gdp's Comments

http://makingsenseofcents.com/ : Do you take all of your vacation days?

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 05:44:33 +0000

Isn't it illegal for an employer to stop you taking holidays (vacation days)? And you only get 2 weeks in the US anyway right? That's not a lot of time. Holidays are necessary to unwind and de-stress from work. All work and no play makes Jane INSANE! Don't feel guilty taking your vacation days - you earned them and we all need a break every now and again.

http://makingsenseofcents.com/ : Is A House Right For You?

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 00:27:12 +0000

I would think the main consideration for you would be your dogs. Sure, you could rent your house out, but as you say, you wouldn't want to get rid of your dogs. And putting them in kennels long term would just be too cruel. Still, if you had very understanding dog-loving friends who wouldn't mind looking after them for a few months (or your sister, since she's now living with you), you could possibly make it work, should you be inclined to travel.

http://makingsenseofcents.com/ : Mortgages

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 02:47:16 +0000

I find I'm paying about the same in mortgage interest, rates (tax) and insurance on my house as I would pay in rent for a smaller (though possibly nicer) place. The interest charges will go down over time (on average), while rents will only go up. The fact that I can customise my place to my heart's content is just gravy. :-)

http://makingsenseofcents.com/ : Investing for Beginners

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:16:41 +0000

I look forward to reading your future investing posts. I'm just starting to look at investing myself. Aside from Kiwisaver (New Zealand's version of 401(k), Roth IRA etc), my first foray into investing was through purchasing shares in a particular company I felt optimistic about. As soon as I bought the shares, they dropped 20%! But most of that was due to circumstances beyond their control (earthquakes!), so I feel positive they'll rebound soon and will keep them for the long term. Next year I'll be investing in an index fund - one that has a monthly-deposit plan with no brokerage for dollar-cost-averaging.

The Happy Homeowner : I've Officially Entered the Dark Side of Budgeting....

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 05:12:49 +0000

This post describes exactly how I've been feeling lately. Like you, I've had to step away from the budget. It was driving me batty staring at excel every day, stressing about the tiniest purchase. Sometimes you just have to take a breather.

The Happy Homeowner : Today, a Bank of America Manager Told Me I'm a Delinquent

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 05:02:38 +0000

Oh My God! That is completely unbelievable! I read this story with my jaw trailing on the floor. I truly hope that man gets fired. No-one has the right to speak to you (or anyone else) like that. Unacceptable.

http://makingsenseofcents.com/ : Another Money Money Money Update

Wed, 30 May 2012 21:08:30 +0000

Hi Michelle. If I were in your position, I would probably keep a conservative $10,000 in the EF and put the other $5000 towards debt. $10,000 is a good amount for 2 people.

http://makingsenseofcents.com/ : My Plumbing Mistake...

Fri, 18 May 2012 23:14:47 +0000

I can understand that. No-one wants to deal with cowboys! These guys shouldn't be allowed to operate by the sound of it.

http://makingsenseofcents.com/ : Life's Little Splurges

Thu, 3 May 2012 19:21:08 +0000

My splurges would be travel and a fast internet connection. Never been one for eating out though - mainly because I'm usually disappointed by the meal and consequently hate wasting the money. If I was GUARANTEED to have a delicious meal however, that would be different. :-)

Give Me Back My Five Bucks : Drawing design inspiration for my place

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 20:59:59 +0000

I'm not sure of any canadian websites, but if you have magazines like Home and Garden, check out their websites for inspiration. Or even have a look through Google images - it can often point you in a direction you wouldn't normally follow. Also, my suggestion would be to keep the paint and carpet fairly neutral - warm if you're in a cooler climate and like your house to be cosy, cool if you're the opposite. With a neutral decor you can update the look fairly regularly by changing the furnishings and accents, without spending a fortune to do so. I'm looking for my first home now as well, so have enjoyed reading your story and look forward to seeing what you do with the place. :-) My recent post -715 Networth

Give Me Back My Five Bucks : Goal: Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:38:14 +0000

Now that's a bucket list-worthy goal! I'm sure you'll have an awesome time, and even if you don't get there until 2013 you'll feel THAT much better about reaching the summit because you've spent so long planning/saving for it.

Give Me Back My Five Bucks : My Emergency Fund is finally at $5,000

Fri, 8 Apr 2011 05:42:43 +0000

Congrats on finally reaching your goal! :-) My EF is currently at $5000, but I'm trying to get it to $6000 (3 month's basic expenses) which should be in about 3 weeks! Yay! :-) After that, I'll drip-feed into it while saving for other goals, and hopefully reach an amount to cover 6 months, then 12 months (but that's a LONG way off!)

Well-Heeled, With a Mission : Have I turned into THAT Friend?

Tue, 5 Apr 2011 07:04:07 +0000

I use my eftpos (debit) card for everything. All stores have eftpos terminals nowadays, so I never bother visiting the ATM unless I need to pay someone directly (like to a friend for my share of movie tickets or something). That being said, it's not a nice feeling when someone's fundraising round the office and you can't donate anything because you don't have any cash. That's happened to me a few times. It sucks.

Give Me Back My Five Bucks : My design business: this is not a how-to article

Tue, 25 May 2010 02:10:51 +0000

Hi Krystal, Great post. I would like to work for myself one day and this post gives me a good idea of how others have achieved it (albeit part time). Cheers, Tracey

Well-Heeled, With a Mission : Personal Finance is Not About Money Obsession

Thu, 13 May 2010 07:19:12 +0000

A very well written and thought provoking article. I come from a long line of labourers. My grandmother was widowed young and worked 3 cleaning jobs to support 3 children - one of whom was disabled and needed constant care. She retired with nothing and often had barely any food in her home. Yet she was the first to offer her last $5 to anyone who needed it and always made sure we were fed and happy. My parents too spent most of their lives on minimum wage just trying to make ends meets. They worked hard to make sure we had a good start in life, and I think that's what everyone wants - to make a better life for their children. I'm striving to better my financial situation so that one day I can take care of my parents and give my future family a great head start in life. I want to make sure everyone is taken care of.