The end of month 8 quickly approaches,m and I find myself in a bit of a pickle.
You see I was involved in an accident that has left me unable to use my left arm for at least 6 weeks (as informed last evening by my physio person). That means with school starting and counseling starting in but a few weeks, I'll not be able to drive myself there just yet. I am looking at taking the train for a while, until I am healed. However, the healing process will take something like 3 months.
At $47.47 per round trip ticket, I'll be spending something like $617.11 on the train, if I take it each week to school and home. I'll be spending about that in extra gas for the same length of time if I drive myself. Though, it's about a half tank both round trip, so probably less than that. This means my transportation budget (currently at $200 per month) is about to grow.
here's the thing. In order to do what I'm doing I'm losing about $650 per month because of the unpaid day off I'm taking. See the problem? Things are going to be tight until December, when I go back to a full work week. For 13 weeks I'll be making less and spending more. I'll be substituting school work for entertainment, and my belt will be getting much tighter. The good news is I can handle this. The bad news, I won't be debt free this year.
After the year I've been having, this seems like a nice compromise though. I get within a few classes of my degree, and I get to reduce my debt a little bit more.
I'll post the budget re-gig at the beginning of school (about the 13th). I want to see how my healing goes before I set it up. Perhaps I'll heal better than I think, and save myself from the current dilemma.
I can say this is an interesting set-up for the merits of driving the speed limit though. I'll be able to see what saves more money along the way. This injury was ill-timed, but is allowing me to appreciate things a little more and slow down in life some more. Too many things divide your energy and make you less effective at reaching your goals.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Learning what it's like
I've spent a reflective week in a sling. I'm recovering from my injuries sustained from an accident I was in last weekend. I am unable to drive a car, or use my left arm really at all. Oh I can do small things, like dress myself and go to the bathroom, bathe myself and point at things...kind of...but really not much else. I can't carry anything weighing more than a feather, and I'm typing right now with my one good arm. For someone used to being independent this is an interesting exercise in asking for help.
I've had help getting into and out of vehicles, carrying bags, opening doors, doing laundry, vacuuming, dishes, and countless other small tasks I so automatically did with two hands. Cooking isn't on my list of things right now. I dry dishes like a 5 year old learning again. You remember when dinner plates were too big for your small hands and you put it on the table on the towel and dried it that way? Yep that's me!! It takes longer to do things. You have to be conscious when you reach for things, remind yourself it will hurt when you try something like stretching too far for something or leaning on your elbows to do a puzzle.
I walked from the mall to my place on Saturday with a bag of cards, a bag of dvd's and my purse all in one arm and forgot that when something becomes awkward or heavy I couldn't just switch hands.
Le man drives me everywhere. He hasn't worked full day since my accident, and so his pay is getting affected. We haven't filed as common law so I can't get his time covered by insurance. It's hard on him, as he's always been the patient, and I the caregiver. It's hard on him simply because he didn't ever think it would be this way. I have to depend on him for many many things. Even more so because there is the fact that had there ben more speed involved in this accident I could have been much more injured than I am (or even worse). After 5 years together and 20 days engaged, it weighs on him a little about everything. It's 29 days engaged today.
Alas, I understand what it's like when you are missing an arm - even if my situation isn't exactly comparable, I can see how it's difficult.
And for those of you that are thinking how come I can't drive? You have to have complete control of the vehicle to drive it. That means 2 hands on the wheel. I can only get one there. If I'm in another accident while injured, coverages disappears for the second one because of my injury, and I'm technically impaired. So no driving for me for a little while longer.
So, I'm learning what it's like to live without complete use of an arm. A small thing compared to some, and not entirely a bad thing to learn. Depending on others can be both a blessing and a nuisance, but I'm learning to get through that too. Guess I'll have a lot more to talk about with that counselor.
I've had help getting into and out of vehicles, carrying bags, opening doors, doing laundry, vacuuming, dishes, and countless other small tasks I so automatically did with two hands. Cooking isn't on my list of things right now. I dry dishes like a 5 year old learning again. You remember when dinner plates were too big for your small hands and you put it on the table on the towel and dried it that way? Yep that's me!! It takes longer to do things. You have to be conscious when you reach for things, remind yourself it will hurt when you try something like stretching too far for something or leaning on your elbows to do a puzzle.
I walked from the mall to my place on Saturday with a bag of cards, a bag of dvd's and my purse all in one arm and forgot that when something becomes awkward or heavy I couldn't just switch hands.
Le man drives me everywhere. He hasn't worked full day since my accident, and so his pay is getting affected. We haven't filed as common law so I can't get his time covered by insurance. It's hard on him, as he's always been the patient, and I the caregiver. It's hard on him simply because he didn't ever think it would be this way. I have to depend on him for many many things. Even more so because there is the fact that had there ben more speed involved in this accident I could have been much more injured than I am (or even worse). After 5 years together and 20 days engaged, it weighs on him a little about everything. It's 29 days engaged today.
Alas, I understand what it's like when you are missing an arm - even if my situation isn't exactly comparable, I can see how it's difficult.
And for those of you that are thinking how come I can't drive? You have to have complete control of the vehicle to drive it. That means 2 hands on the wheel. I can only get one there. If I'm in another accident while injured, coverages disappears for the second one because of my injury, and I'm technically impaired. So no driving for me for a little while longer.
So, I'm learning what it's like to live without complete use of an arm. A small thing compared to some, and not entirely a bad thing to learn. Depending on others can be both a blessing and a nuisance, but I'm learning to get through that too. Guess I'll have a lot more to talk about with that counselor.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Life has handed me about enough Lemons...
At home recovering...
Saturday I was on my way from my home town, where I met my mom and grandmother to sign some paperwork switching things over from Poppa's death. I left the parking lot where I had parked, and was merrily on my way to meet my best friend for manis and pedis and some much needed girl time. I was hit on the driver's side door of my car by an SUV that "didn't see me" when they pulled out of a parking lot a little ways up the road form where I safely entered traffic. My car is currently sitting at an insurance approved repair shop waiting for the appraisal portion of things. I spent the rest of Saturday in a hospital waiting x-rays and ultrasound to see if my shoulder was broken or fractured and to ensure there was no internal bleeding present.
I have a very bruised set of shoulder bones, and a bunch of messed up muscles from the accident. I have no internal bleeding.
Thankfully we were both moving at around 30km per hour and not really very much faster. I was breaking to make enter a left hand turn lane and stop for the red light, the other driver was just accelerating out of the parking lot (and into me!).
Things could have been a lot worse than they are. However, I am sitting at a 90% chance that I'll be in the marked for a new car. Not at all what I was hoping for this year!!!!
All I can say is I'm about at the point where I tap out for a while. I've had all the roller coaster up's and downs I can take for this year, I think. I'm in a sling for a week and I can't take the T3's if I'm going to work, which I can do if I feel up to it. Obviously I can't drive for at least a week though.
The accident was not my fault. I do not know if charges were laid against the other driver, that was clearly at fault - her admission, backed up by my story and witnesses. But I mean really. I love my car. I own my car - free and clear no more payments - and I was settling into a lovely ride of about 7-10 more years with her! Though there is frame damage where the doors of the driver side close - that safety protection framing that wraps form one side to the other - it's dented and crinkled. Both doors on the driver side need to be replaced. I don't know if there's anything else.
Not the way I was hoping to begin my weekend. Not the way i was hoping to end this year.
I'm really tired now. I'm just exhausted from the year, the experiences and the events. I'd like nothing more tan to stay home for the rest of the year - perhaps go back to school for the four months left and bang out a large chunk of the courses I have left, and enjoy a much simpler life, buried in my bubble of "school". Maybe then I can escape from whatever it is bringing me all this to deal with.
I'm so tired.
Saturday I was on my way from my home town, where I met my mom and grandmother to sign some paperwork switching things over from Poppa's death. I left the parking lot where I had parked, and was merrily on my way to meet my best friend for manis and pedis and some much needed girl time. I was hit on the driver's side door of my car by an SUV that "didn't see me" when they pulled out of a parking lot a little ways up the road form where I safely entered traffic. My car is currently sitting at an insurance approved repair shop waiting for the appraisal portion of things. I spent the rest of Saturday in a hospital waiting x-rays and ultrasound to see if my shoulder was broken or fractured and to ensure there was no internal bleeding present.
I have a very bruised set of shoulder bones, and a bunch of messed up muscles from the accident. I have no internal bleeding.
Thankfully we were both moving at around 30km per hour and not really very much faster. I was breaking to make enter a left hand turn lane and stop for the red light, the other driver was just accelerating out of the parking lot (and into me!).
Things could have been a lot worse than they are. However, I am sitting at a 90% chance that I'll be in the marked for a new car. Not at all what I was hoping for this year!!!!
All I can say is I'm about at the point where I tap out for a while. I've had all the roller coaster up's and downs I can take for this year, I think. I'm in a sling for a week and I can't take the T3's if I'm going to work, which I can do if I feel up to it. Obviously I can't drive for at least a week though.
The accident was not my fault. I do not know if charges were laid against the other driver, that was clearly at fault - her admission, backed up by my story and witnesses. But I mean really. I love my car. I own my car - free and clear no more payments - and I was settling into a lovely ride of about 7-10 more years with her! Though there is frame damage where the doors of the driver side close - that safety protection framing that wraps form one side to the other - it's dented and crinkled. Both doors on the driver side need to be replaced. I don't know if there's anything else.
Not the way I was hoping to begin my weekend. Not the way i was hoping to end this year.
I'm really tired now. I'm just exhausted from the year, the experiences and the events. I'd like nothing more tan to stay home for the rest of the year - perhaps go back to school for the four months left and bang out a large chunk of the courses I have left, and enjoy a much simpler life, buried in my bubble of "school". Maybe then I can escape from whatever it is bringing me all this to deal with.
I'm so tired.
Friday, August 19, 2011
We're moving...
...kind of...
We've been experiencing the nasty end of renting lately. Either that or we've been getting exactly what we've been asking for. You see, I'm a firm believer that what you put out into the world, what you ask for, will be returned to you.
A few things that I've noticed...
I prayed a lot while my grandfather was sick. I'm not a regular church goer, but I do believe that there is a higher power, I just don't always call it God. I came to terms with the fact that he wasn't going to be around for many of the milestones I have coming up. I also asked that that since God felt the need to take him, that it would help everyone that he do so swiftly, before the tumour breaks through and there is more unnecessary pain. I stood in the kitchen the night before my grandfather past and asked him to take him quickly, that I understood that I had to journey without him from then on, and that I'd miss him intensely, but I know he'd make a wonderful addition to the angels he already had, and asked if he could watch over me from time to time. He passed hours later.
Le Man and I have been saying for a while that we have had it with our flooring in our apartment. Each day we'd find a new tile that was loose and sticking to our feet and not the floor. I came home last week to two men in my apartment pulling up tile (when the notice we got said someone was coming to inspect a repair). On eangry Le Man later, and we had the property manager in the unit to discuss the flooring situation in the apartment, and agree to do our kitchen in matching tiles to the hall and walk in closet, and carpet the bedroom. the property manager told us he would give us 48 hours notice, so we could have enough time to move our stuff when we got home from work, before they would do the next two rooms of work. Wednesday when we got home from work there was a notice saying they'd be in the next day to do the bedroom and kitchen....umm...nope that wasn't 48 hours!
An angered building rep and pissy property manager later and we've received a verbal phone call and written notice that they'll be in Monday morning to do the work. We are thinking, you really shouldn't tell people something you don't have any intention of following up on.
The point - we'd been calling them for 2 years about the state of our flooring. The company that owns the building felt that because all tiles were in place when we moved in, that they didn't need to replace the flooring - even though all of the tiles were simply placed there, but weren't actually stuck to anything. You can only trip in them, cut your feet on them, have they stuck to your feet so many times before you start getting really really annoyed.
So, this weekend we get to move the entire contents of our bedroom to our living room, and our kitchen (appliances and all) also into the living room. Fun!! Looks like we'll be eating some serious food this weekend so that there will be less affected by the fact that the fridge will be unplugged for Monday. Not so much fun.
Ya know, they really need to amend the law that says they have to give a minimum of 24 hours notice before entering your unit. Most people renting work, which leaves about 4-5 hours of time between when people typically get home from work and find the notice to when they go to sleep. So anything that has to happen is done in an absolute rush.
My allergies will be seriously tested next week, as new carpet is one thing I'm very allergic too. All the off-gasing makes me very ill. When we moved into the apartment, I spent about a month super ill because they replaced carpet in our unit the week before we moved in, and not the week after the old tenants moved out (there were three months that the unit sat empty).
I abhor companies that use minimum requirements as their standard.
We've been experiencing the nasty end of renting lately. Either that or we've been getting exactly what we've been asking for. You see, I'm a firm believer that what you put out into the world, what you ask for, will be returned to you.
A few things that I've noticed...
I prayed a lot while my grandfather was sick. I'm not a regular church goer, but I do believe that there is a higher power, I just don't always call it God. I came to terms with the fact that he wasn't going to be around for many of the milestones I have coming up. I also asked that that since God felt the need to take him, that it would help everyone that he do so swiftly, before the tumour breaks through and there is more unnecessary pain. I stood in the kitchen the night before my grandfather past and asked him to take him quickly, that I understood that I had to journey without him from then on, and that I'd miss him intensely, but I know he'd make a wonderful addition to the angels he already had, and asked if he could watch over me from time to time. He passed hours later.
Le Man and I have been saying for a while that we have had it with our flooring in our apartment. Each day we'd find a new tile that was loose and sticking to our feet and not the floor. I came home last week to two men in my apartment pulling up tile (when the notice we got said someone was coming to inspect a repair). On eangry Le Man later, and we had the property manager in the unit to discuss the flooring situation in the apartment, and agree to do our kitchen in matching tiles to the hall and walk in closet, and carpet the bedroom. the property manager told us he would give us 48 hours notice, so we could have enough time to move our stuff when we got home from work, before they would do the next two rooms of work. Wednesday when we got home from work there was a notice saying they'd be in the next day to do the bedroom and kitchen....umm...nope that wasn't 48 hours!
An angered building rep and pissy property manager later and we've received a verbal phone call and written notice that they'll be in Monday morning to do the work. We are thinking, you really shouldn't tell people something you don't have any intention of following up on.
The point - we'd been calling them for 2 years about the state of our flooring. The company that owns the building felt that because all tiles were in place when we moved in, that they didn't need to replace the flooring - even though all of the tiles were simply placed there, but weren't actually stuck to anything. You can only trip in them, cut your feet on them, have they stuck to your feet so many times before you start getting really really annoyed.
So, this weekend we get to move the entire contents of our bedroom to our living room, and our kitchen (appliances and all) also into the living room. Fun!! Looks like we'll be eating some serious food this weekend so that there will be less affected by the fact that the fridge will be unplugged for Monday. Not so much fun.
Ya know, they really need to amend the law that says they have to give a minimum of 24 hours notice before entering your unit. Most people renting work, which leaves about 4-5 hours of time between when people typically get home from work and find the notice to when they go to sleep. So anything that has to happen is done in an absolute rush.
My allergies will be seriously tested next week, as new carpet is one thing I'm very allergic too. All the off-gasing makes me very ill. When we moved into the apartment, I spent about a month super ill because they replaced carpet in our unit the week before we moved in, and not the week after the old tenants moved out (there were three months that the unit sat empty).
I abhor companies that use minimum requirements as their standard.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
The Answer is Y E S
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| Sapphire and Diamond Ring |
ON AUGUST 1, 2011 LE MAN TOOK ME BACK TO THE PARK THAT WE WENT TO ON OUR FIRST DATE. UNDER A LOVELY GAZEBO WITH VINES GROWING ALL THE WAY UP IT, HE ASKED ME TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH HIM AND I SAID YES!!!
We have not set a date. We won't be setting a date until after I've finished paying off my debt, and we've saved some money. We are looking into 2013/2014 area. I've sat on this for a little while because I wanted to tell a bunch of people in person first - and schedules don't always line up. I've included pictures of the ring for all you blogger people to see - it's a girl thing! Le Man sat with a jeweler to design this.
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| Sapphire Set in Yellow Gold to set it off, all set in 18K white gold |
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| Actual size of ring on my hand |
So, nothing is set yet for date or style or anything really. We're going to enjoy being engaged for a while. It also gives us the chance to start visiting places we're thinking of, and finding prices and ideas that suit us while we save for the soiree. There's also a few things we need to tie up as well...namely my school thing. We don't see the point in a wedding while I'm still working on school. Saving would be counter productive if I have both happening at the same time. Not to mention we still aren't sure how I will be able to work out the last 6 classes with work. Everything from here on out is on campus, and campus is an hour away in another city. Family is starting to the family thing - in that they all keep saying, "well just have a small one and do it like this and that and here or there and get it done already!!" We are both holding firm that it will be done when we have the money, and our way. We've got a lot to think about as well...
So there you have it...my big news!! I've joined the ranks of PF bloggers that will be planning a wedding - though, I"ll be doing it a lot slower than some. After 5 years together, there's still a lot to learn about each other. For instance, our first big thing will be finding a day - he wants fall, I like spring. It can't be in a month when we have our birthdays. For those who know when our birthday's are, you won't be surprised why he wants fall and I want spring. I love colour - he thinks black is the only colour. Then there's the guest list, and whether we want to do small ceremony, big reception, or everyone to both things. About the only thing we do agree on is the site for the ceremony....but again that will depend on how we choose to do this entire thing. If we invite everyone to both, the venue for the ceremony we love is going to be a logistical nightmare with the position of guests.
Alas, I digress. The first big step is for me to finish paying off my debt monster. The second is for him to finish paying off his bank loan, Best Buy Loan, and however he paid for that gorgeous ring on my hand. That will leave just his truck loan. We can start saving for the wedding, growing an emergency fund, and house fund.
This is why I'm scared to look back at the financial mess I made with paying off my debt. I know I'll be sad, and angry at myself for squandering all that money, when a house and wedding could/should be quite feasible at my age!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Looking Back
While I was looking through my Credit Card statements, looking for the CAA payment, I pulled out the entire file.
I started flipping through the statements. I also started getting a little light headed. I thought about adding up all the money I'd spent on this card, and all the money I'd paid back to this card, but I haven't brought myself to do this yet. That and there's a bunch of statements I'd need to grab from another location.
I can tell you I'm scared to do this. I can also tell you since 2003 when I opened this card, I would have a serious down payment on a house at this point, had I not been so foolish with my money.
What really drove me to look back was I wanted to know the last time I had a balance as low as $14,000. It was on the statement dated - June18-July17, 2006
Holy cow! I've been floundering around paying of this debt, adding to the debt, paying off the debt, adding to the debt for waaaaaaaaaaayyyyy too long now!
It was 5 years ago that my balance was as low as it is!!
In terms of PF blogging and life, a lot has happened since then.
I met and started dating le man that same statement month. I went to San Francisco the next month. I've paid off 3 credit cards, my car, attempted a weight loss program, been to about 12 weddings, watched 8 friends babies be born (some of them the second one too), worked at two different places, watched my income nearly double, and moved twice. I've also watched my grandfather nearly pass away from an operation, and then actually pass away after he was out of options.
It's been a packed 5 years. I've so ready to be done with this debt thing!!
Sometime over the next little while I will sit down and find all of my paperwork and do that math. I'm spending the rest of the month slowly dealing with half-finished projects and purging more items I just don't have a need for anymore. The result will be that my life gets simpler as my finances get simpler.
I started flipping through the statements. I also started getting a little light headed. I thought about adding up all the money I'd spent on this card, and all the money I'd paid back to this card, but I haven't brought myself to do this yet. That and there's a bunch of statements I'd need to grab from another location.
I can tell you I'm scared to do this. I can also tell you since 2003 when I opened this card, I would have a serious down payment on a house at this point, had I not been so foolish with my money.
What really drove me to look back was I wanted to know the last time I had a balance as low as $14,000. It was on the statement dated - June18-July17, 2006
Holy cow! I've been floundering around paying of this debt, adding to the debt, paying off the debt, adding to the debt for waaaaaaaaaaayyyyy too long now!
It was 5 years ago that my balance was as low as it is!!
In terms of PF blogging and life, a lot has happened since then.
I met and started dating le man that same statement month. I went to San Francisco the next month. I've paid off 3 credit cards, my car, attempted a weight loss program, been to about 12 weddings, watched 8 friends babies be born (some of them the second one too), worked at two different places, watched my income nearly double, and moved twice. I've also watched my grandfather nearly pass away from an operation, and then actually pass away after he was out of options.
It's been a packed 5 years. I've so ready to be done with this debt thing!!
Sometime over the next little while I will sit down and find all of my paperwork and do that math. I'm spending the rest of the month slowly dealing with half-finished projects and purging more items I just don't have a need for anymore. The result will be that my life gets simpler as my finances get simpler.
Paying Attention to your Statements
This past Friday I received mail from CAA stating I had downgraded my membership from Plus to Basic. Unfortunately I had not made the call to downgrade, and le man is basically clueless on this. I pay for both of us to have this protection.
See when I signed up under him this past May, I made sure to explain to the person on the phone that I was not longer living with my mother and needed to be taken off of her membership. They sent me a statement showing both payments on the statement with a little note that it would come off of my credit card. I was great with that. Trouble was, they only took one of the two payments. Fast forward to August 4th and someone in their offices make a massive mistake when my mom renews her membership, they tag it to me and le man and voila, they down grade us.
We need the coverage because we drive quite a distance to visit family and friends.
I managed to get it all straightened out, and because they didn't take the amount out when they were supposed to, I'm now paying less, due to a prorating over the months left until renewal.
Okie dokie with me. The money came from my transportation line today and moved over to my credit card. So we're all covered, and our new cards will be in the mail in the next week.
Just a reminder to check your statements against all of your statements, and to make sure that when switching to your own accounts everything is taken care of correctly.
See when I signed up under him this past May, I made sure to explain to the person on the phone that I was not longer living with my mother and needed to be taken off of her membership. They sent me a statement showing both payments on the statement with a little note that it would come off of my credit card. I was great with that. Trouble was, they only took one of the two payments. Fast forward to August 4th and someone in their offices make a massive mistake when my mom renews her membership, they tag it to me and le man and voila, they down grade us.
We need the coverage because we drive quite a distance to visit family and friends.
I managed to get it all straightened out, and because they didn't take the amount out when they were supposed to, I'm now paying less, due to a prorating over the months left until renewal.
Okie dokie with me. The money came from my transportation line today and moved over to my credit card. So we're all covered, and our new cards will be in the mail in the next week.
Just a reminder to check your statements against all of your statements, and to make sure that when switching to your own accounts everything is taken care of correctly.
Monday, August 15, 2011
So much STUFF!!
This past weekend was Cirque De Soleil with my family. These tickets were given to my grandfather, grandmother, mother, and le man for birthday presents this year. I bought the tickets last November, before everything with my grandfather's health started and after all the wedding drama with my sister. The performance was great! The fact that I had an extra ticket, and empty seat where my grandfather should have been was hard.
Sleeping over at my mom's place was equally as difficult. Everytime I walked into the house I found myself looking to see where my grandfather was sitting, and wanting to talk to him. Stuff with the stock markets and money have happened that lead me to questions that I really wanted to ask him. Stuff with my personal life that has happened in the last little while has left me wanting to talk to him.
I'm definitely glad I'm starting counseling in September, as well as moving towards finishing my degree. And, it seems I'll just have to get used to him not being around.
Le man and I spent Sunday helping my mom move furniture out of the basement. She's having it redone, and there were some pretty heavy pieces down there. I've got a ton of stuff!!
We moved home some more things of mine, that I really shouldn't be leaving at my mom's anymore. Sporting equipment, a piece of furniture that my grandfather loved, but that mom won't need after the basement re-do, my musically stuff, and some other miscellaneous items. I still have quite a bit at her place - that I'd totally forgotten about, and that won't be any good to me until I have children, or get a house.
I have some hard decisions to make about these pieces. Many of them have been hidden for years, and now I get chance to see them again. Others I knew were there, but I just don't have room for at the moment. So now, I have some serious thinking to do about some things in my current place, I have a lists of projects that seems to be growing, and I have a living room that looks like a hoarders haven!
Looks like my entertainment will be in finishing some of these projects for the next little while!
First up - finishing the photo albums of my sister and I when we were young.
Sleeping over at my mom's place was equally as difficult. Everytime I walked into the house I found myself looking to see where my grandfather was sitting, and wanting to talk to him. Stuff with the stock markets and money have happened that lead me to questions that I really wanted to ask him. Stuff with my personal life that has happened in the last little while has left me wanting to talk to him.
I'm definitely glad I'm starting counseling in September, as well as moving towards finishing my degree. And, it seems I'll just have to get used to him not being around.
Le man and I spent Sunday helping my mom move furniture out of the basement. She's having it redone, and there were some pretty heavy pieces down there. I've got a ton of stuff!!
We moved home some more things of mine, that I really shouldn't be leaving at my mom's anymore. Sporting equipment, a piece of furniture that my grandfather loved, but that mom won't need after the basement re-do, my musically stuff, and some other miscellaneous items. I still have quite a bit at her place - that I'd totally forgotten about, and that won't be any good to me until I have children, or get a house.
I have some hard decisions to make about these pieces. Many of them have been hidden for years, and now I get chance to see them again. Others I knew were there, but I just don't have room for at the moment. So now, I have some serious thinking to do about some things in my current place, I have a lists of projects that seems to be growing, and I have a living room that looks like a hoarders haven!
Looks like my entertainment will be in finishing some of these projects for the next little while!
First up - finishing the photo albums of my sister and I when we were young.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Taking a Pay Cut
Yep that's right, I'm taking a pay cut.
Not necessarily the ideal situation, but I've got 8 classes left before I"m done my degree. I'm signed up for 2 starting in September. While I'm on campus taking these two courses, I'll also be starting counseling sessions (that I think maybe covered by school, but I still have to find out for sure...I'll let you all know). This is a two fold win for me. I get the day off and I don't have to rush around at all to be back to work for a half day and stuff - I really despised having to do this in the past. I get two more courses complete towards my degree, leaving me with 6 classes (that's 3 credits for those counting).
The down side, obviously, is that I'm taking a pay-cut to have that day off. In that, I get the day off, but I don't get paid anything for it. It's fair for work. I'm not overly upset by this, and just means that perhaps I'll have to take a couple of months in the new year to completely get out of debt, but ya know what? That's fine with me. It's called rolling with the punches. Ideally, I'd like to be paid to telecommute for a part of the day, but that's my ideal.
It's not too bad - in total I'll be reducing my take home pay by about $326 per month. Could be slightly less than that with the tax adjustment stuff. Hopefully not though, because I'll max out my contributions to CPP and EI in October.
I'm not overly bummed about this, just had a wish is two is all - and yes I suppose I was being a little selfish and greedy.
So starting Sept 13, 2011, I'll be off to school each and every Tuesday. Learning some things, and talking out my issues. A full, emotional day I think, but fun at the same time. I'm getting so close to being debt free, AND having my degree, that I'm getting every more excited to see a new school semester start!
Oh - in school related news - I actually scored a perfect mark on a University Assignment! It was a milestone day for me, and really helped boost my spirits near the end of July!
Alas, a small pay cut that allows me to take a step towards my scholastic goal as well.
Not necessarily the ideal situation, but I've got 8 classes left before I"m done my degree. I'm signed up for 2 starting in September. While I'm on campus taking these two courses, I'll also be starting counseling sessions (that I think maybe covered by school, but I still have to find out for sure...I'll let you all know). This is a two fold win for me. I get the day off and I don't have to rush around at all to be back to work for a half day and stuff - I really despised having to do this in the past. I get two more courses complete towards my degree, leaving me with 6 classes (that's 3 credits for those counting).
The down side, obviously, is that I'm taking a pay-cut to have that day off. In that, I get the day off, but I don't get paid anything for it. It's fair for work. I'm not overly upset by this, and just means that perhaps I'll have to take a couple of months in the new year to completely get out of debt, but ya know what? That's fine with me. It's called rolling with the punches. Ideally, I'd like to be paid to telecommute for a part of the day, but that's my ideal.
It's not too bad - in total I'll be reducing my take home pay by about $326 per month. Could be slightly less than that with the tax adjustment stuff. Hopefully not though, because I'll max out my contributions to CPP and EI in October.
I'm not overly bummed about this, just had a wish is two is all - and yes I suppose I was being a little selfish and greedy.
So starting Sept 13, 2011, I'll be off to school each and every Tuesday. Learning some things, and talking out my issues. A full, emotional day I think, but fun at the same time. I'm getting so close to being debt free, AND having my degree, that I'm getting every more excited to see a new school semester start!
Oh - in school related news - I actually scored a perfect mark on a University Assignment! It was a milestone day for me, and really helped boost my spirits near the end of July!
Alas, a small pay cut that allows me to take a step towards my scholastic goal as well.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
The D E B T
I thought I'd start by talking about my debt.
As of today, Thursday August 11, 2011, I officially owe $14,000 on my debt! That's just shy of $10,000 paid off so far this year!!!!!!!!
I've made the change to the status bar on the side. I'm getting very close to the half way mark. I'm a little later with this than I was hoping, but ya know what? I'm not really concerned about it! My debt is slowly getting smaller and smaller. At the end of this month, the amount owing on my debt, and the amount I have in my RRSP will be the same!! And I tell ya, it feels great to be here!
With everything going on, I've been working to maintain a level of normal for myself. I get meloncoly easily, but I have lots of tiny projects to keep me moving around the apartment. These help give me purpose when I'm on my own. Though I haven't started therapy yet, I think this is helping tide me along until I start in September.
I also just took out my "jar" money for the month as well. When I get home, I'm going to put it in envelopes and stick it in a drawer along with my debit and credit cards. This will give me pause each morning to plan out my day, in case I'm in need of gas money.
Things are moving forward nicely with my debt I think. It's been three years since I've seen a balance this low (yes it's low compared to where I used to be!!). I'm getting a little happier with it as the balance keeps creeping downwards! I can't tell you how happy I am to see it moving towards ZERO. Stay tuned. This year isn't over yet, and I'm making headway with my goal.
Will I make it by the end of the year? Won't know until Dec. 31, 2011. Am I making a valiant effort in light of everything so far? ABSOLUTELY!!
How's everything going with your finances?
As of today, Thursday August 11, 2011, I officially owe $14,000 on my debt! That's just shy of $10,000 paid off so far this year!!!!!!!!
I've made the change to the status bar on the side. I'm getting very close to the half way mark. I'm a little later with this than I was hoping, but ya know what? I'm not really concerned about it! My debt is slowly getting smaller and smaller. At the end of this month, the amount owing on my debt, and the amount I have in my RRSP will be the same!! And I tell ya, it feels great to be here!
With everything going on, I've been working to maintain a level of normal for myself. I get meloncoly easily, but I have lots of tiny projects to keep me moving around the apartment. These help give me purpose when I'm on my own. Though I haven't started therapy yet, I think this is helping tide me along until I start in September.
I also just took out my "jar" money for the month as well. When I get home, I'm going to put it in envelopes and stick it in a drawer along with my debit and credit cards. This will give me pause each morning to plan out my day, in case I'm in need of gas money.
Things are moving forward nicely with my debt I think. It's been three years since I've seen a balance this low (yes it's low compared to where I used to be!!). I'm getting a little happier with it as the balance keeps creeping downwards! I can't tell you how happy I am to see it moving towards ZERO. Stay tuned. This year isn't over yet, and I'm making headway with my goal.
Will I make it by the end of the year? Won't know until Dec. 31, 2011. Am I making a valiant effort in light of everything so far? ABSOLUTELY!!
How's everything going with your finances?
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Oh so busy!
Just letting you all know I'm doing ok. It's been a very very busy couple of weeks. I'll have lots of details to share in a little while. For now, this is just an update to say I'm still around, though not often as of late.
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