Mumof2's Personal Finance Blog

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!!

We were going to move in october as this house doesn't really fit us...but if the landlord agrees we might stick it out another year and then hopefully have enough for a deposit on a house....if housing prices don't continue to rise, I am hoping to get to $50,000 but we will see it doesn't leave much wiggle room if something comes up but it is something to work towards each month.

This means our CC won't be paid off till november (which is bad I know) but it will still be paid off and then not be used...may not even keep it but we will see....and we will still have storage fees to pay until we move or buy a house so that sucks hoping we can cut back on what we have in storage but don't think we can...not much anyways...I am a minimalist my hubby and daughter like their stuff and do a lot of leather work, daughter has a jewellry business, they build furniture etc...so it all takes room...and they both like to sew.

We Have decided that closer to spring we will start planting our vegies in pots again and buy a dehydrater so we can start doing our own vegies again...wnated to wait till we bought but now we don't want to with the way prices are going...I will also learn how to can things. so will need to look into prices for a dehydrator etc

If you are paid the stimulus payment do they keep your taxes in lieu of that payment? a quick run down

we sent our 2019 taxes in covid hit so they weren't done till may 2021, once they were done they paid my hubby 2 stimulus payments which was $1200 (for both), when I called the irs as they hadn't done our 2020 taxes yet to let them know that we got that payment but they weren't on the taxes as we hadn't received them at that point, we were owed between $1200-3030 in taxes as a return for 2020 taxes, they said because we were paid the $1200 they couldn't pay us twice and closed the case and we still haven't received any paperwork for them...saying what has happened and I have called many times always talk to someone different and always with different answers. We didn't think that the stimulus payment would replace the taxes, so is that how they work? They still haven't processed 2021 taxes yet but just trying to get some clarity. So now we have no tax paperwork from the irs to say that our taxes were paid or that they swapped them out with the stimulus payments...so not sure how to get the paperwork from the irs, they say they have sent it but been a few months and we still have nothing.

We also can't do anything online since we live overseas, so that makes it harder....any ideas or have any info that could help us??

Payday this week and finally got around to paying the bills they are all paid except for groceries/gas, I have added an extra $200 a month to the gas bill although it has come down $2.22 pl ($7 gallon) to $1.69pl ($5.8 gallon) it can jump up over 50c a night so will keep the extra for now.

I have decided this month to put have of our "extra" money on the CC and the rest into savings...hopefully will be back on track this month financially. I have decided whether we move or not in spring I am going to start growing my own vegies again and buy another dehydrator to start drying our herbs and vegetable, we use them a lot in winter in the slow cooker and we should have enough to get through this year but food prices are expensive and getting worse, so will try and save where we can. Would eventually like to learn how to do canning in jars...but will have to research that..

Thay have just approved another booster covid shot for winter so hubby might end up getting it and the flu shot...we will probably get the flu shot but not the booster...will see what doc says. Luckily my mom didn't get real bad when she got covid..so thankful for that...she is 83 so was worried...but she tested negative today. 

The weather here is quite nice right now sunny during the day, the mornings and nights are getting cold, and we live near the ocean so we feel it...but it is autumn so expecting that...not looking forward to winter...I don't like the cold...

not much else happening it's hubbys b-day in a couple of weeks so we will just have my mom and the kids down to celebrate with pizza, I have given him $200 to spend on himself as thats what we do for b-days here now they are adults...and we will keep it low key since covid and winter are upon us again...hubby has covid & cancer treatments...its the last thing he needs.

We are voting sometime in the next month once the govt calls a date...has to be before end of may...here's hoping this govt loses and we can get rid of them...I'm also glad our elections are nothing like yours, they start maybe 8 weeks before and then we vote and it is done...

we were going to go our gold prospecting this month but have decided to wait till october hopefully will be feeling better wby then, until then we will buy paydirt and hone our skills.

Well a quarter of the year has already gone...time flies by so fast the older you get. It is payday this weekend so will do an update after we get the bills paid, we will have 2 more in the month which we usually use for groceries/gas, we have had to up our gas amount by an extra $200 a month as it is costing us so much,,,was around $7 a gallon here, slowly going down but will keep adding the extra for now. 

I hate shopping so it has been nice to be able to do a direct to boot for our groceries and it stops a lot of impulse buys from anyone who is doing the shopping, and today I found a green grocer that delivers, we get our first delivery on monday so will see what their produce is like and see if we want to continue with them..hopefully it is good food & service, and delivery is free. We do eat a lot of fruit and veg each week and the weather is cooling down here as we go into winter so will be nice to do a lot of our cooking in the slow cooker and we use so many more vegetables when we do...we have found it hard with my no energy to cook and hubby's stomach since his cancer and meds he can't stomach a lot so this should make it easier...and bonus they use all local produce which I love as well....supporting the local farmers.

I did spend money on an electric blanket since it is getting colder but we haven't bought anything else which is nice that we don't need anything...the blanket is more of a want than a need but I think that we all deserve some wants every once in awhile...

heres hoping we get some money into our accounts this month!!

Well I don't have covid but my mom just found out she has tested positive, she has me worried as she is 83 lives alone and is 6 hours away from us, she has family nearby but my neice has to be careful as she has a 1 year old and my sister and her hubby have both tested positive as well today...none of them know where they got it from...my step son went to the chemist and grocery store to get a few things for her...we will call her several times each day to check on her..she is fully vaccinated plus a booster..so hoping that is enough...fingers crossed

This year was suppose to be about me and my health, trying to get myself better...it has been anything but that!, things are finally starting to settle down with everyone and everything, so the main things were that my nephew who loved school now hates it, he is very bright but he is bored at school, they won't give him extra work or anything so he won't go...so we have an exemption for him till end of april when he plans to join the army..so we will see how that turns out. My daughter moved out of her place and I finally got the realestate agent down from $822.70 to $330, so my daughter has paid that and now is finalised. My step son I threatened them with small claims court, she knew she was in the wrong charging him over $1900 when he moved out, I did get it down to $900 but  I'm trying to get it down in the $800's...hopefully that will be settled this week.

We have changed our house around so that it works better for my hubby and daughter and their hobbies, just have 1 more room to sort out (daughters business room) and finish putting stuff away in my hubbys room which will be done this week and the house will be finished...now I can start focusing on me and my health, I have a 24 hour cortisol test (it was standing at 1004) to do and a ton of blood work which should be done this week....other than that not really going to worry about doctors anymore will try to get myself better and see how we go...after 5 years and no diagnosis I have had enough.

I have been looking at the budget and I think I can reach getting $2000 into my ice account by the end of april, we do have a few more things we need to pay in april that we normally don't but they are 1 offs and hopefully pay off around 1/3 of the CC, which should be paid off in 3 months (june). I have also decided to add extra $100 a month to the ice acct every month starting may just to start boosting it a little each month...after these are done I can start to save for a house, we are still deciding if we will move or not in october, if our daughter is pregnant we probably will but if not then we will probably stay here another year...moving is so expensive and we can't do it ourselves anymore.

I am hoping that our US taxes print outs get here soon as I would love to get that finalised once and for all.

So beginning of april everything starts new and I am determined to get back on track....wish me luck

I am starting over in april, with a new budget as we have had so many expenses lately we are pretty much broke right now, everything is paid but we don't have much extra. So the first thing we are going to work on is getting $2000 into our ice account, do people think that is a good starting point?

We will then work on paying off our CC again, then put away and not use it unless an emergency pops up, once this is paid willprobably add a small amount to the ice account each month to get it up higher, eventually want 6 months of bills/living expenses but that will take awhile.

We will then start saving to maybe move in october, or may stay here, will see...either way it will go into our savings account so we can start saving to buy a house.

I have also decided after my next procedure (it was suppose to be today but wasn't well enough) I am walking away from doctors, will see my regular doctor and in may I have an endocrine specialists to see but that is it...I am going to get healthy and well my own way...after 5 years no-one can give me a diagnosis or help in anyway when it comes to my health, so will try to figure out on my own...and it is way cheaper our money can go towards other things.

Settled my daughters end of lease today, she moved out early and they had to get new tenants, which is fine but they wanted her to pay $822...yep I wasn't having that, quoted some law to them, argued with them for a week and today settled on $330...so that saved my daughter almost $500...and yes I was in the right so would fight them on it...and it worked...still have my step sons that we are working on but that is a much harder one to do...hopefully that will be finalised soon. 

Yesterday and today have moved half the house around trying to get it working better for everyone, so have heaps to put away but that is okay, I enjoy moving things and cleaning things it feels much cleaner and I think what we have done will help everyone more with their hobbies etc.

So we had the car in to be serviced and get a couple of things fixed, it ended up costing $1150..more than we expected but it needed to be done....and the car runs a lot better.

The dog had the groomers today cost $65, it should get him through winter, he looks like a puppy when he gets groomed...we get him done about every 6-8 weeks, will be a bit longer now that it is getting cooler so he will stay warm...but he does have 2 couchs, 3 blankets and plenty of jumpers/jackets if he does get cold...and he does love the electric blanket on our bed to stay warm, our cats also have their own warming blanket to stay warm...so not worried about them being comfortable in winter...they are a bit spoilt!!

Made 3 banana breads today...had some bananas and didn't want to waste them, we don't each that much so took a couple to the neighbours, they have 3 kids and he also seems to mow and edge our front yard when he does his without even asking, it is really nice of him..they are good people, so nice to be able to give something in return.

Not much happening here, had state election here today...haven't watched the results yet...should have the federal election before end of may, hopefully we get this govt out...they are doing a horrible job, we have 5 deaths in as many days because ambos are ramped and can't get to people...its a sad situation, and they just don't care...they need to go!!

Well I have been busy trying to catch up on things around the house. 

Sold a fridge/freezer and washing maching the other day got $350 for them and used that money to add to our stockpile of groceries, in case groceries get short in supply.

Still haven't received anything from the irs, it's been 5 weeks since they said they send it and it's been 8 weeks since we sent this years taxes in so will see how long that will take to process...nothing so far.

The weather here it is cooler and raining today which is a nice break from the hot weather we have been having.

It looks like we will need to go to small claims court to help my stepson with his bond issue, which is more stress that I don't need as I will be the one doing it, I have emailed the old real estate agent and told her what we plan to do so see what she says...hopefully will help come to a better outcome then going to court.

Have a couple day procedures next week in hospital other than that going to try and have a quiet week...my body doesnt cope with stress or medications and I have to have anesthetic and it's going to be hard on my body...so fingers crossed all is going well.

We have our state elections on sat, I am hoping we can elect better people to run our state, 5 people have died this week already because of ambo ramping...it just has to stop and they need to be funded.

Went to get gas today as it was down to $1.74 per litre...but it had gone up to $2.22 per litre (for those in the US thats around $8.20 per gallon) guessing we will be only doing driving that we need to for a bit....wish politicians had to live on what the average person does because they way they do things differently

Well had a lot happening last few weeks, finally got our daughter moved and her keys handed in so hopefully they will have new tenants in there soon. That was a job to get everything moved and the place cleaned...so glad it is done.because I get 

Still working on my stepsons housing tribunal case that I need to do for him, since his stroke his brain doesn't process things properly especially when it comes to contracts etc...so he signed when he shouldn't have thinking it was something else and now has to pay over $1900, I don't think he needs to pay all of it, some yes but not all, so I am putting his case together and hopefully in a few weeks we can have that settled and done with.

It was pay week last week so got most bills paid still haven't changed our phones over but hopefully within the next week, should save us around $35pm, we do however need to get our car serviced and our handbrake done (pretty sure we need a new one) so who knows what that will cost, will find out next week when the car goes in, bonus we can use our youngest DD car as she isn't using it right now till our car gets fixed.

We have had to up our grocery and gas in our budget as food has gone up 25% here in our stores in last 6 months and gas was just at 1.99 litre (approx $7 per gallon) so have had to increase these each month so less in savings...was hoping to pay a big chunk of the cc off but that won't happen with the caretc...so will just pay it off over the next few months and get our savings boosted up again, then get it paid off.

We have our state election next week so my daughter and I went and voted early today, because I get dizzy and can't stand long they will allow it...but lots of people there to vote early...got to chat to our local candidate, so that was nice...I think our federal elections is some time before may I think, we don't have a date yet...but hopefully the govt we have now gets voted out they are hopeless and don't really know how to handle money or care about people....it;s time for a change!

well need to work on budget and housing tribunal, here's hoping the car doesn't cost to much to fix!!

I have most bills paid for this month, I am going to change my cell phone plans this weekend, it will save us $35pm, I have paid for our new car insurance, I pay for it yearly and got a refund from old company for $177 so put that into savings. Have put money into our ice acct but we do need to get our car serviced and also get a few things fixed on the car..so not sure how much that will be, will get it in and then find out, our youngest DD isn't driving right now she is working from home and is moving in with her BF so they do the shopping etc together so if we need to we can use her car. 

Speaking of our youngest DD since she is moving house (literally 1 door down) they are saving money as they can walk everything over..she has sold most of her big stuff as they don't need it and they will keep some of hers and his and get rid of the rest....and she is going to pay me and her sister to clean the house instead of a professional as she likes how we clean...did a majority today and tomorrow should be finished...although will take hours but that is okay..will be done...and the guy to clean the carpets will be there tomorrow, so then it should be done...except a few things that people have bought and will pick up sunday. So that will be some extra money in.

Not much else happening we have a bunch of scripts to pick up tomorrow as our doc calls were on the phone this week not in person, I love our doctors, my oldest DD always go together but she was quarantining since she had wait for her pcr test results..so did by fone and my doc also did some stuff for my youngest DD and my hubby, which she also informed my hubby's doc (which is one of her partners), and he called him yesterday and again today (hubby forgot to ask about his cancer shot) so he called back and it was all sorted...they go above and beyond!!

I have 2 paydays left this month so I am hoping to get our ice acct fully funded till $2000 (fully funded for now), so that is my goal....if we do and have extra I will put on the CC

So my daughter went to the US for  a month holiday and wanted to send a box home instead of carrying on the plane..but they said that all mail going to or being received from Australia is not being accepted anymore due to not having enough staff or transportation due to covid...so she had to take it on the plane with her instead...I am just hoping this is a new thing and my IRS papers have already left...it is so frustrating as I'm not sure anyone in australia even knows that they aren't accepting mail over there...either way it worked out she is on her way home and just put it in baggage...she only took 2 small backpacks over with her so she didn't have much baggage at all anyways...just frustrating not knowing if the irs mail is on its way or not and yet another delay in the 2020 tax saga!!!

I am looking forward to having my daughter back in the country especially with how things are looking around the world...we have taken her car and groceries etc over to her sisters house as that is where she will be staying when she gets back till she knows she is clear of covid...she tested negative but never know on flights and she has 3 seperate flights...so just being cautious and her sister is moving in with her BF so it all works out...and if she does get sick her sister is literally 2 doors away so can help her if she needs it....but we think she will be fine.

It is pay week this week so will do some updates when we get all that done and sorted...and still need to write up a grocery list we still try to do a majority of it once a month but they say food prices are going up again so we want to get more canned goods etc so if it does and we can't get fresh then we are covered more. 

Gas prices have soared over here it has been so dramatic and went up overnight once russia started on the  Ukraine... it went up to 1.99 per litre...which is approx $7 per gallon...so expensive, but our state pays so much we have the highest electricity in the world...a 3 month bill is $600 plus for most people...but paycheck are much smaller than other states..rents have sky rocketed...life is getting expensive....

I have been helping my step son out with his old landlord thats a big story in itself...since his stroke like episode his brain doesn't work properly...but that is another story for another day....we have some bad weather coming in this afternoon and for the next couple of days...australias weather has been bad especially with flooding this year and weird because it is summer..well autumn starting tomorrow

So I sold 5 puzzles a few days ago and made $100, we will also change our phone plans which should save us around $35pm ($420pa) and got new car insurance which should save us around $140 pa... so saving extra $560 pa which is good for us....over time going to see where else we can cut back and save