Mumof2's Personal Finance Blog

So our state has  pretty much over the last 2 years been covid free in the community except for a few minor outbreaks...but tonight we are opening up our borders...none of us are happy there are states that will be allowed to travel here now without quarantening that consistently have over 1000 new cases a day...and have for a long time..obviously they don't know what they are doing there....so with my hubby having cancer and my health we are really limiting where we go and it will only be essential services...we will do contactless deliveries of groceries etc...even our businesses are going back to the old covid ways of wearing masks during all appointments...having to be vaccinated etc...can only imagie how many cases we will get here between now and new years...no-one will be allowed to visit at christmas unless double vaxxed and they have to sanitize hands etc when they come over....hate that we have to live this way...I know not many understand that since covid in the US has been such a big issue for so long but the govt we have has cut so much funding to our health services that they can't cope now...let alone with a bunch of covid cases....a lot of people are waiting up to 4 hours for an ambulance...and now many doc/nurses are quitting or being let go because they aren't vaccinated...so less workers as well...its just a wrong move...and we will also be opening up to international travellers as well...Australia will soon be like the rest of the world...covered in covid and not being able to cope....but I guess its a way for the govts to get rid of the elderly and people with health issues!!

Not a happy camper...but already preparing for the worst and hoping for the best...bad thing is with summer holidays and christmas...so many people will be travelling!!

As I sit here and look at the budget for december I am reminded that come Jan 1st it is tax time again (in the US anyways) and the crap starts all over again...yes I know I shouldn't call it that, but we are still waiting for them to do this years amended taxes....so its just a major headache as we can't do them online...and when we call they have no info and ask us to send them again...which we have decided ehen we send them they have to sign for them now so I know that they get them....that is a lot of personal information if they aren't getting them and we wouldn't know if people are using our info as we don't live over there....so we hope that isn't happening...I am just hoping this year the taxes will be done and dusted early and we don't have to worry about them.....and getting the refund that is owed to us would be nice to get as well.....rant over

Not all financial but I have decided to change how I do things and take the pressure of myself...I ended up in the ER twice last week and still no answers...they also think that my cortisol levels are not the issue...so we are still completely clueless to what is going on with me...they sent me to another clinic who will send some suggestions to my regular doc to have some more tests done...I have taken myself off all my natural meds and just seeing how I go...I am trying to walk everyday although our spring weather has almost been non existant...and I have to have someone go with me due to my dizziness...but we are struggling through. I see my integrated doctor early december and my hubby sees his urologist in dec to see how his cancer is going....so lets hope we get some good news and no more bad news...Our state borders open up this week and it worries me as we don't have covid in our community and haven't for months and the states that we are opening to are having 1200 plus new cases a day...and I know if my hubby or I get covid with our health we will most likely die!!....so we will be changing how we do things and will be doing mostly click and collect or deliveries of everything to limit our exposure.

I have redone our budget and instead of freaking out of what we don't have in our accounts I am putting some in each account each month and I will have to be happy with that...we will get where we need to be eventually and I have to be okay with that..and I think I will be...just have to be smart how we do things now. On the upside I have 2 more gift cards to buy for christmas which I will do today and then we are done...will only need to get christmas food which is in the budget..next year I have a monthly amount we will put into savings each month as we buy gifts all year on sale...my great nephew got his learners today so has asked my hubby and daughter to teach him how to drive over the next year (yes they have to have them a year) so that may add to the budget a bit but if we aren't going as many places then it might not...time will tell...he has a part time job so is saving for a car of his own..other than that we are trying to sort out all the stuff we have and get the house/shed/storage sorted a bit...it will take some time as we haven't been well.

So I know many on here are pretty well off and congrats to you and others are doing okay and others live paycheck to paycheck, we do okay we are pretty good at never having much debt except the CC that we use every one in awhile...but I do pressure myself to put more money into savings..more money into my ice account etc...then I fall off the wagon and then have to restart...it is frustrating me...I know i do it when I am having a bad day/week...and if I put money into one area and not another then I get frustrated that I don't put it into those other accounts....it's just how my brain works right now...

Our bills are always paid on time (usually early) and we always have plenty off food but I think because of my illness the last 8 long years, that it has put us so far behind where we want to be that my frustration stems from that...now that they think we have figured out what is wrong with me it is going to take another 1-2 years to hopfully get back on track and maybe get well enough to go back to work (hopefully)...so I have decided to take the pressure of myself and every payday put money into each account and just be happy where we are at that time and that we will get where we are suppose to be in life eventually and just focus on my health and happiness.

So now I am going to go rejig my budget for the next couple of years and just take things as they come up and just focus financially on saving in all areas and see how it will work out...wish me luck...hopefully the pressure feeling will disappear and I can relax when it comes to finances again. 

Well we finally gave in and went to costco...not a place we would go often but did get some new things to try and some good deals...we only have 1 costco in our state and it's about a 50 min drive from us...so haven't really wanted to go...so we spent a bit more of our grocery money but we will take it out of the rest of the months budget...but interested in trying some new things...

We are moving stuff from one storage unit to another today....but it got to hot and my illness doesn't like the heat so will go over around 5pm and work for another couple of hours....tomorrow is out as we have rain...so what we don't get done with hopefully finish thur/friday  and can hand back....we have done about half of it....then once done we will work on the stuff here that needs storage...then hopefully will be done till we buy a house...

I decided to do the 52 week challenge even though I didn't really have anything to save for...so have decided to do it for things we want to do for the house that we buy like painting...new floors etc...obviously will figure out when we buy it but it give me a goal to work on

As usual things in life are always changing....so we have decided instead of moving in a year we will stay here 2 years (if we can) until we can afford to buy..so we are saying 2 years unless things change dramatically...so with that we have made some changes and we have leased a bigger storage shed (yes we have lots of stuff...mainly hubbys tools) and will make some changes in how we use this house so it will fit us better for a couple of years...especially if our DD gets pregnant....although I don't really like this house it would have been a waste of money to move in a year then again the following year...so will rejig the budget and go from there.

We had halloween here this year we decorated, it looked pretty awesome considering we decided 3 days beforehand to do it....its not real big here in aust and some years we have sometimes only gotten 3-5 people...but last night we had around 200 kids come to the door...we ran out of candy but lucky we keep a good staff of munchies that we take in the car if we know we will be out for awhile and that our daughter takes hiking so we used those....the 2 neighbours both ran out they couldn't believe how many more there were this year...but it was fun and will plan better for next year

The weather here has been weird, had really nice spring day, then a major hail storm (destroyed so many cars), then back to nice coule of days and then we are back to rain in a few days....we have had weird weather all year...

I am going to start my spring cleaning again...we will be moving a lot of stuff in the next 6 weeks to the new storage and then will need to get our christmas stuff done....and before we know it 2022 will be here....have ordered my last x-mas present and then I am done

I love to budget..but the last couple of years have been so unpredictable for us that a budget has been hard to stick to...my health has cost us thousands in specialists and treatments...my hubby's cancer the first time cost us a few thousand...not so much this time as only treating with injections at the moment...and then moving house, couch surfing, helping our youngest daughter out, moving my mom...plus our oldest trying to have a baby (we will probably help her out as well. 

So with all the happening our budget wasn't working..bills were paid (never late), but everything we were saving for a house just went to these other things,,,so I am hoping that everything is getting sorted and slowing down and we can start saving our house deposit (which is super expensive and hard here) so I have done not only 2022 budget but also 2023 budget...our income rarely changes and if it does then it is more not less so it is easy to figure out...it looks like we will have to save around $50,000 for a deposit (yep that is only 3 %) so will take around 2 more years not one...so that is the plan for now...does everyone here use a budget and how far in advance do you do it? 

Woke up to find out that petrol (gas) prices have started going up to $1.85 per litre, with no idea of when it will be going down..highest it has been in a really long time...for those of you that is 1 gallon for you which equals approx 3.7 litres..which wouldbe $6.85 per gallon (aus)...which would be around $5.11 per gallon...guess we won't be going many places anymore....I am guessing with the price of that going up then food will rise as well since trucks will cost more to transport food etc...

So my step son suffers (like my hubby) from hemiplegic migraines...although they get different ones..my step sons affect his brain..he has trouble doing things, remembering things etc so in june they ordered an EEg on his brain..he had the doc yesterday and I ased him about what he said about his eeg not being done yet...he said he said nothing...so I thought I have had enough it doesn't take that long to get one done (usually a month to 6 weeks at most)..so I call the hospital to find out if they have his referral, they don't but they give me their direct fax number, I call the doctors clinic we all go to...and they arent sure what is going on they thought he went to the hospital to have it done...so basically nothing has been done...so I ask them to fax letter to the hospital so we can set up an appoitment...an hour later I call the hospital they have it and have set him an appt mid november...although they have him on the waiting list if one comes available...so finally we can get it done and see what is happening and get him the help he needs as he can't be treated till it is done...I know I probably should have done it earlier but with our own health issues, moving my mom etc I just think of it...so next month hopefully we can get some answers and start getting him more help...but it just goes to show you that you need to follow up on things when it comes to your health...yes there was miscommunicatin between all 3 parties but I still feel the patient is the one that is responsible to make sure things are being done....who knows how long he would have waited if we hadn't stepped in...only took an hour to get sorted...so remember to fight to get things done in a timely manner

Christmas shopping is done and paid for, still waiting for a couple to come in as I have just ordered them, the rest are wrapped and in the cupboard...feels good that I am almost done, will only have food to do at christmas time...ordered early thinking it would take a while to get things in from overseas but it really hasn't taken that long...so that has been good. 

The weather here has been getting a little nicer here the last couple of days so hubby and I have been taking short walks, his legs have been bad since his cancer treatment was just starting to get them a little better and he has to go through treatment again so hopefully we can work on them and they won't get as bad..and the dog is loving being able to walk most days.

My daughter finally has a donor that she can use, they have changed the rules here which are tough, and with her genetic testing, she only has I donor she can use...they can't even use the ones they can use in Seattle as they say they can't test them for everything they test here...so she couldn't use them either...so hopefully she likes the profile but probably won't start or anything till december...so she is excited.

I find using cash for our groceries we don't seem to spend as much so that is good, I found using the card we seem to spend a lot more..and we have been doing well with the menu planning and it will be great with the nicer weather to be able to start having  bbqs and salads...I love summer...and the fruit is so much better...

my neuro thinks I may have vestibular migraines, so he is going to send my doc a letter and discuss options with her to discuss with me, she knows I hate meds that are not organic, so we will see I do take them if I have no other options...but I do limit what chemicals go into my body as much as I can.

I have ordered some aboriginal teas that are suppose to help with health, sleeping, anxiety etc..so will see if they work, hopefully they will but I don't like tea or coffee, cant have dairy so hopefully they taste okay and settle in my system without making me to nauseated.

My hubby is doing better sleeping more but not enough so hopefully the tea will work on him as well. My DD has an appt with the head specialist at the clinic to start another plan with her, she has to pick a new donor due to the new laws that have come in, so hopefully next month she will start the process again.

Our daughters dog that lives with us had to go to the vet, he was vomiting foam yesterday and not eating..cooked him up some chicken last night and he finally ate it around midnite and the vet said he is okay just has an upset tummy for some reason, just keep him on bland diet...so need to go buy him somemore chicken breast...he is a very fussy eater.

doing much better with the budget now we have gone back to cash...a couple of times we have fogotten to take the cash so have had to use the card...so I just keep track and will take out less today (its payday), but we are getting use to it again...using your card its just to hard to keep track.

Things are starting to slow down finally....my mom is finally settling in and doing well.

Hubby is doing so much better with his eating and sleeping, not 100% but not as bad as it was, so that is good he is able to do more than he could a couple weeks ago. Me on the other hand just can't stand to eat or drink the last few days can't even take some of my meds.so trying to figure that out I swear its 2 steps forward  and 10 steps back...but I will get there.

Financially we have paid off the CC again...and menu planning as been going good but we have decided to go back to cash rather than using the card its just easier to keep track of for groceries and gas...all bills are paid and we should be able to save some this month...

I have cut back on my doctors some I don't think some are helping me so going to cut them back and try some other things...oh well brain fog is pretty bad right now, I have just finished up my moms new budget and sent it to her...one more thing of my list..now to go and relax...I can't wait till we have some warmer weather so we can get down to the beach, which is at the end of our road...we are half way through spring and yet it has still be so cold..I really want some warm weather...just so we can get back to nature I miss walks on the beach, in nature etc.

Hope everyone has a great week

The last few weeks have been quite busy...everytime my doctors tell me to take it easier life just seems to get faster...

Hubby is back on hormone treatment and also had tablets to take as well, he got sick on the tablets, couldn't eat, couldn't sleep etc...so I took him off of them, we took him to the hospital to see if they could do something about the nausea and no sleeping and they just wouldn't see him as they didn't want to deal with a cancer patient so since he got sick of being there for over 4 hours with everyone else going in and out he told them he was going home where he was around so many people, cause he didn't want to get sick and it was a long weekend...sat he had to have his 2nd covid shot (his are 3 months apart) and we spoke to that doc abut the symptoms..at this point I had taken him off the tablets...it wasn't his regular doc so he got his doc to call him, and he also contacted his urologist to see if that was okay...then yesterday his cancer nurse called him and said it was okay to stay off the tablets for now and they will monitor him...he is eating and sleeing better now.

My daughter has done 2 IUI and neither of them have taken...so with the new laws here now she has to change her donor so she will choose another one within the next week and then see the specialist and write up another plan...it is getting expensive but worth it when it works...and it will work...she will get the baby that is suppose to be hers...so fingers crossed...it's actually very interesting to go through this process with her....I am learning a lot and meeting some great people and also seeing my daughter go through all the emotions of the process and amazed at how well she is handling it all.

I am suppose to be taking it easy and relaxing to get my cortisol levels down but that hasn't been happening at all with my hubby and his cancer stuff going on and not sleeping which meant I wasn't sleeping...going to my daughters appointments with her and then we had to move my mom to another town that is cheaper for her to live,,,so I had to find a house to rent, get everything connected, pay for it (that damaged our budget a bit) then get the house she was in cleaned up and still need to finish up the last little bits for that house I just haven't had time to sit an relax...but thats okay...my family comes first and they do the same for me...when my body started going into meltdown mode my daughter took over what I was doing to help out...she is great like that...and my mom is around plenty of family down there so I know she will be fine..she is living literally 6 houses away from my niece who is checking on her everyday...so I know I don't really have to worry about her...plenty of family to help her out if she needs it...not that she does she is 83 in december and does everything herself except her banking I do all her banking and pay all her bills online for her so she doesn't have to worry about it...no I don't control her money I just make sure everything is paid as it easier for her...

after all that we have still managed to save some money this month...so still working on that.

Well has been quite a crappy day, I woke up with vertigo, mixed with my dizziness it is the worst feeling ever and I am glad it is started to subside...it makes me so sick....on top of that hubby had an appointment with his urologist to get his psa results and they came back that his cancer is back...his only treatment right now is hormone treatment, I'm just hoping that it works...we still have to see the docs and set up a plan to who is monitoring what but it was a pretty crappy day....but on a good note my daughter will be inseminated again this week, so fingers crossed it sticks this time

financially I have pretty much finished my christmas shopping have 2 left to do but will do nearer to xmas...and I bought my DD a dryer as I got sick of her bringing her washing here to dry...we have had such wet weather this year...so bought her one and she said it can be her christmas present as it was quite expensive...

I am still trying to work on getting my health back to where it should be and hoping that what we are doing will help and my numbers will start getting back to a normal level and I can start living a normal life and can take care of my hubby if he needs it...my daughter can't do it all especially if she is going to have a baby

Well time to work on the budget...things might be changing...only time will tell...

Well I see many doctors for various reasons but today was a an eye opener...I went to see an intergrated doctor (which I have seen before) and my tests results have come back so I have a fatty liver (knew that), my cholestrol is high (7.5), my vitamin went from 39 to 63 but hes trying to get it above 100 so still working on that....and I found ou my cortisol levels are out of control they are 1003 which is way over what they should be (here around 550) so now have to try and fix that..have to have some tests done to see if there is an underlying issue that neds to be worked on...so hopefully we can start to figure it out...it makes a lot of sense with a lot of things

Financially it is pay week...still have to do the bills etc...but didn't even come close to our savings goal last month so will work on that this month...and some disappointing news my daughter ended up with a chemical pregnancy so will have to try again 

Well I have ordered many of my christmas presents...some are things I have been wanting to do for a couple of years just haven't been well enough to get done..but I have used the CC so will have to pay that off again...but thats ok...my hubby is so worth it....savings is way down as we have had so many specialists to see that our mrdical acct was cleared out as was a majority of our savings...but we will get back on track in next couple of months..fingers crossed looks like buying a house maybe pushed for another year...see what happens...

Well as of yesterday I am fully vaccinated, only hubby left to finish up..luckily I didn't really have any side effects from it just a sore spot on my arm...so that was a relief.

This week has been busy with appointments it seems that's all our lives are lately...well I have 2 appts tomorrow and one thursday...on tomorrow is a zoom appointment..first time doing one of those..so should be interesting but hopefully will be able to get some good helpful advice...and start on the road to recovery.

financially we haven't really been spending money other than groceries...and i think we have spent more than we usually do but wanted to restock the cupboards and freezer a bit so that is fine. all bills are paid for the month so all good there and tomorrows paycheck will just go into our house acct, in saying that with buying a few things we NEEDED we won't reach my goal of $5000 by end of month but thats ok we will make it up over the next few months somehow.

BIG NEWS!!!

Ok well is for us...my daughter started her fertility journey this week...they told her that she would need blood tests and probably be inseminated friday/sat..and they called her today and she was inseminated...so we are so happy for her...hopefully it takes and she becomes pregnant and everything goes well...in case anyone wants to know she doesn't have fertility issues she wants children and just hasn't found a partner she wants to be with so decided to do it on her own...so we are really happy for her.

Saturday I get my second pfizer shot...so will fully vaccinated..only have my hubby that needs his 2nd one now but thats not till october...I'm just hoping for less side effects this time...but will be nice to have some protection...and on good news people aged 16-39 can now get vaccinated starting yesterday (monday) so hopefully our vaccinated numbers will grow in the next month around australia...although NSW is kinda like the US in the numbers are rising and deaths are growing...they have had average of 400plus new cases in last few days and I think around 23 deaths...which I know doesn't sound like much if you live in the US but to us that is a lot..our whole state has 1.771 million people and since covid started in 2019 we have had 868 cases and only 4 deaths...which I think is good and most of those cases were in march-may 2019...so I'm hoping that we don't get a surge in our state until we can get more of the over 60's their 2nd dose of AZ...which they hate but don't have a choice to get...rant over

So saw my doc today...I see her every month usually..she has set me up for some scans, to see another shrink again (at my request due to anxiety issues that I think I need assistance with), although I can't get in to see her till feb 2022, she gave me some meds so I can be well enough for my endoscopy later in the month...and she is happy about progress with othr issues that have been going on...and when we went to get scripts we found out we are now on free scripts for the rest of the year...so that is a bit of a savings each month.

Not much else going on just filling up our calendar with appointments and wishing the weather would warm up...so over this cold wet windy weather. 

Well we had to buy a lawn mower yesterday...the grass is growing so fast and ours broke and I didn't want to keep borrowing one so we decided to buy one...so more money out of our house account...hubby also needs to update his hearing aids, he has a lot of damage done to them from his radiation treatment they think...so not sure what that will cost us...so probably won't hit my target goal of $5000 this month but that is ok..somethings are more important. 

Our daughter has started her fertility process and she is super excited...she has been saving for a long time...so hopefully everything works out for her....

Other than that not much else happening here been pretty cold and wet here to do much also not trying to go out to much (except appts) until we are all immunised....and hopefully that will be soon and we can enjoy the beach and outdoors more...and some good weather

Well my daughter had her 2nd vaccine so she is fully vaccinated against covid (as well as you can be) and is now starting her fertility adventure...she is so excited...she put it off so she could get vaccinated...just in case...but she is good to go now!!

I should be fully vaccinated on the 21st I get my last shot...hopefully I do better with this one than the last one after 12 hrs ended up in hospital with uncontrollable shaking and complete body pain...I could barely move but still couldn't sit still as I hurt so bad...so I am hoping this next one is fine.

Hubby since he had to get the AZ one won't be fully vaccinated till 2 oct as they have to have 12 weeks between them...I hate that one and I'm pretty sure thats what brought on his shingles.

Other than that not doing much hardly going out only to appointments which all had to be rescheduled due to the lock down so slowly getting them done.

I think I have finally figured out a lot of what is wrong with me so this week when I go to the docs can have a good chat to her and hopefully figure a plan of attack.

Stay safe everyone 

Well I have paid the bills for the month already we will keep some extra as we did a monthly shop a week ago that should get us through the month other than milk/bread and fresh fruit/vege...its a new thing we are trying to limit our exposure to the outside world as much as we can.

In our big order we got free delivery but it also came with extra, 2 buches of kale...but you can't return it so made my daughter some kale chips that she loves..so they were free. Our lemon tree is full of fruit so this weekend will robably pick a bunch and squueze and freeze ready for summer as I put it in hubbys ice tea...and that makes lemon juice free as well.

Had my first pfizer shot on sat...didn't go to well was fine for about 12 hrs then I had uncontrollable shaking and all over body pain...so ended up in the er... wasn't there to long around 5 hrs total...they got it all settled down, so hopefully the next one won't be to bad...it was weird I didn't even get a sore arm....that is 3 weeks away...my daughter gets her 2nd one thursday so hopefully she does ok...they say most people get more of a reaction with the 2nd one...I have to say it was such a fast  efficient service that they run...very quick and professional and cater to everyone...it is a big building...and with so much noise (lots of kids around), the lighting my head when into melt down with all the stimulation, they saw that I was stressed so took me back to another area that had a bed and was quieter and I just had my shot there....they did a great job

my goal this month is to save as much towards our house deposit as possible...I am hoping to have $5000 saved by the end of month!!

So we have just come out of a week lockdown in our state....but since the delta strain has been in the community and we haven't been vaccinated I am doing things a little differently...so we sat down and wrote out a monthly menu of what we all wanted and what we needed for the meals...and I ordered it online and got it delivered (free delivery as it was over $300) and then we put our meat order in and did a couple of errands in the shopping centre and then went and picked it up...so when we need to go to the store it will be quik trips for fresh produce (we usually go to the markets) and milk/bread thats about it...so less time in the community with people until we get vaccinated, my daughter will be fully vaccinated next week, hubby has had his first shot but they have to wait 10 weeks before the next shot and I have my first one on sat and by end of aug I will be fully vaccinated...

I have also started my christmas shopping, the last couple of years I have wanted to do 3 things for my hubby and I just run out of time and energy to get them done so I am starting early so i can get them done, it will make kind of an expensive christmas but things he will cherish for years...and he is so worth it...

So I am hoping with changing a few things that it will work a little better in the long run

I know it's not the end of july yet but all our bills are paid and we don't get paid again so can finish up julys budget...so I wanted to save at least $2500 a month towards a home deposit and we did that this month, we also used the CC and paid that off in full (so debt free again)...my goal is to save around $50,000 in next 16 months (including this month) to buy a house...it's a hard ask and probably won't make it but something to work towards...if a goal is to easy to reach then I don't work as hard...it's just how my brain works...so working towards that goal.

Finally got a hold of the IRS in regards to our refund as we paid so much and got like $67 back...it didn't make sense...we had someone help us do it online..someone we have never used and won't again...so after 1.5 hours on the phone we figured out the 2 main problems...they put about the stimulus payments the first 2 we never got...but they actually left off the  federal tax that we paid...so thats why we were getting so much less...so now I have to do an amendment which I will mail in...any extra money we get will probably go to the house account...so lets hope this is the last time we have to deal with this...it took 2 years to get 2019 done, and now 2020 has just been done and needs to be amended...lets hope next years goes much smoother because we will be doing them ourselves

On a positive note hubby is doing much better, and on sat we are having a cake for our daughters birthday...she is also excited to get her 2nd dose of vaccine next week so then she can try for a baby she wanted to do this month but didn't want to risk with the vaccine...which we understand...so here is to us getting vaccinated and hopefully some warmer weather...this cold wet windy weather has been horrible...it has seriously been raining everyday..about every 5-6 days we will get  a non rain day...so we are a little over it...had the coldest day last week since 1989...and I hate the cold

Ok time to go look at next months budget and see where I can save more money

Well we have been in lockdown since tuesday so nothing much to write about as we have't gone anywhere or eally done anything...hubby has shingles and its on his head and face it was quite painful and it looks horrible but I got him to use cbd oil on it and he is feeling much better...funny her went to the hospital, they didn't diagnose it..then to the doc still no diagnoses finally the 3rd doc diagnosed him..and put him on meds...although he is healing it looks horrible...but most of the pain is gone...our groceries are being delivered today so that will be good...

The weather here has been shocking its been cold, wet and windy...I can't wait till spring...on a better note I will be able to have my first pfizer shot on the 31st...then 3 weeks later then will be immunised...can't wait till we all have some coverage from covid

So as of 6pm tonight our state is in a 7 day lockdown....we have 5 cases of the new delta strain in the community so we go into complete lockdown except for essential services and shopping, getting covid tested...all school closed and most people will work from home...fun times...NOT!!, lets hope we get on top of it and if everyone is using the QR codes then it should make it easier to contain...and then hopefully in a week we can open back up.

What is hard is that not many are vaccinated..only like 10% of the population is fully vaccinated...I have been waiting for 3 weeks for mine and can't get in till the 31st..my oldest and hubby have both had their first dose of vaccine...so we will be staying home...we have enough groceries and today I ordered my moms groceries to be delivered so she didn't have to go out...but if you are under 40 years old (and don't have a medical condition) you can't be vaccinated yet...so we have a ways to go

So our US taxes have finally been processed...we were suppose to get around $1800, but we ended up getting $67, not sure why, I tried to call the irs to find out why but the guy I spoke to said basically they were charging us for one of the stimulus payments that we didn't get...but that doesn't make sense and it wouldn't be $1800 they haven't made payments that high....so going to try and call them this week again and see if I can find out more as not sure how long it will take to come through the mail as to why they have changed the amount....just wish it would be over and done with...it is so frustrating...and whats worse is we can't do it online...and they always send us checks and I complained as they have our bank details so our $67 went into our account so I know it can happen...so hopefully this week we will have it sorted...has anyone else has hassles like this?? or have taxes changed so much over there?

So been a busy week...hubby got his first covid vaccine on saturday...we didn't like that one as it can cause blood clots but its the only one that he can get...he gets the next one in 10 weeks...so far he has only been really tired from it but you can get symptoms after a month...so we will keep an eye on him and hope for the best...my daughter and I can get the pfizer one, she had her first shot today and her next one in 3 weeks...I get mine on the 31st then 3 weeks later...so hopefully in the next few months we will be vaccinated completly...they say we might get a booster shot in 6-12 months....although I did find out from the doctor but unless you have a medical condition or work in aged care/disability or with vulnerable people...(also evryone who works in the medical/police or firemanetc) you can't get vaccinated if you under 40 yet...due to not having enough vaccine...and we have had a few outbreaks in the several states...so hopefully they get it rectified soon.

had a house inspecion today we passed with flying colors and told him about a few things that we would like fixed but doesn't need to be fixed...so glad he came early have a big storm coming through today and tomorrow...one thing we have trouble here is we have a large washing machine so we can wash blankets etc...but this laundry room it has a big overhead cabinet so it is impossible to use and walk around it etc...so we decided to sell it and get a front loader...it gets delivered tomorrow...I hate front loaders but it's whats better for us now and in the future...so was an added expense we didn't expect but that is ok.

We are sticking to the budget and saving each pay as well...and with the crappy weather we aren't going anywhere so not spending any money either...so feeling good about the budget and our finances 

I can't be left alone due to my dizziness and our daughter went hiking today so just me and hubby...he needed to go do some banking which we need to go to a bank to do...but couldn't as I'm not having a great day to be going out etc...and it was nice to say don't worry about it it doesn't need to be done it can wait till tomorrow....I know people on here have quite a bit of money and some live pay check to paycheck...but it is nice to not have to worry about having to go out and do it now...a few years ago that wouldn't have been possible...we already have our bills paid for the month except groceries and gas...so it is a great feeling and probably not one tht many people worry about or think about but one that I am happy to be apart of!! 

We are going to splurge on ourselves and buy a treadmill...all 3 of us will use it...I think it is something that will get a lot of use...I know they can be expensive but we just need a basic one we don't need one with all the bells and whistles...a couple of reasons why we need it...since my hubby cancer treatment he lost a lot of muscle and can't walk far so it will be easy for him to walk for a little bit then rest then do more if he wants to...he is real shaky on his feet at times so be easier to get some walking in with us around...again with my dizziness it is hard for me to walk any kind of distance...i have trouble walking more than 10 mins and I am someone who use to walk around 10 plus miles a day..I loved walking....still do I just can't do it and I am gaining weight as I can't do much exercise...so this way I can do more walking and if I feel dizzy then can just get off and lay down and they can keep an eye on me without stressing cause I am dizzy and out walking with them as I can go downhill fast....also our daughter who has chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and bipolar as well as a couple other things like to do charity walks so it will help her get more in shape as well....on top of that this winter so far has been cold wet and windy and hard to go anywhere...so this weekend we will do some research and hopefully order one that won't use all our savings...