And March is over! That was a busy month. It was a very fun month though as well. I did some reading, it was D's birthday, we went to Yuk Yuk's a couple of times, we went to a concert and several hockey games to cheer on my brother's friend. So here is how I did:
Car and Gas (15%) ACTUAL: 12%
Phone (4%) ACTUAL: 3%
Food (4%) ACTUAL: 0%
Restaurant (4%) ACTUAL: 5%
Personal/Medical (6%) ACTUAL 0%
Clothing (5%) ACTUAL: 2%
Gifts (2%) ACTUAL 9% D's birthday
Education (2%) ACTUAL 0%
Entertainment (4%) ACTUAL 8% Drinks, hockey games, comedy show
Everything Else (3%) ACTUAL: 2% Stamps, bin, sheets
TOTAL (48%) ACTUAL 40%
So these calculations were changed this month. Usually I calculate it based on what I "typically" make in a month but this time I based it on what my income was for the month. I was under budget for the spending category!
Now let's look at the SAVINGS I managed to get to this month!
TFSA (35%) ACTUAL: 29%
Christmas (5%) ACTUAL: 12%
Computer (3%) 6%
RRSP (6%) ACTUAL: 14%
Travel Fund (3%) ACTUAL: 12%
TOTAL (52%) ACTUAL 72%
So I overspent what I earned this month by about 12% but this was because I had some extra money in the bank to be able to play with. I'm happy with the way this month went. I'm very excited about April since it's a 3 paycheque month and I plan to do a lot more saving. Hopefully reaching 4 of my financial goals if my income tax return cheque comes next month!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Updates
My brother's best friend is the captain of the local junior A team here. It's pretty intense and they are in the finals. I decided to support him finally this weekend and dragged D to a game with me. It was awesome! They won in second overtime!
D got pretty into it and wanted to see the game on Sunday too. So we did and again they went into overtime and won! Great games! The games cost $10 per person to attend which was totally worth it.
We have some more dates planned this week that I'm excited for. We are going to see Rango tonight at the local theatre, and Wednesday we are going to a concert in, and Thursday we will watch game 6 if they do not win the series tonight.
Work has been great. I worked everyday last week and I have worked both days this week (although half days) so far.
I've been looking at my budget for my expected income for the month of April. I actually have money to work with with the expected tax return and 3 paycheques. It's fun to play around with.
I've also applied to a couple jobs. I applied for a census job and have to go for a test on Monday, I also applied to a construction company. I am trying to think of places that are seasonal and do not include weekends. We'll see how things turn out.
D got pretty into it and wanted to see the game on Sunday too. So we did and again they went into overtime and won! Great games! The games cost $10 per person to attend which was totally worth it.
We have some more dates planned this week that I'm excited for. We are going to see Rango tonight at the local theatre, and Wednesday we are going to a concert in, and Thursday we will watch game 6 if they do not win the series tonight.
Work has been great. I worked everyday last week and I have worked both days this week (although half days) so far.
I've been looking at my budget for my expected income for the month of April. I actually have money to work with with the expected tax return and 3 paycheques. It's fun to play around with.
I've also applied to a couple jobs. I applied for a census job and have to go for a test on Monday, I also applied to a construction company. I am trying to think of places that are seasonal and do not include weekends. We'll see how things turn out.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Income Tax Time! Where to put it?
I gathered my forms and receipts to give to my dad who does my income tax. I told my parents the amount of income tax I paid and what I earned and they said that I will likely end up owing this year because so little income tax was taken off from my rec centre job ($14 total for 2010!).
I used one of those online estimators where you plug in some of the numbers on your forms and it showed that I was going to OWE just over $3600.
I was scared. However I also knew I had some saved up tuition credits and student loan interest so knew it would be at least slightly under that amount. Geeze, that would be half of my TFSA I'd have to pay!
Anyway, my dad filed my taxes and I ended up with a return of about $2000. Close to what I received last year. However now I have hardly any tuition credits or student loan interest credits left for next year so I will likely end up owing next year if I don't ask my employers to take off more income tax each pay period.
But now the "fun" part comes, what to spend it on?!?! I think I'll just end up saving most of it. I THINK I'm going to put $1000 into an RRSP, $500 to TFSA, $150 to Christmas, $100 to Computer Fund, and $150 to Travel Fund. There will still be about $100 leftover so that will go toward the necklace I've been wanting lol.
Hope it's delivered soon!
I used one of those online estimators where you plug in some of the numbers on your forms and it showed that I was going to OWE just over $3600.
I was scared. However I also knew I had some saved up tuition credits and student loan interest so knew it would be at least slightly under that amount. Geeze, that would be half of my TFSA I'd have to pay!
Anyway, my dad filed my taxes and I ended up with a return of about $2000. Close to what I received last year. However now I have hardly any tuition credits or student loan interest credits left for next year so I will likely end up owing next year if I don't ask my employers to take off more income tax each pay period.
But now the "fun" part comes, what to spend it on?!?! I think I'll just end up saving most of it. I THINK I'm going to put $1000 into an RRSP, $500 to TFSA, $150 to Christmas, $100 to Computer Fund, and $150 to Travel Fund. There will still be about $100 leftover so that will go toward the necklace I've been wanting lol.
Hope it's delivered soon!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Vegas Trip Pressure
My best friend is also my cousin. She lives in Toronto. She and our uncle have decided to go on a Vegas trip. Why Vegas? I'm not too sure but I'm assuming because it's sunnier than here and relatively cheap.
She wants me to come. Really bad. However, I am not really into the gambling or bar scene which is really what most people go to Vegas for. She priced it out and they are going for 4 days in May and it will be a total of $500 for hotel, flight and taxes. I told her I just went on a vacation and my parents think I might even OWE income tax this year (I paid very little into it on my one job) so I'm not really interested.
Well today our uncle calls me and leaves a long voice message trying to convince me to come for her. He said if money is an issue that he will pay and I can take my time paying him back.
But really, I'm not that interested in Vegas. I'd love to go on a trip with my best friend, but to Vegas, not so much. I think I'd rather put that $500+ toward an RSP or different vacation fund. I feel sort of bad saying no because I potentially COULD afford it (almost have that much saved in vacation fund), I just don't want to drain it on Vegas and lose 4 days of work.
Ah, pressure though!
She wants me to come. Really bad. However, I am not really into the gambling or bar scene which is really what most people go to Vegas for. She priced it out and they are going for 4 days in May and it will be a total of $500 for hotel, flight and taxes. I told her I just went on a vacation and my parents think I might even OWE income tax this year (I paid very little into it on my one job) so I'm not really interested.
Well today our uncle calls me and leaves a long voice message trying to convince me to come for her. He said if money is an issue that he will pay and I can take my time paying him back.
But really, I'm not that interested in Vegas. I'd love to go on a trip with my best friend, but to Vegas, not so much. I think I'd rather put that $500+ toward an RSP or different vacation fund. I feel sort of bad saying no because I potentially COULD afford it (almost have that much saved in vacation fund), I just don't want to drain it on Vegas and lose 4 days of work.
Ah, pressure though!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Greed
7 of my most worldly desires!
Come join in with this tag! What are your most worldly material desires?
Day 1 - Pride. Seven great things about yourself.
Day 2 - Envy. Seven things you lack and covet.
Day 3 - Wrath. Seven things that piss you off.
Day 4 - Sloth. Seven things you neglect to do.
Day 5 - Greed. Seven worldly material desires.
Day 6 - Gluttony. Seven guilty pleasures.
Day 7 - Lust. Seven love secrets.
I would love to have my own place. It can be a small house or an apartment. But a place not living at home would be great. Unfortunately right now I just can't afford the monthly payments with an income that is so unpredictable. I don't need anything huge, just a place of my own.
This necklace. I think it's really pretty and I've been eyeing it for a while now. I think I'm going to actually get this material desire in a couple of months after I have saved up for it a bit more and if still want it.
A car. Mine is now 12 years old and I'm not sure how much time is left in it. A new-to-me car would just be sooo nice. I don't want an expensive car or anything, just something that isn't rusty and can get me from point A to point B with no problems.
I would really like to go SCUBA diving again somewhere. I would LOVE to see a sea turtle as well. Maybe Thailand or Australia, but really I would go anywhere! Does this one count as a material desire?
A smartphone. My phone is an old flip phone and if someone sends me a long text it won't send the 3rd part. It sometimes just turns off for no reason as well. I don't think I would get a data plan but would enjoy the ability to play games and music.
An SLR camera. I think these are a great investment. I would like to have one before I go on a major vacation or have kids. The pictures just look soo much nicer than a point and shoot. I love my point and shoot as well but an SLR has it's place.
A Macbook. My computer is so frustrating. It shuts down constantly when I'm using it. Macs are what my school board uses as well so it would be nice to be a little more comfortable with the programs. Okay, really I want one just to play around with photobooth!
Come join in with this tag! What are your most worldly material desires?
Day 1 - Pride. Seven great things about yourself.
Day 2 - Envy. Seven things you lack and covet.
Day 3 - Wrath. Seven things that piss you off.
Day 4 - Sloth. Seven things you neglect to do.
Day 5 - Greed. Seven worldly material desires.
Day 6 - Gluttony. Seven guilty pleasures.
Day 7 - Lust. Seven love secrets.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Sloth
Ah, I think we all have things we neglect to do that we really should get on more often.
Putting away folded laundry. I actually enjoy doing laundry. I don't even mind folding laundry. But I despise putting it away. I often will just leave it folded in the laundry basket and pull out of there for a day or two before I put it away.
Making MY bed. I don't do it unless I know someone is going to come over. What's the point!? However I'm weird and I always make my boyfriend's bed.
Donating items I no longer use. I have no problem donating them, but it's going through the items and deciding whether I really need to hold on to it or if I am ever going to use it again. I generally think there is going to be a time when I'm going to use it and want to keep it around even if I have not used/worn it in over a year.
Cooking. I LOVE to bake, but cooking is not my favourite thing. Sometimes I get in cooking moods but generally I am satisfied in making a nutella sandwich or something else quick and easy to make. It leads to unhealthy eating...
Exercise. I find it really hard to motivate myself to exercise. I wish I had more of a drive for it. I also think that I can do things that I used to be able to like run a kilometre or do situps non-stop when I just can't anymore. It's sad that I'm getting out of shape! Need to find the motivation for this one.
Keep contact with old friends. I'm not great at doing this when I don't see friends regularly. Certain ones I will make sure that I take time to meet up or e-mail but others I have just let go. There really isn't many excuses with all the social networking available now too. I love it when an old friend adds me to facebook and asks how things are, I should do the same.
Finishing tasks I have started. Oh I am great at starting new projects but I'm horrible at finishing them. I don't know why this is, I have several unfinished projects I really just need to get done. One day...
Come join in with this tag! What are things you neglect to do?
Day 1 - Pride. Seven great things about yourself.
Day 2 - Envy. Seven things you lack and covet.
Day 3 - Wrath. Seven things that piss you off.
Day 4 - Sloth. Seven things you neglect to do.
Day 5 - Greed. Seven worldly material desires.
Day 6 - Gluttony. Seven guilty pleasures.
Day 7 - Lust. Seven love secrets.
Putting away folded laundry. I actually enjoy doing laundry. I don't even mind folding laundry. But I despise putting it away. I often will just leave it folded in the laundry basket and pull out of there for a day or two before I put it away.
Making MY bed. I don't do it unless I know someone is going to come over. What's the point!? However I'm weird and I always make my boyfriend's bed.
Donating items I no longer use. I have no problem donating them, but it's going through the items and deciding whether I really need to hold on to it or if I am ever going to use it again. I generally think there is going to be a time when I'm going to use it and want to keep it around even if I have not used/worn it in over a year.
Cooking. I LOVE to bake, but cooking is not my favourite thing. Sometimes I get in cooking moods but generally I am satisfied in making a nutella sandwich or something else quick and easy to make. It leads to unhealthy eating...
Exercise. I find it really hard to motivate myself to exercise. I wish I had more of a drive for it. I also think that I can do things that I used to be able to like run a kilometre or do situps non-stop when I just can't anymore. It's sad that I'm getting out of shape! Need to find the motivation for this one.
Keep contact with old friends. I'm not great at doing this when I don't see friends regularly. Certain ones I will make sure that I take time to meet up or e-mail but others I have just let go. There really isn't many excuses with all the social networking available now too. I love it when an old friend adds me to facebook and asks how things are, I should do the same.
Finishing tasks I have started. Oh I am great at starting new projects but I'm horrible at finishing them. I don't know why this is, I have several unfinished projects I really just need to get done. One day...
Come join in with this tag! What are things you neglect to do?
Day 1 - Pride. Seven great things about yourself.
Day 2 - Envy. Seven things you lack and covet.
Day 3 - Wrath. Seven things that piss you off.
Day 4 - Sloth. Seven things you neglect to do.
Day 5 - Greed. Seven worldly material desires.
Day 6 - Gluttony. Seven guilty pleasures.
Day 7 - Lust. Seven love secrets.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Added To The Funds :) To Buy A Necklace??
Friday was pay day and so I added to the funds. Added $100 to the TFSA, $100 to Christmas fund, $50 toward the Computer fund, $100 toward the Travel fund, and $250 toward an RSP. I had another $100 that could have gone toward one of these goals, but I am thinking that I am going to just save it in my regular bank account and start saving up for a necklace I really would like.
It's the Tiffany's bow pendant necklace I posted a picture of on things I want a couple of days ago. I want the mini one since it's cheaper and I think small is more my style. I priced it and it's $150, plus $22 of HST. But since the nearest Tiffany's is over 2 hours away I think I will also have to have it shipped which is another $20. For a total of about $192 for one necklace.
I think I will continue to save for it using my regular bank account but see whether I still really want it in a month or two before I decide whether to actually purchase it or put that money toward a different goal. Hmmm is it worth it? What's the most you have spent on jewellery for yourself?
It's the Tiffany's bow pendant necklace I posted a picture of on things I want a couple of days ago. I want the mini one since it's cheaper and I think small is more my style. I priced it and it's $150, plus $22 of HST. But since the nearest Tiffany's is over 2 hours away I think I will also have to have it shipped which is another $20. For a total of about $192 for one necklace.
I think I will continue to save for it using my regular bank account but see whether I still really want it in a month or two before I decide whether to actually purchase it or put that money toward a different goal. Hmmm is it worth it? What's the most you have spent on jewellery for yourself?
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