Thursday 5 October 2017

Expense Refund

G got his expense refund deposited into our chequing account today. Quite a bit more than we were expecting at $2104.96.

$1000.00 was transfered to our line of credit, which paid this debt off completely (yay!). Then I transferred $1000 to our annual expense fund.

-----------------------------------------

Goals: 
  1. Get back to budgeting  (Done!)
  2. Pay off the Line of Credit (Done!)
  3. Save up $7000 for annual expenses (property taxes, insurances, etc.) and replace as it gets used
    • $1000.00/7000 saved 
  4. Pay off remodel loan
-----------------------------------------

I really believe we can fully fund our annual expenses by the end of the year. It's going to be tight without any overtime payouts but I'm hoping that combined with budgeting and no unexpected expenses we can do it (that's a lot of hoping). We would be $500 shy of reaching it otherwise. I like a challenge though.

This is actually perfect timing for us to reach this step because I just got an email from Tangerine letting me know we qualified for a special interest rate on our savings account @ 2.75%. Every little bit helps!

- M 

Sunday 1 October 2017

Sunday Happenings and October Plans

A nice relaxing Sunday here at our house. We took our time getting out of bed, as it was extra cuddly with G not having to run off to work and the windows having been open all night thanks to the mild weather. I love mornings like todays.

G started prepping dinner right away, searing pork shoulder and making sauce for slow cooker pulled pork. It smells so delicious, I keep wanting to open the lid lol. While he was doing that I tackled cleaning up some of the deck planters. I had planted some dahlias this year so I removed those bulbs and have them drying out so they can be stored for the winter. I also have a calla lily plant indoors that has started to go dormant, so I dug those bulbs out for winter storage as well. I transplanted a geranium plant to bring indoors - so we will see if that survives. I just have a few more planters to clean up this week and (sadly) store away the patio furniture. I'm not ready to let go of autumn yet :(

October is going to be a pretty social month for G and I. He is gone to Nashville next week for a bachelor party. G booked his plane ticket for $687.17 and he owes $284.00 for his share of the hotel, which will come out of the cash he is traveling with. I have been watching the rates at work and purchased $1000 USD. Lucky for me, working at a financial institution I can buy and sell USD for a preferred rate - every little bit counts! All of those expenses have been worked into our previous months budget so his trip shouldn't derail October at all.

For me: my best friend and I have a girls city trip planned. We will be staying one night at a hotel, which should work out to be about $82 for my share after taxes. Any shopping I do will come out of my own personal spending account, which I've been saving for this very trip. The meals out, however, will come out of our family budget (I'm estimating $200.00 for drinks and food). I'm really looking forward to this! We've had it planned for a while but it was difficult nailing down a weekend that worked for both of us during the summer. This is going to be one last alcohol-related-hurrah for her before she and her husband start trying for baby #2, so I really want her to enjoy herself. :) & me too of course!

My reading/blog writing nook in our basement
With our new addition to the indoor plant club  <3

The rest of the day we don't really have much planned. G is editing some of our Europe photos right now while I write this and I might help sort thru and flag some of our favourites. We get a photo book printed every year and our Europe trip alone has over 7000 photos - we've since decided this trip should be it's own book for good reasons, lol. Have a good Sunday !

- M