were any of you ever majorly stressing out over finances before leaving and when in the states

[domegirl1978 1]

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to vent a little on the subject of finances. I don't make alot of money at my current job and i feel like every penny is being sucked down the drain.

If its not every day bills, its all those other crappy things that pop up like friends b-days or having to take my cat to the vet and spend 250$ there.

Then of course there is the matter of my debt which is not HUGE but still busting my chops every month to pay it down and fast as possible and it seems to be taking forever. I'm so afraid i won't have finished paying it by the time i'd have to move.

Then of course come all those beautiful bills that go along with the visa. passport, photos, translations, fees for this and that....medical fees that are ridiculous, FEES...FEES...FEES....ARGH!

I'm moving to Florida and being there without a car is pretty much impossible where i live. Moving from Montreal where I have taxis and the bus and metro at my disposal is going to be hard once again. After using the small amount of money I have saved for a used car I will be probably be at the financial mercy of my fiance which makes me feel bad. He says I shouldn't feel bad and i know i probably shouldn't but not being able to work and contribute sucks.

Anyone else ever felt like this?

[Emancipation 2]

yep.. every single day..

*Sigh.. it sucks and the economy is not helping at all...

[JillA 2]

Sounds all too familiar to me!! Don't worry, you're not alone. $$ worries are probably 90% of most people's #1 worry in life! What I did to solve the problem, was I moved out of my apartment a few months before my Montreal interview. Put all of my furniture in storage (which conveniently happened to be free in my sister's garage), and moved back in with my Mom!! She was happy about that, because we got to spend lots of time together before I moved, and it helped me save a TON of money. I worked up until 5 days before the big move, and every penny just went into savings because my Mom didn't charge me for anything. Lived there 4.5 months. So with all the savings, I paid off the amount on my credit card, paid off my car loan, and had some extra to bring with me! I know it's not possible for everyone to do that, but it really worked for me! If I was paying a grand in rent every month until the day I moved, I truly would have been broke and/or moved with my debts.

[domegirl1978 1]

I hear you JillA.

Thats exactly what i did. I moved back into my grandparents house which is right next door to my moms. They don't charge me rent and I've been able to work my debt down quite a bit and save some money as well. All my stuff from my apt. is in their garage waiting to be moved by the movers to Florida when the time comes.

HAHA! Thats just another fee to worry about that i forgot...the movers...i figure it'll be about 1000$ for that too. ARGH!

I really hope to have more saved up. I am greatful for what i do have though. THANK GOD for my grandparents who don't charge me a penny to live with them. They are the best, i love them immensely.

I figure since I can't work while I'm there for those months before i get the work permit I'll be getting the house down there fixed up and unpacking boxes. I decided I'm going to volunteer at the local soup kitchen and food bank. It'll make me feel good to contribute and do something with myself instead of sitting at home missing Canada (which I know i will anyway).

They say money isn't everything and thats true....UNLESS you are trying to immigrate and be with your mate...HAHAHA!

[thetreble 19]

I also moved back in with my parents for four months, worked my #### off, and saved up a bunch of money. I'm glad I did because Jared and I would have been super hard done by if I hadn't. My EI and the money I had saved really helped pay for rent as his career was just starting up.

I'm always one to warn people off moving period until they have their finances in order, but I guess not every one can have things the way they want them. I do think it's dangerous in some people's situations though where their US significant other doesn't have a very good job or gets laid off and then they have someone coming over who can't work for awhile.

You will be fine and get through it. Just do your best.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Yep - we're all with you.

I had a very hard time (and still do) with not being able to get around using public transit. I'd never driven since being in a city was super easy without a car. Now I find that I may well have to learn to drive out of necessity

# 1 - Stop feeling guilty about burdening your fiancé for a few months. He signed up for this knowing there would be a period of hardship until you get back to work....and since he tells you not to feel bad about it - DON"T!- easier said then done, but remember he loves you and is willing to live through a little difficulty.

Save what you can, spend less in the first few months until you get a job, you'll be able to do it...it maybe won't be up to par with what you're used to (doubt it was for most of us) but things will get back on track.

Volunteering is great way to keep yourself busy and it will look good on your resume when you return to work.

[SapphireDreams 71]

I'm getting pretty worried about things too as the date approaches. I've saved a lot of money, but I feel like it's not going to be enough with all of our upcoming expenses and the wedding we are planning.

I only have 2 more pay cheques until I move, and that majorly stresses me out! Especially since this last month is full of going away dinners, lunches, baby showers and of course all the last minute stuff that I have to pay for.

I know in the end it will all work out okay because we are living at his parent's house until I find a job. But my student loans alone are almost like rent!! I need to see if I can put them on hold for a few months or something. That would be helpful.

Also the Canadian dollar is going back up! So that will really work in our favour! my thoughts to you is if you see the dollar going up and up and almost equal again - transfer your savings into a US account asap! I really regret not doing that. I mean most of the bills I have are Canadian, so its fine... but my new cell phone and US expenses are going to be expensive until I get myself a US paying job because of the exchange.

Anyways, I think that if you have saved some money and can keep savings as much as possible, you will make due with what you have.

I know that the more I make, the more I spend, so I figure once I have no money to spend, I'll just stop spending! Ha.

[domegirl1978 1]

Oh ya! I've totally changed my spending habits the past 5 months. No more shopping for clothes or shoes and all that good stuff i used to buy before. Even going to Chapters to buy a book is a big no-no considering i can easily spend 100$ while i'm in that store. LOL. My birthday is coming up in about 2 weeks and whatever cash i get for that from friends is going right into my savings pot where as usually i would buy whatever i wanted.

The only really big purchase I need to make right away in Florida will be my car and I'm hoping to buy used and not spend more than 5000$ on it. I used to live there and my parents owned gas stations and garages down there so our old head mechanic said he would try to help me out there. Thank God for good friends.

And of course my other big purchase is my kitchenaid mixer. I totally have to buy one once I'm down there. I'm a baking fanatic and thats another thing that will keep my super busy on those long days while my fiance is at work. Then he can have goodies to take to the office and I plan on donating the other batches i bake to the local abused women's shelter through my local police station. Cake makes people smile

Oh and I forgot to mention to you all, if you want to save big on something, make it your groceries. For the past year I have been involved with mothers online and other women who coupon and let me tell you....BIG SAVINGS THERE. Many of the women i know save 40-60% off their grocery bills. Couponing at the grocery store may seem like no big deal but you can actually come away with a lot of great things for pennies on the dollar or even free. Definitely a must for those of us who love to eat.

[Emancipation 2]

Oh and I forgot to mention to you all, if you want to save big on something, make it your groceries. For the past year I have been involved with mothers online and other women who coupon and let me tell you....BIG SAVINGS THERE. Many of the women i know save 40-60% off their grocery bills. Couponing at the grocery store may seem like no big deal but you can actually come away with a lot of great things for pennies on the dollar or even free. Definitely a must for those of us who love to eat.

Yep.. you truly can save a bundle... www.refundcents.com is my website of choice.. don't bother with the magazine subscription just pay the $4.00/ month for the online access.. it's totally worth it.

[minnew 4]

I am starting to get a bit worried about my expenses while I am unemployed, also hearing that they have been denying EI claims until you get your EAD. I will be getting a pension when I terminate my current job so I am thinking i will leave that money here in Canada to pay for my student loans, car payments until I find work with my EAD. I told my employer that between now and the end of September feel free to call me in for OT shifts. I live at home, so pay no rent! Thank you Mom & Dad!! I already have a full time rotation, but the extra shifts will help me pay off my last debts and save up $$ for AOS and wedding expenses. I think that opened up a can of worms because now I am working on my 2 weekends off this month, and this Wednesday! I am supposed to be off until Friday! Sometimes working all the OT kind of stinks because your paycheque does not reflect what you work...it just jumps you into a higher tax bracket! I hope I get some of that money back in 2010!

[JillA 2]

I definitely tailored my spending habits too when moving here.... it's always in the back of my mind that every time I pull out my debit card, I'm spending hubby's $$ I know it's "ours" since we're married but you know what I mean. I'm not contributing financially so I don't do much shopping or anything. He always encourages me to go out and get myself something nice if I feel like it, so I'll treat myself once in a while. But I don't "NEED" any new clothes, etc. I may want them but wants and needs are 2 different things and I'm being responsible about spending. I am getting EI but luckily that's more back up $$, I am keeping it put in my Canadian account as savings and transfer here and there when needed.

[domegirl1978 1]

I won't be getting any unemployment money at all. My bosses wanted me to give them 2 months notice...CAN YOU IMAGINE? There's no way they are getting that. So far I have kept all my immigration information hush hush here at the office. My best friend also works with me so she also never asks me about this kind of stuff at the office in case they might be listening in.

I totally believe they want 2 months so that they can lay me off and so does my best friend. That way they can say oh well you are leaving, we need to find someone new...bye bye.... even though I've worked hard for them for 6 years.

So my plan is to go along as if everything is normal and then once I get my interview date and all goes well and I'm approved and have my visa IN HAND, thats when I'll tell them I'll only be at the office for one more month. That way, they are forced to keep me to train the new person, I'll still be making my salary and that gives me a month to call the movers, get that ready, get my plane ticket and fix all the odds and ends that are left to do.

I don't think they also realize that they are going to have to give me all the vacation time I'll have saved up then and the one weeks pay they withhold from when i first started. But oh well, they will owe it to me and since my best friend manages the office and does payroll, I know I won't get screwed.

[SapphireDreams 71]

I won't be getting any unemployment money at all. My bosses wanted me to give them 2 months notice...CAN YOU IMAGINE? There's no way they are getting that. So far I have kept all my immigration information hush hush here at the office. My best friend also works with me so she also never asks me about this kind of stuff at the office in case they might be listening in.

I totally believe they want 2 months so that they can lay me off and so does my best friend. That way they can say oh well you are leaving, we need to find someone new...bye bye.... even though I've worked hard for them for 6 years.

So my plan is to go along as if everything is normal and then once I get my interview date and all goes well and I'm approved and have my visa IN HAND, thats when I'll tell them I'll only be at the office for one more month. That way, they are forced to keep me to train the new person, I'll still be making my salary and that gives me a month to call the movers, get that ready, get my plane ticket and fix all the odds and ends that are left to do.

I don't think they also realize that they are going to have to give me all the vacation time I'll have saved up then and the one weeks pay they withhold from when i first started. But oh well, they will owe it to me and since my best friend manages the office and does payroll, I know I won't get screwed.

Why wouldn't you be able to get EI?

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I won't be getting any unemployment money at all. My bosses wanted me to give them 2 months notice...CAN YOU IMAGINE? There's no way they are getting that. So far I have kept all my immigration information hush hush here at the office. My best friend also works with me so she also never asks me about this kind of stuff at the office in case they might be listening in.

I totally believe they want 2 months so that they can lay me off and so does my best friend. That way they can say oh well you are leaving, we need to find someone new...bye bye.... even though I've worked hard for them for 6 years.

So my plan is to go along as if everything is normal and then once I get my interview date and all goes well and I'm approved and have my visa IN HAND, thats when I'll tell them I'll only be at the office for one more month. That way, they are forced to keep me to train the new person, I'll still be making my salary and that gives me a month to call the movers, get that ready, get my plane ticket and fix all the odds and ends that are left to do.

I don't think they also realize that they are going to have to give me all the vacation time I'll have saved up then and the one weeks pay they withhold from when i first started. But oh well, they will owe it to me and since my best friend manages the office and does payroll, I know I won't get screwed.

How can they demand 2 months - you said you're in montreal right? What is the provincial standard? In ontario it's 2 weeks notice...I don't even think they can make you sign something saying that you'd have to give more - just against the law. It's always nice to give 2.

Once you provide written notice - don't do it without a piece of paper, if they choose to let you go before that, they still have to pay your salary for that period Girl - You make sure you've checked with the provincial board that manages workers rights - sorry, my mind is so fuzzy, cannot think of the REAL name

[domegirl1978 1]

My bosses will not be "letting me go". They see it as me quitting to go to live in Florida therefore I wouldn't be able to collect any EI when quitting. One of my bosses is pretty bitter about it my leaving.

They always thought I was lying about having found my best friend from high school in Florida on Facebook and reuniting with him and falling in love. That was until I said I was going to Florida for a long weekend and then a month later he was up here to visit me and they met him.

Then it became a battle with everything at the beginning. My one boss left me alone about it, just randomly asking me how everything is going, genuinely concerned.

The other boss is an A** about it. Sneaking behind my back, asking other people in the office if they know my plans, trying to get stuff out of my best friend, coming to me and telling me I HAVE to give him 2 months notice before I decide to leave....its all very sketchy which is why i am keeping everything on the down low.

The day I go for my medical will be: " I have an appt. with my general practitioner", and any other little appointments I may have related to the visa like going to the translator will be done on my lunch hour so no one figures anything out.

The day of my interview will be: "I have an appointment I have to go to but will be in the office before lunch time."