Forever 21 Faves.

As in this post here, you all know I LOVE Forever 21.  I just can’t seem to get enough of their stuff.

I haven’t had much success there in the past, I’ll admit, and find that each store is crazy different in terms of what they carry. 

There are two within driving distance of where I live that seem to have an incredible selection.  And, of course, since I’ve recently decided that most of my work clothes look as though I’ve purchsed them at Value Village, I’ve decided to update my closet.

Forever 21 has some stylish staples that don’t cost an arm and a leg.  PERF!

Here are some of the things I picked up:

***I know this shirt looks like a plain jane one, but rest assured, the sleeves pin up to a gorge 3/4 length!***

It may look like I don’t wear pants.  Trust me, I do.  I’m just hard to fit at almost 6’ tall and a size 1.  I have to go on a search for those too; that’s the next mission.  I also clearly wear a lot of sweaters.  I’m cold.  Always.  

Hugs,

*Canadian Girl

RRSPs 'n Shiz.

I’ve begun saving for retirement.

There, I said it.  I’m in my early 20’s and I should be well on my way.  Krystal was great.  I’ve followed her advice and am just putting away $100 per month.  I know it doesn’t seem like much, but know it will add up in the end.

Using this calculator here {yeah, I’m gung-ho TD.  Deal with it.}, it says that I’m going to need $362.30 per month to reach a $1,000,000 plus retirement goal.  That’s pretty good.  I’m going to most def amp up those payments as I approach retirement, but am keeping it low now because of my reduced salary.

Once I start making more money, I’ll increase the percentage of my income going to my RSP.  I’m also going to be investing the RSP money in different vehicles; I may hold mutual funds long term, and take some for equities when the market goes back on an upswing.

For those of you who have RRSPs, how is the money invested?  Or, how do you plan to invest it?

Hugs,

*Canadian Girl

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaaaack.

I am so sorry to be gone for a month! Can you believe it?

I've had exams, a crazy work schedule, a job hunt, some long weekends away and {as weird as it sounds} the bf takes up tons of time. However, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

The summer has gone by so quickly. I can't even believe it. It's been just gorge here weather-wise, but the humidity has really gotten to my hair. Eff.

But in other news, I'm almost done my designation. If all goes to plan, ONE MORE COURSE!!!!!!!!! Whoop whoop.

I've scheduled some posts for a while coming, so I should be all up and running.

I'm sorry if you've missed me. I know I've sure missed you!

Hugs,

*Canadian Girl

The PF Monster.

 Guess what?  The bf and I have now found a show that we love to watch together: ‘Til Debt Do Us Part.  He’s just as enamored with Gail as I am. 

Perhaps he has a crush on her?  *lolz*  In all seriousness, I think I’ve totes transferred the personal finance bug to him.

He’s paid off all his student loans {within less than a year of graduating – stellar if you ask me!}, he’s making a budget to see how much he can realistically afford to move to the city, and is leaving room for Fun, Food, Entertainment and General Savings.  I think that I’ve created a monster, in the best way possible.

He’s not a spreadsheet guy, so he’s not quite as organized as I am on that front.  But it’s the idea, and the actual physical action of budgeting that counts, right?  He doesn’t write down each expenditure he makes like moi, but he keeps track by using his debit card {he somehow has a grandfathered account thru TD whereby he doesn’t pay fees.  Eff. I’m jealous}.  It’s the same general principle, and if it’s working for him it’s a good thing. 

So proud of bf today – this post is in his honour, though he doesn’t have a foggy that I even have a blog!!  Once again, it’s the thought that counts, right?


Hugs,

*Canadian Girl

Am I Saving Too Early?

I was out for lunch today with some work colleagues who are the same age as I am.

As usually happens, we got to talking about our social lives which turned to a discussion {somewhat} about personal finance.  The general consencus was this: we’re too young to have savings.

Huh?  Really??  I own my own place, work the same hours and make relatively the same wage.  I don’t really deny myself many pleasures in life, but live on a budget, and save for big expenditures.  How can someone my age not be thinking about the future?  Not only am I putting money away for a lump sum mortgage payment, but also for taxes, discretionary spending and even retirement.

The only hole I see there is retirement.  I am in my mid-twenties, and hope to have many high-wage earning years ahead of me.  I hope to be married in the next 5-10 years, maintain home ownership, and travel a bit. Should I be focusing less $$ on retirement, and more on discretionary spending {which, btw, would be for weddings, gifts, travel, spending $$ etc…}??  Is this too early to start saving for my future?  Or is it never too early to do so?

I get that the mortgage and taxes all come with the territory of home-ownership.  However, should I look at it as a $100k nest egg, so to speak – and be happy I’m not paying rent, like they are, to live in a home that I couldn’t afford with a lack of savings?

HELP!  I don’t know what to do with my $100/ month that I’m saving for retirement.


Hugs,

*Canadian Girl

This is Getting Serious. Fast.

This past weekend, I had the privilege of spending the weekend with the bf's fam.  I say privilege and mean it.  The weekend was enjoyable, and low-key.  

It's scaring me.  And I mean that too.  Every single relationship I've ever had, where I've let myself fall for someone, has ended abruptly and without reason.  In the past I've chalked that up to men being idiots.  Or, perhaps it's something wrong with me.  Either way, I am petrified it's going to happen again.  I don't know what to do.

I think the bf has fallen hard for me too.  At least, that's what he says.  We're about 7 month in, and he's brought up marriage.  He ended a 4 year relationship in September, and met me in November.  I am trying to logically tell myself that if I were the re-bound chicky, it would long be over.  But it just weighs in the back of my mind that I am somehow still THAT girl.  What if he's with me for 4 years and decides that he's only had 2 serious relationships?  What if he decides that he needs to play the field?  

I guess these questions all come up in any relationship; after all, there are people who are married for 30+ years and then break-up.  I guess I'm looking for the answers where I'm not going to find any.

I'm falling and I'm falling hard.  I don't give love easily, nor do I trust easily.  Just when I thought I would never find someone for me, it seems as though I've found that perfect someone who compliments me in all ways and who understands me.  I think I'm so afraid to lose that ideal that my fear may cause him to run.  I’ve picked fights and searched for reasons to argue, trying to find that reason to distrust him, like I’ve had in relationships before.  I’m just so afraid to lose him.

For a *Canadian Girl who’s used to being on her own, this is a scary thought.  Yet I’m excited just the same.





Hugs,


*Canadian Girl

Personal Banking. There's an App for That.

**Review below***

As you all know, I'm a die-hard Blackberry user.  In an effort to streamline not only my life, but my personal banking as well, I recently downloaded the TD Canada Trust app for BlackBerry.

Can I say - LOVE IT!  At first it didn't get stellar reviews.  However, I think that they've worked out some kinks, and have made it much more user-friendly with an interface as closely mirrored to their EasyWeb online banking as possible. It is not simply a wap site, or even a link to the Blackberry browser and then to your TD EasyWeb account; it's an app that links directly to the TD BlackBerry site.

I am able to check ALL accounts {Chequing, Savings, US and Visa, as well as Mortgage}, pay bills, transfer dollaz and even do interac money transfers.  Now, to be perfectly honest, I don't know that I will use it all the time.  But I do know that it will come in handy in a pinch, when I need to know what's in my account, or to make a payment that I've somehow missed or have somehow under-made. 

How many of you BlackBerriers {iPhoners....you have no business here....*lolz  I kid, I kid*} have tried this and love it, or hate it?  Comment below, puhlease.


Hugs,

*Canadian Girl