January 2012 Budget Challenge
Happy New Year! :)
May it be a year of facing our budget challenges with a WILL and a WON'T!
All those who are participating in our January 2012 Budget Challenge, please post on this thread.
NOTE: Various 'How-To and Survival Skills' links have just been added to Pages 11 and 12 of this thread.
Jan.26, 2012:
Prime Minister Harper is planning to change the OAS retirement age from Age 65 to Age 67!!! (For info: read today's news on the web.)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2...mymanitoba.com
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/01/26/major-changes-coming-to-canadas-pension-system-harper-says-in-davos-speech/
Jan.28, 2012:
Seniors Unite for GREY POWER!
Up till 2AM last night, dears, reading 132 pages of reaction by Seniors to Mr. Harper's proposals to interfere with their pensions. Read about 100 pages on other sites too, so that's roughly about 2,000 posts, with a wide spectrum of people expressing their viewpoints. Mostly, one of outrage and cold determination to vote Harper out of office ASAP, better if it could be done through a vote of non-confidence by his own party, and never to allow another Conservative majority, now that the wolves have dropped their sheeps-clothing outfits and shown themselves for what they really are.
So, Seniors unite, and get going on contacting the powers-that-be with your stand on this crucial matter.
GREY POWER !!!
As one poster said:
Stevie, we took care of you, and now you can take care of us. And if you don't take care of us, we can still take care of you...in a different way, of course.
Mr. Harper has proven himself to be incompetent to run the affairs of Canada, most particularly our finances.
.
.
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January 30, 2011:
Contact your government MP at this Website (posted below)
For the next 3 days, the PC government is going to push through a "new pooled pension plan". This activity will divert attention from the looming plight of Seniors as it pertains to Mr. Harper's proposed change to raise the eligibility age from 65 to 67 for the OAS Pension Plan. Bear in mind that there was no reference to these changes on their last election platform, and that MP's have not looked for input from those who will be affected OR even from the general Canadian public before announcing these proposed changes.
Please voice your concerns to our government while you can still make a difference.
http://www.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParli...pleteList.aspx
__________________
January 2012 Budget Challenge
January Budget 2012:
Expenses:
Rent (+ utilities): PAID (as per rate)
Phone & Internet: $74.73
Water: $7.92 (reverse osmosis: cooking/drinking)
Food & Stockpile: $170.40 (1 beef roast, 1 cornmeal, 2 rye bread, 1 Special K Cereal (w/fpc/Pd=$1); 2 doz. eggs; 2 bags oranges, 6 bananas, 4 Catelli pasta, 1 Miracle Whip, 1 bag hard Christmas candies {for my studio}, 2 boxes Thinsations w/BOGO cpn; 1 x lettuce, 1 cornmeal, 3 bags apples, 1 x Healthy Choice Steamers w/FPC, 1 milk, 1 Red River cereal, 1 milk, 2 beef roasts, 2 x 8lb. bags oranges, 5 lb. bananas, 2 x Source Yogurt (w/fpc's/Pd=0); 4 white/4 brown bread, 1 family-pack lean ground beef, 15 lb. potatoes, 1 case cream-of-mushroom soup, peanut butter; 1 bag carrots, 2 Activia yogurt; 1 milk, 1 case tomato soup, 1 family-pack ground beef)
Miscellaneous: $6.10 (Thrift Shop clothing bag sale; like-new sheet set for DS, 2 x spools thread)
Other: $36.75 (Safety Deposit Box: 1 x per yr.)
Total January 2012 Expenses to date: $295.90 (plus Rent)
Coupons Used: $26.11
Change Found: $0.11
GST Rebate: $63.25
SPEND Days to date: 11/31 :cool:
NO SPEND Days to date: 20/31 :smile:
Goals: :smile:
- maximize work
- essential expenses: rent/utilities, phone, R.O. water
- spending cuts on everything else, including phone LD, internet?
- exceptions: stockpile additions, emergencies
- add to Emergency Fund
To-Do List:
- work : Completed
- de-clutter, organize: Completed
- utilize all my resources: Work in Progress; getting LOTS done
- spend spare time on crafting for gift-giving: Work in Progress
- OAWC&B (Once-A-Week-Cooking & Baking: Completed; this prepared & frozen food has now lasted for over 1 month.
- ACCOUNTS for Income Tax: Began reading the forms
- get a fishing license this spring: To-Do
- make plans for starting seeds for tomatoes, herbs, flowers, etc.: To-Do
Living within my Budget: (updates)
Inventory & Organization:
- Jan.2: Continue to de-clutter & organize my office/spare room/sewing supplies room; take mental inventory of my supplies and make plans to utilize them for gift-crafting projects. Will not stop until I can hear an echo in this room.
- Jan.16: Finished today; and I can even hear a bit of an echo.
Fridge & Food To-Do's:
- Jan.1: prep outer leaves on 2 lettuce heads
- bake rhubarb cobbler & cake from rhubarb sauce
- defrost & prep ground beef in order to vary the 30 prepped & frozen turkey meals I made from my Christmas turkey (I found it deep in my freezer, so didn't have to buy one in December/11).
- Jan.2: made a large pan of lasagna, prepped lettuce & salad fixings, saved pasta stock for turkey soup
- Jan.3: got errands done & groceries (used the Kelloggs Special K FPC, but product was priced at $6.49, and I still paid $1, opened the little package and it was half-filled, so worth about $1 IMO.
As I expected, beef roasts are priced lower now @ $3.49/lb than during December @ $3.99 to $4.49/lb; glad I waited till Jan. to buy. Got a good price for the 2 rye bread @ 2/$4.
- Jan.4-6: lots of cooking & baking today; updates on Pg.2,3 of thread.
- Jan.7: Thrift Shop bag sale $3, for 7 quality turtleneck sweaters & a new fitted bedsheet.
- Jan.10: some great sale deals at the grocery store & with coupons
Clothing-Related projects:
- Jan.12: began work on long list of various 'clothing' projects & organization of my resources; updates on thread.
- Jan.16: spare room organized; I know my resources again; can go ahead with crafting/sewing projects now.
A Little Downturn:
- Jan.17: coming down sick with a cold, fever and trouble breathing; good thing I don't have to cook or clean for awhile; glad all that is in place while I deal with work and the essentials for the time being.
- Jan.18/19: swallowed a bone splinter, which is stuck in my throat; now I'm really sick; did manage to print off lots of free knitting patterns today, hope to get well soon & do some crafts.
- Jan.21: developed throat infection from the damage, recuperating slowly.
Back in Action:
- Jan.20: worked 3 1/2 hrs. today on rag-rug strips, prepared 5 balls for crafting. Got some more free knitting patterns off the net.
- Jan.21,22: studied Canadian coin currency history & info regarding selling jewellery/coins (now if only I had some...)
- Jan.22: got groceries because the weather was only -8 degrees today, instead of the dangerous freezing temps all week long.
Roast beef has gone down to $2.99/lb, down from $3.49/lb a couple weeks ago, and down from $3.99/lb in December.
Great prices on citrus fruits.
- Jan.23: Various "How-To & Survival Skills links" added to Pg.11 & 12 of this thread.
- Jan.23: Change to Budget = Add $50 to ea. monthly income from EF, for stockpile purchases of food.
- Jan.24: Current & stockpile grocery additions at marvellous prices.
- Jan.25: Bought yogurt (with coupons), and carrots at very good prices.
- Jan.26: I am in terrible shock to read today that P.M. Harper is planning to change the OAS retirement age from Age 65 to Age 67! (For info: read today's news on the web.)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2...mymanitoba.com
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/01...-davos-speech/
With my worsening health problems, underemployment and financial situation, I have no idea how to survive for that long before being able to collect a pension. Or maybe that's the point...he doesn't intend that Seniors should survive long enough to collect retirement pensions.
SENIORS UNITE FOR "GREY POWER".
Jan.27: Working on crafts yesterday and today to maximize resources: prepped 12 rag-rug rolls, housework.
Jan.28: Crafting preps on rag-rug rolls again, 4 more done; got groceries again, including more for food stockpile; bought the last pack of ground beef on sale (it must have been meant for me). If I've overspent my budget on stockpiling food, that's ok, because I purchased at exceptionally low prices, and will actually save more $ by buying now than later.
Jan.31: Budget Update today;
DEFICIT OF $-74.36, due to stockpile additions and Safety Deposit Box charges, and after applying the GST Rebate.
January 2012 Budget Balance & Update: $-74.36
* January Budget surplus allotted to Emergency Fund: 0
Let's Go, Financial Goal-Getters!
Just a note to say that it is really nice to see more people joining in on this thread! :smile:
Because if we want anything to change for the better in our finances, it is up to ourselves to change it. One thing at a time, one day at a time; and it all adds up.
I did my accounts yesterday on January 1, 2012; and I've saved almost $1,000 in 2011 using coupons.
But this year I will be 'RESOURCING' more than ever, in addition to careful sales & coupon-shopping. So I'm making many small changes in order to maximize my resources & living habits to make them more productive & efficient, which will in turn minimize my expenses.
explanation of our monthly budget challenge
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MissDayle
How does this work?
This is a thread for people who are serious about getting their own finances in order. We set a basic monthly budget for ourselves, using any format we want, and list our progress on it. We keep track of our personal budget and goals, so we are aware of our expenses and budget balance, and make changes as needed in our spending and other habits.
Hope you'll join us!
:)
got a few frugal things done
Got an early start on my errands and shopping today; updates on my budget post.
Used the Kellogg's FPC, but it was priced at $6.49, the FPC subtracted $5.49, I paid $1.00, and when I opened it at home the box was half-full, probably due to 'settling', as they call it. IMO, not worth $6.49, but I'll add it to the other cold cereals mixed in an empty ice-cream pail, and it will be a welcome addition to the Corn Pops & Rice Krispies.
After a good rest, I'm going to make my turkey soup for supper, and hopefully some rhubarb desserts. Then continue to work away at organizing my sewing supplies, and do laundry. I like to have a few things going on at the same time. Today I improved the bathroom, by de-cluttering a floor vase of artificial flowers (threw out some of the rusty-wired ones, and kept the rest). Leaving my Christmas cards and photos out to cheer me, but will soon arrange them in a row on my LR curtain rod, where they will brighten my home for a few months yet.
updates on another busy day
No Spend Day today :)
Updates on my To-Do list: :smile:
- cooked beef roast, chilled & removed fat from stock, added stock to soup
- made turkey soup, chilled & froze 2 tubs, kept 1 pot for the fridge
- baked rhubarb cobbler, cut into 8 squares, froze 1 tub-full on their sides so they don't mash together, and can be divided easily later on; kept 1 tub for the fridge
- prepared rhubarb sorbet & froze 1 tub
- scraped the rest of the carrots, so as not to waste; would be good for carrot cake, with remainder of a can of Betty Crocker cream cheese frosting
- made 1 large cuppa tea from 1 Tetley teabag, put the bag into a jar, filled 3/4 full of boiled water to steep, re-heated later today for 2nd cuppa tea from the same teabag
- did most of laundry, will do last load tomorrow
To-Do another day::shrug:
- sew some more rag-rug strips together for rolling into rolls
- de-clutter and organize another sewing supplies drawer: (3/7 completed)
To-Do today, if & when I can stand again:
- slice roast beef and freeze portions
- take out the trash
- do all these dishes....:neutral:
To-Do, or Not To-Do today, that is the question?
- play some classical guitar solos in the background throughout the day
- read more on Warren Buffett's stock investments for 2012 :-~
dealing with emotional spending
This thread is all about financial honesty and willingness to be accountable to ourselves, and being overcomers & achievers through goal-setting and goal-getting. We are all just folks with X amount of dollars and Y amount of expenses.
Buyer's remorse...so true...spending because we feel emotionally upset or vulnerable to product-allure; buying consumer products in order to cope or for some another pay-off.
Other ways to cope with emotional spending: :shock: :( :frown: :mad: :bebored:
1. Time: wait a while; minutes, hours, days, weeks, months later you will feel better
2. Distance: put some distance between you and the bad experience, or temptation; (walk into another room, outdoors, hop a bus or go for a drive and renew your perspective)
3. Other experiences: choose positive experiences after a really bad one, or temptations; fill up on them. They don't have to be the kind that add pounds or subtract dollars, they can be beautiful music, relaxing exercies, looking at the stars, a walk in nature, looking a favourite photos, doing a chore that gives you a real sense of satisfaction, a spa hour at home & dressing nicely for your own meal with your best china, etc.
List your own.