Couldn’t sleep at all last night. I’m finally excited, and finally ready to believe that this is actually happening.
After my round-the-world-trip plans got canceled a few years ago, I was devastated. So I’ve been really conscious about not getting my hopes up about travel. Even though we booked our flights and accommodation, received our travel visas, and I quit my job, something inside of me told me just to back off and not get too wrapped up in planning something that might just fall through.
Anyway, I have posts scheduled here, and on Moneyville. But I might not be around to answer e-mails, comments, or tweet a whole lot for the next 4 or 5 days.
I will, however, continue to update my Tumblr account. So make sure to subscribe to that feed, follow me, or bookmark the link. That’s where most of my travel photos will be held. :)
Tuesday 17th + $760 freelance/side income $1 parking $16.73 Canada Post
Wednesday 18th + $350 freelance/side income $7.95 Fraser Park Restaurant
Thursday 19th + $750 freelance/side income No Spend Day!
Friday 20th $135.62 The Keg
Saturday 21st $4.71 convenience store
Sunday 22nd No Spend Day!
WEEKLY EXPENSES: - $228.29 WEEKLY SIDE INCOME *: + $1,860
TOTAL: + $1,631.71
I spent a ridiculous amount of money on going out to eat this week. But there were so many people to see before we leave in a few days. The $135.62 I spent at The Keg was because Nic and I wanted to take my neighbour out for dinner. She’ll be looking after my place while I’m gone, and didn’t want to take money for it. So a nice dinner was the least we could do. :)
Also I didn’t buy groceries, because I’m trying to eat through my freezer and pantry. Which means a lot of weird meals, but it’s saving me money because I’m eating what I’ve already purchased, and I’m not spending money to buy anything new.
*This is all income I bring in that is above and beyond my full-time job. Money is primarily made through my two blogs and my graphic design business.
There’s nothing I hate more than having to pay roaming and long distance charges when I travel to the USA. And last year, I traveled a lot. Even with the $10/month U.S. data roaming option provided to me by Rogers Wireless, I still paid hundreds of dollars in roaming charges in the last 12 months alone.
Enter Roam Mobility. This Vancouver-based company is now offering us Canucks a flexible, affordable, and commitment-free (no contracts!) roaming option when traveling across the border.
When I was at the Financial Blogger Conference in Chicago this past September, I ended up paying $10 (data roaming option) + $63.32 (roaming charges) = $73.32. And that was using my data sparingly over the course or just 3 days. Not cool, Rogers Wireless. :|
BUT, If I had used the Roam Mobility talk/text/data plan, I would have only had to pay $24.95. Which would have gotten me 200 MB of data, unlimited talk and text within the US AND back to Canada, plus free voicemail and caller ID. There’s a wide range of plans available for everyone – even data plans for your iPad! Or just regular talk/text plans for those who don’t have data.
I personally cannot wait to use the service during my next trip across the border!
How Roam Mobility works
In order to use this service, you will either need to purchase a SIM card for $19.95 (if you have an unlocked smartphone), or you can buy a reusable travel phone from Roam Mobility for $39.95 (which includes the SIM card). The only down side to the reusable travel phone is that you can’t use data with it, but you can talk/text all you want. :)
When you buy a SIM card on the Roam Mobility website, it will be shipped to you within 2-5 business days. Then, you will activate your device online, and then be able to pick a plan instantly. You won’t receive your US phone number right away, but as soon as you cross the border, your US number will be sent to your cell phone by text message and e-mail.
As long as you use the service within one year, your US phone number will remain active. AND, when you’re not using the phone, you can even share the phone with friends and family who are traveling south.
Exclusive Coupon Code
Roam Mobility has been kind enough to give GMBMFB readers an exclusive discount on their product! For a limited time, you will get $5 off a Roam Mobility SIM or Micro-SIM card (limited to one SIM per customer, regular price: $19.95) AND they will waive 100% of the shipping fees. This will give you a total savings of around $16 CDN. Use coupon code: GMBMFB (valid until 01/31/2012).
For years, my line of credit was my crutch. I used every available dollar of credit available to help me limp from month to month, or whenever an “emergency” arose.
Times have certainly changed for me. I just hit the $10,000 mark for my emergency fund – which represents 4 months of comfortable living based on my current needs – or 5 months of living on a bare-bones budget. However, now that I’ve been debt free for a few years, I’m often asked why I don’t use a line of credit as my emergency fund instead – leaving me with the entire $10,000 – which I could invest in something that might earn me more than the 1.50% interest that I’m getting right now.
Some personal finance bloggers believe that a line of credit is the perfect solution to a true emergency. But I’m not one of them. I’m a full believer in having a cushion made of cash, not credit. :)
Here are 5 reasons why I will never use a line of credit for an emergency fund again:
Savings means having breathing room: Having a cushion allows you the freedom to work through your emergency without having to go into debt at the same time. While it’s true that the money in your emergency fund will eventually run out, the same can be said about a line of credit. The difference is, after your emergency money is gone, you will still be debt-free. And should you need to look into other options for a long-term emergency situation, you will be that much farther ahead.
Credit lines aren’t savings: The most obvious problem with using a line of credit as an emergency fund is that you eventually have to pay it back. If you are forced to use your emergency fund, then you are clearly in an ‘emergency’ type of situation. Why would you want to face the added stress of piling on debt? If you’ve ever had to use your credit card before to make an unexpected purchase, then you’ve probably experienced the stress involved with trying to figure out how you’re going to pay it off. The same can be said with a line of credit. Don’t think the lower interest rate will be easier to handle than that of a credit card! Debt is debt, and it is stressful no matter how much it ends up costing you.
The bank controls your credit line: A huge obstacle with using a line of credit is that you are at the mercy of the bank, as well as fluctuating interest rates, and changes to policies and procedures. If your line of credit is secured by your home equity, you have the added pressure of knowing that you will be putting your house is at risk.
Credit doesn’t offer security: An emergency fund is meant to act as a cushion. If you stumble, it is there to catch you, no strings attached. You don’t have to worry about payment schedules, interest rates, or mounting debt. Relying solely on credit means that you are always living on the edge. Having cash in the bank gives you options. You call all of the shots. Not only will your own money give you a solid sense of financial security, but there is something to be said about the confidence it will give you as well. Knowing that you can handle virtually any situation that comes your way is an empowering feeling.
Nobody is immune to emergencies: Remember that no matter how stable your job might seem, or how good your health is, nobody is immune to emergencies. And sometimes, you just don’t know how long you will be stuck in that kind of stressful situation.
Being faced with an emergency is the absolute worst time to go into debt. Protecting yourself from life’s inevitable obstacles is a huge part of creating financial security. Having an emergency fund will open up doors for you during a period in your life where you will need all the help you can get.
Would you use a line of credit as an emergency fund?
The excitement of this plan is gone. It was fun when we were buying plane tickets and talking about sightseeing. But now that it’s real, and actually happening? I’m feeling a nervousness that I haven’t felt in years – if, ever. I haven’t been able to sleep, and I always feel worried.
I crave stability, and the decisions that I’ve made over the last month have me completely stressed out. It’s not the move to Germany – that part I’m really excited about. It’s the whole “I just quit my job to blog” job situation. I knew I would feel this way, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise. But I thought I’d be more prepared for it.
I shouldn’t feel so anxious. This month I’ve already brought in almost $5,000 in freelance income. I picked up a new ongoing client (will blog about it soon), and am negotiating to pick up another one. My time as a freelancer is already going to hover around 40 hours/week. There is no shortage of ways to make money, or clients to pick up. In fact, I’m so busy that I’m turning down offers. But my fear is that it will all dry up and go away. And I’ll be left behind.
And therein lies the huge downfall to being your own boss. It’s the reason why I’ve stayed away from full-time freelancing – it’s in my nature to stress out about everything. I can’t help it. Even though it seems fine right now, I’ll always be worried.
So whenever I start to feel that panic inside me bubble up to the surface (which is often), I stop whatever it is that I’m doing, and just breathe. Then, I think of something positive. Like: I have a fully funded Emergency Fund at $10,000. I’m a hard worker. I haven’t even begun to tap into my potential as a freelancer. And the fact that everything always works itself out in the end.
There’s nothing I hate more than having to pay roaming and long distance charges when I travel to the USA. And last year, 
