I increased my mortgage payment by 10% starting with yesterday's payment. I'm allowed to do that once a year, in addition to making Double-Up payments (haven't done that yet) and paying an annual lump sum of up to 10% of the entire mortgage (hahaha, it's a lovely dream).
Yesterday's payment took the mortgage down to just under $83K, and I'm now on track to have that sucker paid off in 18.5 years instead of 24. And it only costs me about $20 more per payment. Yay!!
I may have done a few shimmies in the file room to celebrate :)
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Monday, April 13, 2015
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Home again, home again
The trip I just took to Europe with my youngest sister was incredible. Meeting my nephew, spending time with both my sisters and brother-in-law, eating and drinking great food and wine...makes me wish I could be on vacation all the time.
But I can't, so it's back to work for this gal. It's a good thing that I like my job as much as I do, even though it turns my hands into sandpaper.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Ugh
I'm reminded that I don't fit in a really good niche in the personal finance sphere.
Most of the advice geared towards people looking to save money involves basic suggestions like 'cut cable,' 'brown bag your lunch a couple times a week,' and 'stop buying fancy coffees every day.'
It's a tad harder to find ways to save money when you already pack your own lunch every day (made from leftovers you cooked the night before, with ingredients as basic as you can get), haven't had cable in 10 years, don't have a cell phone, and basically already do all the stuff financial gurus tell you will make a difference.
Like, I'm not going to start smoking again just so I can quit again and save money that way.
I want to be able to pre-pay big chunks against my mortgage every year. I want to maximize my TFSA and RSP every year. I want to live free, under my own steam, knowing I've got something put away for tomorrow but also having enough to enjoy today.
Something tells me I might have to become my own personal finance blog - I'm not going to find the right fit for a thrifty Northern life in PF blog from someone living in TO. I have to figure this stuff out on my own :P
Most of the advice geared towards people looking to save money involves basic suggestions like 'cut cable,' 'brown bag your lunch a couple times a week,' and 'stop buying fancy coffees every day.'
It's a tad harder to find ways to save money when you already pack your own lunch every day (made from leftovers you cooked the night before, with ingredients as basic as you can get), haven't had cable in 10 years, don't have a cell phone, and basically already do all the stuff financial gurus tell you will make a difference.
Like, I'm not going to start smoking again just so I can quit again and save money that way.
I want to be able to pre-pay big chunks against my mortgage every year. I want to maximize my TFSA and RSP every year. I want to live free, under my own steam, knowing I've got something put away for tomorrow but also having enough to enjoy today.
Something tells me I might have to become my own personal finance blog - I'm not going to find the right fit for a thrifty Northern life in PF blog from someone living in TO. I have to figure this stuff out on my own :P
Friday, February 13, 2015
Avoidance
I have stayed away from here for a very long time.
I made excuses (I'm on too many platforms, I don't have anything to say, I don't have time) and I dithered.
The truth is, I needed to go away to begin to heal. My transition from life in Faro to life in WH has been tumultuous. If one were to look at the graph of my life since I moved, the general trend is upward, but it's been full of many ups and downs.
I have needed time away to start to find myself again. I recently mentioned to someone that I don't think there's anywhere I am or anyone to whom I am completely honest. I'm constantly putting on different outfits, being different people, editing what I say and what I do depending on who I am with.
It's fucking exhausting.
So, now I get to decide if the exhaustion of being so many different people is more overwhelming than letting some of those people go. I don't know the answer. I may not know the answer in a few weeks. I may not update for another year.
But I'm still here, and I'm getting better.
I made excuses (I'm on too many platforms, I don't have anything to say, I don't have time) and I dithered.
The truth is, I needed to go away to begin to heal. My transition from life in Faro to life in WH has been tumultuous. If one were to look at the graph of my life since I moved, the general trend is upward, but it's been full of many ups and downs.
I have needed time away to start to find myself again. I recently mentioned to someone that I don't think there's anywhere I am or anyone to whom I am completely honest. I'm constantly putting on different outfits, being different people, editing what I say and what I do depending on who I am with.
It's fucking exhausting.
So, now I get to decide if the exhaustion of being so many different people is more overwhelming than letting some of those people go. I don't know the answer. I may not know the answer in a few weeks. I may not update for another year.
But I'm still here, and I'm getting better.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Can't make you any promises
I'm back today, and today is what I can give you.
It's been a year and a half of hard, hard work. Some big downs, followed by big ups. Where I am in the spectrum can only really be determined after the fact, but I'm still around.
It's been a year and a half of hard, hard work. Some big downs, followed by big ups. Where I am in the spectrum can only really be determined after the fact, but I'm still around.
Friday, June 20, 2014
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