Mumof2's Personal Finance Blog

We sent our taxes in mid jan this year and yet they still haven't put up that they have received them and they definately haven't been done...wish the irs would get their act together...I have decided that we are not chasing them anymore for their incompetence....it costs us so much money each time I have managed to get through it has been 2 hours plus on a cell phone across the world and so not worth the expenses....we never get any paperwork from them in regards to taxes...so guess if not done in the next year or so we will follow up...I just can't be bothered anymore...not worth the hassle!!

So I decided earlier this month that I would start a new budget..back to basics, redo everything and start over and get back on track...not only have we gone off the rails we have flipped several times and ended up god knows where with everything that has been going on...so today went back to basics.

for the rest of this year I will concentrate getting $2000 back  into our ice acct and paying off the dreaded CC these are my main 2 goals to achieve this year once that is done we will start saving. Once we reach the $2000 in ice acct we will continue to add $100 a month to boost it up.

I have also divided up and opened up accts for different things such as car/pom/ins so I can keep them seperate...wasn't working to well having them all in the same acct...so those amounts will start going into those accts in august.

Come december I will open up a xmas acct and put $100 a month in it for christmas for the family & charities...usually I just budget in for december but thought this might make it easier on the budget.

I am back to menu planning and have that written up and then we will start shopping with only what is on our menu anyone wanting treats can use their own mad money for that...hoping this way we can save some money on groceries. We currently spend $1000 plus on groceries...but food is expensive our milk alone is $6 for 2 litres..but some things we won't compromise on.

All going well the CC should be paid off oct 2022, the ice acct should be at $2000 by sept...and starting oct we should be able to start saving something each month...that amount will vary each month..but any savings is good.

The CC is the only debt we have so once it is gone we will be debt free again. feeling positive about the new budget, will just need to figure out the best places to do our grocery shopping between stores and markets (fresh fish/fruit/vege..all locally grown)...but we will discuss that at our family meeting later today. 

Next thing to focus on is our health and that will take more research but can focus on that now the budget is done for not only 2022 but also 2023...if anyone has any suggestions then please leave them below for consideration..thanks

I did an online order the other day and the prices have gone way up...I have to say that we don't drink/smoke etc so we do eat good brand food for some things...it just tastes better and we have a certain milk that my hubby and DD drink as it helps his asthma/copd and settles better in her stomach (A2 milk) it has gone up in the last couple weeks from $5.20 per 2 litres to $6 😳....we buy eggs that are from our state and they are jumbo and $7.50 per dozen (but they last so much longer than others and taste so much better)...our food bill is going up...a whole waterlon was $30 online (no we didn't get one)....so glad it is winter and we use our slow cooker a lot so we can chuck everything in a big pot and just cook it all day and have a healthy meal for dinner with lots of vegies/lentils etc...we are looking up other things that we can all eat that may be fairly cheap to cook...hubby can't have any tomato based foods since his cancer treatment....I have food intolerances....so can be tricky but we do our best...trying not to raise our food budget more than the $1000 a month that it is now...also going to start going back to the markets now that we are starting to feel better...just hope they don't keep rising much more...and I can't wait till spring when we can grow some of our own food again....

This year so far has been a bust in every sense, health and wealth especially.....so I am going back to basics and getting back on track one step at a time...it is hard in winter with us all being down under the weather, unexplained seizures etc...which means we have also bought things we haven't necessarily needed but wanted or made our life easier...and also lots of take away (which we hardly do)...so going back to basics and writing up a menu again, only buying what food we need....and working on paying off the CC again...will take some time...but a restart is just what we need I think

Hope you are all enjoying your summer because I am hating this cold...only 55 days till spring!!

So my daughter went to bed last night and her waist down was in pain...she took some panadol and went to bed...I woke up at 4.30am with a feeling today wasn't going to be great...next thing I know my daughter is in my room in pain, uncontrollable shaking etc....we call the healthline and after a bit they suggested we take her to the hospital ...we organise for our youngest DD to pick me up as I can't be left alone due to my dizziness and falling...and my hubby takes my daughter into the er she is almost incoherent and then after I leave...she starts having seizures....she has never had a seizure in her life...scares the crap out of my hubby and daughter...they go into the back of the ER....and she keeps having them...after a couple hours I take over from my hubby (only allowed 1 person at a time) and she keeps seizing....she is exhausted in pain...had blood and urine done and apparently both come back clear.....was waiting for a cat scan to see anything....she must have had around 50 seizure in 4 hours.....so I am heading up there soon to relieve my hubby....hoping for some answers as it is bizzare to just start having seizures for no reason...has onyone else heard of this??

My daughters 3rd iui didn't work...she is a bit upset but okay....I keep telling her what every baby is suppose to be hers will be...and she believes that...she is pretty positive...her specialist is going away so she won't be able to see him till mid sept and then will probably try again in oct.

I have my ice acct back to where I want it, have some money in savings..will add more this week, and going to focus on paying off the CC again....thats my plan putting our money on the only debt we have till it is gone..then it will all go into savings.

Not much else to report I don't have much money so no point doing all our savings etc as it is minimal....but working on it. 

So my mom has decided to move back to the city, she left because of the rising costs and they haven't really changed but she needs to be clearer to better healthcare...so we are looking for apartments for her...something else I get the pleasure of doing....plus we are still thinking of moving ourselves (depending on our daughter) so more added stress, she is 84 this year so we would like her to be closer if she needs medical help, where she lives just isn't that great. 

On top of that my stepson and his daughter just found out that her nan (on mothers side) is in a home because of dementia (she has not spoken to her for 5 years)....her mother texted her and let her know...its the first time she has texted her in a year....but that is another story....they want to come down so she can see her but can't afford it...so we said we would pay bus fares...gas prices are just so high and its a 5-6hr drive....well last night he ended up in hospital having one of "episodes" ct scan came back clear but still incoherent etc so keeping him till moday where they will do another mri and compare with his last one...no-one can give him an answer to what is going on...hopefully they find something (but in a good way so he can be treated)..so not sure if they are coming down anymore or not.

Paid a majority of our bills...we need to go to the atm and take money out from one acct and put it into another one (us to aussie) but being a weekend we will wait till monday when the bank is open and more people around I just don't trust people anymore...not that anything has happened but why risk it when we don't need to..so will do that tomorrow..hoping to save some money this month

planted some more garlic today....a bit late but it should be fine....also ordered a kit so we can propergate our own seeds etc this year...it comes with everything you needs from gloves, soil, seeds etc...so will be handy...we are also growing things from the seeds and bases of things we use like celery...cannot wait to grow our own food again.

Have a few yearly bills that we have paid (we put money in our POM acct each month to cover them) so ambulance cover and car registration, were paid this month...also have the girls bdays this month....neither really do anything...and we give them $200 each...so have that coming ou as well this month.

Hope you all have a nice relaxing 4th of july!!

It is the end of June here...can you believe that we are half wy through the year already...geez the last couple of years just seem to be flying by. It is payday this weekend but probably won't pay bills till monday....non need to be paid right now...I haven't really saved much this month, we have blught a bunch of things that we "wanted" such as 2 new water bottles for me..mine was old and needed replacing (2nd one was almost free and it won't go to waste), we have bought more soil ready for spring, I ordered a new 10 tray dehydrator....we will dehydrate fruits and vegetable, we are also buying jars so we can learn how to preserve food in jars as well this year (have always wanted to do it but never known how...always scared that I will kill people doing it the wrong way) so going to try that as well. I oredered a years supply of our clothes washing sheets....cheaper buying them in bulk...many of these do cost a little more because they are made from natural materials...I am all about natural things when we can use them as I have sensitivities to many chemicals but it is also better for the environment. 

We find out monday if our daughter is pregnant, it isn't looking good right now but we are still hopeful until they tell us otherwise....if she isn't not sure what they will do as it is her 3rd time trying and she won't do ivf due to all the hormones etc, it will affect her bipolar to much she thinks and it is her choice...but we know she will have children one way or another...we haven't ruled this one out yet. 

I think we are going to raise our food budget in july, it just doesn't seem to be working out right now with the prices of things....although we are going to try and go to the markets this week and start buying things in bulk so we can start drying things that we eat a lot of and see how we go..and of course it is all locally grown so cheaper its just a 45 min drive....unless my daughter and I go and we catch the train and walk there. 

I am hoping next month to put a good chunk of money onto the CC and hopefully have it paid off in a couple of months.

Called the IRS the other day and they informed me that they sent us a check, which I wasn't happy with as our country will no longer be accepting overseas checks, we talked to the bank and it hasn't come into effect yet but will in a couple of months but they said it could take weeks to clear, because it has to go back to the states and clear before it is available in our account...I am just hoping that when they do this years taxes (yes we sent them in jan) they do the right thing and put it into our account...just glad this saga is over...it has been a long time and quite the saga.

Well as an australian I can't believe what I am hearing from the US...I have read so much and who knows how much of it is true or not as there is so much to research but my question is and I would like honest opinions, or tell me if I am wrong (but don't be negative teach and inform..don't tear people down) but these are y thoughts.

Women in some states can't have abortions, so they will need to travel to get one, who pays for that? if they can't get them who is going to pay their medical costs, doctors visits, childcare, formula (which there is a shortage), clothes, education etc? Where are the men in all of this are they going to have their names put on the birth certificates and are they paying half for all of these bills from the beginning of the pregnancy as that seems fair. If not and these women put their kids into the foser system then isn't the govt paying for them and what little care they get in foster care anyways....what happens when all these kids have no foster care places to go it is an already burdened sysytem. 

Most rape and children that are molested are done so by people they know and made to have these children, if they have an abortion in a different state and then return home they can get up to 10 years jail...where a rapist prison term can start at a year...so an already burdened jail system is going to be overrun by women going into jail for sometimes lifesaving medical care or just for not wanting to put them and the child through a really tough life...and if they have other kids who knows where they will end up and then getting a job after prison will damn near be impossible as they have been to prison.....the scenarios for the financial of not only individuals but the US just seems to keep going on and on.....what are your thoughts? 

Also if a doctor was to do a medical procedure like an abortion how would anyone know thought they couldnt discuss a patients medical history? isn't that breaking the law as well so how would the police or anyone know?? If you just deny it they have no reason to open your records right? I know we have a couple medical people on here so thought I would ask

Finally got through to the IRS again..after 2 hours waiting on a cell phone..can't imagine what the phone bill will be...but thats another story.

So I tell them it has been 4 weeks and the money still hasn't hit our account, he looks through our account and says that they sent a check...I said why I specifically stated that our country no longer accepts overseas checks and the guy last month was told this when he said it would be processed, I also put sticky notes on our taxes (yes we have to do paper copy) on the front and where the bank details are stating this. Then they say it should take us around 9 weeks to get it so when we do write a letter and send it back stating that we want to add it to this years taxes so it can be put in the bank....we we sent our 2021 taxes in mid jan and still haven't heard anything so I'm like "what if you process this years taxes why you wait...if it takes 9 weeks to get here then it will probably be the same getting back" he said then hopefully they will add to the next years taxes...I am beyond frustrated at this point...told him they have to do better when it comes to overseas people doing taxes...he said he will bing it up at the next meeting...who knows if they will but damn I have never seen such incompetent people in a business, it seems like no-one knows what they are doing there...okay rant over!!

On the upside only 10 days till we find out if our daughter iui worked...fingers and toes crossed!!

we cut up a bunch of celery a few days ago and it has started growing in a glass so we are going to plant in a pot soon and see if we can get it to grow...love growing fruit and veg from produce we already have..and it tastes so much better...

have a great weekend everyone...we have another cold wet one

We have a sunny day today so finally took the dog for a walk, he was so excited we have had constant rain for a week so haven't taken him out, also was able to meditate outside today in the sun, so that was really nice, haven't been able to that in weeks...next week we have I think 4 days that are cloudy/sunny so will hopefully get out much more. Although it is still cold but I have opened the whole house up to air it out..I just love fresh air in the house and it has been weeks being able to open it up as well as hubby gets real cold now.

Our garlic is growing so well yesterday we have 34 growing and more keep popping up each day...can't wait to harvest it in nov...and can't wait to start growing some vegies in spring

My DD was inseminated on the 17th..so fingers crossed...she had to do a trigger shot and I was reading that it can show a positive test after a couple weeks so we took a test yesterday with had a slight positive...not to see if she was pregnant but to see if the line gets darker or lighter in a week or so if it is lighter it means she probably isn't pregnant if it gets darker then she probably is but she gets a blood test on the 4th july to find out for sure...we all have a good feeling so hopefully she is and she has no issues...I have been doing a lot of research as I am finding out so much on this journey with her...glad to be included in this process with her and be there every step of the way that she needs or wants me to be there...I feel very blessed.

I bought some potato chips the other day and they had about 8 dark brown ones in it so I contacted the manufacturer to let them know as it is abnormal, I had the batch number and all and they sent me a gift certificate for $6 to replace the chips with...so that was a bonus..wasn't expecting it.

Today I am going to try and call the irs again they said it would take 2-4 weeks for my money to hit our account and its been 4 weeks and still not there so not sure what is going on....hopefully will get some answers!!

The news hardly mentions covid anymore...our country is now over 8,000 deaths...I know that doesn't sound like a lot to people but it for us....but we only have 25.6 million people here.....over 250 in hospital...which worries me as we are going into flu season here and our hospital have been so short staffed over the last few years....we still wear masks and sanitize whenever we go anywhere as we can't risk covid....although the prices of things have gone up it's good that our stores have remained stocked with things throughout the pandemic and afterwards...this year is going to be bad with flu i think and my doc said the same thing...as we have had 3 years with almost no flu due to all of our protocold that we had in place and many children have not been exposed to the flu since they were born....but now we don't have any mandates in places for wearing masks/sanatizing etc...it will be bad...we will keep wearing then and doing what we need to do.

My DD should be inseminated this week she is so excited...I'm hoping to be well enough to go with her (I have the other 2 times) as her support person it is an interesting road to be travelling with her....we are learning a lot as well...I am just hoping it works this time...fingers and toes crossed.

We are looking for a new phone company our cell service provider just sent us a new bill and it had 43 pages and it had that my hubby had sent 2990 text messages in a month and 1996 MMS, he doesn't even have photos or anything on his fone...and they never picked up on anything...luckily with our plan it didn't cost us anything so not sure how they did it but guessing someone spoofed his fone at some point mid may....doesn't surprise me as all the politicians were texting individuals and thats when all these random messages started coming through on everyones fone....we weren't happy with their response when it came to the phone and then not even mentioning anything and pretty much blaming us saying we did it...so I was not so polite told them where they could stick their service and that we would be leaving them...so now looking for a new carrier.

Tomorrow is payday...

I am a minimalist, I like having what we use and thats it...I like thing clean and organised....my hubby and daughter are not minimalists at all...they aren't hoarders but they have a lot of stuff...my hubby mainly tools (they both build furniture together at times), his prospecting and camping things, his leather work and sewing...just a lot of it....my daughter makes jewellry and also likes to do sewing...so she has a lot as well as all her baby stuff...not only do they have 2 rooms each and the shed, but we also have a storage unit....I just want to go through it and get rid of it all...but I won't its not my stuff and they usually keep it neat and tidy so that isn't an issue...does anyone else deal with this? do you live with someone who likes their stuff and they have a lot of it??

Well got the yard mowed and the dog likes it better..he doesn't get so cold...our neighbour quite often when he is doing his yard work will mow and edge our yard...without asking...he is great like that...and quite often I will make banana bread so always end up with 2 or 3 so will always take them 1-2 of them..they have 3 girls...they came over yesterday to say thankyou for the banana bread...and to let us know they will be going away for a month at the end of june they are going to greece and netherlands...they are going to visit family...they are hoping their renovations will be done by there...they have family staying there for the month to look after their animals so we have told them if they need anything to let us know...its great to have neighbors like that...our last 3 neighbourhoods have been like that..so nice.

Our garlic is starting to come through the soil now so I know it's growing so that is great...hubby had his last covid booster..its his 4th shot and they just want the elderly and those with really compromised immune systems to have them...shouldn't need anymore....we didn't need them so that was nice.

I did a sensitivity test using my hair and they test it for foods/non food (chemicals etc)/metals etc....that was interesting so going to write up a list of what I can/can't eat and find some new recipies to make so will probably start beginning of july this week will be busy with our daughters tests and hopefully insemination...they are a lot stricter here then in the US, they track ovulation and if there are to many eggs they won't inseminate you as they don't the risk of multiples....if they can help it.....so all that should happen this week all going well so will be busy.

Working on our budget some more just figured to get our ice acct back to $2000 and then pay of the CC again (should be done end of august) and then will focus on saving for  a house...when we have around $20,000 will talk with some people and see what are options are and what kind of savings we actually need and what we can borrow...so have a while before that happens...other than that not much else happening...both my hubby and daughter are both sleeping the day away as they haven't been sleeping much...so I don't care...I'm just resting up and pottering around the house cleaning as quietly as I can...enjoy your weekend

It has rained here everyday for 2.5 weeks...don't ever remember it raining like this here before...tomorrow we are suppose to have a cloudy day but no rain so hopefully I can mow the grass...its almost up to ur knees...and the dog hates it as he is little and it makes him cold and wet..I'm just hoping it's not to wet to cut but its the only dry day till wednesday then more rain for another week...which is great we need rain..but on the other hand it makes everything grow really well then bushfire season hits and it wreaks havoc at least we are not having the floods that other states are having...I am just hoping winter comes and goes quickly...I despise the cold 

I have been doing our budget for 2023...we are trying to save for a house deposit but housing prices are sky rocketing...seriously I don't know how anyone here will be able to buy a house again...rents have sky rocketed..we pay a high rent already for a house that isn't worth it...we have been looking at other rentals but they are worth the money or the moving expenses either. We want to stay within 30 mins of this area as it has all our specialists/doctors etc. Most houses here for a basic 3-4 bedroom home...less than 500m2 for land size is around $700,000 and most of these houses need some work...I'm not talking nice houses either....that means we need a deposit of around $70,000 most of that is upfront fees and when you take out a loan here you can't get extra to do any upgrades...you have to save that yourself....sometimes I wish we lived in the US so easy to get a loan, nicer houses and you get more for your money than what we do....

So thinking of ways that we can make extra money, I don't think we can cut anything back as prices have gone up and I am trying to figure out how we can fit all the stuff in storage into this house and save there....not sure what else to do at this point but we will keep chugging along...if you have any ideas drop them below...Cheers

OMG we have had rain everyday for 2 weeks and still have another week to go...it is such weird weather...its cold and it down pours for like an hour then it is sunny for a half hour then down pouring again...been 2 weeks like that...we are over it. Although the garlic has been growing well didn't think it would with all the rain but it is..should have some more in this week to plant...and my daughter has grown some seeds from her bell pepper seeds so she wants to start putting them into egg cartons to grow them a little bigger before planting them in the garden...

It is pay week so we will go and get some meat...don't really need much else so can put some money back into savings...my hubby had a doona which was quite weird...it is new but it sounds like paper when he moves...it was driving me nuts..so I asked my daughter to get another one and she found this super soft one..it is amazing and so warm...she loved it so I got her to buy herself one (my treat) as she deserves it...she does so much for us....and she loves it...so an expense we didn't plan on but it is worth it....my hubby has 2 beds..one in our room and one in the lounge...they are beds where the head and feet move up and down...with his cancer treatments he has nights he can't sleep so he will move to the lounge on those nights so I can sleep better....it's weird for some but it works for us.

My daughter has started her fertility treatment she needs to get another med she hasn't had before and it costs over $300 so hopefully it will work this time...only time will tell she will have a scan and then bloods done every day next week ready to be inseminated

Wow this year is going so fast...although we have officially hit winter here so I am hoping the next 3 months go quick as I hate the cold...I want spring weather so we can start planting our vegies...although I have just ordered some garlic online so should be here next week hopefully....we order a lot from these guys (we have a store here in the city) but they don't have much left this time of year as we are late getting it in...but there seedling are all home grown, organic grown in the botanical gardens in the city....so nothing bad added....so we do get a a lot from there we just haven't the last couple of years...but with food prices it is becoming a must..and home grown food is just so much better.

Our DD should start her fertility treatment again this month so fingers crossed it works this time...our youngest DD is finally testing negative for covid now so she is happy about that....although she is currently working from home so she didn't really miss to much work...she was unwell but not overly sick just exhausted and really sore joints..had a fever off and on for 2 days...thats all which is great.

It is pay week this week will update later in the week when we pay things...sure our phone bill will be higher since I was on with the irs for 2 hours on a cell phone...get expensive calling overseas so will have to find that out..so we will see how things look...we still have all our gas money left from last week so don't need that...but groceries are costing us more

We have had rain all week and the weatherman said rain again all week except for wednesday.....we may get a little but not much....it has been cold and wet...I really don't like winter my body aches so much and technically winter doesn't start till june...so I think it  might just be a wet year...which is great but it also makes it so much more growth in summer and we suffer from bushfires every year....

Got some of our garlic planted today so hopefully it will grow we have to get some more to plant from somewhere..so many of our green grocers have closed and we have left it a little late we usually have usually done it by now...but it just feels this year has been going so fast.

On the upside our DD who has covid is tired but doing better she will test tomorrow to see if she is negative...lucky for her she only got aches and pains in her joints nothing else. My mom got some xrays and scans done since her fall and lucky she has no broken bones just bruising so that is good...she is heading down this way tomorrow...I got her to fly down instead of the bus ( 1 hr vs 6 hrs) so she can sign her great grandson she raised into a new school, she will go to the hair dressers (yes she travels 6 hrs to see him) and do some shopping, see the chiro and then head home on wednesday. She is staying with another family member when she comes down, as they want to spend some time with her.

Not much else happening this week so far...so hopefully no spending....

Not sure if anyone remembers or even cares but I have been having issues with the irs and our 2020 taxes (no they haven't done this years yet even though I sent them in Jan) but after being on hold for 1hr 25 mins I finally got to talk to someone...I was wanting to know if they had sent our transcripts as they said they did in feb but we still haven't got them....I gave him a small run down on what had been happening and he looks and says that we have our tax refund sitting there since feb but it hasn't been released so he would release it because he doesn't know why it hasn't been...so he said he released it and it should take 2-4 weeks to reach our account....I will believe it when I see it...I am hoping this is the end of this saga...as it has been a long one...and over 2 hours on a cell phone can only imagine what our phone bill will be like😨

On other news the weather here has been rainy for days....although it is nice to get some rain it has been everyday...it doesn't rain next wed...but everyday till then and after that it will be raining...and cold...I hate the cold it makes my body hurt...my cfs (ME) and fibro have both been bad with the cold..not sure why it acts up more but it does....so we haven't been going out unless we need to....and monday I need to go with my nephew so he can look at a new school...he hates his school and isn't learning so he won't go...good thing is today I found out that the person showing him around this new school is an old vice principal of the school he is kind of attending and he knows him well...so we are hoping it goes well and if so he will start in july (mid year for us).

other than that we are going to spend the weekend just chilling and staying warm

Yes we have a new govt...hopefully they will fix some of the issues that the last govt have made...and left for them....our country is turning into a 3rd world country for anyone who isn't rich thanks to the last govt...making it so hard for so many families and no affordable housing for people...I despise landlords who take advantage of people and raise their rents so freaking high...they should be charged...its disgusting!

Our youngest DD found out she has covid this morning...she is not happy I'm hoping she doesn't get it bad...and my mom had a fall over the weekend so hoping she is okay (she lives 6 hrs away) she is going to try get into the docs today...

financially haven't spent any money over the weekend....it is pay week for groceries and gas...but gas has gone from $1.74 to $2.14 overnight....lucky we don't have any appts this week...only my daughter does...so should be able to save a little there

Well it is election night here tonight...I hope that we have a change in government...we definately need it...this PM is completely useless and constantly lies and making it so hard for people to ends meet is is against a $1 pay raise for workers but is ready to give all politicians a pay raise...like they need it....I could go on and on about how useless he is...but all I am hoping for is a change in government...fingers crossed

We have bought so much lately and it has cost us a fair bit but it things we have needed but some things are expensive...like my cbd oil which is $360 per 50ml bottle and it has to be made at a certain chemist (pharmacy) I try to make it last me for months...we got a vitamix so we can crush ice and make protein shakes which my hubby needs each day...had to buy protein powder (hard to find a good one), plus many other things...we shouldn't need to buy much for a few months so that is good.

we have plenty of food for now, and trying to keep extra for when we see good sales of things we eat so we can keep our stocks up..we have been doing well with our gas budget...trying to get as much done at one time when we have appts and all...have also changed a couple of doc appt to phone appts.....still ahve a bit of catching up to do but feeling confident that we are getting there.

We are also starting to buy things each month ready to start growing our own vegies again in spring (we are just going into winter here) so each month we buy a few things and then it isn't being paid for all in one month in spring...and we are deciding what we want to grow as we have to do it in pots since we are renting...although the good thing is that this house has 5 fruit trees so we can use that as well..hoping to grow strawberries this  year as well so we can make our own jam...also just bought a dehydrator again so we can dry our herbs/vegies etc as well...at least thats the plan.

Payday today..we use it just for groceries and gas, we have done a small online order for a few things we needed, we still have $120 left from our last pay for gas but will leave it there and just add to it...sure we will need it eventually. will take the rest out in cash to use over the next 2 weeks...also put $405 into savings.

Also cancelled our netflix as we don't watch it and will use stan instead (we can't get free to air channels in this house) which saves us $8 per month

Does anyone know who I should contact about not receiving any mail fro the irs in the last 5 plus months, I can't find anywhere online that I can call to find out if it has been sent or to where it should have been here by now...we live in aust not the US..thanks

The price of gas has gone back up over $2 per litre (around $6.50 pg) I have raised the amount once in our budget so trying not to do it again, and although food prices are going up I am going to try and save money in that area as well we currently spend $1000 plus each month and I want to save on that or at least try not to go over it. 

We will be growing our own vegies, or at least some of them but not till sept/oct when it is spring here and we have started buying stuff for that now so we will be ready when the time comes and it won't be such an outlay all at once..this year will all be about saving more money where we can

Well hopfully I can get back on here after today it seems they fix it and then the next day the same thing...

May we have paid all our bills, except netflix that comes out later in the month, everything else is paid. I have ordered a few things this month so used a bit of our savings but we are ok with that.

We have started to order planters for spring that are eco friendly (not plastic) but as we rent right now its just easier for us with the price and quality of fresh vegies right now we are going to start growing our own again, will also get a dehydrator again so we can dry our own food again...hoping to learn to jar food this year. This house has like 5 or 6 fruit trees so that helps as well.

We have saved $2000 into our ice account this month and have $1000 in savings should be able to save more during the month...thats the plan, we are paying the CC off over time instead of focusing on that and no savings...

Hubby had his flu shot this week and we get ours next week, he will then get his 4th covid shot in a couple weeks..we don't need it so glad about that..other than that not much happening the weather has turned cold so we are staying home as much as possible and it flares my fibromyalgia up and my hubbys arthritis and affects his copd...we now have the animals heated blankets out and they are loving them...

My stepson needed to move to a town with cheaper rent as he had a stroke and could no longer work and rents in the city are outrageous...he has cognitive inabilities now so we do a lot of all his paperwork as he can't process it properly anymore, although it is not done through the courts or anything. Anyway his ex landlord charged him over $1900 and she knew she had to go through me but didn't so when he got the bond saying that it was taken out we were all upset and once we found out the things she charged for I went into mad mode and started to sort it out...I threatened them with small claims court as she knew about his cognitive disabilities and that needed to go through me but didn't. They didn't tak it well but I am one not to fight for what is right...we figured he would owe around $800 as he had to pay rent till someone else moved in etc but not over $1900...well this week we finally got where they said they would refund $1100 so it is down to the $800 that we said he should owe..so hopefully that will be refunded soon and we can be done with them...but glad to be able to save him money...however the owner is not happy and nor should he be!!  

Would you have done the same thing or just let it be??

A whole week and not being able to get onto the blogs/forum to post or reply..Thankyou to Jon & james for fixing the issues for me it was greatly appreciated!!

Pay week this week but only for groceries and gas still deciding if we want to go to costco or not as its a 45 minute drive one way and we don't need a lot, so will see, might just get what we need from local grocery store although it comes in much smaller packaging and sizes.

We have been doing a lot of research on doing our own garden again starting spring because we rent it can be really hard, we have so many blue tongues and birds in our yard that they like to steal things if they can get to them...so looking up our best options..prefer to grow our own as no chemicals and cheaper.

Still no word or paperwork from the irs its been over 8 weeks when we call sit there on the cell for an hour and then when you get someone they start and pretty sure they hang up as it just drops out..ALL he time...so frustrating...but we will continue with that saga till it gets worked out.

We have had 2 long weekends here so it has been pretty quiet which has been nice, weather is starting to cool down more...I don't like the cold so not looking forward to winter but has given me so much time to go through some cupboards and rearrange our kitchen cupboards ready for all that we will get from dehydrating and canning hopefully!!