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If you, like me, live anywhere near the Vancouver area you’re probably innundated right now with fruit flies.

Oh my holy hell, it’s like a fly convention in here. Despite religiously cleaning up any spills, keeping foodstuffs hidden away and taking out the garbage, all it takes is for us to make dinner or pour a glass of wine and they’re EVERYWHERE, again.

But!

I’ve found a really easy way to get rid of them!

So I figured I’d share:

Find a small jar or container you don’t particularly like (I’m using a small, empty mustard jar, but one of those tacky promotional mugs would work just as well). Put an inch or so of red wine into it (it’s the liquid the flies seem to like best ’round these parts, plus the dark colour means you can’t see the pile o’ corpses in the bottom). Put a couple drops of liquid dish-soap into the wine.

The flies are drawn to the wine, but when they land on it, the dish soap has broken the surface tension and the wee buggers instantly plummet through the wine to a grapey death at the bottom of the jar.

We’ve had this out for about a week, and have been fly-free ever since.

You’re welcome

If you did a poll of the girlfriends with whom I discuss such things, you’d quickly realize that I’ve become the resident expert in brazilian bikini waxes. Mostly because I’m the one who’s dared to “go there” as a part of my personal grooming routine.

And since I get queried by said girlfriends on a semi-regular basis, and “bikini wax etiquette” shows up in my search strings more often than not, I present to you, the cleverly titled:

Jen’s Guide to Bikini Wax Expectations and Etiquette

And lest you think you don’t need such a guide, I shall refer you to my uneducated and unprepared earlier experience. And NOBODY should have to go through that. According to the archives, it took me 2.5 years to get over it.

Warning:

If you have ever shaved any of your pubic hair, your first wax will hurt like a MOTHERFUCKER. No word of a lie, it will be so awful you will want to leap right off the table and run screaming, pantsless, into the night. It is just the way of things. If you are smart you will schedule yourself a competent esthetician, realize it will all be over inside of 20 minutes, and suck it up, princess. Look at the bright side, it only gets better! If you have been shaving, wait at least 4 weeks from your last shave to go for a wax in order to let the hairs grow long enough for the wax to grip them.

Finding a Waxer:

A lot of major cities have papers that run a “best of the city” feature that asks the citizens to vote on everything from restaurants to rodeos. Most have an esthetics or even a bikini wax vote – go to the place that wins. Phone a spa/salon that offers the service and ask who their most popular esthetician is. Ask for reviews. Ask friends or acquaintances who they go to (for the locals, I go to Linda’s). This is one wax job you don’t wanna mess around with, so do some research.

The Arsenal:

Be sure you have the following things in your posession before the day of your appointment. You’ll want them at your disposal:
-Lidocaine Cream for irritation (I hear Preparation H works well too, though I’ve never tried it)
-Epsom salts for a soak
-Advil (or painkiller of your choice)
-A soft Loofah & some gentle body wash – something hypoallergenic if you’re sensitive
-Liquor. Lots of liquor.

Day of:

Wear comfortable panties and pants! I personally have a pair of soft cotton boy shorts that I wear on waxing days, that don’t rub or chafe or ride up. I’ll wear them with a skirt or roomier pants. If I’m getting it done on a weekend or after work, I’ll go commando in yoga pants. Whatever you’re comfortable with, just avoid lace and embellishments, or anything that’s tight and rides up or around in uncomfortable ways. Believe me you’ll be uncomfortable enough.

EAT! EAT! EAT! Things hurt more when your blood sugar is low. Try to eat something with a bit of staying power (cookies, chocolate, and plain fruit will just make you crash) about 20-30 minutes before your appointment. Your body also heals better when you’ve got proper nutrition. This includes being well-hydrated, so water up.

Since you’re eating something anyway, take a small dose of Advil or Tylenol (not Asprin or liquor – that’s for after – since they thin your blood and may cause you to bleed) about 20 minutes before your appointment as a preventative pain killer to dull the owies a bit.

The Appointment!:

Try not to schedule it the week before (or during) your period. You’re just more sensitive in those areas and it’ll hurt more.

Congratulations, you made it! Don’t back down now, you’re almost there.

Depending on where you go and who your esthetician is, you’ll likely be instructed to take off your pants and panties, drape yourself with the towel they’ve provided, and lay back on the table. They usually leave the room for privacy while you do this, and take a moment to steel yourself. You may or may not be offered disposable panties which you can accept or decline, depending on your comfort level.

You will be half naked.

There is no getting around this. Getting in and around all of your nooks and crannies, crooks and crevices is going to require full access. And some yoga-esque poses. There is no room for modesty in the brazilian wax process. Your esthetician probably sees a hundred or so coochies a year other than yours, so get over yourself.

The actual waxing process will feel like someone is ripping the short and curlies out of your sensitive bits, because, well, they are. Be brave little soldier! It should be over inside of 20 minutes. The esthetician will probably give you a once over with some tweezers to catch any strays, and may trim any landing strip hair you want left.

Types of Wax Jobs:

In case you are totally clueless, there are different types of bikini wax you can get, though this post applies to all of them.

-Regular Bikini takes off the bit of hair that runs up the area inside your thighs and where your legs join your pelvis.
-French Bikini leaves you with only a small patch in the front, but does nothing with the back.
-Brazilian Bikini involves either going bare or leaving a small patch in the front, as well as deforesting the back door. FYI since most people don’t both trying to self-groom their own ass-cracks (out of sight, out of mind?) it usually hurts the least to wax. It’s those hairs we insist on shaving and trimming ourselves that get to be stubborn about removal.

Aftercare:

This is when I ply myself liberally with liquor and just hope the sweet, sweet nectar causes me to pass out long enough to feel better when I wake up.

Seriously though, be gentle with your ladyparts, they will be sensitive. Try to keep your bloog sugars level, and take your vitamins. Exfoliate gently in the shower to combat ingrown hairs, and if you do experience lots of discomfort, take another Advil, try an Epsom salts bath and/or some lidocane cream. Local waxing joint Sugarbox has a great page of “do’s and don’ts” that I’d recommend reading before you go in.

Pay special heed to the one that says “DO NOT SHAVE BETWEEN WAXING APPOINTMENTS.” Bikini waxing is not an on-again off-again thing. Either you are committed to it, or you aren’t, and if you aren’t there is no point in even starting. Every time you shave, you bring yourself right back to that first all-painful and terrible wax. It’ll depend on your personal hair structure, but you’ll need to go back every 3-6 weeks to maintain it, and it does hurt less every time. I hardly cry at all now. And as your hairs grow in finer and finer, you’ll be able to get away with having them waxed shorter and shorter, so you don’t have any “down time” if you’re thinking about how to schedule waxes so you’ll look your best on the beach in Cancun or for that special new man.

Etiquette Points:

Don’t eat the bean burrito the night before. It’s just best for everyone involved. If you feel “less than fresh” in any of your nether regions before your appointment, carry some flushable wipes with you to freshen up before you go in.

If you’re nervous and/or shy, SAY SO! Remember, this is your waxer’s JOB. She can talk you through it, and let you know exactly what she’s going to do and what to expect to make you feel most comfortable.

Try to relax, it’ll make the whole process easier on everyone.

Please tip. It’s the classy thing to do (unless you ignored my first point and went to a butcher). I tip the same percent I tip my hairdresser (10-15%). If there are estheticians out there who think I’m being stingy, please inform me! Otherwise I think that’s a pretty safe amount.

Other than that, you should now be fully armed with information, and ready to forth and wax fearlessly! Or at least in fear only of the pain, and not totally of the unknown.

Down with Bush!

ps. If anyone knows of a place in town that does the “Full Monty” wax for guys, clue me in. I’d love to coerce Neil into trying it, since I’m interested in some of the mechanics of the procedure and if the results are worth it. And I bet he’d blog about it!

Those who knew me well last year know that it was the “Year of Excess” (or YOE if you like acronyms).

In changing jobs from Corporate Cog to Spelunking Coordinator, I managed to swing myself a 30%-ish pay increase and I was fun, fabulous, and single! So you’d better believe I was livin’ large. After all, that sounded much more fun than paying down my student loans faster.

Oh what a year it was!

An approximate count of ticket stubs, photographs, and things in my closet indicate that I:

-Acquired J’Lo (and all of her expensive repair issues)
-Attended about 18 concerts, many at major venues, most of which included acquiring overpriced concert merchandise
-Cheered my way through at least 12 NHL hockey games (and consumed an average of 3 NHL priced beers at each)
-Had my hair done monthly, at an approximate cost of n-$1, where n = the cost to sponsor a half-dozen starving African children for a month
-Acquired enough wardrobe additions to shoe and clothe those starving African children – none of which are appropriate for the new job of course.
-Succumbed fully and completely to my new mistress, the TiVo.

Then all of that culminated in a 10-day Carribean Vacation.

And just when I thought it was all over, we went to Korea.

Aah, the good ol’ days.

And now this year (and don’t all new years really start around September? I far prefer it as a time of new beginnings to January, where after the clock strikes midnight there is nothing new, it still gets dark at 4:30pm, and no more vacation until like… Easter, so welcome to the most depressing 10 weeks of the year… but I digress…)…

This year is the Year of “oh holy hell, we bought a damn house and someone’s gotta pay for that shit (along with the last of the shit Visa paid for toward the end of the YOE) and I can’t believe I’m still making student loan payments.”*

Otherwise known as the “Year of Fiscal Responsibility”, because that other one seriously got way too long.

So steps are being taken to ensure that I can still be fun and fabulous, and acquire new shoes, on a slightly more realistic budget.

And this is where you, lovely readers, come in! If you’d be so kind, please be leaving your answers to the following questions in the comments box:

1. I’m no longer so keen on paying what I do to maintain the bleach beach blonde. What do you suggest I do for a lower-maintenance colour that isn’t just my boring, basic, natural, mousy, ash brown? Note that all drug-store dyes to date have turned my hair varying shades of orange. Current regimen for those who know/care: Full head of foils alternating with top-layer-only of foils every 4-6 weeks.

2. Do you know of any amazing and fabulous and CHEAP concerts coming to town that I can not miss? Because last year I simply bought a pair of tickets to everything – and that is just not gonna fly anymore. Some strategic planning is in order.

3. What are your favourite ideas for some fun, cheap things to do around town for the boy and I to entertain ourselves as the weather gets cooler and the beach becomes a less-viable option? Wanna do a book club? Movie Night? Games Night? We’re in.

4. What are your favourite recipes or meals to make yourself? Because we’ve definitely put the kaibash on going to Chambar or Tatlow’s “because we’re hungry” or “don’t feel like cooking.”

5. What do you feel is an acceptable number of pairs of new shoes for a fiscally responsible woman to acquire over any given season? I happen to think three is appropriate – however there are others who disagree.

6. If I were to have a kissing booth, what would you be willing to pay to pucker up with yours truly? Of course, kisses will be above the neck only, 10 seconds or less, with no tongue. Downside: if Neil gets wind of this idea, the dog may have to stand-in for me. Upside to that? LOTS of tongue.

Thanks all! Best answers get the fantastic prize of…. my undying appreciation!

(What, you thought it would be a prize worth something? I wasn’t kidding about the saving money thing!)
(more…)

I have a fashion dilemma at the moment, and am turning to the internets for advice.

This is probably a mistake, since (from what I can figure) most people who comment here are guys. And I would feel confident putting money down on the fact that if the guys haven’t already tuned out after reading the words “fashion dilemma” they will as soon as they realize I’m not about to divulge any sort of wardrobe malfunction.

However, the situation is dire, so I am soldiering on with the faith that someone out there will offer up a solution.

Like most people in the world, I have a finite amount of disposable income. When I am not busy spending it on hookers and blow, I occasionally buy new clothes. In the coming month, I feel I must purchase two distinct kinds of clothing, and can only afford one. Which to choose?

Situation A: I’m attending the wedding of an acquaintance of my boyfriend. This is a fancy schmancy wedding requiring cocktail attire. I, being the princess I am, feel I need a new cocktail dress to wow the pants off of the acquaintance and other friends, showing off the hotness that my boyfriend has snagged all for his very own.

Case For Situation A: I will be stunning and hot and fancy schmancy, just as I feel the need to be.

Case Against Situation A: I already own a little black dress, and will shortly own another semi-formal dress that’s been ordered for another wedding (arriving too late to wear to this one) which would bring the items I have in my closet that I don’t have nearly enough occasion to wear to a somewhat critical mass.

Situation B: I’m going to be moving into a more professional job than the one I’m currently in. The last time I had to wear business casual clothing on a regular basis, I was 35lbs heavier. Of course as soon as I lost the weight I also lost the clothes, so I’m now in a position where I need to acquire more.

Case For Situation B: I actually need these clothes, bottom line, and will have to buy them sooner or later. I’m really just wondering how far I can push the “later” before a client clues in that I’ve worn the same tired black pants the last three times we’ve seen eachother.

Case Against Situation B: I do have some business casual clothing that will be perfectly appropriate for my new job. More than a week’s worth of outfits even. And shopping for cocktail dresses is just plain more fun than shopping for suits.

So, gentle readers, what would you do? Or should I just give up entirely and ask Amalah?

On the off chance that any readers know this kind of thing:

I have an educational (science – biology) children’s story that I think I want to pitch to a publisher.

Depending on whether or not I can handle the rejection when they tell me it sucks.

If I can get over myself, does anyone know where I’d even begin that process?

To Pleat, or Not to Pleat. That is the Question!

Here’s the answer: FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY, NO!

Ok, so the answer is a bit more complicated than that. The wearing of pleats by men (because women should really never wear pleated pants, period!) is a tricky art that should only be attempted by those who know what they’re doing, or have a woman around to help them.

The pleated pants that Darren referenced in some earlier comments (pictured here) are ok. However there is a certain male body type that can get away with pleats, and if you’re not a Gap model, chances are you’re not it! Do you have anything that might be construed as a “belly”? NO PLEATS! Do you have large thighs (due to muscle bulks or body type)? NO PLEATS!

The thing with pleats is that they add extra fabric to to the front of your thighs. If they’re not able to lie absolutely flat from waist to mid-thigh, they’ll just pucker and pooch out and look silly. This means that if your beer-gut prevents you from actually wearing your pants on your natural waist, or means that your body does not have a flat surface from navel to crotch, you can NOT wear pleats.

And if you have large thighs – either because of your genetic makeup, or from a lot of muscle bulk in the area, having pants with extra fabric there will likely make you look somewhat disproportionate. See how there’s some extra bulk of fabric on the thigh of the model? If you have large thighs in proportion to the rest of your body, your pleats will either stretch out over your quads and look like spandex (if you buy the pants to fit your waist), or billow around your body like the MC Hammer pants of yesteryear (if you buy them to fit around your legs). Try poufy sleeves instead (and if you didn’t get that I was kidding with the poufy sleeves, you’re beyond any fashion help I could give).

The other issue with pleats that makes most men wearing them look ridiculous is that they require pressing. And not just running the iron over them hoping for the best – but actual proficiency to get them to lay flat. Most guys I know will just wash their pants, and either hang or fold them, then put them on without even going near the iron (do you even own an iron?). This usually results in the pleats not being flat, and doing the poochie-outie-thing right below your belt, making it look like you’ve got a really low-hanging spare tire. Either that, or the act of folding the pants will result in the creases being mangled, resulting in your pants making it look like Picasso attached your legs to your body.

Either way – unless you’ve got perfect waist to knee body proportion, AND the desire and knowledge to properly press your pants (or someone around who will do it for you), please just say no to pleats.

This one’s for mikey. Happy Marquee Monday!

My cell phone contract isn’t up until October-ish… but I’m hoping to convince the fine folks at Telus Mobility to let me renew it a little early, because methinks it’s time for a new phone.

A CAMERAPHONE. So I can take pictures like this. And this. And phallic cinnamon twists, which I’d totally have a picture of for you if I had a cameraphone!

I think I’ve narrowed it down to two choices – but I really have no experience with either brand (being a motorola/samsung girl thus far). My absolute requirements for any phone are to have a display on the front, so I don’t have to open it to see who’s calling (it’s the little things), as well as being some sort of flip phone so I don’t start phoning people from my pocket or purse. So, some advice would be appreciated. Your choices are:

The LG 6190 with fastap keyboard (handy for the texting)

The Audiovox 8920T with no fastap, but 1 more whole megapixel on the camera.

Any reccomendations?

Can anyone point me to a resource of some sort that will show me how to edit the ID tags on my mp3s?

Thanks.

I am officially sick and tired of living life without a car. So on a tempermental whim last night, I braved the credit department at my bank, and phoned to ask how much of a car loan I qualify for.

Their answer: way more than I actually want.

Dangerous.

So now I have to weigh my options. I’ve come up with four so far.

1. Do nothing. Continue on the way I have for the past few years relying on friends, family, transit, taxis & the occasional rental car.
Pro: Most affordable option.
Con: Currently driving me INSANE.

2. Scooter.
Pro: Cheap to buy, cheap on gas & insurance, fun and kicky!
Con: Useless for carrying anything other than myself, useless in the rain, unable to travel on the highway.

3. Buy a car. Something reasonably priced and reliable – nothing flashy.
Pro:I’d have a car!!! I can visit my family with a minimum of hassle, I can go to Ikea, I can not ride the smelly bus!
Con: Most expensive option. Not exactly sure yet what the parking situation will be at the new job (could be very expensive/inconvenient). Gas isn’t getting any cheaper either.

4. Join the CAN Car Co-op.
Pro: Accessibility to a car if/when I really need one without the expense of actually owning. Also receive 15% off a Transit pass for regular commuting with CAN membership.
Con: Still wouldn’t own the car, using it is subject to availability. Taking the cars overnight gets quite expensive. Lots of cars near my work, none convenient to my home.

And now I ask for your assvice. For the locals, I live about a block from the Brentwood Skytrain station, and will be working around Georgia & Denman. I’d also welcome input from anyone who’s got experience dealing with CAN. What Would Jesus You Do?

Sue posted today about her current dilemma choosing makeup. My answer was getting far too long in her comments, and I thought there would likely be some others out there who may be interested in the answer.

When I’m looking for a new colour, I always go to department store makeup counters. The people who work there are usually skilled in finding both a colour and application that is flattering to your personal style and colouring. Because they’re brand representatives (instead of generic drugstore cosmetics counter staff) they’ll also have a good grasp on which of their products will best suit your skin type. I’ve got a strong Clinique bias, but any counter at Holt Renfrew or the Bay should be able to help you.

Things to consider when choosing a brand: Do you have sensitive skin/allergies? What’s your age bracket? (Lancome’s key target is the 40-50 year old woman, while Clinique is geared more toward the 25-35 age group – this affects products, pricing, and occasionaly seasonal colours.) How much can you afford? Some brands will definitely be pricier than others – never be afraid to ask how much something is, and it’s ok to say it’s a bit out of your budget.

A lot of hair & beauty salons will have a cosmetician on staff who will be happy to give you a makeup application and lesson for around $35. That is a huge ripoff, and is really only intended for teenagers going to the prom whose cosmetic repertoire consists of lip smackers and clear mascara.

NEVER pay for help selecting cosmetics. You’re already paying for the product. The only exception is if a counter says you pay $10 or $15 for the application, and receive the equivalent amount off of your purchase of cosmetics. You are obligated to purchase something for getting the application done – but that’s what you’re there for anyway, right? Another hint, find a brand you think you like, and try to go at bonus time – that way you’ll get a little extra bang for your buck. Keep in mind that if you’re just looking for a new eyeshadow, you can walk up to the counter and ask to see & try the colours. If you’re wanting a whole new face, you’ll likely have to make an appointment.

Make sure the product rep gives you a tear sheet when you’re done. This will be a picture of a face with colour smudges and product names, along with some basic instructions on where everything goes on your face.

ALWAYS return cosmetics that don’t work out – for either colour, or skin reaction. They cost too much not to (though you can usually avoid that if you get help with your colours). It’s like any other product – the manufacturer expects returns, and the salespeople are usually pretty accomodating.

Another thing I thought I’d toss into the mix is how often you should replenish your cosmetics. If you’re like me, they run out before they wear out – but others who don’t use makeup daily may have expired product laying around. This should also be of note when deciding which brand to go with: how much will you end up throwing away?

A general rule of thumb is that anything powdery or dry (powder, blush, eyeshadow) should be tossed no later than 1 year after purchase. Anything liquid (foundation, cream) should be kept no longer than 6 months. Lipsticks can last a little longer (8 months to a year) if the colour isn’t hideously out of style by then. Mascara should be kept no longer than 3 months at the absolute outside. You should also never ever share it. There’s far too much bacteria around your eyes, and it all gets sucked up by that little wand, shoved back in the bottle, and redistributed on your eyes (or the eyes of anyone else who uses it – ew!) every time it’s used. If you ever have any sort of eye infection (pink eye, etc.) you need to throw away your mascara immediately.

Hope that was helpful, and if you’re interested in hearing about tips for selecting & applying specific products, comment and I’ll construct new entries as requests come up.

When you’re drinking milk out of a squeezeable container, it’s usually wise to avoid closing your mouth until AFTER you stop squeezing.

I’m just sayin’.

The first audiobook I finished today was “He’s just not that into you” – the hugely popular relationship book from a pair of writers from Sex & the City.

I originally grabbed it because I figured it’d be good for a laugh – and the writers are indeed hilarous. Then, as so many others have found, one of the excuses hit home. Specifically when Greg said “Do you really want to be four years into a relationship before you finally wake up and realize that the guy you’re with is a selfish jackass?” Then I nearly dove under my desk wondering where they were and how they found me. That’s exactly what I did. In fact, I could pinpoint 90% of the excuses outlined in that book as things I’d said about my ex. Ouch.

It’s a great he said/she said format, Greg sticks firmly to the point that “If your options are feeling shitty being single, or feeling shitty in a shitty relationship, the only options you have left open to yourself are feeling shitty. And that is stupid. At least leave the shitty relationship so you just feel shitty alone, and are still open to the opportunity to happiness.”

But that alone isn’t enough – it’s nothing we haven’t told ourselves already. The kicker is that Liz follows up with reasons why getting to this place of accepting nothing but the best is so tough for us women folk. But also follows up with the caveat that as tough as it may be, if women as a collective refused to accept shit, then perhaps men would step up.

The crux of the matter though, is that YOU ARE NOT THE EXCEPTION. You are not going to change him to be a “better man” or “leave his wife” or “settle down.” Allowing any man to treat you like anything less than the goddess you are is the stupidest thing you can do, because all you are doing is taking time away from time you could be enjoying life, and potentially meeting the man who *is* into you.

I think anyone who can read this book, and honestly recognize the mistakes they’ve made in the past, and move past the toxic men in their lives (current or exes) has set herself up for a much better quality of life – single or partnered. And if you read the book, and still consider yourself an “exception,” well, don’t come cryin’ to me about how your man was an asshole again, cuz I ain’t listenin! I’ve got no time for that shit. I’m too busy making time in my life for someone who’s just that into me.

Ola Mi Amigos! It’s audience participation time!

This guy I was out with the other night? Apparently I need to go all Sherlock Holmes on him and start asking questions. I have been informed that I need to Find. Things. Out!

Problem is, I totally suck at that. I’m a big fan of just talking to someone and seeing what comes out. Or having different experiences with them, and seeing how they react in those situations. But that is suddenly not good enough.

This is where you come in: What kind of questions do I need to ask? What is that burning thing that I don’t even know I always wanted to know?

Edit: (2:25pm) I deleted the offensive post I was making reference to. Not because I think I should have to, but because it obviously hurt someone’s feelings, and the fact that it’s out there is much more important to that person than it is to me. So it’s gone. Which is one of the great advantages to this medium.

As blogs gain popularity, it’d be ridiculous to think that they have no impact as a piece of what forms your personal image to the world. This affects the ways different people write in different ways. Someone has beef with the way I portrayed her in the post immediately before this one I just deleted – and really, why wouldn’t she? I said the pieces of information she put out to the world made her look like a jackass. She left a comment to that extent, and added some more information that cleared up a few missing pieces of the puzzle.

This doesn’t change the fact that I still think the pieces of information she initially put out to the world made her look like a jackass. She made a comment on my blog one day, and a post on her own the next day that (when compared to the comment she left) made her sound like a raging hyppocrite. So whose fault is that?

No, blogs can’t tell the whole story. Yes, certain aspects of our lives aren’t anybody’s business but our own.

But isn’t it also true that we choose what we put out to the masses, and it’s our own damn fault if we don’t craft the online picture of ourselves in a favourable light? I probably looked like a Grade A Bitch for posting what I did about someone’s apparent spending habits. Which is why I chose to spin it with this follow-up, and edit the blog again to remove the offending content entirely.

I feel like I have a responsibility to myself to maintain a certain image of myself online. It’s the same reason I usually blowdry my hair and put on makeup before I leave the house for the day. I care what people think. Do you? And what do you do about it? And do you have a right to complain if someone calls you on something in public, when the information is out in the public sphere for anyone who can put two and two together?

As part of my resolution to make 2005 the year of fiscal solvency, I’ve been re-reading my copy of Smart Women Finish Rich.

I highly recommend it to EVERY SINGLE WOMAN IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD. Seriously though, every women I know is getting this as a present at some point. It’s much too important to not read and take action. This is your life ladies – take control of it and make it what you want it to be! It’s so easy and can mean so much in the future.

I seem to have far, far too many friends who don’t take their financial security seriously. After reading this book I honestly believe that if you are over 30, do not have at the bare minimum $7,500 in an RRSP somewhere earning between 5%-10% compound interest, and can not own your own home (whether or not you do is something entirely different), you’re currently a financial failure you should take an afternoon to re-think your current future-planning, and if you fail to take some immediate action, you are setting yourself up for the strong possibility of a long life of continuing poverty and hardship. Yah, it’s fun to throw caution to the wind and buy that fancy new toy or whatever, but is it really worth personal bankruptcy?

I myself am what I’d consider a “financial failure” right at this point in time. Too much bad debt, too little future planning. Hopefully my current plan will turn that around, and I’ll be at my goal by age 30. The good news is, it’s never too late to start turning things around. You may never be a millionairess, but at least you won’t be one of the increasing number of seniors living in a rat-infested hovel, eating cat food. Think it won’t happen to you? Talk to me again in 25 years when you’re just starting to worry, and I’m semi-retired on a beach somewhere.

I’ve already done something very liberating – I cut up three of my five credit cards! One was my mastercard, which has a very high balance that I’m working to pay off, and the others were store cards that I only signed up for to get a deal anyway.

I’ve been living in a bit of a fantasy world when it came to what I was actually going to do with my money – now it looks like if I start planning and working now, I’ll actually do quite well. After all, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail!

Ok, enough with the cheese. Just go get the book.