2014 Working Budget

My budget changes a lot and while I do have a number of fixed expenses (insurance, rent, internet, etc), I do have a lot of variable ones too (entertainment, groceries, clothing, etc). The tricky part to creating a budget for myself is my variable income.

Oh I cannot wait for the day to become full-time so that I get a regular paycheck; it would make budgeting SO much easier! I try to save a lot on the higher income months and spend very little on the low income ones. For instance, this month in particular I likely won't have any income, or VERY little. I was paid on December 20th for the last two weeks of school before the break since I was in a contract. I get ZERO income over the holidays and finally when school starts again on the 6th I will have to wait until January 31 before getting paid (IF I get work in those first two weeks back). Therefore if I didn't have savings FOR January I would definitely be going into debt this month.

This is how I lay out my monthly tracking. I changed a few things since last year since I no longer pay hydro (instead just heat through oil), I did not use my Christmas savings this year so they are still in my ING account and will just accumulate until next Christmas so it was removed.

So here is the working budget:

Category	Average
INCOME	2200
EXPENSES
Rent	500
Oil	70
Internet	50
Car	230
Gas	180
Phone	70
Food	160
Restaurant	60
Personal/Medical	50
Clothing	60
Gifts	50
Education	100
Entertainment	75
Everything Else	75
TOTAL	1730
SAVINGS
TFSA	250
Travel	50
Furniture	50
RRSP	120
TOTAL	470

Let me know if you have any suggestions for it. 

2014 Goals

Now that the new year is here I have been thinking more and more about my resolutions/goals of the year. I always make them and don't always succeed but I think it's still good to have those goals to work toward.

Financial:

Save $6000 to TFSA. This is my priority since I want to use it toward saving for a down-payment on a house and contributions toward a wedding (one day...)

Save $500 for Travel. I am travelling this March for a week to go to Texas (already paid for my flight), I have money saved in my ING Travel account already for this but I have another road trip vacation I would like to go on in September that will require more savings (gas is expensive).

Save $1500 toward RRSPs. I always put these on the backburner because retirement seems SO far away. BUT these can be used toward a first home down-payment, and the sooner you save the more it adds up for when retirement does come along. I know it is smart to do now, it's just boring!

TRACK MY SPENDING. I used to be so good at this and then this summer I fell off the bandwagon. I generally knew where everything was going but it's nice to see the trends and where I can improve.

Personal:

Do a fitness challenge. Whether it be a plank, squat, yoga or Jillian Michael's 30 day shred challenge, I want to attempt one again.

Take a new class. I think this one will be easy since I plan on taking an additional qualification this winter (need to sign up still) and of course ASL this spring.

Read 10 books. I did not read NEARLY enough last year and want to get back into it. Audiobooks can count for this!

Tone myself. J says when you are happy you gain weight and we have both put on some weight since the summer. Maybe it's my metabolism finally catching up with me or my immense happiness but I have gained over 10lbs since August to a weight I have never seen before. It's not the number that bothers me but I definitely just want to start eating healthier and tone up a bit. If I were in the hunger games, I would definitely be one of the first ones killed.

End of 2013

Doesn't it seem like every year seems to go by faster and faster? This year was no exception; I still cannot believe it's January in two days!

I finished all of my Christmas shopping with time to spare this year! Everyone was really happy with their gifts (mom - K-cups and CD, dad - funny t-shirt and Vinyl cafe, brothers - atlas and gift cards, J - a board game and 6 months of dates). J's family was very interested in the gift I got him and his mom says that he has to phone home at the beginning of each month to let her know what date he is being sent on!

J got me a winter classic Leafs jersey and some earrings. LOVE both! We got completely spoiled by our families as well with wine, actifry, purses, skates, clothing, etc. It was a nice year although I missed J a lot on Christmas day.

New year's eve is tomorrow night! We finally made plans last night to go to one of his friend's homes and celebrate. It will be a low-key night I am sure and that's okay. We want to be in good shape to watch the Winter Classic game on Wednesday! I've been watching the HBO 24/7 road to the winter classic game and it has only made me more excited to see it.

I have been thinking about my new year's resolutions. I always make them and don't always stick to them but I think it's always good to have goals for yourself. Will post them soon.

My year in review...
January It was great bringing in the new year with the Trews and some friends.
February I broke up with my long-term boyfriend D and moved home with family
March I went to Florida with family, had the best vacation
April I worked in Toronto for a couple of weeks and started to look for a place to live back home
May I moved in with a guy in a cute apartment on the water
June I tried SUPing, went tree-top trekking saw Taylor Swift and started dating my ROOMMATE
July Went to a bunch of concerts (Train, Brad Paisley) and had some campfires
August Went to an Argos game and worked and saved as much as I could
September Went to my first MLB game, went to Live at the Lake with Eric Church
October Finished up at the restaurant, won a Halloween contest as a Loofah
November Went to the Toronto Aquarium, had a surprise party for my dad
December Went to an NHL game, finished another ASL course, visited J's hometown, had an amazing Christmas

I am looking forward to all that 2014 will bring. Hoping everyone stays happy and healthy!

Juggling the December expenses

Having a variable income is hard! It just makes things so hard to plan! Also the fact that I do not get vacation days. If I do not get a call to work, or if I need to take a day off I do not get paid. So for Christmas vacation which is 2 weeks, I will have no income.

December is a tough month money-wise. I had to buy winter tires this year which were $833. Christmas is going to be around $600 for everything. We need oil for our furnace again soon which is going to be about $400 each. About 20 hours of extra driving for Christmas parties.

I am heading to a Christmas party tomorrow and am getting my baking done tonight, mmmm. It's an ugly Christmas sweater party. J is a huge Senators fan where I am a Leaf fan. He is borrowing my brother's jersey and I am going to wear his jersey, add some garland and they will be our ugly Christmas sweaters this year.

Got the Job!!

I had an interview for the position I had been working at for some time last Friday. It was an awful interview. I could tell that both of the principals were trying to help me with additional questions but I feel like there was so much more I could have said right afterward.

Somehow and I think it was mostly because not many people applied for the position, and the fact that the one principal knows how capable I am let me have the position and called me that night with the good news!

I've been working at the job on an LTO for 5 days now (although two were snowdays!), I am excited for one more week at least. I saw the teacher who I am replacing today and she thinks she will be back after Christmas break...good for her, but not for me. I REALLY enjoy the job! I look forward to it and get excited about the students' progression everyday.

Job Prospects

For those that do not know already, I have been an occasional (supply/substitute) teacher for about FIVE, yes 5 years now. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job. But....it would be nice to have a more regular income and to be honest, less 5:30am phone calls.

It's tough to plan monthly spending, saving, etc when I really have no idea what I will be bringing home each month. 

Anyway things seem to be looking up. They've introduced a new priority list that some boards have adopted. Basically it's making the system more fair; instead of it being WHO you know, it's how well you are actually suited for the job, plus seniority. 

I have been teaching at this school locally for 4 days this week for one teacher who according to the principal does not seem to be returning anytime soon (at least not until after Christmas). Several of the teachers at that school have expressed that they want me to take over the position, I would absolutely love that and the posting just came out today. I applied right away. I hope to be granted an interview which will be occurring next week. 

Also, on Monday I had an interview with another school board in my area. My references were called today which I assume means I passed the interview process. It's just to be put on another occasional list but it will just open more doors. 

I love my job and just want to do it EVERYDAY!

Love/Hate Christmas Relationship

Yes that's my tree put up on Saturday, I hope it lasts until Christmas! It's J's first REAL Christmas tree :)

I absolutely love Christmas but I cannot stand Christmas shopping. Finding parking, waiting in lines, browsing things forever and not having any ideas!

I am a bit of a procrastinator as well so that never helps. This year I am almost done one gift and have a few ideas in mind for others too.

I've already started making J's gift. He is getting 6 months of dates (12 dates was too much at once)! He actually really loves gifts of experience so it will be perfect. He bought me tickets to see Aladdin for my birthday, and I got him tickets to a baseball game for his. This year although I am not quite complete he is getting...well let me just show you.

January snowshoe rental for trails and subway date.

February a twisted fairytale play and dinner out

March tickets to see one of his favourite hockey teams

April is going to be local movie theatre tickets (not purchased yet).

May is an ice cream date at a new place and tickets to a musical

June is undecided but likely going to be a comedy show or zoo passes...and DQ blizzards! Also not purchased yet.

He will also get a board game (Cards Against Humanity) so he has something to open on Christmas day because the rest are sealed in envelopes.

I think for something different this year, his family is going to get a GOAT! Not for them, but for a family in a developing country through a charity that I will decide upon soon.

My brothers are getting gift cards to stores close to them.

I'm lacking ideas for my three best friends and my parents...might be in the malls after all this year...