Today was payday and horray for stat holiday pay! $600 more than my last pay period. I will move some of that into my travel/life savings.
The grocery bills remain high despite eating leftovers for 3 days after Easter. Today is soup day that I made yesterday with the last of the leftover meat, turkey stock I made with the carcass and using up all the veggies left from the fresh veggie and dip platter. Tomorrow I will make a roast beef and I will make the rest of the potatoes, carrots and add a salad. Sunday will be leftovers, Monday I am making a chicken stir-fry and green rice. Tuesday leftovers and I will add shrimp and eggs to make it chicken/shrimp fried rice. Wednesday...who knows. We did eat out once this week. A friend was in the city and we met up with her at a resturant. $60 for 3 of us, then she treated us to concert tickets. It was a fun night.
Yesterday I started a bit of cleaning and planning a garage sale for May. I have so much junk that I don't want anymore. It is taking up too much space! My oldest is moving into a bigger place in a few weeks so maybe I can "gift" him some prizes I have in a few boxes in the storage room. Extra toaster, fans, electric frying pans, dresser, coolers, candles and candle holders, bakeware, bedding... endless!
This week I have to make a trip to the parents. I would rather not. The counselling I've had in the last year has helped. I will be able to deal with their crap.
I continue to hope for a position to open up at work. Zero happening thus far. I need a change.
I need spring that is sunny and warm. Not cold and snowing. That would also help me.
Today is a vacation day - part of the use it or pay it out. I'm using it. So today's vacation shall be laundry, cleaning and I hope an afternoon nap! 😴💤
The Good Things:
Paid to stay home
Big paydays
Time with kid3 for Easter break week
Things that suck:
This weather
No job openings
I have to get a new coffee maker.
Friday, April 6, 2018
Sunday, April 1, 2018
Having a Big Little Gathering Today
For our Easter today it is only my 3 kids + oldest's lovely friend and then 2 friends of ours.
I had bought a turkey at xmas on sale. 14 lbs for $12.88. I'm going to start peeling potatoes and cleaning veggies this morning. I made dessert yesterday.
Getting the plates and serving bowls ready I noticed that my everyday silverware set is no longer a set! Its a mishmash of 2-3 sets and a few random forks that I think dh brought home from the work lunchroom. I have 2 sets of 12 fancy silver that live in velvet lined boxes downstairs. So if 24 people came for dinner and coffee and tea everyone would get a matching set. Meanwhile daily we use junky stuff.
I have pulled out one set for today. What in the world am I saving it for??? The bigger question is WHY did I think I needed it in the first place??? I'm not a hoarder, but I do have a lot of "Stuff". This stuff was at one time very needed or wanted and now it lives in boxes. Lots of "stuff" that was so important has been forgotten about. This year will be for purging, for using things that were meant to be used, for evaluating the needs and for simplifying my home.
For those that celebrate Happy Easter!
The good things:
My kids
Our friends that are like family
Extended family that value us and love us
Things that suck:
Cold winter wind
My old coffee maker is on its last leg.
I had bought a turkey at xmas on sale. 14 lbs for $12.88. I'm going to start peeling potatoes and cleaning veggies this morning. I made dessert yesterday.
Getting the plates and serving bowls ready I noticed that my everyday silverware set is no longer a set! Its a mishmash of 2-3 sets and a few random forks that I think dh brought home from the work lunchroom. I have 2 sets of 12 fancy silver that live in velvet lined boxes downstairs. So if 24 people came for dinner and coffee and tea everyone would get a matching set. Meanwhile daily we use junky stuff.
I have pulled out one set for today. What in the world am I saving it for??? The bigger question is WHY did I think I needed it in the first place??? I'm not a hoarder, but I do have a lot of "Stuff". This stuff was at one time very needed or wanted and now it lives in boxes. Lots of "stuff" that was so important has been forgotten about. This year will be for purging, for using things that were meant to be used, for evaluating the needs and for simplifying my home.
For those that celebrate Happy Easter!
The good things:
My kids
Our friends that are like family
Extended family that value us and love us
Things that suck:
Cold winter wind
My old coffee maker is on its last leg.
Friday, March 30, 2018
Easter
Today was a quiet one, and a cold one. There is no sign of spring here. I did a bit of shopping or at least tried... My black dress pants need to be replaced. My old ones fit in the waist but they are "flare" bottoms and dont look remotely in style. They are too flappy. I've had my flappy black ones for 7 years so I have got a lot of wear out of them. In the store today where I was looking was a woman with 3 kids running wild and shrieking, whining and fighting. Then I watched as the oldest little darling (who would be about 6) slugged a salesperson!!!! "Oh, be careful of your hands" says mommy. Then returns obliviously to looking at clothes. The poor young salesman was so startled!
When she and the 3 darlings followed me into the change rooms, I handed my pants back to the unfortunate sales girl and said I would be back someday when there wasn't so much screaming in the store. There were 3 salespeople that had wide open mouths and wide eyes as they watched the circus. My favourite line I heard "mommy is going to take away your guns". I chuckled out loud as I left.
My personal spending for 2018 remains haircut and colour and hair product. No pants 😕
So I bought groceries. Having a small fancy Easter Dinner on Sunday. The turkey is defrosting, I will make pie and tarts, and have all the usual potatoes and stuffing and salad... will finalize the menu tomorrow.
All of the financial crap that I did... Nothing has gone through yet when I checked again today. Zero. So now I wait until Tuesday, as I think the bank takes the Monday as a stat too, to see exactly why it takes 2 weeks when it was promised to be 2 business days!?
I had my older 2 kids over for dinner. The dh took #3 to his parents overnight. I don't sleep on the floor, and I don't share a bathroom with more than 10 people. (Unless I was evacuated because of a disaster.). So I stay at home. It's not a joyous loving time for me when I go. I'm treated like I'm in the way and as I learned last summer - they wished that dh would have married another woman.
I love my bed to myself, I love the company of my kids and my dog. I'm good. 😊
The good things:
A full night's sleep
My adult children are lovely people
Things that suck:
Cold spring weather
Flappy pants
No pants
Asshat in-laws
When she and the 3 darlings followed me into the change rooms, I handed my pants back to the unfortunate sales girl and said I would be back someday when there wasn't so much screaming in the store. There were 3 salespeople that had wide open mouths and wide eyes as they watched the circus. My favourite line I heard "mommy is going to take away your guns". I chuckled out loud as I left.
My personal spending for 2018 remains haircut and colour and hair product. No pants 😕
So I bought groceries. Having a small fancy Easter Dinner on Sunday. The turkey is defrosting, I will make pie and tarts, and have all the usual potatoes and stuffing and salad... will finalize the menu tomorrow.
All of the financial crap that I did... Nothing has gone through yet when I checked again today. Zero. So now I wait until Tuesday, as I think the bank takes the Monday as a stat too, to see exactly why it takes 2 weeks when it was promised to be 2 business days!?
I had my older 2 kids over for dinner. The dh took #3 to his parents overnight. I don't sleep on the floor, and I don't share a bathroom with more than 10 people. (Unless I was evacuated because of a disaster.). So I stay at home. It's not a joyous loving time for me when I go. I'm treated like I'm in the way and as I learned last summer - they wished that dh would have married another woman.
I love my bed to myself, I love the company of my kids and my dog. I'm good. 😊
The good things:
A full night's sleep
My adult children are lovely people
Things that suck:
Cold spring weather
Flappy pants
No pants
Asshat in-laws
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Investment Shuffling
For all of the financial moving and shaking I did yesterday I didn't pull ahead very far. It was a big shuffle that hopefully sees bigger gains.
There were or still are commercials about people paying high fees for investments. MER's (Management expense ratio's) Mine were almost 3% on a couple of funds I was in. Over the last 2 years they have performed poorly but adding insult to injury was the money removed from the small gains that put me to 0. So over they went from another bank into CIBC "Premium Class" to pay less MER's and hopefully get some forward traction.
With my eyes set on "freedom 55" I moved other funds around and topped up my woeful Tax free savings by 25k. Much more than the 15 I had planned. But I had the room to contribute and it makes sense to be making tax free gains vs. Sitting in my chequing account and I pay income tax on the pitiful $85/year I was making.
The RESP (Registered Education Savings Plan) that I still have for kids #2 and 3 is doing well. To max out the government contribution you need to put $2500 in to get the $500. Kid #2 is too old to have contributions matched. But a guaranteed $500 return on $2500 is good in my mind and kid3 still has a few years left. I don't intend to pay for all secondary education, my oldest has about $10k in loans after 5 years, but is fully employed and can easily afford payments. My kid 2 is sorting out life and hasn't picked a path yet. So working full time. I also don't pay if they don't pass. I'm mean like that. I work very hard for my money, I expect that its use will be with consideration and effort.
I am still trying to think about a summer trip. Its very hard to nail down vacation time needed and kid3's activities and dh's vacation days. He is away for work for a week in 2 months and I will take vacation then as my hours of work are very early and kid3 has to be seen off to school. At work there might be a change in the office. I don't want to get my hopes up too much. It would help the stress level go down and satisfaction go up. But I remain pessimistic that there will be any forward thinking done by management.
I haven't used my credit card for anything other than haircut and badly needed colour and some potion and spray to tame the frizzies. Staying the same weight also saves money on clothes! I am looking forward to warmer temperatures so I can pull out some different pants and tops and shoes. Even some ice melting would change the shoe situation. There is no physical space to put a change of footwear in my overcrowded office. Seriously, not a spot for me to keep shoes. I had a locker that was mine for years taken away because I went part time. Now my coat is on a shared hook! Thank god nobody smokes.
Here is hoping that St. Paddy brings in some warmth and sunshine!
The good things:
My kids all together last night
Feeling better
Things that suck:
Not getting away for vacation for March
My parental units are loons
There were or still are commercials about people paying high fees for investments. MER's (Management expense ratio's) Mine were almost 3% on a couple of funds I was in. Over the last 2 years they have performed poorly but adding insult to injury was the money removed from the small gains that put me to 0. So over they went from another bank into CIBC "Premium Class" to pay less MER's and hopefully get some forward traction.
With my eyes set on "freedom 55" I moved other funds around and topped up my woeful Tax free savings by 25k. Much more than the 15 I had planned. But I had the room to contribute and it makes sense to be making tax free gains vs. Sitting in my chequing account and I pay income tax on the pitiful $85/year I was making.
The RESP (Registered Education Savings Plan) that I still have for kids #2 and 3 is doing well. To max out the government contribution you need to put $2500 in to get the $500. Kid #2 is too old to have contributions matched. But a guaranteed $500 return on $2500 is good in my mind and kid3 still has a few years left. I don't intend to pay for all secondary education, my oldest has about $10k in loans after 5 years, but is fully employed and can easily afford payments. My kid 2 is sorting out life and hasn't picked a path yet. So working full time. I also don't pay if they don't pass. I'm mean like that. I work very hard for my money, I expect that its use will be with consideration and effort.
I am still trying to think about a summer trip. Its very hard to nail down vacation time needed and kid3's activities and dh's vacation days. He is away for work for a week in 2 months and I will take vacation then as my hours of work are very early and kid3 has to be seen off to school. At work there might be a change in the office. I don't want to get my hopes up too much. It would help the stress level go down and satisfaction go up. But I remain pessimistic that there will be any forward thinking done by management.
I haven't used my credit card for anything other than haircut and badly needed colour and some potion and spray to tame the frizzies. Staying the same weight also saves money on clothes! I am looking forward to warmer temperatures so I can pull out some different pants and tops and shoes. Even some ice melting would change the shoe situation. There is no physical space to put a change of footwear in my overcrowded office. Seriously, not a spot for me to keep shoes. I had a locker that was mine for years taken away because I went part time. Now my coat is on a shared hook! Thank god nobody smokes.
Here is hoping that St. Paddy brings in some warmth and sunshine!
The good things:
My kids all together last night
Feeling better
Things that suck:
Not getting away for vacation for March
My parental units are loons
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Dealing with Nonsense and I Need to Come Up With a Plan
i have been stuck in the blah's. Round 2 or relapse of the plague hit and zapped all of my energy.
I've used up my vacation instead of taking a payout. Between fatigue and kid 3's sports commitments there won't be a March getaway. Plus, today I could throttle the dh. So I don't feel like going away anywhere with him. Not even the grocery store.
I've been annoyed by so many things - perhaps the 3.5 hours of sleep per night I get is making me cranky?
If I could get back all of the sleep I've been deprived of over the last 28 years from shiftwork, kids, dogs, snoring bed partner, neighbours dogs, rude neighbours...
I have been checking for my tax refund deposit...still not there. Both kids have theirs. Then in my brain fog I remember that the direct deposit goes into my old bank account at the Credit Union. So I go to the app/website (that is sh!tty) and try and log in. I don't recall my 17 digit account # off the top of my head, so I search for my bank card. I took it out of my wallet before our hot holiday in Dec. It is not where I always put my credit cards. Its not anywhere. This is compounding my mood today. What a pita to get a new card. So I will have to go there in person, huge kerfuffle. I will close my account with them tomorrow if my CRA deposit is in there. That money will go into the TFSA. It should be about $5000.
I was also going to move all of my accounts that I have at the CIBC to a different branch. There is such a language barrier when I go to my branch it is ridiculous. I get and I appreciate that everyone wants to be able to speak with someone in their native language when they deal with finances. But so do I! When I tried to get US funds for our vacation it was like an episode of the 3 stooges with mandarin/Armenian/english. They didn't know the exchange rate (a girl tried to google it on her phone), they didn't know how much they could give me because it was all in the instant teller (no cash handled by humans at my branch), and the girl looked like she was going to a club in her stretchy bright red mini dress and stilettos. Her main job seemed to be running the coffee urn and handing out pamphlets. And just a fashion tip- at work your hem line should cover your ass cheeks. I'm no fashionista, but I do know a couple faux paus for work wear. In the end I got $200 and then went to the credit union and spoke with a human vs buttons on the instant teller and got money handed to me!
Why does it have to be so hard?!
2 weeks ago I got a phone survey asking about if I was happy with my CIBC services. Hahaha! I'm 100% sure that they could give a crap what I think, but I told them anyways. It used to be such a painless experience years ago and it has eroded so badly that there is nothing there anymore except a phone app.
And because life is ironic, or someone is spying on me- the bank called as I was typing this. "It's been a long time since we looked at your investments, can you come in and we will look over your portfolio?"
I've been researching better investment portfolios and will move stuff around on Friday. And even though I get "preferred customer service". What a lark. I will need my own investment plan.
I asked a couple of people at work about investment management services they use. They don't seem right for me. My overall interest rate - with the exception of the blip a few weeks ago is as good or better with my own choices than with investment/wealth management.
I don't like homework 😩 But part of the deal if I want to retire sooner than later.
The good things:
I have 3 really great kids
Sun is shining
Things that suck:
Too numerous to mention
I've used up my vacation instead of taking a payout. Between fatigue and kid 3's sports commitments there won't be a March getaway. Plus, today I could throttle the dh. So I don't feel like going away anywhere with him. Not even the grocery store.
I've been annoyed by so many things - perhaps the 3.5 hours of sleep per night I get is making me cranky?
If I could get back all of the sleep I've been deprived of over the last 28 years from shiftwork, kids, dogs, snoring bed partner, neighbours dogs, rude neighbours...
I have been checking for my tax refund deposit...still not there. Both kids have theirs. Then in my brain fog I remember that the direct deposit goes into my old bank account at the Credit Union. So I go to the app/website (that is sh!tty) and try and log in. I don't recall my 17 digit account # off the top of my head, so I search for my bank card. I took it out of my wallet before our hot holiday in Dec. It is not where I always put my credit cards. Its not anywhere. This is compounding my mood today. What a pita to get a new card. So I will have to go there in person, huge kerfuffle. I will close my account with them tomorrow if my CRA deposit is in there. That money will go into the TFSA. It should be about $5000.
I was also going to move all of my accounts that I have at the CIBC to a different branch. There is such a language barrier when I go to my branch it is ridiculous. I get and I appreciate that everyone wants to be able to speak with someone in their native language when they deal with finances. But so do I! When I tried to get US funds for our vacation it was like an episode of the 3 stooges with mandarin/Armenian/english. They didn't know the exchange rate (a girl tried to google it on her phone), they didn't know how much they could give me because it was all in the instant teller (no cash handled by humans at my branch), and the girl looked like she was going to a club in her stretchy bright red mini dress and stilettos. Her main job seemed to be running the coffee urn and handing out pamphlets. And just a fashion tip- at work your hem line should cover your ass cheeks. I'm no fashionista, but I do know a couple faux paus for work wear. In the end I got $200 and then went to the credit union and spoke with a human vs buttons on the instant teller and got money handed to me!
Why does it have to be so hard?!
2 weeks ago I got a phone survey asking about if I was happy with my CIBC services. Hahaha! I'm 100% sure that they could give a crap what I think, but I told them anyways. It used to be such a painless experience years ago and it has eroded so badly that there is nothing there anymore except a phone app.
And because life is ironic, or someone is spying on me- the bank called as I was typing this. "It's been a long time since we looked at your investments, can you come in and we will look over your portfolio?"
I've been researching better investment portfolios and will move stuff around on Friday. And even though I get "preferred customer service". What a lark. I will need my own investment plan.
I asked a couple of people at work about investment management services they use. They don't seem right for me. My overall interest rate - with the exception of the blip a few weeks ago is as good or better with my own choices than with investment/wealth management.
I don't like homework 😩 But part of the deal if I want to retire sooner than later.
The good things:
I have 3 really great kids
Sun is shining
Things that suck:
Too numerous to mention
Monday, March 5, 2018
Taxes are done...almost...
My accomplishment this week has been our taxes. Refunds all around! Not huge, but better than having to pay! I am waiting for a form from dh's bank for the interest amount on his savings account. Then off it goes with a click. And NO MORE TURBO TAX for me ever! Simple tax has worked perfectly!
My refund will go to house insurance that should be due about now. It's yearly and I will have to phone again this year to see about discounts.
We have had a blast of winter again, after I got my hopes up for spring. 😕
I have stayed away from shopping for 2 months so far... Only groceries. My credit card balance = $0 since Christmas. I'm breaking my credit fast tomorrow with a haircut and colour, and some hair product. My hair is so coarse and dry now thanks to low thyroid and too many birthdays. It is hard to style without fancy sprays and potions! I've tried the drugstore cheapies and my hair looks cheap and frizzy.
Life is too short for bad hair, and bad shoes!
I still intend to put $15k into TFSA's. I'm researching where I should invest. Such a confusing and complicated hassle investing is. I don't like my person at the bank. She seems completely disinterested in my money. I know its not a million, but $15k is a lot to me!
I need to find "a guy" for investing. And that guy- could be preferably a woman, but one that takes an interest in my financial well being. I need to ask around as word of mouth is the only way to go on this I think.
I am off to accomplish more things around the house. This afternoon I shall tackle my closet and dresser, weeding out and adjusting the rotation of my basics that I wear the most. Sometimes I find a sweater or shirt I've forgotten about so it's like going shopping without spending anything 😉
The good things:
Tax refunds
Snow makes everything look clean
Leftovers so I don't have to cook tonight!
Things that suck:
My frizzy greying hair
Snow is so high the dog can't get into the yard - so I will make a path with dh's big boots for him to run.
I still haven't found a new position that I can move into at work.
My refund will go to house insurance that should be due about now. It's yearly and I will have to phone again this year to see about discounts.
We have had a blast of winter again, after I got my hopes up for spring. 😕
I have stayed away from shopping for 2 months so far... Only groceries. My credit card balance = $0 since Christmas. I'm breaking my credit fast tomorrow with a haircut and colour, and some hair product. My hair is so coarse and dry now thanks to low thyroid and too many birthdays. It is hard to style without fancy sprays and potions! I've tried the drugstore cheapies and my hair looks cheap and frizzy.
Life is too short for bad hair, and bad shoes!
I still intend to put $15k into TFSA's. I'm researching where I should invest. Such a confusing and complicated hassle investing is. I don't like my person at the bank. She seems completely disinterested in my money. I know its not a million, but $15k is a lot to me!
I need to find "a guy" for investing. And that guy- could be preferably a woman, but one that takes an interest in my financial well being. I need to ask around as word of mouth is the only way to go on this I think.
I am off to accomplish more things around the house. This afternoon I shall tackle my closet and dresser, weeding out and adjusting the rotation of my basics that I wear the most. Sometimes I find a sweater or shirt I've forgotten about so it's like going shopping without spending anything 😉
The good things:
Tax refunds
Snow makes everything look clean
Leftovers so I don't have to cook tonight!
Things that suck:
My frizzy greying hair
Snow is so high the dog can't get into the yard - so I will make a path with dh's big boots for him to run.
I still haven't found a new position that I can move into at work.
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Winter Blah.
Rolling into February has been a bumpy ride. The bad cold set in and gave us all a yucky cough. 3 days on the couch in my pj's not exactly getting much done!
While I was in my fevered daze the markets were tumbling. I lost $8000 of investments. Good grief!
That's going to take awhile to make back!
As for the stuff I have more control over, my last pay period was $80 higher than the last.
I continue to look for a change in my position and there has been sweet tweet that interests me. I've got the blahs. It's cold, it's dark, it's cold... I miss our vacation.
I've been "Pintresting" (is that a verb?) vacation ideas. Vancouver Island this summer and now I'm thinking Okanogan Valley this fall...
I'm dreaming of sunshine...
Making it happen by working 1 extra day per week when I can fit it in. That will be 7 days extra this year by the end of February. 2 extra for March.
In a perfect world it would be part time hours in 2 departments to equal almost full time. I shall keep looking. I'm getting fussy as I get older!
It's not just fussy, it's boundaries. What I'm willing to give of myself for a job.
Here's hoping for warmer weather, sunshine and sleeping soundly without somebodies cough waking me up!
While I was in my fevered daze the markets were tumbling. I lost $8000 of investments. Good grief!
That's going to take awhile to make back!
As for the stuff I have more control over, my last pay period was $80 higher than the last.
I continue to look for a change in my position and there has been sweet tweet that interests me. I've got the blahs. It's cold, it's dark, it's cold... I miss our vacation.
I've been "Pintresting" (is that a verb?) vacation ideas. Vancouver Island this summer and now I'm thinking Okanogan Valley this fall...
I'm dreaming of sunshine...
Making it happen by working 1 extra day per week when I can fit it in. That will be 7 days extra this year by the end of February. 2 extra for March.
In a perfect world it would be part time hours in 2 departments to equal almost full time. I shall keep looking. I'm getting fussy as I get older!
It's not just fussy, it's boundaries. What I'm willing to give of myself for a job.
Here's hoping for warmer weather, sunshine and sleeping soundly without somebodies cough waking me up!
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