Week of Money: I still won’t leave the house with these eyebrows…

DAY ONE

??:?? — I am up. Not tired, but also not really rested. Little Bun was squealing during the night and putting his foot on my side, so obviously I slept terribly.

7:20 a.m. — We have to do an early bedtime again today, he needs it. We were just late because of all the excitement of being here this week.

7:31 a.m. — I make a cup of tea. At least it is sunny today. My eyebrows still look crazy. I can’t leave until these look more normal but I also know this is important to let the dye set in.

8:10 a.m. — My partner and I chat. He is making pizza but he needs to let the dough rise first. Little Bun is HASSLING HIM for pizza. Every 10 minutes – Is it ready yet? How about now?

8:10 a.m. — I take him to the piano to learn how to play more songs. I have to come up with more baby songs for him. Soon, maybe he will play by the end of the summer! How cool would that be? 🙂 I really don’t want to go out today. Maybe for a walk but I am tired, I need to decompress. This week was very exciting and stressful for us.

11:14 a.m. — Pizza finally. We eat until we are stuffed.

11:50 a.m. — The good thing about us being here is we can help my parents do things like fix the roof (seriously? has no one looked at this?), figure out complicated things like PayTM Canada to get the MOST out of their credit card rewards by using a credit card to pay taxes and municipal bills.

12:28 p.m. — I am randomly browsing and reading. I have to hotspot myself for the next week because we already maxed out my parents’ 20GB plan. I was so used to 60GB willy-nilly internet surfing (my partner too), that we quickly ate it all up in a few days. Ugh. I am looking now into paying the overage, and then cutting out their cable TV by buying them an Apple TV device instead.

12:33 p.m. — WHAT A SCAM these companies are in Canada. $80 for their “basic” internet plan? And another $80 for TV where they only really want 3 channels but you have to buy all of these useless TV packages to get CNN and BBC for instance. And then another $30 for a landline because my mother is old school and will never learn how to use a cellphone. WTF. We have the highest rates in the world for these things because it is an oligopoly here with basically only Bell & Rogers, Shaw, Telus and Quebecor in the game. For “basic” packages, my parents spend about $200 a month. Basic internet, TV and telephone. O_o

1:20 p.m. — I give a pair of Ray-Ban Polarized sunglasses to my mother because she was using some cheap pair that goodness knows what it protects. It’s better to NOT wear sunglasses than to wear crappy ones that are not 100% UVA and 100% UVB protected, and polarized (to eliminate all harsh glare even from regular sunny days glinting off things), otherwise your eyes will be further damaged. As per what eye folks have told me. I was horrified when I saw what she had on. She spends all this money on everyone but herself. This is nonsense. I almost feel like taking an allowance from her, and using it to buy HER things she desperately needs like these glasses.

1:20 p.m. — Little Bun is up, and “meh meh” calls me from the bedroom. “MEEHH MEHHH??“.. I have to respond back with “MEEEH? MEHHH??” so he knows I am around. I know. We’re both weird.

2:25 p.m. — We play together, do math drills, build animals out of Megabloks and practice piano.

4:15 p.m. — We take him out grocery shopping and all he wants to do is ride the escalators. He keeps bleating that we will then go and take the subway / streetcar. I have to lower his expectations and tell him it is TOMORROW we will do that. Cutie pie. $20.19

5:40 p.m. — My mom only manages to entertain him for a little bit because he is SO CLINGY TO ME, and I try to finish reading a book.

8:57 p.m. — Time for bed. I am really exhausted.

Spent: $20.19

DAY TWO

??:?? — I wake up feeling okay.

7:22 a.m. — Oh he “slept in”… it must be because we went to bed so late.

7:59 a.m. — I have an event to go to today, so I decide to give Little Bun extra attention otherwise he gets antsy. I make a cup of tea, and then do whatever he wants for the next 2 hours (I was going to do 3 but my resolve weakened). We play the piano, he practices his three songs – Mary had a little lamb, When the saints go marching and Old Macdonald — we build a castle on the floor out of Megabloks, and then I feed him.

10:05 a.m. — We head out for a short jaunt. My partner wants to buy new Birkenstocks and is looking for this SPECIFIC STORE. Whatever.

10:25 a.m. — I end up at a chain of really great, organic spas where I have a $100 gift card from a friend. I was going to use it for a facial but then I thought that it would cost more than the actual facial – there are taxes, the tip… I am trying to be frugal and to save money so using a gift card that will end up costing me $50 in extra costs is not worth it at this moment, so I decide to try and work out an optimal amount of products I can buy instead and spend as little as possible.

11:25 a.m. — We are home, I am feeding Little Bun, and then I hug and kiss him goodbye. I tell him his father has a gift for him later on (it is free stickers from The Red Cross), and he hugs and kisses me goodbye and goes up to his father willingly.

1:10 p.m. — I finally make it downtown. I had a 30 minute delay just from trying to figure out WHAT LINES were running and which stations were open. Turns out there was a big fire at one of the stations (electrical fire, smoke everywhere by all news accounts).

1:13 p.m. — Even though it is raining, I am quite careful to not be in places with too many people, especially on humid, rainy days like this. The reason being is that I get extremely sick from motion sickness and have vertigo, and I have noticed over the past few decades of my life that being in cramped quarters, with too many people, and/or it is humid or rainy, really triggers my nausea and inevitable vomiting. Just thinking about it makes me a little sick. Plus, when I am stuck on a bus or a streetcar and the windows are all fogged up, that is when it is the worst because I cannot see outside and it throws off my orientation and sense of balance, which triggers my sickness again.

1:25 p.m. — I wander into a grocery store, and end up getting some Fresh Fruit bubble tea. “Fresh Fruit” is a misnomer that I should have been aware of because she dumped about a half cupful of modified milk powder and flavouring into a cup before mixing it with water, adding ice cubes and tapioca beads. It’s a ripoff but I have been craving bubble tea for a while, so I drink it and enjoy every fake, sugary, processed note. $5.45

1:40 p.m. — I am checking out all the fancier clothing shops (you know, $250 shirts and the like), and am really shocked at the price tags. Some shirts are now up to $450. I get paying for quality, and inflation is FOR REAL, but this is really.. unbelievable. An outfit would be then, $1000? I’d pay $500 for a shirt and $500 for the pants? What world am I living in? I am relieved I finally have Poshmark Canada (use code SHERRYISH for a free $10 credit) to turn to to buy from other Canadians (and soon, Americans!). I keep harping on about them but this is a game changer for buying and selling for me. I no longer have to pay to list it (*cough*eBay*cough*), and the prices are reasonable unlike in some shops these days. I’ve already picked up this Zara vegan leather skirt for $20:

2:00 p.m. — Wow, this hand cream is $40. That’s insanity.

2:16 p.m. — I head into Anthropologie. This one in Toronto has WAY MORE STUFF than in Montreal, and I just wander around touching everything. I briefly consider buying this headband thing that looks like it is a head wrap, but I know I wouldn’t wear it without feeling like a literal, little girl in pigtails. I am not really into this Lolita look.

2:46 p.m. — I head into that chain organic spa again, and pick out a shampoo (this stuff is expensive AF), at around $60, and find a lipstick that is about $30 called Montréal. Feels like it was meant to be. I head to the checkout, and it is literally $0 to pay or left on the card. I NAILED IT. I used an entire gift card, and paid $0. $0

3:28 p.m. — I go into a little known consignment shop in the area. Surprisingly, their prices are still reasonable, and I head straight for the sale rack where things are marked down twice or more, averaging $35 a piece. I end up finding a $60 J. Crew Collection leather tank top that used to retail at $350 USD (!!!), and it fits like a dream (Size 2). I love the lambskin leather panels in the front and back, and unlike the leather tank top from Joie that I eventually re-sold via Kijiji, this one doesn’t feel awkward and doesn’t gape in the front (I am not very busty). It goes right up to my neck in a crew neck, and looks cool and modern. I hem and haw for 20 minutes on if I should buy it, even though I have been looking for a leather tank for a while, end up getting it. $67.23

4:50 p.m. — I’m in J. Crew now, trying on their sizes so I can buy secondhand later. Their jackets and suiting have gone up in quality as of late. Their Parke Blazer (I had to size down from my regular Size Designer 6 in blazers to a Size 2), but their Going Out Blazer was a Size 4 (only 1 size down for me), and were FANTASTIC pieces. Thick, soft, luxurious. I could even consider buying it from J. Crew themselves at 40% off and not be mad. I also liked their Cameron High Rise Pants but had to size up from a Size 4 (my regular size) to a Size 6. Go figure. Their sizing is so inconsistent, this is why I need to try on everything. I put everything back on the rack and take notes for later. I want to find them secondhand.

5:15 p.m. — Their dresses are meh. They just don’t fit well. It’s missing spandex or something because the bust is gaping in one gingham dress (need a milkmaid bust for this) and the other one was just lackluster.

6:20 p.m. — Time for a porchetta sandwich! I meet up with my friend (same one from NYC), and we chow down. I take the house special but am underwhelmed by it because the mustard killed the flavour for me, and I didn’t taste any of the so-called truffle sauce. $10.45

7:26 p.m. — We head into the Poshmark Canada event at Love Social House and it was meh. The food was bland, terrible, and it being mostly vegetarian is NO DAMN EXCUSE. The food was horrible at this place. I snag a bunch of stickers for Little Bun Bribery later, and my friend and basically chat about life and scroll through Poshmark (ironically) while at a Poshmark Canada event.

8:07 p.m. — We leave to go home. I hop on the streetcar. Note to self: Never wear lip balm over a perma-lip stain because it just turns it sticky and no longer permanent…

8:22 p.m. — Um… WHY AM I BACK WHERE I STARTED? OMG. Did this streetcar SHORT TURN AND NOT INFORM US? WTF. I hop off angrily at the next major intersection and take another more reliable streetcar up to a station and head home. At least I found a $1 on the seat.

9:28 p.m. — Home. I’m annoyed with the TTC service today. First this fire thing which was not their fault but just bad timing for me, and then this stupid streetcar that doesn’t tell you that it is NOT going to the station you think? Grumble grumble hiss.

10:05 p.m. — Time for bed. I scrub my face off. My new eyebrows are new to me but they’re growing on me (har har).

10:35 p.m. — Why do I suddenly want an ivory or pale grey wool fedora hat so bad? Odd. I just feel like it would look so cute with outfits… am I crazy?

Spent: $83.13

Found Money: $1

DAY THREE

??:?? — Wake up tired. Last night was rough on me. You know you’re in your 30s when 8 o’clock is a “late night out”…

7:15 a.m. — Need milk for tea. Need tea. Cannot have tea. No milk in the house, have to get it today. Ughggghhhhhhh….

7:59 a.m. — We head out and buy a truck full of fruits (so it seems). My partner wants to try this smoothie diet of fruits for 5 days to cleanse, and is trying to find the best fruit combo to do so. This gonna get ‘spensive. $62.90

11:24 a.m. — Home. I feed Little Bun who is FURIOUSLY RUBBING his belly in an attempt to convey to me just how hangry (hungry+angry) he feels. I tell him a bit of hunger is good for him. He glares at me. I prep the pasta and throw cheese on it and shove it towards my feral baby.

11:24 a.m. — I also eat a bowl. I’m trying to not spend money (too much) on eating out, but I don’t want to deprive myself. I have events coming up with friends so I plan on spending THEN, but not before if I can preserve wealth..

12:03 p.m. — Little Bun gets another scoop and has reached his limit for pasta. Now he focuses his baby seal eyes to his father to plead for a mango. His father, ever the sucker, cuts one up for him. He loves mangoes so much and refuses to share even with me! His own mother!! Who carried him like a freeloader in her womb for 9 months and suffered almost not getting an epidural for her C-section when he was kickboxing his way out!!! Ingrate.

12:35 p.m. — Time for his nap. He is softly wailing in the bedroom. I leave him to cry. His father goes in and comforts him. Then I go in. Not sure why he is crying. I suspect it is due from overexhaustion. I cuddle him and promise him walks (yes like a puppy) after his nap. He wails and kicks even more as I leave but then I hear him giggling with his father 20 minutes later. I love that my partner is stepping up and I LOVE that he is more comfortable with him and vice versa.

12:56 p.m. — I update my budget and oops.. basically buy another Theory tank top and Zara vegan leather skirt off Poshmark Canada. Oh the deals!!!!!!! $31.68

1:12 p.m. — I put in a TV show on my laptop and take a short nap. Just dozing really. I can’t sleep or else I won’t sleep tonight but I’m too tired not to doze a little.

2:22 p.m. — We head out. It is windy and Little Bun squeals: I am eating the wind, OM NOM NOM NOM NOM .. with his mouth wide open, “eating” the wind. It is very cute actually. Just hope dirt or bugs don’t fly in.

12:56 p.m. — I impulsively buy this used Zara bow top off Poshmark. It is so pretty and interesting without being too girly nor boring. It was $30 plus $12 shipping and taxes on the shipping $43.38

6:56 p.m. — I make a plate of fried Peking duck and rice. As I’m eating, Little Bun sidles up to me. He gives me his baby seal eyes, and like a sucker I ask: Yes baby?….. and he points to my food sweetly and asks: Mommy, what’s that??… I reply back it is duck and rice. He says very hopefully, cutely and with big big big eyes at me: Well. I like duck….… My partner and I burst out laughing. He is so subtle and yet not at all subtle in wanting your food. And I basically feed him half my dish, standing beside me like a baby goat. Can’t say no to him. Too cute and full of belly energy. My mom expresses excitement at how much he likes duck. She is sure to buy him more in the future now, as she wants to make him happy.

8:50 p.m. — Little Bun playing with his blocks, practicing piano and now to bed. My mom is thrilled. He can sight read now a simple line in the treble clef (after a few days), her own music books.

Spent: $138.16

DAY FOUR

??:?? — Feeling very tired.

6:40 a.m. — I make matcha green tea. My partner fished out a bowl he had stacked away in the closet because I kept complaining about how all the bowls were so dang ILL SHAPED for matcha whisking.

8:08 a.m. — I stock up on some Paula’s Choice retinol 1% (it has made a difference in my skin), and some cleansers. $228.12

12:00 p.m. — Lunch. My mother went all out with Hainanese chicken rice… she cooks so well:

2:56 p.m. — We take Little Bun out for a little walk around the area and to visit a famous cheese boutique, and he sees a big cake that says: Blueberry Mousse Cake.. he runs up to me excitedly and says: MOMMY LOOK! BLUEBERRY MOUSE CAKE …. OMG .. Mouse cake. Can you imagine? I giggle and correct him.

8:12 p.m. — Playing with Little Bun. He is the focus of the house and of 5 adults, so he is sort of always entertained in some way. My mother also made “apple pigs” .. basically, pigs out of apples for him and he is thrilled with them. Keeps pointing them out to me.

Spent: $228.12

DAY FIVE

7:13 a.m. — Tired. As usual. Not sleeping early enough, waking up too early..

12:08 p.m. — I head over to a friend’s new house and bring gifts. It is so well located and beautiful in that area. I also book an appointment for a pedicure because I WAS going to wait until I got back to Montreal but my toes are in dire need of help.

12:28 p.m. — Lunch! We make pork tacos and they are delicious. VERY VERY good.

2:10 p.m. — I help her unpack her closet (3 boxes), and get a tour. Her terrace is enviously big and wonderful.

2:40 p.m. — I try on one of her Reiss June Lace dresses and need (A) a UK 12, but also (B) to check myself because I have nowhere to really wear this gorgeous navy lace dress. I don’t go to formal events and this is not work-appropriate-wear. It is gorgeous though, right!?

4:30 p.m. — At my appointment. I accidentally put my feet into the BLEACH meant to disinfect the areas for pedicures, and have to rinse it off with water. WTF. This pedicurist obviously hates her job (it is clear), and she should have been the one guiding me to the seat or at least having had it filled and ready to go for me (I only went to the bathroom for 5 minutes), seeing as the other one was FILLED WITH BLEACH. Or at least warn me before I PUT MY DAMN FEET IN. I’m really not pleased with them here. No wonder she was the only one with an appointment open. $56.12

5:12 p.m. — I narrowly avoid buying a purse from Uashamama I don’t need. I saw them in the window and instantly lusted after it. Paper that looks like wax? It was so pretty! But $149, and I am on a budget and a little bit of a ban on new items unless they are DIRT CHEAP. I walked away and patted myself on the back for it. Looks like this:

5:36 p.m. — And earrings. I drop by a store and spy beautiful blue stone sliced earrings I could make a great ring and necklace out of but decide against it because it isn’t unique or interesting enough (just a plain cobalt stone) and I want stunning pieces from now on or they DO NOT enter my closet.

6:20 p.m. — I head home before I can spend anything.

7:18 p.m. — Little Bun greets me, I eat a quick dinner and then we play until bedtime.

Spent: $56.12

DAY SIX

??:?? — Tired. He has been kicking me all night and on top of that, it has been hot, so I haven’t been sleeping well.

6:40 a.m. — My partner is announcing he is starting a 5-day fruit smoothie cleanse to see what it does for his body. Good luck to him.. I couldn’t do it. He is planning on a party at the end of the week with pizza.

12:11 p.m. — Lunch. My mom fried a huge sea bream (fish) with rice and Little Bun gobbles down half a fish. No JOKE. HALF A FISH. My mom is so pleased she is grinning from ear to ear. She loves seeing children eat and eat well especially when it is her food.

3:31 p.m. — We take Little Bun out on the town after his nap. We end up at a kid’s store (love this place – BB Buggy), and we buy a totally squishy red car by Rubabbu for Little Bun. It ROLLS and it won’t smash or break or ruin anything in the home as he RAMS it into walls… $39.10

5:25 p.m. — We head home, we are all tired. I pick up two Presto cards for us, as our tokens will be done soon. $32

7:11 p.m. — I put Little Bun into a bath (he loves it now, because the tub is HUGE at my parents’) and then bedtime after we play “Cars” (we roll the car back and forth towards each other).

Spent: $71.10

DAY SEVEN

??:?? — Still tired. Could do with a nap later on.

6:50 a.m. — Little Bun shakes me awake. My partner gets the milk from the fridge downstairs, and I am DEAD TO THE WORLD.

7:19 a.m. — I plan on making tacos today…

8:08 a.m. — We head out to the stores and pick up a cartful of fruit, and I plan on making my own tortillas (easy), and using up the old chicken breast in the fridge (I hate chicken breast and find it dry, and hard to eat, so this is the best way to use it up). $35.16

10:15 a.m. — I get home and start cooking. I pickle shallots, make pico de gallo, fry up the chicken breast, and roll out tortillas.

1:19 p.m. — I stuff my face. Everyone else was too hungry to wait, so they ate other things and my partner started his smoothie fruit cleanse today — JUST water and fruit, blended.

2:35 p.m. — Should I nap? I feel like I should..

3:10 p.m. — I head out for the afternoon with Little Bun. HOW CUTE ARE THESE SOAPS?

4:17 p.m. — We check out some clothing and shoes for Little Bun. I am looking for exercise shoes, I suspect I will buy them off Poshmark, I don’t know if I am going to really exercise all that much but I want to try this year when Little Bun starts school.

5:20 p.m. — I also LOVE this straw bag but question how practical it is… still though. I’m really keen on buying it… but also hesitant as it is quite trendy.

6:30 p.m. — I head home and then we take a shower, and play together until dinner, then bedtime.

Spent: $35.16

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Want more? Read all of my previous Week of Money Diaries.