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.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
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!
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).
$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.
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.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
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.
$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!
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!
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!
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