millennialmoney

[millennialmoney]

5 Tax Tips on How to Get Your Money Back for 2020

Hi everyone! 

Given that 2020 has been such a whack year, with the pandemic and economic recession, I wanted to touch upon a topic that no one likes to or ever talks about to their friends. So there is some ease in knowing how to get some money back, and this is TAX!

Tax has always been a sensitive topic, since we always assume that it is a very complicated subject. I had the same assumption, but when I started filing my own taxes, I started to realize that it wasn’t as bad as I thought. As my university professor said, there are 2 things you cannot avoid in life, death and taxes! Even if you don’t pay your taxes this year, the government will make sure you pay 

I have 5 simple tips to maximize your tax refund for the 2020 tax year for my fellow Canadian friends! Especially for those who have been working from home since the start of this pandemic.

1) Home Office Expenses

For those of you working from home this year, you might want to pay attention to this! Given the abnormal circumstance this year, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has become more lenient by expanding the number of home office expenses that can be deducted against your net income for tax purposes on your personal tax return.  

There are normally two criteria that have to be met, in order to deduct the home office expense:

i) The work space is the place where the employee performs their employment activities, at least more than 50% of the time

ii) The employee performs their employment activities exclusively in the work space to earn employment income

Given the nature of the pandemic, you only need to meet one criteria to be eligible to deduct home office expenses. 

Examples of home office expenses:

-Home office supplies -Electricity/heating/water -Rent, if the home is rented  -Portion of the condominium fees to maintain the condominium

Make sure you start to keep track of these expenses. Keep in mind that you can only deduct your home office expense based on the square footage of the home office divided by the total square footage of your home.

For example, if the total square footage of your home is 1000 square feet, but your home office is only 100 square feet, the total home office is expense is limited to 100/1000 square feet = 10% x home office expense. 

Remember to clarify with your employer that your work arrangements have been established before you can deduct these expenses! 

2) Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)

Whether you just started in your career, or have worked a couple of years, it is always a good idea to buy RRSPs as there is a short and long term advantage. The short term advantage is you are able to deduct the amount you contributed towards your 2020 taxable income. In layman’s term, it means that if you earned $30,000 for the whole year and you contributed $1000 in RRSPs. You will only be taxed on $30,000 less $1000 which is $29,000. This will reduce your overall taxes if you have any to be paid. Meanwhile, the long term advantage is you are saving for your retirement and accumulating wealth over the years. However, what most companies do not tell you is that if you take money from your RRSP for emergencies, you will get taxed on that amount in the year you take it. An RRSP is simply a tax deferral investment, and when you are finally ready to take it out when you retire, you will be taxed on it. As such, it is definitely advantageous to buy RRSP’s now since it will help you reduce your taxes payable and maximize your refund for the year! 

3) Charitable Donations Tax Credits

I am sure most of us have already donated to at least one charity in our life. However, did you know that the tax receipt you get from United Way or the Salvation Army can be used to reduce your taxes? Well now you do! 

Charitable donations are non-refundable tax credits that can help you reduce your taxes owed to the CRA. Where the maximum you can claim is limited to 75% x your earned income. You do not have to worry about how to calculate the charitable donations credits. As CRA has a link: (https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/tax-packages-years/general-income-tax-benefit-package/5000-s9.html) for you to input your total charitable donations, and it will determine the eligible credit to be inputted in your tax return. 

Remember to always ask for a tax receipt after each time you make a donation. You are helping a great cause while helping you save your tax dollars!

4) Tuition Tax Credits 

Whether you just started working or worked a few years, there is a chance that you will still have unused tuition tax credits if you have never explored this. The great thing about working after you graduate from university are these tuition tax credits. This is also a non-refundable tax credit, where it will reduce your taxes owed to the government. Any unused amounts can be carried forward indefinitely until you can use it up. However, you can also transfer this tuition tax credit to your parents if you decide not to use it. This can help alleviate their tax burden, if any. 

For example if the tax rate is 15% and you paid $5000 in tuitions for the year, then you are eligible for $750 worth of tuition tax credits.

For those of us who don’t know exactly how much tuition tax credits, you can create a personal account with the CRA here: (https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/e-services/e-services-individuals/account-individuals.html) This online portal will outline how much tuition credits you have over the years and you don’t need to stress over how much is eligible or not. Tuition tax credits are a great tool to reduce your tax bill and maximize your tax refund. 

5) Child Care Expenses

If you have young children at home and you and your spouse or partner have paid for their daycare, summer camps, and various extra-curricular activities. You or your spouse can claim these child care expenses to maximize your tax refund. Keep in mind that only the lower earning spouse can claim these child care expenses each year. 

There is a threshold on the maximum child care expenses you can claim:

i) Up to $5000 in child care expenses if your child is between 7-16 years old

ii) Up to $8000 in child care expenses if your child is 7 years old and under

iii) Up to $11,000 in child care expenses if your child is disabled and eligible for a disability tax credit and it can be any age

As such, any eligible child care expenses can certainly help your family reduce the taxes and maximize the tax refund. 

All in all, the 5 tax tips discussed above are the most common deductions and tax credits that are useful ways to help you and your family get money back for the 2020 tax year. Remember, when you are filing your taxes it shouldn’t be a chore, it is value add knowledge that you can help you and your family get money back from the government! 

[millennialmoney]

6 Millennial Money Tips

Growing up, it was always instilled in my childhood that having good money management skills is an important aspect to live a “successful” life. As my mom had always said, no matter how much money you make, if you cannot save a portion of it, you’ll always be worse off than everybody else. 

However, from my point of view as a millennial, it is very difficult to save money. We burden ourselves with student loans, credit card loans, car lease payments and many more in our 20′s. How are we ever able to save for a down payment for a home? Or have excess money to investment to create a stream of passive income? It depends on everyone’s situation and goals when it comes to saving money. As such, I want to share my financial management tips that helped me manage my finances effectively throughout my teenager years to 20s. 

Millennial Money Tip(s):

1) Using your debit card as opposed to cash. Personally, whenever I use cash I can never grasp what I spent it on and how much I spent it on. My debit card helped me track what I spent my money on. I currently use the Simplii Financial debit card, because there are no fees associated with the usage and you can get two free cheque booklets. Whenever I log on to my online account, I can see what I spent my money on, and if there is a growing trend of buying things I don’t need. I will minimize my spending for the next month. 

2) Try to make sure your outstanding credit card balance meets the 30% rule, where your credit card balance is 30% or less than the entire credit card limit. So that you wouldn’t be a high risk borrower for the banks and creditors. This will also keep your credit score on track in the 700′s score and more (in Canada). 

3) Always know what outstanding debt/obligations you have on a monthly basis, and ensure to account for it as part of your monthly net income calculation. You can use an excel spreadsheet or journal to keep track of it. The illustrative example is below: Student loan payment per month = $200 Credit card payment per month = $300 Car payments per month = $300 Insurance payments per month = $100 Rent per month = $800 Total expenses per month $1,700 (a) Monthly income = $2,500 (b) Net savings (c) = (b) - (a) = $2,500 - $1,700 = $800 

Once you know exactly where you money goes towards, your true savings net to $800 per month x 12 months = $9,600 per year

4) ALWAYS STAY ACCOUNTABLE to your monthly debt, and never miss a credit card or student loan payment. This will help you focus on the fact that you want to pay off this debt sooner, rather than later. Keeping yourself accountable will make you a reliable and credible individual. 

5) Ensure you have an emergency fund. Based on the example from above, $800 per month can go towards your emergency fund. Considering there is a pandemic going on right now, you never know what might happen to the economy and having this emergency fund will help get through the tough times. A lot of people say that an emergency fund should be 3-4 months of your income, but in my opinion it can be flexible. As long as you started saving for an emergency fund, you know you are on the right track to accumulate your wealth.

6) Minimalist Lifestyle - reduce spending on the the latest fads and trends. I used to be a victim of marketers where I would line up for the newest iPhone at the Apple Store. As I got older, I realized that as long as I have a phone that works based on my needs, I don’t have to splurge on the latest iPhone. As a girl, I always loved going to Sephora and spending a couple of bills on make-up just because I wanted to try different products. Now that I understand my make-up routine, I only buy what I need when I need it. Having a more minimalist lifestyle has helped me save more money for what is more important in life. 

Money is a wonderful thing where it can help us achieve our goals and dreams, but if you are not careful with it. Then it can be your worst nightmare. We live in a society, where businesses are constantly on the hunt for our hard earned money. As a I got older, I realized that I was never felt satisfied after buying those shoes or jacket I wanted. Instead, as I channeled my energy to working out, blogging and working on my e-commerce business. I started to feel more purposeful knowing that I can start to do what I like while accumulating wealth at the same time. These tips I have shared with you have definitely helped me and will continue to help me manage my finances effectively. 

[millennialmoney]

Part 2: A Letter to My Boo

Dear boo, 

I never thought I would be able to find someone special until my late 20′s. However, you have showed me what unconditional love and selflessness means. Before I met you, I was taking a pause on the dating life. Partly because I was healing from a hurtful break-up, and secondly I never felt like I could connect with anyone fully on an emotional level. 

When I first met you, I thought you were a cool guy because you had similar beliefs like me. From small things like wearing a Nobis winter jacket, because you wanted to stand out like I did and not wear Canada Goose like everyone else. To listening to explicit gangster rap artists like Eminem, Dr. Dre, and more. We started off as good friends and we were almost like “bros” where we could talk about anything. It felt right having a friend like you, and having this foundation allowed us to be comfortable with who we were around each other. 

Once we started dating, we discovered each other’s strengths and weaknesses and it kept evolving into a strong and selfless relationship. I appreciate the fact that you give me guidance on life like a mentor, and always tell me to put my head up high and stay positive. As life won’t always go our way, but having positive thoughts and a positive attitude will eventually lead to great things. Knowing me, I struggle with not letting little things bother me, and can easily end up in negative thoughts. But you always tried to console me and give me talks to indicate that life isn’t as bad as I thought. You are always so positive and cheerful, even when you are going through your own struggles. As the yoga teacher tells us during a cooldown, do the “happy baby” pose, and you are certainly my happy baby. 

You have given me invaluable experiences from dining at Alo, Shousin Omakase, to our unforgettable Asia trip and networking experiences that helped me grow as a person. If I am unhappy, I know I can lean on you for support and have a shoulder to cry on. I hope we can continue this journey called “life” with each other, and we both grow professionally together in our respective fields. Thank you for helping me heal and find light in my darkest times. For that, I am always grateful for your love and support. 

Love you, 

Your happy baby 

[millennialmoney]

A Letter to my Ex: Dear Mister T...

I never thought I would be writing this, but here I am, after roughly 6-7 years of the end of the relationship to gain final closure. Don’t get me wrong, I no longer have feelings for you nor would I care about your life. However, there was always a slight inkling that bothered me, because we never got closure after ending our relationship with each other. We only ended the relationship via Facebook, and that was it. I never saw you nor spoke to you ever again. Sounds rough, am I right? So here I am, expressing my final thoughts about this past relationship. 

Mister T, I want to say you are the biggest big coward I have ever met in my life for not wanting to meet up to gain final closure. How hard was that? We could have literally met for 10 minutes and say our final goodbyes. I just found that really pathetic and sad that it had to end that way between us. Considering the fact that we knew each other since we were young kids. You can say we were almost like good friends before dating each other. I had the decency to consider you as a friend even after we broke up, but that feeling was not mutual. 

We had our ups and downs back then, but the connection we had was a special one. Connection, meaning we had a similar childhood and upbringing. From the beginning, we knew each other in a grade 3 Saturday math class, and fast forward a couple of years we went to the same public school in grade 8. Little did we know, both our parents bought a house in uptown Toronto and we attended the same high school there. We only became close friends and later a couple when we were in grade 12 and even attended the same university together after. Others didn’t know why I dated you since they thought you were blubbery, below average looking, and condescending. However, I saw another side of you, a softer side. You were my first boyfriend and prom date. I remembered you popping out of the bushes along a walkway that led to my house, and you scared the sh** out of me at that time. However, that was your version of your “prom-posal” to ask me to prom with a bouquet of roses. It was a very heartfelt moment for me then. I still remember we made sure to sync our university schedules to be similar so we could see each other while attending class together. Even though we were broke university students, we tried to make the best out of it. We would always commute to school together, and use our metropass to take the streetcar to Chinatown to have pho or Chinese food while exploring the city on a budget. We certainly spent a bulk of our young adult life with each other. While participating in student groups and recruiting events together. I felt like we were trying to grow professionally together back then.

As time grew, our love for each other grew apart and we wanted different things. You would always want to hang out with your friends over me, and worse, go missing in action. I still remember I texted where you were, but you did not respond me for the entire weekend, and it turned out you were partying it up with your friends in Montreal. That was another jab to the fragile heart in this tender relationship. I felt like there was no respect or communication anymore, and there was no point in continuing in this dead end relationship. We finally broke up at the end of my third year in university via Facebook, and you were no where to be found, seen or heard from. Truth be told, one my close friends informed me you had already moved on with a new partner. Even so, to be respected as a true gentlemen, it does not hurt to give each other closure to end the relationship fairly with one another. For that, you were not able to do. Which is why you will always be a coward in my eyes. Fast forward to January 2020, I saw you at a networking event, and you only looked at me and said nothing. Like the coward you are, so in return I only stared and did not say a word either. 

However, I thank you for opening up my eyes about you as a person. You hurt me like no one else did, and I know I cannot be friends or acquaintances with someone like you. I have learned over the years that people like you or friends come and go, and I accept it because it is life. Not everyone can always be good friends, as our paths will always shift from one place to another. Despite this being my last expression about you, this gives me relief and final closure on this book that have ended years ago. For that, I am grateful to be the person I am today because of what had happened in the past. The future is bright I am looking forward to what lies ahead. 

Regards,

S

[millennialmoney]

Let me first say...wow! It’s been 7 months since I’ve last blogged. A lot has happened over these last couple of months, I worked my second busy season and I also went to Vegas for the first time baby! 

Also known as Sin City, The city that never sleeps and you name it. This trip was a unique one for me, because it was the first time I travelled with a bunch of girls without parent supervision. Talk about adulting! It was definitely a great experience. Las Vegas is such a beautiful city with so much to do. From night clubs, day clubs, shows, food, to shopping, it was all there. Of course, being in Vegas for the first time, all of us did the Vegas thing by going to the famous clubs like Hakkasan, Wet Republic and Omnia. The best part was, we got in for free for all of these clubs while being able to see Calvin Harris and Zedd live. It’s all about getting to know the promoters to get on the guest list for these events. 

The thing that shocked me the most was each hotel on the Vegas strip was like a mini metropolitan. Once you go inside, it is another world. They have everything, and we got lost many times trying to find some place as simple as the pool or food court. If we were to explore every hotel bit by bit, it would take months to experience it all. One of the highlight of my trip was watching one of the Cirque Du Soleil show, “Ka” that was played at the MGM Grand hotel. It was a beautiful performance that encompassed talent and creativity. Literally, my jaws dropped throughout the show. I was so impressed by the amount of detail that goes in the show. It was definitely worth every penny to see it. 

However, the most exciting highlight of my trip was going to the Grand Canyon. We went on the last day of our trip, and the drive back and forth was a total of 10 hours. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime to see one of nature’s beautiful creation. When I was looking over the Canyon, the first thought in my head was “One wrong step, and you’re done for”. Especially since there’s minimal fencing to protect you from falling over. However, I was in awe at the fact that something like that was all formed over millions of years by nature. It also made me realize how small everything is compared to the size of the Canyon. It made me more appreciative of my life and the place I live in. We occupy such a small space on this earth, so we should live life to the fullest and enjoy the ride. Once everything is gone, it’s gone. This trip certainly gave me a sense of enlightenment and I had so much fun. I can’t wait to travel soon and share my experiences again. :) 

With love,

S. 

[millennialmoney]

23 lessons by 23:

It’s almost the end of another year, and with the holidays quickly approaching. There is finally some down time to reflect and be thankful for all the blessings and events that happened in my life. 

As I think deeper, there are 23 important things I’ve learned throughout my young life.

1) Always have a grateful heart, because if we constantly want more we are never satisfied and happy with life.  2) Sleep is crucial for a healthy mind and body and I’ve learned it the hard way after performing poorly on certain things.  3) Your family is your biggest support system. 4) Never forget people who have made an impact on your life and stay connected with them. 5) There will always be unkind people in this world who try to put you down or harm you. The silver lining in this is to learn from it and use it to build a stronger character. 6) Always try to set goals that you can and want to achieve. No one can dream small, but only dream big! 7) Live each day to the fullest because you never know what will happen. 8) Life is not constant and changes can happen in the snap of our finger. Being able to adapt to the changes will help us grow and learn. 9) Not everyone will like you so just be yourself.  10) Good friends are hard to find and if you have one be sure to tell them how lucky you are to have them in your life. 11) On top of point 10, friends do come and go and it is an opportunity to meet new people and expand our network. 12) Being financially responsible is a life skill.  13) Failure does not dictate who we are as a person, but a stepping stone to greatness. 14) Relationships aren’t everything. At one point, I felt like I lost my identity because I was so consumed by it and when everything fell apart it was devastating to the heart and soul. Having a balance of family, friends and your significant other will make life more fulfilling. 15) Find mentors and sponsors to learn from and to help you progress in your career.  16) Be realistic about your strengths and weaknesses to truly grow and be successful. 17) Don’t stress over what you can’t control. 18) Complaining about how crappy your life is won’t get you anywhere, but rather think of ways to improve your life if you are unhappy with it. 19) Try to find a balance, and don’t juggle too much on your plate if you can’t handle it, because it will only lead to disappointment.  20) Working out is so important when you start working in the workforce, or else it will be like freshmen 15 again.  21) Experiences are much more fulfilling than material goods. 22) Don’t be afraid to tell someone you trust your problems, as there is always a solution to things in life. 23) Tell your loved ones you love them and how lucky you are that they are in your life! 

[millennialmoney]

Adult Puberty at it’s Finest

So you thought you made it after finishing school, no more books, no more nagging from parents, financial freedom, no more break outs etc... Well I hate to burst that utopia bubble of yours, that isn’t the case. The real deal begins now, a.k.a, “adult puberty”. The puberty that we experienced when we were teenagers was only a matter of physical transformation. On that note, I thought that after we hit our early to mid 20s, we wouldn’t have acne anymore. I was wrong! :( There are some days where my face would be clear and smooth, and the next day it’s like Mount Vesuvius erupted on my face and there are zits everywhere. This factor definitely makes adult puberty way more complicated. 

I think adult puberty is the second stage of puberty, where it’s a mental strength test and transformation. There’s still a need to pursue higher education, stabilize our careers, pay off student loans, bills, and try very hard to save the nickels and dimes that goes towards our savings account and more. It’s a never-ending rocky road ahead. I watched this show called “Single by 30″ and one of the characters mentioned something that really resonated with me. "Being in your 20s suck, you have no money, no direction, and you have no idea what you’re doing.” 

By no means am I complaining about the position I am in right now, but why must this road be so tough and physically tolling? Sometime I have to finish my assignment by 3 am, and the next day I have to run errands or have work. Don’t even get me started on finding that perfect guy and settling down in the next 5-10 years or so, that’s just stress on a whole new level. For now, I just hope I can continue moving forward with the things on my plate and accomplish it. 

Everyday I try to find positivity and embrace the various changes and stress that is going to shape who I will be. It’s definitely hard, but still manageable. Adult puberty sure has a lot of roadblocks and curveballs, but I know I’m not alone. I know that everyone who’s on the same boat as me will make it out alive and shine bright like a diamond one day. ONE DAY. 

[millennialmoney]

I Went to Wonderland, Cause...

So recently I took a some time off to refresh my mind and soul. As opposed to going on a vacation I just stayed in the city, and had a “staycation” (terms people come up with these days amazes me :p). Over the past couple of days I had some work done, went to the dentist, reviewed some accounting notes for my nerve-racking exam coming up, spent some quality time with my family and more. It was nothing special, but I felt like I got important things done.

However, today I went to Canada’s Wonderland to enjoy the last day of my “staycation”. I don’t go to Wonderland often, because the majority of the rides there are really scary and as I age I feel like my heart can’t handle that kind of intensity anymore. Today was different, since I just wanted to go on rides like the Behemoth or Leviathan to have fun, and feel the adrenaline in my body to see if I was still my young self. I have to admit, I loved going on those scary rides because once I made it out, I felt invincible. 

Amusement parks like Wonderland is a place where everyone comes together to have a great time. There’s no “I’m better than him because I am a CFO of XYZ Company” type of attitude here. Since the ultimate goal is to spend time with loved ones and friends while having a great time/experience. It also makes me think that we are so privileged and blessed to be able to have leisure time when we want to. Meanwhile, another family who are just as capable, mobile, and work hard to make ends meet don’t have that chance to because they live in a war-torn city. It’s the little things in life that makes me really happy. Everyday I thank God for placing me in a place of privilege and opportunities to be able to live life. 

[millennialmoney]

Summer had just started, and you know what that means? Breaking the bank by going to different restaurants that are part of “Summerlicious”. Summerlicious is an event that is ongoing for two weeks. In which restaurants from different spectrums have a set menu and fixed price to give customers a taste of what they have to offer. Not only is it a great way to experience different cuisines, but I find that it’s a good excuse to meet up with old friends. Today, I met up with two old friends from Ryerson, and we had a blast reconnecting and talking about our progression at work and life ever since finishing our undergrad not too long ago. 

Of course, being the millennials we are, we took a lot of selfies and pictures of the food that were considered “Instagram” worthy! We went to this place on Queen Street called “Bannock”. My goodness, the food definitely exceeded my low expectations, and it was really delicious knowing that the lunch price was only $18. 

The pictures above are some of the food we all ordered which consisted of:

1) Caramelized Pulled Pork Bannock Burrito 2) Northern Woods Mushroom & Thunder Oak Gouda Bannock Pizza 3) Genelle’s Vanilla Ricotta Cheesecake 4) Sea Buckthorn & Citrus Mousse Mess (Vanilla meringue, raspberry & oat crumble) 5) Ontario Heirloom Tomato Salad 6) Birch BBQ Tri-Tip Steak

Today was a fun day, with good food, great company and also fantastic summer weather! 

[millennialmoney]

Although I always say time flies, it really does! I was scrolling through some of my old pictures, and I wanted to do a flash back/ throw back via a small post. The picture on the left was taken in 2011 when I graduated from high school, and of course on the right, I was at my university convocation in 2015. Obviously I look more mature and older (along with eye bags from studying late at night!) now, but one thing’s for sure. The woman on the right has always got my back! (My Mama Yeung) 

As I hit different milestones in life, she’s always there to see me and take a picture with me to celebrate it. As well as going on my first backpacking trip to Europe, she was also by my side to take care of me and made sure I was alright. (The third picture was taken in the city centre of Rome). 

However, when I hit the low points in my life, whether I experienced a heart break, failing an exam, and having other struggles she was always there to comfort me and talk it out like a ‘friend’. For that, I am eternally grateful that this woman will always have my back, and I hope to be able to continue making her proud and happy that she has a good girl. As well as having her by my side for more life events in the future! 

[millennialmoney]

Roads Diverging.

Lately I’ve been having these so called “quarter life crisis” thoughts on life and the people around me. Despite being a 23 year old, I realized that as I continue the journey of adulthood, my circle of friends either get smaller or people whom I once interacted with are no longer friends. Is this considered the circle of life? Where people constantly come and go. Whereas, when I was in grade 3 I had a couple of best friends, who I thought would continue to remain friends forever. 

When we hit certain age ranges in life, our mentality is different because of influences of various factors. Maybe that’s why we can’t always be friends with the same people. Whether someone got married at a young age, or another moves to a different country to study and work, our beliefs and values slowly shift where it comes to a point that we can no longer be friends with one another. I think it is very unfortunate that people whom I met over the past 19 years of my life are either not on talking terms, or not even friends. The connection and memories we once shared are suddenly a thing of the past. That is why I feel blessed that I am still able to keep in contact with some friends from elementary school and high school, as well as university up till this day. We may not talk a lot, because of work, higher education and other commitments, but one thing’s for sure. 

When we talk, we are able to spark a deep and hilarious conversation over the phone, in person or online. I think that the friends we are able to keep in contact with up until now means that it is a true friendship. Even though I only know a couple of close friends, but to me, that is enough already. Since it’s always about quality over quantity. And to the new friendships I’ve made, cheers to it and I hope it will evolve into a long lasting and beautiful friendship. :) 

[millennialmoney]

The Man in the Mirror.

In the short span of a couple of months there has been frequent news about mass shootings, terrorist attacks, threat to international security and so on. As of yesterday there was a mass shooting inside a club at Orlando, Florida where 49 people were killed. When I heard about it, I was absolutely disgusted at this act of hate and terror, and felt guilty that events like this are happening more and more. Aren’t we living in one of the most technologically advanced stages in human history? Where there is law and order, to prevent harm to people nowadays. 

It makes me question what humanity has come to. Why is there so much hate and anger in this world? Where it leads to killing another human being to get rid of that feeling. Maybe some people still believe there is only one superior human race and the others are inferior. Meanwhile, I grew up in a society where gender equality, and people should be treated with respect no matter what race are the norms and beliefs. When I talk to someone of a different ethnic background, I just see them as a person or friend. It saddens me that there are groups and people who still follow such unorthodox beliefs in this day and age. I really believe in making an impact and change in the world as I grow older and progress in my professional career, but will it make a difference? As some parts of the world are shut off from the rest and non-accepting of change. Hopefully, I can still make a difference for some people, if not all. 

One song that will always resonate with me and be close to my heart is Michael Jackson’s song ‘Man in the Mirror’. The song talks about the fact that if you want to make a difference, you should take a look at yourself first and go from there. By having strong beliefs of something important is what pushes us to strive to make that change. 

“Im Starting With The Man In The Mirror I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change” - Michael Jackson.

I do hope that these people who are committing all of these inhumane acts realize one day that it’s not worth doing what they’re doing. And that they look at themselves to try to be better people. Life is too short to be filled with hatred, but rather, be someone who wants to be the positive change they want to see in the world. 

[millennialmoney]

Soo cute! Can’t wait to get a doggie one day :D

[millennialmoney]

The Clock is Ticking...

Ever feel like you can never get a grasp on time? I realized that as we got older and walk further down the road of adulthood, time simply flies by in a blink of an eye. Whether it is from work, pursuing higher education and so on. 

However, over the past year I have been coming across these topics called ‘marriage’ and ‘settling down’ quite frequently. I never thought that as I hit 22/23 years old that people were ready to move onto the next stage in life after finishing university. I always thought it was finish university, start your career, work hard for a couple of years, save up, and then think about settling down. When I go on my Facebook or Instagram account, there would be public posts about one of my friend getting engaged or who actually got married! I know I am definitely not ready to get married at this age, but at the same time it makes me think “How are people so certain of their future whereas I can’t even take care of myself or find that prince charming yet?” I still live at home with my family and I consider myself as “being sheltered”, as I always got home cooked meals, rides to school, and the constant phone calls from my mom telling me to come home when I go out late. 

Not only do I see these events happening around me, but even some of my close friends tell me that time is starting to run out for them to find that right guy or girl to be in a relationship with. My friend was complaining and joked around saying she doesn’t want to be a “lo gu por” (Cantonese way of saying an old single woman). Although I am happy with how things are going in my life right now. Once in a blue moon, I would have these thoughts of whether or not I will be forever alone too. I mean who doesn’t? Especially since you’re single and you see that some of the friends around you are in long-term and happy relationships already. It would be nice to have someone around to call late at night if something was bothering me, or even just go to the movies with.

I know that things cannot be rushed, and I strongly believe that things will fall in place at the right moment in time. It may seem like the clock is ticking for a lot of people, but I think this is only the beginning of life, especially since finishing university. There are so much more to life than finding your soulmate. From backpacking in Asia, to working in a different country to experience different cultures and customs. I hope that all of my friends and I will find that prince charming or princess one day, but also enjoy life and take it easy! After all - life is as we know it. 

[millennialmoney]

The World is Like a Book.

I’ve been procrastinating for over a year to write this post about my life-changing trip to Europe last year. Why did I decide to write about it in 2016? It’s because I feel nostalgic when I saw social media posts of people I know who are currently travelling right now. As I look back, I am definitely happy and grateful that I got to go to Europe and it helped me put life into perspective. As St. Augustine once said “The world is like a book, those who do not travel only read one page”. I don’t entirely agree with it, because it depends on your personal situations, but if you have the means, then travelling is something that can help make you a better or new person. 

When I went to to Europe, I explored six cities and three countries in the span of three weeks. Starting from Manchester, London, Paris, Rome, Florence and ending it off in Venice. I have to admit, being away from home for that long made me homesick and I even missed ordering a ‘double double’ from Tim Hortons! I accidentally ordered a ‘double double’ at Costa Coffee (the second largest coffee chain compared to Starbucks) in the UK, and the baristas gave me the strangest look. Haha. The experience made me more appreciative of the little things I take granted for when I am in Toronto. 

My trip began in Manchester, and at that time I didn’t want to go there since it was a small city in Northern UK, but my family wanted to go visit my cousins there. When I first landed in the Manchester airport, it was a rainy and damp day. Typical British weather. But when I saw my cousins and their kids waiting to pick us up, I felt so warm and happy. That feeling was almost like reconnecting with long lost relatives. At that point though, it made me realize how fortunate we are to be able to have lots of sunshine and crisp clean air in Toronto in the spring time. Whereas if you check the weather forecast for Manchester, it’s raining day after day. The city was small, streets were narrow, but the best part was they had authentic fish and chips joint on every corner of the streets. By the end of the first day, I had already known my way around the city because it’s that small. On the second day, I just did a solo trekking trip by taking the double decker buses to the city centre like the Manchester Arndale Mall, Manchester Town Hall, Intu Trafford Centre, New Cathedral Street (the designer shopping heaven) and so on. Of course, who can forget Chinese food there. Their dim sum is legitimately a lot better than Toronto restaurants since they had more fried stuff. LOL. The best experience I got out of Manchester was the fact I was able to be reconnect, and be closer with my cousins and their adorable kids. 

So moving onto my next destination, London. I took the bullet train from Manchester to London and once I stepped foot onto the metropolis. I was in love! Red double decker buses everywhere, the famous red telephone booths and mail boxes were just waiting there for me to take a million selfies with. Of course, being the typical tourist, I went to the Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the London Eye, walked around the Piccadilly and Oxford Circus, and also go to Chinatown to get a yummy bubble tea from Cha Time! The strangest thing was the Londoners are obsessed with KFC! There would be a long line up for the bucket of chicken for 20 pound. Which is around $40 CAD. In my mind, I was actually happy we can get cheap fried chicken in Toronto for less than half of $40. But London made me feel at home, because the British people were so polite and friendly. On top of that, the British guys were super attractive with their accents! I would love to go back there one day and spend more time exploring other parts of the city. 

Paris, the city of love. Or that’s what they say. Again, I love love love this city. I felt really lucky that nothing happened when I was there, since it was only three months after the Charlie Hebdo attack. The French cuisine, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Galaries Lafayette, Love Lock Bridge and so on was everything I imagined. I was obsessed with taking a picture at the Love Lock Bridge, because ever since I watched this drama I felt like it was a bucket list destination. Luckily I was able to do so and took great shots there! The best part was being able to try the authentic macarons from Laduree, since they are my favourite desserts. Also, I never realized that the French Metro (subway) was so dirty. It was a lot more advanced than our TTC in terms of having a lot of connecting trains, but the level of hygiene on those trains made me miss Toronto’s clean environment. As well as the Chinese food, because guess what? They don’t have a Chinatown there! It’s mainly Vietnamese people there who make up the Asian population. I still loved every aspect of this Parisian city, because it’s so romantic and relaxing. Hopefully the next time I come, I can bring my significant other as well to this city of love! :) 

Out of all the cities I went to, Rome was actually one of the least desirable place I went to. The highlight of this city was touring the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, trying the famous Gelato and some good old pizza from the pizzerias. I felt that the locals were somewhat racist or they just didn’t like tourists clogging up their city. Not to mention it was around 40 degrees when I went in May. Also, did you know that a public washroom is considered to be very precious and scarce there? Not only did I have to pay 70 cent to use it, but when I went to a McDonalds, there was a code printed on the receipt for you to enter when you want to use their washroom. They are serious about washrooms for customers only. Rome was certainly not what I imagined, but I definitely learned a lot about the locals and customs and also picked up some Italian words like “Ciao” (Hello) or “Prego” (You’re welcome). It opened up my eyes about the Italian culture for sure!

The second last city I went to was Florence, and I didn’t know what to expect. The city itself was very historic and damp because it was raining for the five whole days I stayed there for. I went to the Florence Cathedral, Ponte Vecchio, Mercato Centrale (famous market), the Florence Leather School and so on. What surprised me the most was the Salvatore Ferragamo museum was actually there, and that Florence was famous for their leather. So being the typical tourist as I always was, I bought a leather backpack, and a couple of leather bags. Since once I come back to Toronto, Italian leather will be super expensive again. Till this day, my leather bags are in perfect condition, it really goes to show the superior craftsmanship the Italians use on the leather. However, the highlight of Florence was I was able to meet with my three elementary school friends there! Since they were doing their backpacking trip at the same time too. We explored the city, got lost, tried the famous pappardelle from this food stand called ‘Nerbone’, and just had fun rekindling our childhood friendship. Being half way around the globe with some of the people I’ve known since forever, made me so happy I was fortunate enough to experience these excursions with them. 

The final city of my trip was Venice. Prior to going there, I thought they had cars and public transportation, but nope. I was told the locals there all travel by gondolas or boats. So I was skeptical I wouldn’t have fun there, but I was wrong! Venice was the best Italian city I went to, it’s true what they say “save the best for last”. The city was like a maze, we kept getting lost since the alleyways and bridges all looked the same, but at the same time it reinforced my map reading skills! LOL. The city itself was magnificent, like the Bacino di San Marco (Venice water port), it was simply too beautiful to describe. The Grand Canal was a tad stinky but the clear water was still amazing. Who can forget riding the gondola? It was probably the most expensive 45 minutes spent on a boat (100 euros), but that experience and memory will never fade! As we were riding along the canals, the gondolier actually sang for us! It was such a dream come true, from watching people ride the gondola in the movies to actually being on one myself! The funny part was, the hotel I stayed in was called “Hotel Canada Venezia”, it definitely made me feel at home! It’s amazing how even though the city is surrounded by water, the locals adapted to this lifestyle and made the best out of it. 

All in all, no amount of money in the world can buy back this experience for me. It was a life-changing experience, and travelling from one place to another helped me put life into perspective in which I have never seen before. It made me happier, more appreciative of my surroundings, and also helped me learn new things from different parts of the world. This is only the beginning of my adventures, I hope to continue to explore and become a well-rounded and better person from these experiences. So cheers to more adventures!

S.Y. :)

[millennialmoney]

Pray, Love and Believe.

First off - it’s been way too long since I’ve last posted on my blog! I wanted to post something new today because it seemed like my previous posts were a bit sad/depressing. This one will definitely be a happier one! 

To start, I am finally starting my big girl job! By no means it is easy, since it’s still a steep learning curve. However, I am happy that it is in the field I studied at school. Whereas some of my friends are still either searching or working irrelevant part time jobs. I am definitely grateful for this opportunity. 

However, this isn’t the only reason I am writing this post today. I am writing because I want to thank someone, God. To be honest, I was always an atheist growing up and I never believed in all this religious stuff. My parents aren’t Christians nor Buddhists, even though they do the traditional burning incense for the ancestors during special occasions. As I reflect on the past year, I experienced a lot of pressure. There were times where I felt helpless, couldn’t think straight, and that it was the end of the world for me. I didn’t know what I could do. Then, it hit me, I remembered watching this movie called “Eat, Pray, Love” where Julia Roberts said to pray if there’s nothing you can do.

That’s what I did - I prayed with all my heart in hoping God will hear me and listen to me. Even though I’m not a Christian, I truly believe he is watching over us, when you have a kind heart. More and more events that happened in the past led me to believe he is truly watching over us. For instance, it was my first time going to Europe last May. I was really skeptical and scared, because I was entering a foreign place with language barriers. Especially after the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris a couple of months earlier.  However, when my family, friends and I went there for three weeks, nothing happened. The sun was shining, birds were chirping and the weather was great. Plane rides and train rides were smooth, and no one pick-pocketed us. 

Or whenever a rainstorm was about to start, and I am walking home alone at night. Not a single raindrop will fall down until I entered my home. Whatever I do and wherever I go, I know he is watching over me to make sure I am alright. Julia Roberts was right, just pray. God is accepting of anyone when they truly believe he is there, and I quote from Hillsong United’s song, Say the Word, “For your word never returns void”.

I am really happy he is watching over me and the people around me! - The connection I have with him is definitely stronger, and I hope it continues to grow. Thank you. :)

S.Y. 

[millennialmoney]

Superwoman.

It’s been a while since I blogged, but based on things that have happened these past couple of weeks. I just want to express my gratitude and love towards this important person in my life. My mom. 

Lately I have been feeling really down, because to be honest things haven’t been so smoothly for me. A lot of pressure was building up and there was no way of expressing it without people thinking I am a weak person. The only person I turned to help me was my mom. She told me something I will never forget, “No matter which stage you are in life, I will always be there to support you and help you overcome the problems, because we will only be mother and daughter once”. I was so touched that I am not alone in this difficult time. When I look back on the 23 years of living on this earth, my mom is definitely a superwoman. Especially since she immigrated from China to Canada to find a better life and better future for the next generation. 

She sacrificed so much just so her family would be living well, and her kids would be able to be successful in the future. I admire the strength and courage she endures everyday. Since English isn’t her first language she works at an apparel manufacturer to make a living, and I kid you not that these places are very labour intensive. After work she comes home to cook, clean, communicate with her kids, and put on a happy face so that her own family would not be sad. Sometimes I feel bad for making fun of her job, because if it weren’t for her hard work I wouldn’t be able to go to university and graduate with a bachelor’s degree. If someone were to ask me, who is your role model? Is it Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, or Ellen Degeneres? No, none of these spectacular women would be it. The answer is my mom. From being an immigrant to being a working mom, and raising well-disciplined kids was definitely no easy task for her. For that, I thank her. I thank her for always paying attention to me, and making sure I was well fed so I have the energy to go to school or work. I thank her for giving me a life. I am blessed to be able to call this woman my mom. 

Most women are just incredible in my opinion, it doesn’t matter if they make millions every year. It’s the fact they are able to raise and empower a family and their kids to do well in life, while dealing with life’s many problems. Even if they are divorced or are still married. One of my very close friend’s mom got divorced when she was very young. I admire the fact that as a single mother she was able to raise such a kind, disciplined, and hardworking daughter. When she was missing that male figure in her life. Whereas some people coming from broken homes might do drugs or just give up on life. Meanwhile, my friend, she’s an ambitious young woman who wants to have a career and do well in life. I admire that. Her mom is another example of a superwoman. 

I hope that one day I will be able to support and provide for my mom like the way she did for my little brother and I. I want her to be happy and continue to watch us evolve into successful people. The strength I learned from my mom taught me to never give up easily, especially if there is a significant challenge in life. As I walk further down the road of adulthood, it will only be more difficult. However my strength and perseverance will help me to overcome these challenges, as my mom once did when she came to this foreign country. As Phil Wang from Wong Fu Productions said, “Despite the courage I’ve displayed in some areas of my life, many major events have been due to my own weakness or the strengths of others”.