I did a quick jaunt out to Target last night. I had found some coupons in the Friday paper for things we needed. As a rule I think that most coupons suck in Canada. They are for junk and low value. We are out of antiperspirant, shaving cream, mouthwash and shampoo and low and behold - a bunch of $2 off and 2 for 1 deals.
So I am not a new couponer, when I was on mat leave 7 years ago I couponed in earnest. You have to sign up and search and it takes effort to find good coupons here. (That's why I don't do it much now). I know that it has to be exactly as stated to be valid so the right size etc...
After finding clearance priced products that matched my coupons I happily go to the empty till. There were 2 shampoo that had an "Instant Save $3", plus were on clearance - so I thought I scored them for 99 cents...
The woman at the till, unsmiling said something that I couldn't understand as a greeting. (Or it could have been she told me where to go and how to get there) I point to the save $3 now stickers on the 2 shampoo bottles and she peels them off and then proceeds to stare at the bottles and then stare at me, like I'm being sized up as the enemy. After the inspection was finished she informs me "These expired Dec 31 - you can't use them". "Fine" I say "Then I don't want to buy them".
I splay my remaining coupons out like a fan in plain sight as she rings through all of my finds. I hold them up higher and say "I have coupons".
Sour puss then scolds me (I assume as I don't speak whatever she mumbled). Something about "Next time... don't you do blah blah blah" She then, with more attention to detail than a CSI she scourers the coupons. I bought 2 Degree deodorant - same size, same price but different scents. She humphs and tells me they aren't the same. (again assuming what she said was something like that) I said that isn't a condition of the coupon. Heavy sigh and she shuffles back to her manager that says - "Yes they are the same". She shuffles back to the till scowling. (Huge pet peeve of mine - pick up your frickin' feet when you walk!)
I had a solid 5 minutes of humphing and sighing and glaring to buy 13 things!!! There was nobody behind me or I would have called a manager to help little miss nasty run her investigation.
There was a "Tell us how we are doing" survey at the bottom of my receipt - so I did! LOL!!
So I think that I will now try to find a coupon and find that little twit to ring it in every time I am near the store. The poor woman needs my help to improve and obviously likes to work hard on her investigative skills!! I'm going to keep finding and "helping" her until she learns to give a proper greeting and enter in a coupon!
Honestly Target: Epic Fail.
On a good note - my family has no excuse to smell bad! We are set for sweet smelling armpits and mouths for 6 months!
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Saturday, January 18, 2014
That was my Winter Getaway (or the blink you missed it holiday)
I am still recovering from a marathon driving/visiting/sightseeing/eating/drinking last weekend!!
3 Days and 2 Nights and a ton of fun!
We went to see my only normal family member and his family. It was great and the kids - my big ones included had a ball! Sight seeing, sporting events and so many laughs.
Unless you grew up where I did, have had to be around my family, you can never really know what it was like growing up and being a part of it. We could just talk. No need to explain. No need to sugar coat it. It was like a therapy session for both of us!
The question that they had for me was "How the hell did we break away from that craziness?" Both of us are very removed from our parents and siblings. Really, I don't know, it took a very long time. A combo of the love of my husband and kids, my personal strength, the personal growth that I have had over the years from my job and a sense of the world around me. I don't think for one minute that the world revolves around me (unlike my parents and sibling).
I'm back to work and back to sports with my kid #3. It was a very nice reprieve.
I'm having a dilemma of sorts for the last few days... there is an upcoming opportunity for me to work part time. Half as many nights and weekends. I found it so timely to read about others that have a guilt for not working full time or bringing home the max $$ that they can. I did that for 11 years of full time + a part time + overtime and then I almost had to pack it in from permanent injury. My job is very physical. The desk job I have now ends this spring. I don't think my old job of full time is sustainable with my bad back. I hate my boss - and I mean it Hate. My. Boss. One of the dirtiest snakes I have had to work with in 23 years. I think at part time I can handle it. Or I can explore other jobs as well as my previous one being only part time. With any luck the boss will be promoted as that is what usually happens to nasty SOB's and I can go back to full time. I am not afraid of the decreased income but I am feeling guilt or something for wanting to pull back and slow down.
I have a whack of vacation to burn up before my employer's fiscal year end or it will be paid out. I would rather have paid time off!! So there are a lot of long weekends for me in the next 2.5 months!
Tonight I am relishing quiet time alone. Everyone else had somewhere to go and I opted out! Yay!! A movie that I like, popcorn and a glass of wine!!
3 Days and 2 Nights and a ton of fun!
We went to see my only normal family member and his family. It was great and the kids - my big ones included had a ball! Sight seeing, sporting events and so many laughs.
Unless you grew up where I did, have had to be around my family, you can never really know what it was like growing up and being a part of it. We could just talk. No need to explain. No need to sugar coat it. It was like a therapy session for both of us!
The question that they had for me was "How the hell did we break away from that craziness?" Both of us are very removed from our parents and siblings. Really, I don't know, it took a very long time. A combo of the love of my husband and kids, my personal strength, the personal growth that I have had over the years from my job and a sense of the world around me. I don't think for one minute that the world revolves around me (unlike my parents and sibling).
I'm back to work and back to sports with my kid #3. It was a very nice reprieve.
I'm having a dilemma of sorts for the last few days... there is an upcoming opportunity for me to work part time. Half as many nights and weekends. I found it so timely to read about others that have a guilt for not working full time or bringing home the max $$ that they can. I did that for 11 years of full time + a part time + overtime and then I almost had to pack it in from permanent injury. My job is very physical. The desk job I have now ends this spring. I don't think my old job of full time is sustainable with my bad back. I hate my boss - and I mean it Hate. My. Boss. One of the dirtiest snakes I have had to work with in 23 years. I think at part time I can handle it. Or I can explore other jobs as well as my previous one being only part time. With any luck the boss will be promoted as that is what usually happens to nasty SOB's and I can go back to full time. I am not afraid of the decreased income but I am feeling guilt or something for wanting to pull back and slow down.
I have a whack of vacation to burn up before my employer's fiscal year end or it will be paid out. I would rather have paid time off!! So there are a lot of long weekends for me in the next 2.5 months!
Tonight I am relishing quiet time alone. Everyone else had somewhere to go and I opted out! Yay!! A movie that I like, popcorn and a glass of wine!!
Thursday, May 16, 2013
My Blog is on Hiatus
Things are under control financially. Thanks to hard work and a good paying job.
It is the personal life that needs work. So I'm leaving it personal.
I am still around the blogging world, following and adding my 2 cents here and there.
If I can get out of debt ANYONE can!
It is the personal life that needs work. So I'm leaving it personal.
I am still around the blogging world, following and adding my 2 cents here and there.
If I can get out of debt ANYONE can!
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Surprise $$
I was very surprised to find a couple of deposits in my bank account this last week. Big, like $3,000 big. In January I had a boatload of paperwork and crap to fill in because of my work injury. I was told by my employer that I had to or I would not get my medical coverage or my pension benefits.
So a ton of photocopies, 2 trips to the Dr., too many phone calls to count and I mailed and faxed in my life story.
Apparently, I wasn't applying for what they told me or for what it said on the forms! I had called the company and clarified twice, told them I was working full time again. I thought it was all tickety-boo.
I got a letter from the same lady I had clarified why and for what all of the paperwork was for saying that this was my income supplement for when my employer dropped down my hours, and that they gave it to me even though I had applied 8 months too late!???
Umm Hello??? I filled in all of the BS within a week of getting the forms from my employer! I don't have access to these forms unless they are given by my employer. Don't tell me I am 8 months late. I was told it was for medical benefits and pension coverage. That wasn't done at all. Talk about screwed up departments. I don't care, they are all a bunch of fools. I will take the money.
*edited to add: I apparently met the criteria to receive it, even though not one dummy told me about it when my wage was cut by 3/4*
So I added money to my 2 savings accounts of 1. House stuff /crap happens and 2. Vacation.
My little #3 had his other test done and it was a nightmare. I don't even like to think about it. I knew it had to be done but he didn't cope well and had a lot of discomfort.
Now we wait and find out what needs to happen. 3 options: 1.big surgery 2. small surgery no external work, just a scope and injection in the bladder 3. nothing - live with it and hope it doesn't get worse.
I am going to phone the specialists office today.
DH has been at his new job all week. It is identical behavior that he has done for his last 6 jobs. He phones me (no matter where I am or what I'm doing), tells me he hates it, tells me he's quitting. Pretty much has a panic attack and acts like he's 4. I tell him that we have been through this 6 times now and for the 6th time he will be fine and if he doesn't want to work he can move home and live with his mommy. Suck it up and be a man. Honestly! I didn't even have to finish my spiel this time... I said my usual lines "and if you don't want to work you...." "I can move home with my mother" "There you go honey"
I'm tired, I too am doing a job that I don't love and find a breeze. Trust me that the stress levels in what we do are not comparable at all. I would love to have as little responsibility as he does. His biggest decision this week was where to go for coffee!!! I don't drive the sympathy bus. I should be all gushy I suppose but really, I have supported my family for 10 years financially. Until the mortgage was paid and since then - even with my reduced wage we split the bills in 1/2. He does pay for the line of credit that the vehicles are on. He could pay it off in its entirety today but he doesn't want to part with the cash. His choice to pay the interest.
My kid #1 got a full time job this summer. (Yeah mom and the new resume!). I helped with his cover letter too as his dad, my idiot x told him he could and should use the same one for all jobs he applies for!?
No, you need to be specific to the job you are applying for. He had a "Group Interview" with 6 others and he got the job. I was very proud of him. He's a friendly nice kid and should do fine working at this place over the summer.
As soon as we find out the plan for little #3 we are going to book a holiday or 2. I have also had a talk with DH that IF our little guy needs the big surgery I will not work anymore. I'll take a leave for as long as it takes for him to be fine again. I had planned to go part time at the end of 2013 and we would be financially fine. If I have to work 0 hours and care for my son full time we will be more than fine too. I will just stop the big RRSP monthly buy I'm doing and reduce or stop the RESP.
It really never gets easy does it?
The Good Things...
free $$ as far as I'm concerned
We have jobs that pay well
my older 2 have good jobs for summer
I am prepared to do what I need to do for my son's health
Things that suck...
I would do anything to trade places with my little guy
not loving your job
stress
So a ton of photocopies, 2 trips to the Dr., too many phone calls to count and I mailed and faxed in my life story.
Apparently, I wasn't applying for what they told me or for what it said on the forms! I had called the company and clarified twice, told them I was working full time again. I thought it was all tickety-boo.
I got a letter from the same lady I had clarified why and for what all of the paperwork was for saying that this was my income supplement for when my employer dropped down my hours, and that they gave it to me even though I had applied 8 months too late!???
Umm Hello??? I filled in all of the BS within a week of getting the forms from my employer! I don't have access to these forms unless they are given by my employer. Don't tell me I am 8 months late. I was told it was for medical benefits and pension coverage. That wasn't done at all. Talk about screwed up departments. I don't care, they are all a bunch of fools. I will take the money.
*edited to add: I apparently met the criteria to receive it, even though not one dummy told me about it when my wage was cut by 3/4*
So I added money to my 2 savings accounts of 1. House stuff /crap happens and 2. Vacation.
My little #3 had his other test done and it was a nightmare. I don't even like to think about it. I knew it had to be done but he didn't cope well and had a lot of discomfort.
Now we wait and find out what needs to happen. 3 options: 1.big surgery 2. small surgery no external work, just a scope and injection in the bladder 3. nothing - live with it and hope it doesn't get worse.
I am going to phone the specialists office today.
DH has been at his new job all week. It is identical behavior that he has done for his last 6 jobs. He phones me (no matter where I am or what I'm doing), tells me he hates it, tells me he's quitting. Pretty much has a panic attack and acts like he's 4. I tell him that we have been through this 6 times now and for the 6th time he will be fine and if he doesn't want to work he can move home and live with his mommy. Suck it up and be a man. Honestly! I didn't even have to finish my spiel this time... I said my usual lines "and if you don't want to work you...." "I can move home with my mother" "There you go honey"
I'm tired, I too am doing a job that I don't love and find a breeze. Trust me that the stress levels in what we do are not comparable at all. I would love to have as little responsibility as he does. His biggest decision this week was where to go for coffee!!! I don't drive the sympathy bus. I should be all gushy I suppose but really, I have supported my family for 10 years financially. Until the mortgage was paid and since then - even with my reduced wage we split the bills in 1/2. He does pay for the line of credit that the vehicles are on. He could pay it off in its entirety today but he doesn't want to part with the cash. His choice to pay the interest.
My kid #1 got a full time job this summer. (Yeah mom and the new resume!). I helped with his cover letter too as his dad, my idiot x told him he could and should use the same one for all jobs he applies for!?
No, you need to be specific to the job you are applying for. He had a "Group Interview" with 6 others and he got the job. I was very proud of him. He's a friendly nice kid and should do fine working at this place over the summer.
As soon as we find out the plan for little #3 we are going to book a holiday or 2. I have also had a talk with DH that IF our little guy needs the big surgery I will not work anymore. I'll take a leave for as long as it takes for him to be fine again. I had planned to go part time at the end of 2013 and we would be financially fine. If I have to work 0 hours and care for my son full time we will be more than fine too. I will just stop the big RRSP monthly buy I'm doing and reduce or stop the RESP.
It really never gets easy does it?
The Good Things...
free $$ as far as I'm concerned
We have jobs that pay well
my older 2 have good jobs for summer
I am prepared to do what I need to do for my son's health
Things that suck...
I would do anything to trade places with my little guy
not loving your job
stress
Sunday, March 24, 2013
I've been nominated!
Thank you to Aggie over at http://www.shoestringmanor.com/
Anything that is for myself and over $100 I will wait at least 3 days. For the family I will talk it over with dh.
2. Why are you cheap?
I'm not cheap. I would rather buy quality over something cheap that will wear out twice as fast.
My dh is cheap. He wears out clothes and shoes twice as fast as me but doesn't see how it relates. I will also save up to buy good quality furniture instead of flimsy cheapo stuff.
3. Processed, from scratch or both when you cook?
Both. This last year with a back injury that made me loose hand and arm strength I have been happy to have pre-made things. ie pre sliced carrots!
4. Manufactured or homemade (non-food)?
We all prefer homemade
5. How handy/creative are you? 1-10 scale.
I'll give myself a 7. Points off for not being able to knit or crochet. I am very comfortable with tools...drills, saws, drywall, painting, etc. I like to create in my yard with landscaping and flowers.
6. Books or movies?
Books
7. Why blog?
It is an outlet for me because I don't share my finances with anyone on a regular basis in real life.
8. Dogs or cats?
I have a dog but I love all animals and would have a zoo in my house if I could.
9. Do you use Google to spell check?
Yes
10. Cast iron cookware, yes or no?
No.
11. What did you want to be when you grew up?
A pilot.
11 Random things about me...
1. My Mom-in-law frequently buys me clothes, and I love them :)
2. I have never worn the colour red in my life until a month ago and I got a pair of pants/jeans that were $24 reg $100 for my new job.
3. My own family is a dysfunctional mess. We don't talk. My mom has never said that she loves me, and I can count on one hand the compliments that I have got in the last 10 years. (none on my wedding day).
4. I am now back at a very well paying job. My dh is too.
5. Because of my spending habits and savings we didn't go without anything when my wage was severely reduced. I can also decrease my job to part-time and we will still maintain the same lifestyle.
6. I have at times a wicked temper. (I blame my red hair)
7. Because of my family mess I love my own kids with openness and I tell them I love them and am proud of them often. I am a moma bear when it comes to my boys. This red hair also makes me love fierce and protect fierce. ;)
8. I am very uncomfortable in large crowds. I hate when strangers bump into me. Dh understands now and he always works to clear a path and be my bouncer when we go to a sporting event or concert.
9. I love American football. I'm Canadian.
10. The last time I flew in a plane was 4 years ago. We had horrible turbulence 10 minutes straight before landing and I thought that I was going to start puking along with the kids behind me. I'm scared to fly again.
11. I buy everything with a credit card. I pay it off in full every month and have done so for 10 years now.
I will come back and tag some blogs when I've thought of some questions today.
Questions I wonder about others...
1. Do you talk to family and friends freely about money like you may do on your blog?
2. When is the last time you went out for a nice meal? (And enjoyed it)
3. You are given $500, where does it go?
4. A job you hate for 6 figures or a job you love for minimum wage?
5. Green thumb or brown thumb?
6. What would be a "do over and do different" in your life?
7. What would be a "do-again"?
8. Most expensive piece of clothing you ever bought? (Includes wedding wear)
9. What do you collect?
10. The last thing that you baked as a treat?
11. Would you be able to handle 6 months without any income for your family?
I nominate...
http://thehawaiiplan.blogspot.com/
http://lifebeginsatretirement.blogspot.com/
http://anostrichnamedsam.blogspot.com/
http://planetdebtfree.blogspot.com/
http://outmywindowtoday.blogspot.com/
http://www.thequesttobe.com/
Friday, March 15, 2013
Payday and Payment Day
It hardly ever happens that I get paid and the payments are on the same day. I am paid every 2 weeks but payments are arranged by date. I like that it is orderly this month. This makes it a 3 paycheque month too! Good thing as I was reading in my archives that my insurance bill will be arriving soon and due to a tune of $1,100.
One of little guys tests is done. It was painful getting a bunch of iv pokes. I was ready to choke the tech. I wouldn't let her do the third one, called in someone that was good at kids iv's and he made it look easy. Now thanks to her my child is terrified of iv's. He had numbing cream on and she went beside and above it?! Anyone could see the vein to use! What's worse is things are looking like he will need surgery. How big of a surgery will be determined by the test next week. I would rather cut off my own leg than have him go through any of this. I hate it.
The only bit of information that made me feel a bit better is that this isn't related to the strep he had. Or at least it doesn't look that way right now. So a bit of guilt has been lifted but not the feeling of helplessness that he has to go through this at all.
I had my brave mommy face on all day and then cried all night. Thank goodness that I can go into work a little late and it's OK. Nobody gets bothered by it.
My dh starts in his new department in a week. I am relieved that he will be in a stable job for now. His pay is going up which is good so that means the LOC will be going down faster.
My friend invited me to visit her in New Jersey. I am in a state of flux right now with my little guy. Once life settles down again may take her up on it. We used to be next door neighbours 20 years ago and then we were co-workers for many years. I miss her. Her 3 kids were adorable and have now grown into beautiful successful people. She went through a nasty divorce right after I did. She met her soul mate online and moved across the country. She is happy, she looks as good as she did 20 years ago. I always wished she was my older sister. I think I would really enjoy a week with her.
Here is today's accomplishment:
1 hour left to rise and I should be pretty popular after school today!
The Good Things:
great kids
Things that suck:
I would give anything to trade places with my son.
One of little guys tests is done. It was painful getting a bunch of iv pokes. I was ready to choke the tech. I wouldn't let her do the third one, called in someone that was good at kids iv's and he made it look easy. Now thanks to her my child is terrified of iv's. He had numbing cream on and she went beside and above it?! Anyone could see the vein to use! What's worse is things are looking like he will need surgery. How big of a surgery will be determined by the test next week. I would rather cut off my own leg than have him go through any of this. I hate it.
The only bit of information that made me feel a bit better is that this isn't related to the strep he had. Or at least it doesn't look that way right now. So a bit of guilt has been lifted but not the feeling of helplessness that he has to go through this at all.
I had my brave mommy face on all day and then cried all night. Thank goodness that I can go into work a little late and it's OK. Nobody gets bothered by it.
My dh starts in his new department in a week. I am relieved that he will be in a stable job for now. His pay is going up which is good so that means the LOC will be going down faster.
My friend invited me to visit her in New Jersey. I am in a state of flux right now with my little guy. Once life settles down again may take her up on it. We used to be next door neighbours 20 years ago and then we were co-workers for many years. I miss her. Her 3 kids were adorable and have now grown into beautiful successful people. She went through a nasty divorce right after I did. She met her soul mate online and moved across the country. She is happy, she looks as good as she did 20 years ago. I always wished she was my older sister. I think I would really enjoy a week with her.
Here is today's accomplishment:
The Good Things:
great kids
Things that suck:
I would give anything to trade places with my son.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Payday and new Specs!
Picked up my new glasses last night. $420! Good Grief! All of my boys helped me pick them out. If you ever want a no time wasted, no beating around the bush, have 3 boys at the optometrist office and say that no one leaves until Mom has new glasses picked out.
"Those ones make you look angry"
"Those are a stupid colour"
"What is that supposed to be on the side of them?"
"Nope"
"Naw"
"You look like a Librarian"
"Those give you a unibrow"
"Those are o.k."
"Yep - get those"
They ended up being technically men's glasses but whatever. I guess when 4 men help you pick out glasses, that's what they like!
Dh had told me that he has full coverage up to $650/2years per person. No, he has $275. I don't know what numbers he was looking at but - wrong! My health benefits are in the process of being covered so in a month or 2 I will get a full refund.
Today is a good day because it's PAYDAY! This is my first normal paycheque in 2 months. Dh still hasn't started over at his new job. Don't know when that will happen yet but it should be within the next month. If all of the pieces fall into place like they should he will get a decent raise by this time next year. I have informed him that after this year of full time, I am going part-time. I have to go back to shift work then and I don't want to live exhausted like that anymore. It is no life for me or the boys when I work so much. 20% of my pay for the year was overtime that I have to do. Spread out over the year that extra 200+ hours isn't bad, but it is never spread evenly, always in clumps.
We are not big spenders and can live more than comfortably on 1.5 wages.
That is my plan. The .5 of wages will be more than made up in quality of life improvements. More sleep, time to prepare meals, spend time with my kids and myself.
My parental units have left our lives again. I told them that they may be millionaire's (that my Dad brags about incessantly) but they are selfish and poor people. They take neighbours out for fancy dinners, spend nothing but time with other family, then phone and go on and on and on to me about how wonderful so and so is, how great the holiday they went on was. I think in 2006 we went out for dinner with them. I'm done.
They have the golden daughter back on the pedestal again. Spent a week with her and her kids. (I live 5 min away) visited us for 5 minutes on the way out of town. They stood in the doorway and didn't take off thier coats. They did bring a big parting gift of 3 things from the dollar store for kid #3. Refused to join dh for lunch when he called and invited them earlier in the week - they were too tired from babysitting. They looked after the 3 grand kids for 3 hours a day after school was done.
The last conversation the final straw(s): I was informed that I "got a divorce because of the way that "x" put toothpaste on the toothbrush!" I apparently got divorced "for no good reason". Whereas my perfect sibling has been done so wrong by her husband, how could he, how dare he! She is without blame. I was also informed that "Your 2 kids don't know their cousins" Umm Dad, I have 3 children. And my dad "feels sorry" for my current dh because I have such anger towards my parents. WTH?
Anger takes energy and saps the life out of you. I don't have extra to waste on them.
Don't call me to fix things that go wrong in your lives anymore. Call the neighbours. When you are on your next trip (that you don't bother telling me that you are going on) and you have chest pain again at 6 am on a Sunday. Don't wake me up again and have me arrange your medical care and insurance crap from 1000 miles away when you're in another country. Call the golden daughter or call the wonderful neighbours. Save your money because you will need it to hire someone to take care of you when you are old. I'm not going to call in favours from friends when you need and want things anymore. You have the people you value and then you have me at the bottom. Adios.
It is always a weight lifted when they go into silent mode. I don't dread the phone ringing. I go on with my life. Things are complicated enough just going on our own way without having those 2 crazies trying to ruin things. (My mother doesn't have any issues - she watches Dr. Phil everyday ya know!)
I happen to be pretty happy these days. Contrary to what I was informed how people put toothpaste on the toothbrush doesn't bother me in the least. I don't even get worked up about globs of paste in the sink!) I'm pretty sure that my dh loves me and doesn't require anyone's pity for being married to me.
"Those ones make you look angry"
"Those are a stupid colour"
"What is that supposed to be on the side of them?"
"Nope"
"Naw"
"You look like a Librarian"
"Those give you a unibrow"
"Those are o.k."
"Yep - get those"
They ended up being technically men's glasses but whatever. I guess when 4 men help you pick out glasses, that's what they like!
Dh had told me that he has full coverage up to $650/2years per person. No, he has $275. I don't know what numbers he was looking at but - wrong! My health benefits are in the process of being covered so in a month or 2 I will get a full refund.
Today is a good day because it's PAYDAY! This is my first normal paycheque in 2 months. Dh still hasn't started over at his new job. Don't know when that will happen yet but it should be within the next month. If all of the pieces fall into place like they should he will get a decent raise by this time next year. I have informed him that after this year of full time, I am going part-time. I have to go back to shift work then and I don't want to live exhausted like that anymore. It is no life for me or the boys when I work so much. 20% of my pay for the year was overtime that I have to do. Spread out over the year that extra 200+ hours isn't bad, but it is never spread evenly, always in clumps.
We are not big spenders and can live more than comfortably on 1.5 wages.
That is my plan. The .5 of wages will be more than made up in quality of life improvements. More sleep, time to prepare meals, spend time with my kids and myself.
My parental units have left our lives again. I told them that they may be millionaire's (that my Dad brags about incessantly) but they are selfish and poor people. They take neighbours out for fancy dinners, spend nothing but time with other family, then phone and go on and on and on to me about how wonderful so and so is, how great the holiday they went on was. I think in 2006 we went out for dinner with them. I'm done.
They have the golden daughter back on the pedestal again. Spent a week with her and her kids. (I live 5 min away) visited us for 5 minutes on the way out of town. They stood in the doorway and didn't take off thier coats. They did bring a big parting gift of 3 things from the dollar store for kid #3. Refused to join dh for lunch when he called and invited them earlier in the week - they were too tired from babysitting. They looked after the 3 grand kids for 3 hours a day after school was done.
The last conversation the final straw(s): I was informed that I "got a divorce because of the way that "x" put toothpaste on the toothbrush!" I apparently got divorced "for no good reason". Whereas my perfect sibling has been done so wrong by her husband, how could he, how dare he! She is without blame. I was also informed that "Your 2 kids don't know their cousins" Umm Dad, I have 3 children. And my dad "feels sorry" for my current dh because I have such anger towards my parents. WTH?
Anger takes energy and saps the life out of you. I don't have extra to waste on them.
Don't call me to fix things that go wrong in your lives anymore. Call the neighbours. When you are on your next trip (that you don't bother telling me that you are going on) and you have chest pain again at 6 am on a Sunday. Don't wake me up again and have me arrange your medical care and insurance crap from 1000 miles away when you're in another country. Call the golden daughter or call the wonderful neighbours. Save your money because you will need it to hire someone to take care of you when you are old. I'm not going to call in favours from friends when you need and want things anymore. You have the people you value and then you have me at the bottom. Adios.
It is always a weight lifted when they go into silent mode. I don't dread the phone ringing. I go on with my life. Things are complicated enough just going on our own way without having those 2 crazies trying to ruin things. (My mother doesn't have any issues - she watches Dr. Phil everyday ya know!)
I happen to be pretty happy these days. Contrary to what I was informed how people put toothpaste on the toothbrush doesn't bother me in the least. I don't even get worked up about globs of paste in the sink!) I'm pretty sure that my dh loves me and doesn't require anyone's pity for being married to me.
On to some real financial things...
I did not get the numbers on my T4 that I thought. Things don't really match with the pay stubs. I have to hope that some more forms come in the mail. I will still get a good return, just not as good! It will also affect the RRSP carry forward amount. I will likely NOT carry forward anything this year. Next year (effective March 1 this year) I will increase my RRSP contributions. My goal is to equal 1 mortgage payment to equal my RRSP contribution every month. With a wee bit of juggling it will be doable. $850 a month to my future + my work pension. I hope to retire before 65 too!
The Good Things!
a dozen roses - even when I said he didn't have to
vacation days - even if I don't go anywhere
Things that suck...
my income tax is NOT straightforwards this year!
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