It’s been too long.

Bonjour fellow Voyagers!

It’s been too long.

In classic Evan Lacey fashion—I overcommitted myself to a weekly blog before I had mastered a monthly blog. Keeping in character, when I fell behind, I panicked and slumped into a routine that justified not writing.

Why am I burdening you with this information? How come we didn’t start the week off with titillating accounts of French fumbling, croissant crushing, and savvy shopping tips? For the simple reason that I need to come clean and be more accountable in life. SO, why not start here in this blog! This is part of my…

…3 POINT REFLECTION

Salut, bienvenu encore à: Surviving New France!

I’m your host, Evan Lacey, and today’s episode is all about looking back! We’re already showing re-runs! Special guest appearances by “Unsettling Loneliness!” “Financial Stress!” and a returning favourite “I literally don’t speak the language.”

I promise it’s not as disastrous as it sounds. In fact, we reached a milestone this month—6 months in the new world. My semi-annual anniversary was what gave me the idea!

1.     It’s really not as bad as you think

It’s easy to be hard on yourself for not being where you expected to be. You’ve graduated, you have your bachelor, you have some close friends and a decent starting job. Or you don’t, and you’re still serving at Jack-Astor’s waiting for that right job offer. You didn’t see your self in this place. In your version you had already conquered Bay Street and would be sailing into your 30’s with a smile and a savings account. Breathe my love, you’re doing fine. I didn’t think I would be 26 with more debt than savings and back to school learning a language for survival. It took some perspective to ask the more interesting question: when I was living in Toronto, did I think that I would be able to speak French by 27? When I was 26, would I be able to say that I had moved to a foreign land, conquering a new city one baguette at a time? It takes a little hindsight to realize your surroundings may not be what you expected, but maybe they’re just what you needed.

2.     Love and other drugs

It’s important to take stock of your circle. Really appreciate the gals that you watch Drag Race with on a…Saturday? I have never watched it. Sorry, I’m a bad gay sometimes. The phone calls and visits from your family. The stupid amount of support from your number ones who, after a night of wheeze-laugh-crying, may end up vomiting purple in their lobby. I am also lucky enough to have a loving supportive partner who challenges me and makes me laugh everyday. I couldn’t imagine doing this alone. Tell your people you love them; it can’t be said enough.

3.     “Yup, that’s knob and tube wiring, that’s going to be about half the budget.”

The title of the section is homage to electricians and the financially rewarding trade that they represent.

It’s also about budgets.

Civics and Careers class never properly prepared me for anything. If I could change the current school curriculum in Canada, it would be to add some basic financial planning skills.

Like hot damn was I not prepared for the shit storm that credit cards are. If you are 18 years old and you want to build credit—don’t. Just delay that shit as long as possible. Every bank wants to get you into that cycle faster than you can say “$28,000 starting salary?” I have made the mistake, several times. I am not a financial specialist. Do not quote me. But if I have learned anything from these last 6 months of financial instability, I have one recommendation. Save your damn money. Think before you spend. When I realized that we would be on a very fixed income I started to reevaluate just how I was spending.

You could be making dinner and lunches in your house every single day. That’s going to save you money already, but can you make it cheaper? Yes, oh yes you can. The best way is to do a once or twice a week shop. PLAN your menu for the week. Plan ahead so that you don’t have to buy limes twice. When you get that far, look at the flyers. It sounds simple because it is. If you have the time to hit a few different stops to save $20, isn’t that worth it?  My preference? Immediate reinvestment: treat your self to that nice bag of coffee, or an excellent bottle of wine, or 3 bottles of “I hate myself” wine.

Never lose the fire. Want something for yourself, but you know, stay humble. My dad strived to get my siblings and I to discover what our fire was. What makes you want to get out of bed in the morning? I’m still searching (ergo the continued attempts at writing) but the common theme that gets me moving is the search for where happiness, excellence and making the world a little better can intersect.

If that coincidentally intersects with a solid cash flow, it would not be a problem.

It’s an upriver battle. Just keep paddling.

À la prochain!

Evan