Thursday 31 January 2019

Bye-Bye Batteries

Okay, so it is going to get cold this weekend and for the next week or so. When is say cold, I mean Time-To-Change-What-I-Am-Doing cold. 

Again, nothing I haven’t seen before, as it will dip below -20C and stay there for the next week or so. 

At least that is what the weather forecasts say, but the one thing I know about all forecasts, weather included, is that the further they go out into the future, the more of a crapshoot they are.

What I do know about weather that dips and stays below -20C is that at that point my batteries are useless, as in Wanda’s Main Batteries.

They sit at the front of Wanda, on the triangle part that sticks out front where Wanda connects to my truck by way of a trailer. 

Right behind my Propane Tanks, out in the cold is where they sit. Okay, the batteries are in a pair of plastic battery boxes to protect them from the elements, but they do nothing to protect them from the cold. 

At that temperature, (south of -20C) Wanda’s batteries can’t hold a charge in them to save their lives. So, at that point they are useless.

What I will do is run my generator on Friday Afternoon (or Saturday Morning, who knows) for one last time and then disconnect the batteries until this cold snap is over.

My stove works without using any electricity, and at that temperature (south of -20C) I prop my fridge and freezer open to let the cold into the fridge and freezer. 

As far as me staying warm, my secret is to find ways to keep my body heat in. Bundle up and layer up, and I will be fine. I have been here before, and I know what to do.

I can charge my laptop and other devices in different ways and in different places. I have my battery operated radio to listen to. 

Again, I know how to survive and get stuff done, no matter the weather, or if I don’t know how to do it now, I will figure it out. I have confidence in my ability to find solutions at least. 

As with all things, this too shall pass. 

As always, Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward.

Wednesday 30 January 2019

I’m Still Trudging

So, here I am, the weather is not that bad (now), but next week it looks to get cold, as in change-what-I-have-to-do cold.

There are those who just don’t get why I am still living in my RV trailer, even in the dead of winter. Then there are those who delight when things get difficult for me.

All I can say is that I am still standing, still trudging forward, and still (ever so slowly) making my goals and dreams a reality. 

It will take time but with each day, each paycheque that I find a way to reclaim and hold on to most of it, that is a win in and of itself.

I stay out here because I promised myself that I would move out of my trailer and into my own home on my own land. 

The other reason I stay out here is because the longer I stay in my trailer, the faster I can make that happen. 

This also means finding a way to conserve as much as I can in order to save as much cash as I can.

Remember kids: A dollar saved is a dollar doubly-earned (once on your paycheque, and twice when you put it in the savings account).

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive and keep moving forward.

PS: Bundle up, Buttercup.

Tuesday 29 January 2019

Cold Weather’s Coming

And I don’t care. Really, it will get cold next week, starting on the weekend, apparently. Nothing too drastic, and nothing I haven’t seen before. 

Again, I know what to do, I know what I can get away with at what temperature and what I can’t. All in all, this too shall pass.

I get through it by reminding myself of the above and looking at my Dreamboard and my future budgets. 

Looking at my savings and knowing where I am headed, helps me get through what I am currently going through.

So, it will get cold, I will bundle up and I will grumble. But I will get through it.

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Monday 28 January 2019

Not My Path

I don’t mean to insult anyone who has a home and a mortgage, really, I don’t. I am just saying that I don’t want one. 

I want to own something, I want to own a house and land, yet I don’t want to be tied to a large debt, if I can find a way not to. 

I am simply tired of everyone having their hands in my pocket. I am sticking out being an Urban Nomad for a few more years, so I can pay me. 

I should have done this, years ago. I would have been so much further ahead. 

Yet I was memorized with what was expected, what was ‘normal’. You rent a place, try to buy something and somehow try to build up some savings.

It never worked for me and I was always in survival mode, with never any cash left over at the end of the month. 

It wasn’t until this journey, this journey of being an Urban Nomad, that I started to unlearn the bad (and disastrous) fiscal habits and attitudes that I had and started to learn good ones.

I am not an expert, but I know what works for me, so I will keep doing what I am doing. Once I have my next egg saved up, I will buy something, some sort of land, somewhere. 

I will do that for me, and I will do so without a mortgage and in so doing, keeping my freedom intact. I like freedom, it is a nice thing. 

My path is the path that I must walk for it is mine and mine alone. Your path is yours, so walk it and walk it well. 

What works for me, may not work for you, that’s okay because what works for you, may not work for me. 

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive and keep moving forward!

Friday 25 January 2019

Boss Just Doesn’t Get it

I get it, I understand where Boss is coming from, but Boss, does not understand why I continue to do what I do. 

Boss didn’t come out and say as much, nor did Boss explain their opposition to me continuing to live as an Urban Nomad.

It was yesterday afternoon and one co-worker was still on vacation and the other had taken the afternoon off. So there was just Boss and I to run the show.

As expected, in the slower moments of the afternoon, the talk of “renting a room for a couple of months” came up, as well as everyone’s favourite topic, “buy a condo.”

As I was listening to what Boss was saying it occurred to me, that when it comes right down to it Boss does not understand why I would continue to endure this lifestyle when I don’t have to.

I could go and buy a place, I know that. I could rent a room, I know that too. Yet, I don’t do that because I want to build up my savings and buy something cash. 

The detail I don’t tell Boss is that most likely where I buy will not be anywhere near the town I live in. 

The reason is simple: everything in or near this town is stupidly expensive. (Nowhere near the outrageously expensive markets of Vancouver or Toronto, mind you, but still way too much.)

For Boss the answer is simple: I have suffered enough, so go buy a place, live a comfy life and let that be that. 

For me, I want more than to live a comfy life yet still be mired in debt. I hate debt, I loathe it. I have credit cards and I will use debt, when I choose, but for small things.

My future is not to be tied to a job due to a mortgage, I like my freedom and plan to keep it intact. 

That is why I will continue to live in my trailer for a few years yet, for freedom. Each payday that I do, each dollar that I put into my savings is another step towards the total freedom that I seek.

I will chart my own course, I will make my way to that land, wherever it is, plant my flag, and start that town. Even if, on day one the only resident is me, and the only structure is my trailer up on blocks. It will be mine and I will be home . . . and free.

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Thursday 24 January 2019

A Community of Disparate Skills

So, a couple of friends of mine came to town yesterday in order to go to some conference that is in town. 

Naturally we got together and chatted about this and that. An interesting thing came up when they mentioned that they were interested in starting a community as well.

Theirs was an idea to go back to the land and do everything themselves. They wanted to gather a community of disparate skills, as they put it.

The idea was to be able to live and thrive even after . . . you know . . . modern society went bye-bye.

I said that my town idea was an extension of that, I liked, and still do, the idea of gathering together all peoples with an eye to find away to not only help each person become productive, but thrive and be happy doing so (without mind-altering drugs or brainwashing BS). You know . . . by actually helping them to be happy.

Diversity is our strength, diversity in skills, diversity in interests, diversity in perspectives, diversity in life experiences, diversity in who we are as people; all of it. 

Diversity in all things yet people coming together with one vision: to build a bright and bold future without waiting for this one to crash and burn before we do so. 

The town idea was never for me to go someplace and start a town that I own. As insane as it is, I do this to start a town/community in its own right, as in not owned by me, not ruled by me. 

(You know: democracy, responsible government, all that.)

This really is what my “Town Idea” is about. And I will finish with this statement today. 

If any of this sparks an interest in you, as in if it is something that interests you, then contact me and let’s start organizing (and yeah fundraising other than my own cash).

The Terran Federation Vision Statement

A city which is dedicated to the exploration and advancement of: Science, Technology, Knowledge and Understanding while at the same time fostering and encouraging: Art, Culture, Humanitarian Endeavours, and Commerce in a manner which: builds up, enhances, and restores each and every member of our community, both new and old, so as to help each and every individual to become: Whole, Happy, Productive and Successful.


As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Wednesday 23 January 2019

Grand Savings Update

Okay, so it is that time again, when I update how my progress is going on my “Grand Savings Plan!” 

Okay, so let’s see how I did . . . 
   

For review, here is how things looked from last payday . . .
   

That is 17.2% (of my Savings Target).

And this is how things look like, after the dust settled on this payday’s budget . . . 
   

That’s right things jumped up to 18.2% of my savings target. 

That means I put away 1% of my total Savings Target this payday.

That number is a bit deceptive in that it only shows that I put 1% of my savings target, but the truth is that I was able to put away a little bit more.

All those little bits will add up to me “stealing a square”, meaning I get to cross off two squares rather than one. (Each square equals one percent of my target).

I have my goals and my targets and I keep them so that I celebrate each small step on this monumental journey towards my current Crossroads Goal of completing my Grand Savings Plan!

Again, each square, each percentage, each step towards any goal must be celebrated and recognized. It is these small celebrations that keeps you motivated to keep going. 

It is these small victories that teach you that you can and indeed are doing it, that you are actually working towards your large goal, your Crossroads Goal.

So, while this is one step forward, the key to remember is that I am achieving my goals, and I am moving forward. 

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Tuesday 22 January 2019

Savings Dipsy-Doodle

So, today is payday, which means that I got my paycheque yesterday at close of business (as is usual).

So the first nice thing to report is that my paycheque was unmolested, meaning my hourly rate was not reduced nor was my bonus lowered or missing. 

So, that is good. Yesterday was a very busy day, with me processing a lot of orders (almost all backorders).

At any rate, as I looked at my Budgeter, after plunking in what my paycheque actually was, I noticed that I was $1.20 away from putting another $100.00 into my Long-Term Savings.

When it comes to putting cash into savings, I do so in multiples of $100.00. Less than that stays in my Main Account, to build up with my next paycheque. 

(It’s a bit of a savings game I play).

So, there I was $1.20 away from putting an extra hundred into savings. I had a few options, one was just to run a deficit and dip all of $1.20 into my personal overdraft.

Yet, then I would have that staring at me for the next two weeks . . . a deficit! A bank balance that is less than what I deem acceptable. 

Anytime I dip into my Personal Overdraft (less than $1000.00 in my Main Account) alarm bells start going off (okay not really) but this is not acceptable. 

If I have to, or if it is convenient, such as filling up or funding my wallets a few days before payday, sure, fine. To do so for over two weeks, is only acceptable in emergencies.

I could have taken some cash out of one of my wallets and deposited (all of, $2.00) into the account, but if I did that, I would have to have filmed the bank teller’s reaction.

In my Mid-Term Account, a bit of interest has been accumulating, it is up to just over $5.00 now.

So, I just borrowed $5.00 from the Mid-Term Account and plunked it into my Main Account, until next Payday where I will put it back, thereby completing the Savings Dipsy-Doodle

(It’s silly, but it’s my Savings Game, and I’m going to play it . . . after all I’m winning!)

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive.

Monday 21 January 2019

A New Record!

Yep, in the El-Cheapo Book of Records (AKA: Mine) I think I have a new record!

Since I have been implementing a new way of handling my Paycheques, I filled up my Gas this past weekend. 

What I have been doing is on the Friday closest to my paycheque, I have been going to the bank machine near where my mail box is. 

Then I withdraw the cash I need to put into my wallets. If I need coins, then I will go to the teller. 

On the morning of payday I will deposit my paycheque and do my banking before work via the online app. 

Thus I don’t have to do any running around on payday. Thereby saving . . . you guessed it fuel, time and of course, money.

I also have laundry day scheduled (third Sunday of the month . . . just because.) So, that meant that this past Sunday was Laundry Day. 

So, off I went to do laundry, so I decided that in order to lines that are always at the place I fuel up (as it is always the cheapest in the city) I fuelled up on Sunday morning.

Weeeeell, this is where my record comes in . . . *drum roll*

After two weeks of driving and generator fuel usage, it only cost me . . . $24.80 to fill up! 

HA! El-Cheapo Reigns again!

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Friday 18 January 2019

When Only Perfection Is Acceptable

I am not one to complain too much about my job. For the most part I like my job, my company and my boss. I consider myself lucky to work where I do. 

Don’t get me wrong, if I were to have a large stash of cash thrust at me, I would move on to the next phase in my life: The Homesteading Phase.

(Crowdfunding campaign would be graciously accepted Target: $200,000.00 . . . thanks in advance.)

Seriously though, I do my best at my job which is essentially order processing. I process orders that people place, mostly online, and get them out the door.

Yet, as is the nature of online sales, we do get hit with scammers who commit fraud and so we are out the cost of that sale (duties, taxes, shipping, and yes the cost of the goods, as well as the chargeback fee.)

So, part of my job is to spot these things, yet almost all of them have passed the screening that our credit card processor has missed.

This leaves me to spot the fraud by way of any and all other methods (you know, your “gut.” 

If I fail, not only do I not hear about it until a month later, but I get a public dressing down by Boss in front of the whole staff . . . a number of times over, over the span of a week or two, each time lasting five minutes. 

I get the fact that a scammer got past us . . . got past me, yet what is always tossed aside is the fact that we get one of these One (1) every year or so, the last one was, I would guess a year and a half ago or more.

Yet, each time it is treated as a personal failure on my part and a personal attack from me onto Boss. 

I hear (we all do) how horrible this is and how huge a loss this is, etc. 
(With a few refrains of everyone’s old favourite “you’re an employee, you have no problems.”) 

I get and respect that being a business owner is tough, and comes with a lot of challenges, I do. I have long since understood and accepted that everyone has problems, nobody’s life is perfect. 

I sense that this time, with all that is happening, that this will cost me, as in I feel some sort of pay cut coming, all because one scammer got past me a month ago.

I know one thing: I will always persevere and find a way to not only survive, but thrive.

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Thursday 17 January 2019

Still Hibernating

Yep, that seems to be my response to the real cold . . . to wrap up in a blanket and just give it a pass.

Gone are the days where I would do naked snow angels or otherwise prove that I am braving the cold . . . nope . . . I’m done with that. 

(Not unless it is necessary, then I’ll do what I have to do, what needs to be done no matter the weather or temperature.)

Having said that . . . I hate the cold and will do what I can to avoid it. 

Yet, I also hate wasting cash and resources, so I will keep bundling up and find ways to stay warm without wasting cash. 

All so I can get through this phase of my life and on into the next one: the homesteading process. (Where a wood-burning stove/fireplace is a necessity.)

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Wednesday 16 January 2019

Half-Way Through January . . .

Weather-wise things are still doing okay. So far things haven’t been all that bad. So far things have been going relatively smoothly. 

So far we have not had any really cold weather as in south of -20C, you know, a blast of real winter . . . so far.

I am looking at this as a good thing, yet also cautiously watching the weather forecasts.

The two months of the year that I expect real winter to be here are January and February. March things start to improve again, and also in April, things are also good.

So the longer I can get through January and February without a whomp of real winter, all the better. 

I know what to do, I know how to handle it; I just really don’t like the cold. 

No matter what comes my way, I will deal with it and move on, after all, that is what I do: adapt, survive and thrive.

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Tuesday 15 January 2019

My New Radio

Okay, so with winter here and me looking for new ways to stretch out my resources, here is one solution in that regard.

I like to listen to the radio in the morning as well as in the evening.

Yet, I also want to stretch out my main battery resources. Mainly I want to see how long I can go between charging my main batteries.

Also, there is the time (soon to come) when I am in the depths of the dead of winter and the temperature stays below -20C. 

It is at that point that I just give up on my main batteries and don’t bother to charge them. 

It is at those points that this little guy will be especially helpful and welcome. For at the very least I can still listen to the radio. 
   


This radio I got online for about $30.00 and it is just what I needed. It is small, runs on two AA batteries and can receive just about any broadcast band signal.

I do mean anything . . .  
   

It turns out this thing is a “world band” radio, meaning it is handy for travelling, so that’s cool.

I was mainly looking for:

Cheap
Uses little power
Not a piece of crap
At least gets FM radio
Did I mention cheap?

We shall see how things work out, as this guy didn’t like the cold and needed a bit of body heat to warm up before working this morning. 

(Oh joy, yet another thing to keep under the covers with me at night so it doesn’t get too cold.) 

Anyways, I just thought that I would pass along this little radio that I picked up.

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Monday 14 January 2019

Be Content, Yet Not Complacent

That’s what it keeps coming back to for me, my personal recipe for happiness despite what is going on around you in your life and world.

Let me unpack that for a moment. 

When I say content, what I am really saying is that you need to be at peace with your life and the current state of it. 

Your life is made up of your experiences, your experiences are the results of your choices. 

So, in effect, where you in life is a result of what you have your choices and what has happened to you. 

Yet, it is those same choices and experiences, or rather, the results thereof that have taught you, as well as shaped and moulded you (for better or worse) into the person that you are today. 

I, for one, have a number of decisions that I would like to take back, things in my life that I would love to have done or handled differently. 

Yet, if I were to do such a thing, I would no longer be me, be who I am. So, I have to just take the good with the bad when it comes to the experiences and choices that make up my life. 

The other half of that statement, “Yet Not Complacent” means that while you must make peace with what has happened in your life and the current state of it, you do not have to remain there. 

Quite the opposite, in fact, you should always strive to improve . . . everything: yourself, your life, your finances . . . in all things, always strive for better. 

Yet, as you strive to better yourself and your lot in life, just remember to “Do no harm.” More people should take note of that Hippocratic Oath (the thing doctor’s swear).

So, that is my little recipe for happiness, or at least a way to find happiness in the moment. Which I recommend, because this moment, is really all you have. 

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Friday 11 January 2019

Going Forth With Confidence

We are living in uncertain times, it seems that every generation says that, and they mean it. Today, many of the old rules and expected norms no longer apply.

I will say this that I am quite thankful that I have embarked on this journey to . . . Freedom when I did. 

As I go forth, there are a number of things that could happen, none of which are either certain or out of the question. 

And that is just within my insignificant life in one small corner of this planet. 

So, in one way or another I could find myself “actively encouraged to seek other employment opportunities” sooner rather than later. 

My personal favourate was the sparkle in Boss’s eye when he spoke of the trend towards “Contract Employees” or rather 

“Subcontracting work that was previously done by employees to a separate company, AKA:  the former employee now turned subcontractor.”

I, for one, would not do it and wouldn’t stand for it. I would walk away, on principle.

I think that is a wholly disgusting practice that turns the labour relations clock back to the nineteenth century. (Yet, that is a discussion for another time.)

As I move forward with any number of things that could spell disruption, to say the least to my life, I do so with a measure of confidence. 

Why? Two things, both of which I highly recommend for anyone and everyone. 

1. I am debt free (and remain so.)
2. I am building up my savings (each and every payday.)

Sure, there are scenarios that could spell doom and gloom for my savings in the bank, but you gotta do something, have faith in something. 

Besides, I plan on spending those savings starting in 3 and a half years as I begin the land buying phase and the homesteading process. 

Even if things are disrupted, I will find a way to survive, I will find a way to achieve my goals, no matter what. I am determined, adaptable and confident in my abilities (yet not overly so).

So, I will continue to head on forward, in uncertain times, and do so with a measure of well-earned confidence.

As always: Keep your head up,  your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Thursday 10 January 2019

Waiting For Winter’s Whomp

So, here we are early January and the weather is . . . manageable. How odd, last year we were entrenched in the bitterly cold.

It will be plus 8C on the weekend and while this is a nice turn of events, it is also cause for . . . concern.

As in, where is the blast of real winter that I am expecting this time of year. I am sure it is coming, a week or two down the way. 

I know one thing, after that first night of -30C boondocking in my trailer, nothing scares me. I can and will handle whatever life throws at me (one way or another).

I just don’t want to get too used to this nice weather now, as I know that at some point, a blast of real cold will come (as in south of -20C).

Yet being responsive and adaptable are important to success living in an RV, so too is throwing out the window any sense of “normalcy” or appearance thereof. 

(That ship sailed looooong ago.)

Yet, while I know that Winter’s Whomp is coming, I will enjoy the almost spring weather of the weekend. 

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward.

Wednesday 9 January 2019

I Nerded-Out Again

So, I was curious and so I did another thought experiment to see when my Grand Savings Plan would be done . . . the results were interesting. 

Okay, so I know that it is bad enough to set out my budget for each and every payperiod in a calendar year. 

What I did was then do the same for the next three years as well . . . just to see how things would turn out.

It’s really not that hard, since I make sure to balance my budgets each and every payperiod, all I have to do is duplicate the budgeter spreadsheet and plunk in new numbers.

So, the interesting thing is that if all goes according to plan (insert hearty laughter here) I will be done my Grand Savings Plan by June 7, 2022. 

(Just in time for my 52nd birthday on the 11th) 

Currently my other spreadsheet that tracks my progress on The Grand Savings Plan and calculates my end date by (if I average 1% per payday) has it at June 22, 2022.

I was just curious to know how things would turn out, with more realistic numbers. There is always a chance that I can do better (or worse) if I put my mind to it. (Mental note: focus on doing better.)

Again, a thousand things can and most likely will go wrong between now and then. The further you go into the future, the less accurate budgets become. 

The thing to remember is that these budgets are an estimation, and in my case also motivation. 

I get to see what could be, what my savings could amount to, if I remain a good boy and stick to my plan.

This whole process has been a learning and growing process. Some of the things that I have had to learn along the way are: 

1. Get a handle on my spending (as in stop wild spending). 
2. Make a budget (and stick to it)
3. Set a balanced budget every time (as in: Income = Expenses)
4. Make a long-term financial plan (to get out of debt)
5. Pay off debts one by one (starting from the smallest to the largest)
6. Eliminate monthly bills (as much as possible)
7. Remain debt free
8. Put 80 – 90% of my take home pay into savings.

I keep myself on track by looking to the future, and what could be, if I stick it out just a little bit longer. 

Three and a half years is not all that long a period of time to keep doing what I am doing. I have done this for longer, so I am already over half way done.

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Tuesday 8 January 2019

Grand Savings Update!

Okay, so it is that time again, when I update how my progress is going on my “Grand Savings Plan!” 

Okay, so let’s see how I did . . . 
   

For review, here is how things looked from last payday . . .
   

That’s right, that’s 15.1% (of my savings target)

And this is how things look like, after the dust settled on this payday’s budget . . . 
   

That’s right things jumped up to 17.2% of my savings target. That means I put away 2.1% of my total Savings Target this payday.

So this means that I stole a square! This is huge, and it also means that my “Estimated Completion Date” has moved up to June 22, 2022!

This is all because there was “too much in my Holiday Pay Fund” at work. This is no surprise because that will happen when nobody wants to do your job. 

We are a small office and there is a palpable sense of dread when I am not there, (as in for weeks leading up to my vacation). 

So, since I have to work with these people, I have learned just to not go on vacations, and that my Christmas Break (when the whole office shuts down) will have to do.

The bonus of this approach is that I get to top up my paycheques when I like with however much of that fund (Holiday Pay Fund) that I like.

So, that helps keep my savings plan on track, so that is a bonus. That and I save cash by not renting a campsite for a week or two at a time.

I look at this payday as a great shift forward, because it now puts my target of 40% by the end of the year as a real possibility, even if all I do is meet all of my savings targets!

So, all in all, if I keep this up the next three and a half years will go rather quickly. 

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Monday 7 January 2019

A Cold Snap, to Save Me Money

So, another cold snap is here, and it is time that I get into my Polar Bear Mode. It is not going to be all that cold, but it will be below zero most of the week. 

Not something that I haven’t seen before; with daytime highs in the mid-single digits below zero, nothing to be overly concerned about.

Yet, what this means for me is a chance to save a bit of cash, by not running my furnace or my fridge all week. 

This cold is something that I will have to get acclimatized to again, and with my sleeping bag on my couch, I can easily weather it in style and warmth. 

There is no need to heat the whole place, when I can stay snugly warm in my sleeping bag as I relax for the evening. 

So, letting my place stay below zero also means that I won’t have to run my fridge to keep my refrigerator cold, when my house is a freezer. 

So, I may disconnect my batteries this evening, so I hopefully have some juice still in them when the weekend rolls around. 

I do try to save money and resources when and where I can in order to put as much cash in my savings as I can. 

I do this so to help nudge me that little bit further towards my goals. I always look to see how to turn whatever comes my way to my advantage (while at the same time not taking advantage of anyone else).

So, when it is cold outside (and in my house) I will take advantage of that and not run my fridge. (All I have to do is bundle up and think of my goals and dreams.)

As always: Keep your head up,  your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Friday 4 January 2019

The Paycheque Analyzer

Okay, so I had a problem leading up to my last Paycheque of last year. 

I was thinking of taking a bit of cash out of my Vacation Pay Fund at work (since I never take vacations) yet I did not know how close I was to the next tax bracket. 

I sat there and realized that I had no idea what my Gross Pay was, what my net pay was for the year, any of it.

So, in true me fashion, I created something to help me figure this out . . . the Paycheque Analyzer. 
   

This is really simple, in the fact that you sit down with your Paycheque Paystub. (You know that thing attached to your paycheque that most people glance at and throw away.)

What you do is sit down and enter the information on that paystub into the line for that individual payday and it will tell you all sorts of things about your pay.

It keeps a running tally down at the bottom, so you can see what you paid in what taxes and what percentage of your pay it was. 

I entered the last few years on mine and it was interesting to see some patterns. 
There is an Overview Tab to let you compare the numbers from year to year.

It is yet another way to take a look at what is coming in and what is going out. If you want a blank copy for free just message me, and I will send it to you.

If anyone wants a copy of my Payperiod Budgeter, I will send you a copy of that too.

As always: Keep your head up your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!

Thursday 3 January 2019

19 -> 40

Yep, that is my bold goal for this year . . . to make it to 40% of my savings target by the end of 2019. 
   

(Donations graciously being accepted . . . operators are standing by.)

But seriously, if everything stays on track and if I make my savings targets as it is budgeted, I should make 39%, so it is not all that much of a stretch for me to makeup that last 1%.

Again, that is assuming that the fiscal world keeps spinning, or at least that my fiscal world keeps on spinning. 

Yet even if things crater, that means that it is more important than ever to put as much cash into savings as I can, while I can. 

I do know one thing, somehow, I will manage; somehow I will survive. 

I choose to look on the positive side of things and focus on me building my savings for my future, not to guard against an impending Fiscal Apocalypse.

I have 24 paydays in order to get there so I had better buckle down and get to it. 

After all: I have a plan, I’m working that plan, and the plan is working!

So I will make 40% by the end of 2019!

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive and keep moving forward!

Wednesday 2 January 2019

Another Year Gone, Another Year Closer

So I am back at it again for another year and I am rested and refreshed. I have heard that you don’t really start your vacation until a week into it. 

That is true for me at least, as it wasn’t until the last few days that I finally started to be able to enjoy my vacation. 

Then again, throughout my working career, having a two-week vacation has been a rarity. Usually it has been a week here, a week there, what have you.

On my vacation I did tend to delight in the treats that other people would consider mundane. Such as:

Having pizza delivered to my trailer.
Microwaving food.
Having showers whenever I wanted.
24/7 electricity.

It may sound a bit pathetic, but such is my life when I live in an RV Trailer year round. 

What keeps me going is the fact that I am building for my future one paycheque at a time. 

I have my schedule and now that I am officially into my 2019 version of my Payperiod Budgeter, I can see down the line and get inspired.

I have no idea what the economy will do or what will happen, but that is all the more reason to save as much cash as I can, while I can.

I look to the future and I build for it today in a real way. When it comes to dreams and goals, remember to ask yourself 

“What can I do this week, today to move me in the direction of my goals/dream?” 

(and then do that . . . and next week/tomorrow, repeat).

It’s really that simple.

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!