I have three savings accounts with PCF. I allocated one as "Car Fund," where I would save up funds for gas, maintenance (oil changes) and repairs, and optimistically a six-month chunk for the insurance company, so that I could get out of paying month-to-month - adding another $100 to my monthly income.
I just can't seem to keep more than $400 in that account, so I've deleted the tracking from my sidebar. Ideally I need at least $800 for my goal, more if I want to add snow tires to the roster.
I'm thinking again of getting a part-time job. I'm a Telus customer, and I was thinking of putting my resume in to the store at the big mall. The main setback is that I have only weekends to work, but there are occasional weekends that Bean's dad does not take him.
Also, if I make too much money my daycare subsidy decreases, increasing cost of daycare. This won't be an issue once Bean starts kindergarten in 2010. As well the student loan goons might not be as friendly to me if my income increases. I am currently on interest relief while I pay down my credit card/line of credit.
I have tried to bring in more income but selling my stuff on ebay, and Bean's stuff at the consignment shop, but the little bit it brings in does not justify the time spent getting it out there.
I'm spending more in my "Misc." category because it is summer and I have a lot of opportunities to socialize. I think once summer is over I will be able to go back to spending not much at all. I tend to hibernate when the days get shorter.
Seriously,
Karissa
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Diaper deals at Rexall
This week I will be visiting Rexall (Pharma Plus) drug store for the third time in two weeks to purchase Huggies. We use the diapers for night time and the Pull Ups at daycare. The Huggies Pull Ups are far superior to Pampers or store brands (this is not a sponsored post). Both the diapers and the Pull Ups are in the flyer for $14.99 until this Friday.
Plus, I am armed with $2.00 coupons for the diapers that I found in the blue box in my building, and $2.50 coupons that were on the shelf of Price Choppers - I have been taking one each time I go into the grocery store to buy food. So the diapers are only $12.99 and the Pull Ups are $12.49. Much better than $17 or even $19.99 for a little pack of 40!
So, I may go over-budget by about $100 this month, but we should be stocked up on diapers and Pull Ups for the most of the summer. Hopefully Bean potty-learns by September :)
Seriously,
Karissa
Plus, I am armed with $2.00 coupons for the diapers that I found in the blue box in my building, and $2.50 coupons that were on the shelf of Price Choppers - I have been taking one each time I go into the grocery store to buy food. So the diapers are only $12.99 and the Pull Ups are $12.49. Much better than $17 or even $19.99 for a little pack of 40!
So, I may go over-budget by about $100 this month, but we should be stocked up on diapers and Pull Ups for the most of the summer. Hopefully Bean potty-learns by September :)
Seriously,
Karissa
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Money Ups and Downs - an update
I way way way overspent in May. There were two trips to the big city, the second one involving a trip to the thrift shop where I scored three dresses, a blazer and a pair of leather flats for $40.
I would like to make a picture post with my deals, and some of the frugal meals I have been making, but it's not often I get to an internet connection long enough to do so. I am still reading most of the blogs I am following on my smartphone.
For a few days last week my facebook-addiction was seriously challenged, when I couldn't get it to load on my phone. I tried to convince myself that it was a good thing, that I could now downgrade to a simpler phone and drop the $15 unlimited web access from my phone bill. I even pulled out one of my old phones to make the switch. Then I figured out how to fix the facebook and practically kissed my smartphone in relief.
It's kinda like when I quit coffee when I was sick. I lasted almost three weeks, and slowly the coffee addiction has crept back up on me. I am weak.
But I have continued to eat my protein at almost every meal, and I'm still taking all my supplements. I'm taking a cheaper vitamin now that isn't nearly as good as the one I get from my naturopath.
I was in the graduation ceremony for my Honours degree the other day, and it was really nice. My Mom and Gramma drove up from the big city to see me, and my sister was there too. Gramma gave me a generous bit of cash, which was totally unexpected.
When I went to deposit it into the bank machine, I noticed a discrepancy in my account. I had a suspicion, so I checked my account online, and found a $40 NSF service charge for a bill payment that was supposed to go through. I thought I had it all carefully planned out, but I guess I forgot to make the transfer from savings to cover the bill charge. You think the bank could just pull the funds from my savings account, but no. No fee banking, my butt.
I'm back in the big city this weekend. Right now I'm at my Dad's, using his wireless connection. I have a date planned for this evening. Have fun everyone. I know I will! :)
Seriously,
Karissa
I would like to make a picture post with my deals, and some of the frugal meals I have been making, but it's not often I get to an internet connection long enough to do so. I am still reading most of the blogs I am following on my smartphone.
For a few days last week my facebook-addiction was seriously challenged, when I couldn't get it to load on my phone. I tried to convince myself that it was a good thing, that I could now downgrade to a simpler phone and drop the $15 unlimited web access from my phone bill. I even pulled out one of my old phones to make the switch. Then I figured out how to fix the facebook and practically kissed my smartphone in relief.
It's kinda like when I quit coffee when I was sick. I lasted almost three weeks, and slowly the coffee addiction has crept back up on me. I am weak.
But I have continued to eat my protein at almost every meal, and I'm still taking all my supplements. I'm taking a cheaper vitamin now that isn't nearly as good as the one I get from my naturopath.
I was in the graduation ceremony for my Honours degree the other day, and it was really nice. My Mom and Gramma drove up from the big city to see me, and my sister was there too. Gramma gave me a generous bit of cash, which was totally unexpected.
When I went to deposit it into the bank machine, I noticed a discrepancy in my account. I had a suspicion, so I checked my account online, and found a $40 NSF service charge for a bill payment that was supposed to go through. I thought I had it all carefully planned out, but I guess I forgot to make the transfer from savings to cover the bill charge. You think the bank could just pull the funds from my savings account, but no. No fee banking, my butt.
I'm back in the big city this weekend. Right now I'm at my Dad's, using his wireless connection. I have a date planned for this evening. Have fun everyone. I know I will! :)
Seriously,
Karissa
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
My budget spreadsheet is a mess
Back to the drawing board, as they say.
I got it sorted out today, and I already know what the problem is. Luckily, I get paid at the end of the week, so I get a chance to start over again.
What happened was I was paying my basic expenses and putting the rest of my money onto my Line of Credit. My rationalization was that if I ran out of $$ I could tap into the LOC. Then when I ran out of money, I would berate myself for considering using the LOC, and use my credit card instead.
Now I have a $300 credit card bill to pay off, and tracking the expenses has mucked up my pretty spreadsheet.
For June the new goal is to keep at least $300 in my account and shelve the credit card. For good, I hope.
Seriously,
Karissa
I got it sorted out today, and I already know what the problem is. Luckily, I get paid at the end of the week, so I get a chance to start over again.
What happened was I was paying my basic expenses and putting the rest of my money onto my Line of Credit. My rationalization was that if I ran out of $$ I could tap into the LOC. Then when I ran out of money, I would berate myself for considering using the LOC, and use my credit card instead.
Now I have a $300 credit card bill to pay off, and tracking the expenses has mucked up my pretty spreadsheet.
For June the new goal is to keep at least $300 in my account and shelve the credit card. For good, I hope.
Seriously,
Karissa
Friday, May 15, 2009
The Cost of Wellness
So far, my new morning routine consists of:
- two Super Orti-Vite vitamins ($42 a bottle)
- one Omega 3 - 6 ($16 a bottle)
- one Aloe Immune ($41 a bottle)
- 2000 IU liquid Vitamin D (free from naturopath)
- one Macrobid (covered by SunLife)
- two Valacyclovir (covered by SunLife)
- two eggs and toast
- apple or strawberries
- glass of orange juice (canned concentrate, pulp-free)
At lunch I have been eating dinner leftovers, which is usually rice and a meat/veggie concoction that I throw together. Yesterday I remembered to pack some fresh veggies and dip. At some point in the day I eat two more Valacyclovir, and thanks to all this pill-popping, I'm drinking tons of water. All day I sip on a red raspberry leaf tea ... I don't mind it if it's cold.
Dinner is more protein/veggie/grain stuff and another Macrobid. If I remember and think my stomach can handle it I eat an iron pill ($24 a bottle).
Nighttime routine is one more Omega 3 - 6 and another Aloe Immune. My naturopath says that once the bottle of Aloe Immune is finished I won't have to take anymore. She also said that I MUST consume protein three times a day. This week I am eating through 2 lbs of ground beef. So much for going back to vegetarianism.
My naturopath also mentioned that Canadian beef is very high quality and much more trustworthy than chicken. She said the industry has worked long and hard to make sure it's products are really standard, which is reassuring.
Finally, a really great thing has come out of being sick. I realized on Monday that I had not had a coffee since Friday. I guessed that some of my headachy pain over the weekend could have been attributed to withdrawal. I had been planning to take a couple days to myself this summer and put myself through the coffee withdrawal, but it's already done! I miss coffee, but I have been making myself drink herbal tea instead. I went for a coffee with a friend yesterday and had an Earl Grey with milk and sugar instead. It was lovely.
Funny thing is, I didn't touch coffee until I was 26 years old. Then I made up for lost time by becoming a fast addict of it. Hopefully I can chalk up another addiction busted (along with cigarettes - go me!).
Seriously,
Karissa
- two Super Orti-Vite vitamins ($42 a bottle)
- one Omega 3 - 6 ($16 a bottle)
- one Aloe Immune ($41 a bottle)
- 2000 IU liquid Vitamin D (free from naturopath)
- one Macrobid (covered by SunLife)
- two Valacyclovir (covered by SunLife)
- two eggs and toast
- apple or strawberries
- glass of orange juice (canned concentrate, pulp-free)
At lunch I have been eating dinner leftovers, which is usually rice and a meat/veggie concoction that I throw together. Yesterday I remembered to pack some fresh veggies and dip. At some point in the day I eat two more Valacyclovir, and thanks to all this pill-popping, I'm drinking tons of water. All day I sip on a red raspberry leaf tea ... I don't mind it if it's cold.
Dinner is more protein/veggie/grain stuff and another Macrobid. If I remember and think my stomach can handle it I eat an iron pill ($24 a bottle).
Nighttime routine is one more Omega 3 - 6 and another Aloe Immune. My naturopath says that once the bottle of Aloe Immune is finished I won't have to take anymore. She also said that I MUST consume protein three times a day. This week I am eating through 2 lbs of ground beef. So much for going back to vegetarianism.
My naturopath also mentioned that Canadian beef is very high quality and much more trustworthy than chicken. She said the industry has worked long and hard to make sure it's products are really standard, which is reassuring.
Finally, a really great thing has come out of being sick. I realized on Monday that I had not had a coffee since Friday. I guessed that some of my headachy pain over the weekend could have been attributed to withdrawal. I had been planning to take a couple days to myself this summer and put myself through the coffee withdrawal, but it's already done! I miss coffee, but I have been making myself drink herbal tea instead. I went for a coffee with a friend yesterday and had an Earl Grey with milk and sugar instead. It was lovely.
Funny thing is, I didn't touch coffee until I was 26 years old. Then I made up for lost time by becoming a fast addict of it. Hopefully I can chalk up another addiction busted (along with cigarettes - go me!).
Seriously,
Karissa
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