Actually, I do mind.

(warning: rant ahead)

I have worked as a barista and never once commented to a customer on their drink choice. Now, I don't find a lot of things rude but for some reason it just never felt right.

Of course, inwardly I wondered why on earth someone would bother to get the 'skinny-milk' option on a mocha-with-cream-and-marshmallows-plus-two-sugars, but I digress... I would never SAY that to the person who was ordering it.

I'm a strong coffee gal. I cannot STAND milky coffee. I've been drinking (real - not instant) coffee since I was 13 or 14 and I know what I like. I also have the ability to be able to drink a (strong) cup of coffee and then go to bed immediately after - I don't get that 'no coffee after 3pm or I'll be awake through the night' thing that other people seem to get. Have I over-consumed caffeine? I have no idea. I've never felt that rush or alertness that people describe when they have a coffee, or a Red Bull or some other 'energy device' invented recently. Never. Never Ever.
Why do I drink it then? you ask. Well, I like coffee. I like the smell and taste of it, and the good memories associated with it. Coffee is like a culture. For me it's not about the pick-me-up or the 'get me through the day' approach. I don't HAVE to drink coffee every single day and sometimes I don't - I just like a good cup of coffee.

Anyway.

So as I mentioned, I don't like milky coffee. So, I usually order a double-shot flat white or cappucino. Which is normal enough.

However, I frequent a place with a friend (who doesn't even drink coffee) where they serve their coffee in GIANT cups (they are like mugs, but in a cup shape). To compensate, all coffees are double-shot as standard. So when I ask for a flat white with an extra shot, every single time they explain that to me, I have to say 'Yes - I would like an EXTRA shot, please.'

And then they fluff about, stutter, raise their eyebrows, elbow each other, give a shrieking laugh and/or say some stupid comment like:
- Ooooh. Switch to decaf, girl.
- you know that's THREE shots of coffee?
- I don't think I've ever made a coffee that strong before.
- You'll be buzzing all afternoon.
- Why not just stick a caffeine drip in your arm?
- Don't feel like sleeping tonight?
- Had a long day?
- Gosh I don't think I could handle that much caffeine.
- It's not our fault if you decide it's too strong.
- Are you that tired?
- Our coffee is quite strong, you know.

Take your pick, it's all been said to me before. And not just at the place I went to today - MANY places have said that to me.

I don't need your opinion on my drink, it's not going to influence my decision, I've been drinking the same type since I was in high school. ARGH!

Anyway, I'm not really sure where this rant is heading, it's just that I'm annoyed. Is it really that difficult to shut your yap and just make me my damn coffee?

So I am sure that maaaaaany of you are familiar with my wailing and whining about the inability to make a decision regarding my 'future' in terms of job/career-ness.

I am sure that there are a few of you that have read each post I've made where I've decided to do one thing, then changed my mind and decided to do the other, and then ultimately done nothing at all.

Well. I am writing to inform you that *deep breath* I have made a decision on what I'm doing, and have now put it in the hands of someone else. So once that 'someone else' does what they have to do, I will be advancing down one fork in the road (figuratively speaking), instead of dancing around at the intersection wasting time and looking like a goose.

So here it is.

I spoke to my boss today, and I asked him if I could possibly do that fast-tracked apprentice-ship we had talked about earlier this year. I said I had no intention of leaving after it was done, I had no qualms about apprentice wages if it came to that, and working 5 days a week (on top of the two days a week I work at my other job), and that when it was all a done deal, I would be happy going back to my original 22 hours a week if that is what he wanted. Oh, and I would pay for the training.

And he said he had forgotten to ask the apprentice trainer last time he was here, but will ask him next time, and that I could probably do it part time anyway, and he would try to get me qualified in less time if he possibly could, even if he had to lie, cheat and steal. (I think he was joking about the last part - but you never know with him...)

Oh my gosh! I think this means... that I am going to be a Pastry Chef.

DF is working tomorrow (Saturday) and I have no plans. I was invited to dinner with friends, but it is with 'those' friends that I have blogged about previously. Nice to catch up with at a party, but I realised pretty quickly I don't want to go to a restaurant with them EVER AGAIN.
Lovely people, most of the time, but yeah, I must be an old fashioned lass who thinks people should be quiet when indoors with strangers trying to eat their meals. I guess you could say, hmmmm, I have respect for the people around me?

Anyway. So I would like to have a productive but very laid back weekend. My plans are:

- Sleep in (until 7am atleast)
- Farmers market
- Put a meal on in the slow-cooker
- Wash Jed
- Do some laundry & fold washing
- Clean the fridge
- Clean the pantry
- Take Jed for a walk

Obviously, not setting the bar too high

Thought I would share some more photos with you all.

And on a slightly more *ahem* financial note, we spent $127.40 yesterday at the vet for the two puppies vaccines. The vet said that he wishes all puppies came in looking this healthy

Brother and Sister playing together:


Little Girl is at the front, to the left is Banjo and to the right is Mummy!


Our little one, Banjo! Soon he will be at our house!


Little Girl (still unnamed). Isn't she ever so cute! She will only be two streets away from her mummy (she is being given to DF's grandparents), I think it is nice that they will be able to grow up together, and be able to see their mum and dad often too.

We are taking the puppies to get vaccinated this afternoon, and then the little girl is going to DF's grandparents tomorrow. We are taking the little boy this weekend.

And we have (I think) decided on a name.

Banjo.

It is the mother dogs' dads name. He was killed by a paralysis tick about two years ago, and Jed very much reminds us of him. So we thought it would be nice. Jed and Banjo.

It is going to be tricky with work and the puppy. They are not inside dogs so we are thinking of making a smaller enclosure in our yard until the puppy gets a bit older.

And apparently he is already toilet trained! He is 8 weeks old and he already crawls out of his kennel, and out onto the grass before going. Could you ask for much more?

We got our first electricity bill since we moved in, March 2nd this year.

Normally power companies bill you every 3 months here, but there was a mix up with which company we were using, so we never got one 3 months ago - we have now been billed for 7 months and 2 weeks. Which is fine, it doesn't really make any difference to us.

It works out to be roughly $225 per 3 month period - pretty standard for us. This is with a different power company too.

We have just started turning everything off at the power point again - we lapsed at this for about a year . So, the only thing that's running at home when we are away is the fridge.

We have a box of the energy efficient light globes that we have been using to replace the old ones when they blow out. Hopefully that might have a bit of an impact down the track too.

What do you do to save power? Other than the usual of course, turning lights off when you're not using them, etc etc.

Well, I guess you would call it flatmates really. Except we are getting paid rent.

After some thinking, we've decided to let DF's cousin rent a room from us. Remember this from ages ago? I posted about it. I was really not ok with it then - because I had not met him.

He has been living with DF's dads family for a few months now, so we have been able to get to know him. He is working for the family business, so DF spends a good 9 hours a day with him, or more.

He's a nice kid. He is only 19 and does not know anyone in this state, he moved two states to work for DF's dad as an apprentice. DF's dads house is a little crazy at the best of times, and there is not a lot of room there either.

I am thinking it will be fine - he is quiet, considerate and NICE and at first would not even accept our offer as he didn't want to intrude.
We'll be setting ground rules first off - isn't it amazing what a difference it can make when you actually MEET someone? I did not think I would change my mind about this, but I have.

I do often wonder about people who ask that question. And I admit I am sometimes guilty of just saying No, because really if you are silly enough to believe it... *shrug*

So I can finally upload a picture for those that might be interested. It is too difficult to take one of my own leg so instead I just took it off the tattooists myspace page.



I am fantastically happy with the outcome and the cost ($320 - he only charged for actual inking time and not drawing time). And I have been told I have great skin and that he will do work on me anytime. It's nice to make an impression.

I have not been on here to post as much as usual. This month has been weird with lots of things to do but not much to write about.

We got our tattoos last week, I am waiting for the last of it to heal before I post a picture, for anyone interested (probably not many on here!)

It was much less than we thought it would cost. For starters he was very quick (I think he surprised himself) and he didn't charge for drawing time. For both it ended up being $520, plus a $30 tip (Yes! something I actually tip for here...). Initially we thought it would be around $900.

I think the tattooist was really excited about mine because he is now using it as his profile picture on his myspace.

Anyway.

We get our puppy soon. Haven't decided on a name yet. They are jumping and trying to use their voices, very very cute indeed.

Work has slowed down for DF again. He is still earning money every week but not full-time. But mine remains the same which is good.

Still haven't gotten the stove or oven fixed, but it isn't a huge hassle at the moment. When it becomes more of a problem we will do something about it. At the moment it's fine.

The next door neighbours dog keeps sleeping under DF's cars during the day, underneath our house. It is getting a little annoying as she leaves dark patches all over the concrete - we are not sure if it is blood or dirt. She is an old dog and the neighbours are always out, I am not sure if they realise she gets out. Anyone know of anything that keeps dogs away, like pepper or something? (I think pepper keeps ants or cats away... can't remember which...)

On Sunday we went to the CBD and spent some of our gift vouchers that we recieved for our engagement party. We also got $70 in cash from DF's sister - I am going to use some of that to buy a Scanpan stainless steel frypan.

We decided to buy things that we would ordinarily spend money on anyway - but have been putting off for some time.

First off was a Brita water filter jug. We got a good deal on it, went to three different stores to compare. Myer had the best deal: a 2.4L jug for $29.70, which came with three free filters ($23 each normally) and a free re-usable waterbottle. To compare, I found a 3.5L jug for $33 in Kmart, that was the next option. So you can see why I went for a smaller jug with more extras.

I decided I wanted some summer shorts and found a pair for $35, and DF wanted to buy the new Wolverine movie on dvd, and another dvd, can't remember which one.

With our hardware store vouchers ($200) we bought a lawn mower. DF found one on sale from $350 reduced to $299, so in the end we got a lawnmower for $99.

Other things on the list are, obviously, a Scanpan frypan, and one of the things you tap your used coffee grinds into (I never thought this was necessary until we started having people over regularly - I have realised how useful it will be). So far have found them at Myer for $36, which is the best deal I can find. I believe we have just over $100 left on the GC's, and $70 in cash.

Doing our tax returns yesterday, I asked DF to log on to his old Bankwest account (similar to an ING account) to find out how much interest he earnt in the last financial year from the house deposit.

Seconds later I hear 'uhhm... huh?'

He has $836 still in there!

He had $18 792.00 and transferred $18 000. The $792 has remained there since January, slowly working itself up to the $836 it is now.

Um, wow?!

The found money is going to the EF.

Also, wanted to share how much interest DF earnt in the last year, only six months of it where he actually had a high amount in there: $236.37!


Currently Listening To: Air - Alone in Kyoto

Normally I am all onto our tax returns and have them done within the first week of July. However this time things were tricky due to closed accounts, deductions etc etc.

Finally got it all together and did it online tonight.

Combined we get back nearly $2000.

It is just in time too, as DF's mum is trying to buy a property and needs a buffer in between the exchange of her old property and the new one. She gave DF $4000 when we were getting ready to buy our house, so we are going to give her $2000 back. Even though it was a gift, I still don't like it hanging over our heads. She has not asked us for it but I know that she would be thankful, and even though we do not have a LOT to spare, I feel compelled to. She is a very generous person and if it means we cut back and tighten the purse strings for the next few months, that is fine with me.

So really, the tax return has not made a difference in our accounts at all. But it has helped someone!

Everyone loves puppies, don't they?

So here is Jeds son and daughter. They are still with their mum (DF's dads dog) and we will be getting the boy (the one that is all white) and DF's grandparents will be getting the girl (the one with the black patches).



DF's dads dog, Trinity. She is such a goood mum!

Because we have no stove or oven for the next few weeks I have had to be inventive with our meal plan. We have a lot of other things going on so at the moment we are not bothering to do anything about fixing it until atleast the start of November.

To top it off, going away for the weekend meant I wasn't able to go to the farmers market on Saturday. I have not missed it since we moved here back in March, so I am at a bit of a loss as to where to get good fresh veges. I am going to try a place near my drive home - wish me luck on that front! I think we are spoilt with the freshness from the markets, even my dad and stepmum were amazed at how beautiful the produce was.

I am using up our freezer stock of meals too.

Last night we had pasta because I discovered you can cook it in a rice cooker! It was an experiment that lead to a happy outcome. I had to heat up the sauce in the microwave though

Tonight we are having an Indian Vegetable curry that my dad made while he was here (thawed from the freezer). I will cook the rice, and once it is halfway through cooking will put the curry on top of the rice to heat it. I have heard of people doing this before, so I know it works. We are having chapatti and yoghurt with the curry.

Meal Plan:
Tuesday: Indian Vegetable Curry
Wednesday: Slow Cooked Lentil Soup
Thursday: Grilled Vegetables with Tofu/Lamb Chops
Friday: Fresh Spring Rolls (rice paper wraps - NOT fried)

(saturday is market day, so this is my meal plan for the following week

Saturday: BBQ & Salad
Sunday: Vegetarian Mexican Beans, Rice & Salad (beans made in slow cooker)
Monday: Slow Cooked Minestroni Soup
Tuesday: Bean & Salad Tortillas
Wednesday: Toasted Panini Sandwhiches
Thursday: Slow Cooked Indian Curry
Friday: BBQ & Salad or Grilled Veges

Isn't it funny, when you knock out use of an oven and stove, the only options you have are (mostly) healthy ones. Out of the next two weeks of our eating plan, the only meals I can see that are questionably healthy are the toasted panini (wheat and cheese) the curries (coconut milk) and the mexican beans/tortillas IF we have cheese on them.

So it worked out to be a fairly cheap weekend away. Usually when it is a big group of us, we have to pay accomodation costs (around $50 a night divided by all who are staying) to use our friends' parents beach house. But this time we did not have to, which was nice.

So this is what we spent:

$13.20 Takeaway Lunch
$6.95 Groceries
$47 Dinner out
$21.50 Drinks
$94 Alcohol
$3.80 Icecream
$2.80 Water
$4.40 Groceries
$7.60 Drinks

Probably could have made it cheaper by not going out for dinner the first night, and DF not buying alcohol. But he brought some back with him so it wasn't all consumed there. We also had two bottles of champagne that was in the cupboard at home, so we took those.

Awhile ago at work we stopped being able to buy a product that we used regularly. Luckily our suppliers had a similar product which we then started using. A few weeks later our rep told us (I don't think he was meant to - I believe he told us because we were complaining about how different the second product was) that the reason we couldn't get the first product was because an ingredient in it had been banned and they were currently testing other ingredients to find something they could use - the product was made in the US and the ingredient banned was something they used to stablise it.

So all this got me thinking.

If I didn't work there, and if the rep hadn't told us, I wouldn't have ever known.
Customers who buy our goods have no idea. The only thing they will notice is that some goods are a little different now, because the new product we use is a little different to the old one.

And then this got me thinking even more:

So exactly how many things have I consumed in my life that have contained ingredients which have then forced the product off the shelves? How many manufacturers have gone 'Oh! Shit!' and changed their recipes?

Obviously this was not something hugely drastic, otherwise there would have been a product recall. But still - if it's bad enough to ban and cease production for some time, isn't it bad enough to warn people not to eat it? (We threw out our stock with the old product in it - in case you're wondering)

This leads me to my next line of thinking.

Exactly how much do you know about what is in your food?

I have been brought up cooking from scratch and avoiding foods with numbers and ingredients I cannot decipher. But not everyone has. And even still, I find it incredibly difficult to avoid all those nasties on a daily basis.

Furthermore, are you aware that over 60% of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your body?

So, are you completely happy with the contents of your shampoo bottle being inside your body? What about your foundation, anti-wrinkle cream, skin care scrubs and cleansers, hair removing agents, laundry powders etc etc?

Would you eat them? Why not?

I have only just started thinking about this all. While I do think I am a little more aware of these things than, say, the average 22 year old, this whole 'banned-ingredient-thing' has really filled my head with questions and reservations.

It's all quite a bit to think about, so I wanted to share it. Hope you all don't mind.

I think I am going to take (baby) steps to reduce our consumption of items that have ingredients in them that I don't know what they are or do.

Thoughts? Opinions?

This could possibly be a frugal exercise too. Has anyone ever used castile soap? I have been reading about it.

We have been talking about what to buy with our gift vouchers from our engagement party.

Our initial thought was to get a dvd player/hard drive recorder. It would probably be the most useful piece of technology in our house for two reasons: we hate advertising, and we both go to bed reasonably early and miss out on good shows that play later in the evening.

But, we went to check them out and apparently they are phasing out making them. WHAT?! Why???

So the only ones that are there, are around $800. Excuse me? I am not paying that much. Sorry if appear to be somewhat of a tightass.

So instead we were thinking of buying the following:

- a water filter (either one that connects to the tap, or just a jug filter you put in the fridge)
- a normal dvd player

That uses up about half of the Myer vouchers. The hardware store vouchers we are not really sure of, but were thinking of getting a lawn mower. We don't have one so we have to borrow DF's dads one. It has been good lately as it has been winter, and the grass hasn't grown for about four months, but soon it will start again.

The lawnmowers range from $340-$800. We don't have a lot of land to cover, so a cheaper one will do as long as the parts are sturdy, DF can do any maintenance that is needed.

I did have a thought that if we bought the lawn mower, I could use the leftover Myer vouchers for groceries, and that would sort of offset the extra spend on the lawnmower? Technically we would be out of pocket around $50 or so. Good idea? Bad idea?

For a week or two we have been smelling a burning plastic smell whenever I light the oven (note: our oven has a stove on the top). Because it's summer I've only used the oven a few times, so I haven't really paid that much attention. But last night I finally asked DF to have a look, and lo and behold, gas is leaking from one of the pipes, which has created a bigger pilot flame.

It could be a case of a loose nut or fixture, but the burning smell indicates it has probably melted something that might be important. How scary to think that could have made a huge fire one day if we hadn't checked it!

So, I guess this means we will have to buy a new stove. (Truth be told, it is around 10 years old and in need of replacing anyway...)

Our problem now is, in 4 to 5 years we had hoped to have enough to remodel the kitchen. It would be a medium sized renovation as we would be putting in a bay window to add extra room. We would look at getting a wall mounted oven and a stove with a rangehood - which is something that is impossible to do at the moment.

So - do we fix it or buy a cheap(er) stove/oven now with the intent of using it for only 5 years? Do people buy second hand stoves? Could we sell it later? Or should we buy a second hand one? Doesn't that mean that whatever we save on buying second hand, we will have to shell out for new fittings anyway?

----------

In the meantime, I am confined (yet again!) to cooking on the barbecue or using bench top appliances. Hooray! As if I didn't already have enough of that experience when we first moved in.

Now I have to think up ways to use our veges up that don't involve the stove or the oven. GREAT

I have:
a slowcooker
a rice cooker
a barbecue
a grill/sandwhich press

I also have an outstanding assortment of takeaway menus

Next weekend we are going away to BIL's family's holiday house.

It was arranged awhile ago, as a 'relaxing weekend'. Yesterday we got an invitation in the mail for their daughters '3 month birthday'.

Huh!?

Cute, I guess.

Are we supposed to give them a present???

Also, one thing that irks me, even though it probably shouldn't:

She wrote on the invitation: 'Meat will be provided'. And also that she can organise all the rest of the food if we all put in money, or we can bring each bring food and pool our items.

How much would everyone like to bet that if we all put in money, I would still have to go and buy something for myself, the vegetarian?

The only reason I say this is that I have noticed that every time we go to their house now, we go out for dinner. But when they come to our house, I cook something that usually has meat in it and something else for myself. But we always have the option of them having meat (wouldn't want to miss out for a single day now would we?!?!). I'm probably being petty but argh!

I'm back from my holiday, my parents left last Friday. I haven't been on the internet at all for about a week and a half (it's actually quite freeing!).

I hardly tracked our expenses at all for the last week, so September will be a bit of a write-off. Didn't spend a great deal because my parents insisted on paying for most of everything.

So it's Monday 4.30am and I am about to leave for work! What a rude shock to the system, I have been getting up at 630am and some mornings even 8am, it has been nice to not worry about going to work. But alas, money pays the bills, so off I go again!

My holidays have started today! Unfortunately, even though to most a holiday is meant to go hand in hand with sleeping in (in my case sleeping in is 7am - still an extra two hours though!) today, tomorrow and Sunday I have to still get up around 5am but it is all for a good cause.
Today I got up with DF to take Jed for a walk, and then do final cleaning before I meet my parents at the airport.
Tomorrow I am going into work to make the mini custard tarts and ice the mini cupcakes.
And on Sunday I have to get up and make sandwhiches, and then bag a spot at the park so no one else takes it! We are getting there two hours early, because several things are happening in the area and we believe there will be massive amounts of people there. Puts a bit of a damper on the day, but oh well.
Most people have RSVP'd. I have heard from other people that a few are coming who have NOT RSVP'd (which actually annoys me - how hard is it to send a text message??? or a facebook message? or, I know, CALL! Bah!) Anyway. So all up I believe around 45-50 people are going to be there.

If you haven't heard, parts of Australia have been covered in dust storms (that aren't usually).

Google Image 'Dust storms Australia' and you will find some interesting pictures.

It was worse in Sydney and Melbourne than in Queensland, where we live, but my car is covered in a layer of dust, and I was coughing a lot on the day and the day after. When you were outside it was like you were breathing in chalk - eugh!
But, because I have never been in a dust storm of that size and severity, I thought it was beautiful. Everyone was complaining about it, which I suppose is normal, but honestly, it's not something you see every day. I thought it was particularly cool. It's not often the sky is a browny red colour all day, and it's not often you can't see 20 metres in front of you.

Anyway. That's all for now. I may or may not blog for the next week. Enjoy my absence! lol.

A few weeks ago on the way to DF's sisters wedding, my car overheated. Well, the temperature gauge went right up to high. We were going quite fast and had the airconditioning on as well. We pulled over and DF goes to me "Have you checked the oil lately?" to which I reply "Umm... that would be a no..." (we live on a hill and there is no level ground. when i am at work I always forget to do it. also, i had only gotten it serviced four months ago...)

Anyway, it cooled down and we were able to drive on, but the temperature remained at a quarter to high the entire way. When we got to DF's sisters house we checked everything and it was fine The only thing I noticed was the thermal fan didn't click on after a few minutes running idle. BUT, the car had cooled down considerably as well, so it wasn't a proper test.
When we drove home, and since, the temperature hadn't gone up again.

So yesterday I took the car in for it's service and mentioned it, and the mechanic rang me later to tell me the radiator is blocked and that is what caused it. Because it's aluminium apparently it can't be flushed (I looked it up after DF and his dad both told me I was getting ripped off, and it turns out it IS actually true!) so it needs replacing. Also my battery is on it's last legs.

So I know DF can do all these things (replacing them), but the issue is TIME, and I don't want to be stuck without a car if the battery dies. DF has a lot of work on at the moment and I don't know when he will be able to do it all. Also, the mechanic has fairly good prices, he does not charge huge amounts for labour. It is $280 for the radiator and $105 for the battery.

All up I will be paying around $40 for labour. I am fine with that. The mechanic is a good guy, never does anything without asking me first, and lets me know in advance if he is concerned about anything. I think it helps that I know slightly more than the average girl about cars (atleast, I know where everything is )

So anyway, more expenses! But atleast this time, car repairs comes out of our bills account. Phew!

I ask this because as of this moment, 7 couples that are our friends have all had children in 2009. Because we're all, to a point, open about our finances, I have a good idea where everyone is financially.
A lot of them are actually not doing that great, and all for different reasons.
The economy is partly to blame as one couple lost BOTH their jobs when the wife was 5 months pregnant.
Another couple's bundle of joy was rather unplanned, and until the time of the discovery (that would be in the form of morning sickness) had lived a complete and utter party life. Think big boozefests, weeklong holidays on tropical islands, attending every single music festival under the sun and generally wasting every cent they made. Oh, the father made ridiculous money owning a spa business, but was ridiculously matched in the way he and his partner could spend it.
The next couple you are probably familiar with, DF's sister and BIL. The sister doesn't like work that much (cough cough) and the father, while a hard worker, liked to up until recently, spend a good amount of money on his car. Coupled with the fact that the BIL is self employed, things aren't exactly great at the moment.
Another couple had a boy in high school, and now 10 years later are the parents of a set of twins. Double trouble.
And one of our closest couples have had a lot to deal with in the past year have virtually zero dollars in the bank and are living with the wifes father. This is the only couple who could not control their situation and I feel for them greatly, they are a couple who given the chance would manage their money well and put thought into their financial moves.
I've already mentioned the gambling addict in a previous entry, and the other couple I don't know particularly much about except that they bought a house in the peak of the housing boom in an apparent 'up and coming' suburb, which now has possibly bottomed out because it's right next to an airport.

Naturally having so many children born in our circle has sparked talks about children with DF and I. We've talked many times before about it and before everyone started popping out kids we'd both agreed that children were on the cards before DF turned 33 or 34 (He's 29 now) and I would be 26 or 27 (22 now). If circumstances allow, obviously. Why that age? I am one of those people that believe you should still have energy to throw a ball around with your kid after work - I'm not saying in your late thirties or early forties you can't do that, however I do think you'd have just the teeniest bit more energy comapred. And I guess I just like the idea of having kids around that age. Having experienced life a bit but still have life to give.

There are things that we'd both like to have achieved before this though. They aren't the typical things though.
I have friends that have had children while attending uni part time, so that is not a problem for me, I know it can be done.
Personally I'd like to get to a stage where I am physically fit and what I consider to be healthy. While I have friends who think I am the healthiest person they know, I guess I have a high personal standard or something. I am lax at some things, and not terribly fit. I'd like to lose a few kilograms before I have a baby, so that I know I can do it afterwards. Is that a weird thing to do? I'm fine maintaining my weight, I have for several years, but while I am at a fairly healthy weight I could stand to lose a bit.
The number one thing DF wants to do is stop drinking. At the moment he has a beer or two after work every night, and probably a few more on the weekends. I don't mind, he pays for it out of his portion of money, and it doesn't render him unable to drive each night during the week. But I think he wants to do it because it has become a habit for him, and he doesn't want to have a habit like that when raising kids.
We'd like to build a fence around the property. We have quite a busy road near our house, plus a fence was on the top of our list when we got Jed, so with a baby it would be even more. Luckily the only money we'd have to pay out would be for the materials, and the hard part would be finding the time for DF to do it.
And lastly, I guess the most important, is money. I can work from home for one of my jobs - and if we tried we could trim quite a bit of fat from our budget. So the question is, how much would we want to have saved?
We've tossed around numbers for a few months now, actually probably over a year, and have settled on 30k. Why? It's a little less than my annual wage ($38k) and for some reason that amount just feels safe. This would be on top of mortgage savings and our emergency fund.
So I realise children cost a lot and all that. We will be probably not buying a great deal of items for the baby in the first two years of it's life (yay for hand-me-downs!) I would want to stay home for atleast a year, if not more.

So my question is, how much would you want to have in savings before you decided to try for a baby?

or, how much DID you have in savings?
Did you have a lot? Did it make things easier?

Did you have nothing? How did you make things work?

What else would you want to have done?
Is there anything you will have wanted to achieve? Is there anythign you wished you'd done differently? Why?

I realise there are two extreme points of view out there in the world on the subject of having children. One group thinks children are a gift and that things like that can't be planned, and the other thinks you should have all your ducks in a row before you consider bringing another human being into the world. I think it'd be safe to say the majority of people on this site think the last option is the safest!

Yep, I have, for this moment, decided that I will attempt university next year.
So I realise that this is a complete change of heart from a couple of posts ago. Since then I have realised one thing: I don't actually want to be a baker (I would rather be a chef of some description - which is completely different and I don't intend to follow that dream right now). So I realised I kind of pranced around that aspect last time.

So I think I might start this studying business either in February 2010, or the second semester of 2010. Even if I do a couple of course and realise I don't like it, I will be alright with that, because at least I would have given it a go.

I got a nice surpise this week, our annual payrise.
Because it's a federal wage I didn't think we'd get one this year, I don't know why but I had this funny idea what with the recession and all... anyway! Apparently I'm a moron.

It's not a great deal, 53c an hour, but it's better than a kick in the teeth.

It works out to be around $10 a week or so.

My hourly rate goes from $19.78 to $20.31

I was thinking of transferring it to my personal loan to get it paid off quicker. I owe $2700 now, and should be able to pay off a bit extra at the end of this month because my spending has been low(er).

So, yay for payrises!

And I have been thinking about purchasing a couple of clothing items. We are into the third week of September and I have spent way way less than my allotted fun money each week, so this is really the only reason I have been thinking about clothes.
I am going to put on rotation some clothes I haven't worn for a few years, so atleast I have some things that will 'feel' new. But there are some things I still would like to get:

- 2 pairs of shorts (one pair black, tailored and knee length)
- 2 pairs ballet flats (my staple casual footwear)
- 2 plain black tshirts
- 2 or 3 button up short sleeve shirts

I have a habit of screenprinting on my blank shirts and then not having any plain ones. I realised this last year when I had to go to a funeral and had the choice of a green zombie or a red samurai soldier... (Obviously I went and bought a new black tshirt...)

I am also wanting to get two plain black button up shirts for work. My clothes for my other work, thankfully, are all sorted for the next year.

So, I realised I did not even do any goals for August! And didn't notice until today! How bad is that!?

Anyway, so my goals for September are short and sweet:

[] prepare/plan/successfully throw engagement party on the 27th.

[] buy a new bed before the 25th

[] stay within my personal allowance for the month (and get DF to as well)

[] book 6 monthly doctors appt & get blood tests done.

[] clean out/tidy pantry

[] clean out fridge & get replacement door shelves

[] wash my car

[] get my car serviced

[] water my plants every day

[] make sure jed gets atleast 2 walks a day.

Ok, so I've never done this before so bear with me! Advice would be appreciated if I've left anything important out!

Liabilities:
Mortgage: -$298 438.53
CC Balance: -$2304.55
Personal Loan: -$2739.93

Total Debt: -$303 483.01

euch!!!

Assets:
House (current median market value) $325k
Savings: $8000
Superannuation 1: $15000
Superannuation 2: $8000
Car 1: $5000
Car 2: $4000
Car 3: $4000
Artwork: $5000
Tools: $4500.00

Total Assets: $378 500.00

(I only include the assets that I know would sell, and at the lowest price we could get for them at short notice.)

Total Net Worth: $75 016.99

Well, that's not too shabby for a 22 year old and a 29 year old, yeah?

So, I was just contacted by a friend on facebook that I have not talked to for over a year. She moved inland where the rent is cheaper, with a guy (that I was not fond of) and popped out three kids in four years. Our contact has been patchy since she left school in year 11 (2003). I've tried to keep in contact with her, I really did. I sent her money and stamps and wrote to her more than she wrote back, and visited her early last year once with a friend when she stayed in a place more than a few months. But she moved last year and sent me a card saying she would write soon with her new address, and then didn't. Then I moved (but redirected my mail) and haven't had any contact until now.

It turns out that the guy she was with was abusing her, keeping her prisoner and not letting her have friends, and made them move around a lot. She is safe now, many many hours away from where I live - and he is going to jail next week.

I am glad to hear her and her children are safe, and I do plan to keep in better contact with her from now on.

I know I should not be thinking of myself right now but I really cannot help it. It just brings back too many memories of my own past. Am I horrible if I do not want to hear any details? I guess I should swallow my own feelings and let her vent but it is very painful all the same. She is very blase about it all.

Todays Expenses:

0.50 Can of Coke
2.00 Staff Lotto
26.40 Postage (Present for stepmum & engagement party invitations)