$400 Deposit to Australia Trip Fund

Last week I hit my goal for my Aussi EFund but I still need to stash away some more dough for the actual trip. I set my goal for $3000. Today I managed to save $400 towards this goal bringing me to a total of $700 in that fund which is 23% of my goal.

Taking French Classes

For the last few years I've been considering French classes. BF is originally from Quebec and his entire family and all his friends are of course French speaking. The one time we went to visit was hard for me because a lot of the time I was very silent and could not communicate with anyone. I usually joke around a lot and everything I said was just lost on them. It was frustrating not being able to present myself the way I would like to and left me very frustrated.

I would really like to be able to talk to BF's mom and get to know everyone better. One day we plan to live in Quebec for a few years and I really think it would help me out if I started to learn it now.

The only classes I've seen listed are fairly expensive and week days at weird times. Today though it occurred to me that we have a Francophone Society here and that maybe they would have a suggestion. Turns out they have classes starting Sept 12 that are once a week for a few hours on Saturday. Perfect! Then I asked about fees and she told me its $85 for the 8 week program if I'm a member and $115 if I'm not. The membership fees for one year would be $15 for me and $10 for BF which is still $10 cheaper than paying the non member course fee.

Yay! I'm pretty happy to have found this course. I'm going to print out the forms and go down there next week after I talk it over with BF.

Thinking about the Future

Right now my main focus is to prepare for this year long journey to Australia. After that I need to have some money saved for whatever comes next. We really don't know at this time where we'll be living but there are some general goals we have in mind that we can save for.

I have thought about some things I would like to achieve in the next five years and have decided to base my financial goals around that. I don't want to overwhelm myself though so I'll most likely be focusing on one goal at a time much like how I paid off my debt.

I am going to update my sidebars to include 7 financial goals:

Australia EFund - $5000 -This is already 100% funded. I'm hoping to use this money as a reserve only in Australia. I may dip into it to help fund the van we are planning to buy to live out of and travel in over the year. The money that is left over when we return will probably be allotted to a regular EFund.

Australia Trip Fund - $3000 - This money will pay for things before and during the trip. We plan to work throughout the trip as to not dip into our reserved money. This money will include paying for my plane ticket as well.

Future Funds

RRSP Fund - $20,000 - This number is based on the amount I am currently allowed to save based on my last tax assessment. I have not yet started saving towards my retirement which is horrible because I've known the importance of this since I was 14. Bad Dolly! I do plan to put some money in this fund before I go to cover any money that may be due this next year as my taxes will be done late obviously and I don't want to pay interest.

Education/Entrepreneurial Fund - $5000 - I don't want to be a pharmacy technician my whole life. I would really like to go back to school or start up my own business. When I was younger the only thing that held me back from both of these was lack of funds. I don't want to ever come across that problem again.

Future Home Fund - $10,000 - Ten thousand dollars is not a lot I know but BF will also be saving money towards the purchase of a home. I just want to have at least some money put away towards buying a home because its a big dream of mine. I hate paying rent and not having the freedom to make my home mine. We were able to plant a small garden here but I want a place where I can plant a huge garden and build a small green house. I find some of my favorite moments with BF are spent out enjoying the yard. Plus, when we get back we want a puppy!

Wedding Fund - $10,000 - If BF and I can survive a year traveling together in a tiny van we will know we are ready to get married. We differ on our ideas of a wedding. BF wants the big church wedding and I want the small destination wedding. Hmm... we have almost come to an agreement with an outdoor wedding, lol. Problem being my family is on one side of Canada and his the other. We'll work it out some way.

TFSA - $5000 - This number will change each year as I'm allowed to put more into it. Saving for the future is important to me and I want to save what I can to make sure BF and I are secure financially.

It is quite obvious that I'm not going to be able to save all this money in the next year. These are long term goals for me. In the next few months I plan to fully fund the Australia Trip Fund and put some cash into retirement savings before we leave.

$5000 Goal Reached!

I am ecstatic to announce the completion of my first savings goal! There was a time when I had a list of debts that I would cross off one at a time. Now I'm crossing off a list of goals to make my future secure. This is the first savings goal I have reached. I have never had $5000 in savings in my entire life and I could not be any prouder of myself.

Australia is one giant step closer!

Contemplation

Hello readers. Or rather any readers I still have left. I know I've been gone for some time now with no explanation but I really needed the time away.

On June 1st the most important person in my life passed away after a short battle with small cell carcinoma. My Grandfather was the most amazing person I ever knew and I don't know how I'll ever be able to get past that moment. I was fortunate to be there during his final hours and to say my peace at his service on June 20th. I'll never stop missing him.

The dividing of the estate showed some nasty qualities from members of my family. I tried to distance myself from the process and refocus my family on honoring his memory and spending time together. I have set up a family memorial camp weekend in August to celebrate his memory.

I dedicate this song to my Grandfather.

Losing someone so close to your own heart can really freeze you in your tracks and make you question a lot of things in your life. It's time to get myself back in order and make him proud.

Thank you for your support.