Getting an Early Start

I've decided to start tackling my January goals. I set up two additional sub accounts at ING direct. One intended to save for the secured credit card and one to put money aside until I can get to the bank and talk to somebody about starting my RSP. This means I now have 4 accounts with ING. The other two being for my EFund and the Australia fund. Yay!

So I can check that goal off the list! I opened them both with the minimum $10 contribution but plan to bump them both up to a hundred dollars to meet my other goal before the end of the month.

While I was playing around on the ING site I decided to transfer some other funds. First $50 to the Australia Fund to make it a nice round $100 as per goal and another $80 to the EFund to meet the $100 goal on that one as well. I'm half way to the second goal!

I definitely plan to put more in the Australia fund before the end of the month. I am getting a one week check this Friday because of changes to the pay system at work and then another two week cheque before the end of the month. I did miss 3 days of work sick though. I return on Wednesday.

I have to say it is a wonderfully new and strange feeling to wonder how to allot my extra money towards savings rather than debt. I have to say... me likey! ;-)

Happy Blogoversary!!

On January 4th my blog, here on Blogger, turned one year old! Awe! I had already been blogging for two years prior but made the switch last year. I have to say its been a great switch!

I would like to say a big thank you to all my readers and supporters. You've made me laugh, made me feel good when I'm down and most of all... you've made me more accountable for my actions.

PF blogging has helped me progress so much over the years. 3 years ago I had just under $18,000 in debt. As of December 2008 I am now debt free.

For my next year on blogger I am planning big. Along with my goal of moving to Australia for one year I am also starting my retirement savings and a new healthy life.

I am thankful for every single comment I get and appreciate you taking the time to read along with my daily happenings. I think this year I may change the name to something more positive to reflect all the great changes.

Cheers to you and yours,

Dolly

January TCOB

January is already in full swing and I haven't laid out any goals for myself. I've updated my sidebar TCOB (taking care of business) list for the month. I feel these will all set the tone for the New Year.

While I'm happy to be starting the New Year off debt free I really need to focus now on my health. The last few years have had a lot of ups and downs and unfortunately I didn't take care of me. I would like to work on my physical being.

My focus for January is to set the tone for the year. Strong, healthy and in control of all aspects of my life.

GST Baby!

I'm feeling a little better today. I don't think I'll be returning to work until Wednesday though. It's hard to stay in bed when there is so much stuff to do around the house. I know, I know! Rest first.

So it's GST time again and I think we may get a little bit of global stimulation again here in BC. I'll have to check my PO Box when I go back to work. Mine will be saved of course. I'm thinking the Australia fund but I have some other ideas as well.

I'm thinking of throwing a lump sum this month and next month at starting my RRSP so that I can get part of it back when I do my taxes and then put that money toward the Australia fund. What do you guys think?

So.. what is everyone else doing with their little stash from the government?

Big Sicko!

Every time that I think... what else could happen? It gets worse. Wednesday I started to feel as if a sinus infection may be coming on. Thursday the pharmacist working with me wanted to send me home because he thought I was going to pass out. I'll spare you the gross details. As of yesterday... completely and horribly sick.

I went to the walk in clinic and apparantly I have a sinus infection, possibly paired with a virus and they also took a swab to test for strep throat. All of this just before BF comes home on Tuesday. My boss wants me back at work ASAP. I've only missed Friday so far and he's already antsy. I got upset and cried about to my mom who told me there's nothing I can do about it and not to feel guilty. Yesterday I was told I looked like the walking dead but I really didn't care.

So its bed rest and liquids for me right now. I have to go out for an hour tomorrow to collect the rest of BF's xmas gifts before he returns. I also have the house to tidy but I feel absolutely exhausted.

The worst part is missing out on pay! Oh, and the staff party tonight :(

Happy New Year

To all my readers and fellow bloggers,

May 2009 be the year to make all your PF goals a reality. Thank you for all your support over the last year. I look forward to another year of blogging and reading yours as well. Happy New Year!

Love Dolly

Holidays Recap

I wish I could say the holidays have been great for me but... not so much.

I worked both Xmas and Boxing day which would have been fine except we were the only pharmacy open mid island with only myself and one pharmacist working. Most people were great and appreciative that we were open. I had to set up new profiles constantly as people were coming from all the surrounding towns. One man in particular thought he could get his rx filled faster by screaming at me and belittling my job. He decided to take his rx elsewhere. Hmm.. good luck buddy, we're the only ones open. :)

In other pharmacy news there was a ton of chocolates and cookies for us to munch on but we were too busy to even pee. One very generous customer gave each pharmacy staff member a beautiful card and a $25 gift card to the Keg.

I had Xmas dinner with my family which was ok except for some whining and jerkiness about gifts. I am so never doing secret Santa draws with my siblings EVER again. The kids however loved their gifts and were super happy. For me its more about the giving than the getting so I was happy.

I'm not sure if I mentioned that last weekend our pipes were frozen solid for two days. Not fun! This last weekend on Saturday I was awoken to a huge crash out back. The gutters filled with run off and froze into one long super sized brick of ice. It caused some major damage when it tore off the back. It crushed our BBQ, lawn chairs, tore off one of the sensor lights and knocked down my clothesline. I called the landlord tonight who told me to buy a new BBQ and chairs and save the receipt. I told him I'd let BF deal with that when he returns, but that I took pictures for him and wanted to let him know ASAP.

Today I checked my mail to find out I'm being audited by EI for a claim I had up until last March. I guess some of the amounts I submitted didn't match the 3 companies I worked for part time during my claim. I added up the amount I declared and the amount they stated they paid me and if I'm right EI actually owes me $428.26. It's weird because they don't say anywhere an amount that I owe them but there is a big bold note saying that if they overpaid me they will make me pay them back and then they will penalize me and possibly charge me for falsifying records. It also says it may affect future benefits. YIKES! Well, I was very careful and I have a calendar somewhere with my hours.

I know I submitted the right hours but all of these employers were losers. They never paid me on time or correctly so who knows. I tried to get some help today by calling EI but they were very mean and unhelpful. ;( Jerks! At least I was trying to work during that time. The letter also said my evidence is due back Dec 23rd. LOL. They extended it until Jan 15th which is good. I want BF to help look everything over before I do anything and he gets back on the 6th. So... if EI underpaid me ... do they owe me? I'm going to ask tomorrow.

I also have to write letters stating why I was dismissed. Ok

Employer A - Didn't like that I didn't want to be sexually harassed or work for free. We got to deal with labour relations on that one.

Employer B- Fired me before I could become part of the union. This man has since been released from that company for doing this to about 30 women.

Employer C - Hired me and promised hours. Then he hired my friend and gave him my hours. Then he stopped calling us both..... not sure.. but I did get reimbursed union fees from this one. This job is advertised every three weeks.

So... I'm not looking forward to figuring this one out but if it works out in my favor I may as well let it be I guess.

I'm really trying to not be stressed. :)

Merry Christmas to All...

and to all a Good Night!!

2009 - The Year of Savings

2009 will be a fresh start for me literally as I am now 100% debt free. I have already been thinking about what goals I want to conquer for the new year.

Last year I had two big goals for the year.

1 - Become Debt Free - Check! I pulled this one off just in time.

2 - Start My Retirement Savings - Sadly, No.

For 2009 I need to really think about my goals because there are so many things I need to take into consideration.

Exhibit A - Bf and I have a plan to leave the country for one year. I am hoping to have a minimum of $5000 saved before the trip. We are backpacking Australia will be working along the way. Items I need to purchase include : proper clothing, sleeping bag, gear (headlamp and such), plane ticket, etc. Those items will need to purchased above and beyond the savings. Eek!

Exhibit B - Retirement Savings. I don't know what my issue is with getting this started. I have been well aware since I was 14 years old the benefits of starting early and here I am 12 years later and still nothing. I need to get educated on this and get my arse moving. I have a lot of catching up to do in this department. This year my goal is just to get started. I'm not going to give the big push on this for 2009 because I have a lot of other financial commitments.

Exhibit C- EFund Beefaroni - I am thinking that my goal for this will be $2500.

Exhibit D - Secure Credit Card - I really want to start rebuilding my credit. A secured credit card is what I'm looking at to get me started. It will also allow me to open a shop on Etsy and can be used for an emergency when traveling. I am estimating between $500-1000 for this.


In the next few years I will also need to consider other goals such as: wedding fund, home fund, baby fund and educational/entrepreneurial fund. I don't want to overwhelm myself with financial commitments and I'm already feeling that this will be quite the heavy load. I need to think these over and make sure they are all S.M.A.R.T goals.

Transit Service Blues

What a day! Today is not starting out well at all. I looked online to make sure my usual bus was running. Then I trudged all the way to a bus stop only to have the bus never show. I did however get sprayed up my side by a plow truck. I tried to avoid it but they've piled the snow up on the sidewalk so its 4ft deep and so you have no choice but to walk on the road dodging cars.

I called work to tell them if my parents can dig themselves out I'll be there but if it snows I'd have to leave work early anyway. I really hate missing work but to be truthful I feel horrible today. I may just trudge out for some seriously needed groceries but that is it. I'm working both stats this week so I'm trying not to be hard on myself. Honestly, if I wanted to get there I could. I would be late but I could get there if necessary. Apparently they're not to busy so maybe I need to take a snow/mental break day for myself.