My Debt-free Journey

Hi, my name is Jill and I have two lines of credit to pay off.

I had a balance on one of my lines of credit before I began my business, but when things didn't go as planned and I lost two key clients early on, I started relying on my other line of credit. Interest rates were low and everything was going to turn around, right? Wrong. I decided to go back to work full-time to get back on my feet, financially speaking.

But you know what happens when you haven't made much and then start making a lot of money? That's right, you spend it - like crazy! I look back on some of my decisions and just shake my head. There was absolutely no reason I couldn't have gotten out of debt while I was at the Court. My position was even extended, giving me yet another chance to make a dent. However, I bought what I wanted when I wanted and also took three trips in 20 months! Money in; money out. Oops.

Last fall, I got frustrated with my finances. I have always tracked my expenses, but when I really looked at my income and what I was spending, I couldn't believe that I was barely making it each and every month! I only had about $100-$200 of wiggle room per month, and more often than not, I was spending more than I made!

I started making cuts where I could. Here are some of the things I've changed:

• I reduced my internet package.
• I removed extra cable channels and packages.
• I started growing my hair longer and stopped buying salon hair products.
• I drained my other bank accounts.
• I transferred as much as I could from the higher interest rate line of credit to the lower one.
• I removed additional health coverage from my personal health insurance that I wasn't using.

None of these changes made a massive dent on its own, but when you add them all up and look at the savings over the last six months, I saved approximately $500! Another blessing was a friend of a friend who was a former mechanic that did some much-needed work on my car and saved me at least half the cost I would have paid at a shop. God helps those who help themselves, doesn't He?

Over the winter I took a finance class through my church that used Dave Ramsey's teaching called Life, Money, Legacy. It was a very eye-opening and incredibly challenging five-week series. Here's the first message:

Others in the class talked about larger items they could sell, but I had nothing like that. I've downsized multiple times over the last few years and really didn't have anything to get rid of that I hadn't already sold or given away. It was time to make a budget, revise the budget, stick to the budget and live within my means.

The first major idea I had to let go of was my plan to go on a 45th birthday trip in the spring of 2019. I really wanted to go to northern England for a couple of weeks. I even looked into volunteer options for room and board, but I just couldn't justify spending money I didn't have (and couldn't afford). I had to let go of that dream. There will be another time - when I can pay for it!

"The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender." - Proverbs 22:7

Stay tuned to follow along with my #debtfreejourney.

Winter '40 Things & More' Additions!

I've lived in Saskatchewan all my life and there are so many winter activities I've never tried. Like what, you may ask? Well, curling for one. Am I the only Saskatchewan gal who's never tried curling before? Quite possibly.

Another winter activity I've never attempted is ice fishing. My desire to try this isn't huge - I don't like to be cold and fish is nowhere near a favourite food of mine. However, I can think of several friends who regularly go ice fishing. It wouldn't be too terribly difficult to find someone to go with. And you know what? I should!

While I have been to a Saskatchewan junior hockey league game (and it was kind of fun), I have never been to a professional hockey league game. And you call yourself a Canadian??? Yes, just not a hockey-loving Canadian. It can happen. Anyway, this is something I should do at some point in my life, so onto the list it goes.

What else? Well, have you heard of the relatively new phenomenon of crokicurl? It seems to be taking western Canada by storm! I first heard of it in Winnipeg and this winter I now know that Saskatoon is also set up for it. Basically, it's a combination of the fingernail-jarring game called crokinole and curling! It looks like fun and I must give it a try!

And my last item? Dog sledding! Let's go mushing!

2018: The Year of Redemption!

Can you believe another year is here already? Wow! Where does the time go?

In past years it's been pretty clear what my word for the year is or would be. This year I don't have the clarity that I've had in past years; it's more like a sense of a word. So, I guess I have to trust that my word will make sense as the year unfolds.

My word of the year for 2018 is...

Years ago, I read a book called Redemption by Karen Kingsbury. I remember the concept of redemption really struck me. It's not something I had given a lot of thought to before, and maybe I thought it was something I didn't even need. The truth is we all need redemption and there are parts of each of our lives that need redeeming. Maybe that's what this year will be about. We'll see...

2017: The Year in Review

So how did my year of restoration go?

My position at the Court of Appeal was extended for an additional eight months to cover most of a second maternity leave. During this time, I worked for three different judges who kept me very busy and at times absolutely swamped!

Knowing my time in this job was short prompted a lot of soul-searching about what I should do with my life. Do I go back to my business full time? Do I look for another job? Do I go back to school? What would I take? Do I stay in Regina? In Saskatchewan? Is it time to spread my wings and fly? So many options...

Well, I chose to continue working full-time. At the end of July, I left the Court of Appeal and started a full-time permanent position with the Saskatchewan Municipal Board. And, my commute got shorter – now I only have to walk one block to work!

In November, I took TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) training through Oxford Seminars. I have wanted to do this for years, and it finally seemed to be the right time. The options are endless for tutoring or volunteering opportunities – or even teaching English overseas at some point!

Looking back, I can see that restoration took place with my job - going back to a full-time permanent position - and with a long-held desire to take the TESOL training. A long-time dream is to live overseas and perhaps this is the way I can do that!

What will the coming year bring?

It's 12/12/17 - the 5th anniversary of my blog!

Happy 5th Anniversary to 40 Here, 40 There, 40, 40 Everywhere!

This year, I've decided to take a look back at some of those things that have been dreams since I was a child or teenager. I think it's high time some of these long-held dreams made their way on to my list of '40 Things & More!'

The '40 Things & More' List!

1. Go snowshoeing.
2. Serve a meal in a soup kitchen.
3. Eat something I've never tried before.
4. Visit a town in Saskatchewan that I've never been to before.
5. Plan my dream 40th birthday trip.
6. Start running again.
7. Visit a US state I haven't been to before.
8. Read a classic novel.
9. Create and complete a scrapbook for one of the trips I've taken in my 30s.
10. Do up a will.
11. Complete one of my cross-stitch projects.
12. Go kayaking.
13. Get my website business off the ground.
14. Take a self-defense class/course.
15. Go horseback riding.
16. Visit a museum or historic site in Saskatchewan that I haven't been to before.
17. Give blood regularly.
18. Attend a Victorian Tea.
19. Ride my bike in the city.
20. Stop and smell the flowers at a garden I haven't been to before.
21. Try an activity that's new to me.
22. Walk a portion of the Trans Canada Trail that I haven't been on before.
23. Learn more about my family history.
24. Visit a park in Regina I haven't been to before.
25. Participate in a fundraiser that involves a physical activity.
26. Simplify some area of my life that needs simplifying.
27. Learn how to change a tire on a vehicle.
28. Explore Regina's backyard - see what's just outside the city limits.
29. Learn more about Canadian history.
30. Visit a natural site in Saskatchewan I haven't been to before.
31. Learn to play the guitar.
32. Visit a Canadian National Park I haven't been to before.
33. Climb Wascana Hill in Douglas Park and watch a sunset.
34. Visit the observatory at the Science Centre.
35. Attend Mosaic - a multicultural festival held annually.
36. Play my first solo concert on the bells.
37. Attend an outdoor movie event.
38. Go fly a kite!
39. Play a mini golf course I haven't been on before.
40. Go on dream 40th birthday trip!
41. Attend a Regina Red Sox baseball game.
42. Visit Saskatchewan's only lighthouse.
43. Run a 5K.
44. Visit the Great Sandhills in Saskatchewan.
45. Visit a Canadian province or territory I haven't been to before.
46. Attend the annual kite festival in Swift Current.
47. Visit a major US city I haven't been to before.
48. Watch a sunrise.
49. Try another activity that's new to me.
50. It's a surprise (even to me!) - I'll know it when the opportunity presents itself.
51. Take a ballroom dancing class.
52. Watch an old black & white movie I haven't seen before.
53. Experience a WARM birthday!
54. Experience a WARM Christmas! (not necessarily in the same year as the previous item)
55. Attend the annual Dickens' Village Festival in Carlyle.
56. See the polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba.
57. Visit the east coast of Canada.
58. Jump out of an airplane! (in tandem, of course!)
59. Experience a 4th of July in the United States.
60. Visit a US National Park I haven't been to before.
61. Write a book.
62. Watch the Rose Bowl Parade in person.
63. Attend a spring training baseball game.
64. Buy something at an auction.
65. Drive part of Route 66.
66. Attend the tulip festival in Ottawa.
67. See the Great Wall of China.
68. Visit Disneyland or Disney World.
69. See a lavender field in bloom.
70. Attend a ballet.
71. Live overseas!
72. Visit Laycock, England.
73. Get published (e.g. magazine article).
74. Attend a Remembrance Day service/ceremony.
75. Visit the Grand Canyon.
76. Learn Spanish.
77. Take a river cruise on the Rhine River and see castles along the way.
78. Learn Latin.
79. Visit an orphanage.
80. Learn to play handbells/play in a handbell choir.

Canada 150: Fisgard Lighthouse and Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Sites

While my mom and I were in Victoria celebrating a big birthday of hers last weekend, we took advantage of the free admission to national parks and historic sites this year and took in Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse.

We tried our best to understand the fort and its history and really enjoyed touring our very first lighthouse. History is not my mom's favourite subject, but she certainly was a good sport!

An Interview with Myself

So Jill, here are a few questions for you:

1. A lot of your posts are travel related. Where did your desire to travel come from?

One day when I was in grade 6, we opened up our social studies books and there was a picture of a very beautiful city - Prague. I had never seen anything like it and thought to myself, "I want to see that one day."

Twenty years later that dream came true and I haven't looked back. There is so much to see in our big, beautiful world -- and I want to see it all!

2. Are you happy with the progress of your blog?

Overall, yes. Do I wish I was caught up? Yes. Would I like to be crossing more things off my list? Definitely! Will I keep at it? Of course. I'm having a great time with this!

3. What is the best thing about having your blog?

The best thing is that, even though I'm not whizzing through my list and crossing things off left and right, I am getting some things done.

I remember a few years when I started making lists of things I wanted to do each summer... The long days and warm temperatures always flew by so quickly, and I hated feeling like I had missed out once fall rolled around each year. My lists were shorter and much simpler then. They included items such as go on a day trip, walk around both parts of Wascana Lake (the main loop and the more natural side), enjoy a picnic or BBQ, and so forth.

What I learned from making the short and simple "summer want-to-do" lists was that I actually did some of the things on my list before fall rolled around. It made me realize that, even if I only accomplished a few things on my list, I didn't feel like I had missed out on our short summer season. It was such a big help to me and it also made this much bigger goal of 40 things not only reasonable but also exciting!

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Here's my challenge to you: Now that summer is fading and fall is right around the corner, what are some things you wished you would have done or made time for this summer that you can make a suggested to-do list from for next summer?

Time is precious... don't waste it!