Okay woah, it's been a while since I posted. I'll admit, I've fallen a little bit off the band wagon and got back into some nasty spending habits in the last few weeks. I just got back from a vacation in the US where the dollar was not so great, so naturally had to spend more money. It's time for a spending vacation.
What's that you say? Well it's a little thing I like to do right after a real vacation where I don't spend any money. Now how can I do that you say? What about gas and food and bills? Okay, I'm not talking about the essentials here. I am talking about the wants and luxuries that I've been spending money on in the last two weeks.
It's really hard when you go on vacation to keep track of your spending. Yes, I did keep all my receipts and watch what I was buying. But HELLO! Vacation! I only do this once a year, and I want to treat myself! So yes I spent a little extra money on clothes, a few wallets, some treats, and fun things. That's allowed.
Now though, it's time to get back on track. So how do you go on a spending vacation?
1) Write down a list of your essential expenses: this would include gas, phone, car payments/insurance, rent, and food. You can't get out of these no matter what. So plan for these, and nothing else.
2) Hide Yo Plastic: your credit cards should not come with you anywhere. I always used to be that person who said "I'm leaving it in my wallet in case of an emergency." Then I realized, I would never be in a situation where I should need a credit card. I always have the option of using my debit, but now that I plan the things I used to think were emergencies were just me being super careless. So I hide these cards, they're in full hibernation mode.
3) Set a Time Frame: usually I have this little vacation for about 2 weeks. This time, I'm aiming for 3. I know, it seems a little crazy. But I'm really focusing on 1) getting my workouts back up to par, 2) training for a 1/2 marathon, 3) reading the 7 books I bought in the last year or so that are still sitting on my book shelf and 4) planning my goals for the next year. NONE of these require money. Of course I will probably squeeze some friend time in there. I mean hey, I do need a workout buddy. But it will be at a $0 cost to get some visits in over the next few weeks.
4) Stay Away From The Mall: I cannot be tempted if I do not see things I want. Therefore, my online and in-store shopping are done, probably until summer time. And hey, I'm working on a few fitness goals anyway, so here's hoping that when I do get back to the mall, there will be some new changes I see in myself.
5) Keep Yourself Accountable: sometimes these things are easier said than done. I know, because there are days where I wake up and I am CRAVING a white chocolate raspberry mocha and I will do whatever it takes to get one. BUT you have to fight the temptations, no matter what they are. Your future self will thank you for it!
So I will do an update in three weeks to let you know how this goes. I am essentially going to be planning my weeks out 7 days at a time so that I can focus on my goals, and focus on building my savings back up. Happy Sunday!
Showing posts with label saving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label saving. Show all posts
Sunday, 13 March 2016
Saturday, 23 January 2016
More Money, More Problems
As most of you have probably noticed lately, the exchange rate is absolutely terrible. You're Canadian and you want to shop in the States because you think you're gonna save money? Well, good luck with that. As of Friday, the Canadian dollar was worth 71 cents U.S. but a few short days before it was at 69 cents U.S. AHHHH.
Now a lot of people lately have been asking me if I'll be shopping or what I'll be doing when I go down to the States in March since the dollar sucks. Well we are going for WPPI which is a photographer's conference. So I mean yes there will be some downtime but I will likely be saving my money for things like food. I have been very conscious about saving money though and checking out things on sale in stores that I would shop at. I wanted to offer some of my money saving tips for those who are thinking of cross boarder shopping or road tripping soon.
1) Get a U.S. Account at your bank: depending on your bank, this should be free. This is just like an extra savings account, only for U.S. money. Every single time I went to the bank to take American money out, I was always offered a U.S. credit card. Since I was only going once a year at that point, I always politely refused. Then one time the teller offered to open a U.S. bank account. This was free of charge, and basically it's an account that no matter what the exchange rate is, always got a little bit of a better rate. So I said sure why not. So even though $1 Canadian = $0.71 U.S, I might get a rate of $0.75 U.S. It's not much, but hey it's something.
2) Look for those American Coins: every time I shop here whether it's at the grocery store, the gas station, or a restaurant, I am pretty observant to see what kind of change I get, and if there are any American coins in it. I have a jar that I have been stock piling this change in, and even though I know it won't add up to much by the time I go, it still means less money I'll have to take out of my other account. (FYI...you may think change doesn't add up in a jar, but try working a job that has tips or putting your remaining change in a jar for a few months. You'd be surprised at how fast it adds up)
3) Research: look for restaurants, malls, entertainment, or whatever before hand to see if you can find deals, coupons, or just cheaper places in general. Since we're going to Vegas, there is a LOT of stuff to do for free. I mean come on, you can spend one day just checking out hotels for pete's sake. Since the dollar isn't the best, we plan to have a lot of free stuff in our itinerary for the evening's and the extra day we'll have in Vegas. The best thing about going to a place like Vegas is you can make a huge itinerary full of free stuff and maybe have one or two paid things and still feel like you're getting in the full Vegas experience.
4) Pack Light: this is a basic travel tip. But if you're flying somewhere and you don't want to pay for your bag that weighs 80 pounds because you went a little shopping crazy, pack light so you'll have the extra room. I mean, you already have to pay for baggage fees on most flights now, why would you wanna tack on extra money because your bag is overweight?
5) Enjoy Yourself: I have to keep reminding myself of this. If you're someone who doesn't get to travel a lot, don't forget to treat yoself. Just because the dollar sucks, you deserve this trip! Again, I only get away 1-2 times a year if I'm lucky. So if there is a purse at Kate Spade and they've got a killer sale on, you know I'll be all over that. It's important to be smart, but it's also important not to stress over the small things because a vacation is meant to be enjoyed.
I recommend checking out this website below too, especially if you're a first time or non frequent traveller. And if you are going somewhere in the next few months, have fun!
https://www.crossbordershopping.ca/top-10-cross-border-shopping-tips-for-canadians
Now a lot of people lately have been asking me if I'll be shopping or what I'll be doing when I go down to the States in March since the dollar sucks. Well we are going for WPPI which is a photographer's conference. So I mean yes there will be some downtime but I will likely be saving my money for things like food. I have been very conscious about saving money though and checking out things on sale in stores that I would shop at. I wanted to offer some of my money saving tips for those who are thinking of cross boarder shopping or road tripping soon.
1) Get a U.S. Account at your bank: depending on your bank, this should be free. This is just like an extra savings account, only for U.S. money. Every single time I went to the bank to take American money out, I was always offered a U.S. credit card. Since I was only going once a year at that point, I always politely refused. Then one time the teller offered to open a U.S. bank account. This was free of charge, and basically it's an account that no matter what the exchange rate is, always got a little bit of a better rate. So I said sure why not. So even though $1 Canadian = $0.71 U.S, I might get a rate of $0.75 U.S. It's not much, but hey it's something.
2) Look for those American Coins: every time I shop here whether it's at the grocery store, the gas station, or a restaurant, I am pretty observant to see what kind of change I get, and if there are any American coins in it. I have a jar that I have been stock piling this change in, and even though I know it won't add up to much by the time I go, it still means less money I'll have to take out of my other account. (FYI...you may think change doesn't add up in a jar, but try working a job that has tips or putting your remaining change in a jar for a few months. You'd be surprised at how fast it adds up)
3) Research: look for restaurants, malls, entertainment, or whatever before hand to see if you can find deals, coupons, or just cheaper places in general. Since we're going to Vegas, there is a LOT of stuff to do for free. I mean come on, you can spend one day just checking out hotels for pete's sake. Since the dollar isn't the best, we plan to have a lot of free stuff in our itinerary for the evening's and the extra day we'll have in Vegas. The best thing about going to a place like Vegas is you can make a huge itinerary full of free stuff and maybe have one or two paid things and still feel like you're getting in the full Vegas experience.
4) Pack Light: this is a basic travel tip. But if you're flying somewhere and you don't want to pay for your bag that weighs 80 pounds because you went a little shopping crazy, pack light so you'll have the extra room. I mean, you already have to pay for baggage fees on most flights now, why would you wanna tack on extra money because your bag is overweight?
5) Enjoy Yourself: I have to keep reminding myself of this. If you're someone who doesn't get to travel a lot, don't forget to treat yoself. Just because the dollar sucks, you deserve this trip! Again, I only get away 1-2 times a year if I'm lucky. So if there is a purse at Kate Spade and they've got a killer sale on, you know I'll be all over that. It's important to be smart, but it's also important not to stress over the small things because a vacation is meant to be enjoyed.
I recommend checking out this website below too, especially if you're a first time or non frequent traveller. And if you are going somewhere in the next few months, have fun!
https://www.crossbordershopping.ca/top-10-cross-border-shopping-tips-for-canadians
Thursday, 7 May 2015
My Wallet Is Fat And I Like It Like That
It's been a rough week. I gave into a lot of temptation, I made myself way too busy and I was a tad grumpy some days from not sleeping enough. It happens, and I've accepted that even though most days are better now, some days will still be rough.
That's why this week I decided to talk about a different part of my health/wellness make-over: how I became financially 'fit'.
2015 is the first full year that I haven't been a student. I went straight out of high school and did university/college for five years combined. Most people who have gone to school know the struggle of paying for school, trying to work part time, and staying sane through it all.
While I was in university, I honestly didn't really think about money that much. I knew that I was working 25 hours a week, which was more than enough to pay for what I needed. Though I was kind of dumb and spent a lot of it, I still had enough to pay for my phone, car, gas, and the essentials.
Once I got into Cre Comm in 2012, I knew working part time was going to mean working 5-10 hours a week because of the intensity of the program. I wanted to really focus on school because I knew it would (hopefully) be the last two years I was there, and I wanted to make it count. After the first semester, I made the decision to work less because a lot was going on with school and I wanted to take on more opportunities to help with my career in the future.
To make a long story short, I spent a lot more money than I was making in Cre Comm and by the time summer came around, I had a little bit of student debt to pay. I wasn't too concerned, because I knew that since I didn't have very much I would be able to pay it off by the end of the summer and be done with it. Well summer came, and I spent a lot of money on 'things'. Basically went out a lot, started buying stuff I would need to move out, and I wasn't being very responsible. I woke up one day and realized I would have to change. I'm no longer a student and I need to save way more than I spend. So it took me a couple of months but I got back on track. Here's how:
1) Lived Off Cash: I've always heard of this as a technique to try and control spending habits. I never knew how difficult it actually was until I tried it for a month. Taking out $100 a week seemed like it would be enough, but some weeks I would have to pay for gas, and others my phone bill. So I would be left with pennies by the end of the week, and be like well that sucks, guess I'm not going out. What it did do was help me realize how much money I was spending on crap. AKA going out for drinks, dinner, coffee, ice cream, shopping, etc. I went out 3-4 times a week which was so unecessary. Once I started writing it all out and looking at it each week, I quickly realized I had to be smarter. So I would go out for dinner once a week, and maybe instead of ordering alcoholic beverages I would order a water with lemon or even an iced tea (helped save on the calories too).
2) Watched Way Too Many Money Shows: Okay, for a while I got hooked on the show Til Debt Do Us Part. If you're unfamiliar with it, Gail Vaz Oxlade works with couples who are struggling with debt and helps them get back on track (this is where I got the idea to live off cash). A lot of the times, it scared me. Seeing these people who were in their 20's and early 30's battling thousands of dollars in debt and not able to get out of the hole they dug for themselves. I've learned quite a few techniques from this show, and honestly as lame as it sounds you're never too young to be money smart. It made me realize that developing good habits early on would help me in the long run.
3) Started an RRSP: Well someday I have to retire, and I figure it would be nice to have some money when I do. Even though I'm not contributing thousands of dollars into it each month right now, it's still enough that when I do retire, there will be a good chunk of change even if I kept it at the current amount (obviously once I'm older I plan on contributing more). The good thing about this too is that your tax return tends to go up the more you contribute to your RRSP, so it's basically a win win. A scary thing is a lot of people tend to cash out their RRSP's early when they run into trouble and I've been told this many times. So all I do is just pretend it's not there. I'm well aware that a certain amount of money disappears from my account each month, but I just tell myself it's locked away and you can't touch it. So I never plan to until I retire.
4) Started A Hope Chest: I knew once I graduated, I was going to be planning to move out of my parents house within a year or so. I also knew how expensive it was going to be to add rent, food, and even household supplies to my list of things I need. What I decided to do was spend $20-$40 each paycheque on things I knew I would need. So plates, cups, utensils, etc. Even though it drives me crazy seeing all this stuff piling up in my closet, I know my future self will thank me when all I have to buy is a few pieces of furniture when I do move out.
5) Save Those Tips: If you work in the restaurant industry, or somewhere where you earn tips, save them. I work just at a coffee shop, so the tips aren't as big as they would be with serving but let me tell you they add up very quickly if you don't touch them. Every week when I work, I put mine in a jar and I don't touch them. They pile up week after week. In May 2013 when I went to buy my first DSLR camera I figured I would use some of my tips that I had started saving in October and then just use the rest from my savings. Turns out, I had enough to pay for my camera, and still had some tips left over. I've gone to Vegas twice in the last year and a bit, both trips I used less than $300 combined from my savings. All tips. It's actually amazing. Now, I'm going back to Vegas again next March (this time for work, don't judge) and I've still got my jar going. Even if you don't save it for big items, save them for your gas or your phone bill or even use it to buy yourself something nice once a month. Let me tell you though, it feels great to be able to pay for an entire trip just on your tip savings.
Now I'm in no way calling myself a money expert here. I'm merely sharing my tips with you in hopes that if you're struggling like I was, you can benefit from the same advice. You can always talk to your bank as well. They're actually really friendly people, and the reason that I'm living debt free right now. I obviously also have to consider my parents a huge helping factor because I've learned from some of their mistakes and appreciate the advice they offer. Since I'm in the photography business now (which is super expensive) I know that this summer will probably be one that's expensive but my goal is to try and see if I can live off cash again for a month (maybe two) just to try and bank some extra money while I'm working 3 jobs.
Oh and yes, people keep asking me how/why I do it. It's all about balance, and just loving what you do. I would not work three jobs if I didn't love them all. Some day I know that I will be content with working one job and enjoying my weekends off, but right now I wouldn't have it any other way.
That's why this week I decided to talk about a different part of my health/wellness make-over: how I became financially 'fit'.
2015 is the first full year that I haven't been a student. I went straight out of high school and did university/college for five years combined. Most people who have gone to school know the struggle of paying for school, trying to work part time, and staying sane through it all.
While I was in university, I honestly didn't really think about money that much. I knew that I was working 25 hours a week, which was more than enough to pay for what I needed. Though I was kind of dumb and spent a lot of it, I still had enough to pay for my phone, car, gas, and the essentials.
Once I got into Cre Comm in 2012, I knew working part time was going to mean working 5-10 hours a week because of the intensity of the program. I wanted to really focus on school because I knew it would (hopefully) be the last two years I was there, and I wanted to make it count. After the first semester, I made the decision to work less because a lot was going on with school and I wanted to take on more opportunities to help with my career in the future.
To make a long story short, I spent a lot more money than I was making in Cre Comm and by the time summer came around, I had a little bit of student debt to pay. I wasn't too concerned, because I knew that since I didn't have very much I would be able to pay it off by the end of the summer and be done with it. Well summer came, and I spent a lot of money on 'things'. Basically went out a lot, started buying stuff I would need to move out, and I wasn't being very responsible. I woke up one day and realized I would have to change. I'm no longer a student and I need to save way more than I spend. So it took me a couple of months but I got back on track. Here's how:
1) Lived Off Cash: I've always heard of this as a technique to try and control spending habits. I never knew how difficult it actually was until I tried it for a month. Taking out $100 a week seemed like it would be enough, but some weeks I would have to pay for gas, and others my phone bill. So I would be left with pennies by the end of the week, and be like well that sucks, guess I'm not going out. What it did do was help me realize how much money I was spending on crap. AKA going out for drinks, dinner, coffee, ice cream, shopping, etc. I went out 3-4 times a week which was so unecessary. Once I started writing it all out and looking at it each week, I quickly realized I had to be smarter. So I would go out for dinner once a week, and maybe instead of ordering alcoholic beverages I would order a water with lemon or even an iced tea (helped save on the calories too).
2) Watched Way Too Many Money Shows: Okay, for a while I got hooked on the show Til Debt Do Us Part. If you're unfamiliar with it, Gail Vaz Oxlade works with couples who are struggling with debt and helps them get back on track (this is where I got the idea to live off cash). A lot of the times, it scared me. Seeing these people who were in their 20's and early 30's battling thousands of dollars in debt and not able to get out of the hole they dug for themselves. I've learned quite a few techniques from this show, and honestly as lame as it sounds you're never too young to be money smart. It made me realize that developing good habits early on would help me in the long run.
3) Started an RRSP: Well someday I have to retire, and I figure it would be nice to have some money when I do. Even though I'm not contributing thousands of dollars into it each month right now, it's still enough that when I do retire, there will be a good chunk of change even if I kept it at the current amount (obviously once I'm older I plan on contributing more). The good thing about this too is that your tax return tends to go up the more you contribute to your RRSP, so it's basically a win win. A scary thing is a lot of people tend to cash out their RRSP's early when they run into trouble and I've been told this many times. So all I do is just pretend it's not there. I'm well aware that a certain amount of money disappears from my account each month, but I just tell myself it's locked away and you can't touch it. So I never plan to until I retire.
4) Started A Hope Chest: I knew once I graduated, I was going to be planning to move out of my parents house within a year or so. I also knew how expensive it was going to be to add rent, food, and even household supplies to my list of things I need. What I decided to do was spend $20-$40 each paycheque on things I knew I would need. So plates, cups, utensils, etc. Even though it drives me crazy seeing all this stuff piling up in my closet, I know my future self will thank me when all I have to buy is a few pieces of furniture when I do move out.
5) Save Those Tips: If you work in the restaurant industry, or somewhere where you earn tips, save them. I work just at a coffee shop, so the tips aren't as big as they would be with serving but let me tell you they add up very quickly if you don't touch them. Every week when I work, I put mine in a jar and I don't touch them. They pile up week after week. In May 2013 when I went to buy my first DSLR camera I figured I would use some of my tips that I had started saving in October and then just use the rest from my savings. Turns out, I had enough to pay for my camera, and still had some tips left over. I've gone to Vegas twice in the last year and a bit, both trips I used less than $300 combined from my savings. All tips. It's actually amazing. Now, I'm going back to Vegas again next March (this time for work, don't judge) and I've still got my jar going. Even if you don't save it for big items, save them for your gas or your phone bill or even use it to buy yourself something nice once a month. Let me tell you though, it feels great to be able to pay for an entire trip just on your tip savings.
Now I'm in no way calling myself a money expert here. I'm merely sharing my tips with you in hopes that if you're struggling like I was, you can benefit from the same advice. You can always talk to your bank as well. They're actually really friendly people, and the reason that I'm living debt free right now. I obviously also have to consider my parents a huge helping factor because I've learned from some of their mistakes and appreciate the advice they offer. Since I'm in the photography business now (which is super expensive) I know that this summer will probably be one that's expensive but my goal is to try and see if I can live off cash again for a month (maybe two) just to try and bank some extra money while I'm working 3 jobs.
Oh and yes, people keep asking me how/why I do it. It's all about balance, and just loving what you do. I would not work three jobs if I didn't love them all. Some day I know that I will be content with working one job and enjoying my weekends off, but right now I wouldn't have it any other way.
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