Well I opened a TFSA tonight with ING. It was pretty easy to get started. That's what I love about ING. One of my 30B43o goals is to have $1000 saved in that account. With 13 months to go I have full confidence I'll be able to meet my goal. I've started out with a $100 and it feels really good to be saving again. The interest rate is currently at 1.5% though. :( Still, its better than nothing.
I'm thinking I will use this as my EFund. I want to reevaluate my savings goal. Well, my goals in general. What do you use your TFSA for?
Showing posts with label 30B430. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 30B430. Show all posts
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
30 B4 30 Goals Update # 2
I have not been very good at posting my updates on the 30th of each month. Eek. I'm on top of it this month though! I'm very happy to share with you my progress made over the last two months since my last update. I added one more country to my list. I got to spend one full week in Mexico to participate in one of my besties wedding. It was very different from the traveling I've been used to. It was pretty awesome though. You have to love an all inclusive week with a group of amazing people. I will definitely want to go back for a more cultural experience in the future though :)
Okay so I didnt make a lot of progress but it was sure a lot of fun.
**********
For the month of April I would like to scratch off a goal that has been driving me crazy since I was a teenager. I need to start my retirement savings. I mean really.... what has stopped me? So if I complete only that one thing I will be happy and fulfilled but I'm hoping I can find something else to knock off as well. Its a good month to start because its a 3 payday month and I hope to start getting back on track with my money pretty quick here.
I also need to get on that goal of writing a letter to myself. April here I come.
Okay so I didnt make a lot of progress but it was sure a lot of fun.
**********
For the month of April I would like to scratch off a goal that has been driving me crazy since I was a teenager. I need to start my retirement savings. I mean really.... what has stopped me? So if I complete only that one thing I will be happy and fulfilled but I'm hoping I can find something else to knock off as well. Its a good month to start because its a 3 payday month and I hope to start getting back on track with my money pretty quick here.
I also need to get on that goal of writing a letter to myself. April here I come.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Here I Am
Well today will be one week since I arrive back in my home town. How are things going? Ugh. Yeah, thats about it. I will go into this more later but for right now I want to focus on getting out of my funkmasteryech and back into happygoluckyland.
So what can I do to lighten the mood a little and refocus my happy juices into something more positive? How about completing one of my 30B430 goals? Yes, that sounds fun.
I need to complete goals which require me not to have to spend any money or any supplies of any sort. Sounds limiting but there are a few things that I can do.
1) Learners License - I may not be able to pay for this just yet but the study guide is free. I can pick one up and start reading to prepare myself for the test. There is also a free practice test online. :)
2) Leave "must do" lists in 5 Lonely Planet Australia books - I dont have access to a printer right now but I can write out the lists by hand and make them all pretty.
3)Write a Happy 30th Birthday letter to myself - This should probably be done sooner than later. I can write it out nicely, find an envelope to put it in and tuck it away for that special day.
So this is me giving myself some inspiration to get happy.
I ask you readers - what do you do to pull yourself out of a funk?
So what can I do to lighten the mood a little and refocus my happy juices into something more positive? How about completing one of my 30B430 goals? Yes, that sounds fun.
I need to complete goals which require me not to have to spend any money or any supplies of any sort. Sounds limiting but there are a few things that I can do.
1) Learners License - I may not be able to pay for this just yet but the study guide is free. I can pick one up and start reading to prepare myself for the test. There is also a free practice test online. :)
2) Leave "must do" lists in 5 Lonely Planet Australia books - I dont have access to a printer right now but I can write out the lists by hand and make them all pretty.
3)Write a Happy 30th Birthday letter to myself - This should probably be done sooner than later. I can write it out nicely, find an envelope to put it in and tuck it away for that special day.
So this is me giving myself some inspiration to get happy.
I ask you readers - what do you do to pull yourself out of a funk?
Sunday, January 30, 2011
30 B4 30 Goals Update # 1
So here is my first update on how I’m progressing with my 30B430 goals. I am pleased to announce I have completed two of my goals and have become one step (or country) closer to completing a third.
18) Have a professional massage done - COMPLETED
On January 4th 2011 I had my first massage. BF and I had a couples Thai massage in a tiny hut right on the beach outside of our bungalow. I have to admit, it was a little painful at times but this girl really knew what she was doing. She targeted my problems spots right away. Afterward I felt like I was in La La Land and spent the rest of the day just reading and BF past out for hours. Later on we felt like we’d had a full work out. Overall it was a great experience but next time maybe I’ll do one without the pressure points and all.
If I return to Thailand I may stay in one spot for awhile and do a full on course of Thai massage. I like how they don’t use a lot of wrist or finger movements which is something I feared when I thought about becoming a masseuse (carpal tunnel anyone?). They use their whole body but a lot of legs, feet and forearm does the trick.
Cost - Well the day before it was $150baht per person per hour which is $5 CAD. The day we did it the price was up to $200. BF tipped them and rounded it out to $500baht. Worth every penny!
19) Take a cooking class - COMPLETED
Yay! I had been waiting for so long to do this in Chiang Mai. I ended up doing it in Cambodia first. The opportunity presented itself and I ran with it. The experience was not so fabulous as BF dropped out sick that day and the Chef was kind of a snotball who was too handsy for my liking.My second experience in Chiang Mai made it up for it big time. I had an AMAZING time. I can see why that school is rated as the second most popular tourist attraction in the area. The owners were the teachers and they were the friendliest, happiest people. They taught us so much and we did everything ourselves. They even gave us a quick lesson in vegetable carving which was important to me. Free tour of the market was another bonus of the class. I can't say enough about it. Fabulous!
9) Visit 10 different countries - On My Way
I guess I should list all the countries I’ve been to for a start
Canada, USA, Australia, Hutt River, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Thailand, Cambodia
Before I started on this journey I had only ventured inside of North America. I’m glad I made the choice to travel. Since posting my goals while I was in Hong Kong I have added two more countries to the bunch. Thailand and Cambodia. How awesome is that?
Now I just have to manage to squeeze in two more countries before I turn 30. This could be a major challenge but one I’m looking forward to.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Goal #19 Bites The Dust
I'm on a roll! Thats two for this month. 3 if you include adding two more countries to my 10 countries visited goal. Wow! Wish they were all this easy and fun.
#19 - Take A Cooking Class
Today BF and I took a cooking class in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Well it started out the two of us but BF feeling sick still from the night before (somebody drank the water) bailed out before we finished the first dish. So I had to cook both our selections which wasn't horrible but was a little overwhelming to split my concentration.
The course was $10USD each. We were surprised with a free t-shirt with the schools logo on it which was nice. We were also given a copy of all the recipes and a colored index card with pictures. We got to pick one item off of a list from each course. One appitizer, one main and one desssert.
I picked fresh spring rolls, Khmer amok and a pumkin dessert. BF chose fried spring rolls, Khmer curry and a banana dessert. There was only one other couple in the group so it was a nice small group of 4 people.
We made the dishes all from scratch though sometimes I felt the head cook was a bit too hands on and would also skip little bits that we should have been shown. She seemed a little impatient. Especially with me. I'm not sure why but she seemed to pretend to either not hear me or would stare at me blankly when I asked questions. The other woman in the group seemed to also pick up on it and would re-ask so I would get an answer. Anyway...
I enjoyed the class overall. The other couple was great. Especially when BF bailed out early and left me to do it all by myself. I got to basically do everything except BF's curry which they did for me even though I had expressed interest in doing it as there was plenty of time.
There were a few long delays with ingredients that was a little annoying. The class ran WAY overtime which was not great because my tuk tuk driver had to wait around a lot which he said didn't matter but I hated to take advantage of him and his time. He's been our constant driver for two days taking us everywhere we want to go. So we do pay him for his time for the entire day but I like to be respectful.
They wanted to show us the traditional way of cooking so there was a lot of chopping for the first part which tuckered BF out. Then they made him pound the ingredients forever with mortar and pestle. Poor guy. He looked so tired and stressed. It took ages and thats even with the chef and her assistant doing a lot of it. Then after they said we could use a processor or blender at home. Um, well I guess its nice to show us that it can be done with a mortar and pestle but it really killed the class having to stand around that long.
Afterwards though we did get to take a quick tour of the market with the cook. I liked the market and took plenty of pictures. I wanted to hear what the chef was pointing out but she was kind of ignoring me so I just caught it second hand from the other woman. We laughed it off together. I went back to the market later and bought two kitchen tools to help me recreate the dishes at home.
I was really satisfied with how my dishes came out. I taste tested everything and thought I did a killer job. They wrapped everything up for me to take with me as I wanted to eat with BF back at the hotel. I ran in to eat with him while my driver socialized outside but BF was not hungry at all. I gave him some gravol and took the food out to my driver. He and his friends were more than happy to devour it all. They gave me raving reviews on everything BUT the curry which was the only thing I didnt actually cook. HA! So I felt pretty good about myself.
I will definitely remake these dishes back home for a dinner party with family or friends. Especially the spring rolls which is something I've always wanted to learn. I have to say though, the fresh ones aren't really my favorite. I prefer fried and will probably stick with those unless I'm cooking a big festive dinner.
I'm glad I did it and I had a lot of fun. It was great experience and I'm looking forward to doing more cooking lessons in Thailand next week while visiting Chiang Mai.
(I will post pictures soon. Waiting for a better internet connection.)
#19 - Take A Cooking Class
Today BF and I took a cooking class in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Well it started out the two of us but BF feeling sick still from the night before (somebody drank the water) bailed out before we finished the first dish. So I had to cook both our selections which wasn't horrible but was a little overwhelming to split my concentration.
The course was $10USD each. We were surprised with a free t-shirt with the schools logo on it which was nice. We were also given a copy of all the recipes and a colored index card with pictures. We got to pick one item off of a list from each course. One appitizer, one main and one desssert.
I picked fresh spring rolls, Khmer amok and a pumkin dessert. BF chose fried spring rolls, Khmer curry and a banana dessert. There was only one other couple in the group so it was a nice small group of 4 people.
We made the dishes all from scratch though sometimes I felt the head cook was a bit too hands on and would also skip little bits that we should have been shown. She seemed a little impatient. Especially with me. I'm not sure why but she seemed to pretend to either not hear me or would stare at me blankly when I asked questions. The other woman in the group seemed to also pick up on it and would re-ask so I would get an answer. Anyway...
I enjoyed the class overall. The other couple was great. Especially when BF bailed out early and left me to do it all by myself. I got to basically do everything except BF's curry which they did for me even though I had expressed interest in doing it as there was plenty of time.
There were a few long delays with ingredients that was a little annoying. The class ran WAY overtime which was not great because my tuk tuk driver had to wait around a lot which he said didn't matter but I hated to take advantage of him and his time. He's been our constant driver for two days taking us everywhere we want to go. So we do pay him for his time for the entire day but I like to be respectful.
They wanted to show us the traditional way of cooking so there was a lot of chopping for the first part which tuckered BF out. Then they made him pound the ingredients forever with mortar and pestle. Poor guy. He looked so tired and stressed. It took ages and thats even with the chef and her assistant doing a lot of it. Then after they said we could use a processor or blender at home. Um, well I guess its nice to show us that it can be done with a mortar and pestle but it really killed the class having to stand around that long.
Afterwards though we did get to take a quick tour of the market with the cook. I liked the market and took plenty of pictures. I wanted to hear what the chef was pointing out but she was kind of ignoring me so I just caught it second hand from the other woman. We laughed it off together. I went back to the market later and bought two kitchen tools to help me recreate the dishes at home.
I was really satisfied with how my dishes came out. I taste tested everything and thought I did a killer job. They wrapped everything up for me to take with me as I wanted to eat with BF back at the hotel. I ran in to eat with him while my driver socialized outside but BF was not hungry at all. I gave him some gravol and took the food out to my driver. He and his friends were more than happy to devour it all. They gave me raving reviews on everything BUT the curry which was the only thing I didnt actually cook. HA! So I felt pretty good about myself.
I will definitely remake these dishes back home for a dinner party with family or friends. Especially the spring rolls which is something I've always wanted to learn. I have to say though, the fresh ones aren't really my favorite. I prefer fried and will probably stick with those unless I'm cooking a big festive dinner.
I'm glad I did it and I had a lot of fun. It was great experience and I'm looking forward to doing more cooking lessons in Thailand next week while visiting Chiang Mai.
(I will post pictures soon. Waiting for a better internet connection.)
Thursday, January 6, 2011
One Goal Down, 29 To Go
Above - Our bungalow Below - Thia massage hut
So I am pleased to announce that this week I completed my first 30B430 goal. Big pat on the back to me. Well, maybe a rub.
18) Have a professional massage done
While BF was getting his PADI dive certification in Koh Tao done last week he encouraged me to get a massage or something to relax a bit. I decided that I’d rather wait for him and do a couples massage.
When we arrived in Koh Samui we were lucky to score a private bungalow right on the beach. Outside of our room was a little hut where Thai massages were being done. For two days I watched the girl give non-stop massages. As soon as she was done with one person somebody else would jump up immediately to approach her. I checked the price and it was only 150Baht which is like 5 bucks CAD. Woohoo!
The following day I noticed there were two girls doing massages so it was perfect for us to go together. The price had gone up to 200Baht which was no big deal. In the end BF tipped them generously and gave them an even 500 for the two of us.
How was it? Amazing, but painful at times. I had to give her credit though because she found my sore spots no problem without being told where they were. I had been having really bad neck pain. Like can’t move your head neck pain. She worked on that area big time.
I must be one big ball of stress because she kept telling me to relax and I did at times feel myself tensing up. I think it was all the pressure points she was hitting. I guess I didn’t know what to expect from a Thai massage. I thought it was going to be rub down heaven but not so much.
Still, it was great. I was all dreamy afterward and spent the rest of the day reading while BF slept. Later that evening we both felt like we’d had a workout session. It was a good experience overall.
I was intrigued by the way they used their whole bodies to perform the massage instead of just hands and fingers. If I ever decide to take a course in massage it will be in Thailand for sure. I wanted to do it before in Canada but was worried about Carpal Tunnel.
As for my neck pain? Gone. BF says he had been having problems with his shoulder and his girl targeted it right away and that it feels so much better. Well, I guess we’re now believers.
It makes me happy to complete at least one of my goals while still traveling!
18) Have a professional massage done
While BF was getting his PADI dive certification in Koh Tao done last week he encouraged me to get a massage or something to relax a bit. I decided that I’d rather wait for him and do a couples massage.
When we arrived in Koh Samui we were lucky to score a private bungalow right on the beach. Outside of our room was a little hut where Thai massages were being done. For two days I watched the girl give non-stop massages. As soon as she was done with one person somebody else would jump up immediately to approach her. I checked the price and it was only 150Baht which is like 5 bucks CAD. Woohoo!
The following day I noticed there were two girls doing massages so it was perfect for us to go together. The price had gone up to 200Baht which was no big deal. In the end BF tipped them generously and gave them an even 500 for the two of us.
How was it? Amazing, but painful at times. I had to give her credit though because she found my sore spots no problem without being told where they were. I had been having really bad neck pain. Like can’t move your head neck pain. She worked on that area big time.
I must be one big ball of stress because she kept telling me to relax and I did at times feel myself tensing up. I think it was all the pressure points she was hitting. I guess I didn’t know what to expect from a Thai massage. I thought it was going to be rub down heaven but not so much.
Still, it was great. I was all dreamy afterward and spent the rest of the day reading while BF slept. Later that evening we both felt like we’d had a workout session. It was a good experience overall.
I was intrigued by the way they used their whole bodies to perform the massage instead of just hands and fingers. If I ever decide to take a course in massage it will be in Thailand for sure. I wanted to do it before in Canada but was worried about Carpal Tunnel.
As for my neck pain? Gone. BF says he had been having problems with his shoulder and his girl targeted it right away and that it feels so much better. Well, I guess we’re now believers.
It makes me happy to complete at least one of my goals while still traveling!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
New Year Resolutions for 2011
This year for my resolutions I have decided on... NONE.
I have decided to just keep focused on my 30B430 goals. I want to knock most of those puppies out of the park before I move on to other things. I don't want to overwhelm myself with two sets of goals. I like my current goals and I think its a well rounded bunch so I'm going to stick with it.
If you are new to my blog you can check out the goals I have set from the above labeled tab or from my sidebar on the right.
There's also the fact that this year will be full of a lot of unknowns. I will return to Canada in February after a year of traveling. I dont know where I'll work, where I'll live, how much I will be making or anything really. So I'm not going to put any extra pressure on myself until I get settled back in.
So there you have it. No resolutions for me.
What is your number one resolution for 2011?
I have decided to just keep focused on my 30B430 goals. I want to knock most of those puppies out of the park before I move on to other things. I don't want to overwhelm myself with two sets of goals. I like my current goals and I think its a well rounded bunch so I'm going to stick with it.
If you are new to my blog you can check out the goals I have set from the above labeled tab or from my sidebar on the right.
There's also the fact that this year will be full of a lot of unknowns. I will return to Canada in February after a year of traveling. I dont know where I'll work, where I'll live, how much I will be making or anything really. So I'm not going to put any extra pressure on myself until I get settled back in.
So there you have it. No resolutions for me.
What is your number one resolution for 2011?
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
30 Goals B4 30
1 Learn to sew a quilt
2 Start my own monthly Happy Days Holiday Weekend
3 Discover the ultimate baked mac and cheese recipe
4 Start saving for retirement
5 Obtain a credit card to start rebuilding credit
6 Take an arts class
7 Start my own small business
8 Eliminate storage boxes that have been lingering 10 years
9 Visit 10 different countries
10 Donate 30 hours to charity
11 Get my learners license
12 Plant a tree
13 Compile a proper recipe book for all my favorites
14 Take a language class
15 Have a ladder of GIC’s renewing at $100 monthly
16 Find out my blood type
17 Learn the secret to making a super delicious stir-fry
18 Have a professional massage done
19 Take a cooking class
20 Help my sister set up an RESP for each of her children
21 Rekindle 2 old friendships
22 Leave “Must Do” lists in 5 Australia Lonely Planet Books
23 Find the perfect gingerbread recipe
24 Visit my best friend E in Alberta
25 Have a minimum of $1000 in my TFSA
26 Establish a monthly family dinner and game night
27 Plant a garden for my mother at her new home
28 Visit my brother in Waterloo
29 Design my own personal blog header
30 Write a happy 30th birthday letter to myself to open on my bday
So this is the list of goals I have set for myself to complete before I turn 30 on October 20, 2012. I think it’s a pretty good mix. Plenty of fun stuff to do, some charitable work, some personal finance and a good dose of self improvement. It took me awhile to come up with 30 goals but I like this list a lot. I feel everything on it is attainable. Some will be a little bit challenging but that’s part of the game.
If you would like to join me simply drop me a comment on this post with a link to your 30 goals. I will try to update this monthly on the 30th. ( Except Feb )
2 Start my own monthly Happy Days Holiday Weekend
3 Discover the ultimate baked mac and cheese recipe
4 Start saving for retirement
5 Obtain a credit card to start rebuilding credit
6 Take an arts class
7 Start my own small business
8 Eliminate storage boxes that have been lingering 10 years
9 Visit 10 different countries
10 Donate 30 hours to charity
11 Get my learners license
12 Plant a tree
13 Compile a proper recipe book for all my favorites
14 Take a language class
15 Have a ladder of GIC’s renewing at $100 monthly
16 Find out my blood type
17 Learn the secret to making a super delicious stir-fry
18 Have a professional massage done
19 Take a cooking class
20 Help my sister set up an RESP for each of her children
21 Rekindle 2 old friendships
22 Leave “Must Do” lists in 5 Australia Lonely Planet Books
23 Find the perfect gingerbread recipe
24 Visit my best friend E in Alberta
25 Have a minimum of $1000 in my TFSA
26 Establish a monthly family dinner and game night
27 Plant a garden for my mother at her new home
28 Visit my brother in Waterloo
29 Design my own personal blog header
30 Write a happy 30th birthday letter to myself to open on my bday
So this is the list of goals I have set for myself to complete before I turn 30 on October 20, 2012. I think it’s a pretty good mix. Plenty of fun stuff to do, some charitable work, some personal finance and a good dose of self improvement. It took me awhile to come up with 30 goals but I like this list a lot. I feel everything on it is attainable. Some will be a little bit challenging but that’s part of the game.
If you would like to join me simply drop me a comment on this post with a link to your 30 goals. I will try to update this monthly on the 30th. ( Except Feb )
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
30 B4 30
So I am still working on my 30 goals. I am half way into picking them out. It's more challenging then I thought. I am making sure to add some fun stuff in there to!
I have gotten quite a few comments on the suggestion of doing this so I'm inviting those who are interested to join me.
I plan to post my goals when I get back on the 11th of December to Sydney. If you would like to participate please post your goals before then as well and I will link your blog to my post that day. Then I will do updates on the 30th of each month with congratulations for all the goals we reach each month towards our final goal of 30.
All you have to do to participate is leave a comment here with a link to your post of 30 B4 30 and I will set up some link love and get the ball rolling once I'm back on the 11th.
I will also be including in my post the date of my 30th birthday so that people know how long I have to complete my goals.
So who's with me??? :)
I have gotten quite a few comments on the suggestion of doing this so I'm inviting those who are interested to join me.
I plan to post my goals when I get back on the 11th of December to Sydney. If you would like to participate please post your goals before then as well and I will link your blog to my post that day. Then I will do updates on the 30th of each month with congratulations for all the goals we reach each month towards our final goal of 30.
All you have to do to participate is leave a comment here with a link to your post of 30 B4 30 and I will set up some link love and get the ball rolling once I'm back on the 11th.
I will also be including in my post the date of my 30th birthday so that people know how long I have to complete my goals.
So who's with me??? :)
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