2011 – A Year in Review

Before I sit down and plot out my 2012 goals, I figured it’d be helpful to go over my 2011 year; the good, the bad, and the ugly.

As I write this, I am sitting on a VIA train, speeding off to Montreal. Our original plans were to drive, but after reading reports of freezing rain, we made the decision last night to take the train instead. I will never again attempt to drive through a storm like the one on Christmas. So I am happily writing and taking advantage of the free wi-fi, and Frenchie’s reading a book beside me.

2011 was, for me, a year of upheaval. It has also been a year that has taught me to be grateful, to savour every moment, and to be forgiving to myself and others.

Cute sentiment, but I definitely need some changes.

Professional

At the beginning of 2011, I finally summoned up some courage and asked my bosses for a raise, a very necessary one. Although I did get the raise, the process I had to go through to get it was horrible.

In March, I was headhunted through a resume I had stuck up on Monster in January, and interviewed for an assistant position at a start up brokerage in Liberty Village, a very trendy neighbourhood. I was promised $45,000 salary. My new boss would train me and get me ready to do sales on my own. Everything would be great and lovely and…hang on.

Explosion!

Boss turned out to be a crazy lady. Miserable, and now on the couch of my friends’ home, I quit my job without anything lined up.

Fortunately, that same week I interviewed for my current position and was hired on the spot. I was extremely lucky, and only had 8 days between the two jobs.  I’ve been there ever since, on a salary combining a bonus and base, totaling $42,000 (though with my Christmas bonus, this was rounded out to $45,000). I’ve been here ever since and have enjoyed it. I am very grateful that I am even working, as many of my friends have been laid off, and many people in my generation are experiencing unemployment.

I also began working as a freelance writer in June, taking on projects through a friend of my aunt and uncle’s. About once or twice a month, I get a project to write a resume and cover letter based on questionnaires and previous resumes. I enjoy the work immensely, and it has allowed me to hone my writing skills.  I’m sincerely hoping to build more sidework like this in 2012, through tutoring and writing. I currently get paid $25/hr.

Locational

I had been living in a cute, basement bachelor apartment in February 2010.  I loved that little place.  I had a garden just outside my door, and everything I needed in the immediate area.

So when my new Liberty Village boss suggested buying a tiny 381sqft condo, and showed me how it’d be almost as inexpensive as renting, I decided to go for it.

The condo wound up being a bust. My new boss’s clients wound up buying the condo, and offered to rent it to me.  But after they increased the rent 5 days before I was set to move in, and 5 days before I had to move out of my apartment, I had to bail on the deal.

I now have a large, one bedroom apartment on the tenth floor of a high rise. It’s fairly cookie cutter, but it’s very spacious (maybe 800sqft?), has an indoor pool, and I finally feel like I have space to breathe. In the spring, summer and fall, I have access to the incredibly scenic trail that runs straight past my house into the downtown core, only taking 45 minutes or so. I love that bike ride.

Which leads me to…

Physical

Holy moley!  I’m an athlete!

In May, I participated in the Goodlife annual race through downtown Toronto.  I trained for the 5k race. I won’t bore you by reiterating the details, but the thrill of racing and doing it in 27 minutes gave me the biggest natural high that I’ve ever felt.

So I signed up for the Give it a Tri Triathlon. I did it in under an hour, although it was incredibly difficult and I was more tired than I’ve ever felt. But I was hooked.

Since my athletic eyes have always been bigger than my stomach, I decided the next logical step would be signing up for a Half Ironman. I’m not having a quarter-life crisis at all. No, siree.

Since then, I have been running weekly in a Half Marathon clinic, and I acquired the world’s best running buddy.  I can now easily run 15k. I am signed up to do the 30k Around the Bay race in Hamilton at the end of March. My body has changed, and I’m considerably less squishy.

I’m planning on having a giant eagle tattooed in henna across my back for the Half Ironman. I want to look like the warrior goddess that I feel like inside.

If you’re interested in following my physical transformation, and the occasional vlog, you can do so at Rabbit on the Run.

L’amour

I am dating an awesome guy who I want to introduce to my Nana. Enough said.

Financial

This section is pretty short, because my next post will be discussing in further detail how well I fared with my financial goals, and where I’m planning on going from here.

At the beginning of 2011, I had close to $11,000 left of my car loan. I paid that sucker off in full in September.

I increased my salary from $30,000 to $45,000.

I bought a Cervélo bicycle, and enrolled in a ton of athletic events, each ranging from $50 to $220.

The cost of paying off my car has been a complete depletion of my emergency fund. As of January 1st, it’ll be sitting at $1645.  I will continue to contribute $150 biweekly, in lieu of car payments.

In November, I made the mistake of brushing up against a car’s bumper in an overcrowded parking lot. Unfortunately, I had to claim it as an “at fault” accident and get insurance involved. The other driver was reasonable at first, then increased her demands. Which means if I do keep my car, I will be looking at a huge premium increase when my policy renews at the end of July.

Which is why I started really analyzing why I need a car. Especially after my incident on Christmas, I don’t want to own a vehicle anymore, not in a city like Toronto where it is almost criminally expensive to be a driver. Taking the TTC to work today reaffirmed to me that owning a car is not all it’s cracked up to be. It only took me an additional 15 minutes to make it to the office.

Zee Blog

This year, my blog was featured in the National Post, and two articles about me (the real me, with my full name and everything) appeared in the Globe and Mail. Though no major newspapers have come knocking at my door recently, I have done some giveaways and promotions, which has meant that I broke even on the costs of operating this blog.

I’m proud of Money Rabbit. But I’m not perfect (shocker). I write about everything in my life, including the stuff I’m not proud of. I’ve talked about my achievements, but I’ve also confessed my mistakes, faults, and wrongdoings. This can sometimes be quite scary, since I know I’ll face harsh judgment from people who don’t even know me personally, and sometimes even from the people who do know me personally. Though it is easy to criticize my choices and errors, at the end of the day, the main goal I’m trying to accomplish is personal development. As I stumble towards improving my character, it is thrilling and terrifying to share every step.

What I learned

  • I am a warrior goddess, and a triathlete.
  • I’m not the big city girl that I thought.  I am already looking forward to moving to a smaller town.
  • Debt must be destroyed. Use whatever resources you can to eliminate it. Paying off my car in full should have been done at my earliest possible opportunity. But it’s done now, and that’s what matters.
  • My family is immensely important to me. My mom is my closest confidante. My family are there to offer support and encouragement when needed, and I am happy to provide it in return.
  • Life’s too short to put up with partners who don’t treat you right.
  • Life’s too short to feel trapped in your career. If you’re unhappy, start planning IMMEDIATELY how to get where you want to go.
  • I need to change careers.
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December 31, 2011 | Money Rabbit | 6 Comments »

A Holiday of Ups, Downs, and Scary Snow

This is more of a personal post … I’ll be writing about my goals, and financial finagling that I’ll have to do in the new year to make my back to school a reality.

The past week has been a complete blur, with some truly amazing moments, and some really scary ones.

Let’s start with the really amazing ones.

Last Wednesday, I had the privilege of doing a 9k trail run with a group of six ultrarunner men. These men eat marathons for breakfast. They have run (and won) Boston, Badwater, Leadville, and all the runs that make you want to crawl into fetal position. The Salomon store at Don Mills was hosting a Solstice run, with their elite athlete Ryan Barrett running the trails literally from dusk til dawn. Sarah, my running partner, wanted to join in for the first loop, and I was definitely up for the challenge. Unfortunately, Sarah was delayed and we had to set out without her.  With a headlamp strapped firmly to my forehead, I ran misty trails alongside ultrarunning champions, chatting about my upcoming Ironman, and they shared some memorable moments from their own overnight races. It was incredible and surreal. I was invited to do more loops, but I simply didn’t have it in me.  Next time, gentlemen.

On Friday, I went Christmas shopping in Campbellford Ontario.  At the town’s only coffeehouse, I asked for directions to a store, and three locals chimed in with their own version of how to get there, most ending with “you can’t miss it.”  In a town with a population that can’t be more than ten thousand, “you can’t miss it” is a consistent theme. I spent approximately $100 on gifts, which was a lot more than what I was planning on spending, but everyone loved their presents and it was worth it.

On Saturday, Christmas Eve, I helped my mom prepare for Christmas Day by cleaning. With six cats and a dog, it involved a helluva lot of vacuuming. That night, we were invited to the neighbour’s farm for goodies and drinks. This is one of those sad moments; our neighbour’s lost their daughter this year when she was hit and killed as she was walking. She would have been 17.  Even worse, she left behind a twin brother. Sadness still radiated from each of the surviving family members.

Christmas Day was lovely. Mom and Dad gifted me with a humidifier (yippee! I desperately needed one!) as well as groceries and items I detest buying but always need, like Kleenex boxes. After a fabulous afternoon and Christmas dinner with my dad’s side of the family and maternal grandparents, I climbed in my car and hit the road for Montreal.

Here is where it gets really scary. My car doesn’t have snow tires, because they’re frankly too expensive. I can’t justify forking out several hundred dollars for tires that will only be used for four months, in addition to the cost of having them installed.

When I set out, the snow was falling steadily, and the roads were awful. However, I was assured that once I got to the 401, it would be raining.  Which it was, until around Kingston, which is less than halfway from my house to Quebec. The snow started up again, and it was out for blood. From Kingston to Brockville, I was travelling approximately 50km/hr, tops. I had the four way flashers on as cars with snow tires raced past me.  Big rig truck drivers booked it past me, missing my car by what must have been only a few feet.

Just outside of Brockville, the car that I had been following began to swerve.  Since I had been using the car as a guide for where the road even was, my hands jerked out of reflex.  As the car in front of me corrected itself, I began fishtailing wildly, swerving through snow and ice with the wheels spinning madly. Suddenly, I saw headlights. How…? What…? Oh. My. God. I am facing oncoming traffic on the highway. Luckily, there were few cars behind me and they still had a ways to go before they reached me, so I sidled the car up against the concrete barrier, as my hands shook uncontrollably.

In another stroke of luck, an OPP officer had been about one minute behind me, and without wasting a moment, he threw on his lights and came to my assistance. This wonderful officer made sure that I was okay, and assessed my car (no damage or collision). He asked if I wanted him to turn my car around for me. I gratefully accepted. So, he got me to sit in the driver’s seat of his cruiser as he did a three point turn in the middle of the highway. From his seat, I watched how poorly my wheels gripped the snow. It was horrifying.

He advised me to go to Brockville and get a hotel, it wasn’t worth it to keep going.  Out of sheer stubbornness, I decided to try to make it to Montreal.  15 minutes later, I panicked and called in the cavalry.  The snow kept falling, it was pitch black and isolated, and I was going at 40km/hr. I drove for another hour and a half before pulling off at the Morrisburg On Route service station, desperate for a bathroom and a coffee. I then waited to be rescued by my boyfriend and his dad, who insisted I complete the trip with them instead of staying the night at a hotel.

Ah, my knights in shining snow tires.

I only had to wait about half an hour before they arrived. We left my car in the parking lot, transferred my luggage and presents to their Volvo (outfitted in top of the line snow tires) and had a safe trip to Montreal. I was exhausted, scared, and aghast at how the outcome could have been drastically different.

In the end, I had a wonderful vacation with my boyfriend and his family. Exciting news: this Canada Goose is flying south in February.  My bf’s present to me is a five day trip to Florida, to visit his brother, go to the beach, and hit up the Harry Potter theme park. I am SO thrilled!

On Boxing Day evening, we held hands and skated in the Old Ports of Montreal, trying to synchronize our strides as the speakers blared Viennese waltz in the background. It was a fantastic double date with our Australian friends, who have adapted to Canadian winters even better than I have.

Hard to believe that 24 hours earlier, I had been in the pits of Hell.

I’m back at work tomorrow, and since it’s going to be a complete write-off, I’ll be looking into correspondence courses which will help me with a second teachable. I’m going to call my alma mater’s registrar office, and they’ll help me make sure that I get the courses that I need. I’ll also research other one to two year degrees from colleges in fields such as journalism, publishing, etc.

It’s a LOT of work. But it’ll be worth it in the end, of that I am certain.

What were some of your highlights to the holidays?  Ever had a scary winter driving experience?

La Belle Province ... Montreal, Je T'aime!

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December 28, 2011 | Money Rabbit | 16 Comments »

Patience is a Virtue

Before I start this post, I’d like to be selfish and direct your attention to two things.  First, I have posted some pictures of my exercise progress on Rabbit on the Run. Even though I’m not putting nearly as much effort into my second blog as I had anticipated, advertising my progress is going to help push me over my plateau. Second, I officially have close to 1,100 comments on this blog.  The blog is just over one year old now.  How cool is that?

I’ve been doing that thing I do again. You know, where I make a decision and get really obsessed over it.

Yesterday, I called up teacher’s colleges, the office of the registrar, and career counsellors. I learned that I am one full credit short from having a second teachable in English, and one and a half credits shy of being able to teach history. I already missed OISE’s deadline of December 1st. I still have time to apply to Queen’s for 2012-13. What frightens me is the thought waiting until next year to apply to OISE and York, then getting rejected anyways. I’d then have to leave Toronto to go to school elsewhere, leaving behind my boyfriend and the life I’ve built here in exchange for a temporary 1 year residence in another city. It’s not ideal, but it’s not terrible either.

But something I realized is that I’m not ready yet to leave Toronto. I’ve spent so much time and effort into setting up an “adult” life here. I’m not yet ready to abandon all of that for the impoverished student life just yet. Job prospects for teachers are absolutely brutal. After I go to school, I’ll be looking at a minimum of 4 years of supplying before I can land a contract, if I’m lucky. So before I take the plunge with college, I want to enjoy what I’ve worked hard to achieve. I need to make sure that I’m making the right decision, while keeping an eye carefully trained on the future.

Going back to school is a big decision, and I don’t want to go through the hassle and expense of getting taking correspondence and going to teacher’s college only to change careers again in five years. So I’m going to look into ALL my options. I’m going to look into Masters programs. I’m also going to look into colleges which specialize in post-grad certificates and degrees.

I’m really glad that I have had these three years out of school in order to get a taste of the real world. I now understand how I function in the workplace and which skills I should hone. Before I worked full time, I would have thought that I would be a business shark type. In the real world, I am a hard worker, but because many of my passions and interests lie outside of the office, I am content with 9 to 5.  This allows me to write my blog, train for a Half Ironman, and spend time with friends and family. If I were able to find a career that allows me to work on initiatives that I care about (sustainability projects, education, fitness for low-income communities, creative arts ventures) then I will definitely be transcending those 9 to 5 boundaries and doing so gladly.

I’m hoping that in the new year, I can start some projects in my community with kids or adults to improve the neighbourhood. I’m thinking fitness, sustainability or arts oriented programming. But before I go too crazy again, I’m going to have to get everything down on paper. There are many goals I have floating around in my head, I just need to see them laid out. My timing is perfect. I hate the term “New Years Resolutions,” but that’s essentially what they are.

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December 20, 2011 | Money Rabbit | 1 Comment »

Bonus Time

I finally got my bonus.  Drum roll please…

$2,775. And a Louis Vuitton coin purse.

Considering that I have only been with my boss since June 22nd, I think this is pretty generous.  He offered to only pay me half and to have me work out with the bookkeeper what I should take off in taxes, but since I already owe the government money from when I worked for my Liberty Village boss, I said I’ll take the full amount.  I think I’ll also be putting $1775 directly into my RRSP.

My goal this year was to invest $2000 into my RRSP.  I am not certain if I’ll be able to meet this goal, but I may shift some of the money I set aside for taxes into my RRSP, to get a higher deduction and to hit my goal.  I’ll be receiving that money on Monday. I think I will take the remaining $1000, set aside $300 for taxes/deductions, and put the remaining $700 into my emergency fund.  This will top up my emergency fund to $1,300, or $1,450 by Jan 1st 2012, after I add in another automated payment of $150.  Merry Christmas to me, indeed!

I've never owned a designer piece in my whole life. I almost cried.

My other goals are going to change too; I originally stated that I wanted to bring in an extra $40,000 through freelancing.  Well, folks, I have something to confess.  By now, most readers know that I was a formerly licensed realtor, who gave up selling (because I hated it) to work as an assistant to a top producing realtor in the Bridle Path. I based that goal on sales that I would do on the side, which is no longer realistic. I am guessing that were I to average out the work I’ve done on the side this year, I probably brought in approximately $150-200/month. That’s a pretty decent side hustle, and I will be looking to increase my streams of income in the New Year. I’m going to look into some tutoring, since a couple of my friends use this as their source of side hustling.

I am also putting some serious thought into a career change. I’ve been working in real estate for nearly 3 years now. I thought it was going to offer me the big city glamour and lifestyle that I wanted:

This is how I pictured my life....

When in reality, the life I actually wanted looks more like this:

I Heart My Bicycle

The same paradigm shift happened with the city of Toronto.  Toronto ain’t for me. Give me space, please.

So, what is it that I’m looking to do instead?  I was looking into writing the LSATs, and maybe going into law.  After the frustration of not making enough money, I was looking into careers that would guarantee me a higher income. But that’s not where my passion lies.  The truth is, I think that my passion may lie in a field that I swore I would never go into, since I’d be the third generation in the profession. But no matter where I go, or who I talk to, people tell me unequivocally that I give off a vibe that screams of this particular field.

I am looking into teacher’s college.

It’s not the most intelligent move, especially because it is nearly impossible to get hired ANYWHERE right now. The salary is not that great, and even if I perform extraordinarily well, I’ll make as much as the teacher in the same pay bracket who barely makes an effort.

But…I love teaching.

Crap.

Time to build up capital. Even if I don’t decide to become a teacher, I will be getting out of my industry in the next 2 years, and I will be getting out of Toronto.

Operation Life Change has begun.

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December 18, 2011 | Money Rabbit | 13 Comments »

Mall-Free Christmas, Year 2

Last year, I created a challenge for myself called Make it or Bake it.  The concept is self-evident; I either make or bake all my Christmas gifts.  This year, I informally decided to do the same thing. However, my list of people to make/bake for has significantly decreased. Last year, I baked bread for my bosses/coworkers, my ex-boyfriend, my neighbour, and my parents. This year, I’ll be planning some Christmas goodies for my parents only, and making a handmade present for my boyfriend. Two weeks ago, he told me he would rather that I not spend any money on a present for him, so I settled for a time consuming project o’ love. He’s a keeper, folks! 

My favourite part of the holidays stopped being about the gifts right about the time when I left university. Even though my parents have been exceptionally and unnecessarily generous this year (combining a birthday/Christmas gift to help me buy a couch), I am most looking forward to going home to the farm, relaxing, and spending some time with my family. The idea of gifts takes a back seat to seeing Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and pets. And who needs gifts when you have delicious farm cooking, like my mom’s homemade pumpkin cheesecake, last year’s hit.

Now that I’ve removed myself from the commercialism of Christmas, I can honestly say I appreciate and enjoy it more.  Sure, the thought of overheating in my winter coat while waiting an hour in line to buy a book does bring a certain sense of nostalgia. But instead of using my six-foot height to squish the shorter beings who have the misfortune of getting in between me and the cash register, I’ll be in my apartment, curled up on my couch, working on my Christmas projects and watching Buffy.

When I was growing up, Christmas was simple. For one thing, we used the word “Christmas,” not holidays. Even though I come from an agnostic/hardcore-atheist parental pairing, we still sang carols, had Nativity scenes, and watched all the Christmas specials. Mom would bring out her giant Christmas tupperware containers, filled to the brim with garlands, wreaths, and red and green stuffed animals. Christmas shopping also played its part. Every year, I’d take some of my savings (usually no more than $40) and go to the mall. I’d squeeze that $40 into gifts for four family members, how I don’t know. But the joy of shopping for my family was something I looked forward to.

As an adult, I think it’s all too common to get swept up in Holiday Mania. Naturally, there’s the shopping (and the thought of braving a mall right now makes me shudder), cooking, baking, cleaning, hosting, decorating, etc.

But let’s not forget the point of the holidays. For me, Christmas is about spending the darkest day of the year with the people I love, while eating as much food as I can stand. It’s about relaxation and revitalization. It’s not about what I receive, or what I give, it’s how I feel. It’s a celebration of the changing of season. It’s about looking at all the gorgeous lights decorating the houses, or giving a little extra to a favoured charity.  Presents feel like a distraction as opposed to a necessary ingredient.

So my holiday message to you is: do what brings you joy. If spending money is going to stress you out, don’t let the pressure of the season get to you. Your loved ones will be much happier knowing that you’re not secretly panicking as you hand over the gift you couldn’t really afford. Buy something small and thoughtful, or better yet, make it. Another gift alternative could be rounding up a bunch of friends and having a skating party. Have a thermos of hot chocolate at the ready, and savour the memories. If your friends are anything like me, they’ll appreciate that more than a set of headphones.

Don’t look for me in the malls. I’ll be too busy strapping on my skates, chasing after my own little piece of joy in the spirit of Christmas.

Gah, so cute!!!

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December 14, 2011 | Money Rabbit | 9 Comments »

Perspective

I’m about to embark on a little exercise called “getting some perspective.”  It’s because yet again, I find myself sitting in my lovely apartment, surrounded by my blessings…worrying. Stress, stress, stress. It’s unhealthy and counterproductive. So to snap myself out of it, I’m taking myself back five years ago, when my obsession with personal finance first began…

2006

My first year at Queen’s!  So exciting! So enriching!

So expensive!

I started the year with about $1500 in my account.  I set myself a budget of $100 a month, which was my monthly allowance back in high school. I figured it’d be easy to make it to May, when I would get myself a job, make enough money to last for another school year, and maybe work part time during my second year. I didn’t drink at all, so I didn’t have to worry about dropping it all at a bar.

I ran out of money in February.  I found myself knocking on doors with a company called Student Paint Works.  Essentially, we cold called and tried to convince people to sign up for a free consultation.  I would be paid $8 a lead, and was promised it would be so lucrative.  All I’d need is a name per hour and I’d be making more than minimum wage!

I got paid a whopping $64, after nearly a week of knocking on doors in subzero weather in the dark. But the cheque bounced when I deposited it. I had to chase the girl down to pay me in cash.

That summer, I worked another dead end job and got fired after four months, since I refused to pester customers into buying additional products that they didn’t want/need. All the money I possessed in the world sat in my chequing account. On average, it hovered around $200.

Meanwhile, romance had been swirling in the air. I had met my first serious boyfriend, with whom I was head over heels in love with.  This particular gentleman was living in Toronto over the summer, and I missed him desperately. The pain of making so little money, combined with my puppy love, made the summer of 2006 unbearable. Once a month, I’d fork out the $70 for bus fare to go see him, which is how I fell in love with Toronto.

Toronto! Glitzy, glamourous, sparkling! It was my escape from pokey old Kingston. Completely unexplored territory, full of potential! I knew, from the moment I first stepped foot off the bus, that this is where the magic was going to happen. I am a successful, driven person. I just knew that if I worked my butt off, in a couple of years, I would own the city of Toronto. I’d drive a shiny grey convertible. I’d live in a snazzy, downtown condo. I’d eat at the finest restaurants, shop at the swankiest stores, and live a life of total luxury.

The dichotomy between who I wanted to be and where I was served as fuel. I began researching personal finance to avoid ever being in debt again. I remember setting aside my first $50 and putting it in a mutual fund; it was all the savings I had, and I cherished it. The first time the fund went up by a dollar I shrieked with joy.

The stress I was feeling at that time was unbelievable, but evidently, I survived.  I spent many tearful hours on the phone with my mom, complaining about my job and wishing I was in Toronto. Once, I got so mad at her and at my whole situation that I hung up on her. I will never forget that…my mom is so close to me, and the thought of doing that to her now makes me want to vomit.

If I had a chance to do it all over again, I would have tried to enjoy that summer a lot more. Sure, I didn’t make a ton of money, and I spent all summer practically alone, but were I to have that opportunity again, I would take long walks, read, write, and relax.

Stressed as I am now, my 20s are magical. The uncertainty is thrilling. I don’t know my career path, who I’m going to marry, where I’m going to settle down. I’m not anchored anywhere.  I could lose EVERYTHING tomorrow, go into debt, and I will still have plenty of time to rebuild everything and start again. I have the pleasure of living alone, catering to my own needs

Perspective reminds me to stop and smell the proverbial roses. Life’s too short. Worry when it helps. Otherwise, don’t bother.

P.S.  Just found out my bonus … I’m getting an additional $330 after taxes, which is definitely lower than what I expected.  HOWEVER, I am also getting $160 for mileage from my vehicle, which will help.  Many of our deals did not close until December, so though I was expecting $775, this month’s pre-tax bonus was actually $525. Which means instead of $450 next month, I am now anticipating $700.  Yahoooo!!!

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December 8, 2011 | Money Rabbit | 8 Comments »

My poor, little networth

Gah!  Networth!  What happened to you?  You were going up up up!  Now you’re plunging!

Slight overexaggeration. But still, the downward pattern has been unnerving.

So what happened?  Tons.  I won’t bore you with reiterating all my expenses, since I bemoaned about them in detail throughout November, but that thing called “life” happened. Car maintenance, dental and couches, oh my! 

This week, I finally get to see how much my bonus is going to be, the one that I’ve been loooonging for. I’ll probably know around Wednesday.  Right now, I’m hoping that it’ll pay off my Visa bill, currently sitting at about $650. I want to purge the dregs of Nasty November from my statement.

Hopefully this week, I’ll also be able to have a chat with my boss about my vehicle.  One of the team members in my office is bound and determined that I keep it.  He sincerely thinks it will hamper my usefulness if I ditch it. Then again, my boss’s son doesn’t think it’ll be an issue.  The only person who matters, though, is the Big Guy. Even though I’m more comfortable now with waiting, I’m still very anxious to know.  Truthfully, I just want to ditch it, and watch my networth go back up to where it deserves to be. I will genuinely feel upset if I have to keep it.  I’m ready to end the saga and get cycling.

Every day that goes by, I am getting closer to financial equilibrium. It’s frustrating, but it’s getting closer and closer.  I’m hopeful that by January 2012, I’ll feel much more comfortable. 

But until then, gotta keep making compromises.  My bf offered to let me apply $60 that I owe him (for a dinner and something else I can’t remember) towards a return train ticket from Montreal on Sunday.  He and his dad are driving down Saturday morning, and he wanted me to come.  Unfortunately, the train that he’s taking back to Toronto is sold out of the special rate, so it would cost $112. Since that’s half of my month’s grocery budget, I had to say no :(  BUMMER!

UPDATE  – I am now going to Montreal for the weekend after all. Apparently I’m a spazz and thought that the train was sold out of all the special fare.  BUT it wasn’t.  So I’m going to go for $78.  Is it still tight?  You betcha! But I can’t turn down a trip to Montreal for $78.

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December 5, 2011 | Money Rabbit | 12 Comments »

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