So it looks like we’re seriously moving this time. Since my new job is 50 minutes away the plan is to pull up stakes and move much (MUCH) closer.
This means we’re going to have to sell our house and buy a new one 80km away.
This is exciting, we are no longer house buying rookies and our wish list is much more exhaustive than last time.
On the down side we’ve had a home stager come in (compliments of our Rel Estate Agent) and we’re now implementing the recommendations to improve the appeal of our little home.
This means not only throwing a coat of paint on everything and generally coordinating decor but also means I have to get off my posterior and tie up loose projects around the house (and there are a few “in progress” that lurk on the pending list).
We’ve embraced a fairly generous timeline for this, and we think we’re good to go.
So, last week we upgraded from high speed lite (1mbps) to normal high speed (up to 7mbps theoretically), I say we because it took Primus (our ISP) a week to actually make the change (despite daily instructions to “power cycle the modem” and regular assertions that “it should be working now”).
Add to that the fact that person or persons unknown purchased about $2200 worth of airline tickets using my Visa (Yeah, flights from Manilla to Beruit, sounds like a dream vacation) and I can’t help but feel that I’ve spent WAY too much time on hold and talking with CSRs.
This week it all seems to be resolved, and we’re back to neat (for the time being at least).
Last year I finally gave up on security as a career, enjoyed a brief stint as a cable installer and then returned to security, albeit in a more “advanced” capacity.
My trips to the range can be counted on one hand and for the first time in ages I didn’t add a single zombie movie DVD to the collection. Going to have to do better for 2010, this is just not acceptable.
Here’s wishing the best for you and yours in 2010!
Ok, I’m nipple deep in learning. Spending time learning things that sound like sep-ted, numerous provincial acts, and assorted other things related to the job.
I’m not complaining really. It’s just that between my brief foray into cable installations and the new “new” job I feel like I’ve spent half a year training, rather than working…
It only feels that way because it’s true.
The good news is that it seems to be going well, thus far at least.
I know I’ve mentioned this at least once before but ING Direct has changed it’s referral bonus structure.
Now if you sign up for a new ING Direct account using my “orange” code they will give each of us a $25 bonus (assuming you open the account and keep at least $100 in there for a pre-specified amount of time etc etc).
$25 is pretty good for free so here, once again, is my “orange code” for those interested in getting the free $25.
17389548S1
(Just go to this page chose which account is right for you, and enter my orange code where it asks for it on the bottom right corner.)
I’m not just flogging ING Direct for the free money, they’ve actually got the most user friendly GUI of the “online” banks, and they can easily be used to push and pull money to/from other high interest accounts (for example Peoples Trust, PC Financial, and Citizens Bank where the user interface is less friendly.).
Other aspects aside the automated savings program is the one I recommend. In a few simple keystrokes you can set up a recurring transfer of any size from your chequing account to your ING account (and you can change this automated transfer on a moments notice as circumstances dictate - push it back two weeks, increase the amount this paycheque or decrease the amount - with very little effort).
If you’re trying to get into the habit of saving, this is likely the account you want. And as there are no fees associated with keeping an ING Direct account, why not give it a try?