Friday, January 6, 2023

Tracy's blog: The Evolution (Part 1)/ Prove Yourself and Show Your Work (Part 1)

Tracy's blog shows the evolution of my writing and blog.

The blog also shows the evolution of myself.


This blog post is like part 2 of this blog post from Oct. 2014:


email evolution/ constructive criticism/ Post Secret

Tracy's blog: email evolution/ constructive criticism/ Post Secret (badcb.blogspot.com)


Dec. 13, 2022 Why did you start this blog?:

Academic: I started this blog in Jan. 2008 for my Basic HTML class when I was in Professional Communication at MacEwan University.  This was for school.

In Apr. 2008, I graduated.  I then decided to post my weekly emails (to my friends) onto my blog.

Professional: 

Diablo Cody: I have read that people like Diablo Cody (who is a screenwriter) was discovered on her blog:

Diablo Cody - Wikipedia

Personal: I was writing and sending 2 emails/ blog posts a week to my friends from 2006-2008.  I decided to put these emails onto my blog.

There are times where I write about something.  I then want to bring what I wrote in an earlier blog post into this present email/ blog post.


In 2008-2009: 2 blog posts a week.

In 2010- present: 3 blog posts a week.


I then wrote this on my blog summary:

"I’m Tracy Au and I have a 2 year diploma in Professional Communication from MacEwan University. I am an aspiring screenwriter, so this blog is used to promote my writing and attract people who will hire me to write for your TV show or movie. I post a lot of articles about jobs, entertainment (TV, movies, books), news, and my opinions on it. I also write about my daily life. I have another blog promoting my TV project at www.thevertexfighter.blogspot.com."

The main point of the blog was to prove myself and show my writing talent and skills.


Writing: From 2008- Aug. 2014, I find an article on any topic I like and am interested in, and write about it.

I read a news article and I summarize it and I put it in my own words.  I put the link on.


Blog: I publish all the TV, movie, book reviews, author interviews articles from the newspapers and websites onto my blog.  

I also write my own TV and movie reviews onto the blog.

I write my writing tips about characters, dialogue, storylines, etc.

I write "comparisons" like a TV show or movie has done this storyline, but they did it differently.

I write "comedy comparisons" like a TV show or movie has done this funny line, scene, storyline, but they did it differently.

Real life: I have tried to get a job at a TV production company called Dynacor Media in 2008 and I attended the interview.  I didn't get hired.  I decided to work at a restaurant in the day, and pitch my script by emailing TV production companies across Canada in the evenings and weekends.

In the pitch email, I tell them I have a 2 year college diploma in Professional Communication at MacEwan.  I don't mention my blog, but they can look me up and find the blog.  

Meetups: I attend Screenwriter and Filmmakers Meetups since 2015.  I read people's scripts and I give my notes on how to improve them.  I write pros and cons on them.

In 2008- 2012: I was trying to be a TV writer with pitching my script and blogging.

In 2011- Aug. 2014: I started writing 3 emails a week with these topics.

1. Jobs, careers, and business: I write about the business news and job interviews I attended.

2. TV, movies, writing: I am to show what I learned about writing onto my blog.

3. These can vary: 

Shopping 

My personal life

Charity


2013 The Year of the Office Job: I got hired full- time at the Office Job and was working at a restaurant on the weekends.

I also accidentally offended my friend when I made a joke about one of her interests.  I was relying on her too much.  I apologized to her a few times in emails.

I was still writing.

In 2008- 2013: 

95% of the blog was my writing.  

The other 5% is where I copy and paste people's comments or news from the internet onto my blog.


2014 The Year of Education and Research: I started copying and pasting more from the internet like college programs I was researching.

In Sept. -Dec. 2014: I got accepted into the Office Assistant program at MacEwan University.  I took a Microsoft Word 2010 computer class and a Business Communication class.  I was also working part- time (4 days) at the hotel restaurant job.

I was very busy so I decided to copy and paste all these book reviews and author interviews from the newspaper that I cut over the years onto my blog.

I bold parts that I like and make comments on it.

In 2013- 2014: I had veered away and I felt like I wasn't going to be able to become a TV writer and producer.



2015 The Year of the Office Job and Dating (and Decluttering): I got hired at the Home Installation place and was working there and my hotel restaurant job on the weekends.  

I was very busy so I copy and paste all these job articles from the newspaper that I cut over the years onto my blog.

I bold parts that I like and make comments on it.

It has been like that ever since.

It has now turned to 95% news articles and 5% my writing.

2016 The Year of Decluttering: I put the "my week" part to tell about my personal life.


Feb. 4, 2022 Current events/ crazy news: I put this in my weekly email/ blog post in the "my week" part.

I could a put a link of the news article onto my Facebook account as soon as I see the article.

However, I need to put a limit to how much news I'm reading and the time I spend on the internet.

The 3 weekly email/ blog posts is enough.



Real life: I apply the information I read into my life.

Example: I read the job articles and business news to help me look for a job and learn how to be more productive.



Jul. 31, 2022 News articles: I have articles that I saved onto my email/ blog accounts from 2015.


I read the business news mainly from:

CBC
BNN Bloomberg
Financial Post

Current events: 

Yahoo

I copy and paste 10-20 articles a week and save them onto my email/ blog accounts.

I am only allowed to send/ post 3 emails/ blog posts a week.

That is because you will be overwhelmed if I post more than that.

There is the saying "Less is more."

You are more likely to read 3 blog posts than 10 blog posts a week.



Dec. 14, 2022 What would you have done differently on your blog?:

News articles: I wrote about news articles from a newspaper, but I didn't write about who wrote it or copied and pasted the whole article or excerpts.

2013 The Year of the Office Job: I would have posted the whole news articles (like job articles) onto my blog.  

When: The date of when it was published.

Who: Who wrote it.

Where: Where it was published.


By Sept. 2014 and definitely by Jan. 2015, I have mainly become this:


I wasn't trying to achieve the goal of being a TV writer and producer anymore.

I don't have to prove myself and show my writing skills and talent. 


What is the main point of Tracy's blog?

This is mainly to show what I'm reading and learning from the news.

This shows my life.

First hand experience and knowledge: These are things I have personally learned and experienced.

Second hand experience and knowledge: These are things I have read, watched, listened or heard about from the news, books, TV, movies, other people's experiences.



I have asked myself the same question: What would you have done differently in achieving your goals in your life?


Tracy's ideal life (as a TV writer & producer, Actor, Office Career) vs. Tracy's real life (Part 1)


Tracy's blog: Tracy's ideal life (as a TV writer & producer, Actor, Office Career) vs. Tracy's real life (Part 1) (badcb.blogspot.com)


Tracy's ideal life vs. Tracy's real life (Part 2)/ "Missing Out: In Praise of the Unlived Life" by Adam Phillips


Tracy's blog: Tracy's ideal life vs. Tracy's real life (Part 2)/ "Missing Out: In Praise of the Unlived Life" by Adam Phillips (badcb.blogspot.com)



The other 2 blog posts of the week:


"A new year won't solve all of your financial problems: Tips for a better 2023"/ "5 ways to set yourself up for financial success in 2023"


Tracy's blog: "A new year won't solve all of your financial problems: Tips for a better 2023"/ "5 ways to set yourself up for financial success in 2023" (badcb.blogspot.com)


"How to pay down debt quickly according to the experts"/ "Experts share tips for young Canadians finding themselves in debt for the first time"


Tracy's blog: "How to pay down debt quickly according to the experts"/ "Experts share tips for young Canadians finding themselves in debt for the first time" (badcb.blogspot.com)

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"How to pay down debt quickly according to the experts"/ "Experts share tips for young Canadians finding themselves in debt for the first time"

Dec. 12, 2022 "How to pay down debt quickly according to the experts": Today I found this article by Iva Poshnjari on BNN Bloomberg:


Canadians who have taken on debt may be looking to pay it back as soon as possible as fears of a recession loom ahead. 

The average Canadian is in debt by $21,188 as of September 2022 (excluding mortgage debt), according to Equifax Canada. Credit card balances in particular reached a record high of $2,121, the survey showed. 
 
Servicing debt amid growing calls for an economic downturn is likely to be top of mind for Canadians who are already battling with a rising interest rate environment. The best way to get out of this debt quickly is to find a strategy that works specifically for you and stick with it, experts advised. 
 
There's two common strategies people use to tackle their debt, one is logical and the other is emotional, Natasha Macmillan, the director of everyday banking at Ratehub.ca, said in a phone interview. 
 
“Some people choose to pay off the credit card with the highest interest rate first, this is commonly referred to as the avalanche method (logical strategy), 

while the second is the snowball method (emotional strategy), where you tackle paying off the credit card with the lowest balance first,” Macmillan said.   
 
She added that either strategy has proven to be successful so long as you stick with it.
 
For those who have chosen to remain committed to paying off their debt, making more frequent payments will help pay the debt down faster, Macmillan added.  
 
“One tip is to make weekly payments instead of monthly,” she noted.  
 
Being regimented in your plan to get out of debt is the key to the process, one expert explained. 
 
It comes down to living within your means and changing the habits that caused the problem, Bruce Sellery, the chief executive officer of Credit Canada, stated.  
 
He recommended implementing the five-step process below to eradicate your credit card debt. 

 
LAY THE FOUNDATION 
 
Begin by writing down every single lender you owe money to, 

and how much you owe them, 

followed by the interest rate on each credit card 

and the minimum payment, Bruce explained. 
 
“This first step is all about transparency and figuring out what's actually going on in your personal debt picture,” he said.  

 
DETERMINE WHAT YOU WANT
 
Once you know where your debt stands, it's time to figure out when you want to be out of it and get clear about the timeline, he added. 

 
DEVELOP A PLAN
 
With the period set, you now have to figure out the exact amount of money you want to put towards debt payments every month, Sellery said. 
 
“Let's say you'd like to pay $400 a month to debt, your priority is to find out how you're going to come up with that money. 

Is it cutting back on an entire expense category from your budget, like no longer dinning out or using Uber Eats? 

Or, is it going to be picking up a second job to put that cash towards your debt," he advised. 

 
TAKE ACTION
 
Here's the tough part — you actually need to do the thing you committed to in step three, he said. 

 
STAY ENGAGED
 
“Don't lose your momentum until you're done reaching your goal,” he noted. 
 
Sellery added that staying out of debt will come down to changing behavioural habits.

If you have an addiction, such as gambling or substance abuse that kept you in debt, you should seek professional help.
 
“If you don't find a way to change your habits, you will rack up that credit card debt again,” Sellery cautioned. 
 
Canadians who are particularly worried about clearing their debt before the risk of a recession, may benefit greatly from seeking outside help, Julie Kuzmic, the senior compliance officer of consumer advocacy at Equifax Canada, stated. 
 
“A lot of people are not aware that there are non-for-profit credit counselling agencies who will give free sessions to anyone,” she said  
 
These organizations will sit with you and comb through your credit for free, while creating tailored strategies to get you out of debt, Kuzmic added. 
 
She explained that many people hold a lot of shame and fear around their debt situation, which may stop them from seeking help. 

However, it's particularly the decision to have an open dialogue with yourself about your debt that can help you to get to the other side of it, she noted. 
 
“If you want to get out of the situation, you have to be honest about the situation,” Kuzmic, said. 
 
Support links: If you're seeking help for addictions, you can reach out to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction



My opinion: I like this part the most and can be said about any situation or problem:

“If you want to get out of the situation, you have to be honest about the situation,” Kuzmic, said. 


Dec. 20, 2022 "Experts share tips for young Canadians finding themselves in debt for the first time": Today I found this article by Caitlin Yardley on BNN Bloomberg:

While enrolled in university, Eloho Orogun was approached on campus to apply for a $500 student credit card, advertised as a means to improve his credit score.

Met with a self-described shopping problem, it was not long before Orogun opened a second student card with a larger limit.

"The more money I had, the more debt I would get myself into," he said.

Poor spending habits and a lack of understanding of how credit cards work led him down a debt spiral that took him seven years to break.

A report from Equifax Canada published earlier this month found that Canadians 35 years of age and younger owe the least amount of money, but are the worst at paying off their credit card balances.

The average delinquency rate among Canadians in the third quarter of this year was seven per cent higher compared with the same time last year. That number was higher among young Canadians with the 18-25 category seeing a 33 per cent rise and an 11 per cent increase for those between the ages of 26 and 35.

Rebecca Oakes, head of advanced analytics at Equifax Canada, said there were far fewer missed credit card payments during the pandemic, whether from spending less money or with the help of government support.

While delinquency rates are still below pre-pandemic levels, Oakes said that the increase could indicate challenging times to come.

"It's not an alarm bell yet, but there is clearly some financial stress starting."

Natasha Macmillan, director of everyday banking at Ratehub.ca, said there are two main reasons for the upward trend.

The first is pent-up spending from the pandemic as many are looking to go on vacation and to the events they felt unable to attend during the pandemic.

The second is the impact of inflation, with financial pressure making more people turn to their credit cards for support.

Oakes said younger age groups tend to be a little more susceptible during periods of high inflation because their incomes do not adjust in the same way that other generations' might. She said young people are also less likely to have higher savings that can offer a buffer against high prices.

On top of the rising cost of living are the added expenses of festivities and gifts brought by the holiday season.

 It is easy to spend far more during this time of year, but Oakes said that it is important to consider future repercussions.

"Come January, February, can you make those payments? That's always a good place to start," she said.

Instead of buying extravagant gifts, Macmillan said to consider making presents or doing a Secret Santa gift exchange to cut down on the number of gifts bought.

If you do find yourself struggling to manage debt, Macmillan suggests tracking your monthly spending and creating a budget, especially to pinpoint where non-essential expenses can be trimmed.

"Calculate your average monthly budget and see what you have left over to put toward your debt repayment," she said.

Macmillan recommends two methods to pay down mounting debt: 

the avalanche, paying down the debt with the highest interest rate first, 

and the snowball, paying off the smallest balance first for one less thing to worry about.

"It really depends on what works for people and where they get those little wins."

Orogun took an aggressive approach to finally break out of his debt cycle.

He put all of his money that wasn't being used for essential payments towards paying down what he owed.

"A credit card is a tool, that means you are the one in control of it, you use it to your advantage," he said.

Experts share tips for young Canadians finding themselves in debt for the first time - BNN Bloomberg


My opinion: I like this part the most:

"A credit card is a tool, that means you are the one in control of it, you use it to your advantage," he said.

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"A new year won't solve all of your financial problems: Tips for a better 2023"/ "5 ways to set yourself up for financial success in 2023"

Dec. 20, 2022 "A new year won't solve all of your financial problems: Tips for a better 2023": Today I found this article by Barry Choi on the Financial Post and National Post:

After the onset of COVID-19, Canadians might have thought they were ready for any curveballs coming their way. However, there’s always something that can take your wallet off guard.

I bet most people didn’t anticipate rising interest rates, falling home prices, and record inflation all in the same year. Canadian debt levels are near record highs, and these financial landmines haven’t exactly helped.

According to Statistics Canada, Canadians now owe $1.83 for every dollar of disposable income they bring in. That’s up from $1.77 last year.

While no one can accurately predict what will happen in the future, let’s look back at the lessons we’ve learned in 2022 and see how we can apply them in 2023.

Interest rates are approaching their peak

Since March, the Bank of Canada has raised interest rates seven times. The overnight rate now sits at 4.25 per cent, which is four per cent higher than where things were when the year started. To give some context, every .50 per cent increase would cost you another $100 each month for every $300,000 borrowed. Those on variable-rate mortgages have already felt the pain, but homeowners that are set to renew soon need to start thinking about their plans now.

During the last policy announcement, the Bank of Canada signalled that it’s near the end of its hiking cycle. That said, additional increases are always possible.

For those in a good financial position, it might be worth considering a shorter term mortgage for now (such as three years) to see how things play out. Now, if you’ve been caught in this rising interest rate environment and it’s given you anxiety, switching to a fixed-rate mortgage might allow you to sleep better.

The rise and fall of home prices

The rise in interest rates has had a direct impact on housing prices. Once rates started to rise, home prices started to fall. While this may have sounded good for potential homebuyers, affordability didn’t get any better. That’s because the cost of borrowing has outpaced the price declines in many markets throughout Canada.

If you’re in the market for a home, don’t try to time things. Sure, a housing crash is possible, but there’s also a possibility that prices increase again. 

If you purchase a home that fits your budget and plan on staying in it for five or more years, then don’t worry too much about the price. 

Think of your home as a place to live and not an investment.

Gas prices have become more manageable

The constant swings in gas prices have left many drivers with road rage. Fortunately, the price of fuel has dropped significantly compared to what we’ve seen over the last two years. While it is possible to save money on gas prices by avoiding high speeds or using price comparison apps (like Gasbuddy), those tips can only get you so far.

Anyone looking to greatly reduce their commuting costs will need to 

drive less, 

take public transportation more, 

carpool,

 or get a job closer to home. 

However, all of those solutions may not be realistic depending on your situation. A better idea might be to think about the future.

When you eventually need to purchase a new vehicle, consider going electric or getting something with a lower price tag to help you keep your monthly expenses down.

Rethink your cryptocurrency strategy

Undoubtedly, cryptocurrency has been all the rage in the last few years. However, some recent events may have shaken investor confidence. With the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, it’s estimated that around $1 billion in customer deposits is missing and that FTX owes over $10 billion to creditors. Suddenly, many people who thought they could handle the volatility of cryptocurrency were having second thoughts as their portfolio values dropped.

There’s nothing wrong with investing in cryptocurrency, but it is a highly volatile investment. When deciding on such products to be part of your portfolio, you need to really ask yourself if it’s worth it. 

If you’ve been burned by a poor investment choice, it might be worth switching to exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or a robo-advisor since they could give you a better overall asset allocation.

That’s not to say ETFs are immune to market fluctuations, but they tend to be more diversified, offering less risk than crypto.

Grocery prices are unlikely to go down

We all know that grocery prices have gone up due to inflation, but the moment I had enough was when a head of lettuce was selling for $9 at my local grocery store. I immediately cut salad out of my meal plans.

Unfortunately, it’s unlikely we’ll see relief in the aisles, so it may be worth considering the following if you want to keep costs down:

  • Buy in bulk whenever you can to reduce your overall costs

  • Meal plan for the week based on what’s on sale

  • Switch to less expensive protein options, such as beans

  • Purchase dried beans instead of canned

  • Price match if your grocery store allows it

  • Join the store loyalty program so you can earn points that can be redeemed for free groceries later

You’re not alone

If all of these financial headlines have left you shaken, you’re not alone. According to the fifth annual edition of the IG Wealth Management Financial Confidence Index, Canadians have seen their “financial confidence” drop by 11 per cent, compared to the same period last year. Those aged 35 to 54 saw the biggest decrease, down 17 per cent.

For some, it may make sense to consult a financial advisor in order to iron out financial priorities and get more coaching on budgeting and saving.

Even though many Canadians are still confident about their individual situations, there’s no denying that what’s happened in the last year has had some impact on their budgets.

Looking back at what’s happened can help, but don’t let it leave you in a shock. It’s always best to plan for the future. How you do that will depend entirely on your personal situation.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Look forward to the new New Year, not back: Here are some financial | National Post


Dec. 27, 2022 "5 ways to set yourself up for financial success in 2023": Today I found this article by Barry Choi on the Financial Post: 


Last year hit Canadians pretty hard. Depending on your situation, you might have slid further into debt, or simply failed to save as much as you wanted to. If you were one of the lucky ones, you were able to buy a house or pay down debt. Whatever your situation, there are likely some short- or long-term financial goals you want to achieve in 2023.

Whether you’re worried about a recession or you’re looking to plan for your retirement, the money moves you make now can have a significant impact on your finances in the new year and beyond. Here are 10 tips to help you get started on the right path in 2023.

Focus on debt repayment

Getting ahead is impossible if you have consumer debt, especially with interest rates rising like they have in 2022. 

As a general rule, you should always focus on high interest debt first, such as credit card debt and consumer loans. 

One way to bring your balance down is to take out a line of credit from your financial institution. This will allow you to transfer your credit card debt to your line of credit, which typically has a lower interest rate. 

Since interest rates have been rising in Canada, the rates offered with lines of credit have also increased. That said, they’ll still be lower than most credit cards.

Set some realistic savings goals

Generally speaking, you want to set some short- and long-term goals. Depending on where you are starting from, this could be building an emergency fund or investing for the first time. 

The idea here is that by having financial goals in place, every money decision you make moving forward will make a difference. For example, if you know you want to save a down payment for a home, you may decide to eat out less since every dollar spent is being taken away from your ultimate objective.

Also, make sure you’re using the right accounts for your goals. 

The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) contribution limit for 2023 is $6,500. Check your contribution room with the Canada Revenue Agency, as you may have more contribution room you haven’t used yet. 

TFSAs are a great place for both short and long-term investing. If your focus is on retirement planning, use your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). For those planning to buy their first home, keep an eye out for the new Tax-Free First Home Savings Account, which should be available in the spring of 2023.

Buy in bulk

Canadian food inflation has been down month-over-month, but it’s still up more than 10 per cent compared to the same time last year. To combat this inflation, consider buying in bulk whenever certain items go on sale. Some of the more expensive items you should target include meat, coffee, pasta, and butter. Pasta alone saw a 44 per cent price increase.

Use your local library more

Without a doubt, libraries are the single best resource to save money. These days, libraries offer more than just books and free newspapers. You can now get ebooks, DVDs, and even video games, often digitally. In addition, some libraries offer transit cards, and attraction passes for free.

If that wasn’t enough to bring you back, note that many libraries also offer free on-site education programs and activities for kids and adults. It’s worth checking to see what yours offers, as there might be things you would never have expected. For example, the Toronto Public Library has Presto transit cards and attraction tickets that you can borrow for free.

Put a stop to your impulse buying

Whether it be a $5 or $500 purchase, impulse buys can destroy your wallet. If you find yourself pulling out your card far too often, set a purchase limit for yourself that requires you to wait a certain time before you buy something. 

For example, you could tell yourself that you’ll wait a week before buying any non-essential item that costs $100 or more. If that week passes, and you still want the item, then buy it. That said, there’s a good chance you’ll realize that you don’t actually need the purchase. If a week seems extreme, set a 24- or 48-hour rule instead.

Even though you may have already set a goal to reduce your impulse buys, you may need to take things a step further. It might be a good idea to ban yourself from certain stores or aisles. 

For example, the record shop, Amazon, or the snacks aisle. Let’s be honest, there are just some things we can’t resist. Once the item is in front of us, we find ways to justify the purchase. If you don’t expose yourself to these situations, you’ll end up spending less.

Don’t be afraid to spend a little

While the focus of this list has been saving money, it makes sense to dedicate some of your funds to hobbies, activities with your family or things that will be meaningful to you. 

There’s no point in working hard and hoarding all of your money if you can’t enjoy yourself. If you keep your short- and long-term financial goals at the forefront, you can responsibly set money aside to go out with friends, or take a long awaited vacation. With some discipline and planning, you can enjoy your money while also watching it grow.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

5 Money Moves to Make to Set Yourself Up For a Successful | Financial Post


My opinion: There are 6 tips.  I know about buying in bulk and these other tips.


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