where did my money go?$?$?$?$

Some people don't pay attention to their pay cheques (I guess it's not really a cheque anymore but we still call it that).  Some people watch every penny in and every nickel out.  I'm somewhere in the middle.  I do know that January is a bad month for money and it hits hard.  First, you may have some outstanding holiday bills. Second, it seems to be the time when furnaces break down and appliances conk out.  Third, you have to start paying EI again.  Depending on how much you earn, you would have maxed out your EI and CPP payments last June or at least by early fall.  It's always such a nice surprise when that day comes. If you are in category 4, max, that can be around $200 more for each cheque!! Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and we have to start paying again in January.  The cherry on the cake though is the annual payment to stay a member of the Ontario College of Teachers.  I'm never a big fan of theirs and even less so when they are taking $150 of my hard earned money.  I guess it makes it a bit easier that in Simcoe we have our payment split into two, coming off our our January pays.  The first chunk came off on January 2nd and the 2nd installment will come off this Friday, the 16th.  If you aren't currently being paid by the board, you need to make sure you pay the $150 by April 15th.  You should get a reminder in February if that is the case.  We might not like it but we still have to pay.

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