MONEY, CAR INSURANCE AND ANOTHER VISIT TO RED DEER
Last night I went at Billy Bob's in Red Deer with my cousin Kenzie and discussed money, and how stressful thinking about it can be. Her situation is somewhat similar to mine in that she isn't making much
money at her job. Then she talked about how she could get on working at a oil company and make up to $100,000 after bonuses. I thought that seemed a little outlandish, considering she doesn't need a degree to get that job. I think she may have been exaggerating.
As much as I enjoy my job, the money, or lack of it, gets to me. I made more money (by the hour) when I started working at a sawmill at 17 in Prince George. But I love my job, I enjoy covering sports. If I got paid sawmill-like money for what I do right now I'd be willing to settle in Lacombe the rest of my life. The location is great - right in between Calgary and Edmonton, and only 20 km north of Red Deer. I also love being near a place where there's so much growth and development. Prince George has barely any of it, and Kamloops seems to be growing slowly and surely, but not at all like Red Deer. Experts are predicting that in 50 years Red Deer may double in size, to over 150,000. I wouldn't doubt it, considering it's gone from 60,000 to 80,000 in 15-20 years.
The issue of money only really stresses me out when I'm not working. Last week when I was working at the Globe, taking pictures and writing stories, it was the last thing on my mind. But then yesterday when I looked at the money in my account and realized how much it may cost me to turn my car insurance over I was ready to flip. Nick must know what I'm talking about regarding the whole out of province vehicle inspection I have to get done to get Alberta car insurance, he lived in Peace River for eight months. It's a scam.
I went to the Kal Tire in Lacombe, and the mechanic there told me it's best to get a regular safety inspection done first, so that's what I'm doing. I have an appointment this Friday. Since I'll fail the out of province inspection for anything like a small crack in the windshield, I might as well get the new brake pads and shoes placed on that I've been putting off until before winter, get a new windshield because there's cracks in the one I have, fix up any rust on my car, get a new paint job, new shocks and cough up a good $1500 before it's all said and done. I understand why they have it, I just think it's unfair to ding somebody for little things like a crack in the windshield. It's bad enough gas is $1 a litre right now.
Technically it's against the law to keep a BC vehicle insurance in Alberta for longer than three months. I've been here two. The only exception is if you're going to school here. Maybe I should just sign up for a night course at the Christian college near my place, then I could drive around with a BC vehicle insurance all I want.
I know some of you reading this think if I did less trips I'd save more money. Of course I would, but with Red Deer being as long a drive as the one I used to take to the sawmill in Prince George every weekend while I was there, and so little to do in Lacombe, of course I'm going to drive down there, it's not even a trip really, I don't consider a 15-minute drive to get to a bigger city like Red Deer a trip.
On a different topic, I saw the coolest miniature motorcycles yesterday with my other cousin Kevin while I was helping him move items to his new house. They're only $500 each, and are 2-3 feet long. They go up to almost 70 km/hr. but aren't street legal (no surprise there). I think it would still be fun to find an empty parking lot to rip around in one.
I also checked out Bellini's for the first time last night, it's a bar right beside Billy Bob's that I've just never bothered to check out. Well I'm glad I did because it's a much nicer place than Billy Bob's, and not everything is constructed out of 2x4's in this place. It's bigger, fancier and more like a club with younger people. Plus, it was the first bar I've been to that has a Pizza Hut. I ordered myself a personal pepperoni pizza before hitting the road back to Lacombe.
Today I'm hitting the links for a round of golf with my publisher Susan and the new reporter James. It sould be some fun, and less stressful than dealing with mechanics and worrying about car insurance.
Last night I went at Billy Bob's in Red Deer with my cousin Kenzie and discussed money, and how stressful thinking about it can be. Her situation is somewhat similar to mine in that she isn't making much
money at her job. Then she talked about how she could get on working at a oil company and make up to $100,000 after bonuses. I thought that seemed a little outlandish, considering she doesn't need a degree to get that job. I think she may have been exaggerating.
As much as I enjoy my job, the money, or lack of it, gets to me. I made more money (by the hour) when I started working at a sawmill at 17 in Prince George. But I love my job, I enjoy covering sports. If I got paid sawmill-like money for what I do right now I'd be willing to settle in Lacombe the rest of my life. The location is great - right in between Calgary and Edmonton, and only 20 km north of Red Deer. I also love being near a place where there's so much growth and development. Prince George has barely any of it, and Kamloops seems to be growing slowly and surely, but not at all like Red Deer. Experts are predicting that in 50 years Red Deer may double in size, to over 150,000. I wouldn't doubt it, considering it's gone from 60,000 to 80,000 in 15-20 years.
The issue of money only really stresses me out when I'm not working. Last week when I was working at the Globe, taking pictures and writing stories, it was the last thing on my mind. But then yesterday when I looked at the money in my account and realized how much it may cost me to turn my car insurance over I was ready to flip. Nick must know what I'm talking about regarding the whole out of province vehicle inspection I have to get done to get Alberta car insurance, he lived in Peace River for eight months. It's a scam.
I went to the Kal Tire in Lacombe, and the mechanic there told me it's best to get a regular safety inspection done first, so that's what I'm doing. I have an appointment this Friday. Since I'll fail the out of province inspection for anything like a small crack in the windshield, I might as well get the new brake pads and shoes placed on that I've been putting off until before winter, get a new windshield because there's cracks in the one I have, fix up any rust on my car, get a new paint job, new shocks and cough up a good $1500 before it's all said and done. I understand why they have it, I just think it's unfair to ding somebody for little things like a crack in the windshield. It's bad enough gas is $1 a litre right now.
Technically it's against the law to keep a BC vehicle insurance in Alberta for longer than three months. I've been here two. The only exception is if you're going to school here. Maybe I should just sign up for a night course at the Christian college near my place, then I could drive around with a BC vehicle insurance all I want.
I know some of you reading this think if I did less trips I'd save more money. Of course I would, but with Red Deer being as long a drive as the one I used to take to the sawmill in Prince George every weekend while I was there, and so little to do in Lacombe, of course I'm going to drive down there, it's not even a trip really, I don't consider a 15-minute drive to get to a bigger city like Red Deer a trip.
On a different topic, I saw the coolest miniature motorcycles yesterday with my other cousin Kevin while I was helping him move items to his new house. They're only $500 each, and are 2-3 feet long. They go up to almost 70 km/hr. but aren't street legal (no surprise there). I think it would still be fun to find an empty parking lot to rip around in one.
I also checked out Bellini's for the first time last night, it's a bar right beside Billy Bob's that I've just never bothered to check out. Well I'm glad I did because it's a much nicer place than Billy Bob's, and not everything is constructed out of 2x4's in this place. It's bigger, fancier and more like a club with younger people. Plus, it was the first bar I've been to that has a Pizza Hut. I ordered myself a personal pepperoni pizza before hitting the road back to Lacombe.
Today I'm hitting the links for a round of golf with my publisher Susan and the new reporter James. It sould be some fun, and less stressful than dealing with mechanics and worrying about car insurance.
I don't know a lot about alberta car insurance. Do you get a discount for being a student? If I already have a couple of wrecks on my record, will it be difficult to get insurance at a student rate?
Posted by
Richey |
10:02 AM