Debt Free Kid

A New Master?

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:23:00 +0000

Well, my debt is under $10 000 and settled nicely into my Line of Credit at 5.25%. The only strategy I had planned for the next year-and-a-bit is to plug as much money possible into that account to pay it down to $0. I was looking forward to starting with my next paycheque on the 28th (I get paid once a month, right?).

I figured at least one of my credit card companies would come sniffing around since they all have zero balances. So I don't know why was I surprised today to receive an invitation from MBNA to switch to their PremierRewards card. Normally I shred these invites but today I sat down and looked it over.

If they approve me for $10 000 I can move my LOC balance over and pay 1.99% for ten months. The "small" print at the back of the page tells me that there is a balance transfer fee of 1% of amount transferred with a minimum fee of $7.50. So right off I will pay $100 to transfer over. Interest on $10 000 is $16.58 per month, which would go down if I continue to be aggressive with the repayments.

Currently I pay between $30 and $40 a month in interest, and my minimum payments are about $250. I always pay much more than that but spread out throughout the month.

The "Rewards" the card refers to are 1% cash back for purchases. I wouldn't be using the card for purchases until after the ten month introductory period, when the interest rates shoot to 19.99% and I have transferred the balance back to my LOC. I currently use a MasterCard that offers points towards goods and groceries, and I was considering looking around for a card that offers cash instead. Any cash earned on the new card will be applied to the account once a year. I would prefer it applied to my chequing account ...

There is also no annual fee, unlike my VISA card, which I planned to cancel last summer prior to the fee being applied, but hesitated and decided to keep for another year. I was afraid closing the account would affect my debt-to-credit ratio (25% of my credit used vs 50%). Opening another card will increase my open credit, so I may feel more comfortable closing the VISA after all.

I'm not going to decide today. The letter says I have until April 30 to decide.

Seriously,
Karissa

Axing the Amazon Associates Store

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:21:00 +0000

I was excited to learn that Amazon.ca was going to send $15.61 to my chequing account for being a part of their Associates program. All I had to do to earn this was post a link on my sites and encourage people to click through my link to purchase their books and music. I have had the links up for over a year but it wasn't until this past xmas, when I started to harass my facebook friends, that I made the $15 and change.

I waited for the payment to arrive to my account, and in anticipation, sent $15 to a friend getting married who was selling stuff online to raise funds for her wedding. I sent it as a gift, not wanting anything in return. Meanwhile the $15.61 never arrived.

I began investigating over the past few days, using their online forms. I have to admit the responses were fast! First I was told that the payment had been returned by my bank, and to verify my bank information on my account page. I did this and let them know, and received a second response telling me that I had been given the wrong information, the payment had NOT been returned, and it had been processed by my bank on February 24. I was to contact my bank for more information. I did, of course, and of course the bank knew nothing of a payment from Amazon!

I let Amazon know, and the next thing they wanted me to do was fax them a VOID cheque so that they could investigate themselves. I didn't, because:
1) the bank is going to tell them what they told me;
2) I don't want my cheque going to an unfamiliar fax number;
3) this is turning into work, and it's not worth the time (since I would be faxing during work hours, I consider my time to be $20-25 an hour).

I informed Amazon that I am considering closing my Associates account. What's the point of promoting them if they are not going to send me the money they promised? It's more work for me to harass, I mean, remind my friends and family to use the link ... and I really have so many other things to do.

What would you do? Would you go through the hoops to get the $15 into your account? Or would you walk away, like I'm thinking of doing?

Seriously,
Karissa

I MASTERED MY CARD

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:31:00 +0000

Received my T4 at the end of February and immediately filed online. Received my income tax refund by direct deposit today and PAID OFF MY MASTERCARD. Looky at the pretty sidebars. I moved up the debt bar because I'm so proud.

People have been asking me how I cleared $11 000 worth of debt in 15 months and to be honest, I'm not quite sure how I did it. I'm making a mental list and hope to type it out and post it soon.

Hope you're having a great weekend. Mine just got that much better :)

Seriously,
Karissa

Get Smarter About Money

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:36:00 +0000

Apologies if this has already been spammed about the web, but a random click on an ad banner (yes, sometimes I click!) brought me to this site.

I haven't have a chance to go through all of it yet, but at first glance I do like the look of it.

**This is not a sponsored post**

Seriously,
Karissa

For fun - Pay the Bills Spell

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:17:00 +0000

A random click brought me to this - Llewellyn's Pay the Bills Spell.

When I was much younger I was a big fan of Llewellyn products, but now I just browse the titles for fun. I consider these things distractions, and it's easy to get carried away with them and use them for procrastination and avoidance of real life issues.

I might just do this spell, so that I stay on track. Anyone know where I can find a cauldron?

Seriously?,
Karissa

Fifteen months

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:39:00 +0000

I'm proud. Hell, I'm bragging. In fifteen months I have paid off 50% of my credit card debt. Over ten thousand dollars. I don't know how I did it. I didn't take a second job and I didn't sell anything online. I still have a social life and a car. I even paid off a huge car repair bill ($1400+) and bought two pairs of orthopedic shoes ($500). I bought a crappy new cell phone ($300 with all the bells and whistles). And still, I managed to pay HALF my debt in just over a year.

I'm psyched I tell ya. If I can keep this up, I'll be paying off my student loans in no time, and then I can start saving up for a bigger and better life for my son and I.

Seriously,
Karissa

Who says nothing is free?

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:43:00 +0000

You have to imagine my surprise when I received a voice mail from the cable company offering me free digital TV, high-speed internet, and telephone with the purchase of my new home. I returned the call to confirm and as it turns out, with my new lease I will be receiving all three services FOR FREE for twelve months. I was told that I would receive cable with the new apartment, but I assumed I would have to pick one service. I had decided on telephone because I still hate Telus so much.

Nope. All three. It has been years since I watched cable TV, and over a year since I canceled my cable internet. I feel like I'm back in the 2000s. I just might gain twenty pounds being a couch potato in the next twelve months.

Seriously,
Karissa

Well I did it

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:12:00 +0000

I cleaned out my TFSA and put it on my MasterCard. I am so close to paying it off I can taste it. I will probably move another $400 from my LOC to bring the MC balance down to $1500. Then it's the waiting game for my tax return which will go right on there as well, hopefully paying it off. I'm not putting anything into my RRSP this year. I want this debt gone.

After fifteen months sharing a one-bedroom, Bean and I are moving into a two-bedroom on March 1st. We're staying in the same building, just moving down to the ground floor. I'll be paying about $150 a month for the extra bedroom plus a small backyard behind our apartment. Plus the super said they would give us a basic cable account for free for one year. I will have to sign another one year lease, which I think is BS considering I just finished one with them.

Seriously,
Karissa

Today's horoscope

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:19:00 +0000

"You might be anxious about your finances, and if you have debts, especially on plastic, there might be good reason for concern. It could motivate you to do something about it, and that's a good thing. Start planning for a "zero-debt day" and you'll feel a lot better. "

Seriously,
Karissa

The Way of the Happy Woman

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:52:00 +0000

*This is not a sponsored post*

Back in 2005 I spent two months in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and it is one of my long-term goals to return.

For a few months now I have been receiving email from Sara Avant Stover and I thought I'd share the most recent one here.

Dear K,

I don't know about you, but for me, one of the hardest things to do is LET GO.

Another way to put that is "Surrender."

When I'm faced with a bad day, a challenging situation, or a super-human to-do list, sometimes
I can get wrapped up in the drama. I can take on a defeatist attitude and say to myself,

"Oh, I can never do that."

"I'll never have enough time."

"This is overwhelming."

And, when I say these things to myself I actually start to BELIEVE them. This is when I get into trouble. I get tired, even sick. I lose focus on the big picture. And, worst of all, I lose touch with my soft core as a woman.

I KNOW I'm not alone in this. I hear it from many of you, from my clients, students, friends...it's so common in the world today where we face 100X more stimulation in 1 DAY than our ancestors did in a whole LIFETIME. Wow.

So here's what I do when I start to feel this way, and I hope that you will try it, too:

1. Take a step back. Look at the big picture. See the moment, day, or situation, in the larger perspective of your whole life. Take on a bird's-eye view, in other words.

2. Feel your feet. Really. Feel your feet. Take a breath all the way down through your belly and legs and into your feet. Do that for a few or several breaths, as much as you need
to really get into your body again. (When you get overwhelmed like this, you're in your head. So get back into your own skin!)

3. Ask yourself, "What do I need to know right now?" When you ask this you tune into your intuition, into the guidance from your highest self. You tune into your heart. Wait and listen
to the answer.

4. Make a date with yourself to do something pleasurable. It could be a bubble bath, a walk in the woods, sitting down and savoring an apple with almond butter. Whatever, it doesn't need to be fancy. When you have too much going on, most likely you've disconnected from what makes you happy. It's time to reconnect with that.

I hope this helps! If you have any other tips that work for you to surrender and let go, let me know, I'd love to hear them!

With love and happiness,

Sara

Seriously,
Karissa

Goals for 2010

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:37:00 +0000

Happy New Year!

Here are some of my goals for 2010:
- go to the gym three times a week (yoga, weights, cardio)
- eat three proper meals a day - with protein - and keep them as healthy as possible
- start knitting again (xmas presents)
- pay another $7000+ off the debts
- practice gratitude every day

Seriously,
Karissa

Raiding my TFSA

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:34:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago I decided to pilfer my TFSA in 2010, and apply the $1130 or so to my $3500 credit card balance. I want this card paid OFF, ASAP. I know I'll be losing out on compound interest but I think I'm making the right decision. I will continue to snowflake back into it with each paycheque, but I probably won't get it back up to $1000 by the end of 2010. That's ok, because I desperately want to have the CC and LOC paid off in 2011.

I have my 2010 budget spreadsheet all ready to go, with all the modifications I could think of based on spending in 2009. Reaching the final column of the 2009 spreadsheet has been a relief, and a real achievement, because I made through the entire year tracking my expenses and debt payments.

Here's a bit of a postmortem:
After-tax income, including pay, child tax credit, child support, GST rebates, and gifts and miscellaneous sales $35 841

Rent and Food $11 496
Debt re-payments, including interest charges $8209
Car, including gas, oil changes, repairs, insurance $4325
Stupid Telus mobile phone $1155
RESP $471
RRSP $955
Life insurance $633
TFSA $1068
Daycare $415
TOTAL $28 727

Miscellaneous Expenses (most interesting to me):
Cash $1960
Lunch/Dinner out $571
Trips to the big city $1042
Gifts $1078
Clothes, music, furniture $1051
Uncategorized expenses $1281
TOTAL MISC $7114

Finally, I made arrangements to deduct $18 from each monthly paycheque for a Canada Savings Bond. I know I can get more interest in a personal savings account, but it is easier for me to save when the balance is "out of sight, out of mind."

Seriously,
Karissa

Snow Tire Steal

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:32:00 +0000

I was driving myself and my son to the big city on the 23rd to begin our christmas festivities. It was cold and the roads were ok, but as I was driving on the highway I was thinking about my spectacular snow tires.

When I started this blog I had a "Car Fund" to save money for car repairs, oil changes and hopefully snow tires. Then I had over a thousand dollars worth of car repairs from which the car fund never recovered.

Back in September I was talking to a grad student where I work who is knowledgeable with all things car related. Thinking about my lack of savings and the pending cold season, I asked him if snow tires were really worth it. I had never had them before and was thinking maybe I could get through another winter without them. The grad student was adamant about the necessity of snow tires, and I decided to take his word for it.

A couple months later I get an email from the student, telling me that he found a set of snow tires for me at the wreckers, and would charge me only $100 for all four. I wrote him a cheque from my line of credit and gratefully let him load them into the trunk of my Ford. I got a free storage space for them in my boyfriend's parents' garage and eventually had the tires switched just before the first big snow fall.

At the tire place I asked the guys if it were necessary to buy rims for my snow tires, as my purchase were for only the tires. The guy at the tire place informed me that not only would new rims put me out of pocket at least $240, but by using the rims already on my car meant that they would be checked and rotated for safety. Switching the snow tires onto my existing rims cost about $40 more than having separate rims, but saving $200 sounded good to me.

Check out my sidebars! I paid over 35% of my debt in 2009!!

Seriously,
Karissa

Chinese Astrology - Predictions for Tiger

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:39:00 +0000

DECEMBER 2009
TIGER PREDICTIONS

You deserve a truckload of credit for having done so well this past year. If all went as planned, you ought to have accumulated a hefty stash of cash. The one thing you must not do, is spend it on private extravagances or luxurious Christmas gifts. In the stringent Rat year 2008, you took on some private debt. Of course your friend or family member who loaned it to you, said, ""Oh just pay it back when you can." Tigers however are unwilling debtors. You don't like to be constrained. Debt is a definite hamper and obliges one to guilt. So in December, you Tigers must take advantage of the fact that you have some disposable capital and pay down your debt. This way, you will enter the occidental new year smelling like a rose. The holiday season this year will not be lavish. The world is cutting down on the use of energy. Join the effort by limiting the number of energy-sapping baubles and electric lights you drape on your house. Instead of shopping at malls where you must drive and thus use gasoline, do your Christmas shopping locally. Patronize small merchants, And if you really need to move about the town, take the bus or the subway. The more we use it, the more public transport will improve.

Lost confidence

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:39:00 +0000

I am at war with Telus. I have been a faithful client for almost four years and have always paid my bill on time. I had one year left of my contract and due to some blundering at three different corporate stores I called customer service to complain and let them know that I WILL NOT be renewing my contract in 2010.

Of course they were willing to bend over backwards to keep me and I let myself be suckered into another three-year contract (oooh, shiny new phone!). Stupid me.

I really liked my old phone, and the kickass data plan we set up in 2007, but it's all gone now. I ended up with a crappy phone that never worked properly and returned it four days after purchase. It's now two and a half weeks later and I still don't have my new phone. Yet the $344 charge for phone and accessories is still sitting on my credit card account, waiting to be paid.

I hate Telus now. I am going to spend the next three years convincing everyone I know to switch to Rogers or Bell. Hopefully by 2012 (when my new contract ends) there will be a more reliable competitor to switch to.

Seriously,
Karissa

Oozing?

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:24:00 +0000

It's such a graphic term, but lately I feel like I am hemorrhaging money.

The Bean's daycare has a United Way campaign that has nickle and dimed me to the tune of about $60 in the past couple of weeks.

The battery on my cell finally gave up and a replacement was $90.

I bought two pairs of shoes (one was $71 and the other was $389 - orthopedic!!) but returned them both because they just didn't feel right. I'm still wearing the same orthopedic sandals that I overspent $269 on back in August. You know you're a mom when you don't care anymore if you wear socks and sandals.

I bought two pairs of "skinny" jeans because I have gone up a size and am bloating out of my old pants. I paid $26 for the two pairs, but another $22 or so on alterations (I am way short for them).

I've been invited to a wedding for this Saturday, and so far I have spent $8 on a second-hand dress. The alterations will be another $12 or so. Total spent on alterations will be just over $50, since I threw in another pair of pants to be taken in around the cuffs.

I have designed my budget for 2010 to reflect the increased costs of living, particularly rent. An announcement was made yesterday that car insurance will increase by about 10% in this province. I'm still considering ditching the car. I think I can sell it for about $5000 and if I do, will put that directly on to the debt.

Seriously,
Karissa

In Nine Months

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:10:00 +0000

The Bean and I are going into our tenth month of apartment living, after a year and a half renting a house that was way out of our price range. We had to give up a lot of space (and a lot of stuff), including our own bedrooms and a gigantic backyard. We also gave up a second bathroom, laundry facilities, and a basement for storage.

It's been great though. We acquired a bunk bed on Kijiji for $25 right after we moved into the apartment. I no longer have to mow a gigantic lawn, or shovel a long long driveway. I have only one bathroom to clean. Laundry is right down the hall ($1.50 wash and dry, each) and if I stay organized everything gets washed once a week. We have a storage closet that is pretty full and I hope to make the time to clean it out and organize it over the next couple of months.

What I have saved in nine months:
Rent: $2745
Hydro: $2340 (avg)
Cable: $510 (approx)
TOTAL: $5595

I have managed to reduce my debt by almost $6000 in 2009.

I received a notice from the property management company last week that my rent will be increased by the legal 3% in January 2010. My rent will then be around $812 (utilities included). I have been inquiring about two-bedroom apartments but they rent for $950-975 in my building. I am tempted to keep us where we are for a few more months to be able to continue to pay down the debt.

My new goal is to have my line of credit paid off in full by February 2012.

Seriously,
Karissa

Not gone but maybe forgotten

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:53:00 +0000

Hi there, remember me? I have been keeping up with everyone's blogs in Google Reader on my smartphone, but I am unable to comment on them. It's such a weird voyeuristic feeling to keep an eye on everyone else while not being able to offer up anything in return. I learned I am able to post from my phone to livejournal, but I can't figure out how to phone-post to Blogger.

The month of September has so far been spent recovering from another car repair bill, to the tune of $740 or so for new brakes and a mend to part of the exhaust pipe. The car has been running great since but sometimes I wonder why I just don't take the bus. I guess it's just too easy to take my son and myself up to the university in seven minutes or so rather than the twenty minute bus ride and five minute walk to the stop. It's better than taking the bus to and from the grocery store (although I'm ashamed to admit that those trips haven't been as frequent since I raided a huge chunk of my August paycheque to pay the car repair bill). Having the car was also quite handy when my son was in the Infant and Toddler rooms at the daycare, where they seemed to be sending him home at least once a week with the daycare cootie.

Bean moved into the Senior Room at the start of September and is just so pleased with himself. His ability to use the toilet has accelerated astoundingly since the move just two weeks ago. Soon, no more night-diapers and day-pull-ups, an expense I am looking forward to skipping.

My sister just got her first credit card and the bank has already pre-approved her for a hefty mortgage. I think she'd be crazy to use it if she doesn't already have a 20% down payment. When we were discussing this the other day she mentioned that I probably have a good savings account since I paid off my debt. I was like "wha?!" and she said she thought I was working my butt off to pay it off and must have done so by now. Wellllll ... I did get off to a great start but then summer came and the car repairs, and for the past couple of months I have been making only minimum payments, knowing that once winter comes and I am hibernating in my little apartment again I will be able to make those big impressive payments again. My goal to have the $20 000+ paid off in two years has now been stretched to three. I wish I have been putting a little more towards the debt, but I didn't want to spend the summer inside either.

I have been spending each weekend the past few months with a nice guy my age who has his wallet out for everything we do, but being the independent person I am, I do try to pay my own way as much as I can.

Seriously,
Karissa

Good Karma?

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:18:00 +0000

OK, I don't want to jinx this, but I just received great news on one of my credit card statements. I logged in to check my balance, with the intention of at least paying the interest charge, and what I saw made me blink and blink and "huh?" out loud.

I was expecting a balance of just under $10 500, and what I saw was lower. Much lower. The balance shown was $9798 and change. When I clicked on details I saw that a $628.28 credit had been applied on July 31st. The activity line says "Finance Charge Correction - ion."

I thought of calling them to inquire, but I don't want to jinx this. I think I'm going to leave it just for now, and enjoy the feeling of having a balance of under $10 000 for the first time in years.

That $628 credit just about covers the car repair bill from last month.

Now that's good car-ma *guffaw*
Seriously,
Karissa

JULY - Expensive month!

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:46:00 +0000

July was certainly the most expensive month this year. Thank Murph I'm tracking my expenses, so I know exactly where I went wrong (Miscellaneous spending!).

In addition there were the car repairs (water pump, coolant pipe, and belt tensioner replaced) with more repairs (brakes, exhaust pipe) to come in a few weeks.

ALSO I had orthotics made, and while my insurance company should reimburse me for them, I will likely not be reimbursed for the footwear.

AS WELL I had a massage and Bowen treatment, both for which I will be reimbursed next month.

I went to the bank to make my first student loan payment, and they did not have the loan on record. We called the number on the letter of arrears that I received, to be told that this loan actually DOES qualify for Interest Relief.

I took my $66 payment and bought another $42 bottle of multi-vitamins from my Naturopath. Can't afford to get sick!

Seriously,
Karissa

OUCH! Broken car hurts my EF!!

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:16:00 +0000

First of all, I always express gratitude for my life whenever my car breaks down at the side of the road. This time wasn't as serious as times past, but I still felt lucky to be alive.

Second, now that I'm facing a $600 repair bill, I feel like I should switch to public transit!

Luckily I had already pulled off the highway to grab a bite to eat, when I discovered my power steering was no longer powered. I called my dad and he predicted a broken fan belt ... I wasn't comfortable taking the car back onto the busy busy highway so I had my friend take over the wheel and get the car twenty minutes east to my mom's place. The next day I used my CAA Plus membership to access my free 200 km tow to a mechanic in my own town.

The mechanic is fixing the belt, as well as a leaky water pump and rusty coolant pipe, for just under $600. He said with my CAA membership I will get 3% back to apply towards my next round of annual membership fees, which are actually due next month.

I'm using my Mastercard to pay the mechanics bill and then transferring the funds out of my Emergency Fund to cover the MC bill. I don't know how long it is going to take me to re-pay the $600 to my EF.

EDIT: I'm thinking of tapping out my other savings account instead, which means we will have another frugal xmas this year.

As well I received a letter from the bank that issued two of my student loans back in the 1990s, and was informed that my Interest Relief status does not apply to one of the loans - the smallest one. I re-did the side bars to show this, and will be trying to come up with $100 a month for the next 35 months to pay that loan off.

Yikes!

Seriously,
Karissa

Snowflaking Savings and Lumping Payments

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:59:00 +0000

I think I have come up with a strategy that works for paying off the debt as well as contributing a little to my savings.

The debt payment system seems a tad strange, but will make sense to people with OCD :) As soon as I receive an email statement I check to see how much interest was added for the month. I pay that amount immediately. This keeps the balance at a nice round number, to which I apply $50 or $100 payments throughout the month as I can afford them.

I was concerned that I wasn't padding my TFSA sufficiently, so I came up with a snowflaking plan that does not make me feel as though I am taking priority away from the debt repayments. What I have decided to do is snowflake the odd amounts from my pay, child tax credit, and GST. For instance, my GST rebate is $156.50 every three months, so I put $1.50 into the TFSA. I added up all the snowflake amounts year-to-date and just deposited $35.40 into my TFSA account. It isn't much but if I keep doing this each month it will add up.

I haven't posted a budget update in a while, because I'm ashamed to admit I have been going over in my Miscellaneous category. I even went so far as purchasing a new leather bag in the last couple of weeks and lately I've been looking a lot at shoes. I'm getting orthotics and orthopedic shoes made next week (the orthotics are definately covered by insurance, not sure about the shoes) and I've had strict instructions to no longer wear flats because of what they are doing to my posture and back.

Yesterday I tried on a pair of 3" heels and last night woke up with a major charley-horse in my right calf. Is this normal? I have never worn proper heels before. I always say coming of age in the 1990s spared me, because all I wore were Doc Martens and other types of boots!

Seriously,
Karissa

Car Fund account/ Increasing income

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:25:00 +0000

I have three savings accounts with PCF. I allocated one as "Car Fund," where I would save up funds for gas, maintenance (oil changes) and repairs, and optimistically a six-month chunk for the insurance company, so that I could get out of paying month-to-month - adding another $100 to my monthly income.

I just can't seem to keep more than $400 in that account, so I've deleted the tracking from my sidebar. Ideally I need at least $800 for my goal, more if I want to add snow tires to the roster.

I'm thinking again of getting a part-time job. I'm a Telus customer, and I was thinking of putting my resume in to the store at the big mall. The main setback is that I have only weekends to work, but there are occasional weekends that Bean's dad does not take him.

Also, if I make too much money my daycare subsidy decreases, increasing cost of daycare. This won't be an issue once Bean starts kindergarten in 2010. As well the student loan goons might not be as friendly to me if my income increases. I am currently on interest relief while I pay down my credit card/line of credit.

I have tried to bring in more income but selling my stuff on ebay, and Bean's stuff at the consignment shop, but the little bit it brings in does not justify the time spent getting it out there.

I'm spending more in my "Misc." category because it is summer and I have a lot of opportunities to socialize. I think once summer is over I will be able to go back to spending not much at all. I tend to hibernate when the days get shorter.

Seriously,
Karissa

Diaper deals at Rexall

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:18:00 +0000

This week I will be visiting Rexall (Pharma Plus) drug store for the third time in two weeks to purchase Huggies. We use the diapers for night time and the Pull Ups at daycare. The Huggies Pull Ups are far superior to Pampers or store brands (this is not a sponsored post). Both the diapers and the Pull Ups are in the flyer for $14.99 until this Friday.

Plus, I am armed with $2.00 coupons for the diapers that I found in the blue box in my building, and $2.50 coupons that were on the shelf of Price Choppers - I have been taking one each time I go into the grocery store to buy food. So the diapers are only $12.99 and the Pull Ups are $12.49. Much better than $17 or even $19.99 for a little pack of 40!

So, I may go over-budget by about $100 this month, but we should be stocked up on diapers and Pull Ups for the most of the summer. Hopefully Bean potty-learns by September :)

Seriously,
Karissa

Money Ups and Downs - an update

karissadee@debtfreekid.com (Karissa) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:16:00 +0000

I way way way overspent in May. There were two trips to the big city, the second one involving a trip to the thrift shop where I scored three dresses, a blazer and a pair of leather flats for $40.

I would like to make a picture post with my deals, and some of the frugal meals I have been making, but it's not often I get to an internet connection long enough to do so. I am still reading most of the blogs I am following on my smartphone.

For a few days last week my facebook-addiction was seriously challenged, when I couldn't get it to load on my phone. I tried to convince myself that it was a good thing, that I could now downgrade to a simpler phone and drop the $15 unlimited web access from my phone bill. I even pulled out one of my old phones to make the switch. Then I figured out how to fix the facebook and practically kissed my smartphone in relief.

It's kinda like when I quit coffee when I was sick. I lasted almost three weeks, and slowly the coffee addiction has crept back up on me. I am weak.

But I have continued to eat my protein at almost every meal, and I'm still taking all my supplements. I'm taking a cheaper vitamin now that isn't nearly as good as the one I get from my naturopath.

I was in the graduation ceremony for my Honours degree the other day, and it was really nice. My Mom and Gramma drove up from the big city to see me, and my sister was there too. Gramma gave me a generous bit of cash, which was totally unexpected.

When I went to deposit it into the bank machine, I noticed a discrepancy in my account. I had a suspicion, so I checked my account online, and found a $40 NSF service charge for a bill payment that was supposed to go through. I thought I had it all carefully planned out, but I guess I forgot to make the transfer from savings to cover the bill charge. You think the bank could just pull the funds from my savings account, but no. No fee banking, my butt.

I'm back in the big city this weekend. Right now I'm at my Dad's, using his wireless connection. I have a date planned for this evening. Have fun everyone. I know I will! :)

Seriously,
Karissa