Week of Money: Where Daylight Savings Time is the Worst

DAY ONE

??:?? — Little Bun wakes up, pokes me and says: Mommy. I need to go pee pee. … Ugh. Right in the middle of a good sleep, although it wasn’t deep REM at least so I don’t feel groggy or dizzy.

??:?? — Little Bun sneaks up to my face and whispers it is 6:23 a.m. I am sure it is. It feels early. Could do with another hour.

6:23 a.m. — Oh it’s early. Got plenty of time.

7:23 a.m. — IT IS ACTUALLY AN HOUR LATER. #FML. I forgot my partner didn’t change all the clocks yet but my phone never lies. *sigh* I log in. At least I am at home today.

7:30 a.m. — Cup of tea made, logged in. Giving me trouble this laptop. Why … ??.. Oh. The internet cable came undone. No wonder. Kept trying to log in and it wouldn’t let me. I plug the cable back in.

8:27 a.m. — I start. Lots of work and not enough time.

10:05 a.m. — My partner brings out the cheese to eat for lunch and vacuums the entire apartment while it comes to room temperature. What? You think French people eat cheese right out of the fridge? NON NON NON!!! You have to let it come to its optimal room temperature or else you don’t get the full flavours of the cheese, which in this case for a Camembert is 30 minutes before you want to eat it, out of the fridge. I will be eating in half an hour.

10:35 a.m. — Cheese time!

11:08 a.m. — I head out and run errands. I return that striped dress because I am waiting for a better sale than $99 for it. I can accept $60. -$114.96

11:40 a.m. — I take a call for half an hour.

12:15 p.m. — I sell my All Saints jacket. PHEW! MONEY! MONEYYYYYY…. the buyer was so beautiful and stylish. I envied her entire outfit — light white shirt, ripped black jeans, a black jacket, black purse and black booties. +$200

12:23 p.m. — I try and walk past a girl with her boyfriend in a store, and she refuses to move. She has sunglasses on inside, a perma-pout, UGG boots…. I mean. I am even asking nicely and she won’t let me past (you know, saying “pardon”). It’s like she thinks she doesn’t weigh a thing. I end up just pushing past her, a little more forcefully than I should. Yep. I’m passive-aggressive. Whatchu gon’ do about it? She gives me a shocked look and I smirk. (Yes I can be mean too. I don’t want to be, but I can do it.)

12:55 p.m. — Home. I successfully resisted getting a Starbucks drink, a cake, a snack, whatever. *pats self on back* I avoided sugar, I didn’t spend money, and I exercised willpower. My real motivation was that I am going to NYC in two months, so I want to really save up my money for THAT trip.

2:20 p.m. — I make a light cup of tea while working.

4:19 p.m. — Done for the day.

5:20 p.m. — Little Bun proudly shows me his iPad aquarium, with all the crabs and fish he has purchased from doing all of his math equations (addition, subtraction, fractions, etc) and says: LOOK MOMMY! … I look down and in this app you can buy Music, Food, Toys and things for the fish and animals. I see he has collected 250 packs of food, and under 10 in each of the other categories. I ask him: Baby, why do you have so much food for all your animals!? …. He says: I want them to be safe and happy. …. I hope this means he’s a Saver and careful with his money and securing his future.

6:27 p.m. — Time for food. As we eat dinner and are talking to each other Little Bun squeals: “Mommy no!!!! NO ADULT TIME! Baby time only! I can’t hear my commercials!!!!” .. I can’t hear my commercials. OMG.

7:08 p.m. — I am watching ‘7 Days Out’ on Netflix about the World’s Biggest Events and the first episode is about the Westminster dog show which is like the Olympics for dogs. They don’t get any cash prize like I thought, but apparently there are sponsorships and then they can breed the dog out and apparently get lots of money from that. O_o

8:49 p.m. — Time for bed. I hope he SLEEPS without waking up to go to the bathroom tonight.

Returned: $114.96

Earned: $200

DAY TWO

7:15 a.m. — We are up LATE. I don’t even care. I’ll roll into work late.

7:59 a.m. — Yep. In work.. late. Don’t care. Exhausted.

8:30 a.m. — I really like this song by Ariana Grande – 7 Rings (the video is terrible, truly terrible) because of the nostalgic melody. I can’t say I care for the lyrics though. I can see how young girls listening to this can be quite impressionable and think that any time they “see it, like it, want it, and got it”, think that they’re entitled to everything. I mean it even keeps repeating: “I want it, I got it.”

12:08 p.m. — Also, “ATM Machines” for me, do not count as favourite things. Don’t they know that you actually need money in there to withdraw any cash, but also.. who uses cash these days? I sold that jacket and now have #FirstWorldProblems in having to deposit it into a bank account because I use a credit card for everything (and the  cash back).

12:20 p.m. — Lunch. I eat some of my lunch but it is too much pasta. I end up buying a fried chicken bowl. *guilty* and it was yummers. $16.19

1:33 p.m. — Work work work. Turns out the woman who was supposed to replace me? Can’t do #%(*@. I have to redo all of her work. Setting us back at least a day, if not two. *shrug* Don’t give AF.

2:28 p.m. — Nice. Got some money in for the blog. $303

3:56 p.m. — I walk past a couple and do a double-take. They are both wearing black skinny jeans, black jackets, the same style of leather Chelsea boots. To be honest, I think they share the same wardrobe because … the clothing is so unisex! How cool would that be? 😛

4:30 p.m. — Home. LOTS of packages. My (secondhand) purchases arrived.. *SQUEE*

5:18 p.m. — You know all that final sale of jewellery I bought? They did not have enough stock. I get refunded completely. The Universe is totally looking out for my wallet. It has my back. My karma, and putting it out there that I want to change, save, and be better, is working. <3

7:16 p.m. — We read a book together, and it is the National Geographic First Book of How that talks about how cheese is made and Little Bun says confidently: Mommy, the cheese has to take a salt bath so that it can feel MUCH BETTER. LOL!!! .. I know exactly where he gets that. I say the same thing when I go to take a shower, I say: “Mommy has to take a shower so she can feel better“. He really listens. All kids really absorb everything.

8:34 p.m. — Bedtime. My partner videotapes flipping the blanket and Teddy with Little Bun because we like to capture these everyday memories and go back to re-watch the videos from time to time. Can you tell our son is the center of our lives? 😛

Earned: $303

Spent: $16.19

DAY THREE

??:?? — I wake up and get ready for work. This is what I end up wearing:

8:00 a.m. — Work. Nonstop. Work.

12:30 p.m. — I break for lunch. I decide on a chicken sandwich but should have taken the porchetta. IDIOT. Why do I keep trying other things when I know what I ultimately like!? $9.16

1:12 p.m. — Work time.

4:08 p.m. — I finally head home. I had to tear myself away.

5:23 p.m. — I play with Little Bun and we read books, his Teddy “talks” to me in my ear (he loves this) and I give Teddy instructions to pass on to Little Bun who obeys immediately, because he loves Teddy so (more than me apparently). This is working out very well, Teddy seems to enjoy toys being picked up, quiet, not whiny little boys and behaving for Mommy and Daddy. LOL.

8:11 p.m. — Time for bed.

Spent: $9.16

DAY FOUR

??:?? — I wake up tired. Little Bun slept earlier last night but woke up earlier today, my whole body rhythm is off, it feels like 4 a.m.

6:30 a.m. — I log in and start working.

6:49 a.m. — I make a cup of tea but feel grimy. I decide on a shower.

7:19 a.m. —  Shower done. Yay!

8:27 a.m. — First call of the day.

8:51 a.m. — Second call. I am getting tired. So many little issues.

10:22 a.m. — ARE YOU KIDDING ME? … I gave this person a task and she should have been able to do it but apparently went and effed it up completely. I should have just done it myself. F@#$!.

12:22 p.m. — That’s it. Lunch time.

12:25 p.m. — Have a call in an hour, so I need to really try and relax.

3:59 p.m. — Back to back freakin’ calls. One more and then I’m done for the day.

4:20 p.m. — Last one. DONE.

4:37 p.m. — I am feeling drained. I have to babysit everyone, it seems, and I don’t even really need to do it, but there is an internal fire inside of me that doesn’t want anyone to fail and everyone to succeed because we all sink or swim together.

6:14 p.m. — Noodles. Comforting noodles.

8:22 p.m. — Time for bed.

Spent: $0

DAY FIVE

??:?? — Wake up before Little Bun. Then he wakes up.

7:00 a.m. — I head into work.

8:08 a.m. — I have a light little breakfast of a crumpet (a colleague made it for me because she couldn’t believe I have never eaten one in my life), and then right into work.

10:50 a.m. — As I am leaving a meeting, I am asked about a problem (the task I assigned to that woman that she couldn’t manage to complete in 3 days), and I listen, and listen, then just say — It’s done. Just did it this morning. Waiting for signatures. They’re flabbergasted. I shrug. All I can think is — You hire professionals right? If your people aren’t professional enough, I can’t help you. This is why I am paid what I am paid. So don’t complain about my $$$$$ next time. I am worth every penny and more.

11:56 a.m. — I leave for my massage during lunch. I really feel the stress in my shoulders and my neck. $101.58

12:45 p.m. — I have a quick pasta lunch. $14.56

1:00 p.m. — Back to work.

3:49 p.m. — Home.

4:13 p.m. — Some of the guys stop me because they saw me in my fancy car yesterday. LOL. They’re all salivating to get inside it and touch everything. I offer to show them next week… Boys will be boys.

5:50 p.m. — I start laundry, and then try to figure out what i am doing this weekend. Do I want to be outside? Inside? At a mall? Chilling? Thrifting? Reading? What do I need tomorrow?

6:45 p.m. — Dinner. Noodles again. Love this stuff.

7:50 p.m. — Time for bed. I spent the night doing compound words with Little Bun (finding them and then he tells me which are the two words in the compound word), as well as finding equivalent fractions. He is just so… curious. Like a sponge. An exhausting brain sponge.

8:12 p.m. — My skin is much better. It was definitely purging when I started doing the 1% retinol (omg, what a terrible time that was), but now it is much better, and I am alternating 1% retinol every other night. I guess I will see results in 6 months….!

Spent: $116.14

DAY SIX

??:?? — I wake up really tired. Could do with another hour.

??:?? — Little Bun firmly flips me over on my back like a turtle, climbs on top to give me a huge hug and kiss, then proclaims: Hug and kiss DONE. Mommy up!

5:57 a.m. — Children. Nature’s alarm clock.

6:12 a.m. — I make a tea and try to work through my personal and blog emails.

8:08 a.m. — I start laundry, ponder taking a shower… and decide to do it tonight so I won’t have frozen or cold hair when I am outside.

8:30 a.m. — I decide to go walking around downtown today. It is only 0 degrees celsius and light snow. I’ll wander around, maybe buy a little cake to eat… I’ll also try on a few things on my wish list — I have not bought anything yet. I am trying out a new thing where I just list what I want, sit on it for a month, and at the END of the month, I will decide if I buy it or not, or keep it on my list, or cross it off.

9:13 a.m. — I’ve already spent about $650 on flight and hotel for my NYC trip coming up. Maybe if I set a budget of $350 for the weekend, or $850 for the 4 days with food and shopping included, I will be comfortable with it only costing $1500 in the end. Is that realistic? It will be about $400 just for food alone, if not more. Maybe $500 because I like to eat and buy treats. Then another $350 for shopping? That may not be realistic. Maybe it should be a $2000 weekend. I only do this once a year and I want to make the most of it.

9:54 a.m. — Nope. Not going outside. Going to be inside. It is snowing like crazy. Now, the question is mall or a thrift shop…

10:19 a.m. — Stopped snowing. Grrrrr. Well I don’t really feel like being in a coat outside today anyway.

11:28 a.m. — Time for lunch. Bread and cheese (love simple food).

12:04 p.m. — I head out for the day.

1:26 p.m. — I wander around. Browsing, looking, touching things. I buy a little piece of cake and some watermelon juice. $7.81

2:25 p.m. — I end up getting drawn into Aritzia where I apparently lose all sense of rationality and purchase a jumpsuit (which I plan on getting hemmed). I send a picture to a guy friend to ask for his opinion (stupid mistake) and end up getting a response which makes me realize I should never ask men for opinions on style because I dress for ME. And if I feel good in the item, who gives an F what anyone else thinks?

(My girlfriend on the other hand, was “okay” on it, but that is because the hem is too long, I need to crop it up to just under the knee and it would look stellar).

I guess for me, I can see what the outfit can be. It is definitely too long for a culotte jumpsuit.

3:02 p.m. — I also pick up a striped shirt, long white-legged linen pants and two rompers in white and black to try on as they didn’t have it in-store. I will be able to try out a few of these pieces and then return what I don’t want (jumpsuit or at least one of the rompers). More than likely $400 will be spent and the rest will be returned. $766.88

3:40 p.m. — I go to head home. I decide to take a bus to save my legs, I am feeling tired. I give myself a break. $2.25

5:12 p.m. — Dinner time.

8:26 p.m. — Time to go to sleep.

Spent: $776.94

DAY SEVEN

??:?? — I wake up, tired. My left eye is in pain, I think I slept on it and put a lot of pressure on it. It hurts, and is sort of throbbing.

6:20 a.m. — Time for some tea. I end up mixing in too much matcha green tea and my caffeine levels are high, I am having a caffeine migraine.

7:16 a.m. — My partner makes croissants. It is his first time trying it and he has to work on it.

8:08 a.m. — I head out to run errands and return a big casserole pan. -$172.55

9:15 a.m. — I head home after wandering around, trying on more things. Found a white cape blazer but it isn’t very practical. And not for $100.

12:02 p.m. — Home for lunch. They shut down almost all the highways, so it is a mess …

12:46 p.m. — I start on dishes when my partner leaves to run errands.

2:33 p.m. — Dishes done. I start laundry for all the kitchen towels.

3:21 p.m. — This show “Grace and Frankie” is INCREDIBLE. I love how smart it is, witty, they have such style (I love both styles / outfits) and they look incredible with Jane Fonda, Martin Sheen, Sam Waterston, and Lily Tomlin. What FANTASTIC actresses and actors. It is really well written and has 5 seasons in.

4:46 p.m. — Shoot. Now I really want that cape. I keep looking back at it, and people are messaging me asking me where it’s from because they like it so much (it’s from Zara by the way, link here). I put it on my list “To Think About For a Week”.

6:37 p.m. — I do all the dishes, do the laundry, and then Little Bun oddly enough, only wants to eat PEARS for dinner. So he does. And finishes with rice pudding. I leave him be, and eat my bacon pasta.

7:11 p.m. — I read more of my book but wonder if I can ever just sit still (unlikely, with a 5-year old running around), but I wonder if it is a terrible thing that my mind always wants to be stimulated through reading, or videos, or music.. I can’t seem to just sit and be blank.

8:21 p.m. — Time for bed. Still thinking about that cape blazer.

Returned: $172.55

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