Spending Recap: October 31-November 6, 2011
Monday 31st
+ $400 freelance/side income
$4.87 Starbucks
Tuesday 1st
No Spend Day!
Wednesday 2nd
No Spend Day!
Thursday 3rd
+ $50 freelance/side income
$4.20 Starbucks
Friday 4th
$34 Yaletown Brewery
$26 parking
Saturday 5th
$12.71 gas
$12.27 TSB Shipping (Point Roberts)
Sunday 6th
$25.45 Shang Noodle House
WEEKLY EXPENSES: - $123.50
WEEKLY SIDE INCOME *: + $450
TOTAL: + $326.50
Well, not much to say about this week. I didn’t bring in a lot of freelance income, but at the same time, my expenses were low. It’s weeks like this that make me scared to ever venture into full-time freelancing. I like stability, and only bringing in $450 for one week scares the crap out of me.
On Friday night my friend and I went to the Michael Jackson Cirque du Soleil show, and it was extremely disappointing. I’m upset that I spent $100 on my ticket, because I thought the show was going to be an epic display of acrobatics and cool tricks. Instead, it was a really confusing, jumbled story with a few cool acrobatic moments, and mediocre dancing.
I used the shipping depot in Point Roberts for the first time ever, and it was fairly easy. Especially with my NEXUS pass. I just cruised right through, picked up a couple of packages, filled up my gas tank, and cruised back into Canada. I will definitely be using that shipping depot again, and all of a sudden so many U.S.-only retailers have become accessible to me. :)
* This is all income I bring in that is above and beyond my full-time job. Money is primarily made through my two blogs and my graphic design business.
18 Responses to “Spending Recap: October 31-November 6, 2011”
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I’m curious about the u.s. shipping. How does that work in terms of duty and declaring at crossing? I’d love to have an easier way to order from retailers who don’t ship to Canada,
You still have to declare what you’ve purchased when you cross the border if you go over your daily limit. But the duty you have to pay is still worth it considering the retailer probably doesn’t ship to Canada, and buying in the US is almost always cheaper.
It’s a great low spend week.
I hear you on the stability factor-I’m not sure I could ever feel that good not knowing when my next paycheck will come (actually, I’m starting to feel a little nervous about going off on EI in Feb and not knowing when I’ll actually start to get reimbursed). At the same time, your monthly averages have been pretty steady, haven’t they? I guess freelancing takes even crazier amazing budget skills!
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First off, I would like to say you are an inspiration to all twenty something year olds & beyond! Your disipline is astonishing, and you have really opened alot of peoples eyes about debt & how EASY it is to get out of it if you set your mind to it! I found this site through flare, and I am extremely happy I decided to check out the link. You inspired me to buckle down, because I know being only 21 will give me a huge advantage to jump starting my savings. I also live in one of the most expensive cities in Canada, second highest I believe (Fort McMurray AB) but unlike Vancouver the average family income is $150 000+ (double?!) So I am excited to say thanks a lot for being so open with your readers & running such a fantastic site! I will be checking in often & telling my friends all about your site !!!
Ps. Do you have any blank budget spreadsheets(?) or a template of some sort that you use or do you just make it up as you go along? I am preparing to make my first budget ever & I’m just wondering if you have any up on the site for your readers to create there own?
Yes I do, actually. You can download my free budget spreadsheet that I used for many years. Check out BankNerd’s site and my spreadsheet is the first one listed: http://banknerd.ca/resources/templates/budget-templates/
I’ve always wanted to go over the border to fuel up, get groceries, and ship/receive things but my car isn’t technically mine, it’s my dads, so I don’t want the hassle.
Too bad Cirque du Soleil wasn’t good! Have you seen one of their “normal” shows? They’re awesome. I’m not a huge MJ fan, though.
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I actually used to cross the border a lot with my ex-BF’s car (when we were still dating, obviously) whenever he was out of town. I got no hassle at all, and even told them that it wasn’t my car. I had my BF write me a note saying he allowed me to use the car, just in case they wanted verification, but they never asked.
The only other Cirque show I saw was a small arena show in Victoria, which also wasn’t very impressive. I think I might need to see a “big” show in Vegas to draw my final conclusions about Cirque. So far, they’re 0-for-2.
I think you’re still doing good though. Good job.
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most people are paid biweekly, so 450 in one week, plus the second week would still likely be a generous paycheck, seeing as the side incomes you pull in, are either in that 500 range, and the following week are in the 1000 range. PLus it seems more often than not your weekly side incomes are over 700 a week. so that proven average should remove much of your fear.
OK so what is this shipping depot thing? I’m Toronto, How can I find a shipping depot in the falls? I waaaant to knowww
I can’t verify what shipping depots are located in the Niagara Falls area, but I know there are some. People on the RedFlagDeals forum were talking about this site: http://www.usaddressinc.com/ … hopefully that helps!
Are you sure that you don’t need to declare the stuff from your shipping depot? Especially with your nexus card – you really don’t want to get that taken away.
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I did declare my purchase at the border, and it was right around the daily limit.
@Krystal Yee:
The daily limit is after you have been away for 24hrs+ – if you are less than 24hrs – the daily limit is 0 (zero) dollars.
http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/travel-voyage/ifcrc-rpcrc-eng.html#a9
Yeah I guess I wasn’t thinking properly when I wrote that comment this morning, because when I usually go across the border, it’s at least for a night so I have that personal exemption. This is the first time I’ve ever gone across *just* to pick up something. But now that I recall back on the day trips I’ve taken to Bellingham, I always tell them what I’ve purchased, and I’ve never had to pay duty.
Like I said before, I don’t think it’s a big deal to pay duty, and am always fully prepared to do so.
Most US shipping depots will accept packages for Canadians for a fee. Where I live it is a UPS store. Just search for shipping depots in the area, there website should tell you if they accept packages.
Never heard of TSB Shipping before. I’ve always used the “Letter Carrier” in Point Roberts.
For those shipping stuff to Point Roberts you should always expect to pay taxes on what you bring back. If they just waive you through then that’s a bonus, but you should work the expected taxes into the price you paid for it at the beginning.
If you don’t declare something and get caught you’ll be fined and flagged in their system which won’t make future crossings much fun.
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Totally agree. You always have to factor in paying at the border on your way back. Trying to cheat the system will only screw you over in the end – ESPECIALLY if you have a Nexus. Don’t mess with that!