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Archive for June, 2008

goodbye all!

June 23rd, 2008 at 08:11 am

tomorrow my plane leaves at around 10am, and I won't be blogging for around 3 weeks. I am so happy to finally be going on a holiday, and am going to make sure I enjoy every minute of it as it will probably be my last holiday for quite some time. atleast, my last holiday where I don't have to fret about how much everything is costing me!

in other news, i have decided to go to the parklife festival this year. artists include:
plump djs
ajax
van she
peaches
dizzee rascal
goldfrapp

and heaps of others. it is $99 for the early bird tickets, I am going to try and make sure I get them because they are $109 afterwards. (i'll add the savings to my challenge money Big Grin)

winter clothes, travel, expenses

June 20th, 2008 at 09:58 pm

I had a little bit of a spendy day yesterday, but in afterthought I think I did quite well!

I went into town and bought 2 jumpers for $AU25. (so, $12.50 each) which was an absolute bargain. And no, I didn't just buy them because they were cheap. I bought them because I am going on holiday in a couple of days, where the temperature can get below 0 degrees celcius. I am hoping it won't be too cold, however I am going in the middle of winter so...

I don't have a great deal of jumpers. I have a few cardigans, but no actual fleecy jumpers, because in the state where I live, even on the coldest day in winter last year it was about four degrees, and usually averages around twenty, which means you can comfortably walk around in shorts and a t-shirt. (well, most of us can)

I did a mock-pack of my bag and weighed it, as I am only allowed 15kg in luggage on the plane. (damn tiger!)All up so far it is about 7.5 kg. I am hoping to keep it at 10kg so I have some room to bring stuff back with me.

Also yesterday I spent $2 on the staff lotto and $4.35 on a coffee while I was out. I am transfering the $4.35 to my personal loan RIGHT NOW. Big Grin New Stupid Vault balance: $29.73

There are only 3 nights left until I hop on the plane.

$0 balance on all CC's!!!

June 19th, 2008 at 06:44 am

Today I paid the remaining $84.67 on my CC # 2 and now I officially have NO BALANCES on ANY of my CC's.
Which means my only debt is my personal loan. Technically I never actually had CC 'debt', as I always paid the full amount at the end of the cycle, but I always had a balance. So it's a very freeing feeling. I like transfering the money as soon as I spend it, I think I will keep doing it, it makes me feel on top of things.
I have set up a $60 transfer into my bills account for the next three weeks, as I probably won't have much access to the internet over my holiday. On Monday night I am going to adjust my automatic transfers for my online savings accounts as well, and transfer ALL of my holiday savings into my main account. I have worked hard for these savings, so I am not going to feel guilty for whichever way I decide to spend the money.
I am already a low spender type of person. I wouldn't say I'm especially frugal, and I like to have fun (sometimes a bit TOO much) however I am not the type of person to blow a paycheck on shoes or clothes, nor my holiday savings on a bunch of crap I won't use. I know if I have any money left over I will put it to good use as well.
Last holiday, I was with a friend who tried to convince me to buy something from a Country Road store, even though I wasn't really that interested, I only said I liked some of their clothes. Her reasoning? "you work hard, you deserve it."
deserve what? a piece of overpriced clothing that i only sort of like?
sheesh.

I am looking forward to seeing the SATC movie, haven't seen it yet. I was waiting to see it with my step-mum. She has already seen it but would like to see it again.
Oooh, can't wait! Only five more days to go!

In other news:
I got some bread rolls from work today (FREE!) so we are having burgers tonight for dinner:
Homemade beef rissoles, lettuce, tomato, cheese, cucumber, pineapple and beetroot.
Yum!
Bread rolls are normally 70c each, so I am adding 70c to my challenge, as well as $1 for a NSD today. New balance: $77.98

Last night we went out for dinner and I spent $2.20 on a drink and $12.50 on a pasta dish. It was delicious; a garlic, chicken and mushroom fettucine pasta. I think I did quite well for the night.

That's all my news for now!

I'm going on holiday!!!

June 17th, 2008 at 11:08 pm

This morning my pay went in for Job # 1 and I transferred $11.69 to the Stupid Vault. Big Grin

New Loan Balance: $4288.47
New Stupid Vault Balance: $20.93

I also transferred $60 into my bills account. Once the money goes in for Job # 2 I will be transferring the remaining balance for CC # 2. Then I will officially have no credit card balance at all!!! How exciting, I haven't had that for months!

I will have to set up and change some automatic transfers over the next three weeks for:
Bill A/C: $60 weekly
Rent: $126.67 weekly
EF, Uni Fund: $20 weekly
Gift/Holiday Fund: $10 weekly

Why, you ask?

Because, I AM GOING ON HOLIDAY!!! Yes, that's right. A three week holiday to visit my dad, step-mum, sister, granparents, brother, sister in law, nephew, aunties, uncles...

It will be my last holiday of length for five years, if my University plans go ahead. So I am really looking forward to seeing all my family, as they all live in another state. The plane leaves next Tuesday. (This is what I have been saving for in my Holiday Fund).

I say 'holiday of length' because I am sure there will be many long weekends in there (being one that likes music festivals, bands, camping, trips away etc) but I am certain I won't be able to afford any holidays spanning weeks for a very long time!

I will miss BF terribly. Did you know, the longest we have ever been apart in five years is a couple of four week holidays here and there, and a couple of one week work-related trips for bf?

Whilst on holiday I am going to try and keep a spending log, so atleast I know what I spend when I am on holiday. This will let me plan for future trips too, incase I am able to save for a plane ticket.

Once I am back from my holiday I should have some surplus to keep me going for a week, and then I will be back into saving, saving, saving. My main priorities will be:

-a car service
-my EF goal # 2
-my goal # 2 for Personal Loan
-visiting my sister for two days in august

If I have a lot of money left over from my holiday I might consider checking out the stocktake sale in myer, as they sell a brand of jeans that I really like which are around $100 normally, but I can usually pick them up for under $50.

Today my expected spendings will be dinner, as we are having dinner with BF's mum. They usually have specials at the place we are going to at around or under $10, so I will try to keep it at $15 for drinks as well. That should be all the money I am spending today.

Anyway that is my update for today Big Grin

todays expenses

June 17th, 2008 at 10:55 am

Today's expenses:

Muffin: $3.50
Extra: $2.09
Chocolate: $2.39
Petrol: $30.03
Fish: $6.05

Everything except the fish and the petrol I could have done without. So obviously it's all going to the Stupid Vault.

I was so ridiculously hungry this morning and I realised I had forgotten my lunch, so I bought a strawberry muffin from the organic cafe when i made a deposit at the bank.

My parents redeemed their credit card reward points for a coffee machine so I bought the chocolate (a kinder bueno) to share with my mum with a coffee.

2.5 yrs together and a house already?

June 16th, 2008 at 10:58 pm

my flatmate went to a housewarming party of a friend of hers and her bf's. they have been together for roughly 2.5-3 years and have just bought a house together. she is a real estate receptionist, so i understand the need and determination of someone in that profession to own property, but i wonder if they aren't jumping the gun a little on buying together? apparently the boy contributes more money to the mortgage than her as well.

eh.

sometimes i wonder why it seems so easy for other people.

the one thing that made me smile is, about a year ago they took out a five year term personal loan of $6000 to get a plasma television. apparently (according to flatmate) that is the only thing of value in the house, other than the house itself.

Big Grin

FRUGAL??? my A$$!

June 15th, 2008 at 07:44 am

Today while BF and I were driving to the markets we passed one of these:

Text is http://www.mbusa.com/media/images/campaigns/c-class-08/masthead.jpg and Link is
http://www.mbusa.com/media/images/campaigns/c-class-08/masth...
with a Personalised Number Plate with the word 'FRUGAL' on it.

AHAHAHA!

I'm sorry, but not only are the cars themselves new priced between $70 000 to $150 000, but a single-word Personalised Plate sets you back $2500.00!!!

There's nothing frugal about it at all.
I'm guessing it's meant to be a joke, and in which case it's quite mean and dispiriting to those who truly are frugal, because it's slightly like a slap in the face when you think about it.

frugal. bah.

what a nice lady!

June 15th, 2008 at 04:32 am

BF just finished doing a floor for a lady in her house, and when he finished she gave him and the other worker $50 cash (ontop of the $5000+ for the floor) for doing such a good job!
i thought that was very nice of her.

With the money Bf treated me and him to a movie 'date' and dinner, which was nice. We haven't been on a 'date' for over a month, and then before then it would have been about 6 months... The movie was $8 a ticket (saved $6.80 each by using a club card) and our meal came to $38.60 and we had a drink to take in to the movies (mine was $2.40 and BF's was $2.90). I gave BF $10 for the extra money. (It came to $59.90).

I am adding $6.80 to my challenge money for using our cinebuzz club card and getting a discount on the movie ticket. I am also adding 78c for buying an extra bottle of tomato passata sauce when it was on special saving 33c, and the ricotta cheese was on special from $4.09 to $3.64 saving 45c. Also my automatic payment to my Uni/House Fund went through yesterday, so that is another $20 to my challenge fund!

New Challenge Total: $56.28

I am also adding $5.44 to the Stupid Vault as BF and I did not really need to buy desserts for the week but we bought some gourmet icecream and some others. Although we saved around $1.50 as they were both on special! It is still going to the Stupid Vault though!!!

New Stupid Vault Balance: $9.24

+my weekly meal plan+

June 14th, 2008 at 07:24 am

Chicken Tomato Risotto
(Risotto Rice, Stock, White Wine, Tomatoes, Onion, Mushroom, Brocolli & Peas)
Pumpkin & Coriander Fritters
(S/R Flour, Milk, Egg, Zucchini, Sweet Potato, Pumpkin, Coriander & Plain Yoghurt to dip)
Spinach & Ricotta Canneloni
(Canneloni Pasta, Pasta Sauce, Ricotta, Pumpkin, Garlic, Cheese)
Homemade Beef Burgers
(Mince, Egg, Onion, Lettuce, Pineapple, Beettroot, Tomato, Cucumber)
Roast Chicken & Veges
(Chicken, Sweet Potato, Potato, Pumpkin, Zucchini & Brocoli)
Soy Ginger Fish, Cous Cous & Stirfry
(Soy Sauce, Rice Flour, Ginger, broccoli, capsicum, onion, bok choi, zucchini, carrot)

Out of all that, I only need to buy:

Markets: Brocolli, Zucchini, Pumpkin, Capsicum, Carrots, spinach, Ginger, fish and fruit.

Supermarket: Olive Oil, Yoghurt, Ricotta, Canneloni and Self Raising flour.

I only have plain flour at home. Do you think I would be able to make fritters with plain flour and a little baking soda? I have never made fritters before.

Oh and of course, if any of the meals do not have veges with them, it will come with salad! I am a big fan of salad and veges with EVERY meal Big Grin when i have kids, they will probably hate me...

so, how can *I* save money, then?

June 12th, 2008 at 11:16 pm

BF and I were watching A Current Affair the other day and they had a feature on the 'Top 5' money saving tips. Of course, we watched it. I laughed at the tips:

-Sell things you don't need.
-Get a second job.
-Put your money in an interest earning account.
-Get an investment property.
-Ask for a payrise.


I regularly sell things on auction sites, and we plan to have a garage sale. BF makes furniture from scratch. I have two jobs, and a new third income source. I have had ING accounts for three years and a Bankwest Account (which they revealed as the Top Interest Earning Account @ 8.25%) for two and a half years. I also set up a Bankwest Account and automatic payment for BF. Our ultimate goal is to own investment properties, and we will probably start with our foot in the door by buying a unit which we will then use to buy another home. BF just got a payrise to nearly $30 an hour, and I too will be getting one in a few months.

They say these are the top 5 money savings tips, but I bet any money that most people on this site have already applied atleast one or two of these tips (and probably all) to their daily lives, and long ago. So my question is, how can I save money? I am always disappointed by saving tips, because most of them I already know and/or realise and apply them to my life.

-I don't drink often (once every six months on average - yes I said not often!)
-I don't smoke.
-I have curbed my magazine addiction quite significantly, and my book buying has decreased (to zilch) since I joined the library).
-I have also curbed takeaway and dining out to a maximum of one meal a week out.
-I stopped buying so many takeaway beverages - I wait til I get home for a coffee now, and make my own juice.
-I don't wear expensive brand clothes.
-I don't drive a gas guzzler - it's a 1998 4-cyl nissan pulsar.
-I don't go out regularly at all - maybe once a month.
-We always go for the cheaper option of everything when we do go out - the 'cheap movie' of the week, coupons for bowling, discount cards for most things, etc.
-I have the lowest possible mobile bill and the lowest possible internet bill.
-I pay extra on my loan, and am attempting to pay it off in half the loan term.
-The only splurges I have seem to be music festival weekends or bands, however I save for these events in advance. See below:
-My recreational use of drugs is quite limited, planned and saved for (yes, it's probably the oddest thing you've heard - and no, I don't need a lecture, how many of you have a glass of wine after work? i won't lecture you about that, even though I rarely drink and have my own opinions about it)
-I don't give a lot of gifts to people.
-I don't pay for others.
-I don't have a gym membership.
-I get a lot of music for free because my dad has an awesome job Big Grin
-One expense I seem to have is purcahses of dvd's and movies, but even then it is not overboard.

On my budget analysis, the sections that I overspend on are my personal allowance/fun money, however in the past few months it has decreased significantly. Looking closely at it, there are no amounts that stand out either. I may spend $50 on clothes one week, but then nothing on clothes for a couple of months after that. I think my main problem is those 'stupid purchases' for which I've come up with a plan to stop, anyway. (see the stupid vault). So is this the only option I have to save money? Obviously the one thing I am doing to EARN more money is to study at university so I can get a higher earning job, but that still doesn't help with the 'saving of money'.

my favourite CC, $20 challenge, daily expenses

June 12th, 2008 at 09:29 am

Well today I completely cleared the balance of CC1, so I won't have to worry about that for awhile. I paid some off CC2 (anz) and have $121.20 to go. Once that is cleared I will be making sure that everything I charge to that card is paid pretty much straight away (I use it for the rewards scheme, but it has a 20% interest rate). CC1 (Virgin) has a lower rate of 14% and is my favourite card (I know it's terrible to have a favourite credit card - but I do!). It is mainly the excellent customer service I get from the company and the flexibility they have, and basically how everything always goes so smoothly - there are never any hickups. Does anyone else have a 'favourite' CC?

Well today I spent $4 on a coffee with a friend, $3.25 on a recipe magazine, and $4 on Vitamin E Cream (it is what I use as moisturiser - best I've ever used). I also went to the library and picked up four books, so they should keep me busy for awhile.

Unfortunately for my savings (or debt) I don't regard any of those purchases as stupid enough for the Stupid Vault (see previous entry if you have no idea what I'm talking about). My reasoning is that a magazine I would normally buy (but have not been lately) is around $8, and my buying a recipe magazine is a closer step toward saving as it advocates cooking for yourself, and is more than half the price of a regular fashion magazine. The coffee, while sort of avoidable, is a small price to pay for catching up with a friend (ok, we might work together... but still).

I am adding the savings of buying the recipe magazine instead of the fashion magazine to my $20 challenge ($4.70 saving), as well as 50c for drinking 1.5L of water today. That brings my total up to $28.20 Big Grin

+The Stupid Vault+

June 11th, 2008 at 05:25 am

I was naughty and bought a muffin for morning tea. That will teach me for not putting something healthy in my bag this morning! $3.80 - gone!

I have decided to copy Amber Big Grin (www.veronak.savingadvice.com) and add the same amount to my debt (only it will be my personal loan, not my credit card debt).

From now on, any stupid purchases (yes, I said stupid) will be added to my Personal Loan. I'm going to try and keep a running tally, like the $20 Challenge, only I will call it the Stupid Vault.
Any pro-activ choices, purchases etc will be added to the Challenge money.

It makes more sense really:

Challenge Money = Savings = Good
Stupid-ness = Debt = Bad

Challenge Balance: $23.00
Stupid Vault: $3.80

Now only if the rest of our lives where that simple to work out, eh?!

+paid some off my cc!+

June 11th, 2008 at 02:37 am

I am trying to really get on top of my credit card usage. While I've never actually not paid the whole balance by the due date, it's usually a rude shock to see my CC balance at the end of the month and I find myself scrambling around to pay it. So I have been trying to transfer the money onto it from my main bank as soon as I charge something to it (like a visa debit card i guess). While some people will say this is silly as I'm missing out on interest accruing, it's a small price to pay for peace of mind, and the main reason I use the CC is for the reward scheme.
So today I charged a 2gb USB Flashdrive stick for $14.95 and an Invoice & Statement Book ($5.29) for my contract-cleaning job. Yesterday I charged the petrol ($23.17) and milk ($2.39) expense to my CC, and last week I paid for the electricity bill ($277.07 shared by 3).
I transfered $230 to the CC today, and will transfer another $93 when my BF transfers his portion of the electricity bill to my account.

Whew! It's hard being organised sometimes, but worth it all the same.

Does anyone else do this, or am I just insane?

adding to $20 challenge

June 10th, 2008 at 10:43 pm

Yesterday I only spent money on petrol ($23) and milk ($2.39L) so I am adding 50c to my challenge money as I see it as a partial NSD - as in I only spent money on neccesities.

A friend of mine took me and my little brother and sister to a resort near our house where her friend works, and we snuck in and had a go on the resort lagoon's catamarans (we actually got stuck in the middle of the lagoon as there was no wind and then the friend had to come out in her boat and push us back in), fed some fish, and then jumped on this giant trampoline in the middle of the lagoon. It was heaps of fun, and FREE!

+earnt extra $ to put on CC+

June 10th, 2008 at 03:25 am

Last week I did some cleaning work and am charging out at $36.60 per hour. I did 6 hours of work so that means I earnt $219.60 for the day. Doing the cleaning work means I missed out on a day of my office work, where I earn around $105 per day less tax. So in the end I earnt extra:

cleaning: $219.60 less GST of $19.96 = $199.64 for the day
officework: $105 less payg tax $17.00 = $88 for the day

199.64 less 88 = $111.64 extra earnt.

In normal circumstances I would endeavour to put all of the extra earnings into my new challenge money, but as I still have an outstanding amount on my CC for my dentist visit I will be putting all the money on that.


EDIT NOTE: I redid some calculations and will actually be charging $40 per hour, so it is an extra $130.19, not $111.64

EVEN BETTER!!!! Big Grin

+grocery expenses for the week+

June 9th, 2008 at 11:21 pm

We went to the market on Sunday and BF and I spent $35 on veges for our week. ($17.50 each). Then so far at the supermarket my portion of spending has been $16.55.
Our estimated extra expenses will be lamb, coconut milk, rice noodles, rice wraps, 2 x chicken breast.

so that should cost under $20 for the lot ($10 each). and that brings my total grocery expenses in at $44.05, which is nearly $6 under budget. yay!

meal plan:

tuesday: steamed veges and rice
(carrot, zucchini, capsicum, sweet potato, brocolli)
wednesday: lamb korma (lamb, brocolli, pumpkin, potato, capsicum & zucchini)
thursday: roast chicken & vegetables
(pumpkin, sweet potato, green beans)
friday: fresh spring rolls (non-fried)
(grated carrot, capsicum, lettuce, cucumber with a freshly made thai coriander dressing)
saturday: spaghetti bolognese
(already prepared in freezer from previous week)

day 1 of challenge money

June 9th, 2008 at 01:27 am

well, today I am starting my $20 challenge officially.

i am having a virtual NSD - i have to buy milk, but that will be the only thing. because it is not an ACTUAL NSD i am only adding 50c.
i am going to walk to the shop to get it instead of driving, so i am adding $1 for that.

i am also adding a health and fitness part to the challenge. i am adding 50c for my morning walk and 50c for drinking over 1.5 litres of water today.

so that brings my challenge money to $22.50 Big Grin


this is fun!

+i love public holidays+

June 8th, 2008 at 11:19 pm

but not for the same reasons as everyone else.

sure, i love a day off, and it is usually guaranteed if there's a public holiday (i am too expensive for my boss to hire on a public holiday, i think i earn about $42 an hour).

i love that i either get a day off, or earn a wad of extra cash, and i love that neither one is better or worse than the other.
i love that on public holidays, there are a lot of shops closed. if there are any open, a lot of the time you can't be certain that it's the one you want, so you can't be bothered going out at all.
i love that the only places usually open are movie theatres and bowling alleys etc.
i love this for the reason that those places are usually so expensive that you won't even consider going, and then you mentally add the 15% surcharge on that.
i love that you can then fondly think of all those people that have decided to go and cram themselves in a cinema seat like sardines in a tin, and then realise how nice your house/apartment/shack really is.
i love that occasionally some friends will have the day off too, and you can have a barbecue in a park, or at home.
i love that if you don't want to do anything, you don't have to.
i love that you can get up early or late.
i love that if you get up early, the day seems to go forever, and you can get so much done if you need to.

+$20 Challenge Rules+

June 8th, 2008 at 01:15 pm

I have decided to start my own $20 Challenge.
This is mainly because I have started my new blog and I wanted to do something different.
I also think it will be a good constant reminder and motivator to save.

I want to lay out some ground rules, but will probably make some up along the way as well.

- The money will start with the initial $20 deposited automatically into my House Deposit/Uni Fund.
- Additional monies will be added on a daily basis to my bills account, and then transfered to the main Challenge savings account either fortnightly or monthly.
- I will attempt to keep this blog updated of the daily challenge amounts.
- As for the amounts for each 'thing' i do to save money, I think $1 is a good starting amount and will keep things simple.
- However, if I do something that is only a very small money saving action, I will add 50c to the challenge.
- On the same note, if I earn extra money or make a large change in my spending habits, I will add either the whole amount saved/earnt, or $5 (depending on the scale).

I figured I will not miss $1 here or $1 there. I may also employ the 'rounding up' method, as it is basically the way I saved for my first car.

Anyway, wish me luck in my $20 challenge journey.

+my goal list+

June 8th, 2008 at 10:30 am

Short Term:
- Track my loan payment progress in $250 goal increments
- Track all expenditure and endeavour to stick to or under my budget.
- Get my car serviced.
- Completely pay off all cc balances.
- Start my $20 challenge
- Start transfering money to my cc as soon as I make the purchase, so I don't get a nasty shock at the end of the month.
- Eat less meat and make my boyfriend enjoy meatless meals more.
- Start cooking healthy meals and then freezing them in bulk lots.
- Exercise 6 days a week.
- Make an appointment with my parents' naturopath/homeopath

Long Term:
- Completely pay off my loan.
- Reach my target amount for my Emergency Fund ($1200).
- Maintain a gifts/holidays account where money is drawn out of for days off & gifts purchased for others.
- Save a lump sum for university (current goal: $10 000) by January 2010.

+the new budget+

June 8th, 2008 at 09:24 am

last edited: 8th June 2008

Weekly Income:
Job1: $175.00
Job2: $315.50
Other: $30.00

Weekly Expenses:
Rent: $130.00 per week
Groceries: $50.00 per week
Loan: $37.00 per week
Petrol: $25.00 per week
Bills: $60.00 saved per week
(Phone & Internet: $7 (approx $30 per month)
RACQ: $1.20 ($62 per year)
Car Insurance: $7.60 ($395 per year)
Car Registration: $11.10 ($577 per year)
Car Repairs: $20.00
Electricity: $7.00 (approx $90 per quarter)
Total: $53.90)
Skincare: $8.15
Mobile Phone: $3.75 ($15 per month)
Bank Fees: $2 per week
Fun: $55.00


Savings:
EF: $20 per week
House Deposit/Uni Fund: $20 per week
Holiday/Gifts Fund: $70 per week

Total IN: $520.50
Total OUT: $370.90
Total Saved: $90
Left Over: approx $60

+first entry on a clean slate+

June 8th, 2008 at 02:16 am

I have been blogging on this site for quite some time under another name, but decided I needed a change.

Over the next couple of days I will be updating everything. Thankyou for your patience.

gg