Another day, another chart

This one nicely explains why the daycare expense has been my go-to thing to worry about this week. It drops considerably after Labour Day when my youngest starts full day school. The chart does not include costs for occasional evening or weekend babysitting.

Daycare 2011

The book fair

The school is hosting a book fair this week. Both girls came home with $30 wish lists.

I was stunned, as I'd given them budget guidance of $10 each based on their ChoreBank balance and their Easter windfall from my parents. We live across the street from a public library and there are so many owned books in our home already they literally stick to my socks when I'm trying to navigate their collective clutter.

My eldest threw a tantrum when I explained $60 needs to be a budgeted item (and our budget priorities). I further explained how she could earn some of the money, and she sulked off to her room and closed the door. My youngest got the message right away and earned an additional $7 in an evening's worth of house chores.

The place looks great.

To infinity and beyond

Effective the pay period ending April 30, I have reached my statutory annual limits for both EI and CPP resulting in a net take-home pay gain of approximately $300 per month.

Update, May 3:
Daycare costs are higher in summer months with both girls out of school. The EI/CPP gain will offset some of these increased costs. The daycare landscape changes for the better in September when the youngest starts full-day school.

Update, May 6:
I did the math on summer daycare last night. Not pretty. I had been hatching a plan for a week away in late August. For $82.50, I've booked a camping weekend at Lac Phillippe.

Please read the letter

The question surrounding UCCB eligibility was bothering me.

I couldn't find precisely what I was looking for online (an answer to the question of month vs day vs year). For clarification, I went back to the letter my accountant had attached to my personal tax return, in which he states my entitlement to:

• an Ontario sales tax transition benefit for 2011 of $335 (expected in June 2011)
• a child tax benefit of $1532 for the period from July 2011 to June 2012. (I will need to update the spreadsheet to indicate a decrease of $25 per month.)
• the UCCB of $400 for 2011

It looks like it ends with the month she turned six (April), but not with the day (the 16th). I conclude that the last payment I received was truly the last.

Still no

I'll revisit this list once the credit line is zeroed:

• services related to hair and foot care (with permission to splurge on related products, provided they cost less than what might have been spent on services)
• out-of-town car travel will be limited to one cottage visit on the Big Rideau
• clothing and shoes
• sporting goods
• train travel
• electronics
• parking

May's budget must include an extra $200 for evening child care. (The annual $400 vacation payment to the regular daytime caregiver is due in June.) Work will be busier than usual for me. This amount will cover at least four working dinners, and a sporting event.

The car needs servicing too. It's very drivable, as is. Perhaps it can wait until June, except maybe the snow tire removal.

Guilty pleasures

This post is on the subject of nail polish pens. I think they are a relatively new product. I bought three today. I noticed them at the drug store earlier this week at the regular price of nearly $10, which seemed a little high. They were on sale for $6.74 when I went back.

We spent our afternoon doing manicures and pedicures at home. Each pedicure I do at home saves me $40. My eldest has an artistic side; both her designs and ideas are fun. She used the pens to put tulips on top of my red polished toes, little hearts on her sister's fingers, and something more geometric on herself.

And now for something completely different

We've taken up geocaching. It's a big game of outdoor hide and seek with many invisible players. I'm not sure how it works in the winter, but it's something my family can do together on foot or by bike until then. I paid $US 30 for an annual membership and $9.99 for an iPhone app. We found two caches yesterday.