Waterfall

I thought I had this Christmas under control but I was too spendy. I'm paying for it now that the credit card bills are coming in.
My normal budget process is on track. It's just the bigger events that put me off track: Christmas & vacations.
I need to be better and more consistent at saving for these two ahead of time. Now I just have to stop saying, I'll do it, and just start.

My cousin, who just had a milestone birthday, invited the cousins to a restaurant for dinner. Everyone got there on time in high spirits and she was a charming hostess. Until the waitress began to take our orders ... The waitress began asking for our names so she could make up separate cheques. We said "let's check with our organizer" who told us "oh yes, the waitress needs to make separate cheques".
So we all made the necessary mental switch.
It was embarrassing afterwards when our cousin continued to act like the hostess by walking around the table to make sure we were doing all right.
At the end, the waitress brought out a dessert with a candle. I felt a little sad:
1) that the birthday girl seemed to need the attention on this milestone birthday.
2) that I wouldn't have given her a $50 gift card if I had known I was to pay my own way.
3) that this story will become part of family legend without her knowing.
Sigh.

Today was my last day at my old company. Because it's a quarter-end, I was very busy. If I didn't say I was leaving at 5pm, I would have got more work dumped on me. Well at least they weren't anxious to see the backside of me

I start my new job on the Tues after the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend. Excited and scared, but mostly excited.

I got the job at the new company. No pay increase came with it, but the money will come later. Better than that, it's a meaty role that will give me loads of experience. I gave my two weeks notice yesterday and already my insides have relaxed.

Yes, I got the mind-numbingly dull assignment at work. I've asked for a promotion to go with it. I'm still hoping to hear something positive from the other company I interviewed at. If neither of these two things pan out, I'll stay at the current company long enough to collect my 2011 bonus, then start job hunting next year.

That's if the boring job doesn't kill me before then.

Either this week or next, the details of the company's restructuring will be announced. I've received hints I'll be safe. But my new role will be a mind-numbingly boring one.

I've just finished phase 3 of interviews at another company. The director of one of the teams I would be supporting didn't seem to like me at all. So I'll be surprised if I get an offer.

Either way, big changes before mid-September.

I've just turned 46. It doesn't seem real yet. Time really flies, kids.
On the job front, some people are being let go. What else is new. Two sales offices are being closed. Major changes are happening this year in a major department.
Hopefully I'm ok for at least a couple more years.
I wish you all a safe, happy holiday season and much prosperity in the new year.

I searched everywhere for the iPhone 4 and finally got one. They seem to be a rare commodity. And I love it. I already have an iPod Touch, but needed a new phone. My old one had terrible reception and was starting to drive me crazy.
I didn't like the Blackberrys because the keys are too small for me to see without my reading glasses, but I wanted a SmartPhone. I knew the iPhone was the one for me.
It is with my same cellphone carrier, Fido so I was able to use my Fido dollars, $64 towards it. Sweet.

Hubby and I celebrated our 10th anniversary in Niagara Falls. It rained all weekend but we were prepared with coats and umbrella. It felt like a honeymoon, and I even referred to it a few times as one.
There wasn't that much to do so we decided to go see the casino. It was in a nice hotel and even had a mall.
Lots of people were hanging out there. I found the casino itself a bit overwhelming with all of those machines with their music, noises, and blinking lights.
I only know how to play one game, Blackjack because I have a blackjack app on my iPod.
In the end, I won $90.
I didn't enjoy it though because it was horrible to watch my money drop, drop,drop and then slowly, painfully come back up. Gambling is not for me.

My new role at work comes with a 2.5% pay raise. I didn't expect it, but I like it!
My automatic savings for the last quarter have helped me put away enough to pay for Term 1 of my course up front. So I'm ok until I can get reimbursement from my employer.
If I keep going this way, I'll also have enough by Dec to pay for the 2nd term.
I'm not sure why this year is going so much better but I'll take it
After the program ends in June 2011, I no longer have to worry about putting aside the $6k every year it. I'll be able to put that amount away.

Being from Canada, eh, I don't have to worry about health insurance but I did often think I should get some type of life insurance for DD.
Yesterday she came home from school with umpteen forms to sign. Emergency contact information... that kind of thing. One of the forms was from an insurance company saying that we could insure our child for one full year for death, disability, etc.
It's only $26.50 per year.
Susie Orman says that with the death or illness of a child, you might not be able to cope with going back to work in a hurry. That's the only reason she would recommend life ins. for a child.
I sent it in.

I have finally moved to a new role at work. Still reporting to a boss in the US but I don't mind. If you don't get a breadth of experience you will not be considered for a promotion. I am aiming for one by Q1 next year.
It is a lateral move but has high exposure in both Canada and the US. I'm thrilled.

Yaaah! I passed my May exam. Now I can claim my tuition reimbursement from work. And I can have a lovely summer without studying unless I choose to review stuff for fun.

I'm ashamed to admit I wish I was super rich and didn't have to worry about spending a few bucks here and there. There, I've said it. I'm done with the fantasy and now I can go back to my normal life.

My husband rescued a bicycle that a neighbour was throwing out. It's practically brand new. So I've taken over his old one, which looks like a girl's bike anyway. I had just been thinking about buying one. I haven't ridden a bike for 30 years, so I spent some time just coasting on it for short distances this weekend. Trying to get my balance back.
It feels exhilarating!

Back to saving again. I'll be so glad when my course is finished in June 2011. Then I won't have to pay out a tuition fee and have to wait 1 yr to get it back from my employer.
Hopefully I have passed the exam I wrote in May and won't have to do the rewrite in Aug. I'll find out the results in July.

We're back from Disney. The park admission costs were high but I was prepared for that. We stayed at a friend's condo that is rarely used. It was large and had two big bathrooms. My parents liked that because of the privacy.
My DD had a ball meeting lots of princesses and two animal characters. She got to be Princess Jasmine one day.
While unpacking last night, I realized I did not buy a lot of souvenirs. Yaaaaah. No junk!
An awesome vacation.

Whoa! Spendy self, knock it off. I spent about 40 bucks online for a software that I don't really need. Moment of madness there.
I've been doing pretty well with taking breakfast & lunch to work. So not a total spending nightmare, but I have to be more careful.

I'm spending on breakfast and lunch again at work. It's so easy to slip back to old habits, and it is just sucking up my money like a vacuum.
I have to return my focus to being more prepared with my meals. I can't afford this much longer

Is it possible to live on $25k pre-tax/year when retired?

We would be 100% debt free by then. Our debt is a line of credit that we are whittling down. DD's education fund will be about $40k by the time I retire. My plan is to retire in 10 years at age 55.
I've recently started putting aside 50% of my aftertax income. I'm risk averse so the majority of it is in money market rather than mutual funds.
I don't have to worry too much about health care since I'm in Canada.

I hope I'm not being unrealistic.

I will be singing in the talent show at work on Dec 9. I think that is why they are keeping me at work ..... cheap talent
I have a new boss now, who is in the U.S. Life promises to be interesting with virtual reporting.
Meanwhile I have decided to keep going with selling Avon. It is fun and I hope to gradually increase the number of customers.
BA, in case you are reading this, one of the top ten Avon sales people in my district is a man. Just a thought
Thanks for the support and prayers, everyone.

I would love some ideas on what to get my six year old DD for Xmas. She is our only child. She already has a kitchen centre and a Disney Princess vanity table.
I have gotten the small gifts already, e.g. books, kids jewelry, lip gloss, etc. I don't know what to get as her big gift. Any ideas?

My boss is dropping some major hints that, not only will I have a job after restructuring, but it will be a challenging new (to me) role.
Can it be?

A month ago I started selling Avon. I have 10 customers already. My goal is to get a minimum of 50. The average sale is around $25, so if I sell to 20 people every campaign, which is every two weeks, I would make 40% of $500, so $200. Making an extra $400/month with me as the boss is not too shabby.
The best thing is that this new activity and connecting with other women on a level I never have before, has helped me from going bonkers while waiting to hear about my work situation. My work level was told we have to wait until early Dec to find out who will be let go under the new structure.
Back to Avon, I plan to retire from the Rat Race in 10 years when I turn 55. Avon is one of the things I would like to continue doing post-retirement.
Meanwhile, I look forward to getting more training to learn how to help my customers with makeup and other beauty questions.

Tomorrow I find out if I will be let go from my job. All other depts have been told and ours of 70 people will be told tomorrow. I don't feel too optimistic.
Approx. 100 out of 800 people have been given their walking papers so far. It has been a very difficult time and I don't know how bad it will be for us tomorrow.
My family has 6 months of savings so we'll be ok, but it is a hurtful thing to think you'll be let go. My mind is totally stressed out!!

Who knew that when you sync your iPod Touch with your computer the iPod takes on the same time as the computer. My laptop is new and I use my iPod as my alarm clock. That's why I woke up at 3am and started getting ready for work. I had my contact lenses in before I realized it was way too early. Doh!

I'm filing this one under "continuous learning"

I thought of that title since this post is food-related

So, wonders never cease ... I have actually been doing pretty well about having breakfast at home or taking it to work, and taking lunch to work. Not every day, 'cause that would be miracle. But often enough to surprise myself. I have also noticed how much more dough I'm left with at the end of the week. Ha! Who would have believed it?

I'm also going to sleep earlier too. That has many benefits. But I'll leave that for another post. Ciao.

After my spendy summer, I have eased up on impulsive spending.

We are eating out less and finding that there is so much stuff we can do without. I have been bitten by the de-clutter bug and my husband seems to have caught it.

It would be so great if we could keep this up.

I have begun leaving my credit card at home again. I ignored it all year in my wallet until summer came and I briefly turned into a spendy monster.

I've also started having breakfast at home and taking my lunch to work. If I can keep that up, I'll save quite a bit that we can spend on other stuff that will improve quality of life.

Successfully decluttered on Monday ... just not my closet. I did DD's whole room - closet, all drawers, laundry - the works. I left the dreaded underwear/socks drawer for last, but got that done too.

She is so happy now. Everything is in it's place. Outgrown clothes are bagged to go to charity.

Maybe next weekend I'll tackle my closet. Groan.