My personal finance journey in Canada starting from 2010 (first 24 months)

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is very tough journey for me to stay in Canada starting from 2010. I did not have a job and I immigrated to Canada without enough working skills and also financial knowledge on April 23, 2010. I like to write down my journey starting from April 23, 2010.

My rich journey

April 23, 2010 

I arrived to Canada, and then I made a transaction almost losing $4,000 dollars based on my real consumption. I purchased Canadian dollars using $17,000 dollars in one transaction, the first day I arrived in Canada. Here is the blog to document my purchase.

Actionable Items:

Learn asking questions. Think about alternatives. Do some research in advance. Do not go for a big purchase any time. I did make mistake on brand new car in 1999 Ford Explorer, 2002 on SONY laptop $1800 us dollars, 2001 Shanghai vacation with my relatives over $6,000 us dollars. I have the issues to handle big projects, I am not a good project manager at all, I could not make a plan and a budget and I was under influence of people.

Anything above $1,000 dollars, there is business opportunities for me to learn save at least 10% cost.

January, 2012 

China vacation over one month. I ended up spending over $5,000 Canadian dollars, more than 50% saving from June 2010 to 2012 January, 18 months full time work.

Here is my cashout in China in one month vacation. I took the cash over $16,000 Chinese yuan. I was an ATM machine; I did not do enough research how to protect myself financially. I chose the wrong time wrong place to take vacation,

Here is the summary of withdraw.

I have to go through the learning process again, how to learn to stay away from impulsive spending, without a budget, and I did not have my own home in the city of Vancouver. My mom had her salary enough for two people expense, her home paid off by me back in 2000. I just spent those cash for a holiday. It was so brutal to learn those financial mistakes I made in January 2019. Personal finance research is a tough business to push through.

Actionable Items:

I also needed to learn how to take vacation. When to take vacation, how long should I take when I have a full time job. I was lucky in 2012 to take one month vacation. The website was not down. A few years later, the website was hacked and I learned that I was luck those years from 2010 to 2014. I should take one week vacation only at most one time, and be a responsible person. If anything happens at work, then I will be back in less than one week. I also need to cut expenses down, say no to a lot of expenses. Specially I should say no to extra spending. I bought over 10 pieces coat prices in 2002 vacation in China alone.

I will write down more challenges I came cross after 2012 January.

I do not take any vacation day in 2010 and 2011. Instead I should take 1 or 2 vacation days to get familiar with small cities near Vancouver, and I should start to learn to invest in real estate. At least I should spend time to study videos on youtube.com.

Big waste

I took FAU graduate study on research from 2010 June to 2011 August, I did  not have income from United States. Instead I paid over $2,000 US dollars to pay 2010 Fall term, 2011 spring and fall term out-of-state tuition. I learned that I cannot make it work for a late project.

$2,000 dollars is over 400 hours work as a minimum wage worker. If my research has value, then some one will pay for me to do the work. I was so scared to stop the program when I signed to quit the program, relinquish my F1-status in 2011.

Summary 

It was very tough first two years in my life in Canada in terms of my personal finance and I did not learn the value of dollars, my vacation of China $5,000 dollars, which can be 30% of 1500 square condo in the city of Yichun, Jiangxi province. I did not learn how much power I can use those money on investment instead of on food, travel, sightseeing, and those cash gift. I like so many expensive things, road trip, winter coats, and gourmet food.

Statistics 

It is easy to come out the loss of all the cash in the following:

$4000 one transaction loss, $17000 US dollar to purchase Canadian dollars
$2000 US dollars tuition
$5000 Canadian dollar one vacation to china

In total, over 10,000 dollar loss.

Opportunity cost - I should invest a condo in Chilliwack with price around $50,000 Canadian dollars in 2011, so I sell it with triple price in 2018.

I no longer can purchase a condo in China since I am in Canadian citizen. But I got Canadian citizen in 2014. I should consider to purchase a home in 2001 in my home town.

The wisdom to take vacation

Nov. 30, 2018

Introduction

It is my personal finance month. I did put together all last paycheck from 2010 to 2018. I like to test and figure out my wisdom to take vacation day off through the years.

Vacation planning

I did not learn well how to plan vacations. Here are the detail for each year vacation:

2010   No vacation, start the full time job June 15, 2010
2011   No vacation
2012   Vacation in Chinese spring festival (One month ?)
2013   No vacation
2014   Vacation in Chinese spring festival (One month ?)
2015   Vacation in October, two weeks
2016   Vacation in October, two weeks
2017   Vacation in October, two weeks
2018   multiple short vacation, see my blog.

Case study: 2012 China vacation one month

Dec. 22, 2018

Introduction

I spent more than one hour to go over the expenses I spent in China one month vacation in 2012. I just could not believe how much I spent. I had debt in USA over $30,000 US dollars in 2012. I like to write a case study on this one.

Case study of my vacation in 2012

Beside the above expenses, I paid for $7000 yuan for airline ticket, $3000 - $4000 for two long distance road trip, and also all other expenses.

I also gave out cash gift over $2,000 yuan called red packet in Chinese new year to relatives. My asset in China is zero, I took out cash from Scotia debit card every day at most $400 Canadian dollars.

I like to go over those purchases and find all kinds of decision making. Why I made the purchase decision, what problem I need to look into solve.

Vancouver airport clothing Hudson

I came cross the jacket with Canada on the sleeves, so I made purchase four of them, giving away as gifts to four sisters. $100 dollars for gift. Do I plan it or not? Have a budget?

Why I paid for expensive medical exams?

I like to go over my decision process. Do I apply 10 hours rule if I decide to spend over near $600 yuan to do medical exams? What is impulsive shopping for medical service? My sister told me that she got annual free exam, and then she shared the exams she had. I immediately went for the exam, and I did not care if Shenzhen is most expensive city compared to my hometown.

Why I chose to spend vacation in January?

The airline ticket costed me over $1000 Canadian dollars. I chose to purchase those foods from Costco. I spent over $100 Canada dollars for extra bag, and then I ended up to pay for all gas $1 yuan/ km to China. Since the train ticket ran out in Chinese new year.

The Air Canada round trip in slow season can be half of the price, I only need to pay less than $3,000 yuan.

Why I purchased expensive leather coat?

Since my sister told me she paid $5,000 RMB for a leather coat, usually she told relatives fake price. I ended up to spend hours to shop the leather mall to purchase a $1200 yuan leather coat.

Looking good but going no where. I need to learn this principle related to personal finance.

Here is the leather coat's receipt.

Healthy food or all kinds of snacks in China

I spent near $1600 yuan in Canada to bring to Yichun, and aslo spent over $2400 yuan on food, all kinds of gourmet food. Food is the biggest waste as well. I paid over $4,000 for one month vacation.

Here is the Costco receipt.

Why round road trip from Shanghai to Yichun?

I prayed the road safety for the trip. My brother was the driver. I came out the idea to purchase food over $500 yuan for road trip, all kind of fresh vegetables etc. to help the driver to stay alert. That was the first day road trip from Shanghai to Wuxi, and then Wuxi to Yichun. 

I paid for all gas and tolling fee from round trip over $2000 Yuan. I also stuck on the highway overnight and slept inside the car on rest stop on highway overnight when my brother drove from Yichun to Shanghai. There was a car accident and we got stuck early in the morning from 1 AM to 3 AM.

The road trip was not safe at all. A lot of speeding and all kinds of issues.

Why round road trip from Yichun to Shenzhen?

Actionable Items

I need to learn how to plan, budget in my personal finance every day. All problems came out and I noticed the danger everywhere. Road trip safety, food safety and all other issues. I tried to cash out crazy with so many $2000 Yuan withdraws.

Do I have to take vacation in Chinese spring break? 2014 I took the vacation again in spring festival, again, I spent over $4,000 Canadian dollars again. In 2014 December I became a Canadian citizen. My coworker as a sales manager told me, Julia, you are a Canadian citizen now, we just had one week break in December. All projects just started in New year. I listened and understood that it is not a good decision for me to a full time programmer to take two weeks a break in Chinese spring festival.

I no longer took my sister's advice to take vacation in spring festival. But not for financial problems of spending problems.

With the above review, I did show poor planning, no budget, impulsive shopping, indulge in food, solve problem without carefully considering the cost, under influence. The vacation was too long, I spent money on the road trip.

Ideas to cut expenses

1. Do not purchase food from Costco, $1600 yuan saving, plus extra bag fee charged by airline;
2. Avoid road trip, it is expensive and not safe. I should not choose to pay fee on road trip over $3000 yuan.
3. Avoid time in Chinese spring festival. Choose April, make it short as one week. Airline ticket saving is $3000 yuan.
4. Do not purchase clothes in airport Hudson, $800 yuan saving. Do not give gift to others, they all are adults.
5. Use vacation day to spend time to go over medical exams if need in Canada. Saving is $950 yuan, I should not choose to do exams in Shenzhen. Choose to study some youtube.com video, learn something cheap.
6. Do not need so many coats. I purchased expensive leather coat $1600, one coat full retail price $400 yuan, three on sale, $100 dollar each. Two other coats for myself, two for my mom as well.
7. That is the last chance that I can purchase a home in China as a Chinese citizen. I do not make my sisters and brother as a business partner, I wasted time on parties on food and nonsense.
8. I am not a good role model for young generation. Discipline, hard working, and self-control on personal finance.
9. Red packet to give out cashes, pay all road trips cost even my brother has to take the road trip by himself for business. This is time for me to negotiate to share the cost.
10. I allowed the relative to act financial irresponsible through road trip. I got into highway and stuck in the middle of night on the highway.
11. Get the salary in the city of Yichun university, a teacher over 20 years annual base salary. Use that to determine how much I should spend in a month.

Case study of my Chinese vacation trip 2012

Oct. 25, 2018

Introduction

It is time for me to do some case study, so I have time to correct my behavior, and learn how to enjoy good life with less expenses. I like to do a case study of my China trip 2012, a vacation trip.

Case study

I like to figure out what kind of person I am in terms of consumer and also an investor. Do I need to learn some basics again? I have a friend who chose to purchase a home in the city of Surrey over five years ago, but she did not take vacation every year to China last 8 years, only one trip to China. And she did not choose to purchase a car and try to save the money, now the home price is more than double.

It is time for me to review what I did, I took China vacation every year from 2012 to 2018. I enjoyed life so much now I have to work on the problem how I can afford a home in Canada. It is time for me to learn how to make money, work hard.

Airline ticket price

I need to spend time to do research about ticket price. The market is going up and down. April is best time to travel, in terms of weather and cost of airline ticket. I need to get smart on planning ahead, budget a economical trip.

First, I was surprised that I chose to take vacation in Chinese spring festival, the airline ticket costs me $1,000 Canada dollar in 2012. I did not know in 2012, I can get the ticket price around $500 dollars to travel to China in April since it is slow season in April.

Case study: Where I spend money from 2010 to 2019?

Feb. 18, 2019

Introduction

It is hard for me to adapt to be a Canadian. I did my personal finance research, and I like to case study and try to figure out how I can push myself to learn how to survive in Canada. I have worked full time in Canada 8 years 9 months, I like to push myself to learn more about personal finance and conduct my case studies.

Case study

I did my vacation study, I spent five vacations to China from 2012 to 2018. I told my brother and sister on December 2018, since my mom passed away in Nov. 2017, I will no longer take vacation to China. I like to be independent and find ways to have my own housing in Canada.

Case study of my airline ticket expense, here is the link.
Case study of 2012 vacation in China, here is blog first 24 months in Canada.
Case study of 2014 vacation in China, California, Florida, Philadelphia. 
    Here is the blog of vacation to California. 
    Here is the blog of vacation to Philadephia. 
Case study from 2010 to 2019 clothing expense, here is the link. 
Case study of wanted not needed on citi credit card. Here is the link. 
My sponsor application project management. Here is the link. 
How much I paid coach May 2018? Here is the link. 
My car maintenance. Here is the blog.
My saving rate from 2010 to 2018. Here is the blog.

Actionable Items

I need to learn how to avoid scam, and also I need to limit myself to reduce risk, avoid renting the car, drive less, and also need to learn where the opportunity for me to invest with a moderate income as a software programmer.

Case study: 2012 citi credit card statements

Feb. 6, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. Today I got 12 statement of citi bank credit card statement in 2012. I like to case study the expenses on the citi credit card.

Case study

It is the third year I worked full time starting from 2010. I decided to take a vacation in January, I started with asset in Canada with $17,000 US dollars, but actually spent over $5,000 Canadian dollars for one month vacation.

I review all possible mistakes I made, and I like to push myself to learn.

One is to choose wrong time to take vacation. I paid $1050 US dollars for Air Canada ticket. This is the first vacation I took after I landed in Canada in 2010.

My analysis

I should choose slow season to take vacation. I can get ticket around $550 Canadian dollars in May. I should review my shopping habit and learn how to avoid those shopping expense around $500.00 dollars.

Actionable Items

I need to look into how to take vacation to China. How to reduce cost and also discipline myself in terms of shopping using credit card.

It is so easy for me to save $500 dollar on airline ticket if I choose the vacation in April instead of January.

I should study Air Canada ticket round trip to Canada, and learn how to time the market in the lowest point.

One thing I like to push myself to learn is to learn to spend minimum on vacation. I should understand that the expense should be income - savings. If my asset in Canada is less than $20,000 dollars, I should not spend $4000 for a vacation.

Also if I cannot control expense on clothing, I cannot control my personal finance at all.

Case study: Airline ticket expenses

Feb. 14, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I like to analyze my expenses of airline tickets, and I like to do a case study.

Case study

Here is the expense of my airline ticket.

2006 - I went to GM for onsite interview. I need to look into the interview again and see what I learn from the experience.

2008 February - I got laidoff from H1-B. I got a ticket paid by ex-employer and then went back to China, and applied F1 visa to get back to FAU.

2008 August - I went to Microsoft Seattle for an onsite interview. This was my first official onsite interview based on algorithm and data structure. I should have prepared those algorithms from 2001 to 2008.

2009 May - I went to Charlotte for a short trip, help a friend's family road trip from Charlotte to Boca Raton.

2012 February - I made a mistake to plan a one-month vacation. I paid expensive ticket, and I also paid by US credit card.

I also made mistake to spend over three thousands dollars for the vacation. Here are blogs related to 2012 vacation.

Case study: China vacation one month in 2012

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is so hard for me to review those receipts. I checked my 2012 vacation and then I came cross so many cash withdraw receipts. I was using money, cash to pay all kinds of expenses, and I also gave out cash gift for Chinese new year. I just could not believe that I was under influence. What was the problem to spend like crazy?

Case study

I like to study those impulsive spending, I used those hard earning money to pay for expenses. I need to figure out what the problem is.

Case study: Shenzhen medical examination in 2012

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is hard feelings to go over those expenses I had vacation in 2012. I like to challenge myself, how to be a disciplined person? I like to write a blog to document my expenses in Shenzhen, why I chose to pay those medical examination instead of using Canada medical examination?

Case study

I came cross the receipt I paid in 2012 to do physical examination, it costed me over $1,000 Chinese yuan. First of all, those examinations are expensive compared to my home town; secondly, those tests are unnecessary, I already paid MSP health insurance in Canada.

My sister told me that her school offers her a free medication examination every year. She wrote down the examination she got. And then I decided to take all those examinations by myself while I took one month vacation in China, Shanghai, Yichun, Shenzhen.

Actionable Items

I need to slow down in Canada. I need to take some time to get familiar with Canada medical system. I need to figure out how to avoid this impulsive decision.

Case study: purchase a home or go for a vacation

Dec. 9, 2018

Introduction

It is my finance learning research. I like to study a topic called how to make smart finance decision through when to choose vacation, when to purchase a home, and how to avoid overspending with relatives.

Case study

I came cross my loan application in 2011 July. I brought into $17,000 US dollars to live in Canada in April 2010, and then in two months I got a full time job in June 2010. After 15 month saving, I went to the Scotia bank and got a loan application. My asset was $26,682.00 by checking the loan application. 

In February 2012, I took the first vacation in third year at the current job, I ended up to spend over $5,000 dollars on the vacation.

I like to case study those two activities together.

Case study my Boca Raton condo last 10 year property value

Nov. 23, 2018

Introduction

It is time for me to learn how market goes up and down. I like to study my condo in Florida last 10 years property value, and I also like to look into those data and teach myself how to read the value and come out some conclusion for life decision.

Case study

First I like to show the condo last 10 years market value, assessment value, and property tax.

My baby step thinking 

I was so busy the first nine years in Canada, but I did not pay attention to learn that I need to watch the market, get into real estate market in the province of British Columbia.

I know that I was busy every year. But last 10 years I paid property tax in November. I always tried and did pay property tax in full and get 3% discount. But I never thought about that the market also showed me what to get into the market of house in Canada.

Based on the above data, I should get into house market in British Columbia in 2011 and 2012. The market is lowest in last 10 years.

Right now, if I purchase a condo in British Columbia area, and I am busy and no time to look into the Canada market, but based on my property value, I know that I must have to pay double price compared to 2011 or 2012.

2010 - the price goes down 14% from $63,000 to $54,000
2011 - the price goes down 11% from $54,000 to $48,000
2012 - the price stays same  0%  stay  $48,000
2013 - the price goes up      25% from $48,000 to $60,000
2014 - the price goes up      20% from $60,000 to $72,000
2015 - the price goes up      24% from $72,000 to $89,000
2016 - the price goes up        1% from $89,000 to $90,000 
2017 - the price goes up     3.3% from $89,000 to $90,000                       

Based on my analysis, I should start to look into those market value, and I should time the market and get into Vancouver house market in 2012 and 2013.

I was so busy with hiking, church small group activities, enjoy the food and vacation. I have to forgive myself. I never did this kind of analysis as a home owner starting from 1999.

I spent over 20 minutes to put together nice image and like to teach myself to read and learn.

Also it is very important to invest the cheapest condo as possible to reduce the risk. Investment has risk. Chilliwack condo is the perfect place to invest, but unfortunately I did not know how many cities we have here in British Columbia until last three months. So in order to be a good investor, the person should also be very educated and get familiar with the community, neighborhood cities.

I made a 22 trips to Bellingham cities to do shopping over years from 2010 to 2016. Through the analysis of my activities, I should spend time to visit Chilliwack cities, Langley and Abbotsford instead.

Reference:

1. Palm beach property appraiser, the link is here.

Vacation in 2012 to China

Nov. 30, 2018

Introduction

It is my personal finance month. I like to review my vacation in 2012 to China from my personal finance viewpoints.

Case study of my Chinese vacation trip 2012 (II)

Oct. 27, 2018

Introduction

It is time for me to review my expenses, and I was so surprised that I spent so much on a China vacation in 2012 spring festival. I did try to analyze what was happening, and then I have to learn how to analyze my consumer behavior, since I may make similar mistakes in other activities. I like to do some research about money, how I have to catch up and get smart on those trips.

You are still the same

Dec. 26, 2018

Introduction

I like to write a story, it is based on the true story; I like to review it as a research and education purpose, it is for personal finance research purpose. "You are still the same." My young sister made comment on me in 2012 or 2014 my China vacation. I gave out thousands dollars away as red packet, and also gifts I spent over a thousand Canadian dollars. My young sister did not give away gifts at all, she tried to protect her income and reduce expenses.

My spending problem

There is one issue related to self-esteem. If you have low self-esteem, then you may try to spend money to please your friends.

I worked on minimum wage a lot of years, and also part time a lot of years. I understood that the business mindset is so important. Try to create more income, control your expenses, document all expenses, analyze myself as a consumer, how to make purchase decision.

In 2001, I spent money to take my relatives to Shanghai for 3 day trip, I paid over $5000 yuan for a trip with a group of six people for train tickets, a personal with college degree in China in the city of Yichun, 2 years salary I guessed. Now back to 2012, I was still the same person, spending 18 months full time savings for one month vacation, $5000 Canadian dollars.

It is time for me to learn to be a responsible person.

Learn how to apply 10 hours rule

Dec. 22, 2018

Introduction

I like to write a blog and then do some research about how to apply 10 hours rule. I spent a few hours to review my 2012 vacation shopping expenses. I like to conduct analysis, and then I like to figure out what kind of person I am as a consumer. What are my weakness as a consumer?

How to build wealth and grow rich from 2010 to 2019?

Oct. 27, 2019

Introduction

It is hard than I thought to go over one year personal finance research. I like to write a blog called how to build wealth and grow rich from 2010 to 2019.

Year 2010 and city of Vancouver

I chose to land in the city of Vancouver back in 2010 April. I like to travel once cross USA to visit a lot of national parks. I did not think about too much about career, job search. I had hard time to build a career as a software engineer. I just got an immigration visa based on a skilled software engineer.

The condo in the city of Surrey, brand new is around $115,000 dollars. I wrote a blog to document my asset when I landed in Canada in 2010.

Year 2011 - 2014

I decided to get Canada citizenship as soon as I am qualified. So I did not set up a goal to be a millionaire as I was in my 45 years old. I was not so sure how good I could do in terms of a software programmer, and also I was a new immigrant.

I started to spend money on USA shopping trips, and then go back to old habit.

In Dec. 2014, I got my Canadian citizenship after I waited over 12 months. The process was so long and also I had hard time to rush myself to prepare my Citizenship test last two weeks before the test.

Actionable Items

My goal is changing from 2010 to 2019.

2010 - find a job
2011 -
2012 - Vacation to China, help my mom overcome difficulty
2013
2014 - work on Canadian citizenship, tennis, weight control first time
2015
2016 - work on Amazon onsite
2017 -
2018 - work on Amazon onsite, personal finance
2019 - work on Amazon onsite, Facebook onsite, how to be a millionaire in next 10 years?

Think about how many square foot in the city of Yichun

Dec. 27, 2018

Introduction

It is very simple thing to do. But I have to write down and push myself to train myself, do not get emotional. Think carefully, hold principle as a business woman. Discipline myself to identify wants and needs.

Do not buy luxury

I used to purchase a super expensive SONY laptop $1800 US dollars in 2002. I did not have permanent residentship in USA, I may not have income at all. I could not control impulsive to shop a laptop with 12 months interest free in 2002. One thing I can do is to think about $1800 US dollars, exchange it to Chinese yuan, and it was $16,200. In 2002, the home price in my home town Yichun is about $800 yuan. That is 200 square foot home.

The tip is to calculate how much I can pay for the home in the city of Yichun.

Do not give away cash gift

I used to give away cash as red packet in 2012 vacation Chinese spring festive, $2000 yuan each time. I paid for food $4000 yuan as well. Think about the value of the money, how much I can purchase in term of square foot in the city of Yichun.

Case study of 2012 vacation to China

Nov. 22, 2018

Introduction

I like to figure out why I am not smart enough to catch so many opportunities in Vancouver last 8 years. I missed the condo to purchase in 2014, and I figured out that I am better to start to investigate what is going on.

I don't know what has happened

It is so important for me to figure out how to be a problem solver. I started to work on my personal finance, and try to document all my expenses, and then I had to write down all my mistakes back in Florida and also in Canada.

To be a problem solver, I have to review all mistakes I made. If I continue to waste the money on travel, clothing, I may never have chance to be confident to be a problem solver. I like to have a challenge job and be a strong problem solver.

My asset in China

Dec. 22, 2018

Introduction

It is so hard for me to write on this topic. I went back to China last 22 years a lot of times. I always want to purchase a home for myself in my home town Yichun city. Until last year I found out that I cannot purchase a home any more since I am a Canadian citizen starting from 2014.

What is my asset in China?

I do not have any asset except $20,000 Chinese deposited into China bank in 2014. Since I planned to support my late mom. At that time, she started with dementia over 83 years old.

I earned my interest starting 2010, first two years 3.25%. And now it is 1.75% interest annually.

I need to figure out how to build wealth in China. Instead of spending $5,000 Canada for a vacation one month in 2012, I had to support my mom as a daughter. Now I have no excuse to waste money in China, I have to push myself as an adult, and then figure out how to build wealth instead of spending.

I documented my mistake in 2001 to spend $5,000 us dollar on a vacation to China, and also I took extra trip to Mexico to get visa for H1-B first. I learned the vacation costed me money I could pay for a condo in the city of Yichun in 2001.

I learned the lesson to make a plan, adapt to life challenges based on society, countries, and economy and other things.

How to get smart in management of personal finance?

Nov. 3, 2018

Introduction

I spent over two hours this Saturday and look up all the paper work I had last 20 years, including 9 years purchases. I know that I had to learn to get better organized, so I keep all paper copies. What I did next few weeks is to take photos and then check in github.com, so I can learn from my own experience.

Get organized

I did some study about my china vacation trip, I spent over $3,000 Canadian dollar for one month vacation in 2012, at that time, $3,000 Canadian dollar I can pay for 200 square foot condo in the city of Yichun.  I regretted that I wasted so much money on food, clothing, and all kinds of gifts, I saved first two years in Canada, instead of using money to pay my first home in Canada, I chose not to purchase a home, instead I wasted money on a trip or other things.