Monday I spent $10 on two drinks for my friend and I, and we went for a swim in the river near my house. I did a 15 minute walk as well.
Yesterday I had porridge with strawberries and honey for breakfast, and I made a salad for lunch and had a banana and mandarin for snacks, plus two (homemade) coffees. We had lentil Dal for dinner and I had a cup of strawberries and two scoops of icecream.
I filled up the tank with petrol, $30, and that was my only spend yesterday.
Today again I am having the same, but when I went to collect the mail my tummy was growling and I caved in and bought a chocolate chip scone for $1.60. I know! tsk tsk.
Tonight I am making red curry, so I need to buy:
Meat for BF
Meat for the pup
Some facial scrub (i've run out)

Tomorrow I will try and be good, my friend and I are going to a Day Spa, so that is $30 already spent. We might get a coffee afterwards, or maybe not, we will see.

Today is payday for Job #1.
$220 was deposited into my account.
Tomorrow afternoon my pay for Job #2 will clear in my bank, that is another $391.
This morning rent was deducted from my account, that is minus $126.67. I don't owe anything on CC #1, and CC#2 I owe about $234 but I have that money safely tucked away in my bills account earning a little bit of interest. I decided to do that because I can physically see the money there, it is not an ING account or a Bankwest account but is one linked to my everyday account.
I had $98 left over this week, so once Pay #2 clears I will transfer $100 to my House Fund savings account.
I will also transfer $40 extra onto my loan.

I need to buy a pair of shorts, another cheap pair of ballet-flat-style shoes and a black tshirt. I have also been thinking about that dress that I left at the store.
Should I go back and buy it? I have decided that I will go in on Saturday, if it is still there, I will try it on, and if I still like it, I think I will buy it. If you still really like something after a whole week, is it still an impulse purchase?

Even though I believe I have done well in my spending this month - having spent much less than I have taken in AND saved $100 more this month AND completely cleared the CC's, I still have managed to spend double, nearly TRIPLE of my allocated fun money. What the?!
And I have hardly bought anything really. I bought a season of a TV series at the start of september, I bought a couple of accesories for my birthday party (all under $6 each, total spent $30) , I bought two books (total: $43) and we ate out a couple of times.
I would hardly call that splurging. Infact, for me, that's holding back quite well.

This week I actually AM splurging. And I know it's a splurge. I am going to a day spa with a friend. I've been there twice before and it's gorgeous, and I mentioned it to my friend and she wanted to go, so I suggested we go one day after work.

So I guess my thoughts are, am I splurging every week, or am I just living like a normal person? Should I increase my 'budgetted' fun money, or should I be kicking myself when I spend say, $13 on a vegetarian cookbook, or $30 on a seven-disc, second hand television season on dvd???

After all, I did EARN the money. I guess I have a hard time about this because while I AM saving, and trying to save more (and succeeding! if just a small amount), I really have cut back on a lot of things. Am I setting my expectations too high? Or am I underestimating the costs of things these days?

While I understand that there are truly frugal people out there who would gasp at my spending habits, I need to clarify that I will never, could never, be the type that watches every penny like a hawk. True, I tally all my expenses, but I really believe life is for living.

How much in total do YOU spend per week/month (on average), on the following:
alcohol
takeaway beverages
takeaway and/or dining out
magazines
books
gym memberships
car washes
clothes
shoes
accesories
hair care & products
professional grooming
massage
makeup
chemist stuff
health
entertainment (ie. dvd's, cable, video rental, movies, memberships, online gaming, admissions etc)
lotto/gambling
house appliances
technology
electrical goods
charity

These are all the categories that I class under 'Fun'.

Currently I am spending on average $84.81 per week on 'Fun'.

(btw: I personally do not have cable or gym membership, online gaming or pay for car washes - but if I did I would class them in the Fun category)

until our last music festival.
well.
for a while.
we have decided this will be our last one until we save enough for a house deposit.
only because they usually cost around $250 for the day ( $120 for the ticket, $30 for a souviner, $20 for food & water, $80 for 'recreational activities')- which adds up when you consider how many we usually go to. (usually 4 a year or more if they are extra good).
ooooh i'm very excited.
i have probably already mentioned, but this is a little of the lineup:
goldfrapp, plump djs, vanshe, dizee rascal, 2manydjs, the bamboos, blackalicious, ajaz, bag raiders, peaches, diplo, soulwax and about 15 others.
anywho, it will be great! and all paid in cash of course, lol.

I went into town and bought... wait for it...

exactly what I went in there for! (well. except for a bite to eat)

I am very proud.

Spending Log:
Coffee: $4.20
Biscuit: $1.60
3 x Singlets: $14.95
Vegie Recipe Book: $13.00

My friend hasn't contacted me about lunch yet, even though I know she told me she'd be available after 2pm (it's 1pm). I was so hungry I just ate a salad sandwhich, so now I think I will just have a coffee with her if she still wants to. Or a juice. Save $10+. Yay. I'm also going to try and go to the library.

I nearly bought a dress today but then decided not to. I have a difficult time with dresses. I LOVE them, but I don't wear them. I probably have more than 10 in my cupboard that I have worn once. Some not at all. Anyway. I guess I am just trying to find that perfect one that you can just throw on - but I am not a dress person so it's difficult for me to make that transition.
So I thought I found that dress, but it was $45 and I wasn't 100% sure. So I didn't buy it, even though I really did like it...

I have also updated them on my side bar, but these are my new balances:

Debt:
CC1: $0
CC2: $0
Personal Loan: $3836.74

Savings:
Everyday Account: $178.79
Bills Account: $226.64
Holiday/Gift Account: $100.13
Emergency Fund: $196.00
Home Loan Deposit Fund: $1518.91

I have $178.79 until next payday (Tuesday and Wednesday) plus $64 that BF owes me.
I have to get:
groceries
a couple of singlets
maybe a book (on sale - not full price!)
plus lunch with a friend today

Should be absolutely fine! And any remaining I think I will put into my home loan account.

I have completely cleared the CC's. I am only using the CC2 for the points anyway so I don't mind if I transfer the money before the actual due date. I know it works well (to buy everything on credit and put the money in an interest earning account until the due date) BUT it stresses me out a little. If it's paid, it's paid, and I don't have to worry about it, and I know my money is MY money.

BF is at work today, so I am by myself atleast until he gets home or flatmate and her boyfriend does.
I have a couple of plans for today. Mainly it involves cleaning (dishes, bathroom, room, washing clothes).
I am also meant to be meeting a friend for lucnh or coffee at 2pm.
I was thinking about going to the shops as I was wanting to get some singlets for summer which is bearing closer and closer now. I bought two a little while ago for $4.99 each and I really like them so far, and they are so cheap. I think the shop still has them. There is also a book sale on... I might take a look at that too. But I won't be buying anything else! I don't need anything else anyway.

Haven't written for a few days, not a great deal to say I guess! Haven't been spending a great deal of money which is goooood!

It looks like this month is going MUCH better than the last few months - every single week so far of september I have spent much less than I've taken in. I am really happy about that, but fingers crossed because it's not over yet!

I am planning on going to the markets on Sunday. Last week we went to the growers market on Saturday, but I hear it has moved this week and I am not quite sure where it is. Also, I have a feeling that the Sunday markets are cheaper. I spent $35 last week on salad ingredients and some extra veges and bananas, and I usually walk away on Sundays with change from $40 and a lot more veges... Hmmm...

I visited my sister this week in the city - so my petrol expenses were doubled this week; it cost around $30 to drive there and back! Couldn't believe it! I suppose I did a bit of driving around the city... but still! I also had a day off so that was less money in my pocket. Fortunately my sis paid for my meal, all I spent was $12 on two juices.

It's Friday afternoon and I've finished work; what a great feeling! Unfortunately BF is working tomorrow. Flatmate is away but will be coming back tomorrow. I sort of hope she doesnt get back til later in the day, it would be nice to have the house to myself for a bit. I might do some drawing or soemthing.

Tonight we are having enchiladas for dinner, with the mexican bean stew I made a few weeks ago and froze in portions. I will be making a salad to go with it.

My pre-cooked and frozen meals came in handy this week, when I visited my sister I got home quite late and was considering takeaway, but straightaway realised I had pasta sauce already in the freezer! It was easy and cheap, I just added some mince to BF's to keep him happy.

I made pumpkin soup this week - I usually make it with cream but didnt have any and didnt want to go to the shop. I had coconut milk in the pantry, but by the time I had whizzed it all up, it looked and tasted just fine without anything else in it, and was probably HEAPS healthier.

I went in and picked up a book I had ordered a couple of weeks ago - Cooking with Kurma by Kurma Dasa. My dad has his books and he cooked a bit from them when I visited him last. Delicious. I really wanted to get a vegetarian cook book seeing as all the cook books I have only have a couple of recipes in them. Of course, you can do substitutions or leave the meat out, but I just really wanted one that was actually FOR vegetarians. Only thing is Kurma doesn't cook with garlic, but I'll just be adding that in when I need to.

I had a quick flick through the book and I can't wait to get home so I can have a good go-over it. Next week I will plan a couple of meals around the recipes.

Tonight for dinner will be a little experiment. I am planning on baking some pumpkin, capsicum and zucchini (and some lamb for BF), blanching some beans and broccoli and caremelising some onions, then i am going to add that all to some plain cooked pasta and stir through the rest of the jar of pesto I have left in the fridge (from the pasta salad I made for my party). I might crumble some fetta over it and add some fresh rocket as well.

Yum Yum!

I need nothing from the store except the meat for BF.

Todays expenses so far:
Book: $30
Florentine Biscuit: $3.70 (i know! rip-off!)
Petrol: $30.31
Phone Bill: $44.45 (my share)

---------------------------------------

I am excited because there are three people going on holiday at work at the SAME TIME (which is terribly stressful for my boss - but good for me!). Which means I get to do my maximum hours, and I might even get some easy work serving customers for some shifts. My max hours per week are 30 - I mentioned to my boss if he's REALLY stuck for people to work shifts, I said I would do more, and then he can pay me normally when I want to take time off. I don't really care that much about overtime unless I'm actually working more than 8 hours in a day - if it's spread over a week I couldn't care less if I worked an extra 8 hours and 'only' got $19.78 per hour.

Today is the day of my 21st birthday party. It's 7am and it starts at 4pm.

Today I have to:
-Go to the famers market and buy ingredients for salad and our veges for the week.
-Pick up the meat for all the carnivores.
-Make pasta salad
-Make a garden salad
-Clean up outside
-Clean up inside
-Make a playlist
-Do my hair
-Get ready

Thankfully I got my s*** together this week and don't have to do a great deal today!

This is what I have spent so far:

Groceries: approx $45
Other Food: $30
Cutlery/Plates/Cups: $12
Meat: $12
Outfit: $25

Today I only expect to spend about $15 or less on actual food for the party, the rest is groceries for the week.
BF bought me some alcohol (two bottles of Ricaddona Asti - and I have a bottle of Italian sparkling wine in the fridge from my mum too). BF also bought Tequila! Haha. I've never had it before. It has a little mexican hat for a lid and it comes with a shot glass...no worm or scorpion though...

My boss gave me my cake for free (would have cost about $35-$40 retail - I actually made it though...) and a crate full of Diet and Zero Coke - he got a credit from Coca Cola because they weren't selling well and then gave them to me for my party. So that was nice of him. I also spent about half an hour of work time making the cupcakes and cake for my party - and another 45 minutes of my own time.

Well. I am off to the farmers market now.
How exciting! I have been planning for months for this party and it's finally happening!

Well, i finally got my act together and created an avatar that bears some resemblence to myself, you can see it on my side bar now.

Today and yesterday I did very well with resisting the temptation to spend money on snacks. Yesterday I spent $2.90 on 1L of milk, and $23.50 on petrol. Today I had an automatic deduction come out for rent ($126.67).

I think we may actually get by without spending any more money on groceries this week!

Tonight I am making a vegetable minestroni soup with some meat in it for BF. Tomorrow I am thinking of making red curry, or enchiladas.

I thought we were going to go away for the weekend to BF's mothers, but we are not, which is fine. Flatmate is going away though, so we will have the house to ourselves.

I would sort of like to do something this weekend with BF. I was thinking maybe seeing the movie Taken, I think it looks interesting. Or maybe we could go bowling.

Income: $2041.50 ($510.38 p/w)
Job 1: $695.00 ($173.75 p/w)
Job 2: $1219.50 ($304.88)
Other: $127.00 ($31.75 p/w)

Deducted from Savings:
Gifts: $50
Holidays: $150
Bills: $142.69
Total: $342.69


---------------------------------------

Expenses: $2113.43
Rent: $506.68 ($126.67 p/w)
Groceries: $219.71 ($54.93 p/w)
Petrol: $113.13 ($28.28 p/w)
Phone & Internet: $26.69 ($6.67 p/w)
Loan Repayment: $148.00 ($37 p/w)
Extra Loan Repayments: $80.00 ($20 p/w)
Skincare: $29.95 ($7.49 p/w)
Mobile Phone: $30 ($7.50 p/w)
Misc: $5
Health & Beauty: $36.50 ($9.13 p/w)
Gifts: $60
Bank Fees: $7
Fun-
Alcohol: $56.50 ($14.13 p/w)
Takaway Beverages: $90.32 ($22.58 p/w)
Takeaway/Dining Out: $239.40 ($59.85 p/w)
Magazines & Books: $13.50
Clothes & Shoes: $83.65 ($20.91 p/w)
Makeup: $21.95
Entertainment: $213.45 ($53.36 p/w)
Staff Lotto: $8 ($2 p/w)
House: $8.00
Car Service: $116.00
---------------------------------------

Savings: $220 ($55 p/w)

---------------------------------------

So:
Income: $2041.50
+ saved: $342.69
= $2384.19

Less Expenses: $2113.43
Less Savings: $220.00

Remaining: $50.76

----------------------------------------

Whew!

This is the first time that I have used my Holiday/Gifts Fund for what it was supposed to be used for, and it actually worked!

And yes, I know, I know, I spent a lot on the 'Fun' categories. In my defense, I had a wedding and a hens night to go to, which meant two whole weekends a couple of hourse drive away from my home. This month will be much better, the only thing I have to spend on in September is stuff for my party, which should cost roughly $100 or a bit more. I am thining I will take what I can out of my holiday account, if I need to.

I finally went to the market this weekend for our groceries. It has only taken me... oh a few months...
Groceries that will hopefully last us all week cost approx $26 ($13 each).
One thing I did differenly this time was, I didn't shop to a menu. I hardly ever stick to it anyway, and most of the time I buy the same stuff. I am trying to be a little creative with meals, as in, think of them on the spot, not a week in advance, and only using things in the pantry.
Last week, I roasted some vegetables,, boiled some pasta, and tossed the roasted vegetables through with a little homemade pasta sauce and topped with parmesan. It was really yummy, and cheap!

The month of August has technically finished on my expenses calender, so I will be posting those results soon. I warn you, it won't be pretty! What with the Hens Night and Wedding, and my car service... UGH!!! I already know I'm over. The most important part I guess, is that the bit that I'm over is what I took out of my Holiday Fund and Bills Account, so really I should break even...

I haven't done very well in tracking my expenses this week, mainly due to the wedding I guess. (Mainly due to me not wanting to know how much we really spent!). We were away for the entire weekend, and I had Friday off as well. Now I can settle back into routine. I am planning on running again atleast 3 times a week, and hopefully 4-5 times, depending on schedule. I was meant to go for a run on Monday afternoon but I went kayaking instead so I guess it is still exercise.
I went bowling on the weekend (the day after the wedding) and now my arm and right side hurts! I won the second game though...

Overall it was a spendy spendy weekend. Because I don't know the exact amounts, I am estimating and hoping I don't leave anything out. It is better to have some sort of idea of my spending than just giving up completely, right???

Expenses:
Magazine: $7.50
Breakfast: $8.00
Gift: $50 cash
Alcohol: $18
Bus: $10
Breakfast: $40 (BF and I)
Groceries for dinner: $17.23 (BF and I)
Bowling: $17 (for two games)
Drinks: $7.20
Breakfast: $20.40 (BF and I - a cheaper and nicer place second time round!!!)

Total: $195.33

Whew, isn't too bad considering I transferred $200 from my gifts/holidays fund!!! I thought it would be way more. Of course, it's still a lot. But these events only happen rarely in our group of friends, (for example, there was a wedding last year, then this one, and then the next one will most probably be BF and myself - and we're a long way off!) I think it's worth the expense because it was just such a great time.

On another note, we got our phone & internet bill, which is $88. BF and I are sharing the cost without other flatmate this month as she was away for a month. It's funny, she accepted the offer straight away to not pay it, even though I went away in June-July for three weeks and still had to pay the bill.

I just transferred $150 from my Holiday/Gifts Fund into my main account, and $50 from my EF (because my Holiday/Gifts fund didn't have enough yet!). That's what it's there for, right?!

I feel bad taking the money out, but it does make me feel a hell of a lot better knowing I am taking it out for what it's actually meant to be used for!

The $200 is for the wedding this weekend. Some of it is because I am taking a day off work to go, and part of it is a cash gift for the bride and groom.

This means I had to delete one of the "goals reached" on my Holiday & Gifts fund, but I am sure that it won't be long until I reach it again.

Oh well. That's why I have these accounts! So I can take money out of them when I need to!

For the past 2 weeks we have had visitors staying at our house, and they left late last week. Also our flatmate, who had been away for a month, returned. It was nice to have the visitors, but I definately noticed an increase in spending, as we would often have takeaway, or I would cook for all four of us (they cooked once). They were our guests and seeing as I didn't know them well enough as I know our other friends, I didn't exactly feel comfortable asking them to pitch in on grocery items and dinners (unless we got takeaways). So BF and I paid for about 3/4 of their dinners. (breakfasts and lunches they did their own thing).

Now everything is back to normal I am looking forward to a decrease in Takeaway Food and Groceries spendings. I know I have to work on some dining out expenses as I have been having coffees with a friend about 2 or 3 times a week, and I stupidly decide each time that I won't bother to pack some snacks and 'will be fine to just have a coffee and wait til dinner', which usually ends in my stomach grumbling at me and my friend and I sharing a bowl of chips or some other equally fattening non-essential item we could have easily avoided.

I have also not been walking AT ALL lately. Usually I have atleast 3 x 30 minute walking/jogging afternoons a week at the beach along a track, but have not really gotten back into it since my holiday. So this is all going to start again next week, on monday after work. NO excuses! and I have decided I will jog an extra 10 minutes each session just because I have been so lazy.
Fortunately I have not put on any weight, though I am sure that will change unless I do something immediately!

I am going to make a meal plan for this week. This vegetarian/meateater combination is a tricky one sometimes, but it's working. Tonight I think we will have homemade pizzas as I have some bases in the freezer which I made last week.
For the toppings we will have: artichoke hearts, pineapple, onion, capsicum, roast pumpkin, olives, sundried tomato, with a tomato and garlic sauce, fresh herbs and on BF's side he will have some sliced lamb.

A Hens Day/Night of expenses:

Transport: $10
Coffees (while waiting for people to turn up): $7.40
Snack: $2.40
Parking (shared): $5
Boat Cruise: $20
Alcoholic Beverages: $38.50 (for FOUR drinks)
Lunch: $6.20
Dinner: $18.50
Scarf: $10 (it was freezing!)
Breakfast: $33.30
Coffee: $3.70

Total: $130.00


...I am cringing at how much the wedding is going to cost me next week!

I (finally) got my car serviced yesterday. (It has done 219 000km and was supposed to have a service at 210 000km).
I stressed for the entire morning wondering how much it would be, and whether I had enough cash in my Bills Account for the service, and whether or not he would find anything horribly wrong with it. I got a call at 2pm telling me it was ready, and that the only thing that needed fixing in the next six months was the brake pads, to relieve the shudder in the steering wheel (whew! i thought it might have been the cv joints!).
So, I get there, and whip out the CC to pay for the minor service, expecting over $200. How much? $116!!!
I was so happy.
Of course, the quote for the brake pads and rotors is $352.00, however now I am aware of that I will have enough money for it.

After that, I went into town with the intent on looking for some kind of jacket so wear to the hens night this saturday. Target were having a sale and I bought a polka dot satin shirt, a navy cardigan and another short sleeve jacket, for $56.00 all up. Would you like to know the best thing about all this? I got it entirely for FREE because I used up three gift cards I had in my wallet. One was a christmas bonus, one was a survey reward card, and one was a credit card reward gift card. I still have $4.91 left on one of the cards!

I thought that my day went fantastically well. The only bad bit was that I spent $6.30 on lunch, $28.05 on petrol and a whopping $3.99 on a drink that I didn't bother to check the price on before I bought it. That'll teach me. So I am putting $10.30 onto my debt for those two.

I am having my 21st Birthday Party in a month, and am starting to get things organised so it isn't a major stressout the week before the party. It is a dress-up theme, and therefore at my home.
The guests are bringing their own alcohol and I am supplying food.
I am stressing a little about the food, I don't want to not have enough, because that would be terrible. But I don't want to have too much either. People are meant to arrive at around 4pm, as it is meant to be a relaxed afternoon (I am not really the 'party'-party type, I prefer talking and catching up to loud music and shots until 1am) so I will need enough food for about 25 people for afternoon snacks and dinner. So far I have planned:

for nibbles:

- 40 x mini spinach & fetta rolls
- 40 x mini quiches
- 30 cupcakes
- cheeses, crackers & dips

for dinner (around 6pm)
- 3 large bowls of baked seasoned wedegs
- a large garden salad
- a large pesto pasta salad
- a large potato salad
- various loaves of fresh bread and rolls
- sausages & vege patties on the bbq

for dessert:
- cake

I am also planning on buying about five bottles of flavoured soft drink, plus of course paper plates, plastic cups and knives and forks.

One thing I am wondering is, are there too many 'nibbles'? or should I be putting some of the things for nibbles out when i put the dinner out (like the quiches and spinach and fetta rolls..?)

Is there anything I am missing???

EDIT: I forgot to say, I will be getting the quiche, spinach & fetta, cupcakes & cake from my work (ie. probably making them myself as well!) so they will not cost a great deal)

so to speak...

well, my 'entertainment' budget seems to have burst at the seams last week. i would love to stick my head in the sand and pretend i didn't spend the money, but i thought if i get it out now it will help me deal with it at the end of the month!!!

So this was my blow-out for last week:
CD: Portisheads new album Third ($19.95)
CD: Becks new album Modern Guilt ($24.95)
DVD: 1st Series of X files on eBay ($37.98)
plus some other purchases here and there. They were my main ones. Normally it wouldn't matter if it was one of those purchases in a month, but this was THREE in ONE WEEK. argh.
so many new albums from bands i love. i mean, how culd i possibly resist???

In line with my not-wanting-to-spend-much-money-this week train of thought *cough* we went to the movies last night. (X-files movie - not too bad but not much sci-fi, a lot more relationship talk than i would have liked... oh well. can't say i wouldn't watch anything with david duchovny in it anyway...)
To be fair, it was cheap night, so the ticket itself cost $8.50.
Total Expenditure last night:
Movie: $8.50
Coffee: $3.75
Icecream: $4
Kebab: $10
Water: $1.40
Total: $27.65

$17.75 of that I am transferring to my loan my debt is now *officially* under 4k.

*Please Note: This is my Earnings & Expenditure for TWO months in total, added together. It is easier for me this way as I went on holiday and things would look a bit scary if I were to do the months by themselves! XD
I am proud of my savings efforts though.

Income:
Job 1: $999
Job 2: $2193.37
Other: $1264
Holiday Savings: $1300
Total Income: $5756.37

Expenses:
Rent: $1266.70
Savings: $1230
Fun: $949.82
Loan Repayments: $410
Groceries: $353.42
Petrol: $175.11
Bills: $52.85 (phone & internet) $92.35 (electricity for 3 months)
Skin Care: $69.85
Mobile Phone: $60
Grooming: $52.10
Misc: $46.08
Work Expenses: $22.24
Bank fees: $8
Gifts: $5

Total Expenses: $5743.34

So I earned $13 more than I spent over the past two months! Well, atleast I didn't overspend. And I also managed to save over $1200.

i have found in the couple of weeks i have been back from my holidays that i have been spending less than i did before i went on holidays.
it FEELS like my spending is out of control, but the expenditure log begs to differ.
other than the $180 dress i bought for the wedding, (which i had funds for anyway) my expenses each week are much less than what i have been earning, and much less than i was spending per week before my holiday.
and yet i have been going out for coffee a few times a week with friends, spending more on groceries, buying crap i don't need...
i have double checked the amounts, and every cent i have spent is there, listed. i have even paid for some costs that BF could have shared (like tea tree shampoo, a nail scrubber, some grocery costs i hadn't bothered to divide).

i have come to the conclusion that limiting the strictness of my budget, and relaxing a little on how i spend my money, is a good thing. it allows me to make decisions without feeling bad about it so much. i guess it's like a diet, if you control your eating so much you end up eating five tubs of icecream before too long. if i try too hard to limit my expenses i feel trapped and end up spending more.

i have found lately i have been losing motivation to post frequently. i think my finances might be suffering as well because of this, although i really have tried to do well.
my main problem areas are takeaway food and beverages and grocery shopping.
the takeaways i can deal with, as i will work on decreasing the costs. i actually already have been, as the most of the costs are from catching up with a friend and we have begun sharing a meal if we need one, or just having a coffee.
grocery shopping is a tricky one. having spent three weeks with my father and that side of the family, where they all eat organically and fresh, i have sort of turned over a new leaf and begun buying organic here and there. i am really trying to keep costs down, but i think this is something i want to do, so we'll see how i go. the other reason grocery costs are high is because i haven't had the motivation to do a full shop, and so have been going to the supermarket every couple of days for items, and therefore probably purchasing a few things each time that i don't actually need.
i'll try and work on that.
lately i just can't bring myself to push a trolley around for over an hour. i know every couple of days the time would add up to over an hour, but i just can't do it at the moment.
does anyone else ever have these days? (or weeks, i should say).

in good news, i am about to update my side profile with my savings and debt amounts. i transferred $700 (my tax refund) into my home loan/uni fund account, which brings the balance to over $1200. woohoo! have reached goal #2 and am closer to #3 every week.

bf and i have been (well, i have mostly, with bf looking over my shoulder now and then) having a look on the internet at some properties so that we know what we can expect to be looking for in a few months time. the prices of units seem to be steady, but have fallen slightly in a year, which is good news for us. there are also a lot more on the market than there was a year ago. houses seem to be out of the question at the moment, the cheapest at $450 000 and most ranging from $500 000 - $800 000 for a 3-4 bedroom slab house.

it's been a bit tricky sometimes with cooking meals, BF eating meat and I not, but overall it hasn't changed our routine that much. i am planning on buying a heap of small steaks or cutlets to freeze individually. this will give me a bit more freedom as i can cook him a cutlet and add it to whatever i am cooking.
eating out is tough, i have discovovered. i guess i am normally used to eating in restaurants that do have a wide range for vegetarians, whereas lately we seem to be going to places like pubs and clubs, which usually only offer one vegetarian meal. so i'm going to have to do some research and find some good places to eat around here! sooner or later i am going to get sick of raviolli and nachos...!

from my holidays in victoria! hello everyone, i am ready to start getting into frugal mode again.
i have to say though, my holiday expenditure went *exceptionally* well.

I spent, in three weeks, $381.40 on food, transport, beverages, entertainment and clothes.



(this is not including my normal expenses at home ie. bills, rent and loan).

I am so very pleased with myself.

We have a wedding to go to in 6 weeks, which we just got the invitation to, so I will be using some left over money from my holidays to buy a dress and shoes.

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. New Stupid Vault balance: $29.73

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

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!

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

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

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.

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