month in review: 2007 July

day	description	locale	out	in
4	day old muffin, Wednesday special: medium hot chocolate	Perkins	$3.55
5	5 car tickets	BC Ferries	$78.75
6	money back for ferry tickets			$80.00
7	bottle return	liquor store		$1.30
7	bottle return	Village Food Market		$1.90
10	10 packages seed, gloves	Dollar Store	$3.39
10	cake, whip cream	Save On Food	$7.98
11	contribution for veggie dog	hotdog stand	$2.00
11	contribution for regular hotdog	hotdog stand	$0.85
11	2 fries, 2 hotdogs, 2 drinks + refills	Costco Wholesale	$8.44
11	$12/hour x 9.5hours			$114.00
18	$10 Rogers prepaid	Village Food Market	$11.30
18	2.851L x $1.119/L	Mid Island Co-op	$3.19
18	dinner	Suzie's	$28.43
22	found a penny			$0.01
22	9am - 3:30pm	spreading patio crush		$70.00
22	1.868L x $1.119/L	Mid Island Co-op	$2.09
25	GST refund (quarterly payment)	HSBC		$59.25
25	RCA cables, paper, and contribution towards other items	Dollar Giant		$9.04
25	phono jack Y-adapter	Tom Lee Music	$4.47
25	groceries	Costco Wholesale	$115.82
25	Upwords, Scrabble dictionary	Toys R Us	$32.66
25	medium fries	Pirate Chips	$4.25
25	change from friend			$0.16
27	1.885L x $1.109/L	Mid Island Co-op	$2.09
28	iomega zip 250 (not tested) including power supply	GIRO	$0.50
28	two paycheques	bank		$642.00
29	40L x $1.109L, 1.89L dark chocolate ice cream	Mid Island Co-op	$52.83
31	contribute towards rent		$200.00
31	contribute towards food		$85.00
31	money back for Upwords			$20.00
31	9hours x $12/hour + $2			$110.00
	month totals		$656.63	$1098.62
	money coming in			$441.99
	cash on hand now			$664.91
	cash on hand last month			$222.90
	cash coming in			$442.01
	two cents more unaccounted for			$0.02

Checklist: Think Before You Spend

1. Don't Shop.
2. Live within your means.
3. Take care of what you have.
4. Wear it out.
5. Do it yourself.
6. Anticipate your needs.
7. Research value, quality, durability, and multiple use.
8. Get it for less.
   
9. Buy used.
10. Follow the steps of this program.

(New Road Map Foundation excerpt from chapter six of the book Your Money Or Your Life)

month in review: 2007 June

day	description	locale	out	in
2	found dime			$0.10
2	snacks for boat trip		$20.00
5	groceries	The Green Store, Nanaimo	$19.89
6	2 hot chocolates	Tim Horton, Parksville	$5.00
6	tea, coffee, muffin	Pacific Brim, Parksville	$10.00
6	chess set, ruler	thrift store, Parksville	$10.00
8	bottle return	Village Food Market		$2.90
8	1L 2% milk	Village Food Market	$1.79
8	cheesies	Village Food Market	$1.25
8	chai tea	Mermaid's Mug	$4.39
13	4.5vdc, book Diet For A New America	GIRO	$1.00
13	found a penny			$0.01
13	7 hours labour x $10/hr	Peter		$70.00
13	organic lemon juice	Village Food Market	$4.78
13	postage for a friend	post office	$0.06
16	partially paid for $1 sailing book	GIRO	$0.11
16	paid half for lettuce, spinach	Good Earth	$6.85
16	1L cream, licorice	Village Food Market	$3.14
16	keyboard stand	garage sale	$25.00
16	1.5 hours labour x $12/hr + $2 tip	BJ		$20.00
16	found a quarter			$0.25
16	5 hours labour x $10/hr	Peter		$50.00
20	salad dressing	The Green Store	$3.00
20	$10 Rogers prepaid	The Source	$11.30
20	36 condoms	London Drugs	$11.29
20	2L #3 organic maple syrup	Charlie Browns	$40.12
20	popcorn, 2 sodas	Save-On Foods	$8.66
20	contribution for phone card	friend		$10.00
22	contribute gas money for van	Co-op	$10.88
23	6 apples	Village Food Market	$2.87
23	2 coffees	The Vault	$4.25
23	2 desserts	Delicado's	$4.75
23	10 passenger tickets	BC Ferries	$41.00
23	donate to some guy on ferry		$1.75
26	donate guy outside Thrifty's wanting to buy nectarines		$1.00
26	large popcorn with real butter, Dasani water, refill without butter	Gateway	$10.04
26	nectarines, apples	Thrifty's	$5.34
28	found while housecleaning			$2.64
30	1 x 5 cents + 2 x 10 cents			$0.25
	month totals		$269.51	$156.15
	money going out		$113.36
	cash on hand last month		$355.50
	cash on hand now		$222.90
	cash going out		$132.60
	cash missing or spent and unaccounted for		$19.24

month in review: 2007 May

day	description	locale	out	in
1	6x10cents,1x20cents,26x5cents			$2.10
1	13x10cents,5x5cents			$1.55
9	plant trees - landscaping	friend's house		$100.00
10	chai tea special	Perkin's	$2.28
10	seeds	Home Hardware	$5.59
10	small flowers	superstore	$2.00
11	Holey Soles	Harbour Shoes	$30.10
11	Rogers prepaid $10	The Source	$11.30
13	popcorn $2.80/kg + 2 licorice	Village Market Foods	$1.17
16	$2.15 daily special - medium hot chocolate, Americano, 2 x day old muffins	Perkin's	$6.67
16	3x25cents - calling friends	payphone in Victoria	$0.75
16	found a dime	Cafe Fantastico		$0.10
16	made a wish, threw dime in a well	Cafe Fantastico	$0.10
17	2 Americanos and a bag of coffee beans	Cafe Fantastico	$11.00
17	2 coffees + tip	Cafe Fantastico	$5.20
17	donate for beach lunch items	friends	$20.00
17	coffee	Serious Coffee	$5.00
17	found a loonie	in my pack		$1.00
17	found a penny	parking lot at Costco		$0.01
19	friend paying me for Victoria trip expenses	friend		$30.00
22	tax refund (see assessment)	Revenue Canada		$279.71
22	sunglasses	Port Mall	$12.60
22	6 packages seed, lighter	Dollar Store	$2.83
22	large and small coffee	Lake Cowichan grocer	$3.96
23	popcorn 2.49/kg@2.30/kg	Save On Foods	$5.73
24	1L cream	Twin Beaches c-store	$2.49
27	6xpesto, $1.28 apple,$1.19 Romaine lettuce	Village Market Foods	$17.47
27	1L cream	Twin Beaches c-store	$2.99
28	call Peter about landscaping helper	payphone	$0.25
28	call friend	payphone	$0.25
28	donate money to person for a phone call	payphone	$0.30
29	Rogers prepaid $10	Village Market Foods	$11.30
30	bag of clothes	GIRO	$2.00
30	going half on groceries	Village Market Foods	$5.01
	month totals		$168.34	$414.47
	money coming in			$246.13
	money coming in (check)			$246.13
	cash on hand now			$355.50
	cash on hand last month			$109.30
	cash coming in			$246.20
	cash missing		$0.07

month in review: 2007 April

day	description	locale	out	in
3	4x10cents	liquor store		$0.40
3	17x5cents	Village Food Market		$0.85
4	1L half+half cream	twin beaches c-store	$2.99
7	gift			$100.00
8	scooter gas 1.14/L	co-op gas	$3.36
8	found change	coat pocket		$0.39
11	5x10cents beer cans	liquor store		$0.50
11	med. Coffee+med. Hot chocolate @2.15+$1 tip	Perkins	$5.35
11	5 rolls duct tape, 2 pr. Socks, scissors, 2x12 colored pencils	Dollar Giant	$11.30
11	dinnner	Amrikko's By the Sea Indian Grill	$20.00
13	5x10cents wine bottles+2x10cents beer bottles	liquor store		$0.70
13	500 square feet 6mil poly vapour	Arbutus Building Supply	$32.72
14	chai tea+coffee	Twin Beaches Bakery	$3.23
14	scooter gas 1.179/L	co-op gas	$3.24
14	hand sewing machine, clips, box, utensil holder, microphone, cup with lid	GIRO	$2.50
17	found change	coat pocket		$0.76
19	4x10cents+2x5cents			$0.50
19	phone call	payphone	$0.25
20	6x10cents+13x5cents			$1.25
21	bicycle	GIRO	$6.00
21	litre cream	twin beaches c-store	$2.99
22	3x10cents,1x20cents+1x5cents			$0.55
23	58x10cents,2x20cents+9x10cents			$6.65
24	3x10cents	liquor store		$0.30
24	Abundance workshop	Haven	$20.00
24	butter	Village Food Market	$4.39
27	camping jack knife multi-tool with can-opener	dollar giant	$0.93
27	going half on a box of 36 condoms	London Drugs	$4.74
	month totals		$123.99	$112.85
	money outgoing		$11.14
	cash on hand last month			$121.45
	cash on hand now			$109.38
	cash outgoing		$12.07
	cash missing		$0.93
	cash that ought to be on hand now		$110.31

month in review: 2007 March

day	description	locale	out	in
2	cream, rice, 4 apples, grapes	Village Food Market	$14.48
3	biscuit	food forum	$1.00
5	coffee, muffin	Perkins	$5.09
5	2 ferry tickets Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay	BC Ferries	$23.00
5	butterfly stickers, wire brush, steel wool	Dollar Store	$3.39
5	donate change	Save On	$0.03
6	bulk food	Famous Foods	$38.48
6	3 packages of grommets ($1 each), grommet crimper ($1.39), 15% tax (70 cents)	Army Navy Department Store, New West	$5.39
6	5 passenger ferry tickets, Gabriola/Nanaimo	BC Ferries	$20.00
9	2x5cents+6beerx10cents+penny found			$0.71
10	lamination pouches	friend	$25.00
10	groceries	Village Food Market	$8.99
10	dozen eggs	neighbour	$3.00
12	cat food + groceries	Village Food Market	$6.90
13	donate	Ian McAllister	$4.00
13	2 cookies+2 coffees	Ian McAllister	$2.00
13	cookie	Ian McAllister	$0.50
14	mar15-apr15	housesit	$300.00
14	2x10cents+1x5cents			$0.25
17	groceries	Village Food Market	$8.64
17	print cover letter	library	$0.15
19	org.1/2lb butter,5org.apples,non-org avacado	Village Food Market	$9.42
20	1x10cent beer bottle+1x5cents			$0.15
20	spinach, avacado	Village Food Market	$2.18
22	organic gala apple	Thrifty Foods	$0.76
22	4.8 lb org. navel oranges	Fairway Market	$4.88
22	hex torques,adjustable wrench, 3 pliers	Home Hardware	$41.78
22	8 cans Friskies	Thrifty Foods	$4.52
24	4x10cents+1x5cents			$0.45
24	Olympic no fat organic yogurt ($4.29), bulk raw pumpkin seeds .45kg@$11.95/kg ($5.36), 2 small avacados @ 79 cents each ($1.58), Earthbound baby lettuce ($3.48 *saved $1.51), organic Braeburn apples 1.265kg@3.26/kg ($4.12 *saved $1.42), 1/2 lb organic butter ($6.99), Grimm's tortillas ww 10" ($3.49), Lundberg organic brown sweet rice ($4.99)	Village Food Market	$34.30
26	4 bottlesx10cents+2cansx10cents	Liquor Store		$0.60
27	(5+1)x10cents+(1+1)x5cents			$0.70
29	golden harvest muffin	Perkins	$2.43
29	1 page resume for The Source	library	$0.15
29	wraps, lettuce, shared food	Costco	$15.00
29	12 oatmeal cookies	Thrifty Foods	$2.99
30	scooter gas	co-op	$3.56
	month totals		$592.01	$2.86
	money outgoing		$589.15
	cash on hand now		$121.45
	cash on hand last month		$710.60
	cash outgoing		$589.15
	cash missing		$0.00

death and taxes

I filled out and sent the income tax forms to Ottawa in a red-colored envelope.

I don't think I made anywhere near enough money in 2006 to actually pay any tax. I may receive a tax refund because one of the companies I worked for deducted taxes -- even though I explicitly requested that they not deduct taxes.

What are Canadian tax dollars being invested in?

January 22, 2007 ACTION ALERT: How is the Harper government handling the war in Afghanistan?

• ESCALATING VIOLENCE
• INCREASING CANADIAN CASUALTIES
• THE RISING COST OF THE WAR
• AFGHANISTAN "SLIDING INTO CHAOS"

Canada's role in the invasion of Afghanistan ???

I won't pay taxes unless Canada invests in what is in the best interests of Canadians.

a month in review: 2007feb

day	description	locale	out	in
1	tube repair kit	village paint & hardware	$2.25
1	cocoa, cheese, rice, sugar, pickles, tortillas	village food market	$37.34
3	2 sets bike brake pads	village paint & hardware	$11.18
3	feb15-mar15, housesit expense	bank	$300.00
4	picture frame	dollar store	$1.12
4	tip	Mermaid's Mug	$1.00
4	No. 2 bus	Nanaimo	$2.25
4	movie: Happy Feet	Woodgrove Mall	$7.90
4	flatbread	Thrifty Food	$2.50
7	Microsoft Visual Studio 97 Professional Edition	Giro	$0.24
8	found money?			$0.10
11			$12.27
13	4 x 10 cents + 2 x 5 cents	bottle return		$0.50
14	give friend money to buy items	Giro	$6.50
17	gear cable	Pedal Pushers	$5.00
17	36 condoms, toothpaste with neem	London Drugs	$16.70
17	hot chocolate	Mermaid's Mug	$3.69
19	organic butter, eggs and chocolate powder	village food market	$20.96
20	pay back money owed	friend	$20.00
20	WD-40	village paint & hardware	$8.58
20	fair trade organic Cocoa Camino	village food market	$7.99
23	book: Unlimited Power by Anthony Robbins	second hand store	$1.56
23	bowl of chilli	Mermaid's Mug	$5.62
23	contribute for scooter gas	Husky gas station	$2.00
	month totals		$476.65	$0.60