My Latest Purchases

My daughter just had to go to the bookstore yesterday. She had been waiting forever for the book she wanted, and didn't get it for Christmas. She did have her own money to spend, so off we went to the bookstore. The Coles bookstore in Argyle Mall to be precise. They are closing that location as of January 31st, 2012, so they have some deals on books.  GOD HELP ME.

Books are a weakness for me. Being in a bookstore can be hell for my finances. But I went anyway. I didn't emerge unscathed, but I didn't buy any more reading material for myself. I bought said book for the DD2, a large calendar for DD1, and for myself, I bought a 3 pack of Moleskine notebooks (for keeping track of finances) and a portable money organizer.

This little organizer has six accordion pockets on the left side, with tabs for personalisation, a pen, and on the right, a notepad for writing down what I've spent, with columns of Date, What and Amount. I can tally up totals, and there is space for notes. The only thing I don't like about it is that at the bottom of each page is printed: "When all else fails, charge it."  This is going to be fabulous for me because I can keep receipts separate for business and personal and I can keep coupons in it also.

*** Edit: You can find this little gem in Coles stores or you can order it online. Here's the link:
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/gifts/Money-Receiptables/825703151558-item.html?ref=by-shop%3agifts%3apaper-agendas%3aagendas-organizer%3a2  ****


I pledge to myself that this will be the year of complete change. I will keep track of my spending (and as much of Hubby's as I can as well). I will save more and spend less. I know I cannot pay off all of our debt in this calendar year, but it is a work in progress. We can pay off the credit card debt though. And that will make me happy.

I have hope for this year.

Happy Birthday GrandCub!

Your parents were surprised to find out about you, as were we.

You grew, and grew inside your Mommy's tummy, while they prepared for your arrival.

We knew you were a boy, and I was so excited to become a Grandma. I couldn't wait to meet you.

And then you were here. Born on your great-great-grandma's 91st birthday!

We all wore shirts with your name (in case you could see them).

You made Tabba an Auntie.

You made Douglas (Cub) an Uncle.

We welcomed you, and sang Happy Birthday to you for the first time.

You started growing....

...and growing...

...and doing all the busy things babies do.

Before long, you'll be starting new adventures.

Happy 1st Birthday little GrandCub! Have a wonderful birthday!

~ With all my love, Grandma

A Positive Perspective

I know that I am naturally a pessimistic person. I naturally see the 'bad' or negative in everything in life. It takes a lot of work on my part to see things from a positive perspective. But I try anyway. I don't want to be that person who always bursts others' bubbles, or tramps on their dreams. I actually don't do that; I see the negative, but I usually keep it to myself.

When it comes to my own life, that's a whole different story.

I can blame the weather, the lack of income, circumstances, and a million other things for the way I feel about my life. The truth is, I have to practice what I preach, so to speak. I am a firm believer that if you don't like something in your life, you must change it. No one is ever going to come knocking on your front door to offer you the 'perfect' job (if there even is such a thing). Or to hand you a detailed plan on how to make your life happier. Or to give you the 'secret' to getting rich, or whatever. 

I will try my hardest over the next few months to see the good in everything in life. Yes, my job is stressful, but at least I have employment and am able to work. True, it seems like we are not getting any further ahead with our finances, but we are now better equipped to deal with things than we ever have been before. I'm not pretending that everything will turn out all right anymore, but I'm also not giving up. I won't let the negativity that is in my head keep me from doing what needs to be done.

After all, we only have one life, and I intend on making the most out of what I've got.

We are facing a situation right now that seems a bit absurd to me, but I'm not so sure that I can change it in any way. It is what it is. I am determined to make the best of it, regardless of the outcome. I choose to see the 'good' in the situation. Maybe it's time for this thing to happen, so that other good things can happen to us as well. In the meantime, I'm learning a very valuable lesson. One that will never need repeating. I'm hopeful that we will come out of it without too much damage.

Having said all that, all is well on the home front. We put away the tree and decorations for another year. Most of the gifts have found a home in our small space. I have months of decluttering and purging ahead of me. I need to get all of last years bills, receipts and invoices organised for when I have to be ready for income tax time. ( I won't ever file late, ever again!) I have to get all of my handcrafting stuff organised and truly make it into a side hustle. I did manage to get my hands on a Kit Kat Christmas tin. The one with the coin slot in the lid. I'll be using that as my 'sealed pot' instead of making one from plastic canvas.

I have mountains of laundry to do, and am about to get the kitchen cleaned up. Ham and scalloped potatoes for dinner, I think. *Crossing fingers* - I just hope I won't have to leave the house today and drive anywhere. The snow is not looking appealing to me today.

Goals, goals, goals

More Goals in 2012

1.       Write 250 posts over the year.

2.       Make my first $100 (actual cash) in blogging.

3.       Increase followers to 50.

4.       Have weight loss of 40 pounds by December 1^st of 2012.

5.       Make sealed pot to save change in until December 2012.

6.       Have a rotating buffer for monthly bills in account.

7.       Read 25 new books during the year.

8.       Get an Etsy shop to sell handmade stuff.

9.       Organize monthly bills, payments, etc.

10.   Get rid of 100 things in the house that do not need to be here (declutter).

I hope that keeping this list of things I want to accomplish will keep me focused, as I tend to veer off my path from time to time. Mostly, it will be about helping me to stick with the plan so I can check off all these items at years end.