Quick post today. I'm not back in this groove as yet. I still find it difficult to sit and write at the moment, and I've found lately I'm going more and more unplugged.
Today my mom and grandmother are coming out to where I live. My mom is trying the acupuncture thing with the practitioner I use. After two weeks she's finding some pretty visible and interesting results. Like she's actually able to make a fist with her hands now and it feels stronger! It's been years since she could do this!! And some of the spots are disappearing from her skin!
Since I get to see my family out here about weekly now, it's really nice, and something I look forward to each week. We are trying a new restaurant today. One that Gramma saw on City Line and we actually have in town! It should be nice.
On another note, I have a week's worth of studying ahead of me. I'm doing really well in the course I'm taking. I managed to earn my first perfect on a University Assignment! (It's like finding the Holy Grail). As such, I'm currently sitting with a pretty decent mark. I have one assignment to hand in today, and one more to get the marks back on. On August 4th I write the final exam for this course, so I'll be spending my long weekend with my nose in a book and countless pages of hand written notes strewn about my dining room. I want to maintain a good mark in the class - why let the hard work go to waste?
I love that my family can come for visits, though I completely dislike the reason that this is now a possibility. I would have liked to have been doing this for a while now, instead of it being new - but alas, there were two parts that made it not work out before. One was me. The other was the illness.
I digress.
I'll be depositing my check today - and moving another $1,000 to my debt as well.
That will move that little side bar over there -------------------------------------------------------------------->
After today that will say $15,000!!!
I'm starting to get into territory with this debt that I haven't been near in almost 4 years! I'm really proud of myself for working hard at this. I could be doing more, but with what life handed me before June, and what life has handed me after June, I've realized that yes I may be able to pay down the debt faster, but I'll give up something fathoms more important to me than being debt free - my family. Imagine that they are in town each Friday and I can't spend time with them because I'm running to a second job just so i can pay anther $200 towards my debt. Gramma isn't young. I just lost Poppa. I'm not willing to sacrifice more of my own time to move my debt freedom any faster any more. 3 months ago I was thinking about getting that second job. Now, I just want to have my time after my full-time job to see family, talk with friends on the phone. Travel to see them on weekends.
It's $15,000 worth of my own stupidity. $15,000 isn't worth giving up my family and friends anymore.
And for the record, if someone told me I could be debt free or have my grandfather for one 24-hour day, but still have to pay my debt back, I'd take the day with my grandfather. Hands down. No thought needed. I have things I need to ask him, things I need to tell him, things I need to hear from him, and things he needs to be present for. No debt is worth trading time with your loved ones.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
July is Almost Over
July has been a really difficult month.
I managed to pay $1,000 towards my debt. Then the air conditioner broke. Thankfully it was still under warranty. No so thankfully was that the next available unit we could take would involve spending money I just don't have. Alas, ridiculous heat, and a credit card have meant I could get a new air conditioner. A model we looked at in the beginning but didn't have the money to pay for. Still didn't, but my health in this time needs to be considered so I used my credit card to get it. I'm not happy, but at least I can feel comfortable, and be able to sleep.
This month has been trying emotionally as well. It's been a month since my grandfather passed. This coming weekend I'll be heading into the lawyers with my mother and grandmother to sign paperwork to update both their wills, such that I'm listed as Power of Attorney on both.
Next year I'll be setting up my will.
A Debt update. I have been spinning my wheels a little since the everything starting happening in June. This month I'm slowly starting to put things back on track. I'm tired more these days - mostly because I'm not out of the funk yet. There are days when I don't want to go to work - because something has made me remember him, as a result, made me cry, and following that made me want to do other things, and not work.
I'm picking away at some of the items I've left on my to-do list for too long. I've managed to start getting those things completed, and in the process alleviating myself of years of items I no longer want/need. Part of this is because I'm also getting a lot more picky about the items I keep in my possession, and spend my money on. I can't bring Poppa back, but I can continue to do things mindfully of the people that are still in my life. Sure I miss him. Going home to see my family feels a little less now that he's not there. Though, my family is also able to visit me more often now, since there isn't an illness we have to be mindful of right now. I'm thankful for that, since it means a little less time in my family home. I'm still dealing with how it feels a little more empty, and not quite right.
In any case, today is pay day. I'll be moving another $1,000 towards my debt.
I did forget to mention that I got my car insurance renewal in the mail earlier this week. And, I'm happy to say, the amount has dropped about $10 per month!!!
That is happy news, as it frees up just a smidge more money for debt repayment for the remainder of the year.
Looking at things lately, and finishing up the 7th month of this year, I'm looking ahead to the end of the year. At the end of this year I had planned to have all $25,000 paid off on this debt. Given what life has thrown me lately, I may not quite make this goal.
Part of me is a little bummed out by this. The bigger part of me understands that when life hands you an entire orchard of lemons, you have only one choice - start making them into tasty things to eat, and sell the suckers! So, while I might come up a little shy of paying it all off this year, I'll have made one GIGANTIC and NEARLY FATAL BLOW to that debt monster!
So what if it takes 2 months into 2012. That's better than the original prognosis of having it paid off my July 2012 - which was the date when I sat down and put this plan together!!!!
Please also note that I've not made any mention of an inheritance from my Grandfather. Because, there isn't one. His death does not mean a financial windfall for me, nor should it. His death means I have lifelong memories of things we did together, and items that my grandmother so graciously has let my mother, sister and I take to keep. My grandmother, as it should be, gets all the money they worked hard to save for their lives. She'll be around for a while yet, so it's only fitting that the money keep her comfortable in the rest of her life.
Just between you and me, it really really irks the heck out of me that when someone dies, family members are more concerned what with the "get" now that that person has moved on. What you "get" is a sad heart, with a small whole it in where that person, while living filled. What you "get" is a lifetime of memories with that person. If you were lucky and smart you also have photographic documentation of that time with them that will serve to aid you in the grieving process. If all you are concern with is the dollar figure or possessions you'll get, then that person really didn't mean much of anything to you.
I digress. Financially I've been struggling just a little things month, and last month. The passing of someone I truly loved and cared for will do that though. Each day I get a little better with things, but I'll be glad when I've gotten completely back into the game. I want to finish these last 5 months strong on a financial front!!
I managed to pay $1,000 towards my debt. Then the air conditioner broke. Thankfully it was still under warranty. No so thankfully was that the next available unit we could take would involve spending money I just don't have. Alas, ridiculous heat, and a credit card have meant I could get a new air conditioner. A model we looked at in the beginning but didn't have the money to pay for. Still didn't, but my health in this time needs to be considered so I used my credit card to get it. I'm not happy, but at least I can feel comfortable, and be able to sleep.
This month has been trying emotionally as well. It's been a month since my grandfather passed. This coming weekend I'll be heading into the lawyers with my mother and grandmother to sign paperwork to update both their wills, such that I'm listed as Power of Attorney on both.
Next year I'll be setting up my will.
A Debt update. I have been spinning my wheels a little since the everything starting happening in June. This month I'm slowly starting to put things back on track. I'm tired more these days - mostly because I'm not out of the funk yet. There are days when I don't want to go to work - because something has made me remember him, as a result, made me cry, and following that made me want to do other things, and not work.
I'm picking away at some of the items I've left on my to-do list for too long. I've managed to start getting those things completed, and in the process alleviating myself of years of items I no longer want/need. Part of this is because I'm also getting a lot more picky about the items I keep in my possession, and spend my money on. I can't bring Poppa back, but I can continue to do things mindfully of the people that are still in my life. Sure I miss him. Going home to see my family feels a little less now that he's not there. Though, my family is also able to visit me more often now, since there isn't an illness we have to be mindful of right now. I'm thankful for that, since it means a little less time in my family home. I'm still dealing with how it feels a little more empty, and not quite right.
In any case, today is pay day. I'll be moving another $1,000 towards my debt.
I did forget to mention that I got my car insurance renewal in the mail earlier this week. And, I'm happy to say, the amount has dropped about $10 per month!!!
That is happy news, as it frees up just a smidge more money for debt repayment for the remainder of the year.
Looking at things lately, and finishing up the 7th month of this year, I'm looking ahead to the end of the year. At the end of this year I had planned to have all $25,000 paid off on this debt. Given what life has thrown me lately, I may not quite make this goal.
Part of me is a little bummed out by this. The bigger part of me understands that when life hands you an entire orchard of lemons, you have only one choice - start making them into tasty things to eat, and sell the suckers! So, while I might come up a little shy of paying it all off this year, I'll have made one GIGANTIC and NEARLY FATAL BLOW to that debt monster!
So what if it takes 2 months into 2012. That's better than the original prognosis of having it paid off my July 2012 - which was the date when I sat down and put this plan together!!!!
Please also note that I've not made any mention of an inheritance from my Grandfather. Because, there isn't one. His death does not mean a financial windfall for me, nor should it. His death means I have lifelong memories of things we did together, and items that my grandmother so graciously has let my mother, sister and I take to keep. My grandmother, as it should be, gets all the money they worked hard to save for their lives. She'll be around for a while yet, so it's only fitting that the money keep her comfortable in the rest of her life.
Just between you and me, it really really irks the heck out of me that when someone dies, family members are more concerned what with the "get" now that that person has moved on. What you "get" is a sad heart, with a small whole it in where that person, while living filled. What you "get" is a lifetime of memories with that person. If you were lucky and smart you also have photographic documentation of that time with them that will serve to aid you in the grieving process. If all you are concern with is the dollar figure or possessions you'll get, then that person really didn't mean much of anything to you.
I digress. Financially I've been struggling just a little things month, and last month. The passing of someone I truly loved and cared for will do that though. Each day I get a little better with things, but I'll be glad when I've gotten completely back into the game. I want to finish these last 5 months strong on a financial front!!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Fringe Benefits
Alright. I spoke last week about looking for someone to talk to about the death of my grandfather. I got a suggestion to look at benefits of mine and my partners. First, I need to confess, my partner and I are not on each other's benefit plans.
We can be, but we haven't taken that step yet. Pros and cons for doing this can be argued here, but we've chosen to not have that done until we get engaged/married. At the moment while technically common-law, we don't file taxes jointly and thus to the government, it's not quite that way yet. My benefits are different than everyone elses. I get a dollar figure to use each year, replenished each year, for whatever medical I need.
That will be used up with my chiropractor, acupuncture, massage therapist, dentist and soon to be eye doctor. If I wait a little while longer, I'll be able to make use of the free services from school, while I'm on campus.
Other fringe benefits from other aspects of my life have begun to surface. I've been riding my bike for two weeks so far. I now need to put gas in my car. That means I stretched my gas money over two weeks instead of just one! I love it!
Next fringe benefit from biking: I stay out of my melancoly/depression/sadness when I bike to and from work. The endorphins are truly amazing. I also find that I am more awake all day long, less prone to eating sugary items, and obviously I'm seeing a physical change. I'm also waking up earlier, feeling like I slept well, and getting to work earlier. Earlier means I'm accomplishing more during the day and working later in the evening. More hours means I can trade the time worked for time off to do school and not affect the pay.
In September we are getting new phones. they are giving me a blackberry, which means I'll be getting my emails as well on my phone and can keep in touch with my clients while I'm away from the office. It also means that I can possibly telecommute from school while I'm between classes.
All in all things are moving along. I put $1,000 towards my debt, and have run some numbers for the rest of the year. I am so happy to finally be back on track with many things.
In other news we cleaned 5 more boxes of stuff out of our apartment. We are also getting new floors to replace the current peeling ones we are living with. So we'll be doing the furniture shuffle in a few weeks, so the master bedroom can be redone. No more sticky, black socks!!
We can be, but we haven't taken that step yet. Pros and cons for doing this can be argued here, but we've chosen to not have that done until we get engaged/married. At the moment while technically common-law, we don't file taxes jointly and thus to the government, it's not quite that way yet. My benefits are different than everyone elses. I get a dollar figure to use each year, replenished each year, for whatever medical I need.
That will be used up with my chiropractor, acupuncture, massage therapist, dentist and soon to be eye doctor. If I wait a little while longer, I'll be able to make use of the free services from school, while I'm on campus.
Other fringe benefits from other aspects of my life have begun to surface. I've been riding my bike for two weeks so far. I now need to put gas in my car. That means I stretched my gas money over two weeks instead of just one! I love it!
Next fringe benefit from biking: I stay out of my melancoly/depression/sadness when I bike to and from work. The endorphins are truly amazing. I also find that I am more awake all day long, less prone to eating sugary items, and obviously I'm seeing a physical change. I'm also waking up earlier, feeling like I slept well, and getting to work earlier. Earlier means I'm accomplishing more during the day and working later in the evening. More hours means I can trade the time worked for time off to do school and not affect the pay.
In September we are getting new phones. they are giving me a blackberry, which means I'll be getting my emails as well on my phone and can keep in touch with my clients while I'm away from the office. It also means that I can possibly telecommute from school while I'm between classes.
All in all things are moving along. I put $1,000 towards my debt, and have run some numbers for the rest of the year. I am so happy to finally be back on track with many things.
In other news we cleaned 5 more boxes of stuff out of our apartment. We are also getting new floors to replace the current peeling ones we are living with. So we'll be doing the furniture shuffle in a few weeks, so the master bedroom can be redone. No more sticky, black socks!!
Monday, July 18, 2011
July: PURPOSE
Following in my series on Motivation, we come to July.
July is the month of Purpose.
"Life isn't about finding yourself. It is about creating yourself." George Bernard Shaw
This month should be about purpose. Now that life has sent me a little reminder that I need to do what I say I will when I say I will, I will be marching with more directed purpose. I've had a purpose all year long. In June I learned why I need to be debt free. I learned that there are something in life I want to do with my family before anyone else leaves Earth. I also made some promises. I don't make promises lightly. And I feel that when they are to those that have died, they cannot be broken. If you believe in a God, or believe that the Universe does things to remind us of things we need to keep on doing, then you'll understand that when you make a promise to someone that has crossed over, you are playing with a higher power.
So, today I also put $1,000 towards my debt.
I will be working hard to put $1,000 to my debt every two weeks. This will mean that I will have paid back $12,000 to my debt by year end.
I can't believe that. $12,000 to my debt by the end of the year!!
It's getting difficult, tough, hard to keep this going, but I want to be done with this debt thing so badly that for the next 6 months I'll be continuing to learn how to entertain myself on next to nothing.
This weekend I purged a bunch form my closet. I talked about doing that a while ago, and I've finally got to it. There's more room in my closet now. I also have found quite a lot of tasks to do over the next little while, so I'll have things to keep me going. It will also be quite interesting to begin to purge my paperwork.
Having my grandfather pass, and watching what happens to the things that he had in his possession, I've learned that while we are alive we attach ourselves to various possessions. Some of us attach ourselves to everything, some very little. The point is we are all attached to items.
I'm learning to be a little more critical of the possessions I keep.
All in all, I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things. I thought it was quite fitting that July is the month for Purpose. This year has been interesting so far. It seems that when I started this year, Everything that has happened has been foreshadowed slightly.
I wish you all purposeful journeys this month.
July is the month of Purpose.
"Life isn't about finding yourself. It is about creating yourself." George Bernard Shaw
This month should be about purpose. Now that life has sent me a little reminder that I need to do what I say I will when I say I will, I will be marching with more directed purpose. I've had a purpose all year long. In June I learned why I need to be debt free. I learned that there are something in life I want to do with my family before anyone else leaves Earth. I also made some promises. I don't make promises lightly. And I feel that when they are to those that have died, they cannot be broken. If you believe in a God, or believe that the Universe does things to remind us of things we need to keep on doing, then you'll understand that when you make a promise to someone that has crossed over, you are playing with a higher power.
So, today I also put $1,000 towards my debt.
I will be working hard to put $1,000 to my debt every two weeks. This will mean that I will have paid back $12,000 to my debt by year end.
I can't believe that. $12,000 to my debt by the end of the year!!
It's getting difficult, tough, hard to keep this going, but I want to be done with this debt thing so badly that for the next 6 months I'll be continuing to learn how to entertain myself on next to nothing.
This weekend I purged a bunch form my closet. I talked about doing that a while ago, and I've finally got to it. There's more room in my closet now. I also have found quite a lot of tasks to do over the next little while, so I'll have things to keep me going. It will also be quite interesting to begin to purge my paperwork.
Having my grandfather pass, and watching what happens to the things that he had in his possession, I've learned that while we are alive we attach ourselves to various possessions. Some of us attach ourselves to everything, some very little. The point is we are all attached to items.
I'm learning to be a little more critical of the possessions I keep.
All in all, I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things. I thought it was quite fitting that July is the month for Purpose. This year has been interesting so far. It seems that when I started this year, Everything that has happened has been foreshadowed slightly.
I wish you all purposeful journeys this month.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
My pants are baggy!
So not exactly a finance related post, but I thought that since I've been kinda down as of late, I'd share some happy things with you lot =)
First off - Harry Potter The Final opens this week. I'm excited for the last portion of this series. It's been 10 years since the first movie was released and can I just say, I've enjoyed both books and movies alike?! I don't care that it seems like a younger thing to be excited about this. I love good movies. I love these movies.
Moving on. Saw Transformers 3 last week, and had a lovely dinner out afterward. Note to my budget conscious readers - Sunday after matinees are the best time to see a movie. Some places even discount their ticket prices a bit for this showing as well! Part of our dinner was paid for because I'm a Hot Shot Curler! Entered the year-end Hot Shots competition. Came in as the new skip, in the lowest division of the night I curl on and blew away my competition!! As such, I won a gift card with a decent amount on it for a restaurant le man and I both enjoy. So, last Sunday we went for a movie and dinner!!
Also - for the budget conscious...just a reminder that bringing a lady friend with a large purse in which to bring your favourite movie snacking items is a far better way of keeping $15-$25 of your money in your pocket. As long as you remove your trash after the movie, they won't know! I prefer a fruit type snack while watching a movie, but can often be tempted by chocolate confections. So, We eat before we go to a flick, and I snack on a fruit during if need be.
Also - having biked my way to 44km, and then paddles down a river for 6 hours, I am now the recipient of almost visible collar bones, a more toned back and the beginning of shoulder sculpting. Not to mention so seriously smooth, toned legs. Want to get rid of that cellulite in the leg area? Start biking!!
In other news - Thursday is the first payday this month. So what you say? So I say it's "Return to the Horse Day"! It will the day I get back on the horse to debt freedom. Not that I fell off per se, but I did lose motivation over the past month. And life tossed me a serious momentum killer.
I'll be taking a look at July again, with new eyes this week, as I've missed my monthly focus post.
Also - I've got a few great questions to tackle as well. Some thought provoking stuff by my readers, as well as items that have lead me to question and research a few things. Stay tuned for those coming up as well.
I'd like to thank all of you for your condolences. They help. And to those that sent heart felt emails, I thank you. Your words and kindness have been a help for me during this time. I'm not the only one to lose someone in their lives, this I know. But that doesn't make it feel any different when someone that close to me passes.
The counselling I'm seeking, is to help me deal with some of the other stuff that crops up in times like this, and so that I've done what is needed in case this affects other areas of life as well.
I have a final exam coming up on the 4th of August. After this (I know I'll pass, because I don't accept less form myself), I'll have 8 classes left to complete. I've registered for 2 more from September to December. That brings me down to 6 classes until completion. I'm looking for every way possible to get these ones done. So I'm getting out of debt, and thinking about next year.
The journey to my degree has been fun so far. And though one of my biggest motivations to keep going has moved on, one of his last requests of me was that I finish and move forward with my career. Another wish - that I become a financially savvy person - hence the debt march. He would have liked to have been able to give me away at a wedding. This is the one that hurts more than the rest, as that was my wish too. Sometimes things just don't work out that way. So I will handle that when the bridge gets here. Lastly, he always wanted to take the cross-Canada VIA train ride. This is something that I want to do to. Had things gone a little differently, we would be taking that journey together. Instead, I'll be taking it with the rest of my family, at a future time, to enjoy and remember with fondness and love. I"m sure also there will be a moment or two of "Poppa would have loved this!" But that's only because we know he would have.
All in all, I am doing pretty well.
First off - Harry Potter The Final opens this week. I'm excited for the last portion of this series. It's been 10 years since the first movie was released and can I just say, I've enjoyed both books and movies alike?! I don't care that it seems like a younger thing to be excited about this. I love good movies. I love these movies.
Moving on. Saw Transformers 3 last week, and had a lovely dinner out afterward. Note to my budget conscious readers - Sunday after matinees are the best time to see a movie. Some places even discount their ticket prices a bit for this showing as well! Part of our dinner was paid for because I'm a Hot Shot Curler! Entered the year-end Hot Shots competition. Came in as the new skip, in the lowest division of the night I curl on and blew away my competition!! As such, I won a gift card with a decent amount on it for a restaurant le man and I both enjoy. So, last Sunday we went for a movie and dinner!!
Also - for the budget conscious...just a reminder that bringing a lady friend with a large purse in which to bring your favourite movie snacking items is a far better way of keeping $15-$25 of your money in your pocket. As long as you remove your trash after the movie, they won't know! I prefer a fruit type snack while watching a movie, but can often be tempted by chocolate confections. So, We eat before we go to a flick, and I snack on a fruit during if need be.
Also - having biked my way to 44km, and then paddles down a river for 6 hours, I am now the recipient of almost visible collar bones, a more toned back and the beginning of shoulder sculpting. Not to mention so seriously smooth, toned legs. Want to get rid of that cellulite in the leg area? Start biking!!
In other news - Thursday is the first payday this month. So what you say? So I say it's "Return to the Horse Day"! It will the day I get back on the horse to debt freedom. Not that I fell off per se, but I did lose motivation over the past month. And life tossed me a serious momentum killer.
I'll be taking a look at July again, with new eyes this week, as I've missed my monthly focus post.
Also - I've got a few great questions to tackle as well. Some thought provoking stuff by my readers, as well as items that have lead me to question and research a few things. Stay tuned for those coming up as well.
I'd like to thank all of you for your condolences. They help. And to those that sent heart felt emails, I thank you. Your words and kindness have been a help for me during this time. I'm not the only one to lose someone in their lives, this I know. But that doesn't make it feel any different when someone that close to me passes.
The counselling I'm seeking, is to help me deal with some of the other stuff that crops up in times like this, and so that I've done what is needed in case this affects other areas of life as well.
I have a final exam coming up on the 4th of August. After this (I know I'll pass, because I don't accept less form myself), I'll have 8 classes left to complete. I've registered for 2 more from September to December. That brings me down to 6 classes until completion. I'm looking for every way possible to get these ones done. So I'm getting out of debt, and thinking about next year.
The journey to my degree has been fun so far. And though one of my biggest motivations to keep going has moved on, one of his last requests of me was that I finish and move forward with my career. Another wish - that I become a financially savvy person - hence the debt march. He would have liked to have been able to give me away at a wedding. This is the one that hurts more than the rest, as that was my wish too. Sometimes things just don't work out that way. So I will handle that when the bridge gets here. Lastly, he always wanted to take the cross-Canada VIA train ride. This is something that I want to do to. Had things gone a little differently, we would be taking that journey together. Instead, I'll be taking it with the rest of my family, at a future time, to enjoy and remember with fondness and love. I"m sure also there will be a moment or two of "Poppa would have loved this!" But that's only because we know he would have.
All in all, I am doing pretty well.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Negotiating with Work
The title will be a bit misleading, as this is an upcoming negotiation...not one I've completed.
I am scheduled for two courses in September. I have the bulk of the class time set up for Tuesday.
There is a glaring issue at work relating to another division - one I used to be part of - that is beginning to show signs of overload and back log. Combine that with the fact that I need to take sometime off to go to school, and you've got an area to negotiate some extra hours for me, and time in lieu for work.
Essentially what I'll be negotiating for, is the ability to work slightly longer days, with some weekend time, to get the other division caught up on a few things, and give me time served to be used against the 136 hours of time I need away from work. It works out to 17 days off between September and December. We are changing phone plans again at work, so I'll be getting a blackberry, that will allow me to pickup my email from anywhere, and respond in kind. That will give me the ability to be in touch with clients that may need the help, and allow me to be off site for the day.
It seems like a win-win situation for both sides. I just have to negotiate it with work.
Secondly, I've been finding that I'm not dealing my grandfather's death all that well. Combined with my school stuff, is access to a medical team and psychologists and the like. While I'm on campus, I'm planning on seeing a grief counsellor to help me with things. That is 6 weeks away still, so in the mean time I'll have to muddle through for now. I find dreams to be the big issue. Couple that with the fact that I miss him so much, and that I can't talk to him anymore when I need to, and just the death in general, and you have a pretty good recipe for spending too much time thinking about things, and then the tears start.
When they start, I have a really hard time pulling out of the sadness. I know it's only been two weeks, so I'm entitled to feel this way. And through school all of this stuff is free - so I need to hang on for a little while longer.
Better for the pocket book that I wait a little while. It's just hard is all.
So, if I can spend some extra time at work over the next little while, I can work the time off before I need it, so it's all even again.
Oh - good stuff that happened this weekend - I paddled the local river in a kayak all afternoon Saturday. So three days of riding my bike to work this past week, plus 6 hours of paddling for the arms and core, and I'm feeling a little better about other things too. It's helping keep me tired enough to get past my thinking brain, and having the added bonus of making me feel better all around.
I am scheduled for two courses in September. I have the bulk of the class time set up for Tuesday.
There is a glaring issue at work relating to another division - one I used to be part of - that is beginning to show signs of overload and back log. Combine that with the fact that I need to take sometime off to go to school, and you've got an area to negotiate some extra hours for me, and time in lieu for work.
Essentially what I'll be negotiating for, is the ability to work slightly longer days, with some weekend time, to get the other division caught up on a few things, and give me time served to be used against the 136 hours of time I need away from work. It works out to 17 days off between September and December. We are changing phone plans again at work, so I'll be getting a blackberry, that will allow me to pickup my email from anywhere, and respond in kind. That will give me the ability to be in touch with clients that may need the help, and allow me to be off site for the day.
It seems like a win-win situation for both sides. I just have to negotiate it with work.
Secondly, I've been finding that I'm not dealing my grandfather's death all that well. Combined with my school stuff, is access to a medical team and psychologists and the like. While I'm on campus, I'm planning on seeing a grief counsellor to help me with things. That is 6 weeks away still, so in the mean time I'll have to muddle through for now. I find dreams to be the big issue. Couple that with the fact that I miss him so much, and that I can't talk to him anymore when I need to, and just the death in general, and you have a pretty good recipe for spending too much time thinking about things, and then the tears start.
When they start, I have a really hard time pulling out of the sadness. I know it's only been two weeks, so I'm entitled to feel this way. And through school all of this stuff is free - so I need to hang on for a little while longer.
Better for the pocket book that I wait a little while. It's just hard is all.
So, if I can spend some extra time at work over the next little while, I can work the time off before I need it, so it's all even again.
Oh - good stuff that happened this weekend - I paddled the local river in a kayak all afternoon Saturday. So three days of riding my bike to work this past week, plus 6 hours of paddling for the arms and core, and I'm feeling a little better about other things too. It's helping keep me tired enough to get past my thinking brain, and having the added bonus of making me feel better all around.
Friday, July 08, 2011
Unexpected bonuses
Happy Friday everyone!
Today I want to talk about the unexpected bonuses of making a tiny change. As you know I'm on a journey to debt free. I'm still working on it. I took a break in June, for obvious reasons, and I'm now getting back into a routine here.
Grief is a very personal thing. For me, I need to complete somethings that I started while my grandfather was alive, so I know that I've accomplished them, and he'd be proud of me.
Anyways, I started riding my bike to work for real this week.
I've ridden a total of 3 days. A day is a ride to work in the morning, and home again at night. I drove my car into work on Monday. Rode my bike home Monday night. Rode both ways on Tuesday. Drove le man's truck on Wednesday. Rode both ways on Thursday and rode in again today. I"ll be driving home tonight for the weekend. That's 3 days.
I got a nifty little gadget that set on my handle bars that allows me to see the time, the distance I'm traveling, the speed I'm doing it, my total distance traveled, average speed, and a bunch of other things. It's a speedometer, and an odometer. We put it on my bike on Monday night, AFTER I'd already ridden home. Since then I've gone a total of 44 km on my bike.
How does this translate to a bonus you say? Here's a list:
1) I have put in 3.5 hours of sweat equity this week. And burned off some calories. I'm noticing a deflation in certain parts already!!!
2) I have put 44 km onto my bike, instead of my car.
3) Because I'm riding to work, I'm also bringing lunch with me. It is a 10km drive to work one way. I do that drive 4 times a day usually, because I go home for lunch. So, while 44km may be on my bike, a total of 140km are missing from my car this week!
4) I haven't yet hit the 3/4 mark on my gas gauge yet. That means the tank of gas I put into my car, is still pretty much there!
5) I have seen squirrels, chipmunks, bunnies, rabbits, frogs, and countless birds on my route. I have increased my recovery time from a ride, maintained my speeds more consistently and tackled the giant hill twice on my way home! That's quite a feat, as later in the week my legs were less and less willing to move!
Other bonuses - it's lighter on my pocket book, I'm more awake for the work day. I have more energy throughout the day. I'm sleeping better, and though it's still early, I'm noticing a few changes in my body already. And, the weirdest thing of all.... I actually LOVE it!!
Bike riding - except for the initial purchase, and a few accessories after the fact, is a great FREE activity. I received my bike for a birthday present a couple of years ago. The helmet was purchased at the same time. I was given biking gloves with padding to protect my hands, and the lock I use as gifts last year, and for anniversary this year, the speedometer/odometer thing. So far the cost to me for my biking stuff, is the price of a second pair of biking gloves - about $50. This year I vowed I would use my bike more regularly. I wanted to start adding more exercise to my day, as I'm a desk jockey more of the time. My weight is an issue, so it's a nice way to start getting into better shape. My finances are still a labour of love, and this is a great way to save my car, gas money and repair stuff.
I feel better. I'm starting to look better. I sleep better. I eat better. I spend less. I spend more in sweat equity than in cash now. I get personal satisfaction immediately by doing things like getting my speed up to 26km/hr. Or riding up the giant hill without having to get off the bike for a break. I can immediately see what my average speed is and work every minute to increase it. I can work to shave minutes off my time to work each day. It's a great way to enjoy the weather outside, as it's truly been a fantastic weather year so far!
Next week I'm planning on biking 4 days. I want to increase this so that once I start with 4 days, I work on getting faster, and more consistent with that hill and my overall speed.
Today I want to talk about the unexpected bonuses of making a tiny change. As you know I'm on a journey to debt free. I'm still working on it. I took a break in June, for obvious reasons, and I'm now getting back into a routine here.
Grief is a very personal thing. For me, I need to complete somethings that I started while my grandfather was alive, so I know that I've accomplished them, and he'd be proud of me.
Anyways, I started riding my bike to work for real this week.
I've ridden a total of 3 days. A day is a ride to work in the morning, and home again at night. I drove my car into work on Monday. Rode my bike home Monday night. Rode both ways on Tuesday. Drove le man's truck on Wednesday. Rode both ways on Thursday and rode in again today. I"ll be driving home tonight for the weekend. That's 3 days.
I got a nifty little gadget that set on my handle bars that allows me to see the time, the distance I'm traveling, the speed I'm doing it, my total distance traveled, average speed, and a bunch of other things. It's a speedometer, and an odometer. We put it on my bike on Monday night, AFTER I'd already ridden home. Since then I've gone a total of 44 km on my bike.
How does this translate to a bonus you say? Here's a list:
1) I have put in 3.5 hours of sweat equity this week. And burned off some calories. I'm noticing a deflation in certain parts already!!!
2) I have put 44 km onto my bike, instead of my car.
3) Because I'm riding to work, I'm also bringing lunch with me. It is a 10km drive to work one way. I do that drive 4 times a day usually, because I go home for lunch. So, while 44km may be on my bike, a total of 140km are missing from my car this week!
4) I haven't yet hit the 3/4 mark on my gas gauge yet. That means the tank of gas I put into my car, is still pretty much there!
5) I have seen squirrels, chipmunks, bunnies, rabbits, frogs, and countless birds on my route. I have increased my recovery time from a ride, maintained my speeds more consistently and tackled the giant hill twice on my way home! That's quite a feat, as later in the week my legs were less and less willing to move!
Other bonuses - it's lighter on my pocket book, I'm more awake for the work day. I have more energy throughout the day. I'm sleeping better, and though it's still early, I'm noticing a few changes in my body already. And, the weirdest thing of all.... I actually LOVE it!!
Bike riding - except for the initial purchase, and a few accessories after the fact, is a great FREE activity. I received my bike for a birthday present a couple of years ago. The helmet was purchased at the same time. I was given biking gloves with padding to protect my hands, and the lock I use as gifts last year, and for anniversary this year, the speedometer/odometer thing. So far the cost to me for my biking stuff, is the price of a second pair of biking gloves - about $50. This year I vowed I would use my bike more regularly. I wanted to start adding more exercise to my day, as I'm a desk jockey more of the time. My weight is an issue, so it's a nice way to start getting into better shape. My finances are still a labour of love, and this is a great way to save my car, gas money and repair stuff.
I feel better. I'm starting to look better. I sleep better. I eat better. I spend less. I spend more in sweat equity than in cash now. I get personal satisfaction immediately by doing things like getting my speed up to 26km/hr. Or riding up the giant hill without having to get off the bike for a break. I can immediately see what my average speed is and work every minute to increase it. I can work to shave minutes off my time to work each day. It's a great way to enjoy the weather outside, as it's truly been a fantastic weather year so far!
Next week I'm planning on biking 4 days. I want to increase this so that once I start with 4 days, I work on getting faster, and more consistent with that hill and my overall speed.
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
The death of my grandfather has been quite a blow, however, I've learned some important lessons watching he and my grandmother.
A little background - my grandfather was diagnosed with prostate cancer 12 years ago. He was 68. His prostate was removed. 4.5 year slater his bladder and 4 feet of colon were removed.
My sister's wedding drama began. He started feeling a little worse each month leading up to the wedding, but we all thought it was just because he was approaching his 80th birthday and that's what happens when you age. We talked him out of renewing his license. They'd given up their car the September before. A week after his 80th (March) he started noticing things weren't quite right. He scheduled an appointment with his doctors - set for April 11 - but was rushed to the hospital April 7. He stayed there for 1.5 weeks. We knew the cancer had returned. He made up his mind that he was going to have surgery to remove it again and things would be fine. He wanted 4 more years. Just 4.
Went through countless tests and scans and repeats of scans. At Easter he asked me to start paying attention to the RIF he has, and watching the stock market, as this is where he has the funds. He said he was happy to know that someone would be able to take of my grandmother if he had to go, and thought it was great that I was getting my financial education through the various things I've been doing. This was a very hard discussion to have with him.
He found out on May 17th that surgery was not an option, and he was not a good candidate for chemo. I started going home the first weekend in June. He gave me back the key chain I'd made for him in 8th grade in shop class, saying he was sure he didn't need it any longer since he didn't have any keys and couldn't leave the house without grandma and she always carries her keys. He was still moving around the house on his own then, though he was in pain. Medications were started, and we watched as he'd have moments where he'd be talking to people we couldn't see. We went over his financial stuff again. I went home that weekend, after having hugged him for a longer time than usual (looking back I think he knew and wanted to make sure I had a good one before he couldn't get out of bed.)
The Monday after I left he asked the nurse that helped him bathe to get him into bed. He didn't leave his bedroom after that. I called Monday afternoon, found out what happened and urged Grandma to make sure the bills were all changed to her name, before Poppa couldn't talk to the people lucidly enough to know what was going on. They did this Monday afternoon after talking to me. Thank goodness they did, because after that my grandfather spent more time in an altered reality than with us. We always knew when he needed more medication - it was the most aware time he had. We got passwords for online accounts form him while he still new them - a week later he couldn't even remember he'd had an email account, let alone tell me what the password was so we could shut it down.
Two weeks later he was gone. Because they'd done the bulk of things while he was still alive, the transition went smoother for the utility company and my Grandmother.
Though, the day after his passing she realized she needed to take his name off their joint credit card. At 78 years old, she underwent her very first credit check. She passed with flying colours, but the whole waiting thing was quite nerve wrecking. At 78 years old and the day after your husband of very nearly 60 years (they're anniversary is Thanksgiving coming) passes away, it is quite a jolt to be told, yes ma'am we can do that for you, but you are on your own now, and as such we need to do a credit check on you alone to ensure you still qualify.
I have heard far too many people go through this process, only to find out that utility companies won't make the changes without first speaking to the other party - hard when they've died - or that the surviving party doesn't qualify for the credit they once had, and suddenly they own a bunch of money, or their rates drastically change because of the reapplication process. She did very well they said - the car was in her name, she owns half the house she lives in and is listed on the title and insurance, she has successfully opened a few cards in only her name and made prompt payments for her purchases. A solid investment says the credit company.
The one thing they forgot? Taking his name off the house insurance, so the company holding it couldn't say they were defaulting because they'd broken terms of the contract later. They'll be completing this sometime this week - when the company finally calls back.
Some things for all of you out there:
1) Have a Will and Power of Attorney in place. (I'm doing mine for my birthday in April)
2) Ensure as many things are transferred into your partners name as can be done before you go.
3) Ensure you write down things like account numbers and passwords, email addresses and passwords, facebook stuff, and any other social media site and it's password as you have/can. Everything we do has a consequence when we aren't here. And the more open accounts you have in places on the net, the more you leave yourself open to identity theft posthumously, and your family at risk of the same.
4) Spend every minute you can telling everyone everything you've ever wanted to say to them. Tell those you love you love them as often as you can, because when you're gone, there will be all kinds of things that creep up in the grieving process.
5) Pre-arrange your funeral/cremation. Did you know it may cost you $4,000 now, but once you've done it, you've locked in the price the year you do it. So if costs rise down the road, you live another 30 years, you pay the rates of TODAY, not 30 years down the road, when they could have tripled or quintupled? This also helps with there being no confusion about what your wishes are after your passing. Someone in the family may be emotional and want to do a large visitation for you, so everyone that knew you can say goodbye, but you don't want that kind of fuss? Setting it up the way you wanted ensures this is done. It also means someone else doesn't have to go through that on top of losing you. Also - a word to the wise... DO NOT LIST YOUR PASSING IN THE PAPER. Especially if you were elderly. Your home will be...YES WILL BE... broken into and your loved ones now deal with your death, and all kinds of nasty other things.
6) Remove all unused medications from your home. Take it all back to the pharmacy and ask them to dispose of the stuff correctly. Remove your names from the bottle label as it has medical information and personal information someone needs to falsify prescriptions, your identity, and any other thing and thief thinks of. Depending on the pills in your home, there is a street value on them that is enough to entice someone to break a window, kick in a door, and loot your medicine cabinet to find.
7) Make sure the beneficiaries are updated on all of your financial stuff. Currently your TFSA doesn't have a beneficiary attached to it. Stay tuned for some details about what happens to this when you pass away. That's a lot of money to not have a beneficiary on - and so far it isn't allowed in the rules. This is one that will have a great impact on a lot of people.
Some of the things that have happened in the last little while have opened my eyes to a few things. I'll be giving myself my will for my birthday in April. I will be looking into funeral arrangements shortly as well.
A little background - my grandfather was diagnosed with prostate cancer 12 years ago. He was 68. His prostate was removed. 4.5 year slater his bladder and 4 feet of colon were removed.
My sister's wedding drama began. He started feeling a little worse each month leading up to the wedding, but we all thought it was just because he was approaching his 80th birthday and that's what happens when you age. We talked him out of renewing his license. They'd given up their car the September before. A week after his 80th (March) he started noticing things weren't quite right. He scheduled an appointment with his doctors - set for April 11 - but was rushed to the hospital April 7. He stayed there for 1.5 weeks. We knew the cancer had returned. He made up his mind that he was going to have surgery to remove it again and things would be fine. He wanted 4 more years. Just 4.
Went through countless tests and scans and repeats of scans. At Easter he asked me to start paying attention to the RIF he has, and watching the stock market, as this is where he has the funds. He said he was happy to know that someone would be able to take of my grandmother if he had to go, and thought it was great that I was getting my financial education through the various things I've been doing. This was a very hard discussion to have with him.
He found out on May 17th that surgery was not an option, and he was not a good candidate for chemo. I started going home the first weekend in June. He gave me back the key chain I'd made for him in 8th grade in shop class, saying he was sure he didn't need it any longer since he didn't have any keys and couldn't leave the house without grandma and she always carries her keys. He was still moving around the house on his own then, though he was in pain. Medications were started, and we watched as he'd have moments where he'd be talking to people we couldn't see. We went over his financial stuff again. I went home that weekend, after having hugged him for a longer time than usual (looking back I think he knew and wanted to make sure I had a good one before he couldn't get out of bed.)
The Monday after I left he asked the nurse that helped him bathe to get him into bed. He didn't leave his bedroom after that. I called Monday afternoon, found out what happened and urged Grandma to make sure the bills were all changed to her name, before Poppa couldn't talk to the people lucidly enough to know what was going on. They did this Monday afternoon after talking to me. Thank goodness they did, because after that my grandfather spent more time in an altered reality than with us. We always knew when he needed more medication - it was the most aware time he had. We got passwords for online accounts form him while he still new them - a week later he couldn't even remember he'd had an email account, let alone tell me what the password was so we could shut it down.
Two weeks later he was gone. Because they'd done the bulk of things while he was still alive, the transition went smoother for the utility company and my Grandmother.
Though, the day after his passing she realized she needed to take his name off their joint credit card. At 78 years old, she underwent her very first credit check. She passed with flying colours, but the whole waiting thing was quite nerve wrecking. At 78 years old and the day after your husband of very nearly 60 years (they're anniversary is Thanksgiving coming) passes away, it is quite a jolt to be told, yes ma'am we can do that for you, but you are on your own now, and as such we need to do a credit check on you alone to ensure you still qualify.
I have heard far too many people go through this process, only to find out that utility companies won't make the changes without first speaking to the other party - hard when they've died - or that the surviving party doesn't qualify for the credit they once had, and suddenly they own a bunch of money, or their rates drastically change because of the reapplication process. She did very well they said - the car was in her name, she owns half the house she lives in and is listed on the title and insurance, she has successfully opened a few cards in only her name and made prompt payments for her purchases. A solid investment says the credit company.
The one thing they forgot? Taking his name off the house insurance, so the company holding it couldn't say they were defaulting because they'd broken terms of the contract later. They'll be completing this sometime this week - when the company finally calls back.
Some things for all of you out there:
1) Have a Will and Power of Attorney in place. (I'm doing mine for my birthday in April)
2) Ensure as many things are transferred into your partners name as can be done before you go.
3) Ensure you write down things like account numbers and passwords, email addresses and passwords, facebook stuff, and any other social media site and it's password as you have/can. Everything we do has a consequence when we aren't here. And the more open accounts you have in places on the net, the more you leave yourself open to identity theft posthumously, and your family at risk of the same.
4) Spend every minute you can telling everyone everything you've ever wanted to say to them. Tell those you love you love them as often as you can, because when you're gone, there will be all kinds of things that creep up in the grieving process.
5) Pre-arrange your funeral/cremation. Did you know it may cost you $4,000 now, but once you've done it, you've locked in the price the year you do it. So if costs rise down the road, you live another 30 years, you pay the rates of TODAY, not 30 years down the road, when they could have tripled or quintupled? This also helps with there being no confusion about what your wishes are after your passing. Someone in the family may be emotional and want to do a large visitation for you, so everyone that knew you can say goodbye, but you don't want that kind of fuss? Setting it up the way you wanted ensures this is done. It also means someone else doesn't have to go through that on top of losing you. Also - a word to the wise... DO NOT LIST YOUR PASSING IN THE PAPER. Especially if you were elderly. Your home will be...YES WILL BE... broken into and your loved ones now deal with your death, and all kinds of nasty other things.
6) Remove all unused medications from your home. Take it all back to the pharmacy and ask them to dispose of the stuff correctly. Remove your names from the bottle label as it has medical information and personal information someone needs to falsify prescriptions, your identity, and any other thing and thief thinks of. Depending on the pills in your home, there is a street value on them that is enough to entice someone to break a window, kick in a door, and loot your medicine cabinet to find.
7) Make sure the beneficiaries are updated on all of your financial stuff. Currently your TFSA doesn't have a beneficiary attached to it. Stay tuned for some details about what happens to this when you pass away. That's a lot of money to not have a beneficiary on - and so far it isn't allowed in the rules. This is one that will have a great impact on a lot of people.
Some of the things that have happened in the last little while have opened my eyes to a few things. I'll be giving myself my will for my birthday in April. I will be looking into funeral arrangements shortly as well.
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