I gamble every once in a while. I like to buy the occassional scratch ticket, and I buy Tim Horton's hot chocolate only when the Roll up the Rim to Win is taking place. I have been to the casino twice in my life. Once when I turned 19, and I broke even. One other time I went with BF, and I spent about $10 but we listened to a cover band so it was fun.
My roommate and her boyfriend are coming up to my town on Friday. She has mentioned to me in a text that she wouldn't mind going to the casino that is about 45 minutes from my house. I haven't replied. I'm not sure if I want to go really. She said she wants to play the tables, I don't even know how to play any of those games! I might tag along for fun and play a bit. I'll limit myself though, $20 perhaps. Hmmmm.
Have you ever gambled? Do you gamble often? How much do you usually spend when you go to a casino? Have you ever come home with more than you left with? Do you play the tables or the slots?
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Junk Food is Addictive
It's true. They just did a study on it, with the results in the news today. It's as addictive as cocaine!!
Scientists used rats to study the effect of junk food on the brain. Rats were given access to junk food and they found that the pleasure centres of the brain reacted in the same way as when rats are given illegal drugs like cocaine. Rats that did not have access to the junk food did not have the same changes in brain activity.
The scientists also SHOCKED the rats on their feet to let them know it was time to stop eating junk food. The ones with full access to junk food kept on eating even when they knew they would be shocked. The healthy rats with an hour access to junk food quit eating it when they knew a shock was coming. Smart little suckers!!
When the junk food was taken from the rats' diets the junk food rats went on a hunger strike! They refused to eat anything! They also experiences withdrawal-like symptoms.
It's interesting. I love junk food! I don't think I could refrain from eating another potato chip or chocolate even if I wanted to, I just do not have that kind of willpower. It's kinda scary how it is AS addictive as cocaine though. I think moderation is key!
More on the study here.
Scientists used rats to study the effect of junk food on the brain. Rats were given access to junk food and they found that the pleasure centres of the brain reacted in the same way as when rats are given illegal drugs like cocaine. Rats that did not have access to the junk food did not have the same changes in brain activity.
The scientists also SHOCKED the rats on their feet to let them know it was time to stop eating junk food. The ones with full access to junk food kept on eating even when they knew they would be shocked. The healthy rats with an hour access to junk food quit eating it when they knew a shock was coming. Smart little suckers!!
When the junk food was taken from the rats' diets the junk food rats went on a hunger strike! They refused to eat anything! They also experiences withdrawal-like symptoms.
It's interesting. I love junk food! I don't think I could refrain from eating another potato chip or chocolate even if I wanted to, I just do not have that kind of willpower. It's kinda scary how it is AS addictive as cocaine though. I think moderation is key!
More on the study here.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Weekend Recap
BF came on Thursday evening and just left about 2 hours ago. We had a nice weekend. We watched some TTDUP, played some wii, watched a new show he likes Breaking Bad, he watched a chickflick with me, we cooked my family supper together, had a fancy drink night, played some bingo lottery tickets, hung out with family, did some grocery shopping, ordered supper one night. We went to my storage unit and went through a lot of my stuff there and picked what we wanted to keep for the apartment this summer and what to give away or discard. He ended up taking quite a bit back with him, mostly kitchen supplies. We also spent an hour talking with my family and neighbours listening to a wind-up radio in candlelight for Earth Hour last night. Did anyone else participate in Earth Hour? We had a nice time, it flew by quickly. I spent $10 on ordering supper, and $5 on lottery tickets, and $31 on groceries.
Next weekend is Easter. My cousin (best-friend) is coming up, it will be nice to see her. It's April too in just a few days! I don't remember a March being this warm ever! I remember a few years back though the snow had almost melted and on April Fool's Day we got a big snowfall! I wonder if that will happen again this year!!? I sure hope not, I'm enjoying the sunshine and lack of winter boots.
Next weekend is Easter. My cousin (best-friend) is coming up, it will be nice to see her. It's April too in just a few days! I don't remember a March being this warm ever! I remember a few years back though the snow had almost melted and on April Fool's Day we got a big snowfall! I wonder if that will happen again this year!!? I sure hope not, I'm enjoying the sunshine and lack of winter boots.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Bad Day Got Worse
I worked today in a Grade Five class. What an awful class! Such attitude! Some kids just flat out refused to do their work, one refused to even enter the class!! I don't think I've had a worse class. Both an EA and the French teacher made me feel better though when they told me it is like this EVERY DAY!!
After school I was driving home on the highway and I saw a school bus in the right lane with it's flashing lights and the stop sign come out. I was in the left lane at the time and I slowed to a stop. I was the first car stopped. I look in my rearview mirror and the car behind me comes to a quick stop but stops behind me. Then as I'm waiting for the bus to start moving again I hear SCREEEEEECHHH, I look in my rearview quickly and see a minivan coming toward us and I think I move my car up a bit (I forget) and I hear a huge CRASH and all I could see was the minivan crash into the car behind me and glass flying everywhere!
I sat in my car stunned for a few moments. The kids in the bus were shocked too watching the scene take place. I moved my car over to the right side of the highway and park off to the side. The mom who got her kids off the bus runs to the car that was smashed behind me. Thankfully no one was hurt in the accident, just shaken up. The woman driving the minivan was REALLY pregnant, at least 8 months I would say! I hope everything is okay with her and baby. She was on her phone walking after a few moments. The paramedics came and checked the two girls out and then the police came and took a statement from all four of us. SO THANKFUL that no one was hurt! Definitely shook me up, my knees and hands were shaking for the whole time I was on the side of the road.
Remember ALWAYS pay attention when driving! Stop for buses that are stopping and slow down when you see flashing lights. Also if you witness an accident occur, you should pull over, call 911, check to see if anyone is injured, and wait for the police to give your statement and information. Drive Safe!! :)
After school I was driving home on the highway and I saw a school bus in the right lane with it's flashing lights and the stop sign come out. I was in the left lane at the time and I slowed to a stop. I was the first car stopped. I look in my rearview mirror and the car behind me comes to a quick stop but stops behind me. Then as I'm waiting for the bus to start moving again I hear SCREEEEEECHHH, I look in my rearview quickly and see a minivan coming toward us and I think I move my car up a bit (I forget) and I hear a huge CRASH and all I could see was the minivan crash into the car behind me and glass flying everywhere!
I sat in my car stunned for a few moments. The kids in the bus were shocked too watching the scene take place. I moved my car over to the right side of the highway and park off to the side. The mom who got her kids off the bus runs to the car that was smashed behind me. Thankfully no one was hurt in the accident, just shaken up. The woman driving the minivan was REALLY pregnant, at least 8 months I would say! I hope everything is okay with her and baby. She was on her phone walking after a few moments. The paramedics came and checked the two girls out and then the police came and took a statement from all four of us. SO THANKFUL that no one was hurt! Definitely shook me up, my knees and hands were shaking for the whole time I was on the side of the road.
Remember ALWAYS pay attention when driving! Stop for buses that are stopping and slow down when you see flashing lights. Also if you witness an accident occur, you should pull over, call 911, check to see if anyone is injured, and wait for the police to give your statement and information. Drive Safe!! :)
Monday, March 22, 2010
Last Weekend and Looking Ahead
I didn't spend a cent! Woohoo!!! It was a bit of a boring weekend, I watched about 4 hours of Gene Simmons Family Jewels yesterday. But no spending too which makes me happy :)
BF is coming up this weekend and I want to take him out somewhere. I was thinking maybe a maple syrup farm if they are still in season, or go out to a movie. We'll decide later, but neither will be too expensive. He is going to come up Thursday and stay until Sunday.
I worked today. I was expecting no work at all this week since it's the week after March Break. The principal also asked me if I would work for one of his teachers on Thursday. Then another teacher came up and asked me if I was interested in covered him for 6 days in May. He wants to recommend me to his principals (he works at 2 different schools) because I work well and have been in for him a few times. That would be great if the principals are able to set that up, he said no guarantees that they will allow it though. It is very nice of them to even think of me for a job though!
April is a 3 paycheque month and a GST cheque month so I hope to put around $800 toward debt! Hope the work keeps coming in!!
BF is coming up this weekend and I want to take him out somewhere. I was thinking maybe a maple syrup farm if they are still in season, or go out to a movie. We'll decide later, but neither will be too expensive. He is going to come up Thursday and stay until Sunday.
I worked today. I was expecting no work at all this week since it's the week after March Break. The principal also asked me if I would work for one of his teachers on Thursday. Then another teacher came up and asked me if I was interested in covered him for 6 days in May. He wants to recommend me to his principals (he works at 2 different schools) because I work well and have been in for him a few times. That would be great if the principals are able to set that up, he said no guarantees that they will allow it though. It is very nice of them to even think of me for a job though!
April is a 3 paycheque month and a GST cheque month so I hope to put around $800 toward debt! Hope the work keeps coming in!!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Talk About It, Talk About It, Talk About It...
BF and I have been talking about money lately. He finally had a chat with his future employers (his mom and her business partner) about everything! His salary, benefits, rent, etc. Yes he will be living above where he is working. It's a REALLY nice small apartment and perfect location!
He has a bunch of money saved up, about $31,000 (he doesn't know the exact amount, but that's the minimum of what he has saved). Once he is finished school he will owe about $39,000 he says. So he figures he will pay off $30,000 right away (unless he decides to buy a car), but either way he will put a good chunk onto his balance. I also figure that once he starts working, he will have almost $1000 to put toward debt, as well as $600 a month toward savings. So he could be debt-free in less than a year!! Then he can have a little more fun with his money and start putting it toward a future fund and more into savings.
I also brought up the idea of opening a joint account together to start a "future fund." This fund could be put toward a wedding, honeymoon, house, etc. I said maybe we could both contribute $100 bi-weekly starting in the fall. He said it was a good idea. Then I thought maybe he could open a TFSA, and I could continue with mine and turn them into our "future funds" to earn a higher interest and it would be tax-free instead of the joint account. He liked this idea too, this would also allow us to contribute at our own rates (he will have a steady income, while mine is variable). Although I do still like the idea of being held more accountable to make sure I have that $100 bi-weekly and it would be nice to start a joint account too! Teamwork :)
Do you think a joint account or using our TFSA's would be better to use as a future fund? Also, do you think it would be wise to aggressively pay off his student loans, or would it be better to put more into savings or something else?
He has a bunch of money saved up, about $31,000 (he doesn't know the exact amount, but that's the minimum of what he has saved). Once he is finished school he will owe about $39,000 he says. So he figures he will pay off $30,000 right away (unless he decides to buy a car), but either way he will put a good chunk onto his balance. I also figure that once he starts working, he will have almost $1000 to put toward debt, as well as $600 a month toward savings. So he could be debt-free in less than a year!! Then he can have a little more fun with his money and start putting it toward a future fund and more into savings.
I also brought up the idea of opening a joint account together to start a "future fund." This fund could be put toward a wedding, honeymoon, house, etc. I said maybe we could both contribute $100 bi-weekly starting in the fall. He said it was a good idea. Then I thought maybe he could open a TFSA, and I could continue with mine and turn them into our "future funds" to earn a higher interest and it would be tax-free instead of the joint account. He liked this idea too, this would also allow us to contribute at our own rates (he will have a steady income, while mine is variable). Although I do still like the idea of being held more accountable to make sure I have that $100 bi-weekly and it would be nice to start a joint account too! Teamwork :)
Do you think a joint account or using our TFSA's would be better to use as a future fund? Also, do you think it would be wise to aggressively pay off his student loans, or would it be better to put more into savings or something else?
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Two Types of People...
My mom always tells me this before St. Patrick's day, "there are only two types of people in the world, those who are Irish, and those who wish they were."
Happy St. Patrick's Day!!
I'll be working at the rec centre making some Irish crafts and wearing green. When I was a kid my mom would put green food colouring in the mashed potatoes and even milk on St. Patrick's day. Do you do anything special for this little holiday? Are you Irish?
Happy St. Patrick's Day!!
I'll be working at the rec centre making some Irish crafts and wearing green. When I was a kid my mom would put green food colouring in the mashed potatoes and even milk on St. Patrick's day. Do you do anything special for this little holiday? Are you Irish?
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