I was delighted to receive a new purse for Christmas.
This cross-body design is small enough not to slump my shoulder, but spacious enough for some credit cards and a driver’s licence, a cellphone, a bit of folding money and a change purse for the coins that are needed at obscure moments.
I had figured I would set the purse aside for holiday use, for making those walking excursions more enjoyable without the heavy weight of my small suitcase-sized purse I use in other seasons. That purse contains many necessities of daily life, including a rain bonnet, extra glasses, toothbrush, wet wipes, tissues, plastic cutlery, small paper plates, headache pills, a folder for gift cards, another for essential cards like CAA, Blue Cross and an assortment of loyalty cards, a SaskTel calling card that hasn’t called anyone for years and other varied but essential items.
The change purse in my new tiny piece of luggage will be just large enough to hold my latest windfall received courtesy of my friends in Ottawa.
Let me explain: several times a year senior citizens receive an increase in their old age security cheques. The raises usually come in January, April, July and October so of course there’s a rush to the bank during those months to see just how much the increase is going to be for the next three pay periods.
I, of course, studied my bank account print-out carefully on that pleasant day in January. First the increase in the Canada Pension Plan brought a smile to my face. The return on all those years of my investment was finally starting to show some noticeable upward trend.
My other mini pension from a past employer showed no change, nor did I expect it to.
Then the OAS amount showed up. I checked the amount twice thinking I had misread the numbers. I checked the figure from December and then referenced it with this new total. What the heck! What kind of joke was this? Was my bank spoofing me?
Some rapid Grade 1 math in my head produced the startling revelation. My raise was for the minuscule amount of $2.06. Cue the disbelief. $2.06. That means rounded down, it will be $2.05. Times three for payments in January, February and March. The generosity of the pension planners is underwhelming.
By the time I got home I was in full outrage and Housemate endured the first rant of the year regarding the unfairness of the payments coming through OAS. It is ugly enough that some seniors are too young to be treated equally and don’t receive that $500 top-up. But $2.06 is another whack in the head.
So, I will put $2.06 in my new change purse and look for ways to spend this largess. I could get a $1 cup of coffee at a fast food restaurant for a few more weeks. I don’t drink coffee. And I suppose there would be tax applied, leaving me without enough to buy a second cup for a friend.
My best bet is to save the increase for three months so I have $6.18 to spend. Imagine what I will be able to buy then. Just imagine, alright.
I’d call my MP to complain but he likely wouldn’t return my call. And I already know where his party stands on pensions.
Instead, I might just buy two extra tickets at the next meat draw. Winning a package of hamburger or holding a winning 50-50 ticket would help ease my latest federally-induced pain — and give some value to that two dollars and change.
Joyce Walter can be reached at [email protected]
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
