Well, I went to go see the car yesterday and after getting lost and making a huge and unnecessary detour, of course the seller locks his keys in the car. So … there wasn’t much we could do, we couldn’t even pull it out of the garage in order to see it in broad daylight. I’m leaving for the Dominican in two days and boyfriend is going to be out of town for the week as well. I guess the best I can hope for is that the guy doesn’t sell it by the time I get back and I can go test drive it or something.

With the apartment hunting, I’ve booked a total of four appointments on Saturday August, 2nd. We’re going up to college town for the day and hopefully we’ll find something we like. We really left it to the last minute but I think I’ve found some really good places so it’s not looking too bad for my roommate and I at this point!

On a final note, I’m sooo excited for my Dominican trip!! I’ve never been on a (real) vacation with friends and I’m super stoked! While we were in the final stages of booking the trip about a month ago, I found out that my guy friend (we’ll call him Joker) was going on the same kind of trip with three of his friends, to the same place at the same time. So we all booked at the same resort together with the same vacation package! My friends were thrilled, especially Princess who has had a HUGE crush on Joker since we were 17 or so.

It’s going to be an interesting trip since all my friends are single and I think all (but one?) of the guys are single as well. I’m happy because these guys are really fun and I’m sure it will be awesome! I don’t think the boyfriend was too pleased when he found out we’d be there with four other guys, but I know he trusts me so he didn’t make a big deal out of it.

Anyhow, that’s all for now. I’m actually at the boyfriend’s house right now, but he’s in the other room. His mom doesn’t mind me sleeping over (and come on, he’s turning 24 this year!) however she comes from a somewhat uptight political family and so we always sleep in separate rooms at his house.

One final thing, I saw Batman yesterday AND IT WAS AWESOME!!!! Seriously, an amazing movie. You should all go see it!

So.. I am considering buying a car. My first car actually. A 2000 Toyota Celica to be exact. It’s everything I want, down to the color, tinted windows, and little rear spoiler. The only thing is … it has 222,000km on it. The seller is leaving the country in two weeks and needs to sell it ASAP. In the two days I have been in correspondence with the seller, he’s already lowered his price from $6,699 to $5,999. I know I have to take into account the high mileage, but even with that in consideration it’s still a good price and one that is probably going to be lowered as time goes on.

The only thing holding me back is money. I have about $2,000 in savings and a huge credit card bill coming up. I was not planning to buy a car until I graduated, but this seems like something almost too good to pass up.  Even though I have no available savings, when it comes to financing the car, I many options to consider.

1) Ask my parents for the $10,000 or so they have saved for me in mutual funds. Unfortunately, I think they are either saving that for a graduation gift, or using it to pay for my last year of school. I’m actually not sure, it depends on whether or not my mom gets this high paying job with the federal government. She’s been through 3 examinations and is going to Ottawa soon for an interview.

2) If I can’t get that money, I will ask my parents for a loan. I will offer two possible ways of re-payment. Either I will offer to pay my own rent during the school year (they feel it is their responsibility to finance my tuition/rent, which I am very grateful for) OR I will pay them back with my OSAP cheques in September and January which combined are worth a total of around $6,700.

3) If all else fails I will take out my first line of credit/personal loan from the bank. I am positive it won’t come to this because I am sure my parents will help me out. However if for some reason they refuse (maybe they’ll tell me I don’t need a car during school .. or … whatever) then I will turn to the bank for a loan. I looked at the possible loans available to me and the most interest I would incur would be about $580 for two years. I’d probably be able to pay it down within one year so the interest would only be around $290? That does not sound very bad at all, even to someone who has been brought up with the belief that loans, mortgages and leases are all evil. My parents are just like that … our cars and house were all paid in full up front.

I’m going to go see the car tomorrow. The seller actually lives very close to me so I’m going to drop by with the boyfriend after we go out for lunch. The other thing is, he’s leaving in two weeks, and I’m leaving in four days for the Dominican. By the time I come back, he’ll have days left in the country. If I do decide I want this car I have to move fast. Maybe there’s not enough time. Or maybe the car will be an absolute shitbox. I’ll keep you updated.

For our fourth and final year of university, my best friend and I are going to live together!  Last year, I lived with 4 of my girlfriends from high school.  In the beginning it was amazing, but by the end of the year, all of them had turned into the housemates from hell with the exception of one girl, who is also moving out. That’s a long dramatic story that can be told at a later date.

Currently, my best friend and I are on the search for a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment located near campus.  We’re hoping to find a decent place that is available on an 8 month lease and does not cost more than $1000 +utilities a month.  This is proving to be very difficult since my best friend is, shall we say, very high maintenance. So far, the only apartments she has approved of have been luxury condominums that all run for at least $1400 a month, but usually more.

To give you an idea of the “housing market” in our school’s area, the average rent for a student is approximately  $350-$450 a month (depending on how many people they live with) and almost everyone signs a 12 month lease.  For me, I am much more inclined to pay more per month on a shorter lease since there is absolutely 0% chance I will spend any time in my college town in the summer.  It’s hard to find an 8 month lease, but they become more abundant as September nears and landlords become more desperate.

We actually found a 16th floor apartment, literally steps from campus and it has everything we are looking for!  2 bedroom, 2 bathroom and best of all it is available for $975 including utilities for 8 months!  Even better, the guy is someone who used to have a crush on my best friend!  Unfortunately I know she rejected him, so I’m not sure if his former affection for her is a good thing or a bad thing for us.  I guess we’ll see what happens.

My best friend is in love with ‘The Hills’ and strongly believes that we will be just like them next year.  lol.  I’m just hoping we don’t end up hating each others guts by the end of the year.  Once again, we’ll see what happens.

So, I’ve been banking at RBC (aka Royal Bank of Canada) since I was 9 or 10.  Back then, I opened a Leo’s Young Savers Account for Children.  Free everything, but no Interac.  Maybe Interac wasn’t invented yet back in … 1998.  Who knows.

Fast forward 10 years later, I still have the Leo’s Young Savers Account (which is strange since I thought the maximum age was 17 before you got automatically transfered to an RBC Student or Day-to-Day account).  Up until yesterday it was my only savings account which is terrible considering I don’t think I earn any interest on it what-so-ever.  In addition to that I have about $15,000 in GIC’s as well as an RBC Rewards VISA with a $2,000 limit that I have never carried any interest on.

Yesterday I signed up for an RBC High Interest eSavings account.  It gives me a 2.75% interest rate.  With this account I get

• Unlimited online banking transfers from this account to other RBC Royal Bank accounts.
• All other debit transactions, cheques, in branch, ATM, Telephone, or Online Banking bill payments – $5.00

Those are the most relevant features.  This account works for me because I do most of my banking online anyways and I plan to use this account as a start up for my Emergency Fund as well as other big-purchase/long-term savings that I have to do.  I transferred $1,000 from my Young Savers account into this account yesterday.

I’m pretty excited.  Is it silly to be excited about opening up a new bank account?  I know PC and ING offer better rates, but sad to say, I am pretty loyal to RBC.  As a life long customer with a wide variety of products and accounts with this bank, I am happy to keep in all “in the family” so to speak.  Once I graduate I may diversify but for now, with everything at RBC, my life is just a little easier to manage!

Last night was a fucking disaster!  Went out with two of my girlfriends, and the game plan was to visit a lounge where our one friend was having a birthday thing, and then head over to another club for our other friend’s going away party.

At both places our friends had bottle service, so naturally we were expecting line by-pass and no cover.  Of course us being girls, we arrived an hour after bottle service had closed for the first club and had to stand in line for 15 minutes while our guy friends argued with the bouncer to let us in, because there was no way we were waiting in the huugeee regular line-up.  Got inside, and actually had to pay cover.  Not to sound like a snob (and anyways whatever, this blog is anonymous), but I haven’t had to pay cover at a club since I was like 18 and just trying to get in anywhere.  Anyhow, shelled out the $15 and went inside.  The bouncers had told us that the club was at capacity and he wasn’t even supposed to be letting anyone in (hence, the massive line-up outside).  However we went up and there was hardly anyone there!  Ok… that was an exaggeration, the place was about … I’d say 70% full.  It got pretty packed later on in the night but whatevs.  We hung out there for awhile until a huge misunderstanding blew up in our friends face, and he got thrown out.

We headed over to the second club of the evening, and of course were stopped at the door by the bouncer who told us that since it was past last call (it was like 2:15am lol) they weren’t allowing anyone in.  Of course then we had to call out our friend who had the bottle service in the club, to come outside and bring us in.  Then again we had to pay cover.  This time it was $20.  At this point I was like you’ve got to be fucking kidding me.  Our guy friend ended up covering for us, but honestly that was kind of a piss-off.  Once we got in, my one friend made a bee-line for the washroom and proceeded to spend the rest of the night puking her brains out in the stall.  My other girlfriend and I stood in the stall trying to take care of her until the second girl started puking too.  It was not a pretty sight.

Needless to say the night was not a success.  I spent $40, when I was expecting to spend less than $15.  I know I may sound like an asshole, but I never even bring more than $20 with me when I go out!  Inspite of everything, I had a good time and wouldn’t mind doing it again next week.  These girls are fun to party with and very different from the girls I usually hang out with.  My friend who puked herself silly ran up a $300 bar tab.  LOL.  I guess I shouldn’t be complaining about my $40 when I’m around her huh.

Anyway, this post was just a vent.  It’s pretty off topic so I might just delete it soon.  Oh well.  I spent $40 last night!  That is my personal finance update of the day.

So.. I spent a lot of money yesterday.  A lot of money I don’t have aka I charged it all to my VISA.  Now it’s time for damage control.  I’m going to list one of my Coach bags on eBay.  I purchased it off eBay for about $130, last year, but have since only worn it a few times before I got bored and found another one I liked better.  I know, I’m terrible but those two purses are the only things I’ve ever bought (for myself) from Coach, before I grew out of that phase.  Anyhow, it’s still in brand-new condition, no marks, or anything.  I’m hoping I’ll be able to get $100 back, including shipping.  Also, I should be getting my tax return soon, which according to my mom who filed my taxes, will only be $200 or so.  Oh well, every little bit helps right?  All that money will be going towards my VISA, which currently stands at about $1700 or so.  (I know … kill me.)  My bill has never been so high!  I know, it’s mainly because of the $1065 vacation trip I charged but it’s still a scary number!  I have never carried a balance in all 6 months of using a VISA, and I don’t plan to start now.  This just means the next two paycheques will be earmarked for VISA payment only.  Sigh.

Considering the state of my finances, I know the last thing I should be doing right now is spending money.  Yet somehow I managed to spend around $120 today at the mall.  Yay me.  Well, alright here is my attempt at a justification.

I spent $27.96 at Wal-Mart.

1. L’Oreal Carbon Black Voluminous Mascara $6.72 (seriously.. the best mascara ever.  Works better than DiorShow for me.  I wear mascara on a daily basis and my old tube is pretty much done… so technically, technically, this is more of a need than a want … right??)
2. Maybelline Waterproof Black Liquid Eyeliner $7.56 (another must-buy.. I also wear eyeliner everyday and this is my favorite.)
3. Parissa  Microwaveable Warm Wax Kit $10.46 (I’d like to be hair free for the Dominican, but also stress-free!  Will not be needing my razor for my trip after putting this baby to use.)

Then, it was time to go bikini shopping.  I know some of you may consider it irresponsible of me to buy more bikinis when I have two perfectly good ones at home (one brown crochet, one black) but … I had to give in just this one time.  Never fear, my wallet didn’t have to suffer too much.  I went bargain hunting and scored some huge deals!  I ended up spending a total of $90.35 on 4 bikinis!  I think that’s a good price.. hopefully you guys do as well?

1. One black and white houndstooth string bikini top $10 (There was no bottom in my size, plus I can just match it with my black bikini bottom that I already have.)
2. Brown and white floral print string bikini $29.99
3. Pink and purple tropical print halter bikini $19.98
4. White halter bikini with light blue and aqua polka dots $19.98

Strangely enough, I feel no buyers remorse.  I am happy with my purchases and know that I didn’t buy any of them just because they were on sale.  I’m also fairly certain these bikinis will keep my happy for at least the next 3 summers or so, since I’ve never been all that into swimwear in the first place.  In fact, I’ve been wearing my plain black one for as long as I can remember.

So yes I spent a lot today, perhaps more than some of you think I should have.  But.. I don’t regret it.  It was $120 well spent in my eyes!

(P.S. I spent $14.95 on lunch with the coworkers.  Sigh.  Now I don’t feel so good.)

In the month of May I managed to rack up a huge Visa bill due to

1. 7 day Chicago trip to visit my cousin and her husband.  Shopped till I dropped.  Enough said.
2. $300 spent eating out.  Due in part to the fact that I just “had” to have 17 reunion dinners with all my friends from home.  It wasn’t just my wallet that suffered, believe me.
3. HUGE cell phone bill.  As in almost $100! (I have a $25 plan).  This was a result of my apparent inability to pick up a phone and change my phone number to a local area code.
4. $427 Driving School fees.  This one was actually an investment, since it is going shave about 40% off my insurance.

After a shocker of a Visa bill, I knew I had to make some changes.  As a person who works full time, does not have a car and pays no rent, I should definitely have more than $300 in the bank.  Unfortunately, that is the state of my finances right now.

I’d be in better financial shape if I hadn’t committed to an all-inclusive 7 day vacation to the Dominican with my girlfriends at the end of the month.  I don’t regret this decision though.  I am someone who believes in the value of experience.  This is our last year of undergrad.  After this year, who knows what we will be doing and where we will be.  Yes, if I didn’t go on this trip I would have an extra $1065+ to put towards a new car, but I can always wait a little longer.  There is nothing I can do about the cost and I think it will be 100% worth the money.

In the meantime, I know there are plenty of things I can do on a daily basis to help save money and ease the strain that this vacation will be on my wallet.  I’m in the process of constructing a mid-month budget to help me stay organized and on top of my finances.

Well I read over my first post, and it was just so vague.  A little more perhaps?  I currently live at home with my parents, although during the school year I live in my college town which is about 1.5 hours away.  I am lucky enough to have parents who are able to pay for both my tuition and rent.  However, it is up to me to take care of my books, groceries, utilities and spending money.  I work part-time during the school year to pay for these expenses.  My current summer job is a paid internship at a publishing company where I am a Technical Editor.  After taxes, I receive $833 biweekly for 70 hours of work – or $14/hour.  Besides working full time for the summer, I am also going on a Caribbean trip with 3 of my girlfriends at the end of July.  In school I am majoring in Media Studies and also concurrently pursuing a Certificate in Technical Communication.  I usually tell people I’m majoring in Communications, since it’s just easier than listing the whole she-bang.

And that’s my life right now in a nutshell.  Oh, one more thing I guess, I have a wonderful boyfriend who I have been dating for the past year and a half.  Things are going great right now, and I’m hoping they stay that way!

I am a 20 year old Communications major who is entering my fourth and final year of undergrad this fall.  I currently work full time for the summer in a publishing company that specializes in trade magazines.  I started this blog after being inspired by the 190(,000) personal finance blogs I read on a daily basis.  Although this blog will be used primarily to keep track of my finances, I’m sure my blog posts will occasionally trail off into more personal issues from time to time.  I have to admit I am not the most responsible spender.  In the month of May alone, I spent probably close to $300 eating-out.  But that is all behind me now, I promise!!  Looking forward to turning over a new leaf with the help of this blog.