Thursday, May 31, 2012

May is Toast!


There are more than just a few of us who are glad to see May quietly disappear.  Just a few days into  May I was already overspending. And what with my birthday and a weekend away, new car license sticker, renewal of passport, new fireburner, new fridge and stove for PEI, new fans for the early summer heat, some new clothing and shoes...well, let's just say it's time to pay the piper and pull the belt a wee bit lot tighter for the month of June.

Thankfully it was payday today so I took $1300 and paid off most of the fridge and stove which was sitting on my President's Choice Mastercard. Don't worry, it's only been sitting there for a few days. I've had the card for several years and have yet to pay a penny in interest charges. However, the cash back has provided me with several hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise and groceries. It's a great little system as long as I keep good track of purchases and pay them off quickly. I usually check my credit card purchases daily online and pay them off then and there.

June SHOULD be a fairly frugal month except for one occasion and that's my daughter's graduation from university on the 19th. I'll be taking her out for lunch after with her boyfriend and family members but I don't know what to get her for a gift! Her boyfriend bought her a big gold watch.


It seems that girls wearing huge men's gold watches is all the rage right now. Ok, so now, how do I compete with that?  I'm on a fairly tight budget this month and I didn't plan for this purchase, yes, all my own fault. My daughter is hard to buy for, she only likes certain things and being her mom I don't know what those "certain things" are, because I'm like, NOT COOL!

For example - she is looking for a dress to wear UNDER HER ROBES during graduation and to lunch after. She has shopped, so she says, in every store in London and there is NOTHING suitable. Nothing. In the entire city. There is not a single store in London that sells the certain type of dress that she wants. So I'm a bit stymied. Obviously I can't go out and buy her a dress. Just the fact that her MOM picked it out would mean she wouldn't like it even if she DID like it. You see how hard this is?

So I've asked her to think about what she might like as a gift. I'd love to give her a weekend away somewhere like we used to do BEFORE boyfriend. She thought that might be nice but WHEN??
Hopefully it will all work itself out, it usually does but not without the requisite amount of sighing and angst!

Are you as glad that May is over as I am?

24 comments:

  1. Jane @The maple Syrup MobMay 31, 2012 at 6:55 PM

    Oh yes, glad to see the back of it. Overspent on groceries (why so I beat myself up when we need to eat healthily?). Honking great vets bills as well.
    Jane x

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  2. You used a credit card?  Shame on you; it's a slippery slope - there's no reason anyone should ever borrow, and - just kidding.  LOL.  They're supposed to be for convenience and that's exactly what you used it for!  It'll be good to have the fridge and stove paid for.

    I vote for the weekend trip.  People can always buy things for themselves (and like you said, she's picky about those things, so would be better off selecting them herself.)  But a mom/daughter trip would be a lot of fun!

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  3. I wish I could help you with this, but I'm a mom who doesn't know her daughters tastes either....funny how she still wants to borrow my tops and sweaters.  :)  How about a long term gift like a bond or maybe a girls weekend to celebrate her new status in the world.

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  4. Some of May was really great for me The Baby The Pension The Debts but it also had it's expensive moments. So like you it's belt pulling time for me.
    The Internet opens up the whole shopping experience for your Daughter and you to find the perfect dress and the perfect gift, why not surf together.
    I gave Euan a kiss from his Auntie Jane, any excuse will do LOL

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  5. That's a toughie... What about something more personal, a bracelet with engraving, a small ring, framing her diploma with a heartfelt letter behind it? I don't understand wearing huge watches... That would bug me to no end! lol!

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  6. Lena at FrugalandthankfulJune 1, 2012 at 1:04 AM

    I also love more credit card for cash back. We don't use it too often, and I always try to have money in a bank before we put something bigger on it. But I just cashed an $89 check from them :) May was actually pretty nice for us, kind of sad to see it go...

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  7. Special gifts for girls can be a real challenge!! We bought each of ours a bracelet with their name and date of graduation engraved inside. They were pricey but I figured it was the last of the big spending we would be doing for them other than Weddings.

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  8. I've thought of that but she would need to pick it out!


    ________________________________
    From: Disqus
    To: j_harrison@rogers.com
    Sent: Friday, June 1, 2012 6:31:33 AM
    Subject: [jamhair] Re: Life DOESN'T Begin at Retirement - LIFE Begins TODAY!!

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  9. I have a feeling June will be good for you too! You're on a roll!






    ________________________________
    From: Disqus
    To: j_harrison@rogers.com
    Sent: Friday, June 1, 2012 1:04:15 AM
    Subject: [jamhair] Re: Life DOESN'T Begin at Retirement - LIFE Begins TODAY!!

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  10. I'm thinking about making a collage from the HUGE box of her school stuff I've kept since she began school years ago. And I hope we can do another girl's weekend too - we always have fun on those.





    ________________________________
    From: Disqus
    To: j_harrison@rogers.com
    Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 11:56:02 PM
    Subject: [jamhair] Re: Life DOESN'T Begin at Retirement - LIFE Begins TODAY!!

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  11. She thinks it's too late to buy a dress from the internet now; believe me, she's been looking. I'm thinking we'll need to take a trip to the BIG city (Toronto). A month with a baby in it is the best month of all! Kiss him again!!






    ________________________________
    From: Disqus
    To: j_harrison@rogers.com
    Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 8:42:36 PM
    Subject: [jamhair] Re: Life DOESN'T Begin at Retirement - LIFE Begins TODAY!!

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  12. I'd like to do a girl's weekend again, we always have a great time on those. Hopefully we can figure out a time to go before I leave for PEI.





    ________________________________
    From: Disqus
    To: j_harrison@rogers.com
    Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 7:47:12 PM
    Subject: [jamhair] Re: Life DOESN'T Begin at Retirement - LIFE Begins TODAY!!

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  13. Vets are SO expensive! We need OHIP for our cats!






    ________________________________
    From: Disqus
    To: j_harrison@rogers.com
    Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 6:55:02 PM
    Subject: [jamhair] Re: Life DOESN'T Begin at Retirement - LIFE Begins TODAY!!

    Disqus generic email template

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  14. Feeling your pain.  I have over spent also.  I like the watch, and I can whip her up a dress in no time!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I can't say that May was a total wash...there was a graduation, a birthday and my fabulous weekend getaway to Charleston...
    But man oh man, I'm ready for Murphy to go home.  He seems to be lingering...June's expenses don't look much better...how about skipping to July?

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  16. P.S.  As my daughters get older, it gets tougher to get gifts...This year I'm giving my daughter $$ towards my new grandpuppy!:)!

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  17. Kazi would LOVE a puppy but that'll have to wait til she moves out!!! Then I would be happy to contribute:)





    ________________________________
    From: Disqus
    To: j_harrison@rogers.com
    Sent: Friday, June 1, 2012 5:06:15 PM
    Subject: [jamhair] Re: Life DOESN'T Begin at Retirement - LIFE Begins TODAY!!

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  18. Fraid I can't skip June, already committed to a bunch of stuff...oh well, we'll survive! There's lots worse off than we are!





    ________________________________
    From: Disqus
    To: j_harrison@rogers.com
    Sent: Friday, June 1, 2012 5:05:19 PM
    Subject: [jamhair] Re: Life DOESN'T Begin at Retirement - LIFE Begins TODAY!!

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  19. "I've had the card for several years and have yet to pay a penny in
    interest charges. However, the cash back has provided me with several
    hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise and groceries."-That is by far one of the most impressive things that I have ever read!!!

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  20. I'm a bit shocked May is over, where did the time go?  Are we really zooming into summer already?  Some time away with your daughter would be a great gift for both of you especially at this time in her life.  Maybe if you can't manage a couple days you could both spare an afternoon to shop for that dress together and maybe get your nails or hair done?

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  21. My vote is totally different....I say buy her an iPad. She will use it for textbooks in university, staying in touch with you, etc. no limits. A girls weekend would. E nice but like you said, when??

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  22. I hadn't thought of an iPad, I'll give it some thought!






    ________________________________
    From: Disqus
    To: j_harrison@rogers.com
    Sent: Sunday, June 3, 2012 1:43:33 PM
    Subject: [jamhair] Re: Life DOESN'T Begin at Retirement - LIFE Begins TODAY!!

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  23. go for sappy sentimental then! that oughta do it! :-)
    Susanna

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