whitestripe

Some background info:

When I was about 3 or 4, my dad moved into a big house, two houses down from another house where another 3-4 yo girl lived. let's call her J. We became friends. My mum moved two states away and I would visit my dad 3 times a year in the school holidays. J and I would always catch up and play/hangout.

For reasons I don't feel like explaining (short story: my mum was a bitch) I stopped seeing my dad for about 6 years. I also lost contact of J. I found her on myspace a few years ago, and we started chatting like old friends again. We were both exactly the same as years before, even though we had not spoken for 7 years.

One year when I visited my dad I stayed with her for two nights. We got a tattoo together and hung out. It was fun. The next year, I booked my tickets 6 months in advance and told her the same day, of the dates I would be visiting my dad. She also flew to my state and went to a concert with me. I had bought her concert ticket months in advance, and she had organised that her dad would pay for the flights, as a christmas gift. The concert was on a Sunday, so I organised Monday off so I could drive her to the airport. She booked her tickets two weeks before the flight, rang me and told me she would be arriving on Friday morning at 8am. 'you've got two weeks, you'll be able to get that day off yeah?' she said. Inwardly I groaned. Two days off was a lot of money for me, especially seeing as the weekend already was costing me about $200. I organised the day off. Her flight here also had her grandparents on it. They slipped her $300 for 'spending money'. She also flashed around a further $500 that she'd gotten paid that week. Her flight BACK home left at 7am the day after the concert. She conveniently forgot the concert was three hours drive away from my house, which is near the airport. So after the concert, at midnight, BF and I had to drive back so she didnt miss her plane. All is good, that's what friends do, right?

Fastforward a few months. I had reminded her every so often of the dates of my own treck to her state. Then, 2 weeks before my holiday, she asks me what date it was again. I tell her. 'Oh. I can't get any days off work. Sorry.'
I tried breathing deeply, and I even went for a small walk to calm down a little. I was just soooo annoyed, and I felt like I had to say SOMETHING. With most of my friends, I have tried being completely honest. I don't want to hold something back because otherwise it will build up and I'll end up resenting them. Besides, I figured I would word it non-conflictingly.
'I don't understand why you couldn't find any time for me even though I tried to give you so much notice. I just thought you would be looking forward to me visiting. I organised an extra day off with only a couple of weeks notice to pick you up. But even though I'm disappointed, it's ok cause I know you're probably stressed about nationals. Also my parents and little sister were just asking about you cause they want to see you.' (she competes in a fitness-type-thing)
Ok so not totally non-conflicting, but I was being honest. There was a lot more that could have been said.
'Whatever' she said and hung up.
Then she rang back.
'It's not MY FAULT I had to work so much to save up to come and visit you, and had to pay heaps of money for the airfair, and basically couldn't afford it but I came and visited you ANYWAY. You know, I missed out on a friends 21st party to come and see you. So i'm SORRY. And it's not MY FAULT I'm broke right now and have to work'.
Me: 'umm... ok then. that's fine. don't worry about it. for the record, you told me your dad was paying for the flight, and you splashed your cash around while you were down here, so sorry if I didn't get the message that you were broke. i kind of think you have taken it the wrong way - i wasn't blaming you, i just wanted to tell you i was a little disappointed.'

I did organise to see her, in the end. I had to organise it, and I had to take a 2 hour train trip to see her to have lunch, but I did it. There were awkward silences.

Fastforward to now, and any conversation with her, I have to initiate. We used to chat on an instant messenger all the time, but now, she will be online but I will have to eb the one to start the conversation. And when I do, it's stilted (and this is in typing! imagine a voice conversation!). And anything she says will be all about herself. She is not interested in anything I have to say, nor does she ever ask any questions. oh, except for the other day, she asked 'so are you still working at the same places and stuff?'. As though she either can't remember what I do, or it's not important to her. Either way, apparently her role of Trainee Assistant Sub Manager at a fast food place is much more important and exciting than whatever the hell it is that I do.
I also noticed that, a few weeks ago I asked if she'd done anything interesting and she said no. Then on my facebook, on my wall, yesterday, she wrote 'oh since i last saw you (five months ago) i've gotten two new tattoos'. I am guessing it's because she wanted everyone to know she'd gotten them, not just me.

Anyway. Sorry for the vent. I am just so angry and annoyed. Sometimes I feel like cutting all communication off from her - but we have such history, and my dad and stepmum ask about her - i feel like she likes them more than me, and that I would be doing something horrible by ending the friendship.

BF and his sister (who we live with) have commented that when she visited she seemed very self-important (read: up herself) and quite immature. I don't know if maybe that's what people my age act like, only I don't have many friends my own age so maybe I am just not like that because I have older friends?

She uses words like 'retarded' and 'gay', which I don't think I've ever used, or if I did, as soon as I found out how they could offend certain people, I made a concious effort to stop. We don't really like the same music or the same clothes, the same people etc. We are very different. The only things we connect on are things we shared when we were young, like SEGA games and barbies. We even have different approaches to relationships and money. (she cheated on a BF, blows all her money, lived briefly out of home, and lives with her parents still.) She constantly wants me to sympathise for her dad, who 'has to pay off an 800k mortgage, two cars (oh... just mercedes, nothing special) support his new wife and her baby, plus pay child support to his ex wife and younger daughter'. I just nod and agree.

BA's post about his 'friend' just reminded me of my own friend woes. So I guess I just wanted to share!

:`(

What would anyone else do in my situation? I've told my dad and stepmum what happened, pretty much.

So what to do? Cut ties? Pretend nothing ever happened and continue merrily along? Or wait until she starts asking me about my life?

Today we got up extra early (5am) and went to the markets. Because it's now summer and getting lighter early, there's always a lot more people at the markets when we normally go at around 7.30am, and it's too crowded. So this morning we got the pick of crop! I spent $42 (to be shared between BF and I - so $21 each). This is what I got: (all organic produce)

10 bananas
5 avocados
12 free range eggs
500g yellow squash
500g green beans
1kg strawberries
3 mangoes
7 nectarines
3 grapefruit
4 pears
1 large zucchini
4 potato
2 sweet potato
4 onions
1kg tomatoes
2 cucumbers
1 broccoli
1 large capsicum
1/2 kent pumpkin
4 large carrots
4 oranges
4 mandarins
1 lettuce

The mangoes, strawberries and avos made the overall cost a tad more, but I didn't need a lot of stuff this week. Overall I think I got a pretty good haul!

I have these items in my pantry: 800ml passata, 400g cannelini beans, rice noodles, pasta, rice, rice paper, herbs and spices, 400ml coconut milk, 800g diced tinned tomatoes, vegetable stock, risotto rice, lentils, lasagne sheets, flour, fresh garlic, fresh ginger, oats, coconut, sultanas, apricots, 400g baked beans, a tin each of beetroot and pineapple, 1 packet frozen spinach, filo pastry, shortcrust pastry, frozen peas, assorted frozen meat for BF, freshly made korma paste, laksa paste and tikka masala paste, sundried tomato pesto.

Any one have any good meal ideas?

I just realised it's the 5th of November and I haven't put up my October stats yet!!!So here they are. I am actually really happy with my results for last month.

Income: (TOTAL: $3246.00)
Job #1: $1038
Job #2: $2088
Other: $120
(649.20 p/w)


Savings: $675.00 ($135.00 p/w)

Expenditure: (TOTAL: $2121.62)
Rent: $633.35 ($126.67 p/w)
Groceries: $233.33 ($46.67 p/w)
Petrol: $160.62 ($32.12 p/w)
Phone & Internet: $29.23 ($5.85 p/w)
Loan Payments: $185 ($37 p/w)
Mobile Phone: $30 ($6 p/w)
Misc: $11.60
Gifts: $6.00
Health & Beauty: $2
Skin Care: $13
Bank Fees: $12
Alcohol: $37
Magazines & Books: $34.40
Takeaway Beverages: $125.39 ($25.08 p/w)
Takeaway Food/Dining Out: 180.60 (36.12 p/w)
Clothes & Shoes: $276.73 ($55.35 p/w)
Entertainment: $108.82 ($21.76 p/w)
Lotto: $15 ($3 p/w)
House/Appliances: $27.55 ($5.51 p/w)

Surplus: $449.38

Before anyone comments on the clothes expenditure, you should read my previous entries on it. I have allowed myself $500 to spend on clothes up to february. Mainly because I don't have a lot of summer clothes.

Areas I will attempt to improve this month:
*Takeaway Beverages and Food
*Entertainment
*Bank Fees

I am extremely happy with the groceries expenditure. When I had a budget to compare to, my goal amount per week was $50-$70. So if I am under that, it makes me very happy!

I am not bothering with a budget. I only use them as a guide anyway. I understand it works for lots of people, but I am not one of those people that will go 'oh, I have spent my budget for this week, so I am going to stay home all week now'.
I mean, sometimes I do that, but not often, and in the end, it's my money that I earnt, so I will do whatever I want with it. The only thing I DO NOT condone is spending on credit cards, when you know you don't have the money to pay for it. That isn't spending YOUR money.

Anywho. I am very pleased with my savings as well. :-D

I don't know if any of you recall me previously talking about a married couple that we are good friends with that may possibly want to move in with us once flatmate moves out?
In light of their recent troubles (the wife's mother has terminal cancer and has only weeks to live, and the husbands parents are divorcing due to his father having an affair - add on to that the wife is 6 months pregnant and the husband working in a bookshop!) we had told them that we don't mind what they do - they are welcome to move in but to not feel any pressure either way. Well the husband came over for a barbecued lunch on sunday and he told us that they were very well leaning toward moving in with us, they have been talking about it a lot, he has started selling a lot of his possessions (a fresh start and a lighter move, I think is what is in his mind, as well as saving money for when the baby arrives.)

It's funny, I have told a few people at work, and the only thing they seem to comment on is the fact that we will be living with a newborn baby.

Why should that even factor into the equasion?

A woman at work smirked at me when I said it didn't bother us. 'oh yeah, keep telling yourself that', she said. Of COURSE i understand that the baby will cry, our friends will be tired, and we will be woken up as well and possibly have to help them out a bit.

But they are our friends - they are helping us and in turn we are helping them. And to be honest, I think that this is such a gift to be able to be a part of our friends first childs life at such a young age. How many people honestly get to experience that? We aren't party hard people. We'll stay out of their way when they need it. This house is large enough that we don't have to see each other if we need space.

Anyway. I am very happy at the prospect of sharing with them.

Just wanted to post a very big milestone reached today:

I just reached Goal # 2 for my home loan deposit account!!!

Current Balance: $2098.64

$2000 always seems to be the biggest hurdle for me. So here's hoping that my HD fund starts attracting money like a magnet from now on!

The weekend went past without much spending, which is always good!

On Friday night we went out for dinner. I spent $13.90 on a pizza and $5 on icecreams for dessert.

Saturday I spent $2.50 on some cherry tomatoes. We had a family gathering (BF's family) and were asked to bring a plate of food. I made a roast pumpkin & potato, rocket, sundried tomato pesto & cherry tomato salad (it all got eaten - so I am guessing everyone liked it). It was good that I had all the ingredients already, except for the cherry tomatoes.

Today I went to the markets and bought fruit and vegetables for the week. My portion was $15. I also bought the rest of the groceries from the supermarket, and spent around $22.

No other extra spending!

Today also, while BF and flatmates BF went to a car race/cruise thing, flatmate and I screenprinted some shirts. So I have five new shirts now. (actually I had the shirts before, obviously, but now they have prints on them! )
I just used prints that BF had already cut out. He has been doing them for 10+ years and they look much cleaner and better than mine. I did a ship on one tshirt, a mummy on another, a car (the model that my BF and his friends are all into) a cowboy on a horse, and a samurai. they all turned out really well too.

We had an announcement last week on television that interrupted the normal show. It was Kevin Rudd (our prime minister) announcing that they would be increasing the First Home Buyers Grant from $7000 to $14000, and the Builders Grant to $21000!
He explained that it was to counter what was happening in other countries where property prices were decreasing. It will help new home buyers and start to create a little more demand for property again (as it was starting to slow). At the same time it's now getting harder again to get loans - so there won't be anyone getting loans who can't afford it (well - there will be LESS people..) Despite what anyone says, I think it's a good move. I know that we can afford it, and I know that with the first home buyers grant, it will be going straigh onto the loan, or to help pay for any outstanding solicitors fees.
*sigh* if only we could build...
(that would be our dream, of course it won't be happening for many more years...you need a 20% deposit to apply for a loan to build, to get the $21000 grant. You technically don't need a deposit to buy a house at this stage, and you still get the $14 000.)

And yes, I do understand all the negatives on K Rudds move. However, my own personal opinion is that I like his choice. I think it's about time it was done. It will make it easier for some people, and it will help the country in the long run. Yes, it will push prices up. Yes, it will inflate the market. Yes it will make it harder to find a house to buy, because there will be many other people looking. Yes yes yes. I realise all that, but I think it's a good sign the our government is looking to change things, and is trying to get in early to make sure things don't go really bad, not just pay out heaps of money when things collapse and then hope for the best.

Just thought I would post my new savings balances - just because I am a little excited about them! I feel like I am actually getting somewhere!

Savings
Cash: $100.00 (in purse)
Everyday Account: $257.45
Bills Account: $1023.83*
Emergency Fund: $277.15
Holiday/Gifts Account: $160.63
Home Loan Deposit Account: $1858.64

Debt
CC1: $0
CC2: $625.39*
Personal Loan: $3741.82

*Amount owed on CC's is deposited into Bills Account as soon as purchase is made to earn interest.

All that I have to pay out of my everyday account is $20 for my home loan savings automatic deposit, and any groceries we might need. I withdrew $100 yesterday for the weekend - I am hoping that should be enough. We are only really going out for dinner and maybe breakfast.

I am hoping to transfer the remaining money next week into my home loan deposit account. This will be when my pay goes through for job # 1 on Tuesday. I will aim for atleast $100. I am hoping to have enough to deposit to make it up to my Goal #2 of $2000. Wish me luck!

Today I got to look at the roster for end of october (it's always the same for me, unless I am working in a different area like out the front, and if people are on holidays). I'm excited because three staff members are going away, so i have been given five shorter (6 hours) shifts for the last week of october, instead of my usual 3 x 8 hour shifts. So I am doing 8 hours extra. That's nearly an extra $160! I still have Saturday and Sunday off, and I will have to do my office work in the afternoons during the week.

Today I had a bit of a spendy day:
Drinks: $6.70
Food: $3.65
Groceries: $12.99
Clothes: $73.11

I bought underwear today. Elle MacPherson Bras were on special for $19.95 - usually they are between $40-$70. It's gorgeous and mostly made out of silk!

Today I transfered $50 to my home loan deposit account. Closer and closer to 2k! It has just been so hard to crack that $2000 mark. You know how sometimes after you reach an initial amount it just seems so easy after that, like money is attracting other money??? Well here's hoping 2k is that initial amount!

BF just transferred another $1500 into his home loan deposit account. Now he has $6k in there.

Sometimes I just kick myself wishing we would have started earlier. Although it's always been at the back of our minds, we've been concentrating on other things.

I guess my pay now has made it easier to save more - just the past month I have noticed I am able to save much much more compared with six months ago.
It is the same with BF, once he finished his apprenticeship and started earning more per week, he is more motivated to save because he can actually see it climbing, and quickly! ($6k in two months aint bad!!!)

Also I have to admit, I have a car, a laptop etc. I have been to see quite a few bands play. I wouldn't trade any of that for anything. Life is experience. If I had a house now, instead of experiencing all that I have, it would be a very different story. Would I even be ready to own a house? Having not gone through all those things? I doubt it.

Anywhoo. Now I just can't wait for the next pay day, and the next, just so I can put more money away!!!

I promised this recipe months ago (well, one or two months) and finally have gotten around to posting it.

It's a mixture of two recipes I had, but I have just called it Lentil Dal. It is probably a little different in some aspects, but it worked out well the first time I made it, so here it is!

Lentil Dal - 4 medium serves
1 cup lentils (i used green lentils)
3 cups diced vegetables (i used pumpkin, carrot, potato, cauliflower, finely diced onion, celery)
2 tablespoons each of: freshly grated ginger, crushed garlic, extra virgin olive oil, brown sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon each of: ground cumin seeds, ceyenne pepper, cinnamon, turmeric, paprika, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, salt, black pepper, mustard seeds
1/2 cup chopped fresh herbs (coriander, marjoram, etc)
1 tin diced tomatoes


In a small saucepan, boil 3 cups of water. Rinse the lentils under cold water and add to the boiling water. Cook for 8-10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a larger saucepan with a heavy base, heat the oil over meadium-high heat and add the garlic and onion. Sautee until transperant and add the ginger and spices, turn to medium heat and stir for 1 minute. Add the diced vegetables and stir for 5 minutes with the lid on. Once the lentils are tender, add them (including the water they were boiled in) to the larger pan with the vegetables. Stir gently and add the tinned tomatoes and brown sugar. Simmer, with the lid on, until vegetables are tender (about 20-30 minutes). Add the lemon juice and half of the freshly chopped herbs and cook for a further 2 minutes.

The dal should have a thick, soupy consistency, and should taste sweet/spicy/sour. If not, add a little more cinnamon/lemon/sugar/ceyenne etc.

Serve with plain yoghurt to make a complete protein dish, and sprinkle with the left over chopped herbs.

I joined another survey site yesterday and have already earnt $5. They deposit it into your paypal account at the end of the month. It's a Frucor beverages consumer panel thing. For anyone in Australia who wants to know which sites are good, here is a list of the ones I am with:

Emailcash (have gotten $30 from them so far - 1/3 of the way towards getting another $30)

Valued Opinions (have gotten $20 coles giftcard from them and am close to getting another)

WhatDoYouThink (a bit like emailcash - haven't gotten any $ from them but am probably 1/4 of the way there)

Global Test Market (haven't gotten any $ from them either, but am halfway towards $50 - I think they send a cheque)

That's all I can be bothered with - I don't use it as my income, just something I can do that might give me a couple of bucks here and there.

So anyway, I have gotten $50 so far, for doing pretty much nothing which is nice. I'm pretty close to getting another $50 in the next month or so.

I'm still around, but just haven't been posting this week. Haven't really got a lot to write about at the moment. I went on a little shopping spree on saturday and bought:
three pairs of shorts
two nice shirts
a tshirt
five pairs of undies

and i only spent $93! I think I did well. That means there is $407 remaining for clothes expenses.

I have decided to get:
-a nice black, waist or longer legnth coat
-new blue jeans (probably skinnies)
-a couple of summery skirts
-a pair of beach pants (linen or cheesecloth material, wide-leg style)
-a pair of boots
-a couple of nice bras
-another sports bra

We will see how that goes. I am pretty sure I don't need anything else, so I should be right until at LEAST the end of summer, if not all the way til next summer. (If I get the jeans, coat and boots, it should take me through winter up to this time next year again for summer!)

I am nearly at Goal #2 for my house fund. I managed to whack another $100 in last week extra. This week I should be able to do the same. Yay!

Well, this morning I tried the grated apple/protein theory to prolong my starving-ness. At 6am I ate:

1/2 cup organic toasted muesli
1/4 cup milk
3 tablespoons plain yoghurt
1/2 a grated apple

and

an espresso coffee with 1/4 cup milk & 1 sugar

I had to eat something (a mandarin and two homemade cookies) at 10am.

So that was four hours. I guess usually I last from eating at 5am to 7.30-8am. So it's giving me an extra hour. Is that good? I don't think I could eat any more, I felt a bit full this morning - almost that sickly full feeling.

What does everyone else eat for breakfast?

Just thought I'd share some updates for you guys - I've been lurking but haven't had the chance to post a decent entry for a few days.

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The festival was great - like I mentioned in my previous post, we spent a lot on drinks (water for me). I didn't actually spend much else though that weekend:
Breakfast (BF & I) $10.78
Tolls: $5.80
Water: $35
Bus: $5.80
Lunch: $9.35

BF's friend paid for our breakfast which was nice of him (actually - we forgot to give him the money - we will next time!) and another girl paid for my cab fare home and was gone in the morning so I couldn't give her any $$. It would have been $6.

Unfortunately they blocked off the stage that Diplo and Goldfrapp were playing at, so we didn't get to see them. Dizzee Rascal was dangerously packed and we got squashed, then pushed to the back so we left (and this was OUTSIDE, in a botanic garden area!)
Peaches was great fun. She can be a bit... forward... sometimes... just not the way I would be myself (even though of course I believe in female empowerment and all that), but I think she's great for what she does anyway.

Everyone else was great too, too many to mention!

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We have a house inspection next Tuesday. Everything should be fine, but I am a little annoyed because flatmate is going away today, and also on the weekend, so she won't be around to help - although she is unemployed so will be home on Monday and the day of the inspection, Tuesday - so she should be able to do some cleaning then. It worries me at the moment because she is moving in a few months to her BF's property that he owns. I hope that she doesn't not put in effort because she knows she won't have to deal with real estates for (the foreseeable) future. That would really suck, because what if BF and I did decide to stay on here? I don't want her to **** up our plans just because she's lazy and doesn't give a crap.

*sorry - venting*

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I have noticed lately (actually, for months) that even though I eat muesli or, in winter, porridge for breakfast, as well as a piece of fruit and a coffee, I am nearly starving in two-three hours. What does that mean? I thought porridge and muesli were low gi, shouldn't they be keeping me fuller for longer?
It's not too bad now because it's the beginning of summer and it's starting to heat up, so instead of feeling hungry, I am just too hot and sweaty to be thinking about eating anything other than ice-cold water. (working in a bakery does that to you). But I just wonder, why does that seem to happen to me? My metabolism isn't THAT great, well, I don't think. I'm not overweight, but I have a couple of extra kilos I'd like to shift (doesn't most?). It's not like I'm skin and bones, lol.

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I just checked my home deposit account, and I earnt $9.73 in interest last month, on $1668.00!!! yay!

I also just transferred $500 from my bills account to my loan account, to save a couple of bucks in interest fees. I also checked my interest on that account, and I earnt $1.95. I think I will probably be saving about that much on my loan too. I guess every little bit helps, huh?

In two days I will transfer the $500 back into my bills account.

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I have approx $90 left over from last payday this week (I get paid tomorrow, then again on thursday). Once my pay goes in tomorrow I will transfer $50 into my home loan deposit account, and an extra $40 into my Holidays account, to save up for some clothes I would like to buy soon.

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This week I am going to make myself phone the doctors to make an appointment for a checkup. I haven't been eating meat now for nearly 5 months, and I was told that your iron levels start depleting around 2-3 months, so if I haven't been eating healthily, they should be nicely depleted by now (or if I am as healthy as I think I am - they should be good, which is what I'm aiming for of course!).

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Well that's all my updates for now!

Because that's what I had to pay on Saturday at the festival we went to.

There was one water fountain - which we found once but didn't see again. The toilets had water but I wasn't quite sure if you should drink from them; they were port-a-loos after all.
You weren't allowed to take in unopened bottles of water; so BF and I both took 2L each at the start - but it being around 35 degrees celcius, it went pretty quickly. 10 hours walking around makes you pretty thirsty.
We spent $70 on... WATER. (BF also spent about $110 on alcohol - $11 for a CUP of smirnoff...???)

What's the most ridiculous price you've ever paid for something?

So, yesterday I sorted through all of my clothes. I took out and repacked the ones I had in storage tubs (and added more to the tubs... as you do...but only took out one or two things from last summer... again, as you do...)

I only left out the clothes I wear every day (shorts, jeans, t-shirts, singlets, cardigans, etc) and left my dresses and jackets hanging up. All the clothes I haven't worn for awhile, or figured I probably WOULDN'T wear for awhile, I put away.
And guess what?

I have hardly any clothes. HAHA.

*sigh*

Ok, Ok, so I do have CLOTHES. But they're starting to get a little ratty. I did 'invest' in some singlets that will get me through summer, but I know that I do really need some 'nicer' shirts that are short sleeved, button up types for going out at night (to art exhibitions, nice dinners, fancy places etc), and some skirts to go with them. I am a very jeans-and-tshirts girl, so it's hard to get dressed up in frilly blouses, pretty skirts and structured jackets, when you know you're most comfortable in a band shirt, skinny jeans and ballet flats.

waaah.

so I think I am going to start a 'clothes' fund. I think $250 should do it, and I might try and get it all out of the way in one go... like a shopping spree - only it's one that I've saved for lol.

so, my question is, what are everyone's 'must have' clothing items? What are your 'fail-safe' options, the couple of pieces of clothing that you always have ready if nothing else 'feels right'? what do you always look for in clothing, and what's the most you've spent on an item?
(if you're into that sort of thing - I'm not into fashion 100%, but I like to look nice, and I enjoy clothes, not brand names, just clothes)

Well, I am trying to keep my expenses to a minimum because I know that this weekend's spending will be quite high.
Yesterday, however, I spent $8.50 on lunch with a friend plus $3 on a drink at work. (usually my drinks at work cost 50c as we get cheap cans of coke for the staff - but we had run out! so i bought a can of mother for $3)
I used my free coffee card for a coffee, even though my friend was very adamant that she wanted to pay (I snuck in before her though). Normally I would let people pay if they insisted - but she is very generous, and unfortunately I know how much she earns and I feel really bad when she wants to pay for me. She is an apprentice, earning a third of what I do (for the same job!). Would anyone else feel this way? The reason I know how much she earns is because I have helped her with her budget. Am I being a bad person by not letting her pay for me?

Last week I transferred another $100 into my savings - so for the month of September I saved $200 more (in my home loan account) than my 'normal' automatic deductions.

Today I have to get petrol and a couple of grocery items. I need: chickpeas, coriander, yoghurt, cheese and some kind of dessert for BF.

Tonight for dinner we are having a chickpea and cauliflower curry I found in a recipe book.

And I haven't forgotten that Homebody asked for the recipe for the lentil dal I made last week - I will post it soon!

Hello everyone (again).

I am not a 'new' blogger, as such.

My former savings advice blog/username was 'Greengirl'.

I have had to start my blog again afresh as I suspected that someone on the 'real' world had been reading it.
While I don't care greatly if my boyfriend reads my blog (he isn't that interested really), it does bother me a little if friends, other family or coworkers read it. This is for two reasons:
Firstly, money is a personal thing. While I don't think it should be a taboo subject at all, I would feel a little weird if my friends knew how much I analyse my spending, and if they knew the exact amount I make.
The second reason is my main reason for starting anew: I use this blog, sometimes, to vent about the situations, events and people in my life, good or bad. I am normally upfront with people, but sometimes I feel it is better to let some things be. How would I explain it better? I guess: picking your battles wisely. So when I don't raise a small issue in real life, I am most likely to bring it here and vent a little.

I will be adjusting my sidebars soon with the usual savings goals etc - but to minimise the possibility of having my new blog discovered, there will be a distinct lack of identifying factors. But you all know me anyway