Comments on: Do You Want to Change?

By: Links Worth Sharing – Week of July 3, 2010 « Simply Frugal

Links Worth Sharing – Week of July 3, 2010 « Simply Frugal — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 14:03:50 +0000

[...] Do You Want to Change? [...]

By: Sparky

Sparky — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:16:06 +0000

@Suzanne…either one of the doctors that looked after you with your injury should be able to fill out the paperwork for your credit protection…it is a bit of a process but they do pay retroactive (minus the first 30 days you are responsible for of course)

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 06:46:01 +0000

Thanks all you posters! I appreciate your concerns and suggestions. I bank thru PC Financial, so no charges anyway. Got one ROE in the mail today, but it doesn’t match my most recent paystub as far as hours and earnings go, so brought that to the office’s attention. The Full time ROE will be submitted by week’s end, after I get paid out for the piddly hours of sick time I have left after breaking my rib!! Which should just delay EI that much longer, but at least they are doing it electronically. My end of it is done, and according to their letter, a deposit should be made two days later, once all paperwork is processed. I have a spare bedroom with ensuite bathroom which I have rented out twice for a month at a time recently, so going to do that again. It is relatively painless, I have been lucky with good boarders. I also didn’t break my sewing foot, so a bit of income can still be earned (as usual!) with my sewing machine. What I am trying to NOT let discourage me is the missed earnings that I was so looking forward to: July’s three paycheques, for starters. I was so ready to get the ball rolling with a ‘windfall’ to my EF and budget backup. I really want to get one month ahead of everything just for a cushion, but fate keeps getting in the way. I am definitely going to use this time to clean out my pantry and fridge, and develop a proper meal plan. At least I have been stockpiling enough to last a while, and other than fresh, should be able to go a while without buying anything major. My other concern is that I just bought a new to me truck at the end of April. I bought Disability Insurance, which is retroactive after 30 days, I get reimbursed for payments made and they keep the payments made while I am off work. The problem has been getting the paperwork rolling, and getting concise instructions. There are FOUR sets of papers for various individuals to fill out: Employer, Doctor, Finance company and myself. When I asked if the Emergency Room Doctor, or the Ortho. surgeon I saw two days later should fill out the medical part, no one knew!! I don’t have as much confidence in this insurance as the guy who sold it to me, so keeping my fingers crossed. Not doing a very good job of staying off my foot for four weeks with all the running around getting papers filled out and filed. Another good example of being organized, prepared and proactive. Do you know where all your insurance/personal information paperwork is?

By: MP

MP — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 01:34:47 +0000

I relearned the joy of cooking, and making meatless meals at least two times a week. Helps keep the food bill under control, and has helped me lose a lot of weight. I have my high blood pressure under control because I have really reduced my sodium intake – you’d be amazed at how much sodium there is in restaurant food – sometimes in one dish twice the daily sodium allowance. Also processed foods. So most of my cooking is now from scratch. And the added bonus is I usually have leftovers for lunch so I am able to limit lunches out to once a week at the most.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:49:44 +0000

@Suzanne: I know EI can be a pain to get rolling. Been there, done that. Even had to fight to access EI when a former boss tried to fire me for needing 2 hrs off to go to a medical appointment. Go figure EI believed her lame story, but I prevailed. Anyways, if you have internet access, logon to your epass account, your employer may have submitted your ROE electronically. They are pushing to electronic submission. Faster. If it hasn’t been submitted and it is more than 7 calendar days, call EI, they are suppose to contact your employer on your behalf.

By: Sparky

Sparky — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:33:58 +0000

Suzanne, you should also check with your bank to see what kind of help they can provide…i.e. no service fees for 90 days…payment extensions etc…I work for TD and we have a program in place to assist with things like this…don’t know if all banks do or not…but it’s worth a shot…

By: Amelia

Amelia — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:46:21 +0000

Suzanne, would you be able to take in a summer student to help make ends meet?

By: Amelia

Amelia — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:45:11 +0000

Suzanne, that really sucks. We’ll say a little prayer to help you out. Despite only having bad news, the tone of your post makes you sound like you are a strong person, maybe you just don’t know it yet.

By: pepgirl

pepgirl — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:52:22 +0000

@Cas Don’t feel too guilty about bargain shopping for something for yourself… as long as it doesn’t derail your plan. I understand how hard it can be when your partner isn’t as “on board” as you when it comes to restricted spending. Keep your chin up and feel fabulous in your new clothes.

By: Cas

Cas — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:18:06 +0000

I have a real problem with change — or so everyone I work with tells me!
I’ve been debating about a switch in locations for work — I am getting burned out where I am, but, on the other hand, really don’t want a longer commute either…

I decided something today that I’m sure that other people would flinch over — my habit that I’m breaking is going out shopping and NOT buying anything for myself — I am always so conscious of buying necessities, and the occasional indulgence for the kids, that I’m tired of feeling undeserving. My husband doesn’t give a 2nd thought to many of the things he buys, and I work in an upper class neighbourhood, so I decided today “To heck with it” and went to Liz Clairborne, which is closing, and bought myself 3 tops and a pair of pants, and tomorrow I’m getting my hair done. (Total cost of clothing was $80, twice the amount of what I usually allow myself, seldom ever spending more than $10 on an article of clothing).
None of it was on credit card, and I have been feeling very down; yes, I’m justifying… still feel very guilty about it… but I’m going to run that guilt off on my treadmill, and then relax with a book, and maybe play my flute for a bit, because I have been depriving myself way too much, and THAT habit has got to stop!

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:53:02 +0000

thanks ste, I have learned a lot in the process too. Like how hard it is to get the paperwork started for my disability insurance on my truck loan!! Or that my government disability insurance is only good if you are off for 6 months! Nothing in between but EI which only covers 55% of my income! What I did find was that by phoning all my utility companies and being honest with them up front, I was able to get some leeway, AND, the cable guy offered me free movies for a month!! Not worth a crap, cuz never heard of any of them, but it’s the thought that counts. Top that off with Student Loans’ recent request for an updated budget from me (in order to see if they could raise my payments), and them telling me to wait to get my EI, and base my budget on that!! Obviously, there won’t be much left for them using 55% of my income. Since I also jammed my knee joint (and have had 8 operations on this knee already), I am thinking that since they pulled two huge syringes of blood out of the joint after the accident – more surgery coming for me as well – but the wait for the MRI is at least 2 months. EI for me will be maximum 15 weeks, 8 of which are already spoken for with the broken ankle. What will cover the surgery time? In hindsight, I sure wish I had checked into a short term disability insurance…..

By: Geoff

Geoff — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:16:22 +0000

@ Ste – Deutchsland did not fail to impress, but Nederlands did very well today. Robben being back is huge! Pity the Germans will have to destroy a team as a talented as Argentina next week, but c’est la vie.

By: Single Mom Rich Mom

Single Mom Rich Mom — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:11:45 +0000

Excellent post!

I think replacement activities are huge. I cut way down on my eating out costs when I rediscovered my love of cooking at home.

One thing that I did find that I did / do was shop for groceries when I felt the urge come on me to go shopping for other things (that I didn’t need). Now, being out of debt for many years, I can hear or read about other people shopping for emotional reasons and I just don’t get it as a concept anymore.

But I think I still have that 5 year old in me too when it comes to eating too much or not the right food.

By: ste

ste — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:09:16 +0000

suzanne, i have just (5 weeks ago) had a total knee replacement. hooray! i haven’t missed a single world cup match (footie nut here!) and that leads me to exercise. i watch the 1st half, then do some of my assigned stretches from physical therapy at half time. after the 1st game, i take my 1st walk of the day. it’s a reward/work system that i’ve found to be very effective. you can certainly do some upper body work, lifting weights (or cans of whatever is in your pantry) while on that sofa. and take heart; if you are currently casted or in a boot, you WILL be able to begin walking soon. and you can lie on the floor and do simple ab exercises too. at least you’ll feel like you’re doing something.
when i realized that my disability would pay approx 62% of my income and i wasn’t sure what my employer was going to do (it’s a long story; suffice it to say my disability dep’t was worthless and uninformed but man! did i learn a lot!) i sat down with gail’s interactive budget and plugged in the 62% number. i figured out the absolute necessities, how i would manage what was left over, and found that i, in fact, could make it month-to-month on that miniscule amount. it wouldn’t have been easy, but i could have. fortunately my employer came through and i didn’t have to; however, it was a great lesson in looking at my budget again and seeing that i CAN face up to my financial situation. that, in and of itself, is a huge step for me. not 2 months ago i still was afraid to do so. i’m not saying i’m proud of my situation, but i am quite pleased that i was able to re-do a budget, knowing what my exact situation could have been. little steps which mean a lot, to me.

congrats german supporters. awesome display of footie prowess. and always forward oranje!!!!

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:44:53 +0000

I have lots of time right now to sit and reflect, since it is two weeks today that I broke my ankle and earned myself a summer holiday. Trying to get EI started, when I am going to be paid two days vacation on what would be my normal pay date this Friday, is a slow process. My part time ROE has not arrived either, since I got paid last week for earnings prior to the accident. I will be lucky to get enough money to pay August rent, and since I was just in the process of starting to save for an emergency fund, my $50/100 isn’t going to cut it! Starting small, when life sneaks up and knocks you down, just doesn’t seem effective, but I am trying not to get depressed – yet! This will be a good time to play with different budgets/scenarios to see where things can get cut from an already bare-bones life. Note of interest on bed making – do it after your morning shower so the sheets have time to cool. Apparently, bed bugs like the warmth/moisture left behind when we have been sleeping. Making the bed immediately traps that canopy for them to multiply! Gross, I know, but true. So, anyone know any ‘couch potato’ exercises, while sporting a leg cast?