Updates!

• Biopsy: unpleasant, but quick and I could've been there for much worse
• Result: Good news is that it's nothing. Bad news is that it's nothing, yet there continues to be an increase in creatinin levels, indicating there IS something going on. All tests, however, came back negative (lupus, TB, etc.). Now? Keep hydrated and continue monitoring.
• Weird.
• Vancouver was great: Lynn Canyon, book stores, Thai food, cupcakes, chocolate cake, friends, family, support, being cared for.
• Spent too much on books, though. :P
• Ate most of my cupcakes, as they made it back safely (i.e. damage confined to icing which, while squashed, is still icing).
• Have one left for D for his return.
• Lazy brunch with friends yesterday (pancakes!), then a lazy stop at Starbuck's to visit another friend. Lovely!
• Belated Christmas gifts: sketchbook & pencils; photo frame with picture of Elmo and his Intuitive Portrait (go to gallery, bottom left picture, the one with the mouse)
• D & I in tentative discussions about getting a place together
• Fresh snow :)
• December's hydro bill: $166.65!! Double what I normally pay, but I was doing an awful lot of baking & cooking over the holidays, so that makes sense, although I will have to watch that in future
• D wanting a trip to Vancouver when he gets back next week; his treat, but it seems very extravagent. And I haven't requested the time off (my mind's been on other things), so not certain I can get the time off anyway...
• Got a call from my FA to touch base and discuss my current investments
• Tried to make coconut rice last night, but it didn't work out so well. Edible, sure, but nothing like I had at the Thai restaurant last week! I need to figure out how they made that!
• Another relaxing, long weekend :)

Haiti

I admit that I didn't even know that an earthquake had hit this little Caribbean country until two or three days after it happened (I don't have TV and I don't really read the papers anymore), but even then I felt no real inclination to help, although from what I've read over the past couple of days it appears that even those who have mobilized to help are having difficulties getting in because the US controls the airport and, well, they're holding things up considerably.

However.

I read on Saver Queen's blog yesterday and Frugal Dreamer's blog this morning about donations. Saver Queen has a link to CIDA, the governmental agency that assists internationally. They have promised to match any donation made through a registered charity (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.) up to $50 million. This caught my attention and then I read FD's blog a few minutes ago and she makes excellent points about the fact that we have more than enough and Haiti has nothing - and less now that a second earthquake has hit the region.

So I went straight to the Red Cross site and donated. I then went to WSPA and donated there, as well.

The reason I was hesitating? I just cleared most of my credit card and didn't want to rack it up again. Don't be (a ridiculous, selfish SOB) like me. Donate to Haiti. Give whatever you can, whatever you feel comfortable with. The Canadian government is matching donations. This doesn't happen often and makes your contribution that much greater.

I am safe, warm, employed, loved. I need to be grateful for these 'simple' things that are so taken for granted. I'm responsible for me being in debt (for buying 'stuff'), but the people of Haiti are not responsible for the earthquake that has levelled their country and devastated them.

I have to admit I'm not sure where this donation money will come from. I'll work it off I imagine. I have a secure job that pays me well and that I enjoy. That, for now, is enough.

TFSA article

http://money.ca.msn.com/tfsa/insight/article.aspx?cp-documentid=23210323

This explains what it is, how it works, what's allowed, etc. Just a couple of pages, but to anyone who still doesn't have one (or for our US friends who don't have such things) it's a good introduction, in easy to understand lingo. And I wasn't sure how many you were allowed - according to Gail, in her new book, you are allowed to have as many as you like.

Grocery shop

It's that time again! Food shopping - my favourite :) I don't know if anyone else enjoys this, but I find it holds me more accountable when I can see it all laid out every couple of weeks.

I didn't do too badly overall, and should have plenty to last until next payday if not beyond. Spent more than I would have liked to, but there you are. It seems food shopping is my Gremlin. I only wish I liked cooking as much as I like shopping!

So, the list is as follows: (items not pictured)

Tea: $3.99 (48 bags)
NN Applesauce: $1.98
NN Crushed pineapple x 2: $3.56

Total: $8.73 (incl. 80 cent Super Bucks!)

Parchment Paper: $5.29
Grated parmesan: $4.99
Bacon: $5.99

Total: $16.53

Items pictured:

Butter, 1lb, unsalted: $4.59
Basil pesto x 2: $11.90
Chicken breast: $7.57
Yeast free bread x 2: $9.98
PC Sausages, mild Italian: $4.48
Steak: $2.49
Steak: $2.80
Strawberries, 1lb: $5.39
Spinach: $3.89
Quick oats, 2.25kg:$7.99
Soya mozarella: $5.29
Evaporated milk x 4: $6.68
Egg whites: $2.59
NN unsweetened coconut: $2.78
Red pepper: $2.64 (.255 kg @ $10.34 kg)
Green pepper: $1.27 (.290 kg @ $4.33 kg)
Broccoli crowns: $2.40 (.420 kg @ $5.71 kg)
Baking potatoes: $4.21 (2.150 kg @ $1.96 kg)
Red onion: $1.46 (.395 kg @ $3.70 kg)
Garlic, 3 pk: $1.29
Cucumber (garden): $1.59
Lemon pie filling x 2: $10.78
Ginger root: $.24 (.080 kg @ $3.06 kg)
Kashi bars x 2: $5.92
PC Turkey burgers: $11.49
Stevia: $5.69
PC 'Thins' (flat burger buns): $3.49

And something I paid $7.29 for. Cannot for the life of me remember what it is, or make out what "PC FC TNA CHK CP" means on the receipt...anyone?? No tuna & no chocolate chip anything, however, and it's a President's Choice item.

Total: $115.07
Total groceries: $164.39

I bought all of this stuff yesterday and spent today baking: I made banana loaf, strawberry scones, pineapple spice cookies, a lemon meringue pie (D's request) and today for dinner I made a recipe from here. It was quite good, but I think it needs a bit less balsamic vinegar. Still, loads left over for lunch tomorrow (hurrah!) and I cleaned out my fridge today, too, so lots of room to store stuff.

I've updated my sidebars to reflect that I paid off my computer with the money in my planned spending and freezer accounts and changed the freezer to Will, because I really need to make one. I've no idea how much this will cost me, so I figure $500 is a safe number to work with.

It's been a great weekend, despite not getting to the hotsprings. Work again tomorrow and then Vancouver on Thursday. It's my biopsy on Friday and I'll be staying with friends of mine while I'm there. My sister and BIL will be coming over, too, which'll be great. Lynn Canyon was mentioned as a destination for a hike on Thursday and I would like to get to Chapters or Indigo, but that's pretty much it as far as shopping goes. I'm taking a small case and books will be it, if I buy anything at all.

I still have to do a review of my new (& paid off!) computer, so I'm going to work on that over the next while and try to get that posted before the end of the month.

Computer - PIF!!

It was a fairly big spend day, but part of the spending was GOOD spending!

Gift for D's dad: $40
Parcel to UK (air mail): $32.29
Payment for computer: $353.18

Total: $425.47

BUT! But...the computer payment was the FINAL payment. Hurrah!! Way faster than I thought, and that's a good thing, because it appears that once the balance fell below $1200, the interest rate jumped to 28.8% from 19.9%! Ridiculous. And yes, that describes me as well for 'buy now, pay later' purchases I should know better than to make. I paid a total of $57.56 in interest over the past two months. Still money I could have put elsewhere, but nowhere near as bad as it could've had the potential to become.

And the UK parcel was my brother and SIL's Christmas present (sent at long last!).

Tonight D & I wanted to go here. We had tried on Tuesday night, but found them closed (they're a half hour drive from town). Today we decided to try again, but got there really early. The sign at the intersection states that they open at 4 - 10. We had about a 20-min wait until 4, and then they didn't open. We waited another 10 mins and then left. According to a tour guide who had also arrived, the sign by the door says "open 6 pm," but he had called earlier and was told 4 would be fine. Needless to say, we didn't want to sit around for another two hours, so we headed home. I double checked the website when I got home and it does say 6pm. Nuts! Foiled again...I was really looking forward to a soak! :(

Shaving savings

Sometimes this is how I feel paying off debt. It's hard to train yourself into new habits so it doesn't get away from you. I would love to see that big dollar sign as representing my savings, but it currently represents the debt. Although not nearly as big as some, it's still that proverbial monkey and needs to be removed from my back.

To accomplish clearing the debt this year, I've shaved my current savings as a first step. I'm planning on this only being temporary, and then boosting the savings back up to try and meet my savings goals.

My savings were (monthly):

RRSP 1: $250
TFSA: $100
CSBs: $70
RRSP 2: $50
ING: $162 (5 accounts)

Total: $632

That's actually 29% of my monthly income, so no wonder I was feeling a bit squeezed! I should be concentrating on ridding myself of debt, then focus on my savings.

So I did some online fiddling over the past couple of days and phoned my bank today to get my auto-deposits adjusted. This is what my savings will look like from here on in (monthly):

RRSP 1: $100 ($50 is min bi-weekly deposit amount)
TFSA: $50
CSBs: $70
RRSP 2: $50
ING: $70 (3 accounts)

Total: $340
Extra toward debt (monthly): $292!

$330 is 15% of my monthly pay, so this is much more in line with what I should be saving anyway. The CSBs come off my paycheque bi-weekly and I can't change the amount until next year at this point. RRSP #2 is growing slowly but surely and I think it's doing just fine as it is for the moment. ING was taking more money than I thought, so I've shaved it down by continuing to save only in my vet, travel and car funds. The planned spending and the new freezer account (was computer) will be emptied to put extra funds on the computer, so it'll be paid off by the end of the month. I couldn't bear to cut it out entirely and even this is making me a bit nervous, but I have $1600 in my EFund, and I'll be just fine.

Money should be THIS fun!

Some spend days are good

It depends what you spend your money on! I started this year with $6605 in debt. Since Sunday, I've reduced this by $1100!!

Computer loan (as at Jan 1/10): $1325
Computer loan (as at Jan 5/10): $325
APR: 19.99%
PAID: $1000
Owe: $325 (+interest)

Visa: $932.13
APR: 14.99%
PAID: $100
Owe: $832.13

LOC: $4379.36
APR: 5.75%

I pay bi-weekly into this ($50) and the payment is flexible. Once the computer is paid off, I can concentrate on the Visa, then the LOC. So I'll be upping the monthly payments as of the end of March if things fall into place with my debt repayment schedule. I have a bonus coming near the end of February, most, if not all, of which will go into my RRSP (for tax deferral), plus I get an incremental increase in my pay (think it's 1.2% or something) around March. April is tax-time and this year I'm actually hoping for a refund. So the next few months look promising with respect to "extra" income this year.

I'm also hoping to use the next few weeks to tidy, organize and clear clutter. 15 or 20 minutes a day really does work wonders; I need to stop being such a horrid procrastinator. I did quite well over the holidays, but I swear every time I open a cupboard or a drawer there's something in there I simply don't use/want/need/wear. Our recycling depot has a 'free store,' where you can drop off/pick up items, and I've taken advantage of that before. I'll most likely take a bag of clothes to the Sally Anne, and use the free store for household items. I'm also going to see if I can get anything for some of my DVD box sets. I've got several I won't watch again, so I might as well sell them.

All those funds (whatever it amounts to) can go towards my debt goals.

Day Three Goal Hiccups!!

So my very first goal was to aim to reach $1K in my chequing account so that I could waive the monthly fees. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be able to make that: the minimum "fee waive" for my particular account is $3500!

Okay, so I have one less thing to do this year with respect to money. This leaves me an additional $40 a month to put toward my debt if I look at it that way. And less for me to think about achieving.

Otherwise, I did okay today. I'm thrilled that I paid $1000 towards my computer. That leaves me with an outstanding balance of just $325 or so. I did also add to my groceries, but not with cash. I stopped to buy rice cakes and spelt flour ($32.13 - RIDICULOUS!!!) and butter ($4.59). The first items went on my CC and the second on debit. *Sigh*

Mind you, I have over $100 in rolled coin now, which I'm taking to the bank tomorrow to put on my LOC and Visa card. I have to remember to take my debit & credit cards out of my wallet, so I'm not tempted, and replace them with a $20, so I have cash if I need it, but a set limit.

I've had such a great holiday that I'm not going to let the CC slip get to me. It's not worth it in the long run and besides, now I can have PANCAKES for breakfast!! :)

2010 Goals

Free banking! I want to build up and maintain the minimum balance in my chequing account ($1000) so that I’m not paying bank fees every month. Al though the bank fees are only $10, I’d rather keep it. This means increasing the balance in my account by $40 per month.

RRSP 2010
Goal: $5000
Bonus! Maximum allowable (update in April, after taxes, but approx $7000)

Pay off existing debt. I want to be debt free by the end of June. I will pay off the computer by the end of January; pay off my Visa by the end of March; and pay off my LOC by the end of June. Total debt: $6604.36.

EFund. I’m aiming for $3000 by end December 2010. Bonus! $3500.

US account. I would like $500 US in here by end December 2010. I currently have $308. It’s just for fun and day trips to Skagway, so it doesn’t need serious attention.

Track spending. I still find money running through my fingers far more than it should. So I’m going to continue with this. Write it down, meal plan, make shopping lists, etc. Find an extra $50 a month to put toward debt until it’s paid off.

Credit card spending. None, unless I can pay it off in full when due.

Cash only. January. And I’ll take it month to month from there depending on how I do. This means leaving my debit & credit card at home, so the temptation isn’t there to use them. This should curb my spending, generally and otherwise.

Make a will. This could also fall under ‘financial,’ as it costs money to do this, but I’ll aim to have this done by my birthday this year.

Photography. I have an awesome camera that I’m not using. I will use it.

School. I’m looking into several online options for this. The college here is great, but the classes I need either aren’t being offered this semester or the times conflict with my work schedule, so I think online is the way for me to go. I’m aiming for a minimum of three classes this year.

Read. My goal is 100 books this year.

These are the focus this year, along with smaller goals that I've got. I had an epic fail on last year's goals, but they were pretty ambitious and I'm pretty lazy...I'm not surprised, as I do this every year, but I think this time my goals are a little more focused, and I that most are also achieveable. I have no particular order for these, apart from perhaps my will, so that helps too.

New Year Spending

I was out shortly after 8am this morning, having decided not to procrastinate. My goal: Canadian Tire. I spotted an item that I've had my eye on for probably two years in the latest flyer. It's a little wheeled kitchen cart that will give me a bit of extra storage room and counter space. The regular price is $190 (actually $20 more than when I first saw it two years ago), the sale price $114. A considerable savings.

Another item I was considering was this microwave stand. Nothing fancy, but again, extra storage as well as making space on my counter by holding the microwave. The regular price is $100. The sale price $60.

The dilemma this morning, even as I was standing in front of them, was which one do I choose? I got a $100 Canadian Tire gift certificate from my mum for Christmas (I asked) and had already spent $25 of it. I could spend an extra $40 (out of my snowflake jar) and get the item I've been eyeing for two years, or I could spend $60 and walk away with $15 still in my pocket. I ultimately decided to go with my first choice, the one I've wanted for so long and to pay the $40 difference. I think it's a great deal, despite the little voice in my head saying "but if you hadn't've spent that $25 earlier, you'd only be paying $15 for this!"

Yes, but I still saved $150 and that's substantial, particularly when I'm not sure this item is actually worth that much anyway! :) And technically, because I'd snowflaked the $40, my jars are still intact.

My spends look like this today:

Gas: $47.77 (96.9 ltr)
I had a coupon for double the superbucks at the Superstore gas station, so I filled up there before I went in to pick up a few things.

Groceries @ SuperStore

Frozen peas x 2: $4 ($2 ea)
Frozen corn x 2: $4 ($2 ea)
Bulk quinoa (1.305 kg $9.80 kg): $12.79
Hummous: $5.49

Total: $26.28
coupon: $-2.69
Total paid: $23.32

Groceries (elsewhere):

Kashi Organic Cinnamon cereal x 2: $12.98
Christmas cards x 2 pkgs: $9.98
Rice milk, original x 3: $8.97
Rice milk, vanilla x 3: $8.97
Lottery tickets (1st time in 3 1/2 yrs!!): $11.00

Total: $52.40

Potatoes: (2.860 kg @ $1.96 kg): $5.61
Pasta sauce x 2: $7.58
Veggie ground round x 2: $8.78
Tropical green tea: $3.69

Total: $25.71
Total groceries: $101.43

So my (bi) weekly gas jar is empty, as is my grocery jar for the most part, but I'm pleased with the spends as it was all cash. The coins went straight into my coin box to await rolling.

I'm still working on my goals for posting and hope to have them complete in the next day or so. I'm trying to keep "baby steps" in mind and not get wrought up worrying that my goals may be too ambitious.

Books 2009

I'm going to post my goals tomorrow, so tonight I'm posting the list of books I read in 2009. They're a bit mystery-heavy, as I keep finding new (to me) authors and getting caught up in murder and death.

See Jane Write - Jane Mlynowski

Year of Living Biblically - A.J. Jacobs

B is for Burglar - Sue Grafton

C is for Corpse - Sue Grafton

Fat Girl - Judth Moore

Travels with Lizbeth - Lars Eighner

Then We Came to the End - Joshua Ferris

Dewey - Vicky Myron

The Next Thing on my List - Jill Smolinski

Wesley the Owl - Stacey O'Brien

Lord High Executioner - Howard Engel

Tears of the Desert - Halima Bashir

Saturday - Ian McEwan

The Shack - William Young

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne

The Spellman Files - Lisa Lutz

My Forbidden Face - Latifa

How Not to Die - Dr Jan Garavaglio (Dr G)

Kabul Beauty School - Deborah Rodriguez

With the Kama Sutra Under my Arm - Trisha Bernard

Do Travel Writers Go to Hell? - Thomas Kostamm

Animals as Teachers and Healers - Susan McElroy

How I Paid for College - Marc Acito

The Delegate's Choice - Ian Sansom

Whisper to the Blood - Dana Stabenow

Scratch Beginnings - Adam Shephard

Stacked - Susan Seligmann

Turning Tables - Heather and Rose McGowan

The Risks of Sunbathing Topless - Kate Chynoweth

Skeleton Lake - Mike Doogan

The Geography of Bliss - Eric Weiner

Curse of the Spellmans - Lisa Lutz

I'm a Stranger Here Myself - Bill Bryson

Revenge of the Spellmans - Lisa Lutz

High King's Tomb - Kristen Britain

Dead and Gone - Charlaine Harris

Rich Like Them - Ryan D'Agostino

Sloppy Firsts - Megan McCafferty

Second Helpings - Megan McCafferty

Bad Bridesmaids - Siri Agrell

Him, Her, Him Again, The End of Him - Patricia Marx

As Luck Would Have It - Joshua Piven

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built - Alexander McCall Smith

Fire and Ice - Dana Stabenow

Nothing Gold Can Stay - Dana Stabenow

Better to Rest - Dana Stabenow

Charmed Thirds - Megan McCafferty

Fourth Comings - Megan McCafferty

The Johns: Sex for Sale and the Men Who Buy It - Victor Malarek

Nobody's Mother - Lynn Van Luven

Bayou of Pigs - Stewart Bell

Bubbles Betrothed - Susan Strohmeyer

One Step Behind - Henning Mankell

The Eye of Jade - Diane Wei Liang

397 Ways to Save Money - Kerry Taylor

Faceless Killers - Henning Mankell

Firewall - Henning Mankell

Labours of Love: Canadians Talk About Adoption - Deborah Brennan

Angel's Advocate - Mary Stanton

An Evening of Long Goodbyes - Paul Murray

Dogs of Riga - Henning Mankell

Sidetracked - Henning Mankell

The Fifth Woman - Henning Mankell

Before the Frost - Henning Mankell

Waiter Rant - Steve Dublanica

206 Bones - Kathy Reichs

TinTin Adventures: Book 2 - Herge

Honestly, Dearest, You're Dead - John Frederickson

Spud - John van Ruit

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson

Bookmarked for Death - Lorna Barrett

Evil in Carnations - Kate Collins

Prepared for Rage - Dana Stabenow

Unquiet Spirit - Derek Wilson

Death Takes the Cake - Melinda Wells

Holiday Grind - Cleo Coyle

A Ghost in the Machine - Caroline Graham (the British TV series "Midsomer Murders" is based on this author's books)

Desolate Angel - Chaz McGee

So Sure of Death - Dana Stabenow

Dead Cold - Louise Penny

Clean Cut - Lynda La Plante

Eat My Globe - Simon Majumdar

Casket Case - Fran Rizer

Poppy Done to Death - Charlaine Harris

Shakespeare's Landlord - Charlaine Harris

Grave Secret - Charlaine Harris

Wild Indigo - Sandi Ault

The White Lioness - Henning Mankell

The Devil's Star - Jo Nesbo

The Incident Report - Martha Baillie

Shakespeare's Trollop - Charlaine Harris

Silence of the Grave - Arnaldur Indridason

If I've counted correctly, that's 97 books this year. Phew! I'd say that was quite successful. I wasn't planning on reading so many, but I'm perhaps I'll see if I can make it an even 100 for next year.

Happy New Year everyone!