http://robex.savingadvice.com A journal of my actions to become financially independent and attain early retirement webmaster@savingadvice.com en-us http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/05/29/im-getting-a-raise_26602/ My boss told me yesterday that I'll be getting a $1.00 an hour pay raise in September when I re-sign my contract (I work September through June). Yay! The other 11 Coordinators who hold my position will be getting .50 cent raises, so she suggested to me that I not share my increase... Tue, 29 May 2007 16:08:23 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/05/28/grade-7-camp_26543/ I spent last week at camp with my oldest son and the three grade 7 classes from his school. It was an absolute blast. The camp was actually a ranch and we went rock climbing, horse back riding and did archery. There was an amazing challenge course there where we had to climb over... Mon, 28 May 2007 06:53:39 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/05/20/emergence-fund_26228/ I transferred money from our checking into our savings yesterday and we now have our emergency fund full again. This was after my little car repair in March and the new car purchase in April when I had to borrow from the account. I always feel so much better when I have a full 3... Sun, 20 May 2007 04:26:09 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/05/17/purse-shopping_26121/ I've been keeping my eyes open for a new summer purse. My winter handbag is big and black...not acceptable for summer clothes and weather. So far, nothing had caught my eye~until yesterday. I drove my brother to the airport and one of the kiosks there sells purses. There it was,... Thu, 17 May 2007 06:50:33 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/05/11/proud-of-ds_25917/ We got a letter yesterday from the high school stating that our 13 year old ds has qualified for the Honours Program in all academic courses! Woo Hoo! I am so proud of him...This means that he will take honours English, social studies, math, French and science and have regular phys... Fri, 11 May 2007 06:39:59 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/05/09/40-left_25838/ We have $40 left out of our $300 this week. Dh will probably take $10 or so, and I need to pick up a few things for dd's birthday party on Friday night. Ds7 has a friend's party to attend on Saturday, so we'll have to get a gift for that as well...I may take our weekly $300 out on... Wed, 09 May 2007 05:16:47 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/05/04/tgif_25668/ So, my $300 is all used up for the week...right down to the crunch! <br /> <br /> Thank goodness a new spending week starts today. I'm off to the bank to take out our money and I do have to pick up a few things from the grocery store, but nothing major until tomorrow or Sunday after I've done... Fri, 04 May 2007 15:25:39 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/05/02/i-love-my-dad_25592/ I opened the mail today and my Dad sent me an envelope with a cheque inside for $5000...no note or anything. <br /> <br /> I talked to him later in the day and he said it was 'just because'. Hmmm...now he does do this every so often, but it's usually because he's sold some property, or lent... Wed, 02 May 2007 19:46:30 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/04/30/monday-blues_25474/ Yuck! It's Monday...<br /> <br /> We had such a nice weekend that I didn't want it to end and just knowing that I have an extremely busy week does not help matters. <br /> <br /> Dh and I had a wonderful walk on Saturday and we went for lunch at very good Greek restaurant. We came home and relaxed,... Mon, 30 Apr 2007 05:56:31 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/04/28/saturday_25413/ I took out $290 yesterday for the week, spent $140 at the grocery store and gave $50 to Dh.<br /> <br /> It's going to be ahrd to spend anymore money because I'll have to break my $100 bill.<br /> <br /> Youngest ds and dd are going to their grandparent's for a sleepover today. Dh and I are going to... Sat, 28 Apr 2007 08:27:57 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/04/26/no-spend-day_25356/ Another no spend day for me...mainly because I have no money to spend until tomorrow. Yesterday I was treated to lunch by our company (sushi--yum!) and so I haven't actually spent any money in 4 days. Tomorrow is Friday so I'll start off with $290 (still owe Visa $10 for my brother...see... Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:05:47 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/04/25/dh-cheated-on-me_25295/ Yes he did. He cheated and used the Visa! What a brat. He and my brother went to the bar to watch the hockey game on Monday and Dh paid for their drinks and snacks with the Visa. He told me this yesterday and was quite pleased with himself because he paid and now I don't owe my... Wed, 25 Apr 2007 06:34:00 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/04/23/down-10-for-the-week_25213/ My brother and I went shopping yesterday for stepmom's 60th birthday gift...ended up buying her two antique perfume bottles (she collects them) and a large bottle of the new Starbucks coffee liqueur (yummy!). The total cost was $60...my brother paid and now I owe him $30, which is... Mon, 23 Apr 2007 06:53:24 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/04/22/running-out-of-money_25177/ Uh Oh! Yesterday was not good for my weekly $300! Youngest ds had a haircut ($12.00) and I bought 3 hot dogs and a DVD at the neighbourhood garage sale ($5.00). I took Ds13 shopping and bought him 3 t-shirts, 3 pairs of shorts, and a newspaper cart for $80.39. I gave him $20 for... Sun, 22 Apr 2007 10:19:58 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/04/21/saturday_25140/ Yay! The weekend is here! I couldn't wait to get here...long week.<br /> <br /> I took our $300 out for the week yesterday and added it to the $10 I had in my wallet. Youngest ds and I did the weekly grocery shopping...spent $140 there. Put $20 in the hidden envelope, and gave $50 to Dh... Sat, 21 Apr 2007 08:50:33 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/04/20/300-update_25098/ I ended up being treated to breakfast yesterday, so it was at no cost to me. I didn't spend any of my $17! However, Dh took $15 to buy beer for himself and my brother...hockey game was on and Canucks were playing. So, I'm down to $2 plus the hidden $20. We made it through the week... Fri, 20 Apr 2007 06:17:52 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/04/18/still-17_25036/ WooHoo! I made Dh breakfast this morning...coffee, orange juice, poached eggs and toast. We then went out for a 10Km hike, walked around some antique stores, looked at a couple of new houses for sale and came home for lunch!<br /> <br /> Dh had a evening meeting last night and they'd ordered... Wed, 18 Apr 2007 13:43:18 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/04/17/down-to-23_25001/ So, I left off on Sunday with $63.00 left of our $300 for the week. I tucked $20 away (just in case), spent $6 on tickets for the school musical, and gave $20 to Dh. I have $17 left in my wallet...plus the hidden $20 if I need it.<br /> <br /> Dh and I both have tomorrow off of work and are... Tue, 17 Apr 2007 18:15:37 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/04/16/fun-with-finances_24959/ We are back to cash only. We have slipped up a fair bit the last few months and haven't put as much in savings as I like.<br /> <br /> I will be taking $300 cash out of the bank every Friday and that will be it for the five of us for the week. This will include groceries, clothes, eating out,... Mon, 16 Apr 2007 11:29:44 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex) http://robex.savingadvice.com/2007/04/16/easy-day_24944/ Well, I'm going to pretty much work from home today. I have two schools to visit, one this morning and one right after lunch and both are pretty close to my house so I'll come home inbetween and do some work.<br /> <br /> We're having chicken soup for dinner and I think I'm going to bake some... Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:47:36 PST robex@shaw.ca (robex)