I took a day off yesterday because I wanted to get ahead on the Christmas "to do" list. It started off really well. I had stay up pretty late the night before so I could get everything that I was sending out wrapped and packaged. I also took the time and handmade 2 items for my Bloggy Secret Santa. I was feeling ahead of the game.
I slept in a little but not too much. I got a few things done and then off I went to the post office with 2 parcels and 2 cards to be mailed. I had set aside some extra money in my budget for postage but I knew it wouldn't be enough quite since I was sending one extra parcel. But I never imagined that it was going to cost me $33.00! OUCH!
That put me into the money I had set aside to get my winter tires put on and do an oil change. I did a few more errands and went off to pick up a few items for another parcel that needed to be sent out. Then I realized... my friend is due to have a baby in a month and I hadn't included it in my budget. I also had neglected to budget for a gift for her son. I couldn't send a gift for the baby and not something for her son. That was the straw that broke the camels back because before that I had overspent on other items I had purchased.
I am a constant over spender when it comes to Christmas. I always want to pick up one more little thing. I was determined to keep it in check this year but I failed big time on that one. So the consequences are that I now have to take about just over $100 from what I was planning on paying credit card. I so disappointed in myself for over spending and for not planning better. I hope this is the last Christmas that is so challenging.
How are you doing on your Christmas budget and shopping?
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
My Financial Bucket List
Yes, a shameless post for 10 entries in a contest. But you can win $500 towards your financial bucket list!!! Don't take my word for it go on over so you can enter the $500 Give Me Back My Five Bucks competition, sponsored
by Life Insurance Finder, the life insurance experts.
Ok on to my list:
Number one without hesitation is to become 100% debt free. This starts with paying off my consumer debt and then on to the car loan. My goal is to have it all gone by December 2012!
Number two makes me very excited. It is to be able to GIVE as I am lead, as I want, when I want and as much as I want. Maybe this can't happen to the full extent until some other goals are met but I don't want to put it off.
Number three involves security. I would like to save a substantial emergency fund.
Number four is uncharted territory for me. I want to figure out the best way for me to fund my retirement. Be it investing, saving or some other means. Most likely a combination of many ways but I need to figure it all out.
Number five is having fun. I would love to be able to do photography for a living. I'm not sure if that is feasible for me but I'd like to explore the option someday.
Ok on to my list:
Number one without hesitation is to become 100% debt free. This starts with paying off my consumer debt and then on to the car loan. My goal is to have it all gone by December 2012!
Number two makes me very excited. It is to be able to GIVE as I am lead, as I want, when I want and as much as I want. Maybe this can't happen to the full extent until some other goals are met but I don't want to put it off.
Number three involves security. I would like to save a substantial emergency fund.
Number four is uncharted territory for me. I want to figure out the best way for me to fund my retirement. Be it investing, saving or some other means. Most likely a combination of many ways but I need to figure it all out.
Number five is having fun. I would love to be able to do photography for a living. I'm not sure if that is feasible for me but I'd like to explore the option someday.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Another Side of Me
I have loved, even had a passion for, photography since I was 8 years old. I remember taking a picture of an old, rusty wagon wheel with flowers and grass all grown up around it. From that moment, it was love.
In the past number of years I have gotten away from it with the busyness of life and the expense of changing from conventional to digital.
This week a friend asked me if I would take photos of her son and his girlfriend. I was very excited to get behind the camera again and have willing subjects. M & V were great and so co-operative.
In the past number of years I have gotten away from it with the busyness of life and the expense of changing from conventional to digital.
This week a friend asked me if I would take photos of her son and his girlfriend. I was very excited to get behind the camera again and have willing subjects. M & V were great and so co-operative.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Friday Funny
It's an oldie but a goody. I know someone(s) else has posted this recently but the link wouldn't work in Canada. I had a link saved from a few years ago and thought it was a fun Friday post. Enjoy and happy Friday!
Don't Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford
Don't Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Pay Day Happiness
Yay for pay day! This payday means I now owe less than $3000 on my credit card!
Have you ever played a video game and seen that the monster you are trying to beat has fading health? Well if life was a video game the monster I am trying to beat only has 40% life left! Yep! If you check my sidebar you will see I am just barely shy of having paid off 60%.
I love the snowball method because now I am only making payments on 2 debts. One of those automatically comes off my pay so I don't even see it. So all the extra left in my pay and every other penny I can squeeze out is going to beat down the credit card. It's a great feeling to pay a big chunk of money on that evil card.
I am just so excited that I wanted to share with all of you! Oh and speaking of happiness and excitment... I'm joining Louise in a happy dance since she just paid off another credit card!
One other thing...
Do you remember this from May?
This is what it looks like today.
Have you ever played a video game and seen that the monster you are trying to beat has fading health? Well if life was a video game the monster I am trying to beat only has 40% life left! Yep! If you check my sidebar you will see I am just barely shy of having paid off 60%.
I love the snowball method because now I am only making payments on 2 debts. One of those automatically comes off my pay so I don't even see it. So all the extra left in my pay and every other penny I can squeeze out is going to beat down the credit card. It's a great feeling to pay a big chunk of money on that evil card.
I am just so excited that I wanted to share with all of you! Oh and speaking of happiness and excitment... I'm joining Louise in a happy dance since she just paid off another credit card!
One other thing...
Do you remember this from May?
This is what it looks like today.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Money Talk and Trail Running
I got $20 in free gas today! Some cereal boxes this summer had $5.00 coupons on them. All I had to do was send the coupons in and they sent me back gift cards. I did send $25 worth in but I only got $20 worth back in the mail. But I won't complain because free gas is still free gas. And it's $20 more I can pay towards debt.
Tomorrow I have my annual eye exam which will cost $90.00. I also have to get an oil change and have my winter tires installed on the car. I've budgeted $60.00 for that. I've also set aside some money for Christmas. I will still be making a pretty decent payment on my credit card and I am happy about that.
According to my current goal I have 4 1/2 more months until I am consumer debt free! It's a short time but it's a long time. The one thing I can say is that I never want to have to walk down this road again.
Well I'm off to relax a little after my 10k trail run today. It was a muddy one! And lots of fun! :)
Tomorrow I have my annual eye exam which will cost $90.00. I also have to get an oil change and have my winter tires installed on the car. I've budgeted $60.00 for that. I've also set aside some money for Christmas. I will still be making a pretty decent payment on my credit card and I am happy about that.
According to my current goal I have 4 1/2 more months until I am consumer debt free! It's a short time but it's a long time. The one thing I can say is that I never want to have to walk down this road again.
Well I'm off to relax a little after my 10k trail run today. It was a muddy one! And lots of fun! :)
Friday, November 11, 2011
Lest We Forget
11/11/11
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| Photo credit |
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
~John McCrae~
Today my brother is serving our country in Afghanistan and today our country comes together to honour those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. I am a very proud sister and Canadian.
Thank you veterans.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
You Deserve It!
If I hear, "but you deserve to treat yourself", one more time, I think I'm going to tell whoever says it that if I deserve it so much then they should pay for me!
Ok, I'm not serious but it does get frustrating at times. Yes I'm serious about paying off my debt and it's no secret to most everyone that knows me. I say no to lots of things because I really want my debt gone. I don't say no easily all the time. Saying no sometimes comes with a big internal struggle. Having said that I do treat myself from time to time. I've registered for a few races that are important to me, I've set aside a little extra in my entertainment jar for the occasional Starbucks, I reward myself with Subway every now and then. No I haven't really had any big splurges, and I really haven't bought anything that wasn't necessary but to me that just shows my focus and determination.
Some days it's a pretty lonely journey on the road to debt free. I get made fun of sometimes, I get told I should just relax sometimes, I get told debt is just a way of life but I don't allow any of this to discourage me. I am so thankful for my PF blogging family, my family and my friends that are very supportive of me.
What I really feel that I deserve is to live a life free of debt and all the stress and misery that comes along with it. I deserve to have the things in life I can afford to pay for with cash. I deserve to feel the incredible joy that comes from being able to give to others and change their life if even in a small way. I deserve the security of knowing that I have money in the bank to cover emergencies and my future. Those are the things I really deserve and those are the things I really want.
How about you?
Ok, I'm not serious but it does get frustrating at times. Yes I'm serious about paying off my debt and it's no secret to most everyone that knows me. I say no to lots of things because I really want my debt gone. I don't say no easily all the time. Saying no sometimes comes with a big internal struggle. Having said that I do treat myself from time to time. I've registered for a few races that are important to me, I've set aside a little extra in my entertainment jar for the occasional Starbucks, I reward myself with Subway every now and then. No I haven't really had any big splurges, and I really haven't bought anything that wasn't necessary but to me that just shows my focus and determination.
Some days it's a pretty lonely journey on the road to debt free. I get made fun of sometimes, I get told I should just relax sometimes, I get told debt is just a way of life but I don't allow any of this to discourage me. I am so thankful for my PF blogging family, my family and my friends that are very supportive of me.
What I really feel that I deserve is to live a life free of debt and all the stress and misery that comes along with it. I deserve to have the things in life I can afford to pay for with cash. I deserve to feel the incredible joy that comes from being able to give to others and change their life if even in a small way. I deserve the security of knowing that I have money in the bank to cover emergencies and my future. Those are the things I really deserve and those are the things I really want.
How about you?
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Christmas is Coming!
First things first before I start talking about me. Please take a few moments to stop by My 1/2 Dozen Daily and check out her awesome giveaway. It gives you a chance to do a lot for a little AND a chance to win some fabulous handmade items!
Well since Christmas is fast approaching I guess its time to start preparing for it. I've basically been putting it off and concentrating on my debt repayment. Not because I don't like Christmas just because I was waiting for that little extra I get on my pay after I have maxed out my Employment Insurance and Canada Pension Plan contributions. The extra will add up to about $320 over 4 pays. One of those is after Christmas so I have played around with the debt repayment numbers to allow me to fit in Christmas and still continue to be aggressive with debt repayment. Over all I am please with the plan I have come up with.
I have currently budgeted $315.00 for Christmas and $1570 extra to debt repayment to take me to the end of December.
Christmas breaks down like this:
Dad $75 plus a $50 gift certificate I ordered with airmiles points
Mom $75 plus a $50 gift certificate I ordered with airmiles points
Nieces and Nephew - $75 - breaks down to $25 each
Friend's Baby - $10
Blogger Secret Santa - $25 - $15 gift and $10 for postage
Bunny Secret Santa - $30
Extra $25 in case I have forgotten something or something costs a little more
Bella, Gideon, Chloe and Dallen will get gifts from their own budget which is separate. :)
On a different note, I have taken all your advice and have decided that it will probably be nice to ease up a little and pay off the car by the end of next year instead of pushing for October. I will still go as aggressively as I can for the consumer debt and get it gone ASAP!
HAPPY WEEKEND and don't forget to go visit My 1/2 Dozen Daily and give a little or a lot!
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| Bella and the Christmas tree. |
Well since Christmas is fast approaching I guess its time to start preparing for it. I've basically been putting it off and concentrating on my debt repayment. Not because I don't like Christmas just because I was waiting for that little extra I get on my pay after I have maxed out my Employment Insurance and Canada Pension Plan contributions. The extra will add up to about $320 over 4 pays. One of those is after Christmas so I have played around with the debt repayment numbers to allow me to fit in Christmas and still continue to be aggressive with debt repayment. Over all I am please with the plan I have come up with.
I have currently budgeted $315.00 for Christmas and $1570 extra to debt repayment to take me to the end of December.
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| Gideon with a Bunny Christmas Tree Ornament that was a gift from friends. |
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| Dallen checking out all the Bunny Secret Santa gifts. |
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| Chloe also checking out the Bunny Secret Santa Box. |
Christmas breaks down like this:
Dad $75 plus a $50 gift certificate I ordered with airmiles points
Mom $75 plus a $50 gift certificate I ordered with airmiles points
Nieces and Nephew - $75 - breaks down to $25 each
Friend's Baby - $10
Blogger Secret Santa - $25 - $15 gift and $10 for postage
Bunny Secret Santa - $30
Extra $25 in case I have forgotten something or something costs a little more
Bella, Gideon, Chloe and Dallen will get gifts from their own budget which is separate. :)
On a different note, I have taken all your advice and have decided that it will probably be nice to ease up a little and pay off the car by the end of next year instead of pushing for October. I will still go as aggressively as I can for the consumer debt and get it gone ASAP!
HAPPY WEEKEND and don't forget to go visit My 1/2 Dozen Daily and give a little or a lot!
Friday, November 4, 2011
A Chance to Pay it Forward - The Best Giveaway yet!
If you haven't had a chance to stop by Carla's Half Dozen Daily today please take this opportunity to do so. She is giving you a chance to be a part of something bigger by only giving a little (or a lot if you can).
She is looking to raise some money to purchase some farm animals so that a family is able to have fresh eggs, cheese, and milk. This means the family will be able to eat and it will be a source of income. All you have to do it give $1.00. If you can give more, awesome! If you are not able to give right now that's ok too but you could pass the word along so that others might have the chance to get involved and help out.
The big bonus for you, apart from the joy of giving, is that Carla is also having a draw for some of her fabulous handmade items. An apron, a coffee sleeve and if she raises enough even a zippy wallet! Bonus is these would make excellent Christmas gifts! If you can't bare to part with them you could always put in a custom order and have her make you some to give away too!
It's a win, win, win!
If you haven't exercised your giving muscles lately now is the perfect time!
She is looking to raise some money to purchase some farm animals so that a family is able to have fresh eggs, cheese, and milk. This means the family will be able to eat and it will be a source of income. All you have to do it give $1.00. If you can give more, awesome! If you are not able to give right now that's ok too but you could pass the word along so that others might have the chance to get involved and help out.
The big bonus for you, apart from the joy of giving, is that Carla is also having a draw for some of her fabulous handmade items. An apron, a coffee sleeve and if she raises enough even a zippy wallet! Bonus is these would make excellent Christmas gifts! If you can't bare to part with them you could always put in a custom order and have her make you some to give away too!
It's a win, win, win!
If you haven't exercised your giving muscles lately now is the perfect time!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Man in Motion brings Many in Motion
Today I had the great honour of being a Medal Bearer for the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Tour. Only 7000 Canadians will carry the medal across the country. I also had the most amazing opportunity to meet Rick. It was a very inspiring day and I met a number of people who really make you believe that "Anything is Possible".
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| Rick Hansen - The Man in Motion |
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| The Medal |
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| Bella and I |
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| A great group of children that participated |
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| Running in the Relay with the medal |
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| All finished and on our way back. Did you know that Rick's journey was the basis for the song St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)? The words of the song are quite inspirational. The 80's video, not so inspirational ;) |
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