I think we’re never going to eat that bird
Hi there! I hope your year started fantastically! I went to a friend’s hotel on NYE and came back home just before midnight so we could watch the fireworks by the beach. All the villages burned tons of fireworks so it is an impressive show for half an hour. People seem to spent heaps of money on that, fortunately they get paid double in December, but that doesn’t help their savings, that’s for sure.
Speaking of which, you can check out my series about 13 money resolutions for 2013
And if you are serious about saving money and paying off some debt, check out the Debt Movement, started by Jeff Rose, they are about to kick some debt hard by repaying $10M in just 90 days!
Another really cool project is the $3K Challenge started by Edward Antrobus for small bloggers who are starting to monetize their blogs, there is a $175 prize for the first one to reach $3K in 2013!
Jeremy will be hosting a couple of polls on Modest Money to select the best Canadian PF blog and investing blog so head over there as well to submit your site!
I started 2013 with a bang since the sale of my Paris flat eventually finalized on December 28th!! It was nerve wracking as the buyer was really sure borderline arrogant that she would get a loan since she is a public servant, then she got rejected by two banks and I pictured myself having to go back to France and put the flat back on the market, but she tried again and got her loan!
I got a nice $60K windfall, that is almost all gone. About $9500 will go to repay my 7% loan in full as part of my 2013 money goals. I was considering keeping the cash in case I need it for my land development but I am annoyed with that debt and am leaning towards closing the loan next week. That is almost half my goal of repaying $20K extra of debt this year, after considering keeping that money to invest since I get a better rate of return on it, I have decided to go the ”I feel so light being debt free” way, at least with this loan and a 0% credit card coming to an end in June that I don’t want to transfer elsewhere. Or pay 24% APR on from June. I am also using this as a psychological trigger, because I REALLY need to start developing the land and selling plots if I want to reach my goals! No more sitting around doing nothing. The rest of $50K go partly back to the bank of mum who lent me the funds to buy in Guatemala and BF who paid more than his share so far on the house project. Here is a recap of the works and life costs for those past two months, we spent a lot!
Life in the new year has been quite slow, after receiving visits from three waves of guests, I am happy to be back to normal. And I had a bad shrimp on NYE so started the year with food poisoning was much better with no guests.
I hope to have kids some day but like DC says being a DINK has its perks and one of them is sleeping late and having no one to feed and take care of. Thank you guests for reminding me of my luck.
On the house front, things are good, as I will still be with the 13 money resolutions next week I don’t plan on giving a house update, that last one was big enough to keep you happy for a while!
The funniest thing this week is the turkey seems to have fallen in love with BF. Since I rescued it from the neighbor’s land after it escaped on December 23rd (smart bird), we resolved that we couldn’t kill it and eat it, so it has been hanging around. He was named Rocky Balboa after his fight with the rooster. Well, Rocky stopped sleeping with the hens and sleeps in front of our house, and follows BF around all day, he even tries to come inside the house and seems more like a puppy than like a turkey. He gets all crazy when BF makes turkey noises. Yesterday, BF was eating in the kitchen and the turkey flew towards him, making a mess of the mosquito net and my herb garden below. He probably wanted to have dinner with him and seat by his side on the table. It has been really funny to observe the animals’ behavior lately, we really don’t need TV.
Thank you to everyone who mentioned Reach Financial Independence this week
There were a couple of really cool end of 2012 posts like the list of best personal finance tips coming from dozen of bloggers on Debt Roundup and the 99 best PF posts of 2012 on The First Million is the Hardest.
I was also featured on The festival of Frugality, Carnival of Personal Finance, Money Principle, Modest Money, One Smart Dollar, Eyes on the Dollar, No More Spending, Frugal Rules and I think a few more sites where I didn’t get a pingback for and had written down, but my lovely computer shut down unexpectedly last week and I lost my draft… If I forgot you please let me know and I’ll include you next week!
And finally, some great weekend reading for you to enjoy
On being a sapiosexual – Thirty Six Months
From broke to financially independent in 13 years, is it possible? – Young Cheap Living
Putting the senate’s fiscal proposal into perspective – Funancials
The high cost of litter control – Marie on Prairie Eco Thrifter
13 ways to start the new year right – Budget and the Beach
What to do if your wallet is lost or stolen – Money after Graduation
Start using the cash envelope system – Work Save Live
My words for the year – Money Principle
4 money saving resolutions for 2013 – Kyle from Rather be shopping on Eyes on the Dollar
Dirty financial confessions – L Bee and the money tree
Can you afford to live until you are 90 – Club Thrifty
How to stick with an exercise program – Jordann on Making Sense of Cents
Leftover turkey recipe ideas – Outlier Model
2013 resolutions- Broke Ass Mommy
A look back on 2012 – Mo Money Mo Houses
Why I don’t believe in NY resolutions – Frugal Rules
Avoid Student Loans Like the Plague - Student Debt Survivor
Currency Conversion. Reality Check – Living Debt Free Rocks
How long does it take to furnish your house? – Nicole and Maggie
Grocery game challenge Dec 31st – Jan 6th- Canadian Budget Binder
Save $1000 in 30 days challenge – Wealth Informatics
Have a great weekend, I hope everyone is still doing good on the resolutions!
Latest posts by Pauline Paquin (Posts)
- Lessons learned from an investment gone wrong - May 23, 2013
- ‘Bad credit’ credit cards – everything you need to know - May 22, 2013
- 4 Mistakes I Made When I First Started Investing - May 22, 2013
- Getting some cash for the holidays - May 21, 2013
- A forced emergency fund - May 21, 2013
Thanks for mentioning my post! I’m glad you sold your flat. It sounds like it was a close call!
Holly@ClubThrifty recently posted..The VIP Club Roundup – 15th Edition
It was, now I can breathe again!
Thanks for the mention as always Pauline! Glad to hear that you were able to finally close on your flat. I am sure that’s a nice burden off your shoulders. Have a great weekend Pauline!
John S @ Frugal Rules recently posted..Frugal Friday: Posts That Ruled This Week, it’s 2013 Edition!
You too John. yes it is a nice weight lifted off my shoulders. Btw the هدايا عيد ميلاد search item means gifts for birthdays.
Yea, I Googled it this morning to see what it was. Oddly enough that same phrase has been used to hit my site several times the last few days.
John S @ Frugal Rules recently posted..Frugal Friday: Posts That Ruled This Week, it’s 2013 Edition!
Thanks for the mention Pauline. Your flat sale was cut quite close, but made it. I think you are making a wise decision with your windfall. Good luck to you in 2013!
Debt Roundup recently posted..Weekly Personal Finance Blog RoundUp – 1/4/2013
Thanks Grayson, all the best to you too!
Hey Pauline! That’s funny about the turkey and your BF hahaha.. watch out now
I was thrilled to read you posted your shop in the grocery game challenge!! I mentioned it on Facebook this morning so I hope to see more people posting their shops this year!!! Thanks for the mention mate… looking forward to what you share in 2013! Mr.CBB
Canadianbudgetbinder recently posted..December 2012 Canadian Budget Binder Budget Update
I am starting to get jealous of that turkey!
Nice windfall! Your list of projects is impressive, developing your land and whatnot. Enjoy paying off your debts and expending your mental energy on new things
Anne @ Unique Gifter recently posted..Ways to Save on Weddings Post-Christmas
Thank you Anne, here is to a productive 2013!
Congrats on the sale of the flat coming through and being able to pay off the 7% loan ahead of schedule! Thanks for the mention and enjoy the week-end
K.K.@ Living Debt Free Rocks! recently posted..My Weekly T.G.I.F.
thank you K.K., that felt goood!
Pauline, keep the turkey – this animal seems to be quite a character. And thanks for mentioning The Money Principle; and several times, wow!
maria@moneyprinciple recently posted..Do you have too much debt? At the beginning was…feeling
We are looking for a turkey lady so that Rocky can keep his eyes off BF
And they can reproduce and we can eat something!
Thanks for the mention. Selling a place always does seem like more trouble that it should.
Edward Antrobus recently posted..The 2013 $3k Challenge
Right! I have bought three properties so far and on my side there was never any problem, I wish I had buyers like me :s
Congrats on selling the flat! That has to be a weight off your shoulders!
Alex recently posted..How to Have Good Luck
It most certainly is!
Thanks for including us – love the turkey anecdotes! I had a pet chicken when I was younger. Birds are surprisingly engaging animals when we are not busy eating them.
CF recently posted..Net Worth Update: January 2013
They are! Even the hens were scared of us and now barely move when we get closer.
I’m so glad the flat sale went through Pauline – it’s never easy is it!!
I love reading about your adventures! Happy New Year
Thank you Laura, Happy New Year!
I’m really glad you managed to sell your flat. I think I would pay off the debt too, I just really like being debt free.
Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank recently posted..MPB – Pool Room Posts #11
Yeah, I want to play it safe this year, so at least if I put all my money into the development (did I just say ”play safe?”) I don’t have debt on top.
Thanks for fitting my link into your post! I will try to get a link back to you sometime this week. Now that I got rid of my Saturday post (or what I call a “hiatus”) it won’t be as easy. Maybe a shorter post on Saturdays could do the trick…
Congrats on the sale!
DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted..Strategies for Introverts to Avoid Becoming Drained
I want to try and fit more links here and there during the week, instead of a big list on Friday, it is more natural and I guess people will get more clicks out of it.
Congrats on the flat sale. That is one thing off your plate. I think you are making a wise choice with the money you have come into.
I love the turkey story, especially because you aren’t killing him. Being a vegetarian, this makes me proud. He sounds really cute.
Thanks for including Marie’s post on litter. I really appreciate it.
Miss T @ Prairie Eco-Thrifter recently posted..Friday Links – James Bond And Fajitas Edition
Thank you Miss T, it is a relief. I am getting away progressively from meat, don’t know if I will ever be 100% vegetarian but I want to own my meat eating at least, and raise, kill, prepare my animals. Buying in a shop is convenient but to really realize the sacrifice of the animal I would like to do it myself. Anyway, that will probably be the biggest turnoff!
I know the feeling of trying to decide to pay off some debt or invest. I think we’re going on the pay off debt track this year. I love that you now have a pet turkey! Thanks for the mention.
Kim@Eyesonthedollar recently posted..4 Money Saving Resolutions for 2013
My pleasure, welcome back!
Wonderful roundup…Thanks for highlighting Funancials!
funancials recently posted..Who Wants a Free Funancials T-Shirt?
You’re welcome!
Thanks for the mention! That is so funny the turkey is following your bf around like a puppy. That must be so funny to watch. Sorry you got food poisoning as well. Yeah that kind of thing is better dealt with alone!
Budget & the Beach recently posted..Link Love/Week in Review 1/4/13
I am starting to get jealous of that turkey!! It makes cute sounds and does a kind of dance with his feathers it is too much lol.