Its Been 4 Years Without a Mortgage!

Hi,

I have kinda slid under the rug for a long time now.  I would love to say that I am rolling in money since my $850 every 2 weeks could go elsewhere...

Well here's the deal:

I'm working half time.  No overtime, no marathon stretches.  That equals no extra money!

I stopped my monthly contributions to RRSP's and TFSA's in June.  I will be able to max out the rrsp's this year again with my savings.  The TFSA's will take a back seat for a bit.

We went on a fabulous vacation last June for a week.  We went on a fabulous vacation for a week last month.  We are going away for 4 days now, and have 2 other long weekends booked.

My kids 1 and 2 are doing their own thing.  Not cool to travel with us!  Kid 2 did a 6 week tropical "volunteer work" placement.  Kid 1 prefers sporting event weekends.

As it turns out I prefer to lay under a big umbrella beside the ocean, reading a great book and drinking tequila's!  The DH likes to golf and kid 3 likes to snorkel!
Winners all around!!

That is where the mortgage money is going... Self / family investment.  We already know that the hot holiday next January will be TWO weeks instead of 1.

Our bills are the same as 4 years ago, except for groceries!  Our monthly is about $700-800 and that is nothing fancy and almost always only 3 of us eating!

We did buy a new vehicle, but I don't make the payments, so I don't count it as debt.  The income remains separate for the dh and I and with the help of Gail Vaz Oxlade's blog we do a percentage payment of bills.  (And I pay for any costs for my older 2 kids.  Which is not too bad as they both work and go to school.)

The peace and freedom from not having $1700+ a month payments is as good as I hoped.  The money is not in abundance, but I'm not working like a madwoman either.  It's a great trade off!

The Good Things:
Great new boss
Part time hours
Vacations

Things that Suck:
I really need a diet and exercise program
Lack of health and energy for above

When Your World Turns Upsidedown

The last month has been spent trying to keep my head out of the water.  I quit my job.  Tried to go back to my previous one, my injury is too bad and I can't.  I am working only half time.  Fighting with insurance, fighting with administrators, my family in crisis, one of my kids in crisis.

So when the bottom fell out I had to simplify things.  Get a handle on income:  use up vacation, OT and sick time.  Get a handle on spending:  stop automatic savings, stop spending.

Because I'm kinda nutso about having a rediculous big balance in my chequing I haven't touched the Emergency fund.  15k if I need it.

The monthly must pays:
Property taxes
Utilities: power, natural gas, water, phone*, cable*
Car plates

The monthly variable:
Food*
Kid activities (swimming lessons, hockey)*
* = a portion of this is paid by the spouse


Money does not buy happiness, but it will buy some peace of mind that your basic needs will be met. My part time pay covers expenses - barely, often I dig into the previous excess in my account.

I finally got in for counselling, she actually disputed that I am an asshole mom like I believe I am.  I am doing many things right although I doubt myself.  I'm still married, but bareley I think some days.
You can only help yourself and you can only guide your children.  At least my dog listens sometimes.

Health breakdown is huge in a family.  I have been the provider for the last 13 years.  I physically can not do it now.  There is no one that is willing to step up to the plate.

I'm in a fortunate position in that I have zero debt, and have extensive savings.  But there is not an infinite amount.

My oldest is moving out, going to University for 2 more years, my middle staying put and trying to get into university, and my little one still in elementary and happy and loving life.  Trying to not let any of this flying bs affect my little one.

I don't have family support emotionally or financially.  (Nothing new) Thankfully I have some dear friends that I can lean on to lend an ear and send some prayers.  I've always been my own rock to stand on.

I don't have a long term plan.  I don't even have a plan that goes past next week!  Just trying to roll with the punches.

There are more budget cuts ahead.  I've been in way worse financial shape and managed to come out ok.  Just need to keep it together.  Enjoy moments and not get overwhelmed.


Tying a knot and holding on....

Long Time no Posts but Good Stuff Today!

So I dropped off for a long while.  I've been very depressed, been through massive change with my work situation and have a new injury that has really set me back.

I await to see the orthopaedic surgeon and find out if I need surgery or more physio.

I have increased my work hours to 3/4 time from half time, and I have left my previous employer of 24 years.  It has been a big change.

Some good things are a very short commute, very easy physically, better hours, same pay.  Some not good things are very low job satisfaction, I miss my colleagues and I miss my routine.

That's the employment story.

The debt story... well at least that is a happy one!

• Mortgage free since Feb 2012

We had put car and truck purchase on line of credit (This was up to the spouse to pay off - not me) and as of this week it is FINISHED!

We owe nothing - to anyone!

I have been updating my own and our joint net worth and we are in a very good position.

I have a full emergency fund.  I have maxed out my RRSP's.  I have a savings account for house improvement and any crap that happens. I will use this for the new A/C unit we need before summer, any car expenses, other crap that pops up.  I have a Vacation account so that the trips for this year are already funded.  I also have RESP's ready to go for both kids #1 and 2 this fall.

We have some vacation scheduled in a couple months and in the fall for our 10th anniversary.  We are also going to do a warm holiday in the winter and a ski trip to the mountains.  That is going to be the priority.  Vacations!

My kid #2 graduates from high school this June and will go to University.

Kid #1 is still in University but hopes to get into a college to get his Major finished in 2 years.

Kid #3 is still very active in sports and so that takes up 4-5 days a week.  My new hours accommodate this without a problem.

Somewhere in there is some "Me" time.  With the weather warming, more days off and less physical strain at work I hope to be feeling better.  Both out of this funk and getting into better physical condition.

The Good Things:
Income tax returns are very good again this year because of my RRSP deductions
I'm at least not making my injuries worse at work anymore
I have great hours

Things That Suck:
My family are a bunch losers (unchanged)
Spring is taking forever
Groceries cost too much!

We are going to be the Jolliest Bunch....

I am postponing the inevitable of preparing for the family Christmas.

I wonder how it is to be normal?  To be excited and happy to be with family, hug and laugh?  Is that normal?  I see it on t.v.  I haven't had since my Grandma was alive and well and able to host the whole family.  It has to be 18 years.  I loved the pies and buns cooling in the porch and the huge hug that I got walking in.  Smiling and happy to see us.

I'm not happy to see my "Golden" sibling.  But at least I will get a new critique on my home and appearance and husband.  It has been a couple of years now....

I admit that I am resorting to booze to help me through the day.  I make a damn good Sangria and I am going to enjoy it!

So from me to you and yours,

Merry Christmas!!!

I Made it!

I made it to the end of my temporary full time, plus overtime, plus call my cell all hours of the day and night job!

I also haven't had a moment of vacation since the end of June.

Thus, I am off for a month.  With the exception of a 30 minute meeting on the 10th (which the &@!3's are going to have to pay me for).  I have health matters to attend to.  An ultrasound done yesterday, 2 more physio appointments and I have about 8 months of sleep to catch up on!!

This past month has been beyond belief the people that I know and love are dying.  I've lost an Uncle (but he was 96 - not a shocker), 2 dear friends one with ovarian cancer, the other breast cancer, 2 family friends one with lymphoma and another "young" woman of 42 to breast cancer.  My best friends mom has just been diagnosed with brain cancer.

This is bullshit.  What is going on?  With the exception of the 96 yr old that smoke and drank his whole life, everyone else has lived a very healthy lifestyle!  I can't make sense of any of it.

My friends mom means the world to me. Every day after school was spent at her house.  She was the mom I wished that I had.  More importantly she is the Mom that I have tried to be like for my boys.  One that loves and hugs and laughs.  She talked to me like I was important, she took us kids places to see concerts, go camping, participate in sports.  She cheered for me like her own daughter.  I'm so grateful that I had her in my life as a role model as a child and teen.

It is a time to evaluate what I consider important.  What I want to accomplish

I don't feel much like Christmas decorating.  But I will, because it matters to my little guy.

My little family matters, my dear friends matter, I matter.  I just need to sort some things out.

Peace

Get organized and save money!

Getting organized...

Sometimes I get caught in a circle being unorganized which makes me tired, which makes me more unorganized.  I hate that I have to use the weekends to catch up on all the craziness of the week.

Being behind on laundry makes me scramble in the morning to find clothes, which makes me late making lunches, which makes me spend money on food at work.  This last month has been pretty bad for that.  Yesterday I had some time, so I did some shopping for the week and got supplies for all of my lunches.  I've also caught up on laundry and laid out my clothes for what I'm going to wear each day. No excuses this week!

At work I've been leading some groups that I'm not familiar with.  I've been happy that it's gone very well and I've received some very positive feedback.  However I stress about it so much that I don't sleep very well at night.  I tend to be a perfectionist but yet I'm not a typical "Type A" being organized enough to fall in that category.  Thankfully it's getting easier and I'm gaining confidence each time I have to do it.  What I know I do well is quickly learn my audience.  I read facial expressions and body language better than most people.  That allows me to change my method of presenting so that everyone in the group I'm leading is understanding what I need them to learn.  And I've been told that I fly by the seat of my pants very well!

It's crazy busy and my job looks like it has to be full-time until the second week of November.

Kid #1 is back in University full time and kid# 2 graduates this year!  That will come with a pile of expenses.  Kid #3 is loving school again this fall.  Another great teacher this year!

Kid 3 is back in hockey.  Needed new skates, as did kid 2.  $130 and $400 respectively.  And that is 50% off both pair!!  I split cost with my x for kid 2 so my share was "only" $200!

With all of the big stuff paid for this year...house reno's, hockey equipment and fee, tuition, I think I'm back to save mode vs. spend for a couple months.

We are getting a new to us bbq today as ours has pretty much disintigrated.  For $50 the price is right!

I get a kick out of the way some people spend their money.  Dh's family member that has a wife on maternity leave and an uncertain job just spent $1200 on their new barbecue.  He bought it as a birthday present to himself!  I have never in my life spent money like that on my own birthday present!  Some years I will let myself have a treat or splurge but not like that!  With a mortgage of $400,000 plus a line of credit, plus monthly credit card payments they're making... I don't see how anyone in their right mind can blow that kind of money.  It also comes with a lot of bragging about all of the material possessions they have.  My husband and I look at each other and give each other that little kick under the table.  They live paycheck to paycheck.

A couple weeks ago our air conditioner went kaput.  For now we just open the windows at night and close the blinds during the day.  We are holding off until spring to buy a new one.  We're having it installed by a friend of ours to keep the cost down.  Lucky for us he is a journeyman plumber and refrigeration repair person.  We can also purchase the air-conditioner through him at cost.  This will save us a few thousand dollars!

I've been too relaxed keeping track of my investments.  I have to change my contributions so that I don't go over my RRSP limit.  I've decided that I will just switch that amount over to my tax-free savings account and do a monthly contribution to that.  I've read in a couple places and I saw on TV that the government plan is to double the tax-free contribution savings room if the budget balances.  Here's hoping that government makes a promise and keeps a promise!!!

I must run, time to go to hockey!

I'm Downshifting this Life of Mine!

I have to start with the good news...

I got the part time job that I bid for!  It will likely be a 3/4 time position which is perfect.
Right now the start date isn't until Sept-Oct but I want to move that up to summer.  I am so tired that I can't focus most days.  It's just too much.

It's about choices isn't it?  Choices that we make with our best - or not so best judgement.  Choices in what works best for us.

I still want what's best for my kids, and they will get it.  I still want what's best for my dh and I and we will have it too.  If your wants don't exceed your income - you have it made really.

My Mother in law was very annoyed or something when I told her I was reducing my hours.  She looked at me and said "Well where else are you going to work to make up the hours?"  When I said- nowhere, I'm going to try and get healthy and feel better, spend some time with my kids.  She shot her eyebrows up and pursed her lips.

She has no idea that I have paid off my mortgage.  She has no idea that I will have maxed out my RRSP's this year.  I have no intention of telling her either.  My inlaws are lovely people but the more dh and I learn they are terrible with money.  They both have to work full time to pay for loans and a new mortgage.

I also have an emergency fund. A healthy one that could last over a year if I couldn't work. I don't use it unless there is a real emergency either. And by real emergency I mean loosing a limb, fire, flood, natural disaster, that kind of thing. Your kid's feet growing and needing shoes, vet bills, a flat tire, a leaking hot water heater. Not an emergency. A fact of life. I have an account for that too. I call it "Crap Happens" and it makes me smile every time I take money out and put back in to read it on my bank statement.

The dh's looser siblings have no issue hitting people up for money.  Then they go on a trip to Jamaica, buy clothes,  remodel a kitchen.  Neither have a dime saved in the bank.

Then there is my looser sibling.  So far in debt and denial it is laughable.  After scoffing at my clothes, home, cars for years.  The open ridicule that was given to me.  Now the shift is from pompous to panic as the debt skyrockets and the paycheque stays the same.  At least her family will look good in trendy clothes and shoes when they repossess the house.  :)


I have no urge to flaunt anything.  We enjoy our friends and the extended family that aren't a part of the drama and nonsense.

My little one is done sports until the end of August!  Next weekend will be the first one at home since I don't know when!  I cannot wait to spend time in the yard and to get the bathroom remodel underway!

The smell from all of the fruit trees blooming in my yard and the neighbourhood is heavenly!  I could sit outside all day!

I am off to find something to eat for kid #3 and myself, and then off to swimming lessons.  (I don't count that as a sport- I call it a life necessity!)

The Good Things...

Having enough hours in to get one of the jobs I wanted

My dh and I have been working on our marriage for a long time now.  Things are much better.

My older 2 are working hard at their jobs and maturing

Things that suck...

Don't judge me by the size of my paycheque.

all of our siblings.