whitestripe

Today I am doing a cleaning job instead of my normal office work. I got all of my office-work done yesterday so I am hoping to go coat shopping after we finish cleaning.

I FINALLY cleaned our bathroom. Usually I am pretty good with those things - I don't put them off like a lot of people, but this time I just really couldn't be bothered. Well, it's done now!

17/02/09: Rice with baked salmon (lamb chop for DF) & pumpkin, cucumber slices.

Yesterday I filled up with petrol: $21.91.

That's all my news for now.

Oh! 12 days to go!

I've been wanting (key word here) to buy a proper over-coat for a few years now. Every time I go to buy one, there's never any around as I don't think about it until the middle of winter when it's freezing; and most smart people have already gone and bought theirs.

Anyway. So I have had a little bit of a look, and I've found one that I like, and it's $89.95. (I was expecting to pay at tops, $100)

So I am thinking I should probably hold back on buying it, atleast until I look around a bit more. I have two gift cards totalling $70, but it's for a different store to the one with the coat. I haven't looked at the store where I have the gift cards yet. So I suppose I should just do that...

*sigh* I just don't want to miss out on buying a coat this year. Winter is about... two months away? Three? anyway, that's not the point. The point is that I have been meaning to buy a coat like this (long sleeved, collared, button up, about knee length, ) for a while now. And I guess I have gotten a little excited because winter stock is just coming out.

Also, I wanted to ask:
What is some advice on buying a coat? I've never owned a really good, proper one before - I usually just try to skimp by on cardigans and jumpers (makes for some uncomfortable nights out, I assure you!)
What should I be looking for?
How tightly should it fit?
What should I wear when 'shopping' for a coat?
How long are the sleeves meant to be? (as in, where should they fall when your arms are straight down?)
What colours do you recommend? I'm only buying one. I normally wear black clothes, so I was thinking either grey or or a dark ash-grey, or black.

Yesterday we went to the solicitors and signed some paperwork, and then went to the bank to sign some more paperwork.

Tonight we will start transferring money into our new banks' E-Saver account. We have about $13 000 to transfer - and we can only transfer $2000 each day. Damn limits!

13 days to go until we get the keys!!!

Some other good news: We got the electricity bill for the past 3 months and it is around $65 less than our last bill!!!

I think this might have something to do with DF's sister no longer living with us. DF and I are gone from the hours of 6am-2pm (DF's usually gone from 6am-5pm). So we only use power from around 4.30am-6am, then 2pm-9pm (and even then - i am usually out with friends from 2pm-5pm). When DF's sister was here she would have lights on, the tv on, washing machine going, computer on etc.

So that's good news. Our internet bill is the same, around $78 a month. We only have around 11 months left on this contract. They have been good, but I want to see if I can find something cheaper next time. I mainly got it because it allows for 5gb each month which we thought we needed. I don't think we use anything near that now DF's sister is gone (she used to download games).

Anyway, I have 11 months to look into that!

Yesterday unfortunately we had takeaway. In our defence, we've had takeaway around two or three times this year (dining out... well that's different...) and also I didn't expect the bank meeting to take so long (an hour and a half!!! we left there at 6.30pm!) I had hungry jack's, because that's the only fast food place that does veggie burgers, and DF ordered a pizza. It's laughable, but I resisted the urge to upsize for 55c to a large meal and got a small instead, and I convinced DF to get one pizza instead of two (he likes to take it for lunch the next day... and the next day...). So that was the extent of our frugality. My meal cost $9.30, but that included a large fries for DF as well. :S

Yesterdays expenses:
Drinks at work: $1
Staff Lotto: $2
Takeaway Coffee: $3.80
Dinner: $9.30
Internet & Phone Bill: $78.26 (shared by 2)

For Valentines Day DF bought me a rose plant, a teddy bear and a box of chocolate and I wasn't even expecting it because we never do anything for Valentine's Day. Actually usually I buy him a little chocolate, but I didn't this time!

I have been thinking about moving into the new house, and how this will affect our dinners/grocery shopping habits. It is quite a bit away from shops (ok, so it will be about 10 minutes drive instead of 3 minutes drive...for me that's a difference!) Also, apart from being further away, my main aim is to shop less so I decrease the 'extra' purchases you get when just ducking into the shops for one item. It's all about saving money!

So I had a suggestion on a thread in the forums I started (i would credit but I can't remember who it was - i *think* it was disneysteve?) where I should make a list of all the meals we eat regularly that are cheap and easy, and have ingredients on hand for those. So what I have decided to do is keep a list for a while, of the dinners we eat. It will give me a good idea of what we eat.

I will probably start a 'page' on the sidebar, or have separate blog entries... Hmm! I don't know how I'm going to record them... But for now I will just list them in daily blog entries until I figure out what I'm doing I am a little excited I have decided to do this. It will make me look at our routine as well, and how often we 'experiment' with our meals. Also I might be able to work out how to cut costs with some things.

Ok well, to start with!

15/02/09: Fresh tomato, crumbled feta, spinach, sauteed onion & capsicum and roast pumpkin tossed through pasta.

There hasn't been a lot happening the past few days so I just thought I would post an update.

I have done three surveys this week with three different survey companies. So that brings me closer to more money! I always get a little bit excited when I qualify for one. (even though then it's tedious and boring...)

It has been raining pretty much non-stop for the past couple of days which has been nice. I like the rain, so I don't mind it one bit. Only I would much prefer it to have gone where it was needed most! About five days earlier, two states down!!! (where the bushfires are - or were).

I heard on the news they caught one of the arsonists. Bastards.

I bought TWO magazines last night. WHAT was I thinking??? I bought a trashy one (cosmo) and a recipe one. To be fair, I have only spent around $20 of my allowance this week, and about $10 of it last week. I think I am entitled to buy them - it's meant to be my guilt free money right? I haven't read them, but today is going to be a perfect day to, because it's grey and rainy still.

My leg has been absolutely KILLING me lately. So painful. I made an appointment for the doctors tomorrow (sunday) at 9am. Every time I go about it they either dismiss it or send me to another person to get me off their hands.
It's a throbbing, deep, achey, numb pain in one leg near my calf. I've had it since I was about 12, it comes and goes, but for the past year it has been increasing in pain and occurence. The only thing that seems to help is pressure (a really tight bandage) or tiger balm.

anyway. I should stop complaining. we'll see how it goes tomorrow.

Next week I have to sign some documents at the bank with DF, and then take some forms into the solicitors and sign them too. Other than that I think we just have to get around to packing and organising the move.

DF is working today. I'm going to laze around .

I wanted to share some of my favourite songs: (you don't have to listen to them if you don't want to )

In a previous entry, Jaime asked me to post the recipe for pumpkin and ricotta lasagna, so I thought I would post it now

It's fairly simple. I usually have a bit of a cook up and make DF's meat lasagna at the same time, so then I can freeze a couple of portions.

Ingredients:
1/2 kent pumpkin, peeled, cut in 1cm thin slices.
fresh or boxed lasagna
2 cans tinned tomatoes or 1L tomato passata (strained tomato)
400g fresh ricotta
1 large zucchini, cut in 1cm thick strips
1 capsicum, cut in quarters
olive oil
chopped onion
2 cloves garlic
fresh basil
300g grated cheese

Bake the pumpkin, zucchini and capscium in a tray covered with foil for around 20minutes at 220C. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a saucepan and add the garlic and onion. Once browned add the tomato and basil. Simmer.

Layer in a baking dish strips of lasagna, pumpkin, capsicum & zucchini with crumbled ricotta, topped with tomato and a sprinkle of cheese, until all the mixtures have been used up. Sprinkle the top with more basil and cheese and bake at 180C for around 30-40 minutes. Sometimes it helps to cover with foil for the first 25 minutes, otherwise it might brown too quickly on the top.

WELL! After all my motivation this morning I hardly got anything done. I got home from work 2 hours later than normal because I went along with the new apprentice, my other work colleaugue and my boss to help the new apprentice spend her $800 tool voucher. She had spent around $450 of it (on pallet knives, piping bags, bread knives, chef pants etc), needed to save $200 for shoes and other work clothes, so our boss said 'just get some stuff for when you move out of home, and hurry up!' lol. So she bought some things like a vegetable slicer, chopping boards, knives, can openers, etc.
Anyway after that we left our boss there to buy some more stuff and we went and got something to eat, so I spent $9.20 on a subway sandwhich and a drink. I also spent $2 on staff lotto and 50c on a can of drink.

TOMORROW, my list to do is:

30 minutes on the exercise bike
X done x -->wash & put away the dishes
x done x --> tidy the kitchen
tidy the pantry
x done x --> bring in the washing and
fold/put away
clean our bathroom
clean the guest bathroom
tidy the guest room
pack a box of kitchen stuff
pack a box of unneeded linen
download a claim form for a refund of washing detergent (special offer)
prepare pumpkin & ricotta lasagna for dinner, with green beans & brocolli
relax!

so i have decided not to cook the lasagna tonight because i am feeling a bit lazy. plus we have leftover pad thai, so i am going to heat that up and have some veges as sides, and a lamb chop for DF.

Well, today I have nothing planned for the afternoon when I finish work - it is unusual because lately I have either had to do something with friends/family or something for the house. So today is a free day!

My plans when I get home are:

30 minutes on the exercise bike
wash & put away the dishes
tidy the kitchen
tidy the pantry
bring in the washing and fold/put away
clean our bathroom
clean the guest bathroom
tidy the guest room
pack a box of kitchen stuff
pack a box of unneeded linen
download a claim form for a refund of washing detergent (special offer)
prepare pumpkin & ricotta lasagna for dinner, with green beans & brocolli
relax!

hopefully I get everything done.
today I also have to pay the internet & phone bill. I will also probably buy a can of coke at work, so it won't be a NSD...

Well, like I promised I thought I would share a photo of my nephew:



Isn't he gorgeous?

Today I went grocery shopping with a friend (we always go grocery shopping together). She was taking her little sister to get her tongue pierced (and can I just say: eugh!) Well anyway, so it was a different supermarket than we normally go to, and it was bigger, and we took SO long to do our grocery shopping. In the end it was just funny. An hour and a half?
Though I did find some good stuff: a pedometer marked down from $5 to $3.49, 10 tins of tuna for $8 (save $7.90), and a 12 pack of instant miso soup for $2.99.

I have noticed SO many more offers in supermarkets for 'buy X of these for X'. No more reduced to a certain amount, you have to buy in bulk. Not that I'm complaining, but I think it's interesting.
A sign of the times I guess.

Tonight I cooked Pad Thai. I did a 'ceejay' and took a photo because it looked nice in the bowl lol:



I think I am getting a little obsessed with posting photos at the moment. I am sure it will pass. Though photos always make things interesting.

I bought some Ferrero Rocher chocolates for our loan manager and my boss's wife. (They were marked down to $2.50 a pack, 79c saving - woo!)

Today I bought an icecream AND an iced coffee - bit of a blah spendy day and not a great day on the healthy eating plan either

Well, here's to tomorrow!

(I copied this idea from Multiple Mom's Money Musings)

1. I usually only pay around $10 or less for the shoes that I wear daily (ballet flats)
2. I love handbags, and I usually find really great styles that are new in op-shops for around $3-$5.
3. I don't eat meat. I don't like it, and it's also a money saver as well, which is a plus.
4. I buy kid sized drinks and meals a lot of the time.
5. I screenprint my own t-shirts - blank shirts cost a fraction of the price of printed ones.
6. DF and I hardly ever pay full price for a movie. In the past year we probably have only once. We go on cheap Tuesdays or use our movie membership club card for the 'movie of the week'.
7. I have never bought mascara. I have gotten about 8 tubes of it for free when buying magazines.
8. I hardly ever buy magazines (anymore), except when they offer something for free. It's like a treat to get a magazine, and then I get something for free which is even better.
9. I plan to do more than one thing when I drive somewhere, so I am not wasting as much petrol. When I have coffee with friends, I will go grocery shopping afterward.
10. I plan our meals and shop with a list.
11. DF takes leftovers for his lunch to work the next day.
12. I try to make bigger batches of food so that I can freeze some meals like sauces or curries so I can pull it out when we feel lazy.
13. I have been trying to build up my wardobe with basics, so that I never feel like I have 'nothing to wear'.
14. I pay for most things with my rewards credit card to earn points which i then turn into gift cards.
15. I never carry a balance on my credit cards - I always transfer the amount I spend on my CC into a savings account which I then pay off the CC with at the end of the month.
16. I am a member of some survey sites, and try to do all the ones that are sent to me. Every couple of months I get a gift card or a cheque for $20 or more. It's only small but it's a help all the same.
17. I have coffee with friends a lot, which is one of my biggest 'fun' expenses. I make sure I eat something before I go though, so I only order a drink and nothing extra.
18. I have one 600mL water bottle at work which I refill from the tap and keep in the coolroom. All the other workers buy a bottle every day. Water is $2 a bottle.
19. I utilise loyalty programs to save myself money. I use flybuys, credit card rewards, jewellery store cards, movie cards and especially coffee and juice cards.
20. I dye my own hair, and I only get it cut once every three-six months, when it needs it.
21. One of the best beauty finds I have made is Vitamin E moisturising cream. It is lovely on my skin and a tube costs me $4. I found it by accident (it was recommended to use on my tattoos) and it is the best moisturiser I have found to use on my face.
22. I use vinegar, bicarb soda, bleach and lemon juice to do pretty much all of my cleaning. It saves a bucket load compared to the expensive cleaners most other people use.
23. I use the method of working out how much things cost me in 'hours of my life'. It results in me putting back a lot of my to-be purchases.
24. I think some of my friends find it annoying that I constantly ask them 'how much did that cost you?' or 'but look at the PRICE!' or 'that's a ripoff!'.
25. I find it FUN to write out budgets, projected spending, savings plans and lists.

My brother and his family have been and gone. They stayed til Monday instead of Wednesday as they had booked a hotel in Brisbane (didn't bother telling ME though?!) Anyway not that I mind. So we can resume our regular lives a bit sooner. It was lovely seeing my nephew. He is 16 months. I'll post a picture once I upload them.

My camera is being a bit funny. It's a digital, I've only had it for about two or three years. It keeps telling me to charge the battery pack, then I charge it, and use it for a bit, and then it says to charge the battery pack again. But then if you press the 'on' button a few times, it will resume working...? I might take it in to get looked at. Maybe I just need a new battery. It's just that, I used to be able to use it for a few events without having to charge it, say taking 100 photos at about 3 events before uploading and charging it. Now I will take about 50 photos and it will tell me to charge it. (but then i press the on button and it works..?)
I haven't dropped it, and I keep it in a case...? Any ideas as to what the hell is going on?


My brother ate HALF of our new block of cheese. HALF a block! (It was a 1kg block). In THREE DAYS. *sigh*
According to my brother (who always has to one-up with everything) they eat a block a week. We eat a block every 2-3 weeks - I buy the bigger block because it's cheaper.
They also spend $200+ a week on food, compared to our measly $100-120 per week.
'oh... I suppose technically we could do it for $100 a week, yes... yes...if we shopped cheaper...' he says (with an emphasis on the 'cheaper'), sifting through our pantry.
Thank god I get bread for free, because they managed to work their way through 2 and a half loaves of it in the three days they were here, PLUS they bought a loaf, PLUS I gave them a loaf when they left. Crikey. DF and I eat about half a loaf a week!

It was a NSD yesterday for me. I wanted to list my expenses for last week because I am so proud of them!

Rent: $180
Groceries: $85.03 (very high! this is just my share)
Loan Payment: $37
Petrol: $36.78
Savings: $20
Gifts: $40
Takeaway Beverages: $8.80
Staff Lotto: $2
House Deposit: $3000
Cheque Fee: $5.40

---------------------------
I am hoping our groceries this week will be lower. We have quite a bit left in our fridge and pantry. Other expenses this week will be:

-petrol
-phone & internet
-gift basket for DF's sister

I have a voucher for $25 for a jewellery store. When they have sales they send printable vouchers to their club members. Usually you can get something under $25 there, like a necklace charm or something. I am going into town today so it is not going to cost me any extra money, I may as well go and get a free piece of jewellery, right?

This afternoon I am going to try and go for a swim in the river with a friend. We have not been for nearly a month! There was a reported shark sighting a week ago, but the water is not as murky now as it was then with the storms.

Well that is all for now. Just wanted to end with a picture of a storm we had a few months ago.
This is the beach:


This is in our street:

Not really a financial post, but I just wanted to share what's happening in our country at the moment.
Apparently, according to the latest news stories, it's worse than Ash Wednesday.


Lots of terrible bushfires in the southern states (where my dad lives, my brother and a lot of other family). I think the death toll is around 100 at least count. Completely ridiculous. and INTENTIONALLY lit!

I was able to call my dad (he lives in a town that was safe) and ask how everything was. My dads wifes brother (so... my uncle) is the fire chief for the region of Bendigo and he had worked 48 hours straight, putting out fires, rescuing people etc. Horrible, horrible, horrible.

I heard on the radio that the Salvation Army has recieved $6million in donations so far. I guess it is one good thing to hear in all this mess. And I saw on the news the other night that the Prime Minister was there, at the site of some of the bushfires, just showing his presence and talking to people, showing he cared. It was a bit of a heartbreaking moment when a grown man broke down into tears and hugged the Prime Minister! (he hugged back).

If you want to read some of the news stories you can use these links:

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/feb2009/fire-f09.shtml

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25025672-661,00.html

Well today was DF's sisters engagement party. It was lovely, they picked a really nice place to have it. Unfortunately I consumed a tad of alcohol and forgot to take pictures! Hopefully someone else did. The park was COMPLETELY covered by giant fig trees, so it was not hot. It would have been about 10 degrees cooler under the trees than outside. I think today it is about 37 degrees celcius.

Our gift to DF's sister and her fiance was an $80 gift card. I am thinking of making a 'pregnancy pamper' pack for her.

Anyone who has had children, what was something you would have appreciated when you were pregnant? Things that are affordable but nice, I am thinking. Like some nice teas, maybe a foot soak etc. I want to get about 7 or 8 items and pop them in a nice basket for her.

Any ideas would be appreciated!!!

Oh, and an update on 'the brother': they are only staying until tomorrow afternoon now (monday afternoon). Whew! I mean, I do love my brother. But there is only so much I can take.

Today we spent $6 on soft drink and $14 on a lined picnic blanket.

Another couple announced they got engaged today as well. I feel like we might have to wait a while to announce our engagement now. It's ok though. I think with all the house stuff, maybe it might be a good idea to keep it quiet for a few more months. Then we'll have more time to plan and save.

I went grocery shopping this morning in preparation for DF's sisters engagement party tomorrow (I am making my famous pesto pasta salad) and my brothers family arriving today.

I hate to admit this, but I shopped cheaply, as in, I was being 'cheap'. Frugal, yes, but cheap too. I kind of feel bad about it, but oh well.
It's probably not such a big deal to a lot of you. For example:
Instead of buying roma tomatoes I bought the normal hydro ones.
Instead of buying butter lettuce & cos lettuce, I bought ice berg.
Instead of buying chicken breasts, I bought chicken drumsticks.
Instead of buying normal fruit I would have bought if it was just DF and I, I bought bananas and apples.
Instead of buying 4-packs of decadent icecream desserts, I bought a tub of vanilla icecream.
Also, I have 'placed' our cheese and expensive snacks away from view.

ok, ok, so it's not THAT bad. It's just that, well, my brother eats a LOT. And sometimes he is wasteful by eating food when he doesnt need to, or serving up way too much for himself and then wasting it.

I just want to minimise the cost to us, seeing as very soon we are probably going to be very broke (and will probably be eating iceberg lettuce all the time!).
Oh, and I have nothing personal against iceberg lettuce, except that I don't really like it.

Tonight I have planned to make Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks, Baked potato and salad. I will have grilled tofu.

For lunch, when they arrive (in about two hours) I was going to make a platter of salad stuff to have open sandwhiches.

DF is already worried that my brother will drink all his beer (DF has lived with my brother before - he has legitimate worries!).

I have to somehow work into conversation 'please pay for yourselves and don't eat all our food because we are broke and just bought a house'. (though they are paying off a mortgage and have a baby...but their mortgage is about one quarter of ours).

OH! and don't break anything that we own! (another lovely trait of my brothers).

Anyway. ARGH!
I must repeat to myself "it's only til wednesday, it's only til wednesday, it's only til wednesday"...

Another thing I would like to add:
It WOULD HAVE been only until Monday, however my parents have decided to act like freaking children and have told me that my brother and his family aren't welcome in their house. Why? because my brother didnt bring his son and wife to visit my parents when my parents were visiting my granparents in the same state that my brother lives. My brother visited, but oh, apparently that wasn't good enough. The best part? My parents haven't TALKED to my brother about this, so my brother has no idea they are mad at him. And because I've had several arguments with my parents about this issue, which have all resulted in me calling them pathetic and them telling me its got nothing to do with me, I can't repeat any of this to my brother, so I have to nicely work into a conversation that 'it would be a good idea for them to stay at our house' but I can't actually tell them why.

I mean for gods sake, can you GET any more immature?

Anyway. Sorry for my long-winded rant. Family, huh?

* before i write anything about our house purchase i wanted to say congratulations again to gamecock43 & BB on their finance approval. i do wish things had gone as smoothly for them as it did for us, but it is all (finally) done now and i can't wait to read move-in posts!

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

I got a call at work today at 10am, my loan manager called to let me know our loan had been officially approved. I dropped off the $5k deposit at the real estate today, and I was able to meet the contract manager (I have been tlaking to her on the phone for about three weeks but hadn't met her yet). She was a very lovely lady. The real estate agent that we have been dealing with also appeared from his office to shake my hand and say congratulations.
I know everyone is supposed to be wary of real estate agents, and generally people treat them as though they are the devil, but honestly this bunch have made everything go so smoothly. The solicitors had no problems with any of the paperwork either, which is a good sign.

We pick up the keys on March 2nd. Unfortunately for YOU GUYS, I can't say I won't be counting down the days in every single entry I make until then. So I apologise in advance.

House Buying Costs So Far:
$500 (legal fees deposit)
$1000 (good intention deposit)
$5000 (finance deposit)
$5.40 (cheque fee)
Total So Far: $6505.40

Oh don't worry, there's plenty more to come where that came from!

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

I have a related but un-related question:

I think it's important to show sometimes that you appreciate the help that people give you, especially if you know that they have gone above and beyond what they normally do. Because of this, I am thinking of buying a box of chocolates for:
- my boss and his wife (because my boss's wife initially got us started on saving for the mortgage insurance and showed us where we had to be financially before even THINKING about looking for a house - and my boss, well, he married her :P )
- our loan manager (she has returned EVERY SINGLE ONE of my calls (there's been... a few...) and has always been friendly and helpful. she's organised our loan structure so we can save the most we can on interest, and she organised the first yearly fee to be waived when she didn't have to do anything)
- the staff at a particular branch of the bank that i am with now, but will be leaving - i will probably take the chocolates in when i close the account (this paricular branch has three ladies that have remembered me since i got my personal loan, one of them made sure she called me after i enquired about a home loan, and they went out of their way to help DF and I when our accounts were frozen - they fixed it all within a day after them being frozen for two weeks)
- the real estate who sold us our house (for reasons i have listed above!)

anyway, my question is, am I being a little bit weird? do people still do this?
i just think its nice... to be nice... sometimes.

(my friend baked her mechanic a cake when he did a service on her car for free because he felt sorry for her, she had gone through three cars in two months. he was like 'ummm... thanks???')


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

Expense for today:
$1 on two cans of coke (one i gave to a work colleague)

that's it! i did well! i talked myself out of buying a celebratory cup of coffee on the way home from the real estate. i made one when i got home instead

DF I think wants to go out for dinner because his mum is visiting his grandparents, and they always go to the local service club.

you can get cheap meals there, but most of them are around $15-$25, plus then there's drinks ... I am going to attempt to talk DF out of going. I don't really feel like it, plus my brother and his family are arriving tomorrow and we have to get the house ready still, and I have chicken thawed for his green curry...

To end on a good note: it's Friday, and out of my $60.30 mock allowance this week I have spent:
Hot chocolate: $3.50
Coffee: $3.80
Coke: $1.50 (3 cans over the week)
Staff Lotto: $2.00

Total: $10.80
Left Over: $49.50
Only Saturday and Sunday to go! :S I have mixed feelings - it could go well, or badly... we will see!

well i got the results for my blood test. my white count is NEARLY at normal level, so she said not to concern myself with it for now. however my calcium level is still low, and she suggested i take calcium tablets and get another blood test in about a month and a half. she's also checking my vitamin D levels and my parathyroid something or other. ??? she said it could be the cause of the low calcium.

sorry but i must run to work now! more updates later!

OH! and it's DDay on the mortgage finance! I am handing in the $5000 cheque today, and hopefully will find out about finance approval too. EEk!

Well, yesterday was a NSD for me. It was also a NSD for DF. YAY!
Also, it is Thursday now and since Monday I have only spent $3.50 of my personal allowance. Today though, I have to pay my 'tab' at work for drinks (it is only $6.40). When I don't have cash in my wallet I just write on a piece of paper 'I owe X'.
So that means i have $50.10 left.

Yesterday I did some more organising around the house, trying to get it as baby-proof as possible for my brother and his family. It's not easy!

DF's sister has not picked up the rest of her stuff yet, so one of our spare rooms has a huge pile in it.

I had to move all of her stuff from her room into the spare room, because her room is better for my brother to stay in. So I did that, then vaccuumed it and dragged two mattresses in. So it's all ready to go for them now.

The bank has not called me yet and I am meant to be taking in the deposit cheque tomorrow! I don't know what is happening. DF transferred $5000 from his Bankwest Account into his main account. I called the solicitor and she said that if the bank just needs an extra day or two but you are 99% sure you are getting the loan, take the cheque in anyway so it shows you are serious.

I have a doctors appointment at 2.30pm today, after work. I am getting a skin check too, which is something I have been putting off for ages.

When I put plans and goals down for an entire year, they seem too big to even begin thinking about. I've decided to make mini goals each month. I've already listed my February Goals in a previous entry, but I want to outline some health goals to be more specific:

[] walk or cycle three times per week, for 20 minutes or more - unfortunately i slacked off for a week or more so my fitness levels have waned. also, in the middle of the house-buying process i am not going to have a lot of time. three times per week is an achieveable goal for me.

[] drink 1.5 litres of water a day. my goal is 2L, but I want to start with 1.5, as sometimes I just simply forget.

[] do not buy any more flavoured milk when at work. a big ask! it fills me up, which is why i buy it in the first place. i buy the low fat one which doesn't have as much calories, but at $3.10 per 500ml, it's just not a wise financial move.

[] begin to replace coffee and coca cola with teas. (green tea, caffeine free black tea, herbal teas)

[] do not purchase cakes or snacks when having coffee with friends, for the whole month of feb.

[] cut down significantly on processed/sugary/fatty foods. ie. limit it to be ALMOST non-existent in my diet (aim for 95% wholegrain, natural, processed sugar free, fresh etc)

[] begin to MAKE desserts. this will also decrease DF's consumption of sugary fatty foods (as he has an icecream and chocolate for dessert every night - i have been choosing fruit sorbets and fruit based desserts - which cost more though. by making them, i know what goes in them, they are cheaper, and healthier). desserts i will make: stewed fruit with yoghurt, crumbles, puddings etc.

[] consistently serve up smaller portions at dinner time. i have been practising this already, but i want to do it every night without forgetting (or having eyes bigger than my stomach!) I have also been using smaller bowls, which help. I want to start with reducing them to 3/4 the size of our meals now, then to 2/3, and then maybe 1/2, atleast for me.

[] chew my food. obviously its a given, but i find if i'm starving, i forget and wolf down my food, then realise, staring at an empty bowl, that i just inhaled evreything in about five minutes. terrible? i know. bad for me? very likely!

[] SNACK! I know most people try to STOP snacking, but my problem is I hardly ever snack, and then there are times I'm so hungry I end up eating a whole meal between lunch (which I hardly eat - I dont finish work til 2pm, then I think - why bother eating lunch if I make dinner at 5pm?) and dinner, when I really should have just some crackers or a piece of fruit. So more often than not, I'll go and have a 'coffee' with a friend, and end up ordering a plate of chips or something equally gross. Then I eat dinner! BLAH! So yes, this month I want to trial a few cost-effective, easily portable snacks which are GOOD for you. Any suggestions?

[] At the moment, because of lack of time/laziness/the weather/weekends away etc I haven't been able to go to the markets, so I have been buying veges at the supermarket. I don't like buying fruit at the supermarket (or veges, but it cant be helped) so I have been buying tinned fruit, in fruit juice. One of my goals is to keep this up, as atleast I get SOME fruit into my diet this way. I also aim to find the best deals on tinned fruit at this time, and package them in small containers for DF for his lunch too (otherwise he buys the snack packs - which are a ripoff!)

[] Weightloss of 1kg is my ultimate goal for the month of February in the health department. I want it to be an easy goal for starters, seeing as this month is going to be a little stressful. Atleast if I can tick this goal off, it will motivate me to try harder in March!

Hmmmm! I think that is all my health/diet goals for this month!

There was an announcement on TV tonight from the Prime Minister announcing a second stimulus package. Every person earning less than $100k a year would recieve $950 from March. (which means DF and I both get something this time!)
Honestly, I don't know why they didn't do that sooner. Most people my age I know are just going to spend it. Isn't that what they want?
There are also construction projects being started, and they are building 20 000 houses for defence families (and providing work for many people).

The stimulus package will place the country in $22 billion dollars of debt, so obviously now the Prime Minister is getting a bashing from the opposition.

Honestly, if he stood back and did nothing, he'd get a bashing as well. Everyone has to blame someone, and you can't always do everything right. Prime Ministers can NEVER do ANYTHING right, according to about half of the population.

Personally I think it's all ridiculous, he's doing the best job he can under these circumstances. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes, that's for certain.

I also find it laughable that a lot of people lazily fall into the trap of blaming a NEW Prime Minister for everything wrong with the country. Ummm... hello? He's like the cleaner who's walked into a house after a 21st party. Everyone's hungover, there's a lot of damage, and someone's thrown a beer-soaked sheet into the ceiling fan.

Ok well maybe not the last bit.

Anyway. I know it's pretty pointless whinging on a site where everyone is predominantly from the US, but anyone who's listening, GIVE HIM A CHANCE! He went to my high school, he can't be all that bad!

Oh, and I'm thinking of SPENDING my stimulus cheque. On a fridge, maybe. And DF might use his on the air conditioner, maybe.

[] pack items that won't be used in the next two months
[] survive having my brothers family visiting me (oh yes, i'm serious!)
[] stick to my 'allowance' each week of February (as a practice to the real thing starting in March)
[] sort out accounts with new bank (savings, offset, everyday, EF etc)
[] decide on a starting amount for EF and a plan of action to build it up
[] get my car serviced
[] cook three new dishes
[] ride exercise bike 3 times per week
[] swim atleast once per week
[] read a book
[] begin to organise new budget
[] make an appointment with doctor to go over blood test results
[] clean my car!
[] lose 1 kg.
[] try to incorporate a healthier eating plan into our day ( i will write a separate entry about this!)

I am overly ecstatic about an event that occurred yesterday:

DF went to a friends' childs birthday party yesterday (I declined the invitation - i wanted to start packing). I asked him to pick up some milk and sugar on the way home, as we were running low.

When he arrived home, he came in with his purchases:

MILK and SUGAR!

Ok, you are thinking. What's the big deal? It's what you asked for!

Let me explain a truthful example of ALL previous shopping expeditions where DF has been allowed to roam free:

shopping list:
an onion, tinned tomato, dishwashing liquid

actual purchases:
1kg of onions, tinned tomato, dishwashing liquid, potting mix (what the?), 2 blocks of cadbury chocolate, 2 litres of icecream, pack of cheezels, pack of potato crisps, some fancy deli cheese, two boxes of cereal, milk, icecream topping, hazelnut spread...

Anyway, you get the idea.

So NOW you must understand how unbelievably excited I am! I actually JUMPED up and down like a bunny rabbit on cocaine and hugged and kissed him.

But really, it IS exciting. ALL the other things he's been doing lately, like talking to his friends about his allowance (yes really!), about budgets, trying to remember his personal spending each day, trying to remember the costs of different items he buys, and the total of dockets too, keeping his reciepts, saying no to movies, not even LOOKING at the V Festival lineup (oh my god!)...
anyway, all the things he's been doing lately just make me feel very reassured that we're in this together and he's 100% on board with all our savings goals and plans.


OH! and he has been researching ruby rings too. The cost, designs, metals, jewellers etc.

I have been wanting to share this recipe for a little while anyway, and Joan.of.the.arch just asked me for it so I thought I better post it!

Sweet Potato & Pea Patty:

1 Large Sweet Potato, peeled & cubed
Handful Sesame Seeds
1 cup peas (i used frozen)
1 tin cannelini beans, drained
salt & pepper
cumin powder

In a large saucepan, boil the sweet potato until soft. Meanwhile, mash the cannelini beans with a fork until the form a thick paste (you could use a food processor but i don't have one!). Drain the sweet potato, allow to cool for a while, and put in a large bowl. Combine all ingredients and form into patties.

I individually wrapped each one and froze them. Before cooking, it helps to coat them in rice flour if you are pan frying. I use a small skillet and a touch of olive oil.

I think at the time I made them I didn't have any eggs in the house. They can be a little soft so you just haev to be careful when flipping them, when cooking. You can add an egg if you want to, but really I don't think it needs it.

Serve on a bun with salad and plain yoghurt & sweet chilli sauce.

Just some random tidbit updates:

- DF says he doesn't want to bother with the pest inspection now. Like I mentioned previously, it's a high set house on steel posts, and you can SEE underneath that there is nothing going on in terms of bugs/pests/termites. Personally I also think it will be a waste of time and money getting it done. I am going to find ut if we HAVE to get it done, but if we don't I think I will leave it.

- Tomorrow I am picking up my little brother and sister from school again, then having coffee with some friends. I am ONLY having a coffee! I am going to work REALLY hard on the takeaway/beverages issue this month!

- My friend just rang me to tell me that a store we sometimes go to is having a closing down sale, and all these shoes that I am particularly fond of the style, are $10 a pair. HMMM! If I do pick up a pair, that will leave me with approx $47 for the rest of the week in Fun Money.

- I pulled out all my clothes (except for the three baskets in the laundry) and sorted them into piles of 'wear sometimes' and 'wear all the time'. The 'sometimes' pile is on the left:



yes I realise it's utterly ridiculous. Factor in the three loads of washing that I haven't done and I am starting to realise I don't ever have to buy clothes, ever. EVER.

- I packed several more boxes today (clothes, art & craft) and yesterday I packed all our dvd's, cd's and xbox games. And now DF is complaining that the box is too damn heavy! (I suppose it is... it's a 1m high square box...I can barely PUSH it accross the tiles)

- DF started clearing his 'crap' cupboard, then got distracted and started playing texas hold em on facebook. *sigh* Well I ain't packing his stuff!

- I am making a time to see the house again, this time with a ladder so DF can look in the roof. I am starting to calm down from my stressout the other day.

- I have two garbage bags full of clothes for charity, and a stack of old books too. I was going to attempt to sell them but I honestly don't think I will make any money from any of it. And I can't be bothered. Still burnt from my last ebay experience.

- I am starting to get motivated to work on my fitness again. I have had, what, a three week break? I have probably undone everything I worked so hard on. Grrr.

- Now I'm off to have an early dinner (it's 4.30pm here). DF is having tandoori chicken and I am having sweet potato & pea patty burgers - with melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, beetroot and cucumber, and yoghurt and sweet chilli sauce. YUM!

Income:
Job 1: $985
Job 2: $1357.85
Other: $120.00
From Savings: $676.88
Total: $3139.73

Expenses:
Rent: $793.34 ($158.67 p/w)
Groceries: $218.29 ($43.66 p/w)
Petrol: $113.26 ($22.65)
Phone & Internet: $39.23 ($7.85)
Mobile Phone: $64.88 ($12.98)
Loan Payments: $185.00 ($37.00)
Skincare: $29.95
Misc: $24.10
Health/Grooming: $61.10
Gifts: $40.00
Bank Fees: $9.78
Alcohol: $7
Takeaway Beverages: $153.82
Takeaway Food/Dining Out: $263.54
Magazines/Books: $5.95
Clothes/Shoes: $158.85
Makeup: $33.90
Entertainment: $241.00
Staff Lotto: $10.00
House/Appliance: $79.96
HOUSE STUFF: $750.00

Total: $3282.95

Difference: $143.22(-)

I know I transferred money into my account from my loan, but I can't remember how much! Also I made a bit more money on eBay but can't remember exactly how much either. I would say I just broke even this month, even though it says differently above. No savings, bummer. But I guess we are focusing all our energy on the new house so it's kind of expected until we get back to normality.

Hmmm, what can I say? I think I did well on books/magazines. I bought one book at the start of the month, and no magazines at all.

Mobile Phone is high because of a $15 charge to replace the sim when I lost it. Not my new phone though! Thank god! I took an older, crappier one to the festival.

I am really proud of groceries and petrol expenses! LESS than my budgetted amounts! (I budgetted $50-$70 for groceries p/w and $25-$30 p/w for petrol).

Takeaway Beverages/Dining Out and Clothes: BLAH! Obviously I am going to be working REALLY hard on that this month. Entertainment costs were high, but I went to a festival. So really they won't be high in the months to come because we won't be DOING ANYTHING. At all.

Over all it was 'just a month', nothing special about it really, in terms of finance.

I just redeemed my points for a $50 voucher. I am going to try and close the account over the next month, seeing as we now have our free ones with our new bank.
Also I just recieved my $20 voucher from www.valuedopinions.com
I have about $5 of credit in my account with them as well, for next time. They seem to send out surveys in waves. I will get a ton of them (ok, like 5 of them) and my balance will be at something like $19 (minimum you can cash out is $20). Then I will have to wait a month before getting another one so I can cash out.

Anyway, I'm not complaining. Technically it's free money!

Also, checked my emails and I have a $25 voucher to spend at Wallacec Bishop Jewellers before Feb 14th. AND they are having a sale! Last time I spent a voucher there I got a butterfly necklace pendant and a chain, so this time I can just get another pendant. The good thing about these jewellers is when they have sales, they actually HAVE SALES. I won't have to spend any more than my $25 voucher there, either.

To undo all of my good work, I bought a dress yesterday for $49.95. I had tried it on 3 times in the past two weeks - so I can't say it was an impulse purcahse. I am planning on wearing it to DF's sisters engagement.
Hmmm. Anyway that's probably going to be the LAST piece of clothing I buy for a very long while.

My plan for the next few weeks is to sock away enough money for the end of month credit card bill. It's at $900 and it's only in the first week of the cycle! $500 of it was for the solicitors fees, but DF has already given me his half. I think between that and the $1000 deposit to the real estate, it has really eaten up all our spare money. I am not sure if we are allowed to transfer any money from our savings for the house deposit - that would make it a hell of a lot easier.
See we had saved and budgetted enough to pay for lawyers fees and all that, but that's in our deposit (which is in our savings accounts). And while finance is still in limbo - I am not sure if I am meant to be taking any money out or not. So technically $1500 that was meant to come out of our savings has come out of our OWN money instead, leaving us both a bit short. (so that's $750 of the $900 CC balance - whew! I can breathe now!) Plus I am about to organise a pest inspection for next week too. That will probably be another hundred or so.

Realisically, the purchase price is $320k. Our deposit, of 5%, is $16k. And we have about $18.5k in our savings. PLUS, on the date of settlement, we will be getting $14k for the First Home Owners Grant. I'm not relying on that, obviously, for anything except the solicitors fees, which will be between $500-$1000. (Actual amount between $1000-$1500, but we've already paid $500).
On top of that, we've already paid a $1k deposit to the real estate, so really we owe $319k. Am I confusing you yet? I'm confusing myself!
All I'm trying to work out is... I don't know...!
I guess I am trying to work out if it's alright to withdraw $750 from my deposit to pay for solicitors fees and real estate deposit. Not to mention we should be withdrawing $5k midweek for our finance deposit. I am sure THAT is ok to do.

But really, I don't NEED to withdraw anything, because the CC is not due until MARCH. (unfortunately, it will be due about four days before settlement - another reason not to rely on the home owners grant, not that I would do that anyway. The grant is for home stuff, not a credit card bill! even if the credit card bill is mostly for home stuff...)
I am just one of those weird people that like to see the money there for something, so I can calm down.

Still don't know about finance. They give us credit cards before we even find out if we have GOT the loan! Weird.

This week is going to be a big week for us. Well. I am freaking out over all the things we have to do:

-organise a pest inspection (we've been slack - initially we weren't going to do it as there isn't that much chance of termites seeing as it is a high set home that is over 30 years old - termites dont like dry wood. Anyway but then DF started talking about doing a pest inspection, so now we are looking into it).
-organise a time with the real estate for the pest inspection and so we can get a ladder and look in the roof.
-transfer $2500 each out of our savings accounts.
-organise getting a check for $5k for deposit on Friday.
-get a $75 voucher for Df's sister for their engagement party
-figure out something to cook for their engagement party!
-pack some boxes
-baby proof the house for when my brother and his family stay
-organise the spare rooms so they can sleep there.
-plus then there's the money issue. like gamecock blogging about having all this money sitting there and not being able to use it! I feel the same way. AND haveing guests over is going to stretch it a bit.

*sigh*

***EDIT***
LOL. I just checked my bank account and realised I had forgotten that I had put $600 away already for the CC. God I'm an idiot sometimes...

sorry about the long winded rambling post.

Well, I went and got my blood test! I didn't eat from 6pm Wednesday night til 3pm Thursday afternoon and was STARVED. (couldn't eat breakfast as I woke up too late, then when I got to work realised my 8 hours had started... grrr!)
I haven't exercised for about two weeks and I feel FAT and BLOATED beyond belief. It's amazing the good feelings you get from exercise, and I really notice it when I'm NOT doing any form of physical activity. I just feel much better when I do atleast a couple of sessions on my bike a week, and I feel like an athlete when I do six or seven days a week plus swimming. (an athlete that's lazy and on their holidays, exercising for 'fun', but an athlete nonetheless).

Today DF finished work early so I met him at the bank and we went in to do income vrification and get our new credit cards with our home loan bank.

We got American Express cards (!!!)

I don't know if it's different in America, but in Australia to get Amex you need to earn over a certain amount to get them, and they're sort of a 'status symbol' for a lot of people (not us though). Likewise, if you work in customer service, you probably have a bit of disdain for people who pay for things with Amex; in my experience they've always been rude and self important, and they pull out their Amex cards with a big show of 'oh HERE it is, everyone look, here's my credit card.'.

Anyway, so I won't be pulling that out any time soon.

We also got Mastercard ones, and they are giving us Debit Mastercards as well. WHY do we have so many cards???
They're all free, so I don't really care. I mean, I do CARE, but hey, it's free, why not have them? I'm not going to rack up debt on them, if that's what anyone is wondering. I don't do that sort of thing. He said we could have the debit mastercards if we wanted, or we didn't have to if we thought we wouldn't use them. I said I would rather have them incase we needed them where we didn't want to use a credit card, and we'll just keep them at home for the time being. They all come on one statement, so I'm not wasting paper either. :-)

But that's THREE cards! Plus we will have normal ATM cards. PLUS my Virgin/Ignite CC, my ANZ CC, my other bank ATM card, plus DF's Virgin/Ignite CC, his ATM card...

o_0



Anyway, I had a thought yesterday as well. Isn't it STRANGE that a bank will give you credit cards, when you're actually just applying for a home loan, before they even find out if your finance for a home loan is approved? It's like, you're borrowing hundreds of thousands of dollars from them, and they want to get a bit more in edgeways so they give a bajillion credit cards as well. Eh. They're not going to be making a CENT from the credit cards off me!

I have decided to have a practice go at only spending my personal allowance each week, to see how hard it's going to be in a months time.
So far this week I have spent $91.04, which is around $30 more than I will have to spend. $33.90 of that was for my foundation, which is a one-in-six-month expense. It was originally $48 though, I had a gift card with $14.10 left on it. Looking back on the rest of the expenses, I already know that $25.60 is for food/snacks while out which were TOTALLY avoidable and unneccesary, I was just being slack.
So in normal circumstances I would have spent $31.54, which is only half of my budgetted allowance.
Next week I am going to try harder. I want to get it down pat BEFORE we start with this huge mortgage payoff thing!

Today I finished work early (3.30pm instead of 5ish) so I came home and hung out washing/folded washing, dishes, packed a box of books.

Lately I have been so tired, I don't know WHAT is going on. I should really stop procrastinating and get this second blood test done. (I have already pushed it forward to Wednesday...)
Tomorrow I will see if I can go 8 hours without eating at work, and if by the time I am finished I haven't eaten anything, I will do it then.

The doctor told me I have mild neutropenia. I have no idea what it is, other than something to do with low white blood cell count, and I'm not game enough to look it up on the internet - the last time I did that I freaked myself out unneccesarily.
It showed up on my last blood test, and I remember my previous doctor saying something about low WBC counts. If it shows up on this next one, then we'll know for sure.

Anywho, wish me luck on my 8 hour fast at work tomorrow. Me thinks I'm going to fail!

Ok, so it's probably not their fault. But I just don't like the way they dealt with the situation.
I sold some skincare product on ebay. Cost including shipping was $33. They paid by paypal, and I sent the item the following day. A week later I get a message through ebay telling me they havent recieved it yet, had I sent it, and did i send it as a parcel. I said yes I sent it on XX/XX/XX, in a bubble wrap padded package. I got a message saying 'you should have sent it as a parcel. i paid $5 for postage. oh well it will be returned to you and i will get a refund through paypal'
WTF?

First of all, I LOST money on postage, the bag cost $1 and postage cost $4.20. Secondly I told them how I sent it. Why did they ask me AGAIN.

Anyway. I sent an email saying to please be patient, I am sure it will arrive. After two days I heard nothing, so I sent another email saying that I would replace the item if they had not recieved it (I have one at home for my own use that I hadn't yet opened). STILL I heard nothing, so I sent another email saying that because I hadn't heard anything, I was going to go ahead and assume they had recieved it.
THEN the next day I got an email from paypal saying that person had opened a dispute and the money had been deducted from my paypal account!

again, WTF!?

What is WITH some people? Are they complete idiots?

Anyway, so I sent a message through paypal saying that I had already offered to replace the item and I was just waiting for their response, and what in the hell did they WANT from me? (actually, I didn't say that, I just said 'What exactly do you want?')

BLAH!

And the most annoying thing is this stupid rule of not being able to leave negative feedback for buyers now. ARGH.

All over a bottle of toner for $33.

First of all thanks for all the comments on my previous entry. It helped me feel a bit better. I dare say it was a stupid thing to stress about, but I talked to DF about it again last night and he agreed with all the things I had to say. I also researched a little on the net and found out the two other stones you should use for an engagement ring are sapphires and rubies. I like the idea of a ruby so I think we've decided on that.
Also, last year a dear cousin of mine passed away whose name was Ruby. She was only 13. So it has a little bit of meaning as well.

I have decided I want to use up a majority of our food before we move. I realise it will probably be an expensive week in the grocery department when we restock, but it makes moving a bit easier because then you don't have to worry about things going hot or spilling etc.

Last night I used the last of our risotto rice, the last of our frozen peas and nearly all of the frozen vegetable bag I found in the freezer. I told DF that they would probably be very boring dinners for a month, but he was ok with it. (as long as he doesn't have to make anything, I think he's fine).

In other news, my brother, his GF and my little nephew will be staying for FOUR days instead of 2 now, because apparently they are not 'welcome' at my parents house. Which is not only pathetic, but childish too. (this is my parents I am talking about). I don't want to go into details because like I said, it's completely childish, but the long story short of it is, my parents went to visit my mums parents at christmas, and my brother lives nearby. He came for Christmas Day lunch but did not bring my nephew or his GF (they were at the GF's parents). My parents took this as some type of lame insult and now are offended at the fact that my brother and his family want to stay in teir spare room for two nights.
They haev had this trip planned for about 6 months, are DRIVING about 2000 kilometers (they live two states away). They can't exactly post-pone their trip until everything has been smoothed over. And the thing is with our parents - if you want anything to be smoothed over, YOU have to do the apologising, even if it's not your fault. I just think it is absolutely PATHETIC. It's such an immature way of dealing with problems. It's as if they're being sulking teenagers, not grown adults in their 50's.

Anyway, back to my point. I do love my brother dearly, and of course he is welcome in my house anytime, but not only is he lazy and eats a lot, he's loud and sometimes forgets to shower. (yes i know, ick.) However he HAS been better since being with his lovely new GF, and since they had a son together.

I'm also a little worried about the COST. When I stayed with them, they took me out to dinner and paid. Am I meant to do that with them? I am just one person, they are 2.5 people. EEEK! So in that respect, it means I am confined to the kitchen every night if I want to save money (which is no different than any other night - except my brother can be a bit of a snob about meals...).

Eeek. Anyway. I am trying not to stress. I am also going to try and work into our meals some things that need to be used up. My plan for our dinners when they are staying will be:

Tandoori Chicken Burgers (will get free bread rolls from work, use up some tandoori paste, a vege burger for me, and I will make wedges as a side dish and filler) Buy: Chicken, Salad Items

Spaghetti Bolognaise (will use up any leftover vegetables, tinned tomatoes, will have pasta in the pantry) Buy: Mince, Parmesan

Curry with rice (will use up one of the many curry pastes in the fridge, rice in pantry, use up leftover veges) Buy: Meat, Coconut Milk

Tacos (use up beans and veges, tinned tomatoes) Buy: Sour Cream, Avo, Taco Shells.

First of all, is it weird to want to go halves with DF on an engagement ring?

It is for me, after all.

And we're joining our finances. So technically we'll be going halves anyway. Isn't it better to just do it together from the get-go? I mean, I *DO* all the finances. I am going to find out how much it cost, and where he gets it from.

Also, secondly, I have some issues with the amount of money it will cost.

DF casually asked his best friend, who is engaged to DF's sister, how much their ring cost him. (I have no idea how you can casually ask this, but he managed to).

$2500!

I don't know, is it just me or is that a lot? I mean, I am AWARE that LOTS of people pay thousands and thousands for engagement rings, but to be honest, we are ordinary folk.

I just... I don't know. I feel WEIRD expecting something like that. I would feel so STRESSED wearing something that cost that amount.

I said to DF (before I knew how much DF's sisters cost) that I'd be fine with whatever, as long as it was made to last, a couple of hundred dollars max, and I DON'T WANT A DIAMOND.

Even after finding out how much the other ring cost, I am still ok with the amount that I already said - but then I get pangs of doubt. Is it just because I'm trying to keep up with the Jones's? I realise I'm only stressing out now because I found out how much someone elses was. But I'm not stressing out in the normal way. I'm not saying 'I want you to spend $3k on my ring'. I'm now stressing out because I am thinking that's what is expected, and it ANNOYS me!

Is this weird?

Are we MEANT to spend that much? I just don't get it. It's really not important to me. I just want a nice plain ring with a ruby or something. It doesn't have to be all jazzed up. It doesn't have to have ten million stones on it or any fancy design. It can be one of those antique ones, too. It doesn't have to be 'made' for me.

Am I supposed to be more fussy than this?

I am having a severe i-don't-think-i'm-being-girly-enough attack. and i realise also that it's stupid. but it's still happening!!!