Wednesday, December 11, 2013

This Week in Living Rich On The Cheap

Courtesy The Graphics Fairy
My life in bullet points:

- My Mother's house sale appears to be speeding ahead full throttle.  The conditions come off Friday, a mover is booked for Dec 18th which is Wednesday.  The new owners are wishy washy as to if they want to move possession date up from the 31st to 21st.  Either way, Mom will be cozy in her new condo on Wednesday.  We were going to clean the old place out but based on timing that is not going to happen so we are hiring someone to do a quick clean.  Lots of stress flying around - apparently my Mom went out and bought a bottle of rum yesterday (*she rarely drinks alcohol), likely in anticipation of our packing sessions scheduled for this weekend.

- My credit card company called and someone tried to use my credit card fraudulently today.    Apparently the dumb**sses(excuse the language but I am extremely mad about this) used a number from several months ago which immediately triggered the fraud squad.  In October my credit card company issued me a new number with upgraded security features.  The charge was for $10.50 against the old number.  The good news is that my current card/information is not in jeopardy and they had rejected the charge. Check your online statements regularly!  All other charges appear to be valid so I am not that concerned.

-Christmas cards were mailed today.  The USA ones might not get there on time but then again, my American relatives usually mail theirs late as well.  I wouldn't send any at all but I still have elderly Aunts and Uncles who are relatively internet free and still like to get a card.  For now, the price is worth it (the cards were bought many years ago, still using an old stash).

-Along that note Canada Post is reducing service and increasing prices.  Big shocker.  A letter within Canada is going from .63 to .83 effective January 1 and if you want to buy just 1 stamp they will charge you $1.  You have to buy a booklet to get the .83 cent price.  We will no longer have door to door mail services.  Any neighborhood built in the last 15 years has superboxes, all old neighborhoods will be getting them soon.  Just another money grab from a government organization.  I can only imagine what parcels will cost.  This might put some online sellers out of business, as high postage rates was one of the primary reasons that I didn't end up opening an Etsy store.  You suck Canada Post! ( I am a little fired up tonight).  I feel sorry for some of the employees as people will lose jobs but the organization itself needs to die a slow death.

-90% of the Christmas Shopping is now done.  Thank goodness the house was decorated and I was somewhat organized before this fast move threw us a curve ball.

- Charity - this year we are giving two hampers at work to two local gentlemen who would otherwise fall through the Charity cracks.  We heard of them through friends and family.  Both have cancer, little to no family, and both are financially ailing.  One is 42 and just started a new job when he was diagnosed.  Unfortunately he did not qualify for disability and will likely have to go on welfare to get through to the end of chemo.  The other is in his late 70s.   I also have just heard of the brother of my Realtor - being burned very badly this week.  Fund-raisers are being held for him and his family as they take off work to try and cope with this devastating accident.  I saw a man walking down the road today without shoes (was hovering around freezing today).  I was so sad, what his life must be like.  Charity is for year round - not just the holidays. Lets try and remember that in the new year.

-I wrapped the rest of the purchased gifts today.  We are now just waiting on something in the mail and have to purchase two small gifts - we should then be done.

I hope everyone is having a good week - thanks for all your well wishes for my Mom.  Cheers!

25 comments:

  1. Tanner just caught a charge for over 700.00 on her card to! I guess its the season but I will never understand some ppl!!!!!!!

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    1. Crazy, what was even crazier was that the charge was only $10. I was expecting something much higher - but it seems they charged something at Nathans hotdogs (*which we don't even have in Canada) Cheers!

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  2. You certainly have a lot on your plate and still manage to have a good attitude!! You, GO!! girl! So happy your mom is doing well and getting to have a nice condo. If I lived near enough I would join her in a drink - or two! My sister, Nita, loves rum!

    One year we spent December in Scotland - Amber and Mike lived in Aberdeen for a year. Someone 'stole' our credit card info and charged up a storm - all charges in the North East part of the US while WE were in Scotland. I found it quickly by checking my info online.

    I will say Merry Christmas right now because I no longer send Christmas cards. I guess I have slacked off more and more over the last 10 years and am at zero now!

    You hang in there, little lady! You are doing a great job!

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  3. Rum! I love how your mother prioritizes.

    Good for you regarding the charity work. The best part of the holidays.

    Our credit card company is diligent, too. They are constantly denying OUR charges!

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    1. Cheers Mitchell - yes, mother seems unnaturally close to the rum this moving/holiday season.

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  4. Wow! Canada post really does suck. I had no idea it was so expensive.
    As for credit cards, I have alerts set so that I get an email sent to me if a charge goes through over a certain amount. Plus I pay for a monthly service that monitors mine and hubby's credit and alerts us if any changes occur...like a new account being opened or a credit check of any kind. Happy to hear your mom's sale is progressing.

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    1. I am a little suspicious after our trip to the USA as heard on TV tonight all Target USA charges may have had credit card info leaked. We definitely spent money there on our trip this fall.

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  5. A little drinky or two will make the move go with a smile!
    We are in a rural area so our door to door isn't affected..phew! How else would we get those annoying flyers?!
    Jane x

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    1. That is the only good thing about postage going up - maybe less junk mail? Cheers!

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  6. Amen-charity is for year round. I too, have found out about a few people in need. We are seeing what we can do for them. I pray that I can help as many as possible.
    And I LIKE your mother's style!!!!!! Liquor and moving!!!!

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    1. One of my goals in the New Year is to give something, even something small every month to a different charity. Its important! She also surprised me in the move, apparently she has been making blackberry brandy which is just about ready to crack open - this weekend so she says!

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  7. Something our school does in addition to year round fund-raising is each classroom takes on an advent project to benefit those less fortunate. My class is helping Ark Aid Mission who provides meals, warm clothing and hygiene products to homeless teens. We filled a big box with hats, gloves, toothbrushes, toothpaste and deoderant - even those of us who don't have a lot can still contribute a tube of toothpaste and feel good about themselves.
    You've got a big job ahead of you but it will have been so worth it with mom established so close by AND before Christmas too! You will deserve a nice rest (and a rum punch!) after you are done!

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    1. What a nice idea that your school does. I am so happy that Mom is finally going to be living within a five minute walk. We have worked towards this for several years as the idea was there even before we moved to the island. Cheers and Merry Christmas!

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  8. I have to disagree about the money grab comment. Canada post is circling the drain. If they do not do this, and take much more drastic measures, they will die. Plain and simple. Canada Post employees do not have a secure future to be sure.

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    1. I have to agree with Theresa - they have to do something. Canada Post is losing millions of dollars because of the decrease in mail volume, high wages, boomers retiring and likely other inefficiencies. I suspect if this crown agency was privatized it would mean further increases to the consumer while still looking for bail-outs from taxpayers - Air Canada comes to mind as an example!

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    2. I agree they have to do something but I believe privatization is the only way as the Government has run Canada Post into the ground - that and the bloody unions which in the end only caused more people to lose their jobs.

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  9. Sounds like everything is moving in the right direction. Wish we had a little more shopping done. Hopefully we will get close tomorrow.

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    1. Well done - I like to stay out of the stores the last two weeks before Christmas as it is bloody crazy, both in the store and the parking lots

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  10. Wow super busy! You are getting so much done--great job!

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    1. So busy, so tired. I don't want to move anyone for the next 10 years!

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  11. Credit cards, can't live with them or without them. Canada Post really surprised me with no home delivery. I worry about the elderly trying to live at home. My mom would not have been able to get her own mail. I guess friends and family can help the elderly, but it is just one more thing they have to contend with. We gave to a charity in Powell River that puts together baskets for families that fall into the gap between too much money to get assistance, and not enough to make it through. Have a great Christmas! - Margy

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    1. You too Margy! I hope at some point they privatize Canada Post then hopefully things will get better (*like the liquor stores in Alberta which after privatization are much better than before and prices are not higher)

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  12. Wishing you a smooth transition with your mother's house sale and that she will be happy in her new condo. How inspiring to help a "neighbour" in need and that there are people who try to help those who don't qualify in a tangible way. And you're so right that charity shouldnt be assigned to just one month of the year. Here here!

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    1. Thanks - we all survived and she is very tired but happy. I didn't think we could pull it off but it happened. Cheers!

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