Recently in money Category

in the last few months i've replaced:

- my cell phone
- my car
- my diet
- my tv
- my dining room chairs
- my computer
- my tv/internet service
- my pvr
- my monitor

it seems so strange that suddenly, it seems, i'm replacing everything i use on a regular basis. the last thing i have that really needs replacing, though, is my dSLR. while it's still working, i'm having trouble finding Nikon software to do what I need done on the new computer; but, seeing as i've already blown all semblance of a budget with my recent splurges, i'll be holding off on that for a while.

so, in case you don't know, here's the scoop on each one:

i replaced my crappy pay-as-you-go cell phone from virgin with a shiny iPhone 3GS with a ridiculously cheap and flavourful plan from Bell. it was a bit of a mental hurdle to go from one to the other, but after six months, i can't even imagine life without it now.

on april first, i picked up my 2010 Mazda 3 Sport from the dealership. i had finally had enough of all the troubles my 1991 VW Golf had given me, and, thanks to my dad and 0% financing for 5 years, i finally have a reliable car with so. many. features! i don't think i'll ever get tired of power steering or air conditioning. so THIS is how other people live! it's so decadent!

with the bootcamp fitness challenge at work came a food plan. with that food plan, i started eating every 2-3 hours. now, if i don't get fed regularly, i get very cranky and very sleepy. it's annoying! but, i guess the 14 pounds i lost mean that all that eating is good for me, so i'm sticking with it. mostly.

my mom and her middle sister made a spur of the moment road trip up to Kelowna to visit their estranged (and crazy) little sister a couple months back. while there, my crazy aunt offered my mom a 32" plasma tv. mom had just gotten a new 40" LCD, so she declined, but she did say that i needed one. hence, instead of my perfectly suitable 20" CRT, i'm now the proud owner of a gigantic (to me) fancy HD tv. score!

as an early birthday present, Christopher bought me four aqua chrome dining chairs to go with my yellow arborite & chrome dining table. we had to make a trek out to maple ridge to get them, but it was worth the adventure (and the scrubbing needed once i got them home). they are exactly what i've always wanted to complete my retro dining set. yay craigslist!

i switched! yup, on my birthday, i went to the Apple store and bought myself a Mac Mini to replace my dying PC, discombobulate. it was a good run, but i was tired of broken USB, cranky loud fans and all the Windows slowness. now, i'm all Apple-y with my mac and iphone. just get me some skinny jeans & big, empty 80's eyeglass frames and i'll be right at home on Main St.

after hmming and hawing for a month after getting an offer for Telus TV in my mailbox, i decided to make the switch from Shaw. even with my superawesome unapproved deal with them, the Telus offer was too good to pass up. despite all the installation issues on Saturday, it seems it's worth it. HD is so awesome. so is being able to record THREE THINGS AT ONCE with the new pvr it came with (bye-bye TiVo)! OMG! this upcoming TV season is going to be SO AWESOME!

the problem, it seems, with replacing one thing is it leads to another. that's why after getting the new, fast, sexy Mac Mini, i ended up buying a new, shiny 23" monitor. i hadn't planned on it, i swear! i wasn't even looking, until Chris pointed out the pile of really cheap Samsung monitors at NCIX while we were there picking up a new power bar and HDMI adapter (did i mention, i can connect the new Mac to my new TV to watch downloaded stuff without any converting or transferring? SO HAWT!). it was one of those times it was just too perfect to say no to. the monitor cost pretty close to the savings from cancelling my tivo service because of the new Telus TV service. it all fell into place and now i'm swimming in screen real estate!

here endeth my journal of rampant consumerism. please help pay off my gluttony by buying my stuff:

12" Apple iBook G4
Acer 19" LCD widescreen monitor
LACk floating shelf in Beech

i was just looking at the list of tax changes accompanying the introduction of the HST in BC this coming july 1st.  i better save up because...

- reading a book will cost more
- watching tv will cost more
- going to see a movie will cost more
- eating food anywhere but home will cost more
- eating processed food will cost more
- buying plants to grow my own food will cost more
- getting a hair cut will cost more
- having my toenails painted will cost more
- buying used clothing to be less of a consumer will cost more
- using my home phone will cost more
- getting a massage will cost more
- taking a tylenol because i had a massage will cost more
- buying vitamins to make me healthy will cost more
- going to the gym will cost more
- seeing a cultural event will cost more
- buying mp3s instead of going to the more expensive concert will cost more
- getting drunk because everything costs more will cost less
- taking a taxi because i got drunk will cost more

in eight months i've managed to increase my net worth (or decrease my negative value) by over six and a half thousand dollars. i find that kind of insane.

it was accomplished through a combination of accelerated debt payment and regimented savings, but i'm still shocked at how fast that line on the graph has been going up. that is one of the reasons i'm seriously leaning towards ditching my lemony car and becoming a pedestrian. that line will practically skyrocket out of the red!

now that i think about it, i've not had a single day since turning 20 years old when i wasn't in debt; when my net worth wasn't less than zero. i think i should have a "positive net worth party" when i'm finally worth something -- monetarily, that is.