Christmas Gifts

I still have a lot of shopping left to do! Why did I procrastinate this year??

D and I both have two days off this week so hopefully we can do some shopping together then. Especially shopping for parents and siblings. I bought D one thing so far, it was a board game that we have played with his sister and brother-in-law that we both like. He suggested the other day that maybe we should get our own copy. So I bought it and an expansion pack. It's called Settlers Of Catan. It's really cool, but ended up being $101 for both games.

I bought both of my roommates gifts and visited them this weekend. It was such a fun time. I forgot to pick up one of the gifts from one friend. The other roommate gave me a sewing bag, a card game called Dutch Blitz, a Christmas ornament, and some chocolate.

THANK YOU so much to my Secret Santa who turned out to be Annabelle gave me a book called Before I Go To Sleep which I am excited to start reading once I complete my current book, "The Half Blood Blues."

My brother came over on Friday and dropped me off the first part of my Christmas gift which he said was "time-sensitive." It turned out to be a bunch of Christmas themed baking items. A Christmas cake stand, a gingerbread flipper, Christmas cookie cutters, and some Christmas sprinkles. I look forward to some baking soon!

Speaking of baking, I made shortbread cookies, gingersnaps, and peanut butter butterscotch marshmallow squares on Friday. I had earlier done my nails...after I completed the squares I noticed that one of my nails was missing. I looked everywhere for it, but it MAY have ended up in the squares. I couldn't see it but didn't want to risk taking it to the party and have someone bite into a sticker nail! Ugh.

We have our Christmas tree up now. We picked it out last Sunday and chopped it down. It's all decorated in blue and silver balls. I put a star on the top which looked really nice for a couple of days but then it flopped over and turned into a falling star. We both haven't fixed it since it makes me laugh looking at it. Eventually we will trim it and fix it though.

Because we have so many Christmases to go to this year and travelling to do I suggested we do a small family Christmas on Christmas Eve instead since we were going to be travelling to the Niagara region for Christmas this year. My parents were good with that. I booked the time off work, and received the new schedule on Saturday. They booked me in and pretty much every other server. I asked if I could request to be one of the first people cut that day since I was supposed to be having Christmas with my family then, and the manager turned angry but said she would consider it. I spoke with my parents today and we are going to do a lunch Christmas together and then I can work and we can leave for Niagara afterward.

I am beginning to think of my new years goals for 2012. What are your new years resolutions/goals?

November Spending!

Wow, November was a crazy month. Hence the lack of postings. I hope to do more in the new year since I think December will be a bit crazy as well. D and I moved in together in November! I started a new serving job. With moving in came a lot of immediate expenses and things we needed to purchase for the apartment.

Rent ACTUAL: 13%
Car and Gas (15%) ACTUAL: 4%
Phone (4%) ACTUAL: 2%
Food (4%) ACTUAL: 10%
Restaurant (4%) ACTUAL: 4%
Personal/Medical (6%) ACTUAL 2% Prescription
Clothing (5%) ACTUAL: 4%
Gifts (2%) ACTUAL 1%
Education (2%) ACTUAL 0%
Entertainment (4%) ACTUAL 3%
Everything Else (3%) ACTUAL: 23% Ah!! I bought a dining table and chairs, and then some stuff for the apartment. Toaster, garbage cans, some kitchen items, Christmas tree decorations.

TOTAL (48%) ACTUAL 66%!! Ouch...

TFSA (35%) ACTUAL: 17%
Christmas (5%) ACTUAL: 0% Done with this category now
Computer (3%) ACTUAL: 0%
RRSP (6%) ACTUAL: 0%
Travel Fund (3%) ACTUAL: 0%

TOTAL (52%) ACTUAL 17% Glad I was able to manage some...


We haven't even paid our first hydro or internet bill yet! I am curious to see what those will be like... For December I hope to keep spending to a minimum, except for Christmas gifts. I have saved $800 for Christmas. I hope to keep my spending around that, if not lower. I have very few ideas for people though so it might be a little hectic Christmas shopping this year! 

New Canadian Bills

Have you seen the new bills yet? I didn't even know they were making new ones. They are PLASTIC, and transparent. I saw a $100 bill the other day at work. I like them! What do you think?

Losing Money

Glad I worked nearly everyday this summer. I have not been getting enough work this year teaching. It's been a slow start and a lot slower than previous years. Doesn't help that today is a snow-day and my job was cancelled. As much as I am disliking parts of my serving job it's really helping financially. Along with what I was able to save from this summer.

Updates there. I have added an additional $1000 to my EF. I thought living on my own I should increase it just in case. So it's at $2500, it's actually at $3000 but I am giving myself some leeway to go a bit above and below.

My serving job made me really upset on Saturday. I had a pretty good day, people were nice. Although I did get one no-tip. When a person does not tip. That means I OWE the kitchen, plus I'm already making under provincial minimum wage so it kind of sucks. Anyway overall that day I was doing alright. Then I get a group of 15....15 fifteen year olds. All worked out they all wanted separate bills which takes forever to process. Kids are leaving as I am processing payments. I assume they left money on the table. Most did....two did not. One was just a pop, and $2, the other was a big order and $37. They just left. I didn't know what to do in this situation and asked my manager. She said I was going to have to pay.

Other kids at the same table left no tip, so my tips I did earn throughout the day also went to paying the kitchen staff, then with two non-payments I made no money that day. It sucked. It made me so angry that people would actually do that. Sunday night my manager said that she is going to try to contact one of the kids who she knows that was at that table, and if the person doesn't end up paying she will give me half of my money back. Still sucks that I have to pay anything for someone else skipping on their bill. Ugh!

Christmas Is Coming!!

I have saved for Christmas. Hopefully enough! I saved $800. I was hoping earlier this year that I wouldn't even spend that full amount but it all depends really. I really need to get some shopping done though!!

My mom mentioned to me about a week or so ago that my dad would be interested in an ipod touch for Christmas. She said she knows it's a big item so if the three of us kids wanted to split on it that we could get it for both of them to share and that would be more than enough.

I thought that it would be a good idea for my dad, but we could get something else for my mom. I texted my brothers about it. The first one replied saying he's in. It would be about $75 each. The other one wouldn't respond to me. Then Friday we went out for my dad's birthday and went back to their house for some drinks. They went to visit the neighbour and my brother came by and showed me that he bought them an ipad!

It was a Black Friday sale. It was $460. He said he is cool with us still paying $75 toward it or we can do whatever really. I think they will be pretty impressed with it.

I do not know what to get the other members of my family, or D, or D's family. I just need to get out there and start looking or getting hints on what they want. I don't even know what is on my own list!

Updates

Since moving in things have been pretty good. We picked up a table and chairs on Saturday and put it together. Went to my aunts for supper then my friend and her boyfriend came over. It was nice. They brought a candle as a housewarming gift which was nice. 

D's parents came over this weekend bringing plants and muffins mmm!! 

We saw Puss in Boots on Monday. Nice to have a date night! Last night we watched a war movie, we meant to on Friday for Remembrance day but lacked time. 

D's been keeping up with the dishes which is good. The place is growing on me more and more. We need skinny nightstands since the space where our bed is doesn't leave much room for nightstands. We want to make a TV stand and a kitchen hutch type of thing with a drawer since there are NO drawers in the kitchen. We have our cutlery in a cupboard right now haha.

D bought a swiffer vacuum yesterday. It's funny the things you get excited about now. It's fun to use though. 

My mom and the dog came over for a visit last night. She helped me put up our first curtain. We have almost 11 ft ceilings here so it was tricky with no ladder!!

I'm not too sure about my new serving job. I asked for 4 Monday evenings off to take my ASL class, and I asked for this weekend off to see D's sister's show 2 weeks in advance in a book where you book time off. The manager scheduled me to work everyday that I asked off. I asked around and was able to get all my shifts switched and asked the manager about it. She was NOT IMPRESSED. She said she expects us to work the days we are scheduled, and she can easily just hire someone else if we're going to always switch our shifts. She did it for me this week but said I can't be expecting her to do it again. Ugh. I might just quit if they have an issue with it. They are NOT nice there. The other manager was so rude when he asked what ASL meant, showing me the middle finger when I told him about it, saying he knows sign language too.

I got my $1100 last week! Finally. I haven't put any money into savings this month, it's been a rough month with spending since there is a lot to spend when first starting out. And Christmas is next month!! NEED TO START CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!!!!

We're Moved In!!

Almost...there are still a few more things I would like to get from my parents. D is completely moved in and he actually has a few things he might want to RETURN to his parents. He has a lot of sports equipment here and it takes up a ton of space.

I have done two grocery shopping trips. It's a lot to buy when you first move in. We are mostly set up now. We got internet on Saturday!

We need a few more things like CURTAINS, and extension cords but we can manage with the rest we have for now. I bought a toaster yesterday and D got a love seat from his friend from work. I bought a dining table and chairs that we will pick up on Saturday. Nothing is pretty or matches but that's alright. It's fun to live with him.

Work has been going okay. I liked the other restaurant more, it was more organized for a server but in time I will get this one too. I am done my training and have had one shift so far. I have another tonight and tomorrow night so hope they go well!

I am still missing $1100 from a one-on-one job I did this summer. It's frustrating! I have called a number of times, just left another message so hope something is worked out soon!