Soaking Up Sunshine

This is not a financial post at all.  This is a life and daily happenings 😊

 I had a very productive 2 week staycation.  The yard looks great.  New trees and shrubs planted, old dead branches trimmed and gone.  The dh was very helpful. He did all of the backbreaking work.  As we move along it becomes clear that we will stay in this house for at minimum 6 more years.  The swingset was sold a couple of years ago, no need for a sandbox anymore.  The basketball hoop and hockey net are the only "toys" that stay out now.  Looking at putting in a firepit in the back yard now that kids "hang out" vs play.

The trip to the west coast was put on hold.  Making the yard a sanctuary that we like to hang out in every day used up some of that $$ and is a good personal return on investment! Many hours are spent relaxing and entertaining. A 10 day trip would have been a great adventure but that would mean that the yard improvements and house fixes wait another year.  We mostly needed the hours at home to do the work. Some day when it isn't windy I will need a couple days for painting/staining projects.  It should have been done last year but post-op I didn't feel like it!  The house trim and the shed are looking very shabby.

Dh and I booked an anniversary trip for fall.  3 months from now I hope to be relaxing in the mountains.  Flights paid with airmiles, car rental from Costco and rooms with a professional association discount.  Our first adult only vacation in 9 years!

I've returned to physio.  I think it's helping, hard to say what is injury vs. getting older.  My GP gently talked to me about having a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.  She knew I wouldn't take that well.  I don't know how to process that yet.  After my third day back to work yesterday I was so completely exhausted I went to bed at 6:10, stayed in bed until 9 this morning.  My legs were cramping and aching, I had the bad "crawlies" sensation on my back that I get.  I get a lot of weird stuff happening.  No rash and fever which was unusual as it often is concurrent when I hit the wall like that.

 Part of the physio treatment is psychological too.  It's a holistic place.  I'm grieving and also downright pissed off that I can't do what I used to 8 years ago.  I used to be a very decent athlete.  I played every sport except basketball.  Dh and I used to golf together.  Sports is a huge part of my kids lives and I can't do anything except watch now. I miss playing catch, shooting pucks, diving in a pool and swimming laps, riding my mountain bike...  I'm learning to meditate.  It's hard to let go.  It's hard to not be angry and sad.  Serenity now!  I can walk.  I can downhill ski (only the green runs). I can snorkel with my flippers on.  I win at mini golf.  I sit on the deck and bask in the sun like an old cat. (Not for long because I'm a redhead- but it warms my aching bones). There will be nutritional counselling too at my holistic place.  I haven't met with that person yet but I like lentils and quinoa and chia seeds!  Maybe more of that.  More kale.  (The dh will not be enthused haha).

This weekend is a birthday weekend for kid3. Not my baby anymore.  The inlaws are here for a night.  I'm not happy about it but will handle it for my kid.  They let their thoughts about me be known last summer. I'm done sacrificing my time and energy for them.  Trust me that they are vampires that suck the life out of me.  That is one thing that has been very refreshing is being done catering to them all of the time.  It was never appreciated.  Thank god they don't live here!!!

I'm going to enjoy my day off, drink my coffee in the sun, water my new trees and flowers.  I wish I could upload pictures onto the blog to show my mango rose.  It is beautiful, the moment I saw it, it reminded me of my grandma.  She would love the color!  I'm also going to mark out where I think a firepit should go.  Dh will be so thrilled with my plans for him to dig!!

The good things:
Summer sun
Popsicles
Lillies and roses

Things that suck:
People that are users
Decrepid body

Keeping on Track

I am starting my staycation this week.  I have a lot of stuff to do in the yard and if the weather won't co-operate, there is lots to do in the house.

All of this is dependant on my body holding up.  My back/neck/shoulder are killing me.  I don't sleep.  I'm trying more physio next week.  Short of chopping off my head I can't find any relief.

My work is still rolling along.  It pays me and that is all I find positive about it some days.  I am going to buy an ergonomic mouse for my work computer as my hand aches from endless clicking away all day.  I am required to work full time for at least 6 weeks starting I think Sept.  That is the equivalent of 2 extra paydays.  I have places to funnel the $$.  Plus it increases RRSP room 😀

I continue to have a glimmer of hope that someday there will be a different job for me...

After the grim reality of what our groceries cost every month I am being mindful of leftovers.  I hate leftovers.  But my family doesn't mind so I try and make them taste ok to me.  Summer is also bbq time so I can do much more variations on the menu's.  

My kid#2 and I have a plan to go to Scotland a year from now.  2 weeks in my ancestors home land.  We hope that for once our red hair makes us blend in with the crowds! Nothing set in stone yet.  It depends on his education plans.  I eagerly await Jane's trip (From Life Begins at Retirement) to see what she and her brother do! 

I have a travel savings account and I will add to it every month for the next year.  I think $10k will be what I need for the 2 of us.  I have that now and will pad this up.  The thought of driving on the left terrifies me - and kid 2 will only be 22 years old so I don't think he can drive a rental, tours may be very costly.  Doesn't matter.  I'm doing this.  

When kid3 is older I will do a great trip with him too.  Memories are more important than being the richest person in the cemetery.  With the knowledge of my retirement being comfortable I am spreading the extra bucks into different pots.  Not such a focus on 20 years from now.  I need some good things now too.  More travel, more self care, more time to stress less and enjoy.

The good things:

Payday today

Nice dinner out planned for tonight.  FREE with gift cards

My yard is in full bloom.

Things that suck:

I need a new computer and am having trouble deciding what would suit my needs

My office at work was 27 degrees (Celsius)

Dh needs new pants.  Worlds worst shopper for clothes.

The Tally for a month of eating...

This was a known growing cost every month for us.  But wowza.
This is May minus 3 days away where the 3 of us ate out 5 times, and dh was gone on business for 5 days.

Butcher shop.  85.98
Groc. 26.07
Groc 90.19
Groc. 38.16
Groc  86.37
Groc 78.82
Groc 154.57
Groc 20.81
Costco 200
Farmers Market 20.00

$800 for a month of normal eating.
I take my lunch to work every day.  It is yogurt, frozen berries, some milk and a bowl of cereal.
Kid3 takes a sandwich, juicebox, apple, small treat (homemade cookie/muffin) or cereal bar.
Dh eats lunch out every day - that isn't included here

This is Canada.  Land of zero coupons and shitty expensive produce.

If I changed grocery stores I could maybe bring it down 10%.  I hate Superstore.  Its dirty, other side of the city, meat is crappy, every time I go the people in the store and workers are rude.  I can't bag my own groceries with one arm and the store smells like rotten olives have been hidden like easter eggs on every asile.

I don't buy fancy food. Pork chops/chicken/ground beef.  Potatoes/rice/pasta.
We did have steaks once last month.  They were discounted $8 per pound making each steak 5 -6 dollars.  That was a splurge.  Our regular meal is hamburgers or hotdogs at least twice a week.

I know that our food costs have shot up in the last 4 years, you can't find cheap quality food.  I don't know how people making minimum wage eat?!  I shop from the weekly flyer, I stock up when it is a great sale.  My pantry is half full of canned and dry goods.  I keep a list of frozen stuffs I have in the deepfreeze.  I mealplan.  Leftovers make their way into soup.

I don't know how to change anything, at this point it is reality.

With that I'm off to put a pork roast in the crockpot for pulled pork sandwiches on leftover burger buns and make coleslaw with a $1.50 sale bag I bought last week.

The good things:
I can afford to feed my family decently
We prep and make meals together often

Things that suck:
No decent farmers market stuff yet
I like the idea of a garden - but I hate gardening.  I only like flowers 🌹
My dog would do more digging than me in any garden I might plant!!
My obnoxious FIL looks like shit.  He's lost 50 lbs since I saw him before xmas and his colour is that of a blueberry.  Maybe the two handfulls of pills that he doctor shops for isn't helping?

Predicting the Future without a Crystal Ball

My last session at the bank was extremely productive.  It was also eye opening about my pension plan, my current investments and my lifestyle and life expectancy.

My pension plan kinda sucks.  I need to work full time for at least 5 years to pull it higher.  This is not feasible with my health.  Unless of course I can find a way into another department.  This position is currently very elusive.  I had an opportunity to get in last year but at that time there was tremendous chaos in our family and I was teetering on the edge of a complete breakdown.  

(Someday, when the heartache isn't still so close, and on a different blog I will write about our experience.) So I ended up staying where I was and still am.  It's not a fulfilling job.  It's not a pleasant job most days, but brain numbing, and well paid!  I also pick my own part time schedule.  That part is fairly awesome!  I'm able to go to all of kid3's sports and activities.  My other 2 are both on their own now.  Both working and one also going to school.  I try to do a weekly meal with everyone so that kid3 doesn't feel like an only child!

With my maxed out RRSP's and also TFSA's these will top up my pension and make it feasible to retire at 55!  I won't be rich, but I will be able to live as comfortably as I am now!  Including some travel every year.  And according to my investment person at the bank I will live until I'm 90!  So that is the withdrawal number he worked with.  As my Grandma would say "That's too long to hang around".  I may lower that number as time rolls along 😉  

My dh has to work likely for 10-15 more years after I retire as he didn't start his current job and contributing to his pension plan until 10 years ago.  He has reached the top of his pay scale, and with his last review he was put on track for succeeding the current director.  This is great $$ but more travel and longer hours.  Thus me being able to be around for kid3 makes more sense.

As we know life can change in the blink of an eye.  What the future holds and what you predict and hope are often very different.  Dealing with change, coping with curve balls and staying grounded as the days go by is also a full time job.  I love my little family.  I tolerate my obnoxious parents and in laws, but I don't bust my ass to cater to them anymore.  You can't fix or change stupid.  Being used by them is tolerated no more.
 I've found some great very extended family that we mesh with very well.  I identify with them, and so do my husband and kids.  Same goes on dh's side of the family.  He has a 3rd cousin and family that we are very close to.  Normal, intelligent, fun and kind people.  Always laughter and enjoyable times when spent together.  Being able to break away from the tight clutches of my in-laws has given us opportunity to expand our circle as I don't have to cater to them every stinking weekend like I used to!  Spending time with wonderful friends does the heart good.  Such a relief to look forward to weekends!! 

Which reminds me -with days off this week I'm making a coffee date with a friend that retired a couple years ago.  She makes me laugh with her dry wit!  I've booked a pedicure, I'm going to try and get a massage too!  Self care is an important part of life now too!  And once or twice a year isn't going crazy with $$.  

The good things:

My kids

This beautiful hot weather

No mortgage so that money is all going to retirement

Things that suck:

Getting a sunburn 😎

Not winning the lotto

Narcissistic parents 

What is your Plan?

Where do you see yourself in the next year?  5 years from now? 10 years?

 I was unprepared for that question this morning.  I just wanted to sign some paperwork.  Believe it or not I am still trying to get my investments sorted out from March.  To say that it has been a cluster%* is accurate.

Does everyone have a plan in place for the next 10 years??  I have a lot of things that are up in the air.  If I find a different job that I love- I may work past 55.  If my dh keeps going in his position we may be moving in 10 years.  Downsizing the house, more travel...  I don't know what I'm doing this summer- much less in 2028.  I have ideas, but they are vague and so much depends on "things".

I just want to put some money away.  That's all I knew today.  I have 3 kinds of investments.  RRSP's. TFSA's and an RESP for my kids 2&3.  I don't do stock trading, have gold bullion in my basement or a wad of bills under my mattress.  Although the mattress plan is seeming more appealing with every trip to the bank.  It shouldn't be such a huge pain in the arse to purchase some mutual funds.  I obviously oversimplify the process.  I have a new person looking after me.  Based on our one hour today I think it will be fine.  But that's what I thought about my last person and she made so many mistakes it was quite shocking.  He did clarify that I didn't have a mortgage and I don't have any debt's.  We talked for awhile about how I did it and that I can't work like that anymore due to injury.

Next week is another meeting.  I have to find out more information regarding my pension plan at work, my insurance coverage and copies of POA that we have.

What I would rather do is work in my yard and drink iced tea on the deck.  If doing all of this now will give me more time for that later...worth the pain!

Well I'm off to find out my pension numbers, and sort out my unplanned life.

Here's hoping to a Lotto Max win!  (Just kidding, I haven't bought a ticket in 8 years - a work pool) but 55 million would help me with a 5-10 year plan!! 😉

Burning up Vacation Hours

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.

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.