Today, I will be checking out some insurance to see if they offer any at a unexpensive price. Then I will prepare my luggage to see if I am missing anything.

Work lately has been terrible because of the overwhelming crowd and we are short of workers at Tim Hortons in the morning. I got super cranky with some of the customers and one coworker because of the overwhelming stress. I am sorry that I didn't act professionally, I will try to do better next time!

I ask my dad about the medical insurance and he said that he can't get the money back. Ah well... My dad never clearly explain to me about the insurance thingy because he acts annoy. Things have been going bad with my dad lately but I don't care for now.

Today June 20th, it is the day this year that I will turn 19. Man I still feel like I'm 16 years old! ^.^

My plans today is to eat a little barbecue at my house at lunch time and if it's not raining then I will go walk in Old Montreal with some of my friends and my boyfriend. At 7pm, I will be eating at a friend's restaurant with 9 other people till 9 pm. I hope it will be great although the weather today is not very nice ^.^".

So yeah that is my schedule for today! Today will be a little spendy that usual. =P

I decided I'm not moving in a new appartement. It may seems like a good deal but I think I can manage in finding a good place to study when school starts and I prefer to travel then to live in an appartement.

I took the digital camera ticker out because my dad is going to give me his camera when he buys an iphone soon. He also said he will give me his car in two years if he decided to buy a new one. I don't want to buy an insurance but maybe when I find a good job and my dad car is still good, I will take it.

This week, I get my 30$ allowance and I already used 5$ to repay my boyfriend back. I got 25$ to go for this week. As for my conservative clothes, I will put some money in this week when I received my paycheck.

Hey everybody,

Well I'm thinking of moving out to an apartement that my godbrother suggested me to his friend and girlfriend.

The appartement is a condo style place, I get a room for myself, plenty of closet space and I find it big and comfortable enought. It's a few walks from the bus station, in front of a shopping centre, in front of a Loblaw grocery store and there's two bus next to the appartement where I can take it to go to school right away. In the morning, I don't need to walk 10-15 min to a bus station and I don't need to take two buses to go to school in the afternoon. The only downfall is that I have to work to be able to pay the rent, food, utilities and all my personal needs. Not to forget cooking for myself... Which I suck at it but the people who I am going to live with will teach me how to cook.

Here what the monthly cost for different things will be:

Rent/utilities/cable/internet: 350$
Phone bill: 45$
Bus card:45$
Food: 100$

Total: 540$

Monthly needs:
Skin product: 24.45$
Laser treatment: 40$
cosmetic/other: 30$

Total: 94.45$

Total: 634.45$

My dad is going to give me the monthly allowance (200$) and he will pay my school fees and books)

Reduce 200$ from the total: 434.45$

I earn close to 690$ per month at Tim Hortons so I will get to save 1/3. Although I have to be prepare for any hidden fee such as entertainement. The appartement will include a swimming pool and a gym to work out. All I have to pay is the key to enter there and I can bring a friend or two to workout.

Another disavantage is that I won't get to save for my Japan trip as fast as I would like. Also, I will have to get serious about saving. Since living with my parents, all over the limit purchase are forgivable since... Well I don't have to pay for anything.

My dad was seriously not supportive of me moving because he thinks I won't be able to concentrate on my studies and all that. He won't help me in anything at all and I have to convince him to give me the allowance and pay for my books. I just asked him if he could bring me to places where I can buy furnitures. He thought I was going to take care of anything. Can't I have any guidance DAD?!!

The reasons why I want to move are plenty. There are times this house gets violent and it's usually in school times. It makes me stress because of problems at home and I can't concentrate well in school. Moving out into a new environnement will make me more responsible and I will learn how to cook, clean and everything. Most of all, it will open my eyes to the real world. My parents overprotect me because they've heard all kind of horror stories but I wanna prove to them that I can be on my own and that I will take precaution in things. It seems that this family especially in all side of my family tries to lead me into the right path. What right path?! If you guys try to overprotect me then I will be friken miserable in my life. I know that my decisions may not be the best all the time but I will learn from my mistakes and I will grow.

Anyways,if I got to my final decision then I will start moving on August 1st. By then, I will get to save as much as possible before that date, hopefully ^.^

I called this morning to get rid of the 5$ text option. The customer service said my next bill will have 1/2 of the 5$. I don't mind anyways because I get to spend spend 2.50$ less and no more 5$ extra the one after this. I'm happy!

My shift at work is 3 to 11 pm and I got 22$ tips. Tomorrow I work 8am to 3pm. Let's see how much tips I'll get this weekend =P

Guess what I also have tomorrow? A French writting exam!

Technically, my first paycheck at Tim Hortons and my final French exam are both coming tomorrow. With the money that I get in my paycheck, I hope to get at least 300$ so I can put a mass amount in my digital camera and a little bit on my Japan or other savings. If I get more hours in the weekdays starting next week, I will earn at least 1000$ before I go to Morocco.

I add conservative clothes option because when I go to Morocco, I will need conservative shirts. The ones that I have are too revealing for them. I'll probably won't spend all 200$ because most of them will be shirts and one/two skirts. The clothes are not only for Morocco, they are for other conservative countries that I might visit someday.

I have yet to decide how much I receive as allowance per week. My boyfriend agrees on taking care of giving me the allowance because well... He will get to see me at least once a week. Hehe! It's a good deal. I get to control my spending money and he gets to see me once a week. I'll probably get 30$/week. Not sure yet. It is a lot but I want to pay some things such as laser hair treatment for the armpits and for outings with friends in the summer.

The reason why I get a laser hair treatment is my personal choice. My armpits are really sensible to razors, I dislike chemical lotion a lot and I always hurt myself when I pluck it with a twiser. With laser hair treatment, I won't have any armpits hair forever. It is expensive though, around 370$ for 8 treatments. I have to go to the salon every 6 weeks to get it done. I am at my fifth one tomorrow and my hair is almost gone. It is growing less and less each treatment and I am super happy. It is worth the money.

If I get 30$/week... That makes 120$/month for the summer. If I start my allowance in June. Let see...

120$ monthly allowance that I have estimate that I will spend:

Expense:
- Laser hair treatment: 45$
- Going out with my boyfriend: 40$
- Going out with friends: 20$

Total: 105$
Left over: 15$

Thank god I have an easy going boyfriend. We barely spend on anything in school days. For summer, I am sure we will spend 40$ per month because we will be going clubbing for the first time together on my birthday. We will split our taxi cost with another couple and we are planning to sleep in a tent near GuiGui house. The taxi might cost 10$/each because we will be about 4-5 riding the taxi together. It will surely cut the cost by a lot, probably by 5-6$ not sure yet.

My summer vacation will probably be a spendy time since I'm not in school and I want to enjoy my first summer in college while I can.

Well I'm done rambling. Thanks for reading this. xD

I'm going to start working this weekend at Tim Hortons. Aaah yes, I'm taking my job back because I want to earn money and it's the job that I see myself doing for the moment. I figure that I need a job with good pay and time can pass really fast. Since I don't want to work too many days but many hours in one day, Tim Hortons is the best choice so far.

I'll be able to contribute to my challenge money from now on.

I want to apply for summer school this year to catch up on my English. I dropped English last semester because I was not at the right level and they couldn't change me. Summer school will be from 9-12 in the morning for four weeks. I'll finish three days before my trip.

Kiwii suggested me to prospone my trip till mid-July so I can take calculus II in the afternoon but I refused. I'm not paying 400$ extra for penality and another 200$ for summer course instead of taking another semester where more than four courses cost 150$ all together. I can't believe I was stuck on that for two days. It doesn't make any sense to pay 600$ more. The only thing that I'm missing in order to finish my programme on time is Calculus II now but I'm not planning to finish early. I want to take one more semester. Kiwii told me to postpone Calculus II for two more semesters because I want to take five courses (Coincidentally, I can take five with her next semester and I also want to take just five courses) which sound totally absurd consider I'm in commerce. It's like avoiding math when your programme is about math and business thing. I might as well be on other programme than commerce if I'm postponing math for another semester.

Since I can't take Calculus II because of my trip. I will take English in the morning.

I don't know what I was thinking when I did that but I did it to finally be in peace.

I was having an argument with my dad over the phone bill. He always asks me to pay on the internet because he assumes I will know how. I told him that I don't know how and I wish him to switch the account over to me so I can pay by myself. When I pay him the phone bill and we finally switch to my name. He got another phone bill and yells at me because I open the cellphone in USA to look at the time which cost me 30$! I told him that I just open the phone to check the time and my dad keeps whining about it. So I was finally fed up with all this crap about money so I gave him all the money that I have left to spend which was 400$ so he could get the message that I had enought.

Why did I do that? I just want to be left alone. I can't take it anymore. A lot of my arguments with my parents have to do with me is money, A lot of things that has to do with our argument is money and I had it. When I gave him 400$, I felt at peace at last because I have made a statement. Although, I was crying because I felt like my freedom was taken away from me but I feel more peace in my mind.

How did my dad react? Did he take the money? My dad didn't react much and he took the money. How shameful. I gave him the bill that was last month and he has the nerve to tell me: You're going to pay it on the internet by yourself. I'm like: With what? I gave you ALL the money that I have left over. What more do you want? He just said nothing.

I also decide not to work at my dad place anymore. I explained to my cousin over the phone that almost the arguments that I've been receiving is always about money. So I prefer to concentrate on my studies for now.He is okay with that and I'm happy that he understands better than my dad.

How is my first day without money? It was good. I know that I won't be able to afford anything since I have no money.

Will I go back to work? Definitetly. Probably over the summer or something. If I learn that I can live without money then I will stash all the cash away.

How will my dad react when I get a job? He will probably say : So where's your money? Gosh... Just thinking about it just drive me nuts. I want to get out... If I stay in this house with my dad giving me confusing message, I might end up seeing a psychologist or something. I should move out... I should move out...

These days, my biggest expense is the food. My entertainment expense was clubbing last Friday and that's about it. I tried bringing food but sometimes, I barely do it because I'm either too busy or just too tired. The first week went well with bringing my own lunch but after that, I go back to my old habit.

I'm also lacking on healthy food at home. Considering my parents barely go grocery shopping and when they do, it's hardly healthy food anyways. So yeah, I would love to go buy my own grocery but just thinking of going home with all the groceries by bus is a pain in the ass. I tried it and it was really complicated. My brother expects me to make lunch for him and he likes to criticize the food that I make for him.... Like he can do any better!!

I'm really running out of idea for myself because my income is so low now since I don't work. Although I am trying to eat at home more since all my classes are mostly in the afternoon. Sometimes, my friends just call me to help them out for their homework or I need to ask teacher questions.

Anyways, I'll get back to you guys later after I excercise. I'm really frustrated right now that I'm always spending money!!

This week was pretty good. I did my French and accouting test which went pretty well. I also went to the club for the first time.

My experience at a club was pretty good. Throughout the night, I got comfortable dancing and guys approach me which I never experienced before. I guess I got used living in a shelter life xP. Well, I did dance with a guy at the beginning of the night because I wanted to be less shy at dancing so I accepted. He introduced himself to me which I find it's pretty polite of him to do that. We danced for two or three songs and he tried to kiss me twice which I refused and continued dancing with him. My first reaction should have been to stop dancing with him but I was too nice. After awhile, I stopped our dance and thank him then all of a sudden, another guy came up to me on my back and start grining on me. I pushed him away and my friends dragged me to their side and tell the guy to back off. I'm pretty happy that I have my friends with me. They are better than me on handling those sort of things. Although I'm pretty confused with the guy that I danced with, he came back to me twice and he even offered to buy me a drink which I refused.

As for my spending this week, let just say that I'm still living the life as an adult experiencing life. LOL Well certainly, I would like to find a balance into my life. Hopefully, I will find it soon. I'm going to take back my Tim Hortons job in mid-juillet possibly. I'm planning to work three days/week and take five courses for the third semester. Hopefully, I would find a balance in spending and saving before starting to work. I spent 32$ because I offered to pay the cab for a friend because she doesn't work either. Initially, she pays 20$ and in the end, I payed 5$ which was totally unreasonable. I thought of paying everything as her late birthday gift.

I have to do a little cleaning so I'll get back to you guys about my progress in a few days. Also, my challenge money will be toward my Japan trip and possibly my future. I have to think about it. As for my Japan trip, I have more than that amount but it's in my Travel mutual fund.

Hey, if you remember me. I'm Christina from the user T_I_N_A20 blog. I have my laptop(Brand new Toshiba 450$ from a friend) for a few weeks now so I can blog again without worrying about the possibility of my dad checking in my account or some sort.

I would like to interview myself ^.^

Why you come back here?

- I realized that I need support to help me save. I did not realized how much the outside world could affect my money habit. I wish to do something worthwhile with my money instead of spending it away again and I want to save up my money so I can travel... Like usual and to build a future with my boyfriend if it works out great.

How is my life going?

- I can say it's been good except the money part and the exercise part. I have a loving boyfriend of almost three months who have the same goal as me. My grades are good although I could do way much better. I went to New York city with my dad and my sister. The trip I must say, didn't help our family relationship that much because my dad was always talking about the price there(typical Chinese people) and he is controlling the way I spend my money.

Tell us about your boyfriend.

- Ummm... How do I start? Well... First I would like to call him by his nickname : GuiGui. He is a year younger than me and he is in the same grade as me. He is a Quebeker.

I met him last year in our senior year of high school in gym option class and I hit his butt with a badminton racket. His reaction was so cute! Instead of telling me to stop like the other guys, he played with me by saying: What the heck? DEFENSE! *Start defending himself with his racket* After a few months, I start to get to know him a few days before the prom, I developped a feeling for him even though I had a boyfriend back then. I never met anyone who is so cold at the same time so warm inside. It really made me curious to know more about him.

A few months after college started, he emailed me saying that he miss me and I reply back happily that we should meet. We decided to go shopping with Kiwii. That day, I couldn't stop hugging him. At first, he just stood there not knowing what to do and after countless times of hugging him, I felt his body warming up to me. After this, we didn't see each others for a few months.

At January 14th, I invited him to my house to watch his movies that I just bought him for Christmas and I was hugging him throughout the movies. After we finish watching the movies, I ask him if he wants us to be together. At first, he bent down and he said : What do you want? I jumped and said: I want us to be together! Then he said: Okay. When he was about to leave, he turned around and I said: What? He said: Nothing... On msn, he told me that when I ask him if we should be together, he wanted to kiss me and when he was about to leave, he wanted to say I love you.

And the rest is history ^.^!!

I should describe how he is like. He is perfect for me... I just feel like I could be in a serious relationship with because he really listens to my need, he asks me what I want and whenever I have something in my mind, he tells me what I was thinking straight away. With money, he is really simple. He loves final fantasy games so he is willing to spend his money on that. Anything else, he doesn't care and he lets me decide. In school, he studies in commerce like me and he wants to be an economist one day so he studies hard to get good grade and he does not change his mind as easily as me. In general, he is the opposite of me.

Both of our parents know we are dating and my boyfriend side of the family like me so far especially his mother. My parents, they don't take it seriously so they don't ask much about him. I could really tell that his family comes from a good upbringing. My boyfriend told me that his mother stayed at home when he was young to take care of her kids and to earn any extra income, she made a kindergarden at home so she can work and be there for the kids. Now seeing their kids all grown up, she works at the airport right now and she gets 97$ flight ticket each for her and her family. I really admired her a lot for being able to be there to raise kids. I wish to be like her someday and my boyfriend express the same wish.

I believe that I could finally have a peaceful life with my boyfriend where money doesn't matter that much anymore. My boyfriend has a father as a workaholic and he was never there to raise his own children so he views him a stranger. GuiGui doesn't want to end up like his father, I don't want to end up like my parents. All we gotta do is to study hard in school which he is doing and I'm also doing so we can get good jobs.

How is Kiwii and her saving?

- My friend Kiwii is doing fine. She got sick for five weeks now and she missed three weeks of school. As a result, she is having problems keeping up in class and I can't help her that much. She is thinking of dropping her semester which I kinda want her to do because it is getting bad and she got kick out of the gym class.

Her saving? When she works,She saves 1000$ for a few months, now her savings is dropping fast because she won't be working for awhile. Kiwii always have the same spending habit since I introduce her to this site so I'm not surprise that she will not save much. She also said early on before she got sick that she's not going to Japan in three years because she's going to live there anyways. I told her clearly that I'm still going with my boyfriend no matter what and I won't be living in Japan in the future anymore. My boyfriend doesn't feel like going there to live anymore because he feels like it's going to be way too much troubles.

What do you plan to do with a new blog?

- Well for me starting a new blog means starting everything new especially my challenge money. Since the past blog (My little saving blog), I have grown ever since.

Any new goals?

- My goal will be traveling and saving toward the future. I plan to take around 4-5 courses next fall to be able to work more in order to save my money for future trips and my future. I am in no rush to finish my studies as fast as possible. But to carry less workload during the year, I plan to take two courses in the summer. However, this is yet to be my final decision. Except my Japan trip that I'm really going to go.

What about your 20$ Challenge money?

- Unfortunatly it's gone... I got carried away. Part of the money went to the flight ticket to Morocco and the personal spending budget.