Traveling 4 of the 5 weekends in March February 29, 2008
Posted by gmbmfb in : budget, entertainment, travel , 2commentsWell, March is going to destroy me a little bit.
March 1-2: hometown
March 14-16: Harrison Hot Springs
March 20-23: hometown (long weekend)
March 28-31: Calgary
So I’m going to break down a budget for these 4 weekends:
- March 1-2: $50. This includes transportation to and from Vancouver. I’ll make about $50 working at the arena on the 1st, so the cost of this trip will basically get canceled out.
- March 14-16: $500 $450. Ouch!!! My accommodation share will be $225 for 2 nights, and I have to pay half of my sister’s share (as her birthday present), which will be $112.50 = $337.50. I normally wouldn’t spend this much, but 1) it’s my sister’s 21st birthday, 2) her BF is leaving in April on an internship, and 3) it’d be nice to go on a little getaway with BF. These costs include buffet breakfast both mornings, a 4-course meal in their fancy restaurant on Saturday, and access to all 5 of their hot springs. I figure rounding it up to $500 $450 should keep me safe. The additional $162.50 $112.50 should be enough to cover my share of gas, dinner Friday night, lunch Saturday, and lunch on Sunday … plus maybe a massage at their spa. :) I had originally budgeted $200 for this trip (silly me), so I’ll need to come up with an additional $300 $250. I will have $90 coming in from PPP in March, plus 2 shifts at the arena (I have 3 shifts at the arena in March, but 1 shift will take care of my March 1-2 trip) = $190. And the additional $110 $60 I can just take from the Travel Fund. I don’t feel bad spending this much b/c that’s what the Travel Fund is for!!! :)
- March 20-23: $100 $150. Honestly, I don’t anticipate doing anything that would really cost money. But it’s better to be safe, I guess. I need to get my hair cut, and it will cost $67. Plus, traveling home will be an additional $23.60. That will leave just under $60 for the rest of the weekend.
- March 28-31: $150. BF and I are driving out to Calgary, and we’re going to watch the Calgary/Edmonton NHL game, which I’m super stoked about. I think we’ll be spending less than 48 hrs. actually in Calgary, as it’ll take quite a while to drive out there … but once again, it’s best to budget more than less.
I’ll be surprised if I have anything left in my Travel Fund after this month is over … but that’s okay, because I don’t plan on traveling again until I go down to Seattle for the Canada Day long weekend.
Also, I’ve been posting way too much the past week or so. Sorry. :)
***EDIT***
I forgot to mention that for the March 28-31 Calgary trip, we scored free tickets from BF’s brother, and will be staying with him while we’re in town.
Just when I was about to pat myself on the back February 29, 2008
Posted by gmbmfb in : monthly challenge , add a commentARGG! I was so good packing my lunch the past 2 weeks … but I forgot to bring tuna for my salad. I buy those mini-flavoured tuna tins because I don’t really like using salad dressing unless I have to (and I don’t even have any left in the fridge at work – I’m very particular when it comes to dressing) … so now I just have a big bowl of lettuce and spinach. You’re reading the blog of an idiot.
Good thing I have a drawer full of granola bars … and last week BF came by my work with a huge chocolate bar that I still have half of. But still. :(
February-March Lunch Challenge: Week 2 February 29, 2008
Posted by gmbmfb in : monthly challenge , add a commentWell today marks the end of Week 2 of the February-March Lunch Challenge. Woo!!! For those of you who have started already, how did you do?
For those who are on the fence about joining, this is your last day to sign up! :)
- krystalatwork – brought my lunch all 5 days. Except today I forgot to bring the tuna for my salad. So I just snacked on granola bars and fruit instead.
- The BF – almost slipped up, but made it through the week just fine.
- L – “It’s been an alright week. I slipped up on Wed. and bought dessert! Whoops.”
- asgreen – “Did great! Helped that I was out Mon. and Tues. But brought my lunch on Wed. & Thurs and I have a lunch meeting with free lunch today.”
- SJean – ” I brought lunch four days and had free work lunch one day!”
- ntbeachnc – “I brought breakfast and lunch all five days, and turned down two offers to go to lunch.”
- No More Debt – “I worked 16 hour days most days (2 jobs) and brought 2 lunches each day. I had one day where lunch just wasn’t enough and spent a few dollars at McD’s in between jobs (it was cheaper than going home).”
- Grad School Girl – “I was home sick on Tues. and had someone buy my lunch on Thurs. so no money spent on lunches other than my grocery budget! Woo! I also brought leftovers on Wed.”
- SavingDiva – “I was at home sick on Mon., Wed., and Thurs. However, on Tues. and Fri., I brought chicken noodle soup from home to work. No money spent on eating out for any meals.”
- Vinelady – “I brought my breakfast and lunch all five days. This was made easier by making a couple of basic dishes on the weekend. It is amazing how many ways you can change up noodles.”
- Little Miss Moneybags – “Mon. I forgot my granola bars and made a vending machine run. Tues. I forgot my LUNCH but remembered my granola bars (only spent $2.25 on soup, though). Thurs. I was taken to lunch via a standing lunch engagement (it’ll be my turn to pay sometime in March). Wed. and Fri. I got a gold star!”
- Matt – “I’m over 2 weeks without spending a dime on lunch. I’ve turned down 2 requests for lunch outings. I drink coffee or water, and don’t snack, even though we have a cheap drink machine and plentiful Little Debbies.”
- Michelle – “I spent a total of $0.29 this week. I had lunch at work everyday and lunch was provided at a meeting on Wed. Thurs., I went to Starbucks. I had a gift card but came up $0.29 short on my purchase. But hey, $0.29 is a lot better than spending $40, like I usually do.”
- Kate – “I spent $1.00 this week on a can of soda. I had brought one with me to work, and left it in the fridge, but then my boss drank it by accident. She’s bringing me one next week, so it’ll all even out!”
- Erika – “I did well, except Monday. I spent $15 (my turn to buy). But I’m shooting for 100% in March!”
- Niki – “Thumbs up! I made it all week with a free lunch from work on Friday. Can’t complain about free.”
February 29, 2008: sidebar update February 29, 2008
Posted by gmbmfb in : sidebar totals , add a commentToday was pay day, so I updated my sidebar totals and my NetworthIQ.
Income:
- $1,225 – FT job
- $44 – PT job
Savings:
- $50 to Travel Fund
- $400 to Emergency Fund
- $300 to Condo Down Payment
Payments:
- $62.89 to Visa
- $600 to rent ($300 was saved from previous pay cheque)
Back home again this weekend February 28, 2008
Posted by gmbmfb in : entertainment, saving money , add a comment
Tomorrow I head back home for the weekend right after work. If I make the 7pm ferry, I’ll get home around 9:30pm. So far I have nothing planned for Friday night.
Saturday I have 2 hockey games (12pm & 3pm), work at the PT job from 5-10pm, and then I’m going to see a late showing of Semi-Pro, the new Will Ferrell movie, with a friend. I have a 2-for-1 coupon thanks to the Entertainment Book I bought last fall, so it shouldn’t cost more than $5 for my share. I’m kind of excited for this movie, but I know it’s not going to be as great as Anchorman. Because, let’s be honest here, no movie in the history of the world will ever beat the cinematic genius that is Anchorman. It’s science.
Sunday I will have to continue to clean up my old basement suite, go for lunch with my grandma, and then head back to the mainland sometime during the afternoon.
It’s kind of sad that my 1 shift at the arena will basically cover my expenses for coming home this weekend, and that’s only if I get rides to and from the ferry terminal. I HATE taking public transportation to the Vancouver ferry terminal, so if I don’t get driven out there, I always take the PCL bus. Even though it’s about $10 more expensive (each way) than the regular bus, I feel like it’s worth it. I’m more comfortable, less overwhelmed, less stressed and less annoyed. Although, now that I live in Vancouver, I should probably learn to take the bus. It’ll save me a ton of money in travel costs back home if I do. Something to consider.
March 2008 Monthly Goals February 28, 2008
Posted by gmbmfb in : monthly goals , 2commentsThis will be the first month where I can really get going with my budget. February, I tried really hard, but it was an expensive month considering I was getting settled in a new city and had a lot of expenses relating to that. Now I’m going to get back to tracking every single penny I spend. Literally. So, bring on March!
- Successfully complete the February-March Lunch Challenge. I know I’ll be able to do this, especially with all of you joining me on this month-long journey!
- $100 into Travel Fund. I really should be adding more than this, but I just can’t afford it right now.
- $400 into Condo Down Payment Fund.
- $300 into Emergency Fund.
- $150 grocery budget.
- $200 for my sister’s birthday. We’re most likely going somewhere for the weekend (me and BF, sister and her BF), and I’m going to pay for my sister’s portion of the trip (her BF will probably help me with the costs, but we’re not even sure where we’re going right now … if we’re going at all). Hopefully this budget is attainable. If it’s not, then I’ll have to pull money out of my Travel Fund to cover the difference. I feel like $200 is pretty cheap for my sister’s birthday present and a weekend away with BF. So we shall see.
- Make an extra $150. I don’t know how I’m going to accomplish this, really. I think I have 2 shifts to work at the arena, so that should bring in some money. Then I could do PPP and maybe sell things on eBay to make up the difference?
February Goals: My Review February 28, 2008
Posted by gmbmfb in : monthly goals , add a commentFebruary Goals (end of month review):
- $150 grocery budget. I didn’t pull this off. I should have factored in the fact that my first shopping trip of the month was going to be a “fridge re-stocking” trip, as I needed to buy a lot of the basic necessities like margarine, a Brita filter, sauces, etc. All in all, I spent $230.73 for the month, which really isn’t even that bad.
- $50 gas and public transportation. Check! I only spent $7.75 on public transportation, and ZERO dollars in gas. I still have 1/4 tank left over, which is one of the reasons why I love my scooter. $15/month for insurance (which I pay as one lump sum every year I renew my insurance), and less than $5/month in gas? That’s about 1/4 the cost of a monthly bus pass!
- $100 Entertainment. Hmm … this is a hard one to categorize. I spent $137.41 on dining out ($50 of that was an all-you-can-eat sushi dinner with BF) and going out for coffee with friends. Not bad, considering I had my “moving away” party, and lots of dates with friends whenever I went home on the weekends. I’ll definitely not be spending that much money on dining out during March. It’s kind of gross that my entire “entertainment” budget consisted of just buying food.
- $200 towards RRSPs. I didn’t deposit anything. I’m going to wait and see how much I’ll contribute out of my tax refund, and then make equal bi-weekly payments throughout the rest of the year so that I can be sure to hit my $22k RRSP portfolio target.
- Have my new suite looking and feeling like home. BF hasn’t finished making my bed yet. I’m not sure how far along he is with it, but that’s basically the last piece of the puzzle to making my suite feel like it’s my own. Even though it’s not my own.
- Get my EI paid out and then advise them I’m now working a FT job. DONE and DONE!!! :)
- Get my taxes done. I met with an accountant yesterday after work, and I’ll be going in on Monday to see what he has to say about my refund. If my refund turns out to be exactly what I calculated a few days ago using the H&R Block online tax filing system, then I’m going to do my taxes from now on. But if I’m way off, then I’ll stick with getting it professionally done.
I did pretty poorly with staying on track with my budget this month. My biggest expense was moving into my new place – paying rent, damage deposit, moving costs, and buying a few necessities (computer table, futon, materials to build a bed, kitchen stuff, etc), all of that combined cost roughly $2,000. Ouch.
Hopefully March is a kinder month to me.
I guess I eat less than I thought February 27, 2008
Posted by gmbmfb in : recipes and food , add a commentI didn’t think I bought enough food to last me the entire week, but after I made dinner last night (brown/wild rice, steamed baby bok choy, 1/2 snapper fillet), I realized that I have way more food than necessary. After overloading myself with bok choy the past few days, I still have 1/3 of a bag left. I guess I overestimate how much I actually eat.
So I tossed the other half of the snapper fillet, and the 2 chicken breasts into the freezer. I won’t be able to eat them before I go back to the island on Friday after work … and I want to concentrate on eating all my perishable produce before any of it goes bad.
So tonight I’m going to make another pizza because I want to use up the rest of the mozzarella, and I have a whole container of washed spinach that needs to be eaten. Plus, those red and green peppers aren’t going to eat themselves! :)
