes things when I call back tomorrow and cancel it.
Cost to stay with Telus until the contract is over $40 x 14 months = $560
Cost to buy out of the contract with Telus now $20 x 14 months = $180
Money not paid to Telus = $380
So what does this mean for my debt repayment?
It means...drum roll....I will be able to send $40 more a month to my debt, moving my DEBT FREE DATE from the last pay day of November 2012, to the last pay day in October 2012. That's one less month I am sending my money to pay off my idiocy form the past. Hey man, one less month is one less month!! (Monthly contribution to debt will be $1140, form $1100.)
I will be submitting my MK paperwork this week too, so once that get verified, I'll be able to move that money over to the debt as well, moving my date up to the first pay check in October 2012.
I have a few other things to explore between today and my next Gail meeting, to determine what else I can divert to the debt, so stay tuned! I"m also looking into moving the money from my savings accounts back into my chequing account to stop paying bank fees - which will save me $12.95 + $3.00 per month!!
keep rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin'....
Oh - just so you know why I'm dumping my cell phone (yes I CAN live without it) - I have one from work. I"m the only person at work that doesn't use the work phone for personal use and have it paid for by the company. So I've decided to get on the band wagon and let work cover the phone and not pay for one myself!! Still with Telus, have texting capabilities back, one phone to worry about, big voice mail box, cost to me FREE!
I'd also like to take this time to thank Canadian Savings, his wife, and my AWESOME Gail Group for my butt kick!!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Phew! What a Weekend!
Alrighty - apparently I have great ambitions but not enough time!
I've loaded the YNAB stuff onto my computer, and have been reading about how to use it. I haven't actually started logging all my stuff in yet.
What I did do this weekend was get up close and personal with all of my inventory from that MK thing I kinda sort maybe do sometimes. What I've found is that once I send off the paperwork and everything gets checked, I'll be receiving a cheque back from the company for recovered taxes from things like, the tax drop in 2008, and consultant use products (the stuff I used for me), and any discount I may have given out to any client that purchased product from me. I also checked expiry dates on items and removed from my stock all those items that have exceeded their shelf life. I recycled the cardboard, and packing where I could.
After things get cleared from the company, I'm expecting a cheque for just about $300.00. I hope it all clears, because this is a nice bit of money to put towards the debt.
This also means I will be able to get my act together and start finding hostesses and having facials and conducting the necessary activities to generate business, move the product, apply the profit to the debt and get moving on this thing!!
Tomorrow - at some point - I will be calling TELUS to determine what the cost (if anything) of getting out of the contract on my cell phone will be. I barely use my personal one anymore. Everyone from work uses their work cell phone for all of their needs and work seems to be ok with this, so it's time I get on board with that. So, if the price is right, I'll be out of my cell phone and have another $40 per month to put towards my debt.
Stay tuned to find out how this goes - and how Thursday goes...the day MBNA and I discuss the account.
The last thing that I can do right now to divert money to my debt is make a decision about my membership to an online game I play. I haven't been playing lately, and not sure if that will increase or decrease in the future. For now I'll hang onto it for another 2 months - by then my extra time won't be eaten up by weddings, le man will be away working Monday to Friday and I'll have started the next class towards my degree. This will give me a good idea of the expectations of the course and how much free time I'll have.
I'll also be discussing with work the potential of overtime projects and what kind of wage that will bring. And the door has been opened to discuss the potential raise as well. This is shaping up to be a jam packed week for me!!
I've loaded the YNAB stuff onto my computer, and have been reading about how to use it. I haven't actually started logging all my stuff in yet.
What I did do this weekend was get up close and personal with all of my inventory from that MK thing I kinda sort maybe do sometimes. What I've found is that once I send off the paperwork and everything gets checked, I'll be receiving a cheque back from the company for recovered taxes from things like, the tax drop in 2008, and consultant use products (the stuff I used for me), and any discount I may have given out to any client that purchased product from me. I also checked expiry dates on items and removed from my stock all those items that have exceeded their shelf life. I recycled the cardboard, and packing where I could.
After things get cleared from the company, I'm expecting a cheque for just about $300.00. I hope it all clears, because this is a nice bit of money to put towards the debt.
This also means I will be able to get my act together and start finding hostesses and having facials and conducting the necessary activities to generate business, move the product, apply the profit to the debt and get moving on this thing!!
Tomorrow - at some point - I will be calling TELUS to determine what the cost (if anything) of getting out of the contract on my cell phone will be. I barely use my personal one anymore. Everyone from work uses their work cell phone for all of their needs and work seems to be ok with this, so it's time I get on board with that. So, if the price is right, I'll be out of my cell phone and have another $40 per month to put towards my debt.
Stay tuned to find out how this goes - and how Thursday goes...the day MBNA and I discuss the account.
The last thing that I can do right now to divert money to my debt is make a decision about my membership to an online game I play. I haven't been playing lately, and not sure if that will increase or decrease in the future. For now I'll hang onto it for another 2 months - by then my extra time won't be eaten up by weddings, le man will be away working Monday to Friday and I'll have started the next class towards my degree. This will give me a good idea of the expectations of the course and how much free time I'll have.
I'll also be discussing with work the potential of overtime projects and what kind of wage that will bring. And the door has been opened to discuss the potential raise as well. This is shaping up to be a jam packed week for me!!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Getting back the Momentum
So I've been working away slowly at a lot of things lately. Apparently change is difficult and it is energy draining. I would highly recommend you read Gail Vaz Oxlade's blog on Change is Hard. I'm actually interested in reading the book she mentions. I'll add it to the list and get to it eventually (library here I come).
I've been slowly working towards getting myself up to the front of the wagon in many areas of my life. Ye sit is a little energy draining, but what isn't? I have my planner - came on the Staples truck today - thank you work! I have my highlighters - again, thank you work! I will be spending some time this weekend "clearing for dollars". I will be working on getting up and running with some YNAB software. I have canceled and cut up my HBC credit card. I gave the pieces to le man and he gave me a big hug, told me he was proud of me for closing it out and bought me an ice cream. Then he disposed of all the little pieces - only after dissecting that little chip in the card...which was kinda neat to pull apart. At least there is a slimmer chance of someone grabbing the information - plus the card was never actually activated!
After my little issue at MBNA, I have marked down that on August 19th, I'll be calling them back to verify the refund and close that sucker out! Another "cut up the card day!" It's a slow process, this getting back on the wagon. I've also learned that if I plan little things each day to do, things that take no more than 1/2 hour of my time after work, I will be able to continue this momentum to Debt Freedom. I've also been challenged to find ways to make more money...
Yesterday I sold some product yesterday - from my active stock, and though it only cost the person $26.60, it's $26.60 that I can put towards my debt.
Yesterday was also pay day. So I marched my cute self to the bank armed with my pay check, my mileage reimbursement, and my cash from sale, and deposited it all. I told my Gail group that I'll be putting $550 from each paycheck onto my CIBC debt. Today I transferred $576.60 ($550 + $26.60) to my CIBC card. Let me tell you - IT FELT GREAT! It felt great because I did what I said I would. It felt great because I had $26.60 more to put down on it because I had made that money. It feels great to know that there are ways I can make more money that don't feel at all like the dredgery of a low-paying part-time job. It was actually fun to speak to someone about a need and convert that into a sale. This feeling I'd long forgotten in the stresses of my daily life. It will also help push me through the mountain of work I have waiting for me.
That being said - it's time to deliver an advertisement to some of the people on my floor at my building, to see if I can meet some new people and drum up some contacts. I have more than enough stock to do complimentary facials and skin care treatments for ladies and men. I love work that I enjoy and is fun! And, truthfully, I started the side business because I love the way people feel once they've been pampered and are filled with infectious happiness. That makes collecting money for a sale from a service feel better.
It's also been mentioned that there may even be an opportunity to do another overtime project from work and make more money that way.
And someone told me they were dreading Friday the 13th. It always turns out to be one of the BEST days for me!
Watch out world! Look at me GO!!
I've been slowly working towards getting myself up to the front of the wagon in many areas of my life. Ye sit is a little energy draining, but what isn't? I have my planner - came on the Staples truck today - thank you work! I have my highlighters - again, thank you work! I will be spending some time this weekend "clearing for dollars". I will be working on getting up and running with some YNAB software. I have canceled and cut up my HBC credit card. I gave the pieces to le man and he gave me a big hug, told me he was proud of me for closing it out and bought me an ice cream. Then he disposed of all the little pieces - only after dissecting that little chip in the card...which was kinda neat to pull apart. At least there is a slimmer chance of someone grabbing the information - plus the card was never actually activated!
After my little issue at MBNA, I have marked down that on August 19th, I'll be calling them back to verify the refund and close that sucker out! Another "cut up the card day!" It's a slow process, this getting back on the wagon. I've also learned that if I plan little things each day to do, things that take no more than 1/2 hour of my time after work, I will be able to continue this momentum to Debt Freedom. I've also been challenged to find ways to make more money...
Yesterday I sold some product yesterday - from my active stock, and though it only cost the person $26.60, it's $26.60 that I can put towards my debt.
Yesterday was also pay day. So I marched my cute self to the bank armed with my pay check, my mileage reimbursement, and my cash from sale, and deposited it all. I told my Gail group that I'll be putting $550 from each paycheck onto my CIBC debt. Today I transferred $576.60 ($550 + $26.60) to my CIBC card. Let me tell you - IT FELT GREAT! It felt great because I did what I said I would. It felt great because I had $26.60 more to put down on it because I had made that money. It feels great to know that there are ways I can make more money that don't feel at all like the dredgery of a low-paying part-time job. It was actually fun to speak to someone about a need and convert that into a sale. This feeling I'd long forgotten in the stresses of my daily life. It will also help push me through the mountain of work I have waiting for me.
That being said - it's time to deliver an advertisement to some of the people on my floor at my building, to see if I can meet some new people and drum up some contacts. I have more than enough stock to do complimentary facials and skin care treatments for ladies and men. I love work that I enjoy and is fun! And, truthfully, I started the side business because I love the way people feel once they've been pampered and are filled with infectious happiness. That makes collecting money for a sale from a service feel better.
It's also been mentioned that there may even be an opportunity to do another overtime project from work and make more money that way.
And someone told me they were dreading Friday the 13th. It always turns out to be one of the BEST days for me!
Watch out world! Look at me GO!!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Beware Telemarketers for Credit Card Companies (MBNA sucks!)
A cautionary tale of a young lady that repeatedly said no, but the company decided yes.
In June I received a call from a third party marketer from MBNA Canada. they asked me a bunch of questions to verify their information on file, and suppliment with two additional pieces of information. Apparently once they informed me about the product they were selling, my No Thank You, actually meant, "since you have my information please go ahead and sign me up". Fast forward to August 12, 2010. I called MBNA to determine what my gym membership had been charged to my account - the last one going on the card since I've switched it over to my chequing account - and found an additional charge of $10.53 for Accident Insurance. Pardon? I'm pretty sure I said no. I'm pretty sure I said no 10 times. I'm definitely sure I've never received this Insurance policy from this company. I got the number from MBNA, called it, and what do you know, they have a file on me.
After explaining 4 times to the woman on the other end the issue in that I've never received anything in the mail, nor did I authorize this, she explains to me that I had to since they wouldn't have information like my mother's maiden name unless I did. Well my dear, here's how this works, a person calls me and sayd a bunch of stuff about verify information. It gets verified, then they explain the product. I say no. they blather on about something else. I say no again. They say soethign else. I interrupt, tell them no I don't want, no thank you, no nono. They blather on again about something I say what part of no aren't you understanding, they say ok, I hang up. Apparently me hanging up means it's ok to file my information with the company and "pretend" to mail a policy that didn't ever get to me. Now they charge me.
I get super unhappy, my tone changes and I inform the woman again that I didn't authorize the policy and I'd like them to refund the money. She says to me that as a good faith gesture they'll cancel the policy, that it's not typically their policy to refund the premium but she'll do that this one time also.
I call MBNA back. I speak again to someone there - Nadia this time - and make sure that the refund has been noted on my file and the disputes section has a dispute filed. I get the same thing that MBNA doesn't sell this stuff and that they aren't responsible for it even though the telemarketer says their from MBNA they aren't. Lovely, I ask her to transfer me to someone that can cancel my account, give my information to another person, explain it all again - red faced and nearly screaming by now - they tell me the same thing. I say great - now cancel my account. "hold please while I transfer you to the correct person". AHHH!!!!
I explain again - this time to a Walid, or Whalin, or something like that - he tells me I can cancel it right now, but your points won't be transferred, and you'll still have to pay the whole amount owing. I say, wait a second I've been told by the other company they'll be refunding the money - he says yes but you cancelled before they've had a chance to do that. I say ok, when will the points be transfered and how long do I have to wait for the refund to show up? He says, probably two to three business days for the transfer and until your statement is printed on Aug. 17 for the points. I say fine. I'll wait until everything is done AND THEN call back and tell you to close my account. He then says, can I put on your file yoru reason for cancelling? Sure whateveryournameis, it's because MBNA doesn't stand behind the products it's telelmarketers sell and I don't want them calling me ever again. He then says, "well ma'am, we can suppress your file so no third party people have access to your information - 31 days for telemarketers, 90 days for written information. I say great. Let's do that and I'll call back next week once this is all straightened out to cancel the card.
Lesson learned. When a telemarketer for a bank or credit card call me again, I'll make sure to not verify anything with them and make sure that they're quality control monitoring is turned on and that I clearly state that I do not want their product, and I do not want them calling me again.
I'll be calling CIBC to have my information suppressed there, and TD and having it suppressed there.
To everyone else that gets these phone calls - make sure you are clear, and you document the call. It'll save you a pile of dung when something happens you didn't authorize!!
In June I received a call from a third party marketer from MBNA Canada. they asked me a bunch of questions to verify their information on file, and suppliment with two additional pieces of information. Apparently once they informed me about the product they were selling, my No Thank You, actually meant, "since you have my information please go ahead and sign me up". Fast forward to August 12, 2010. I called MBNA to determine what my gym membership had been charged to my account - the last one going on the card since I've switched it over to my chequing account - and found an additional charge of $10.53 for Accident Insurance. Pardon? I'm pretty sure I said no. I'm pretty sure I said no 10 times. I'm definitely sure I've never received this Insurance policy from this company. I got the number from MBNA, called it, and what do you know, they have a file on me.
After explaining 4 times to the woman on the other end the issue in that I've never received anything in the mail, nor did I authorize this, she explains to me that I had to since they wouldn't have information like my mother's maiden name unless I did. Well my dear, here's how this works, a person calls me and sayd a bunch of stuff about verify information. It gets verified, then they explain the product. I say no. they blather on about something else. I say no again. They say soethign else. I interrupt, tell them no I don't want, no thank you, no nono. They blather on again about something I say what part of no aren't you understanding, they say ok, I hang up. Apparently me hanging up means it's ok to file my information with the company and "pretend" to mail a policy that didn't ever get to me. Now they charge me.
I get super unhappy, my tone changes and I inform the woman again that I didn't authorize the policy and I'd like them to refund the money. She says to me that as a good faith gesture they'll cancel the policy, that it's not typically their policy to refund the premium but she'll do that this one time also.
I call MBNA back. I speak again to someone there - Nadia this time - and make sure that the refund has been noted on my file and the disputes section has a dispute filed. I get the same thing that MBNA doesn't sell this stuff and that they aren't responsible for it even though the telemarketer says their from MBNA they aren't. Lovely, I ask her to transfer me to someone that can cancel my account, give my information to another person, explain it all again - red faced and nearly screaming by now - they tell me the same thing. I say great - now cancel my account. "hold please while I transfer you to the correct person". AHHH!!!!
I explain again - this time to a Walid, or Whalin, or something like that - he tells me I can cancel it right now, but your points won't be transferred, and you'll still have to pay the whole amount owing. I say, wait a second I've been told by the other company they'll be refunding the money - he says yes but you cancelled before they've had a chance to do that. I say ok, when will the points be transfered and how long do I have to wait for the refund to show up? He says, probably two to three business days for the transfer and until your statement is printed on Aug. 17 for the points. I say fine. I'll wait until everything is done AND THEN call back and tell you to close my account. He then says, can I put on your file yoru reason for cancelling? Sure whateveryournameis, it's because MBNA doesn't stand behind the products it's telelmarketers sell and I don't want them calling me ever again. He then says, "well ma'am, we can suppress your file so no third party people have access to your information - 31 days for telemarketers, 90 days for written information. I say great. Let's do that and I'll call back next week once this is all straightened out to cancel the card.
Lesson learned. When a telemarketer for a bank or credit card call me again, I'll make sure to not verify anything with them and make sure that they're quality control monitoring is turned on and that I clearly state that I do not want their product, and I do not want them calling me again.
I'll be calling CIBC to have my information suppressed there, and TD and having it suppressed there.
To everyone else that gets these phone calls - make sure you are clear, and you document the call. It'll save you a pile of dung when something happens you didn't authorize!!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Verdict on Switching Balances
The verdict is in.
I will NOT be moving any portion on my CIBC balance to the MBNA card. The balance allowance on my MBNA card is $7,500. My outstanding balance on my CIBC card is $26,550. clearly not enough room to transfer the entire thing. MBNA won't increase to allow this either.
After doing the math with le man it has been found that to balance transfer any amount of money it will cost me 3% of the amount being transferred as a fee for doing this. $5,000 x 3% = $150.00. From this post I'd be saving $262 of interest by transfer the balance. Subtract the $150 from the amount of interest I'm not paying ($262) and that's a total not-paid amount of $112. Using this logic, it isn't worth it for $112 in my pocket over two years of paying the debt off. So, clearly it is my best interest to keep the balance where it is, freeze the card in a chunk of ice in the freezer and pay the sucker off.
The plan going forward is to put $550 of each paycheck onto the debt. As it comes down I'll be reducing the limit on the card, until such time as the card is paid off and I can drop that balance to a much more respectable $5,000 limit. When that time comes, I'll take a better look at my finances. Ideally I should be in such a financial state as to be able to have a $3,000 limit on my card, because my emergency fund is sufficiently high to take care of anything that may come my way, and my car fund should be established enough to handle potential future repair needs. With a $3,000 limit, it should be enough to get me home from anywhere in the world.
Since my future plans include traveling the world this sounds like a good plan now. Let's not get ahead of myself though...I have to first pay off the balance on my card.
I will NOT be moving any portion on my CIBC balance to the MBNA card. The balance allowance on my MBNA card is $7,500. My outstanding balance on my CIBC card is $26,550. clearly not enough room to transfer the entire thing. MBNA won't increase to allow this either.
After doing the math with le man it has been found that to balance transfer any amount of money it will cost me 3% of the amount being transferred as a fee for doing this. $5,000 x 3% = $150.00. From this post I'd be saving $262 of interest by transfer the balance. Subtract the $150 from the amount of interest I'm not paying ($262) and that's a total not-paid amount of $112. Using this logic, it isn't worth it for $112 in my pocket over two years of paying the debt off. So, clearly it is my best interest to keep the balance where it is, freeze the card in a chunk of ice in the freezer and pay the sucker off.
The plan going forward is to put $550 of each paycheck onto the debt. As it comes down I'll be reducing the limit on the card, until such time as the card is paid off and I can drop that balance to a much more respectable $5,000 limit. When that time comes, I'll take a better look at my finances. Ideally I should be in such a financial state as to be able to have a $3,000 limit on my card, because my emergency fund is sufficiently high to take care of anything that may come my way, and my car fund should be established enough to handle potential future repair needs. With a $3,000 limit, it should be enough to get me home from anywhere in the world.
Since my future plans include traveling the world this sounds like a good plan now. Let's not get ahead of myself though...I have to first pay off the balance on my card.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
The Stuff of Life
So this week we've been asked if our apartment can be used in a Bankers Audit. This means that for mortgage reasons a gaggle of people from the Bank will be in to see two unoccupied residences and two occupied. I'm on the occupied list.
We spent Sunday adding shelving to our place to hold a variety of items we've collected as individuals, that we now what to amalgamate as a couple. The first thing we did was put up a series of shelves to hold our collective jars and some pictures. The second thing we did was put up some shelves to hold some knickknacks. The we started cleaning and tidying and deciding where to put some things. While doing this we erected a small shelving unit for our office items. The place looks a bit more lived in, and a bit more organized now.
Next thing to do is get le man to actually use his jars. Currently the sit empty and unlabeled on a lovely shelf.
The other thing I noticed is that I have a bunch of purging to do. It's time to relieve myself of the expired product in my once much more active business. I heard from the umbrella company today that I can apply for some of my taxes back on items still on my shelf - which I'll be figuring out this weekend. And then I'll be destroying the expired material and removing it from my personal inventory. I'll also be returning items I purchased that are still viable, that I haven't used. This will allow me to purge out a bunch of items and free up a whole bunch of space!!
And I think, once I've done this, I'll feel better about the cleaning effort and our place. At the moment I dread going into the spare room because this project is staring me in the face taunting me. If I can reclaim some of the tax money from some items I can add that to the debt I have. As this is the main reason I have the debt - young, foolish, and very poor business sense.
I'm older, wiser, and more financially savvy now. So this will mean I can submit a whole bunch of receipts for items purchased from before and hopefully I'll be able to recover a nice bit of change. Taxes have been changing here for a number of years but I've never submitted anything. Today's To-Do will include sending an email asking about all previous years of purchased items, and their tax recovery.
This is going to be one of those months that now that I've gotten the ball rolling I'll be going through everything and purging all the items, I no longer need/want, no longer fit, I don't and haven't used in a a really long time or something along these lines.
Oy the Stuff of life - all I keep thinking about is I've been needlessly spending money on items to make me feel better rather than for need. I suppose this is the lesson I've got to remember on a move-forward basis.
We spent Sunday adding shelving to our place to hold a variety of items we've collected as individuals, that we now what to amalgamate as a couple. The first thing we did was put up a series of shelves to hold our collective jars and some pictures. The second thing we did was put up some shelves to hold some knickknacks. The we started cleaning and tidying and deciding where to put some things. While doing this we erected a small shelving unit for our office items. The place looks a bit more lived in, and a bit more organized now.
Next thing to do is get le man to actually use his jars. Currently the sit empty and unlabeled on a lovely shelf.
The other thing I noticed is that I have a bunch of purging to do. It's time to relieve myself of the expired product in my once much more active business. I heard from the umbrella company today that I can apply for some of my taxes back on items still on my shelf - which I'll be figuring out this weekend. And then I'll be destroying the expired material and removing it from my personal inventory. I'll also be returning items I purchased that are still viable, that I haven't used. This will allow me to purge out a bunch of items and free up a whole bunch of space!!
And I think, once I've done this, I'll feel better about the cleaning effort and our place. At the moment I dread going into the spare room because this project is staring me in the face taunting me. If I can reclaim some of the tax money from some items I can add that to the debt I have. As this is the main reason I have the debt - young, foolish, and very poor business sense.
I'm older, wiser, and more financially savvy now. So this will mean I can submit a whole bunch of receipts for items purchased from before and hopefully I'll be able to recover a nice bit of change. Taxes have been changing here for a number of years but I've never submitted anything. Today's To-Do will include sending an email asking about all previous years of purchased items, and their tax recovery.
This is going to be one of those months that now that I've gotten the ball rolling I'll be going through everything and purging all the items, I no longer need/want, no longer fit, I don't and haven't used in a a really long time or something along these lines.
Oy the Stuff of life - all I keep thinking about is I've been needlessly spending money on items to make me feel better rather than for need. I suppose this is the lesson I've got to remember on a move-forward basis.
Friday, August 06, 2010
Debt Depression and Financial Infidelity
Reading some blogs today, I've found that there are two major topics of discussion. Debt Depression - you've been at it a while and you feel there is no hope blah blah blah.
I think I've been feeling this a little lately - though perhaps I only have a slightly milder case of Debt Fatigue.
Financial Infidelity - where you hide purchases and financial problems from your spouse/partner/loved ones because you don't want to own up to the mistake and you are afraid that not only will you feel horrible, but you'll effectively cause horrible feelings in someone else.
After having read about these two things I've found out that I have:
Debt Fatigue and am guilty of Financial Infidelity. Both, thankfully, are completely recoverable conditions that do not involve many long hours of therapy, or medications. They just involve hard work and honesty.
HARD WORK AND HONESTY?! NOOOOOO!!! Horrible, evil, vile things those are!!! Wretched!!
Ok not really, but this is how we get fatigued in the first place, we get tired of doing the hard work. The honesty thing is actually much more difficult to get past. Think about it. How many times in a day do you amend your honest thoughts so as not to hurt another's feelings? For me that means i don't tell my guy about certain financial indiscretions. What I've figured out is that I don't tell him because I'm ashamed and I don't want him to feel that about me. Hmm. As it seems things happen in my life when i need them to, and when I'm least expecting them too. A commentor on a few posts as of late, has given me food for thought. If I don't communicate I can't be upset when expectations I have told no one about are not met. Seems to me I've been told this before - by my life coach. Alright then. Why is it so difficult to do?
This is what I know. I spend a great deal of time trying to anticipate reactions from others because I'm an incredible observant person and I pick up on things most people wouldn't. I've been doing this my whole life. Since I've figured out I don't like when people are mad at me, I'll do what I need to to not have that happen. Even if it means I don't tell everyone everything. Even if it means not telling my partner about using my credit card for the shopping excursion I went on, or that I have two not one.
All of these things go to harming a relationship. And go towards me feeling unfulfilled in that relationship. I can't expect things to be good if I'm hiding things from my partner. I can't expect to have complete trust from that person if I'm not completely honest with them.
Many vows at a wedding include something along the lines of for better or worse, sickness and health, richer or poorer. The problem is that most of us are only in for the better, the health and the richer.
So, it's time to get honest with myself and honest with my partner about the financial things. Tonight when I get home I'll be able to tell him that I canceled my HBC card, transferred my gym membership to my chequing account, and show him my plan for getting to debt free. The only thing I'm not quite sure about is that balance transfer thing. Though, since I'm supposed to be getting honest with him, I'll start by discussing it with him and see what he thinks. Then I'll put that into action. And I'll be able to cut that HBC card into tiny little pieces with him there to support me.
Ya know - I'm feeling lighter already!
I think I've been feeling this a little lately - though perhaps I only have a slightly milder case of Debt Fatigue.
Financial Infidelity - where you hide purchases and financial problems from your spouse/partner/loved ones because you don't want to own up to the mistake and you are afraid that not only will you feel horrible, but you'll effectively cause horrible feelings in someone else.
After having read about these two things I've found out that I have:
Debt Fatigue and am guilty of Financial Infidelity. Both, thankfully, are completely recoverable conditions that do not involve many long hours of therapy, or medications. They just involve hard work and honesty.
HARD WORK AND HONESTY?! NOOOOOO!!! Horrible, evil, vile things those are!!! Wretched!!
Ok not really, but this is how we get fatigued in the first place, we get tired of doing the hard work. The honesty thing is actually much more difficult to get past. Think about it. How many times in a day do you amend your honest thoughts so as not to hurt another's feelings? For me that means i don't tell my guy about certain financial indiscretions. What I've figured out is that I don't tell him because I'm ashamed and I don't want him to feel that about me. Hmm. As it seems things happen in my life when i need them to, and when I'm least expecting them too. A commentor on a few posts as of late, has given me food for thought. If I don't communicate I can't be upset when expectations I have told no one about are not met. Seems to me I've been told this before - by my life coach. Alright then. Why is it so difficult to do?
This is what I know. I spend a great deal of time trying to anticipate reactions from others because I'm an incredible observant person and I pick up on things most people wouldn't. I've been doing this my whole life. Since I've figured out I don't like when people are mad at me, I'll do what I need to to not have that happen. Even if it means I don't tell everyone everything. Even if it means not telling my partner about using my credit card for the shopping excursion I went on, or that I have two not one.
All of these things go to harming a relationship. And go towards me feeling unfulfilled in that relationship. I can't expect things to be good if I'm hiding things from my partner. I can't expect to have complete trust from that person if I'm not completely honest with them.
Many vows at a wedding include something along the lines of for better or worse, sickness and health, richer or poorer. The problem is that most of us are only in for the better, the health and the richer.
So, it's time to get honest with myself and honest with my partner about the financial things. Tonight when I get home I'll be able to tell him that I canceled my HBC card, transferred my gym membership to my chequing account, and show him my plan for getting to debt free. The only thing I'm not quite sure about is that balance transfer thing. Though, since I'm supposed to be getting honest with him, I'll start by discussing it with him and see what he thinks. Then I'll put that into action. And I'll be able to cut that HBC card into tiny little pieces with him there to support me.
Ya know - I'm feeling lighter already!
Another One Bites the Dust!
and another one's gone!!
HBC credit card CANCELED! Confirmation letter to be received in 7-10 business days! The person asked why I was canceling it. Well, you see at 28.8% interest I don't even want to deal with the card. the response was, well if you use it at a non-HBC place the interest will drop to 19.9%! Great! That's STILL more than my current credit card with CIBC at 11.6%. And since it's not lower please cancel this card!
No problem he says. And Voila! Gifts paid for, card canceled and I'm feeling better already!!
Now If I could just figure this MBNA card out - oh, I just looked at my statement that I paid in full two weeks ago and realized I have an offer of 0.99% from now until May 2011.
Oh and I'm heading to the gym at lunch today to move the gym membership from my credit card to my chequing account. So the only thing that will be on my MBNA is a balance transfer form CIBC if I go ahead with it. Otherwise it's another credit card to cancel.
HBC credit card CANCELED! Confirmation letter to be received in 7-10 business days! The person asked why I was canceling it. Well, you see at 28.8% interest I don't even want to deal with the card. the response was, well if you use it at a non-HBC place the interest will drop to 19.9%! Great! That's STILL more than my current credit card with CIBC at 11.6%. And since it's not lower please cancel this card!
No problem he says. And Voila! Gifts paid for, card canceled and I'm feeling better already!!
Now If I could just figure this MBNA card out - oh, I just looked at my statement that I paid in full two weeks ago and realized I have an offer of 0.99% from now until May 2011.
Oh and I'm heading to the gym at lunch today to move the gym membership from my credit card to my chequing account. So the only thing that will be on my MBNA is a balance transfer form CIBC if I go ahead with it. Otherwise it's another credit card to cancel.
Switching balances
Ok - some requested further information.
The MBNA card has a regular interest rate of 19.99%. I have one offer of 1.99% from now until statement printed in August 2011. After that time the interest rate on the balance would revert back to 19.99%. I've looked into the other offers I mentioned previously and they'll be ending soon. the 1.99% is the newest offer. The card has a limit of $7,500 on it, currently only my gym membership goes on this card and it is paid in full each month.
Scenario: If I move a balance of $5,500 to the MBNA card from the CIBC card and pay this balance off $500 at a time, I'll pay $55.48 in interest. If I leave that same balance on my CIBC card and pay the same $500 balance towards that $5,500, I'll pay $343.66 just on that $5,500. Keep in mind my actual balance on CIBC is $26,550. So by switching $5,500 to MBNA I'll not have to pay back $288.18 of interest on that amount of money.
This is the math and how I worked it out. The interest percentage is a monthly percentage broken down from the annual percentage. MBNA - annual on this balance transfer is 1.99%. CIBC annual is 11.6% divide them by 12 and you get the amount per month you pay. I've show these percentages in number form, by dividing the result by 100.
So that's great, I've saved $288.18 on the $5,500 I transferred. But what does that do to my Debt Free Date? I"ll give you a picture of what that looks like now...
So from above if I leave the all the money where it is I pay $3,831.65 in interest by the time i"m done paying that debt back. if I move it around, I pay $3,514.02 + $55.48 = $3,569.50. Total interest not paid back is $262.15. I pay the debt off in the same month - November 2012 but not pay back $262.15 in splitting the balance.
Please note above that I didn't include any of the money from the paychecks that come as the third one in a month. After speaking with and starting to go through some financial software, these will be checks that increase my bank balance to above the bank fee limit. Once that's complete I'll have the opportunity to move the extra paycheck to a debt. This would increase the payment that month, and obviously reduce the interest I pay overall. Since it's money that will be doing a different job for a while, I've no included it in my debt freedom date calculation. Similarly, I've not included any of the mileage money I'll get back from work for work related driving I do, as this is a variable amount per month. That means I'll have some extra income with which to dump on my debt at periodic times throughout the year. This will help to accelerate the payments, move my debt-free date up and save me from paying back some interest.
The other thing you'll note is that I tried hard to not say that I'm saving the interest - because unless I move that interest difference to my savings account I'm not actually saving it...I'm just not having to pay it back in debt repayment.
Further thoughts on this would be appreciated. Looking at the numbers I'm not sure if reducing my interest by $262.15 is even worth it. Maybe I've missed something in my calculations. Maybe I'm not looking at this right.
No mater what I've committed $1,100 of my monthly budget to debt repayment. For those that follow Gail, that's 36.78% of my take home income in a month. Yes that's higher than her 15% she shows in her Pie...but I have a big debt so I have to do everything I can to pay it off - which means I've taken the extra percent from the Life category. I've had a lovely life on borrowed money. It's time to have a realistic life on actual money.
The MBNA card has a regular interest rate of 19.99%. I have one offer of 1.99% from now until statement printed in August 2011. After that time the interest rate on the balance would revert back to 19.99%. I've looked into the other offers I mentioned previously and they'll be ending soon. the 1.99% is the newest offer. The card has a limit of $7,500 on it, currently only my gym membership goes on this card and it is paid in full each month.
Scenario: If I move a balance of $5,500 to the MBNA card from the CIBC card and pay this balance off $500 at a time, I'll pay $55.48 in interest. If I leave that same balance on my CIBC card and pay the same $500 balance towards that $5,500, I'll pay $343.66 just on that $5,500. Keep in mind my actual balance on CIBC is $26,550. So by switching $5,500 to MBNA I'll not have to pay back $288.18 of interest on that amount of money.
So that's great, I've saved $288.18 on the $5,500 I transferred. But what does that do to my Debt Free Date? I"ll give you a picture of what that looks like now...
So from above if I leave the all the money where it is I pay $3,831.65 in interest by the time i"m done paying that debt back. if I move it around, I pay $3,514.02 + $55.48 = $3,569.50. Total interest not paid back is $262.15. I pay the debt off in the same month - November 2012 but not pay back $262.15 in splitting the balance.
Please note above that I didn't include any of the money from the paychecks that come as the third one in a month. After speaking with and starting to go through some financial software, these will be checks that increase my bank balance to above the bank fee limit. Once that's complete I'll have the opportunity to move the extra paycheck to a debt. This would increase the payment that month, and obviously reduce the interest I pay overall. Since it's money that will be doing a different job for a while, I've no included it in my debt freedom date calculation. Similarly, I've not included any of the mileage money I'll get back from work for work related driving I do, as this is a variable amount per month. That means I'll have some extra income with which to dump on my debt at periodic times throughout the year. This will help to accelerate the payments, move my debt-free date up and save me from paying back some interest.
The other thing you'll note is that I tried hard to not say that I'm saving the interest - because unless I move that interest difference to my savings account I'm not actually saving it...I'm just not having to pay it back in debt repayment.
Further thoughts on this would be appreciated. Looking at the numbers I'm not sure if reducing my interest by $262.15 is even worth it. Maybe I've missed something in my calculations. Maybe I'm not looking at this right.
No mater what I've committed $1,100 of my monthly budget to debt repayment. For those that follow Gail, that's 36.78% of my take home income in a month. Yes that's higher than her 15% she shows in her Pie...but I have a big debt so I have to do everything I can to pay it off - which means I've taken the extra percent from the Life category. I've had a lovely life on borrowed money. It's time to have a realistic life on actual money.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Woman on a Mission!
Alrighty! With all this talk about credit scores and ratings and things to do and not do, I thought it was only fitting that today I announce that I'll be canceling some credit cards!!
First - the HBC credit card I opened June 30 to purchase all of the wedding items from the Bay and save a bunch of money doing it. Thanks Bay Day! This bad boy has a whopping 28.9% interest, BUT if I use the card at one non-HBC group store, my rating falls to 19.99%. Great! YUCK! Paid that bill off last week with my mileage check so BU-BYE! I'll be canceling that guy after work today.
Next the MBNA mastercard. Although I have offers on this card for 0.99% over 1 year, 1.99% over one year, 2.99% over one year, the only thing I use this card for is my gym membership. With that automatic charge I earn Shopper's Optimum points for Shopper's Drug Mart. Question - do I use this card for it's offers and transfer portions of my astronomical CIBC balance to effectively kill the interest paid, or do I cancel this one outright and tough it out with the CIBC card?
This is a great question for my Gail Club - but for those who aren't on those boards, your input is much appreciated!!
At Gail meeting last night I was armed with some finance-tracking software, told to "use it" and I have now committed to bringing my tracking and statements, budget binder and questions to each Gail meeting, as a source of topical discussions about my journey to debt free. I figure this way I'll have the group accountability of people who just finished a journey, and people who are taking similar journeys.
First order of business - cancel every credit card until I have one left. Second, download software and get educated and set up. Third, report back to Gail club at next meeting with this done. I was also told to cut up the cards, but I think I'll bring those with me and do it with my club members. it only seems right to have a celebration with them for doing this. I know they'll appreciate it.
So - keep MBNA and use their 0.99%, 1.99%, 2.99% offers to move money off of CIBC and pay very little interest while paying off the balance, or cancel it and use the interst slap to remind me of what not to do?
I think I posted about this a while ago but I'm back to the same question.
First - the HBC credit card I opened June 30 to purchase all of the wedding items from the Bay and save a bunch of money doing it. Thanks Bay Day! This bad boy has a whopping 28.9% interest, BUT if I use the card at one non-HBC group store, my rating falls to 19.99%. Great! YUCK! Paid that bill off last week with my mileage check so BU-BYE! I'll be canceling that guy after work today.
Next the MBNA mastercard. Although I have offers on this card for 0.99% over 1 year, 1.99% over one year, 2.99% over one year, the only thing I use this card for is my gym membership. With that automatic charge I earn Shopper's Optimum points for Shopper's Drug Mart. Question - do I use this card for it's offers and transfer portions of my astronomical CIBC balance to effectively kill the interest paid, or do I cancel this one outright and tough it out with the CIBC card?
This is a great question for my Gail Club - but for those who aren't on those boards, your input is much appreciated!!
At Gail meeting last night I was armed with some finance-tracking software, told to "use it" and I have now committed to bringing my tracking and statements, budget binder and questions to each Gail meeting, as a source of topical discussions about my journey to debt free. I figure this way I'll have the group accountability of people who just finished a journey, and people who are taking similar journeys.
First order of business - cancel every credit card until I have one left. Second, download software and get educated and set up. Third, report back to Gail club at next meeting with this done. I was also told to cut up the cards, but I think I'll bring those with me and do it with my club members. it only seems right to have a celebration with them for doing this. I know they'll appreciate it.
So - keep MBNA and use their 0.99%, 1.99%, 2.99% offers to move money off of CIBC and pay very little interest while paying off the balance, or cancel it and use the interst slap to remind me of what not to do?
I think I posted about this a while ago but I'm back to the same question.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
S-T-U-P-I-D stamped firmly on my forehead
Had a couple more no-spend days! I'm starting to get good at this!
Though, I have STUPID stamped firmly on my forehead. Man decided we were going to go biking on some trail in Milton this weekend. I was game. Funny thing is he described a place he'd been to years ago that he thought I would enjoy, but didn't bother to do all the background work to figure out exactly where he went with his friend. Sunday was a gorgeous day. I got up at 9am, decided what gear to wear for potential biking exquirsion, slathered on the SPF (I'm a fair skinned burny person) and began to get my camel pack and light snacks for the day. First mistake - not getting up at 8am - according to man. Second mistake - deciding to actually do this and not kayak but not actually sitting down to figure out where we were going - as discovered by angry man after not finding place. Third mistake - paying to get into a park that didn't have the right trails on it and spending only one hour there - AND not making man pay for his way. Fourth mistake - finding enjoyment in the drive around the Milton back roads, reminiscent of youth when not a lot of money was to be had but a lovely day it was - according to man was the most expensive part of the day.
So - I went form having a pretty lovely day, to feeling horrble because we drove around for 4 hours, biked for 1 and didn't end up finding these mystical paths about which he spoke, and somehow getting in trouble because I didn't know Milton well enough to figure out what he was talking about. By the time we got home, I was tired - the biking we did do was in a conservation wilderness area with barely cut paths and ridiculously slippery hills and barely visible trail markings. Man decided since he'd "done nothing all day" he was going to go for a really long ride and was upset because I didn't want to join him. In fact I told him no, marched my bike back to the locker, up to the apartment to enjoy a cool, long shower something tasty to eat, and sat down with my cross-stitch project without so much as a backward glance to him, and then barely spoke to him when he did finally come back.
Spent the next day listening to how he had a horrible day and how expensive it was and blah blah blah. So I'm the one that spent the $14.50 on the park entrance, and the $20 on biking gloves to save my hands from the pain and blisteres they are prone to, and the $10 at Tim Hortons for pre-trip food so I didn't have to pack a lunch and figure out how to carry that on my back as well. All it cost him was time and gas. Funny how expensive that day was for him. In his new truck, with a place for the bikes to actually sit, headed to some mystical place that only he knew about.
I love driving around in back country. You get to know more about the area you live in, see some great sites, marvel at the size of the houses on the huge lots out where the developers have yet to ruin, and sometimes arrive at a place with a quaint little shopping area that you can get a freakishly huge ice cream cone for $2 from. Funny how also, one person sees horrible things while another enjoys the ride.
So S-T-U-P-I-D stamped on my forehead, because I like to drive new roads, see parks and have an outting. S-T-U-P-I-D also stamped there because I'm the one that funded (except for the gas) the "horrible" day had by someone else.
The rest of the weekend I spent curled on the couch listen/watching this and that movie while I cross-stitched my way to an almost finished project, or picked up dots on my first attempt at smocking a dress. I'm learning a new skill this year. One my grandmother and mother have been doing for years. I was fortunate enough to have a grandmother that was crafty and a mother that new the good sense to learn. I have a cedar chest full of hand smocked dresses and knitted sweaters, cross-stitched throw blankets and quilted bedspreads waiting for the day I get married/have girls of my own to use these things. Since my grandmother is getting closer to 80 I thought it was time to start learning something of the old craft. Did I mention that I came from a family that didn't have a ton of money, but the money they did have was used wisely and for the best overall value of things? A hand made dress cost $14 and countless hours of time in front of a TV listening to things instead of watching them. back then I think the dress would have been about $5. Point is I'm learning something new that I'll be able to pass on to future generations one day.
Perhaps S-T-U-P-I-D isn't quite the stamp that's up there at the moment...it probably looks something more like S-U-C-K-E-R.
Oh, and still no word on when/if we'll be dong anything for our anniversary. Apparently when I mention it and how I'm still kind of upset over it I keep getting told "I have no idea". Guess what man, you are right. I have no idea. Because you haven't given me any idea to have on this. None whatsoever. But I don't see me getting an idea either, since in 6 weeks you'll be in Lyndsey working on a project for work and only returning every other weekend. Argh!
Though, I have STUPID stamped firmly on my forehead. Man decided we were going to go biking on some trail in Milton this weekend. I was game. Funny thing is he described a place he'd been to years ago that he thought I would enjoy, but didn't bother to do all the background work to figure out exactly where he went with his friend. Sunday was a gorgeous day. I got up at 9am, decided what gear to wear for potential biking exquirsion, slathered on the SPF (I'm a fair skinned burny person) and began to get my camel pack and light snacks for the day. First mistake - not getting up at 8am - according to man. Second mistake - deciding to actually do this and not kayak but not actually sitting down to figure out where we were going - as discovered by angry man after not finding place. Third mistake - paying to get into a park that didn't have the right trails on it and spending only one hour there - AND not making man pay for his way. Fourth mistake - finding enjoyment in the drive around the Milton back roads, reminiscent of youth when not a lot of money was to be had but a lovely day it was - according to man was the most expensive part of the day.
So - I went form having a pretty lovely day, to feeling horrble because we drove around for 4 hours, biked for 1 and didn't end up finding these mystical paths about which he spoke, and somehow getting in trouble because I didn't know Milton well enough to figure out what he was talking about. By the time we got home, I was tired - the biking we did do was in a conservation wilderness area with barely cut paths and ridiculously slippery hills and barely visible trail markings. Man decided since he'd "done nothing all day" he was going to go for a really long ride and was upset because I didn't want to join him. In fact I told him no, marched my bike back to the locker, up to the apartment to enjoy a cool, long shower something tasty to eat, and sat down with my cross-stitch project without so much as a backward glance to him, and then barely spoke to him when he did finally come back.
Spent the next day listening to how he had a horrible day and how expensive it was and blah blah blah. So I'm the one that spent the $14.50 on the park entrance, and the $20 on biking gloves to save my hands from the pain and blisteres they are prone to, and the $10 at Tim Hortons for pre-trip food so I didn't have to pack a lunch and figure out how to carry that on my back as well. All it cost him was time and gas. Funny how expensive that day was for him. In his new truck, with a place for the bikes to actually sit, headed to some mystical place that only he knew about.
I love driving around in back country. You get to know more about the area you live in, see some great sites, marvel at the size of the houses on the huge lots out where the developers have yet to ruin, and sometimes arrive at a place with a quaint little shopping area that you can get a freakishly huge ice cream cone for $2 from. Funny how also, one person sees horrible things while another enjoys the ride.
So S-T-U-P-I-D stamped on my forehead, because I like to drive new roads, see parks and have an outting. S-T-U-P-I-D also stamped there because I'm the one that funded (except for the gas) the "horrible" day had by someone else.
The rest of the weekend I spent curled on the couch listen/watching this and that movie while I cross-stitched my way to an almost finished project, or picked up dots on my first attempt at smocking a dress. I'm learning a new skill this year. One my grandmother and mother have been doing for years. I was fortunate enough to have a grandmother that was crafty and a mother that new the good sense to learn. I have a cedar chest full of hand smocked dresses and knitted sweaters, cross-stitched throw blankets and quilted bedspreads waiting for the day I get married/have girls of my own to use these things. Since my grandmother is getting closer to 80 I thought it was time to start learning something of the old craft. Did I mention that I came from a family that didn't have a ton of money, but the money they did have was used wisely and for the best overall value of things? A hand made dress cost $14 and countless hours of time in front of a TV listening to things instead of watching them. back then I think the dress would have been about $5. Point is I'm learning something new that I'll be able to pass on to future generations one day.
Perhaps S-T-U-P-I-D isn't quite the stamp that's up there at the moment...it probably looks something more like S-U-C-K-E-R.
Oh, and still no word on when/if we'll be dong anything for our anniversary. Apparently when I mention it and how I'm still kind of upset over it I keep getting told "I have no idea". Guess what man, you are right. I have no idea. Because you haven't given me any idea to have on this. None whatsoever. But I don't see me getting an idea either, since in 6 weeks you'll be in Lyndsey working on a project for work and only returning every other weekend. Argh!
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