Saturday, August 27, 2011

Single to the Penny Has moved

Ladies and gents!

This little blog has been gathering steam for the last few months and after a lot of consideration I decided that it deserves its very own domain name!

SingleToThePenny.com

The Relationship Debrief

One of my good friends has taken to analyzing my dating life much like an MBA student would dissect a case.

His conclusion: "You have a damn good product, but your sales pitch needs work"

After he heard about my latest venture into 'relationship' land his words were "Don't be yourself" ie. flow down the river and let it take you where it might and stop trying to hang on to any low hanging branch in order to attempt to slow down the process. Make sense? It did in my head.

After I told him that I am once again 'a package of 1' he simply said "We need to debrief".

To be honest I think this time my sales pitch actually worked as my +1 status lasted almost a whole month!

This was an interesting experiment of sorts, I feel like I came out of this with a GIANT lesson learned.

Until now, I thought that I have finally found the peace I was looking for in myself and I was ready to enter relationship land. I was ready for the commitment, for the warmth and the ever constant presence of a man in my daily life again.

Be careful what you wish for! It was as if something out there said: Really? You are ready? Here you go....

This man was ready for me to be 'the one' from even before he met me. He was everything a girl normal girl would like: mushy, communicative, attentive, flattering and most importantly ready to put a label on it.

I was reaching out my damn short arms to any branch out there as I felt like I was swept into the rapids.


I also saw a flash of perhaps this man being the one and 2.5 years we will be married and a year later little 6'4 version of myself will be born. This scared me. It scared me because I saw my plans of an MBA, exchange to Europe, travel to Nepal and solo sky diving stunts be snatched away from my future. The version of myself that was alive 3 years ago, couldn't have been happier to share in this perfect happy family. The version I have evolved in after 3 years of being single is: athletic, adventurous, mature, opinionated and most importantly living life.
Those 6 years I spent being the perfect girlfriend were happy but I knew something was missing. I was missing.

After a long conversation with one of my best girls she made a very important point: I am now at a stage where I am starting to see my priorities change, but I dip my toes in the water to find it too cold and quickly snatch them away.

I am not ready to answer to someone for every move I make. I am not ready to constantly think of myself as +1. Most importantly I am not ready and will never be ready to settle for something that will force me to give up who I am.

I am ready to find 'the person' and slowly get to know him. To slowly ease him into my life and ease myself into his. At the same time keeping myself intact and not letting either one of us become 'the relationship'. I am ready to build goals and dreams with him, while ensuring that both of our individual goals and dreams are achieved. I am ready for the perfect partner and the white picket fence that has a giant easy to open door that lets life come and go.

Am I going to look at every man I meet and ask myself 'are you him'? NO. I am not on the hunt for an 'MRS'.
If you are mr right now that would work too. No pressure, no expectations.


What ever will be will be, one step at a time.

One date at a time, one week at a time.]

In conclusion:
Am I glad this happened: YES.
Am I glad this is over: to be honest yes.
Am I over it: but of course!

Friday, August 26, 2011

Weekly Spending Summary Fri Aug 19 - Thurs Aug 26

Fri Aug 19

$30 Parking and Drink Downtown
$5 Starbucks
$14 Supper Hot dress! on major Sale!
$40 Lulu lemon sports
$56 Dress
$15 Grocery

Total $160


Sat Aug 20

No Spend Day!

Sun Aug 21

$50 Gas
$67 Grocery
Total $117

Mon Aug 22

No Spend day!

Tues Aug 23

$10 Laundry card refill

Wed Aug 24

$9 Five Guys Burger Lunch! Yum-o
$5 Starbucks
Total $14

Thurs Aug 25

$14 Running Room - gels for my 16K run on Sun
$5 Starbucks
Total $19


Weekly Total $320

Again over my $200/wk budget. Yes I did do a bit of shopping, which was in a way therapy as there will be no more +1 trips or dinners. I needed a new sports bra and lulu lemon has the best ones offering full support. I highly recommend them, but only buy them on sale!

I also messed up my budget, because Aug was a triple pay month and I used the money to pay down my debt but I forgot that my car payment is ALSO bi-weekly and didn't leave $ in my account for it...so I should include a $40 NSF fee to my weekly spending. *head down in shame*. This was a pure miss on my part.

Weekly Total $360

Shame shame shame.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Online Dating Pick Up Lines....

I ventured onto a Plenty of Fish today and decided to share with you the first few messages I received.
I usually take my pics down when I am not online and pretty much go on there when I need a little laugh.
Under the message are my initial reactions before I hit block.

Subject: hey!!
Hi there how are u?


- Got to be a tiny bit more original than this!

Subject: Hello!!!
Don't worrry silly, we'll do it even before going on a date...


- Not sure why I am worried silly about something…

Subject: do you like milk with ice?
hey there


- Bye there

Subject: are you the one?? :))
hey whats up its emran how are you? :)) how goes your week so far, doing anything exciting this week??..well i do happen to notice your profile and it is interesting so i thought of dropping by, do you think i stand a chance to know us well at all??..this is all for now and i am definitely looking forward to hear from you..have a blast and byee for now


- Hell no, I am not the one.

Subject: hello
Hello

How are you? Did you have a good weekend?

Dennis :-)


- Hello you message me every time I am online with the same line.

Subject: Hi
Ok, straight up!..You really caught my attention..:) I thought this POF page was a silly idea. However one of my co-workers, found a real cool "lady friend"(lack of better words) off it and suggested I try it..lol
So normally, this is not my style. I don't get message happy.. I just had to say something, when I came across your profile.
So I guess...hmmm...Hi my name is Michael, or Mikey..which everone you like better..;)
Very nice to make your acquaintance..:)


- I would reply but you are looking at the camera like a deer in headlights and I love taking pics, if you are going to look like that in all of our pics this is just not going to work out.

Subject: Hi
he how's it going, wanted to get to know you better, drop me a line if your free...


- Ok really, how hard is to spell ‘hey’?

Subject: im BURSTING with fruit flavour

im shawn. i JUST turned 33. i own a small security/investigations
company in downtown toronto. I like to go out to karaoke, but i dont sing. i like
coffeeshops, people watching and generally being out and active. im looking for my
best friend.... lover, confidante.... all in one.

maybe we can get to know eachother?? feel free to read my profile.
im sure, if given the chance... you may be surprised.

cheers
shawn


-hmmm it’s not fruit flavour you are bursting with….

Subject: Hi
Hello there! How are you doing today? I have read your profile and am curious to know more about you! Care to chat?


M

-Dude, in one pic you have a monkey on your shoulder and in the other you are half way up a palm tree… I think I learned all that there is about you right there!


Friday, August 19, 2011

Weekly Spending Summary Fri Aug 12 - Thurs Aug 18

Fri Aug 12
$10 Gas
$5 Breakfast
$33 Drug Store
Total: $48

Sat Aug 13
$165 Hotel for 2 nights in Ottawa (less $100 budgeted for phone bill =$65)
$15 R&W Pants
$20 Ottawa souvenirs
$12 Starbucks
$10 Grocery store
$35 Dinner
$45 New Dress
Total: $302 or $202

Sun Aug 14

$45 Gas

Mon Aug 15
$50 Cirque Du Soleil ticket for Totem on Sept 8

Tues Aug 16

$41 Grocery

Wed Aug 17
$36 Dinner
Thurs Aug 18
$10 Dinner

Weekly Total: $532 or $432 if you take out the phone over 'accrual'

Originally I was not supposed to have the hotel expense for Ottawa, but since I was traveling +1 we had to get a room for the weekend. That pretty much blew my budget. Luckily my phone bill came $100 below what I expected and this off set the cost a bit.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Weekly Spending Summary Fri Aug 5 - Thurs Aug 11

Fri Aug 5
NYC!

Sat Aug 6
NYC!

Sun Aug 7

NYC!

Mon Aug 8

$93 Grocery
$23 Movie tickets for 2 ;)
Total $116


Tues Aug 9


Money Free day

Wed Aug 10
$12 Dinner

Thurs Aug 11

$20 CIBC Run for the Cure Donation
$11.50 The Help
$1.50 McDonalds Iced Coffee - didn't like it at all
$65 Spa
$10 Wine

Total $108


Weekly Total $236

Wowza! It doesn't take much to rack up a total that surpasses my budget yet again :(

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Weekly Money Check-Up 16/8/11


Photo Credit




1. The most I’ve spent this last week was on a visit to the spa. My indulgence and vanity.

2. Today I am thankful that my sister's one month post opp was a success.

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free thing I did last week that made me happy was take a long walk with my new man friend.

4. I will consider this week a success if I I follow my running schedule and run 30K.

5. If I had today off I will dream up a way to have every day off.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Weekly Spending Summary Fri July 29 - Thurs Aug 4

Fri July 29
$4.15 Starbucks
$25 Indian Buffet
Total: $30

Sat July 30
$51 Grocery

Sun July 31
$39 WagJag Rock climbing Deal

Mon Aug 1
$6.86 Second Cup
$60 Match.com renewal - I forgot to cancel it
$10.50 Harry Potter Part 7b
$10 R&W Tank
Total: $88

Tues Aug 2

$10.62 Starbucks

Wed Aug 3
Thurs Aug 4
NYC Trip!


Weekly Total: $220


I am a bit mad that I did not catch the Match.com membership before it renewed. I didn't have any intention of renewing it at all. And I would have been under budget.
Oh, well everything happens for a reason, right?

Thursday, August 11, 2011

NYC trip Expenses

NYC Aug 2011



My quick and cheap road trip to NYC was fantastic apart from the horrid flight back.

My plane was at 7pm from JFK, at 5pm I was still at my friends place on 116th and Broadway. I decided to be hard core and spend $15 on Subway/Air train.

After a 10min walk to the first subway train and 10min wait for the train and 10min ride to 42nd street, I made to the E train that was to take me across Queens to JFK.

After 15 mins of waiting, I noticed a small sign saying E train is not running on this date. A small ripped sign! We checked and sure enough it wasn't. I asked two Spanish women if they wanted to share a cab to the airport. They agreed and we found a cabbie that would take us for $65. Of course now I only have 1hour to get to my plane.

At 6:40pm I was at the airport, this was after a mad 150km/hr drive through Manhattan and Queens, while the driver kept looking back at me and called my "baby".

I was ushered to the slowest typing woman who after 10mins told me she didn't feel comfortable printing a boarding pass for me even if she could. She could rebook me for the next day, I couldn't believe it. She asked what city was close to me, Montreal? I said NO my car is at Buffalo airport. I think at this point she realized that I had no harmful intentions and after another few minutes of agonizingly slow typing gave me a 'special business boarding pass'. I got the the security and almost wasn't allowed to go through but they allowed me given that I was on 'special business'.

I almost forgot to remove my backpack prior to going through the metal detectors. I was very frazzled. I took my shoes off and passed, the security guy smiled and waved at me and said "come though, Bella". I was wearing my Ciao Bella shirt from Italy.

I did a mad run to the gate, where there was a line up as the flight was overbooked. Thankfully I had already selected my seat and they just printed a boarding pass there. At this point I was sweating bullets.

I made it on the plane, they separated from the gate and proceeded to wait for 40mins on the runway before take off.

Thankfully, there was no line up at the border on my ride home and I saw fireworks over Niagara!

Flight from Buffalo: $110
4 days of Parking at BUF: $40/2 =20
Rental Car +Gas= $200+ $60= $260/2=130
Cheapo Motel in Jersey=$70/2= $35
Tolls: $20/2= $10
Food $100
MET, gifts, running capris =$50
MAD drive to JFK $40

Grand Total:$504
(would have been cheaper if there were 3 of us, just sayin' ;) )
After a 5hour wait I saw the Alexander McQueen exhibit. The regular MET price is $25 but the girl asked me if I was a student anywhere and gave me the student rate of $12. Did I mention it was a 5 hour wait!

I am not sure if I have ever mentioned that if it was up to me I would move to NYC in an instant. I can't tell you where to find things in Toronto, but I know exactly where everything is in NYC. Home.

NYC Aug 2011

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

August Goal Keeper Update

Goal Keeper update!!! Woooohoooo time!

+720 Side income
+200 Savings for school


I have a giant long distance bill looming over me, and I mean it will be about 300 mins of long distance big...... This is why I am not putting any money in my EF or Travel fund. I am waiting to get the bill and pay it.

The New York trip was paid from the Travel fund $120 + $400 from side income.
The rest went to debt repayment.

August is a triple pay month for me and with some luck I will be putting a nice chunk of change towards the debt repayment.

I really want to take a photo class this fall, but for this I will need to buy a $1K camera and I am going to do my best and close my eyes and do the right thing by repaying some debt instead of spending the money. Not going to be easy not to yield to temptation.


August 11th EDIT: Phone bill came in and from the $300 I budgeted it was only $210!!!
The difference goes to this weekend's unexpected hotel expense. The price you pay for traveling +1 :P

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

A little too much...

I have always said and believed that my ambition will be the end of me.
Case and point: signing up to run 1/2 marathon after only running for 3 weeks. Why did I not listed and do something sensible like sign up for a 5K run or even 10K. That's what a normal beginner should do, even 10K would be pushing it. No! I had to go for the 21.1K.

I was doing really well until about 2.5 weeks ago. I was running every other day at my own pace, adding about 1K a week to my runs. I was running all long runs with 7:1 intervals.

I decided to follow the tried, tested and true Running Room Schedule and ever since then I have been struggling as I jumped to 10:1 intervals.

Today I tried to run my tempo speed and did about 1.6K in one interval and after that my stomach turned to rock and I wanted to cry in pain. I tried to run again but my legs refused. I ran total 2.5K out of the 4K, and walked the rest as I was already 2K away from home.

I kept thinking, what am I doing this for? Why the fudge am I dedicating so much time and energy to this? What do I have to prove and most importantly to whom?

Well me. Nothing ever is good enough, nothing ever is achieved, there is always something bigger, better, shinier out there, that I have to go for and get.

Right now I am ready to give up and just hide.
But here is the thing, in order to ensure that I don't back out of things when my true laziness takes over, I employ a little strategy... I tell everyone what I am planning on achieving. This way I can't back down. I cannot be the girl that gives up, this will be complete shame for me and so I build in this little back up plan in everything I do.

And thus, as much as I don't want to and as much as I just want to hide, tomorrow I start again. Tomorrow rain or shine (rain =treadmill run)I will do the 4K scheduled. But I am not going to follow their schedule fully. I am going to go back to 7:1 intervals at my own speed. I am going to cancel my 14K group run with friends in 2 weeks as I will not be able to keep up with them, I will do the run by myself.

I will do this, on my own terms. I am also going to think twice before throwing myself into the deep end again.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Weekly Money Check-Up: 8/1





Photo Credit


1. The most I’ve spent this last week was on a water belt for running. An absolute necessity for longer and longer runs.

2. Today I am thankful that I survived a 12K run on Sunday. I was ready to collapse after 8K and somehow body over mind made to the end!

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free thing I did last week that made me happy was sit in my hammock on my balcony and read a book.


4. I will consider this week a success if I
make to NYC and back in one piece.
5. I dream about traveling the world. Seeing, smelling, tasting everything that the world has to offer. Big on my dream list right now are Africa and India.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Weekly Spending Summary Fri July 22 - Thurs July 28

Fri July 22
$13 - Quiznos lunch for my sis and I
$15 - Road trip snacks
Total $28

Sat July 23

$11 Groceries
$44 Groceries
$11 Wine
Total $66

Sun July 24
$12 StitchIt to hem my pants


Mon July 25
$4.25 Starbucks
$22 Girls night at Milestones
Total $26

Tues July 26
$3 Parking
$40 Allergy Meds and random stuff at the Drug Store
Total $43

Wed July 27
$54 Gas


Thurs July 28
$37 Groceries
$47 Running Room Water Belt (after $10 discount for signing up for 1/2 Marathon)
Total $84

Weekly Total $313

Yep another epic fail in the budgeting department :(
If you are counting that now over $300 spent on running. The water belt was an extreme necessity, which proved to be very useful in my first 12K run this past Sunday.
I don't think that there is anything else that I have to buy for running. It is a very expensive venture!

In other news I am off on my road trip to NYC tomorrow and the forecast is all rain ;(. Send some positive juju my way that the bad weather blows away.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Weekly Money Check-Up: 7/25





Photo Credit

1. The most I’ve spent this last week was on groceries. It was a low spending week which was fantastic!

2. Today I am thankful to be home. To be able to sleep in my own bed and ease back into my routine.

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free thing I did last week that made me happy was doubling my traffic to this blog! I am really happy to be increasing the number of readers and I hope that you are enjoying what you are reading.

4. I will consider this week a success if I find a few secret moments to be with just myself and shut the world.


5. A good friend is
the person who is beside you in tears and laughter, in hard times and in easy ones. In sickness and in health. A good friend is someone you can drunk text instead of text the Past. You can vent no matter what and always has an eager ear to listen to you. A good friend is someone who you in turn listen to when they vent, when they are down and up and sideways.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Weekly Spending Recap Fri July 15- Thurs July 21

Fri July 15
NO Spend day!

Sat July 16
$67 Groceries
$50 Pub Night
Total $117

Sun July 17
NO Spend day!


Mon July 18
NO Spend day!


Tues July 19
NO Spend day!


Wed July 20
NO Spend day!


Thurs July 21

$13 Dinner
$3.50 Green Tea ice soda at Starbucks

+$35 for misc cash spent during the week

Weekly Total $169

This was a Great under budget week! It has been a while!
This was also my last week in Ottawa and my sis paid of most of our outside ventures ie gelato here, coffee there!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Weekly Money Check Up


Photo Credit


Brought to you by Inspiration from My Pretty Pennies


1. The most I’ve spent this last week was on Groceries. It's unbelievable how fast food goes when there are two people in one household.

2. Today I am thankful that it looks like there won't be another surprise storm and I will be able to go for my run.

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free thing I did last week that made me happy was daydreaming on my sister's balcony.
4. I will consider this week a success if I am able to still move my neck by the time I go home at the end of the week. I am truly hating sleeping on the couch!

5. My favorite cuisine to prepare is my version of French/Italian.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Isn't running supposed to be free?

And I thought running was a way to do something new and at the same time save money...

It all started with new running socks $16, as I got a giant blister from using regular sport socks. My sock injury.

So lets break it down:
$16 Nike dryfit socks.Love them by the way. My feet are very snug, supported and comfy in there.

$77 new running shoes. Asics. Actually the exact same type of shoe I already had, but they were 2 years old.
$16 a second pair of socks

$44 Running skirt (got to look good running, since I turn fire red in 5 mins, at least one part of me should be presentable)
$25 arm band to hold my blackberry during runs. This was actually really hard to find, as most arm bands are for Apple products. I lucked out at the New Balance outlet store in Ottawa. After some adjustments, I got used to using it while my Torch is safely shoved in there. The running skirt is a tiny sample sized Small! Looking at it, I can't believe my behind fits in it.

$90 ScotiaBank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon! This is the major piece, the challenge, the goal, the proof I am crazy!
My goal is to finish and I don't care how long it takes me. I hope I don't finish dead last but even if so I will be the girl who went from a none runner to a 1/2 marathoner in less then 4 months!

So if you are counting that's about $250 spent on something that was not supposed to cost me anything...

Saturday, July 16, 2011

A sign...

Be careful of what you ask for, as you may just get it.

I wrote this after last Saturday night... more like 4am Sunday Morning...
And so from the drunken chronicles
I asked for a sign...

What happens if you meet your soul mate and yet again he is married? You talk to him for over two hours, you pour your drunken soul to him and he convinces you to delete Past’s number so that you can’t text it in the next two weeks. He convinces you that you are who you are and when the one meets you he will want nothing more than who you are. To continue to follow myself even if I am over powering and strong. How did he know his wife was the one, I ask: she just was… that’s it. Nothing more. She was herself and that was what made her the one. I deleted Past’s number and I am thankful because the temptation is gone. I will not have to prove to myself every minute for the next two weeks that I am strong, I will just be, because his number is no longer available to me. He is no longer lurking in the background, a breath away, instead he is where he belongs…. In the damn past!

The married soul mate, looked at me and said how does a girl like you not have a man?.... has to look for a man online?... and a girl like you can have any man in this room. I replied as I looked into his eyes, that in fact the man I do want in this room, I cannot have. I said , if I start wanting a man he suddenly no longer wants me. He looked at me and said that’s the wrong attitude. I believe it thought. I know that a girl like me can have any man, the thing is usually the ones this girl wants, she cannot have, like this soul mate that is happily married for over 5 years. So yes, I will move on and I will be who I am because that’s who I am. I am a strong over powering woman, if I want something I don’t have the patience to wait for it, I go after it. If you are the man that is meant to be with me, you will want me flaws and all. I should stop trying to change, I should stop being afraid what you may think, because I come on too strong. After all, if you can’t handle the woman I am, you and I will never make it.
So to this perfect woman out there that holds the key to this soul mate’s heart, koodos to you woman! You are the luckiest woman in the world and I sure hope you realize what you have coming home to you. Because he is not only beautiful on the outside but incredible on the inside and he is yours, mind body and soul. He loves you for who you are and he will love you forever. You are lucky, you are perfect and you have in your hands the most incredible thing in the world: a man who is fully devoted to you and only you. Cheers to you incredible woman, I envy you and I hope you are forever the centre of his attention.

As for me, I will be who I am and always will be. I can try to change but at the end of the day, I am me. I am a strong woman who goes after what she wants; be it a thing or a man. And if you can’t handle it, that join the ever growing number of men who have made their way out the door. I will find you perfect soul mate who will want me and only me, flaws and scars and ever carefully glued back together heart! Until that day I will continue to search for you, as you are for me.

For the past few months, I have been wondering and searching of what I should be and finally I know exactly what I should be, more as in who I should be: ME. Follow my instincts and just be who I am.

God, thank you for sending me a sign tonight.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Weekly Spending Recap Fri July 8 - Thurs July 14

Fri July 8
$43 Cat food and accessories for trip

Sat July 9
$5 Tim Hortons Breakfast
$35 Night out
$9 Road trip snacks
$28 Gas
$71 Groceries
Total $148

Sun July 10

$7 Extreme Pita Lunch
$11 Glasses
$110 Running Room: New running shoes + Running socks
$75 New Balance: Running skirt + arm band for blackberry
Total $203

Mon July 11
$10 Parking at the hospital

Tues July 12
$25 Chapters
$7.5 Gelato
Total $33


Wed July 13

$3.5 Coffee
$20 Two yoga classes
Total $24

Thurs July 14

No Spend day!

Weekly Total $460

Another big spender week, mainly because of the Running equipment. I only have to book my 1/2 marathon for $80 and maybe the 10K for $85.
At the Running room I did get fitted for my running shoes and I lucked out that they were on sale for $77!

As a side note, I really truly from the bottom of my heart miss sleeping in my own bed. My back is screaming as I have been sleeping on my sis' old couch this week. Not only that the cat also tries to tuck himself in my legs while we sleep. I really want my bed!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Weekly Money Check In

as per My Pretty Pennies




1. The most I’ve spent this last week was on Running gear: new runners, socks, arm band for blackberry and running skirt.

2. Today I am thankful that my sister is having a fantastically speedy recovery from knee surgery!

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free thing I did last week that made me happy was 8km run around downtown Ottawa.

4. I will consider this week a success if I run at least two more 8km runs

5. The strangest thing I have ever eaten is
octopus.

Friday, July 8, 2011

July Goal Keeper Updates

Time for my favourite update! The Goal Keeper update!

+250 School Savings
+93 Emergency Fund
-120 Travel Fund - Plane ticket from NYC


My road trip to NYC the first weekend of August is locked and loaded. Can't wait to spend time running in Central park, getting lost in art at the museums and drinking with hanging out with MBA students and learning more about the program!

No side income yet this month, not until the end of the month. That chunk of change will be paying for my NYC trip.

My raise ended up being about $60/pay! I am rich!

Also, I just noticed that August is a 3 pay month!!!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Weekly Spending Summary Fri July 1 - Thurs July 7

I was going to skip this check in since I haven't been diligent in keeping track of spending. But I felt guilty as there was a major slip up as you will see below:

Sat June 2
56.79 Grocery
11.69 Grocery #2
Total68.48

Sun June 3
$20 Wine
$96 Aldo Shoes (2 pairs of sandals)
$34 RW& Co
$49 La Senza
$29 The Bay
Total228

Mon June 4
Money Free Day!


Tues June 5

Money Free Day!

Wed June 6

Money Free Day!
Thurs June 7

$100 Oil change and surprise air filter change
$5 Second breakfast at Tim Hortons
Total105

Weekly Total$407

*Lower head in shame.*
My slip up was due to one part anger towards my latest dating fail and one part I though I had lost all of my bras.
Let me explain, for the life of me I couldn't find where I had stashed my bras after I had done the laundry. I decided to go and buy at least 1-2 new ones and one thing led to another... New pants, new shoes etc later...

Of course, when I got home I found where I had pushed them off to the side of my bed in my attempt for a quick 'clean up' prior to a boy from failed dating attempt coming over. I will learn from my mistakes...one day soon.
Next week and month are for getting back on track with the whole I am not dating and not spending thing, right? Right!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Weekly Money Check-Up

I found this sweet way to summarize the week as I was clicking through the finance blogger universe.

Thanks to My Pretty Pennies:





1. The most I’ve spent this last week was on $250 on impromptu shopping spree...shoes, pants, bras.

2. Today I am thankful for being able to run 7km in less than 1hour this week.

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free thing I did last week that made me happy was walk around Oakville lakeshore and watch the sailboats come in.

4. I will consider this week a success if the cat and I get to Ottawa in one piece.

5. My favorite 4th 1st of July tradition is watching the fireworks. This year I was sad that I would miss them, but by some miracle they were shooting them from a park by my apartment and I could watch from my balcony!

(photo credit)

Friday, July 1, 2011

From a non runner to a 1/2 Marathoner...

I am on a new serious kick: running.
I have always wanted to be able to run, but I was never able to do it. For one I used to find it horribly boring and kinda hard. On the other hand, I have always admired runners' stamina and runners' bodies are lean and gorgeous.

I tried incorporating running in my gym workouts but it was always super hard and boring.
I joined one of the classes at the gym that's beginners 5K and runs loops around the lake in my neighborhood. My first run was 6K, the loops are 1.5km and I didn't want to do under 5K, with 5:1intervals and under 40mins. Oh I was also huffing and puffing up a storm. But I did it. First run outside and I ran over 5km and survived!
My next two runs were by myself. It's hard to motivate myself, but it was 10x easier. I even had a mind vs body struggle last Sunday, when my mind wanted to eat chocolate and nap, while my body was set on running. 5mins into my nap, I jumped out of bed and put my clothes on and went for the run. Today I ran 7km, 6:1 intervals in exactly 1hour.
I was challenged to do a 1/2 marathon in October. I believe that I will accept the challenge.
Here is why:

1. It gives me a goal and something to train for. A deadline that will mark an accomplishment! Everyone gets a medal!

2. Running is about pace. I plan on learning how to pace myself in both running and life. I tend to throw myself into things with lighting speed, hence 6km first time out. Running is to teach me about pacing myself in order to reach my goal, without it I will burn out and fail.

3. Bragging rights!

4. Runner's kick ass body ;)

5. I will learn that the process is key to the end result. I am always focused on the end and never enjoy getting there. Half the fun is supposed to be in that, right? I have no choice but go through the process patiently.

Right now my focus is to run for distance, instead of speed. I don't have a time goal, I have a goal of finishing!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

This and That

I have been blog MIA for the last little bit, and the real life peeps who read this are not letting me forget it!

So here it is, a life update:

Dating… well I am not but at the same time I have been on about 3 or so dates this month and of course 3 or so different men. Some new, some not. Again, I am not dating, just to make this clear. I am not actively out there in the trenches, but some things cannot be avoided.
My first date, as sweet as it was, was with a guy I had dated Feb to April. We ‘reconnected’ but it turned out the man had a girlfriend the whole time. That explains his less than perfect ‘attendance’ record. I found out via Facebook like a high school kid. I never add men to FB or try to dig up things on them. From now on I am full blown investigator! I don’t want an innocent face to fool me again. How does it go: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.

The second date is with this guy that is scared to make any moves. So I just enjoy watching him struggle. In my opinion, if you want something you should go and get it. Don’t have the guts to do it, ha! I will have fun with it. And I also saved $50 on a cab back from the airport, because he picked me up. I know, I am bad. But $50!

And that’s all I am saying on the dating front.


My road trip to NYC is now booked! My coworker is moving there to get her MBA at Columbia and the two of us are driving her and her worldly possessions to the City that Never Sleeps. I scored my return ticket for $110 USD from Delta, which with the favourable exchange rate is even cheaper! The rental car on the way there is $150. We are staying at her new digs, so it will be free! It’s going to be a phenomenal and super cheap trip.

I am super excited that after a crazy IKEA midnight sale experience, I scored the dresser I wanted for $89 original price $299!!! I am beyond excited for this. It comes out of my $80/month spend on whatever budget! Now I have to figure out a way to get the boxes up to my place and then put it together. Eeek!

In work news, I got a surprise raise and was told that in my level I rank in the top 10%! That's pretty major! I didn't expect it at all and it made me feel pretty smug!

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Weekly Check in Sun June 12 - Thurs June 16

I am starting on the Sunday since I did not come back from vacation until Saturday night. My spending on vacation was previously budgeted for.

Sun June 12

$57 Grocery


Mon June 13
No money day!

Tues June 14
$10 Dinner
$40 Pedicure (instead of a flower I have packman like thing puking sparkles, don't want to talk about it)
Total $50

Wed June 15
$60 Gas+lottery ticket
$12 Lunch
$25 Grocery
Total $97

Thurs June 16
$10 contribution to baby shower gift for coworker
$5 Lunch
Total $15

Weekly Total $219

I thought that I would be under budget this week, this is why writing everything down comes in handy.

I had to put close to $1K on my credit card for professional dues this week, it should be reimbursed to me by my company. Hoping it will be pretty soon!

I have decided to start using my PC Mastercard for purchases going forward. The deal with myself is that I will pay it off weekly. I created an on-line account and can keep track of it. It used to be that if it went on my Cr Card I forgot it happened. Now it will be tracked and I will take advantage of the points! If I do not follow my rules I will stop using it.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Goal Keeper Updates!

I love it when it is mid month and I get to update my progress! Mid month pay cheque is all about bill payment and savings!

+720 Side Income
+250 Savings for School
+93 Emergency fund
+185 Travel fund


I found an extra $185 in my account left over from the last 2 weeks since I was away traveling and so it moves to the newly created Travel fund! There is a possibility that I will be going to NYC or LA or both in 2 months and I have to really try to find some extra cash for that. Both are really cheap opportunities to travel and I really want to take advantage of them.

As a side note my last Bell Canada bill came in and they are charging me for service I didn't have plus installations that didn't happen. I will have to spend hours on the phone with them today ;(

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Hello from Europe!

I forgot to mention that I will be in Europe for the next week and a half. I am actually here, sitting the kitchen I grew up in, working away in the exact place I ate every meal for years!
I saw my little brother get married today.
I wish him love and happiness!

I am also extremely jet lagged, even though I can hardly keep my eyes open, I cannot sleep. I get jet lagged like this when I come home from Europe, but not the opposite as it is happening now.

I hope tonight I am able to sleep, since I am keeping myself awake as much as possible.

Goodbye for now and will posts updates when I get home!

Monday, May 30, 2011

I like everything about me!

This kid has the right idea, 3 cheers for daily affirmations and feeling good about your own life!

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Weekly Check in Fri May 20 - Thurs May 26

Fri May 20
$15 Lunch
$9 Pasta sale at work
$45 Hair colour
Total $69

Sat May 21
$24 Drug Store (purchase was $34 but I cashed in $10 of points) bought bronzer lotions
$25 Night out
$28 Credit card purchase from Night out... I bought two rounds of drinks for my friend and I. Very odd behavior on my part since I never use my cr card at a club.
Total $77

Sun May 22
$47.65
$26
Total $74

Mon May 23
Money Free Day!

Tues May 24

Money Free Day!

Wed May 25
70 Spa
$30 Dinner Date - He paid for the driving range, I insisted on paying for the drinks and nachos
Total $100


Thurs May 26


Money Free Day!

Weekly Total $320
I also made an extra $40 this week designing and making my coworker's wedding earrings and necklace.

Again I have to say the best thing to do is to write all purchases down. I was sure I had a cheap week, but then I forgot my beutification treatments oooops!

Saturday, May 28, 2011

I joined Match.com and ended up with a disappointed heart

Oh how I jinxed myself with this Post

I finally thought I was about to meet THE ONE and then I thought I did.
But in fact, I did not.

The one will be able to get through my hard outer shell and be actually willing to crack the 'hard nut' that I am.
Yes I have walls and yes I don't wear my emotions on my sleeve. That's who I am and it took me a long time to understand myself and thus it will take you longer than ONE date to figure me out. I am not someone with a few easy breezy layers, the woman I am runs deep and with every layer you get through you will realize there are 10 more and 11 after that.

So now, I am planning a dating detox.

Yes, as my friends have pointed out, yes I do say this all the time. But now it is real. I am not interested in looking, talking or engaging in any other activity with members of the opposite sex. (my male friends are of course not included in this as they are not part of the 'male' population to me, they are just wonderful souls). I am done.

In the past 3 years that I have been 'single', I have always been either talking, meeting, knowing, about to meet, about to talk to and looking for men. And even if I have had a day or two of no such activity, that is when it is most likely that something will jump into my life. And likely it won't be one something but at least three somethings.

So now my friends, I will not walk into a room and immediately scan it for prospects, I will dance on a dance floor without seeing the men staring at me calculating their next move, I will not check my phone like a maniac and most importantly I will give myself peace.

And don't say, things happen when you least expect them, because my friends I have been least expecting to find love for a long time!


as a side note, I have lots of material for my 'book' based on this last experience!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Weekly Check in Fri May 13 - Thurs May 19

Fri May 13
$30 Winners - Decorative/storage boxes for my bookcase
$40 Jacob - Two summer sweaters for work
Total $70

Sat May 14
$90 Pier 1 - $40 clock and $40 heart shaped book ends
$31 Walmart - Flowers for my balcony, facewash
Total $121

Sun May 15
$56 Groceries

Mon May 16

$20 Laundry card refill

Tues May 17
$8 Lunch - the soup I had frozen looked really nasty and I couldn't make myself eat it
$28 Dinner with my vball team
$23 Shirt from SmartSet
Total $59

Wed May 18
$54 Gas
$11 Drug Store
Total $65

Thurs May 19

$45 Some frozen pizza, sunscreen, vitamins

Weekly Grand Total $436
Less the $80/month I put aside for random spending, ie the home decor items

Weekly Grand Total $356


I thought that I actually had a pretty good week, until I added it up and now it is not making me feel good at all.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

The grocery bill challenge...

Since I have been spending crazy money on my groceries, I am going to start tracking and figuring out what is behind the $95/ week bill. And because I am a geek deep down to the core, I have a handy dandy Excel chart going ;)

This week I didn't buy any ingredients for cooking since I am going to use meals I have frozen in the last few weeks for lunch. For dinner it will be grilled chicken and salad for most part. This week's bill was $58. My goal is to be around this number weekly.

Grocery Bill May 15 2011

Monday, May 16, 2011

Goal Keeper

Have you notice my handy dandy Goal Keeper section?
I can now visually track my progress! I just updated the totals with

+$250 School Savings
+$94 Emergency Fund Savings

I like to see the little numbers grow!
Even though I have a chunk of dept weighting me down, it is nice to also have a mini chunk of change going positive!
Who am I kidding, nice... IT'S FANTASTIC!

Right now, instead of transferring the monthly contributions into a savings account, I am keeping track and depositing them into my credit line. This way I am saving on interest, since the interest saved is higher than the interest earned would be. At the end of the year I plan to transfer the School portion into my RRSP where the rest of the money is sitting. I may make a few lump sum transfers during the year, but I have decided yet. For right now it makes sense to me.

Goal keepers to come:

% of debt repaid
Travel Fund

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Spending Recap Fri May 6 - Thurs May 12

Fri May 6

$15 Grocery

Sat May 7

$29 Second City Show
$20 Drinks and Parking
Total $ 49

Sun May 8
$95 Grocery
$11 Wine
Total $ 106


Mon May 9

Money Free Day!

Tues May 10
$25 Lunch with work group
$37 Grocery
Total $ 62

Wed May 11
$10 Cat Food
$7 Lunch with work group
Total $ 17

Thurs May 12

Money Free Day!

Weekly Total $ 249

Again over budget :(
But do you notice ... no Starbucks!!! I actually went 3 times this week but did not buy coffee! Instead drank the work version.

I had to have lunch out with my work group twice this week. The $25 lunch should have been max $15 as I selected a sandwich, but they decided to split the bill evenly between all of us. This is not acceptable since most people had fantastic salmon and I had a dry veal parm sandwich in an attempt to keep my bill low. Because it was work I couldn't raise a stink about it.
That grocery bill is out of hand. This week, I scored a whole bunch of food from work when they cleaned the sales fridges and also have a week's worth of lunches from food I have cooked in the last few weeks. Hopefully I will be buying just salad and snacks for this week.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

New Workout Schedule.

New Workout Schedule.
Sadly Volleyball league is over and my team is not available for the next session. I am really hopeful that we start again after this break. I am getting exponentially better and don't want to loose momentum.

New Schedule:

Monday - Hot Yoga - Remember that Dealfind.com coupon I bought months ago, I am still using it and will probably for another 2 mos. Because I go regularly they will let me use it for longer than the 3 mos limit!

Tues - 6am weights

Wed - Yoga (my gym is also organizing a beginner running club which will be right before this)

Thurs - 6am weights

Fri - Boot camp cardio

Sat - Circuit

Sun - Rest

This will be my schedule until I come back from Europe and/ or come back from taking care of my Sis after her surgery end of July.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Error Error!

Must remember when I put something on my credit card I don't count it towards my spending limit as I don't immediately see it!

Must add $60 to Fri April 29 for Match.com ....how can I forget... after all I should have fallen in love already....

$229+$65= $334 and yes I can't remember if it was $60 or $65... lets not discuss this point.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Weekly Check in April 29 - May 6

Friday April 29
$7 Starbucks
$15 Night Out
Total $22

Saturday April 30

Money Free Day!

Sunday May 1
$95 Grocery
$58 Gas
Total $153


Monday May 2
Money Free day!

Tuesday May 3
$7 Starbucks
$8 Lunch
Total $15


Wednesday May 4
$8 Grocery
$4 Starbucks
Total $12

Thursday May 5
$11 Jacob
$15 Dessert
Total $26

Weekly Total $228

$28 Over budget. I partially blame the gas prices, the same tank of gas cost me $38 3 months ago.
I also did a bit of shopping and proudly walked out with only $11 worth of items!
Yes I should be watching that Starbucks bill, but I need to escape from the office and going for a coffee is a good excuse.
Also my grocery bill for one person is through the roof, $95! I have to figure out how to lower this.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Enough already!

It doesn’t end!
I received my Bell bill that for the period ending May 31st yesterday and today I called them to figure out how much I owe them so that I don’t overpay. I imagine the headache of getting my money back will be even more horrendous.

After 45 mins on hold before I could speak to the Billing department, I finally got through to someone who told me my services were not canceled. WHAT. Not until this Sat and there is a 30day notice period. THE CABLES ARE GONE FROM THE BUILDING, YOU CANNOT CHARGE ME FOR SERVICE YOU CANNOT PROVIDE ME WITH.

Count to ten slowly and breathe.

They didn’t have a record of it since it is another department that dealt with it. But aren’t you Billing?

After a long back and forth, they told me not to pay the bill until I get the final bill next month. At that point whatever I had agreed to with the other agent should show up there. I am sure I will be on the phone with them for hours and days again. I can’t think about it anymore. In the famous words of Scarlett O’Hara “feedly dee I will think about it tomorrow” or in my case in a month.

I discovered yesterday that one of my issues with helping myself to unsecured internet will be doing my banking. I really should not trust that kind of transactions to random networks. This is key for me and I don’t feel comfortable doing it at work either.

So, I cracked and called Rogers.

They were very nice and quick. My appointment is for this Sunday and the appointment window is from 11-2 instead of 12-5 with Bell and a 3 week wait for a weekend appointment.

I ordered the Express. It will be $46.99 + $5.50 for the box. 5% bundle discount on both my internet and wireless! And it is free for the first 3 months with a 1 year contract. Woop!

Now, should I sign up with NetFlix?

It’s a bit funny that my new TV is string at me like a giant black hole now that I have nothing to use it for, apart from a giant computer screen.

So to NetFlix or not to NetFlix?

Thursday, May 5, 2011

I joined Match.com and fell in love...

Well no!
hahaha got you!

After a few Sundays on my couch watching a brain wash of girly TV, well more like girly commercials, I decided to check out Match.com. Before I knew what was happening, I had my credit card in my hand and boom bam I clicked submit. 3 months for $60. It is almost cheaper than a night at a club.

If you have read my review of internet dating sites you know that I prefer paid sites over the free ones, it keeps the rif-raft out. For the same reason I would rather pay $25 cover at a club than walk in for free.

I decided on Match.com over eHarmony.com this time around, mainly because I have been on eH for a few years on and off and the results have been semi ok at times. Again the perfect eH date of all night gigles does not mean you also want to jump across the table and tackle the person. Let's be honest I am kind of looking for that.

Lately my dates have been either great convo no jumping or jumping no convo.
Now will the man that can balance the two be on Match.com?

No idea but lets see how this shakes out, shall we?

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Extra $93/month

How can I spend an extra $93/month, let me count the ways! And of them is definitely not paying Bell Canada for their horrendous internet and cable service.

5 days without service, 5 days of being on the phone with them for over 1.5hours each time, I had enough and cancelled my services with them.

Now, the challenge begins!

The cable will be easy, paying about $50/month for the random 5hours a week that I may watch TV is useless. I think I will survive without it!

The internet, well that's a whole other story. I spend entirely too much time on my computer. This will actually be really good for me. 8 hours a day at work followed by 3 hours at home on a computer can't be good for me.
Here is the plan:
All coffee shops have internet. I can plan my use and go to one to download my work, etc.
There is a unsecured wireless network in my building, which I have been using for the last 5 days. I can occasionally pop in on it, like now.

I want to see if I can do this until the end of July. That's about $200 of savings! At that point I may connect my internet again. It will definitely not be with Bell.

Wish me luck!
Many friends don't believe I can last more than a few days. I can do it, I have my sneaky ways!

I feel like I am going back into medieval times!

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Weekly Spending Recap Fri April 22 - Thurs April 28

Fri April 22
$2 Starbucks treat ( I had 3 giant coffees for free on account of Earth day)
$25 Night out
Total $27

Sat April 23
$75 Grocery
$14 Paris Travel Guide
$30 Night out
$9 Grocery
Total $128

Sun April 24

Money Free day!

Mon April 25

$38 Gas

Tues April 26
$5 Bubble Tea

Wed April 27
$20 Potluck purchase
$5 Second Breakfast at TimHortons
$6 Parking
$27 Gas
Total $58

Thurs April 28

$6 Lyndt Chocolate Bunnies ;)

Weekly Total $262

$62 over :(

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Trip to Europe is Paid!

Wooohooo!

$1,425 - Plane Ticket = $1,000 Tax refund + $425 should have been savings
$279 Paris hotel for 3 nights = Extra side income
$560 Spending Money = Extra side income

We, hopefully, won't need to much spending money for 7 out of 11 days of the trip since we will be with family.

I am thinking around $100/day * 3.5 days in Paris should be around $350 which should be ok.

Love the fact that the trip is pre-paid!!!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Weekly Spending Recap Fri April 15 - Thurs April 21

Fri April 15
$ 20 Sushi Lunch

Sat April 16

$73 Grocery

Sun April 17
$41 Gas

Mon April 18

Money Free day!

Tues April 19

$15 Sushi Dinner
$6 After Volleyball Bubble tea with the team
Total $21

Wed April 20

Money Free Day!

Thurs April 21

$10 Lunch
$5 Starbucks
$14 Grocery
$36 Liquor store
$15 Godiva Chocolate Covered Strawberries ;)
$10 Drinks
Total $90

Weekly Total $245

Yes there was a bit of a spend craziness on Thursday. It was partially in prep for the long weekend and partially not being able to resist.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

New Dating Rules

I have been thinking and one of my New Year's resolutions was to change how I approach dating.
Yes I realize it is now mid April, better late than never....

1. I will not go out with a man unless he asks me out first.

2. I will not go out with a man who does not call/show up when he says he will.

3. I will not go out with a man who does not ask me out on a real date by the 2nd conversation. I will not be his phone/text/BBM buddy.

4. I will not date a man who makes me wonder if he is into me.

5. I will not date a man who is not fully available (married, in a relationship etc)

6. I will not expect a man to 'wake up' and realize what he has missed out on and contact me a month/year after the last time I heard from him.

7. I will not be afraid to ask: " So what are we exactly doing here?"

8. I will not be afraid to walk away from a man who only feels like a booty call.

9. I will work on the 'relationship' before I jump into a physical relationship.

10. I will try to follow the above rules at all time.

Friday, April 15, 2011

No buyer's remorse.

I have been MIA for the last few weeks, sorting myself out. One I was busy, two I was not in the best of moods to put my thoughts into writing that the world can see.

Some news.

After much debate and planning I purchased a new 42 inch TV and Blu-ray surround sound system.
Damage $840
Justification: My DVD player officially broke, ie wouldn't stay on. I was looking at $79 blu-ray players when I was told that there wouldn't be much fun on my 16yr old tube TV. I knew this was coming. My good friend and IT manager at my previous work volunteered himself to do all of the research, 2 hrs of bargaining down the price and installation of the new system.

Conclusion: I love it! I can now see the full image instead of only 1/3 of programming!


and:

I am writing to you from a brand new Dell laptop.
Damage: $568
Justification: I need it! My good old 6 year old laptop, lovingly nicknamed the Dinosaur by the above mentioned IT manager, was no longer cutting it for me. One it is super slow, so slow I didn't know how slow it was until I started using this one!
It makes angry noises at me whenever I make it think too hard.
Also, I want portability. The old one is a giant and super heavy.
Now that I am doing extra work I need to be able to take my computer with me outside my home and work in a coffee shop or the library. This baby is 14inches and super light.
Also, I will need to take it with me to Europe. Right before I leave, I will receive another assignment and I will not be able to finish it in time prior to leaving. I can't do 8days worth of work in 3. Actually that paycheck will be what will pay for this purchase.

I got paid today and paid off my entertainment system! I don't see it as a setback I see it as making myself happy and my home enjoyable. Now that I have given up on the home-ownership thing in the next year, I need to jazz this place up a bit.

Nothing left to buy for now!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Who pays for the date?

Who pays for the date?

I have had this little discussion with a few friends, either in the dating game and ones already shackled down, “Who pays for the date?”

Even in our ever so forward women power society the answer was unanimous “He Does!”

Really?

Here is the thing, I feel extremely uncomfortable whenever someone else pays for me. It doesn’t matter if it is a friend, a family member or a date. It doesn’t matter if it is for my birthday or just because, I feel uncomfortable. I have fought over the bill with friends who have insisted on paying. But friends and family are easy, I will return the favor for certain.

What about at a club?

To be honest I feel uncomfortable when a man buys me a drink at a club. I always feel like I owe him $7 worth of time. If I like you, I will talk to you. You do not need to buy my attention. It is nice, really nice, but I feel it makes the ‘conversation’ forced. And believe me it also offends men, when I refuse to let them buy me a drink. It may be perceived as rejection.

What about on a first date?

This is kind of iffy. This is where I slip a bit and kind of think that the guy should be in charge of financing the first date. I don’t know why but I do. Oh and of course I offer to split the bill every single time. I am fully willing to pay my share, even more so if I know there won’t be a second date.

What about date 2+?

We are now talking relationship. Well anything past 3 dates is like a long term relationship in my books given my track record.
This is where I can’t accept anything but pulling my own weight. I feel that we should alternative. And it could be as simple as one of us cooking a nice dinner or picking up the movie tickets. I have to contribute. I become extremely uncomfortable if I don’t. I don’t think it is fair and my strong beliefs in equality kick in. It is at this point that I differ from the people I had my discussions with. Even if I can’t afford it, I still have to be on equal grounds.

Now if he is a millionaire, well pick up the tab please! And I may just order the best thing on the menu!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Weekly Re-cap Fri Mar 18 to Thurs Mar 24

Fri Mar 18
Grocery $26.76

Sat Mar 19

$40 Wine and Cheese Show
$26.73 Drinks
$54.56 Gas
Total:$121.29

Sun Mar 20

$68.81 Grocery
$16.49 Drug Store
Total:$85.30

Mon Mar 21
Money Free Day!

Tues Mar 22

$5.70 Coffee and Chocolate macaroon.
$469.07 Shopping
Total:$474.77

Wed Mar 23

$10.19 Grocery

Thurs Mar 24

Money Free Day!
Weekly Total:$718.31

I Almost Quit...

I almost quit.

I got really frustrated yesterday after I added up all of the debt I owe. I felt extremely sad as I saw my homeownership dream evaporate and going back to school seem like a dream.
Mainly now that I will not be able to earn the side income I was hoping to in 2011.
Mainly because I am very tired.
I couldn’t sleep last night thinking about it. I had to really push myself to believe that I will be ok.
I feel like I am in a deeper mess than I should be in. I feel like I am spinning my wheels and worse that I am going backwards.

The main reason is that I am trying to do three things at once. Get out of debt, save for a home and save for school. This is in my nature to have absolutely no patience and push for everything now. This is really wearing me down right now.

I got very mad and decided that I was going to stop. Stop everything. Stop writing about it. Give up. I am just not getting anywhere.

I took a deep breath and prepared my budget once again. I felt that once again I am setting myself up for failure. I narrowed down to two goals: debt reduction and school.

I had to take a pill to calm me down so that I could sleep.

This morning I decided to be down to one goal and that is debt reduction.

I have a new budget. A new budget that puts money to savings RRSP (slowly building up my saving towards school) and putting money away for things I want to do: travel, classes and the rest goes to debt. One focus. One step at a time. I will try to employ the method of paying the lowest balance first and rolling it over to the next highest balance. This way I will see progress faster and actually feel like I am accomplishing something.

The new budget does not include the side income I am pulling in right now, which means it will be the cherry on top. Allowing me to spend on ‘life’ or throw towards debt depending on what I have on my plate at that time.

The only thing I am not going to do is map it out to see how long it will take me to finish. I can’t look at how long that timeline is, I am going to focus on it one month at a time for now.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

When life hands you lemons, decide eat a fresh croissant in Paris.

And so I run into another setback, this time instead of a $400 setback it is a close to $8,000.

As you may recall, I was to make an extra $6K or so as side income in the upcoming months. This will now be replaced by a trip to Europe to see my baby brother get married. Estimated trip cost $2,000. Total damage to my condo / dept repayment plan $8,000. Estimated set back to achieving dream of home ownership and going back to school: one year and two years respectively.

The good news, as I have been very diligent with my spending and saving, I will be able to go on this trip without borrowing. Of course, this uses up my $1,000 traveling fund + $300 of the money I was supposed to save this month. Not to mention that I will need another $700 or so for 3 nights hotel in Paris (  ) and spending money + wedding gift.
Since this is a complete surprise and the wedding is June 4th, I will not be able to give my brother a fantastic wedding gift worthy of a little brother, but it will be something of a more last-minute-I-don’t-approve-of-this- and –don’t-have-cash size. To be determined.

I am choosing to see this as a good thing.

1. Since the lay over for the flights is in Paris, my sister and I will spend 4 days there on the way back. I have never been to Paris, and it is on my list of 50 places to visit this lifetime. So far I have only been to 4/50. Since Paris is the city of love, a part of me wanted to save it for a romantic trip, but it looks like my sis and I will once again be going on our honeymoons together. Last year we visited Italy, and decided we were on our honeymoons as Italy is the top honeymooner choice.

2. I need a break. Correction, I am in a desperate need of a break. Perhaps this is a divine intervention to show me that I should in fact take a break and not work 12 hour days for 2 weeks on my vacation. This is the only way I could possibly go on vacation this year feeling guilt free.

After two days of deep deep anger I have finally come out of it and feel happy for the kid and excited to see Paris!

Ps. I will have to redo my budget for the next 2 years. But it goes to show you, you can plan and plan and still end up somewhere completely differently than you ever imagined. Ie in Paris drinking a cappuccino and eating a freshly baked croissant. Things can be worse.

Monday, March 21, 2011

The long awated shopping spree!

What a feeling to allow myself to spend money on clothes! To browse and know that I have the money to spend on clothes!
As I had mentioned previously, I was in a desperate need to re-vamp my work wardrobe, primarily the pants department.
It turns out that there is a reason why I had to tuck in my shirts in my pants for months to prevent them from falling down...I have gone down from size 5/7 to size 2.
This of course is done in a healthy way, I watch what I eat (mostly, with the exception of a treat here and there) and I workout regularly. I would say physically my lifestyle is pretty healthy!

Now are you ready... remember the budget was $300. Goal was 5 pairs of pants and a refresh of the bra department and workout shorts.

Day 1.

1st pair of pants $18.74 + sunglasses $15 = including tax $34.74

2nd pair of pants $9.99 = Including tax $11.29

*** I only went to the sale racks I did not allow myself to shop in the regular price section***

Day 2.

$ 44.64 La Senza

3rd and 4th pair of pants $39.95 each = including tax $90.29

and now this is were I went off the plan...

I was walking to Zellers to see if I can find some workout shorts.

I walked into le Chateau and fell in love with a beautiful dress. I picked up a size Small and thought it it fit we were meant to be. It fit! It melted and hugged me. It fit like it was made for me. The price tag $169.95.

Take breath.


I bought it.

I will be wearing it at my brother's wedding in June. The dress I planned to wear is now a bit too big for me. I was going to make it work anyway until I met this dress. It is by far the most expensive dress I have ever bought. Lets not talk about it anymore.

I walked into Zellers as the original plan. I found a pair of shorts for $24.97 perfect for Hot Yoga and volleyball and also luggage $61.25 (on sale from $175).
Luggage is for Europe and any other trips I take this year.

GRAND TOTAL...(I am scared to add it up)

$470.43

and I forgot I had to get all 4 pairs of pants shortened....$44.67

Again: Grand total $515.10

Actually it isn't as bad as I thought.

Of this I have already paid $296.03 (funny that this is actually the original budget amount). I owe myself (and the credit card company) $219.07 by the end of the month. I will have to do a bit of a shift here and there but I can do it. I had actually overpaid the credit card by more than I thought so I think it will work out.

Now I can't wait to pick up my size 2 pants!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Weekly Spending Re-cap Fri Mar 11 - Thurs Mar 17

Fri Mar 11

$6.95 Starbucks

Sat Mar 12

$103.67 Grocery

Sun Mar 13

$14.72 Grocery
$19.90 Wine
Total $34.62

Mon Mar 14

$6.84 Starbucks

Tues Mar 15

$6.20 Dinner on the go
$5.59 Bubble tea
$10 Gas
Total $21.79

Wed Mar 16

Money Free day!

Thurs Mar 17

$46 2 pairs of pants and sunglasses
$20 Sushi lunch
Total $41.79

Weekly Total $239.87


This week is technically under budget, I received my Tax refund and the Thursday shopping is part of the shopping I budgeted for (I will recap later, the rest of my shopping spree).

Friday, March 18, 2011

Hot Yoga is damn Hot

My workout schedule starting mid March is as follows:

Mon – Hot Yoga
Tues – Volleyball
Wed – Yoga
Thurs – Weights /Break
Fri – Weights / Boot camp Cardio / Volleyball drop in
Sat – Circuit weights
Sun – Break!

Recently I scored a $20 pass for 20 Hot yoga classes at Birth Yoga Studio through Dealfind. I decided this was a great chance to try something new, my photography class was ending and I had my Monday nights free again. Missing my Wednesday yoga class really made me want to add more yoga to my routine.

About the studio:
I felt that the yoga studio is pretty small, but the only reference I have is my mega giant gym. It is very clean and the hot room is hot. The hot room has a very unique smell to it, perhaps from the people that have been in there dripping like mad or the actual heaters. The class can hold about 12 students. I have a pet peeve that there aren’t any mirrors on the walls. I am used to being able to see myself and correct my poses. On the other hand, I don’t know if I want to see myself red faced and sweating. The flow class was intermediate/ beginner and the instructor was fairly good.

After two classes, I can tell you that it is damn hot! I don’t do well physically in hot humid weather and I knew this will be an extreme challenge. I was ready to faint, be sick to my stomach or any other equally embarrassing and gross thing to happen. In my first class, I quickly discovered that my body could and did stretch further and my practice was easier. I also found out that water can come out of every pore of my body.

The second class was harder. I am convinced that it was hotter in the room. I also forgot to bring a hair tie to tie my hair back and was fighting with it the whole class ( I was later told that they have hair ties available). My head was spinning and my body was rebelling. It took me good 15mins before I was ready to leave the studio and head for my car. I closed the door to my car and it was fogged up by my body heat in less than 3 seconds! There are no adequate shower facilities at this small studio and since it is a 5 min drive from my wonderful shower, I had to trek out dripping and boiling.

The part that I fell in love with was the deep meditative state it put me in. My only focus was to survive the hour. My brain blacked out and I was deep into my practice. I have been in the search of something that would help my ever wondering brain shut down and this is it. I was fully in the moment.

Conclusion: I hate it and I love it, both with equal intensity.

As a side note, I definitely need to invest in a pair of yoga shorts. My workout capris are just way too hot. Shorts will also be good for Volleyball as well.


As a second note: After I finish my hot yoga pass, I will be moving onto trying out rock climbing (indoor and outdoor), swimming lessons (I want to be able to go scuba diving), cardio pole dancing, running and whatever else catches my attention.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Spending recap - Fri March 4 - Thurs March 10

Fri Mar 4

$40 Hair Cut
$80 Massage - will be reimbursed
$120 Grocery
Total $240 without Massage $160

Sat Mar 5

Money Free Day!

Sun Mar 6

Money Free Day!

Mon Mar 7

$6.53 Light bulbs and a chocolate bar

Tues Mar 8

Money Free Day!

Wed Mar 9

$7.90 Dinner
$15 - Raptors game Ice cream and GO bus
Total $22.90

Thurs Mar 10

$4.15 Starbucks

Grand Total 193.58

Another week under budget!!!
I am not counting the massage.
I went to my first sporting event, the Raptors game, on Wednesday. My company had a platinum box and after paying $6.50 for an ice cream we found out that we can get it for free. And we got another cone and popcorn and beer and M&Ms.
I need to work on my grocery bill, for a single person I spend a lot. This week it included a $30 cast iron pan, but still it is high.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Weekly Check -in Feb 25- Mar 4

Fri Feb 25
Money Free Day!

Sat Feb 26

$15 Night out for my Birthday

Sun Feb 27
$6.98 Post Office
$35.63 Groceries
Total $42.61

Mon Feb 28

Money Free Day!

Tues Mar 1

$11.08 Mac Blush (+$20 from a Xmas gift card)
$55.70 Gas
Total $66.78


Wed Mar 2

$4.56 Tim Hortons
$19.90 Wine
Total $24.46

Thurs Mar 3

$400 Car Scratch repair - Money from savings ;(

Grand Total $148.85
Grand Total with car $548.85

Overall, without the car repair, this was a below budget week!

Saturday, March 5, 2011

* Tax Refund DANCE*

Wooohooo taxes are filed and my bank account is waiting!

Happy to report that I will be getting back just over $2,000 this year!!!

And of course I have a plan for that money, that was made ages ago. One day I hope to run into money that I don't have a plan for or have already spent...

The master plan!

- $700 right back into the RRSP
- $300 shopping!!! I have been wearing extremely stretched out pants for a while and with my workouts my body has changed. Time for new pants. 5 to be exact! A few other items have to be refreshed as well which means I will be very very careful in making my dollars stretch
- $1,000 into emergency and travel fund. I am hoping to go to Las Vegas and Miami this year and this covers the trip expenses. Still have to start saving for spending money.

Basically, hello money and goodbye money!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Weekly Check in Feb 18 - Feb 24

Fri Feb 18
$9.92 Shoppers - not sure what I bought actually...
$22.24 Dinner
$32.16 Total
Sat Feb 19
Sun Feb 20
Mon Feb 21

The Weekend in Ottawa cost me in total $80. This includes gas and a few meals out as well as a night out dancing. It would have been a lot more if my sister had not paid for my dinner on Sat night as my Birthday gift
Tues Feb 22
$52.02 Gas
$5.65 Lunch
$32.77 Lulu Lemon *
$39.54 Browns Shoes
$39.72 Grocery
$169.7 Total

Wed Feb 23

$55 Spa***

Thurs Feb 24
$40.32 Grocery
$20 Dinner
$20 Dealfind deal on 20 drop in classes for Hot yoga **
$80.32 Total

$407.26 Week Grand Total

* I was stuck at the mall for half hour on Tues and did a bit of damage. I found some great deals actually. I really needed a new sports bra and I found one at the lulu lemon clearance rack! Also, I finally found my Shiny Disco ball shoes, can't go wrong for $130 shoes for less than $30!
** This will be great to add to my workout schedule and it is $1 per class for the next 20 weeks!

*** Technically I am not sure if I should include this. I actually purchased $150 worth of gift certificates for $120 to the spa I go to for massages and beautification. When I was paying my bill it turned out I had $55 credit from before. My massages get reimbursed and thus I am not counting it.

Now to be honest looking at the week as a total of $407 actually hurts. I didn't think I spent that much until I added it up.

Weekly Check in Feb 11 - Feb 17

Fri Feb 11

$18 Lunch
$10 Volleball Drop In
$28 Total

Sat Feb 12
$53.89 Grocery
$100 Restock on all of my beauty/ hair supplies
$153.89 Total

Sun Feb 13

Money Free Day!

Mon Feb 14

Money Free Day!

Tues Feb 15

$4.15 Latte
$3.99 Milk
$8.14 Total

Wed Feb 16
$4.15 Latte
$21.70 Art Supplies
$25.85 Total


Thurs Feb 17

$5.59 Latte


$221.47 Weekly Grand Total


Overall, I am really proud of myself here, I spent a lot getting my toiletries in order, but I didn't spend on anything extra during the week.
As a side note, I really wanted to cut down on coffee but I have actually graduated to drinking Venti sized lattes. Major step back.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Very very true!

For your Sat night entertainment.


Source: Found on an online friend's Blog

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Birthdays

Birthdays are expensive!



It’s not the ‘it’s my birthday so I will dance’ celebrations that get you but the unfortunate government related paperwork that goes with that special day. This by the way gets less and less special by the year.



1. Renew car sticker – there goes $75 and if your car is older and born on an odd year top it up with another $50 for an E-test. My car is a 2010, basically I spent $30K to save $50. Lets not talk about it.
2. Renew driver’s license… another $75 boom gone. Luckily it only happens once every 4 years.
3. Renew Health card – oh this is free! But the line ups are long enough to make you wish you paid and got to the front of the line faster
4. Of course, you cannot not (sorry for the double negative) buy yourself something really really nice. Perhaps two somethings. You can of course imagine that next week I will be indulging in the purchase of a pair of disco ball shiny shoes and nice long awaited visit to the Spa.
5. The party. There is always some kind of unexpected expense related to this. Not naming names or describing events to protect the innocent.



Happy Birthday my fellow Pisces!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Tax Time!


It’s that special time of year: Tax Time! NETFILE is open for business!
For many it is a dreaded time but for me it is time to start the tax refund dance!

Perhaps, if I did not have tuition credits, RRSP contribution and OSAP loan interest to deduct I may be dreading this as well.

This is also personal accountants most favourite and most hated time of the year. Many of us will walk, no run, to tax booths set up in malls much like during Christmas time gift wrapping booths are over crowded. Those smartie-pants accountants are going to be working long hours but also laughing all the way to the bank as they cash their hard earned cheques!

I am fortunate enough that thanks to my education, I can sincerely say that I know a bit about what I am doing and can handle my taxes thank- you- very- much!

I still choose to use a handy dandy software to help me along the way.

My choice for years now has been Turbo Tax Standard Canada, aka Quick tax.


Here is why?

1. I am lazy and I don’t want to have to look up my SIN and postal code(I actually know it, but typing it out involves too much work), I can easily transfer last year’s tax refund info to the new year. I click on a button and there it is, ready to go! Last year I used Quick Tax and their website assures me that Turbo will manage just fine to transfer my info.

2. Thanks to the twitter world, I found out that last week the software was on sale at Walmart and I picked it up for $28.99. My sister and I will share it and split the cost. Also, as we can file up to eight, >$25K income returns, we will try to share it with another friend or two to keep costs down.

3. It asks my simple questions and I answer them (well duh!). The guide is very simple to use and the questions are usually yes/no and multiple choice, allowing you to quickly navigate through the forms that apply to you. Have I mentioned, that I like easy?

4. I love the little chart in the corner showing my how my return is growing with every click. Now this applies to me right now, I will probably bear my teeth at it if it was going in the red.

5. RRSP optimizer! If you are prepared, and basically your employer sent you your T4 forms prior to the March 1st RRSP deadline, you can play with this tool to optimize your RRSP investment and tax return. This is a great tool if you are planning on taking out a short term RRSP loan to optimize your contribution. Again, it is a bit time sensitive depending on whether or not you have all of your ducks in a row early enough.

6. There are some audit guarantee and technical support options. If you need it, it is there. I haven’t personally used it, but it’s good to have the option.

7. The final check always finds one or two ways to optimize my return and makes sure I have filled out all of the forms. No thinking involved.

8. Three clicks and it is sent to the Tax man! I love the paperless and instant gratification of uploading my return. I don’t have to worry about it being lost in the mail and then waiting for it to be processed in Tax land. I also have the automatic deposit option and basically cash in my account in about two weeks. Bang Bang, thank you m’am!

One pet peeve, I can never find the form to input the rent I paid during the year. After a bit of searching it is generally easy to find.

Hopefully you are all finding an easy option to file your returns and are doing the happy-tax-refund dance with me!

How do you file? Paper and pen? Accountant? Software?


Ps. this is my personal opinion on the software of my choice.

Friday, February 11, 2011

The importance of an emergency fund...

or goodbye new TV...
This week, I learned a valuable lesson: An emergency fund is crucial to one's financial life. Basically, having $60 of forgotten money is not going to get you anywhere in an emergency. When did an emergency ever only cost $60?

I had a very bad week.
It started with a trip to the dentist, after which I found myself swollen like a chipmunk and holding a bill for $160.
My dental benefits failed me here.
Something about the dentist using a fancier filling?!.
My old company's benefits would have fully covered this. My new benefits may say 100% but they mean 70%. Next time, before they do any craziness in my mouth, everything will go through the insurance company first and if they have to use the normal, not fancy fillings, they will use those.

After this, I found myself in a bit of a medical emergency which resulted in a $45 ambulance bill, $15 hospital parking and then $400 scratch on my car.
After my hospital visit, I was not well enough to drive my car, but I did. I needed groceries and in the parking lot I miss judged my size vs. a tiny parking space and the scratch happened. In over 10 years of driving this is the first time I have done something like this. The scratch is minimal, but my brand new shiny car cannot stay like this. It is driving me crazy and I will get it fixed on Mar 2. I did some comparison shopping and the $400 is really the best offer.

I am hoping that the benefits, which by the way are making mad as they 'suck', will cover the ambulance bill. *Cross fingers*

And if you are counting this is $575 of expenses I have not budgeted for at all.

Ladies and gents, emergencies happen to the best of us and we have to budget for those.

I will pay the $400 from the money I have put aside to transfer over to my RRSP on Feb 18th. This means that I will miss the 2010 deadline for the $400. I am happy that because I was putting money away, I have the money to pay for the repair. If I had I moved them into an RRSP, I would not have it available. This is where, I scratch (ha scratch!) my plan to double my RRSP as my emergency fund.
Going forward I will start setting money aside for emergencies.

Also, my cheque for grading papers should come in the next 30 days and instead of going into the new TV fund, it will cover the other outstanding bills.

Good times, no!

Weekly Summary Fri Feb 4- Thurs Feb 10

Due to a bit of a medical problem/ crappy week I will not go back and recap the prior week. There was nothing of note that week. Moving forward!


Fri Feb 4

Knife Set $33.43*
Night out $30
Breakfast $4.35
Total$68

Sat Feb 5
Dentist $160**
Dinner $30
Total$190

Sun Feb 6
Parking $15

Mon Feb 7
Grocery $28.04
Drug Store $36.84
Total$64.88

Tues Feb 8

NO SPEND DAY!

Wed Feb 9
Gas $46.37

Thurs Feb 10

Grocery $37.77

Total Week$422

* I purchased a new knife set to replace the extremely bendy one I have. It was on sale close to 50% off and I had a $40 gift card.
** Turns out the 100% dental benefits are not really 100%

Thursday, February 3, 2011

I started the part time job...

It seems that the same procrastination that applies to avoiding writing your assignments, applies to well... marking other people’s assignments.

I had a fine and dandy plan to mark 4 per day. There are only 12 to do anyway. Well, it is now day three and I have completed all of two.

These reports are headache inducing to read, provide commentary on, fill out assessment forms and more. I can really say I am not getting paid enough for this!

Today I am armed with Mocha crunch cake and wine, I can do this!!!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

It's not all about money crunching.... A girl need a date from time to time.

When venturing into the world of online dating:

General points to watch out for:
• People easily misrepresent themselves when they are communicating online. They are comfortable being forward – Stand your ground and be weary of all people.
• Pictures almost never equal reality. They can be old, of a friend or people just don’t look like themselves. It’s always strange meeting someone as their pics are only a hint of what they really look like.
• Shy people can be more open, on a date it may be like pulling teeth to talk to them.
• Never give out personal information, be careful of adding strangers on FB or even BBM.
• Always be suspicious. It’s safer that way.
• If you feel uncomfortable, end the conversation and walk away. Always let someone know what you are doing and where you are.
• Always meet in a public place.
• You can tell a lot about a person by having a phone conversation with them.




Plenty of Fish – This is a mad house of man, man and than some more man. There are profiles everywhere and you can’t look away.
Also this is the home of the good, the bad and the ugly.

Features I like:
• You can see when someone has read your message.
• You can see when he is online.
• Preference can be set on age. I have no interest in anyone who is younger than I am.
• It’s free.
• Geographical filter, you will be amazed at the amount of singles in 10 mile radius of yourself.

Features I don’t like:
• Most people do not fill out their profiles fully.
• I don’t like the ‘looking for’ section. I don’t know what I am looking for, lets take it one step at a time. Really do you need to know if I just want you for one go around or a life time. What if I change my mind?
• There is no filter on the kind of men you will meet. It’s as random as it can be.

In my experience, communication quickly goes to MSN. I haven’t used MSN in years and it doesn’t hold any interest for me. After a few emails, I don’t mind getting a phone call or exchanging texts. It is a more current way of communication. Some dates have been really interesting, some extremely dry, some fun.
Fun for experimentation, if you are up for some ups and downs!

I know two couples who are either married or about to be that have met through this site.

I don’t recommend it if you are shy, or very inexperienced in dealing with men. If you are any of these things, you may fall for the immediate bombardment of emails of men telling you how hot you are. Remember, they are fishing!





eHarmony
– the promise of the perfect relationship.

Features I like:

• Requires for you to have a relatively filled out profile.
• It does the searching and matching for you.
• It is not free; it keeps out the riff raft.
• Most men are university graduates. – very important for someone who has a higher education like me.


Features I don’t like:
• It’s not free. It is pricy, but I have been lucky to search out promo codes and with some patience save money.
• It has a few stages to communications that I find useless, such as the Likes/Dislikes. I just skip over his and forward mine.
• Introductory communication can take on weeks, depending on how often people check the site. It is very easy to just loose interest.

In my experience, this is great to find someone you can have a long conversation with over dinner. Most dates have been as if I was on a date with myself. Perfect match on several levels, to the point that my date had the same red car and was planning a vacation in Italy almost at the same time I was. But, tell me do you want to be on a date with yourself?
The men were a bit more mature and relaxed than on POF. The commercial is a perfect example of what your first date will most likely be, but the odds of wanting a second date with yourself are low.

I don’t know any couples who have met on this site, but I have heard of several friends of friends that have found The One.


I would comment on Lavalife but I haven’t used it in a few years. At that point I enjoyed the instant messenger, but the communication was limited for a free account. I don’t think I ever went on a date with someone from there.

In conclusion, put yourself out there and have fun. Don’t have high expectations, be cautious and most importantly enjoy.

You never know!!!