Live in Ontario?

Hey, me too! I still receive my utility bills by mail, and tonight I am scrutinizing the hydro bill for sport. It contains a few inserts that merit further attention.

The first one is from the Ontario government, promoting the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit and promising 10% off my electricity bill for five years. I'm immediately suspicious.

To help you with the increased costs of these essential investments, the Ontario government has taken 10% off your electricity bill - including electricity costs, regulatory charges, the debt retirement charge and taxes.

Getting notice is good, I like that. After reviewing the additional material and scanning the details of my most current bill for items like the Debt Retirement Charge, I conclude the net result: my hydro costs are increasing noticeably after five years. I can wait.

The second insert introduces time-of-use (TOU) pricing. I need a better understanding of my habits and current rates before I can figure out what's involved here. I notice that it offers a calculator to help with the math. I clicked through but lost the trail.

There's a second letter, postmarked May 24, with An Important Notice About Your Electricity Rates on the envelope. It says the TOU rates will be introduced in four months time and offers a tool for viewing and comparing my electricity consumption patterns:

Long weekend highlights

Work was kind of stressful last week with colleagues visiting from California. We were in intense meetings all week long with working dinners on Tuesday and Wednesday. We also went for a team building event before dinner on Wednesday. I had some wine at dinner.

It was good work in a sense, yet four days without any real movement makes me kind of cranky. The meeting schedule was too compressed to permit me the luxury of my bike commute, noon run or midday swim. I intentionally left my weekend very open to recover.

With Chinese school cancelled for the long weekend, I spent three days completely in the company of my youngest child. At six, she is easily entertained (unlike her older sister).

We had Saturday morning coffee in the Maplelawn Public Garden. It's been a good year for rain, and the garden is a sheer delight. The day kind of meandered into a picnic over at Rockliffe Park with some geocaching, and we were able to fit in a short swim at the Brookstreet Hotel after a late dinner. The day's events cost us coffee and gas: under $15.

On Sunday, we went car free. The rain threatened all day, but held off until we completed our day trip by bicycle (and Chariot) to the Arboretum near Dow's Lake. We had initially set out for the Ornamental Gardens but never got there. Intoxicated by trees in bloom, we hit sensory overload and turned back, at most 1 km short of the gardens. While stopped for a picnic at Hartwell's Lock (along the Rideau Canal), we found the geocache. On the way home, we paused at Brittania Beach briefly to indulge in a snack for approximately $3.

Our route from Kanata took us through Watts Creek, along the Ottawa River parkway, then Pinecrest Creek, and eventually to the Experimental Farm pathway. I considered an alternate route home, but our Chariot is too wide to cross at Hartwell without disassembly.

Today was lower key, but cost a little more. At first light, I walked (while she biked) over to the library to return an unfinished book. We indulged in a longer swim, followed by a leisurely lunch of potato pancakes and tzatziki. Our afternoon revolved around some yard work, followed by a visit to the Parkdale Market for a hanging plant and some herbs for the garden: $32. I briefly considered a restaurant meal on a patio, but plants will give back.

I'm back to work in the morning.

Clothing and shoes

Truth be told I bought myself two new blouses from Winners last weekend, and some flip flops for the family at an Old Navy sale. Credit line is zeroed. Yes, I can.

I also paid $75 to the sitter for that visit to Le Nordik Spa on Sunday. Paradis sur terre.

I held back on coffee and wine all week, to take a small bite out of evening daycare costs. (We ran out of both last weekend.) I stocked up on wine last night, and on coffee today.

Fun facts from the spreadsheet

I took a closer look at the spreadsheet data for the last twelve months:

• My requirement for petty cash averages $200 per month. I use it for evening sitters, music lessons, gum, concert tickets, and that sort of thing. Moving forward, I'll add a line item for it, to the month-ahead section of my spreadsheet.
• I spent $912 on interest alone servicing the Line of Credit. That's a lot.
• I spent $931 on hydro. That's approx $78 per month.
• Gas heat came in higher at $1262, which is more than I thought it was.
• Water came in lower at $515.
• I charged $32056 to my Aeroplan Visa gold card. That's enough points for a nice return trip somewhere, and it justifies the annual fee associated with the card.

Just did it.

Hooray for me.

I've got a feeling

May the 15th falls on a Sunday this year. I care because it means tomorrow is payday. Last month, I reached the maximum annual deductions for CPP and EI premiums. I expect tomorrow's net pay to be adjusted accordingly. I suspect the amount of adjusting to contain the $100 I need to completely clear my credit line debt. It's not the end of the blog though.

The adoption loan balance of approximately $7000 waits patiently on deck. I might:

• call the National Bank to determine the precise amount of the outstanding balance and if there is any fee associated with early paydown
• apply the proceeds from my sale of to-be-purchased ESPP shares in September
• increase the amount of my monthly payment starting October 1

What a difference a year makes

I am on track to kill this thing good and dead this Friday. Patience is key.