Mumof2's Personal Finance Blog

So we still don't have a house but looked at 3 yesterday and 1 today...we are offering more money than they are worth...but need a roof over our heads.....we looked at one today it was big enough but it had so many issues...its not clean, can't use the shed and they have dropped the price to $500pw and it so isn't worth it...we decided no..just don't feel good walking around the house...so will let that one go...the other 3 we are still waiting to hear back on. 

On top of that in this house where the landlord doesn't like us we had to call as the front hose tap broke and was flooding so had to turn water off over night and they finally got here 23 hrs later and fixed it...and of course it was over 100 today and we needed water to turn the aircon on...but all fixed now but don't think she will extend us again if we ask.

Ok just got a phone call make that 2 houses we are waiting to hear back on just got rejected for another one but were in the top 4...oh well back to looking 1 more week and we will start to make other plans!!

Had 3 more houses to look at today and 1 tomorrow...so far only rejections...it is getting hard...lucky we were able to get a 2 week extension or we would have to be out of here in 4 days...so tonight we are going to have a discussion on what we will do should we not get a house in the next couple weeks...cause we need a plan!!

Is it hard in the US to get a house...so many people coming back to australia and not enough housing..I have spoken to the housing minister of australia and I stated that if they were going to make it where they were going to bring so many people back then they need to make sure there is enough housing available for everyone...today it was on the news that it was 1 thing they didn't consider when bringing people back home...I am hoping they will figure something out...and soon!! 

I use to have a good stockpile of groceries etc in the freezer and pantry...but we have used a lot of it up so we didn't have to move it...I miss my stockpile...but have decided not to restock other than a few things that we use all the time until we buy in a year or so..then I will start it again....I am finding this hard but know it will happen again...I guess that when you have a chronic illness you ike to have things on hand for when you are not well and can't leave the house etc...or when you have a lot of medical bills you don't have to choose medicine or food etc...but I know we are in much better shape then we are but it also helped greatly through the pandemic so we will see how we go...see if I can do it....do others feel this way?? 

My hubby and I don't celebrate valentines day...I don't believe in it...we do things for each other all the time all year...so don't need a special day along with everyone else...but my hubby has always bought our girls a single rose for valentines day each year since they were born...they are now 27 & 29 and still look forward to them...they remind me each year to make sure he gets them..I think they would be greatly disappointed if he did...but it is something special he has always done with them and I love it...so does anyone else celebrate valentines day with each other or their kids...have a great weekend

We I am over packing, looking for houses etc...so having a day off and just chilling. We have been doing ok with trying to use up the freezer stuff but we have had takeaway more than usual...we just don't have the energy at the end of the day...but we will get there...my daughter and I had our usual friday night movie night at home..that was nice...so going to relax today and get back to it tomorrow...no house yet...but our landlord said we could have another 2 weeks to move with conditions. The conditions we can live with...but it gives us a little more time...have a good feeling about this week...only real expenses this week are boxes and tape and a few groceries...trying to keep them to a minimum till we move.

Well as many of you know we have been looking for a rental for the last 7 weeks...looking at the advertisements, some of the exemptions for tenants is just ridiculous, some of these are

can't use the sheds on the property

can't use the jets in the bath

can't use the alarm on the house

can't use the speakers in the house (wired in)

can only use half of the shed

can't use the deck outside

these are just a few we have seen this week...they are not for tenant use...so do you guys have that in the US or do they rent out the entire property?? I have never seen this before now (since the pandemic started) so don't know why it is like that now...just curious if this happens in aust or other countries as well

Well we will be moving in the next 10 days not sure where yet but if we don't have a house then it will be to put our stuff into storage...we will pack up the house but we will use movers to pack/unoack our stuff, we have friends that will help us do the outdoor stuff,  and we will transport our tvs/computers etc in the cars with us...I am hoping to do the cleaning and yard work myself have been trying to start it now to get a head start on it so less to do later...next couple of days will mow the yards and start raking again, we had major rain and winds which setroyed all our hard work so have to do it again...so hopefully won't cost more than $2000 for our moving expenses...wish we were healthier to do it ourselves but we aren't so have to have others to do it....we will have stuff to pack so and some to take to storage as well (yes we already have 1 storage container)...but by the weekend hopefully will have a lot done, we still have a few houses to look at as well as well as appointments...so it has been hard to deal with mentally with my illness but trying to keep on top of it so I don't end up in hospital...going to stay positive and fingers crossed things work out!!

So it's only tuesday and we have already had 4 house rejections this week and have a couple more to look at this week...we are down to 10 days before we have to have to be out of here, so if we don't get a house it looks like we would have to put things into storage and see if we can get a furnished rental until we get a house...it is so frustrating...have written to our local councilwoman and asked them what is the govt going to do about the housing situation in SA...if they are going to allow all these people back into our country they have to make sure there is housing for them....buying a house is the same...they tack on $20,000 plus fees on top of the deposit which makes it hard for people to save to buy a house...it is so hard over here...sounds weird but I wish our rules were a bit more lax like the US has...would make life much easier for us!!

The weather here we had rain and wind for 4 days so basically all the yard work I had done now has to be redone and I don't really have the time or energy for that...packing and stresing about a house is doing a number on me and my illness....so hopefully it will settle soon and we can get settled and start my health journey again...but so far so good no hospital visits..fingers crossed it stays that way

Today was payday for us...here I was thinking that we were behind in savings...which we were...but I have paid all bills for the month, except groceries/gas...and have been able to add $650 to savings this pay...so we now more in savings than I thought we would have for the month...and still 1 more payday later in the month..so feeling good about that. I do know we will use some of it to move but not all of it, we haven't touched our ice acct..that is gaining a little as our roundup goes into that account..we have no debt...and our rent money for this month will just sit in the bank (I put it away at beginning of month) until we get another house....so it is all looking pretty good for now...hope it stays this way for the rest of the year.

Did have another unexpected medical bill for $60 that I will have to pay...but it is important so will have it done...these new docs are expensive so I hope I get some answers....

On a positive note my daughter should find out later this month when she can get pregnant...she is super excited!!

Okay so anyone have winning lotto numbers I need one so I can have a deposit for a house...i think it's the only way we will be able to live anywhere!!

So more rejections today on the rental front...we have been looking even 30 mins out of the city...can go any further due to to many doctors appts that we go to each week between the 3 of us....not sure what is happening or why we keep getting rejected as we are great tenants, never been late with a payment...take great care of the home...so we are just baffled!!

Well if nothing else we will put everything into storage and find somewhere to live with our pets till we get a house....so frustrated right now

The rental market is bad right now...so bad...we have applied for over 30 houses and have either been rejected or not heard back from them...the reasons being is that we have had so many people return from overseas (and continue to weekly) since covid got bad, people who have morg and have lost their jobs, will go and rent a house and then rent out their houses so others can pay their morg and they get help with rent (this annoys me to no end) people who got hurt or frustrated by the pandemic are selling up their houses...but no-one can afford to buy...they have raised rents...most houses we have looked at are at least $500pw...and yet we still can't get anything....so frustrating...but going to remain positive...we will find something then we will save and buy our own place in 12-24 months...then no more moving ever!!!

Other than that things are going along smoothly...still have lots to pack...running out of places for boxes...am going to start cleaning what I can (as in the house walls etc) and try to keep myself busy....my daughter has hardly packed...she has a hard time with it...gets to stressed...so will help her get it done and then she can just do all her papers and hopefully by then we will have a house and can move.

Only have groceries and gas to pay for this month, so the first lot will be taken out on thursday, we haven't been doing a lot of shopping only bread/milk and fresh fruit/vegies as we have been trying to keep things to a minimum and use up the freezer stuff...so have been saving money there but still keep it so when we do move we can menu plan and also do a bit of a shop to get a feww things back in stock that we use.

The weather here has been weird..had a few days that were over 100 and someone started a bushfire...but the next day it rained so that helped contain it and stop it spreading so fast as everything was wet...but it has been nice wether ever since...like spring weather...which is weird this time of year...not that I am complaining...but just wondering if it means we will have a cold winter....whats nice is that we have hardly used our ac this summer...so saving on our elec bill

Pay week this week and we are behind in our savings from where I wanted to be...but that is okay...all bills for the month will be paid today...except groceries and gas...our rent is paid up till the 20th when we are suppose to move out by...not sure what will happen as we have nowhere to go yet....so the money we would normally pay in rent this month will just sit in the bank for the next house....the savings we do have will go towards the move and then I can get serious again about saving/menu planning...im hoping that we can save enough for a deposit in the next 12 months...going to be hard but you have so many fees involved thats the hard bit...will need a minimum $40,000 we are thinking....wish us luck...probably won't make it to that amount but its a goal to work towards.

well back to looking at houses

Watching the news today and it said the EU was basically not allowing the covid vaccine to be delivered to australia...considering we have already paid over 123 million dollars and have received nothing it gets a bit frustrating...so I say until they do the other countries can take care of our patriots until we can get it and it is safe for people to return....it is frustrating we do everything right...but if people pay for something then they had better deliver...or return the money and we will go elsewhere....we have no community cases in australia which is great...but we have fought hard to be this way unlike the US where people just travel...walk around like it is nothing...continuing to party etc....very frustrating...I know many try to do the right thing...but if you shut your borders to the world for a month...and put the country on lockdown for a month only going out for essential services then things would change over there....dramatically...give people $2000 so they can buy groceries for a month and you would see numbers drop....thats what we did and it worked...people just have to stop whinging and get with what works and not worry about their "rights" being taken away...such BS...anyways enough of a rant....I just think we should get what we paid for!! 

Well hubby got an unexpected small pay raise in his pay this month and when we looked it up his federal taxes has dropped by around $80pm....we didn't expect this and just wondering if this happened to everyone or should we raise it higher so we don't owe taxes etc....not sure how the system orks over there. 

We are still looking for a house...waiting to hear back from some...working on the yard....moving stuff into storage (mainly from the shed)...got a mini skip in to get rid of the rubbish...so we are getting there...hubby slowly packing up his stuff and I have started helping my daughter pack up her stuff...the stress is getting to her and with bipolar we need to watch her close so will her her do a lot of it and it won't be so bad...our lease runs out in 19 days😨 so hopefully we get a place soon....we were told by the real estate agent that they have usually between 50-120 people applying for each house as so many people are coming back from other countries to australia because of covid that there just isn't enough housing...so it is tough!!

Over the last month or so I have started to reassess pretty much my whole life in general...don't get me wrong I have a good life but some areas need an overhaul...and most will take awhile to do and the 2 main areas are health and finances. My health we have been working on for a few years and so much hasn't worked but maybe this new doctor will be able to help and I can get healthy enoough to work...even part time...thats my plan for the next couple years.

Financially I want to work on set goals over the years these will include things like

saving a deposit for a house

buying a house and paying it off

have 6 months of bills in my ice acct (more maybe)

save for retirement

Obviously I won't be working on these till we move and I can sit down and work out how long it is going to take and how much etc....but one I really want to get back on track in this area!!

The good thing is we have no debt...so any ideas or hints and tips would be great on the best way to do this...

Well we have been looking at huses and haven't got one yet, there are at least 50 plus people at all the opens and not enough housing to go around, many are from aussies who were living abroad and now the pandemic has hit has moved back to australia...so we have 2 weeks to move and nowhere to move to....fingers crossed we find something!

Haven't really been spending much money lately which is good but still haven't saved as much as I would like this month but have been buying a lot of packing boxes...half the house is packed, the shed is almost done and most of it has been put into storage till we buy a house....so just need to tidy up what is left in the shed, move all hubbys wood and a few things that need to go into storage and then we can start moving boxes into the garage and start cleaning so when we move a majority of it will be done. 

It's my birthday today but not doing anything but packing and sorting...never really do much...and its 106 here today so to hot to really want to do anything...thankfully the next week is a bit cooler.

I know that when we do get a house the move will be organised and cleaning wil get done...not sure if we will do the yard or pay someone to do it..depends on the weather and my energy levels....I have been doing quite a bit of it...but there are so many leaves all the time since we live under massive gum trees!!

Wish us luck and fingers crossed we get a house soon to move into

Have a few medical appointments this week and next...going to be expensive for us but we will cover it...also getting new tyres and wheel alignment so that will be another $780 on top of it...so going to be a busy expensive week...hopefully the rest of the month will be less expensive

Still looking for a rental..they are hard to get hre right now

I know people don't like what I have to say and that is okay!!

Australia (SA where I live) has hardly been in quarantine since april 2020...and I know so many family and friends in the US that sre trying to quarantine and complaining about it...I seriously try to be compassionate about what they are complaining about...but I just can't as someone with a chronic illness that is my life 24/7...many don't worry about what people with chronic illnesses go through and as I have told them eventually they will be living a "normal" life soon...we don't get that...so sorry if I don't show the same compassion as most but I also don't get compassion...I don't want people to feel sorry for us or anything just realise that our lives haven't changed much as it is our regular life and I'm sorry that yours is...end of rant!!

Payday today and I am taking out half of our grocery money, we haven't been using it all since we are trying to use up most of our stock so we can add a bit more to savings...its going to cost a bit to move..so hoping to have some savings afer that...

My hubby left his bank card in the atm over the weekend while trying to help an elderly lady next to him..he just forgot to get it from the machine...the bank called today and someone handed it in so he can just take his id and go pick it up....so happy I was hoping this would happen but you never know these days....still so many good honest people in the world...so that is one less thing to worry about.

We are going to look at a rental today and tomorrow...thinking we are all going to like both but tomorrows house has a big shed and my hubby and daughter like to build things...but it is 2 story and my hubby doesn't have a lot of energy since his cancer treatment so we will see...if not will keep looking...just want to be moved and settle...hoping the move doesn't cost to much...we can't do it ourselves with our lack of energy...we can't lift the furniture or we would.

We have been using what is in our pantry/fridge and freezer and have cut our food budget in half for now..which is great...when we move we will top up everything and then try to bring the food budget down more...food here is expensive but I know we can do better with it than we do!!

Its my birthday in a few weeks...probably won't do much but may have a bbq to use up some of the freezer stock 

Januarys bills are already paid and we are now putting everything into savings except that grocery and gas money that comes out fortnightly out of one of our pays...also decided to take out the birthday money this month as well...although we don't need till april and july...but its how I do it..Everything else is going good do have so many medical appoints this month which will cost out of pocket but hopefully will have that covered...as some are new I don't have exact figures to work with...so will just tweak as we go along

Day 2 od 2021 and hubby was doing the banking...was helping and elderly lady who was trying to use an atm...but they were both down...he told her she needed to go to another bank as she was almost in tears...and he forgot his card in his machine and now its gone...I transferred all money from that account to another one...no-one has tried to use it so we will go into the bank on monday and see if anyone has handed it in if not will cancel it and order a new one....we can use mine if we need to..other than that we have already paid our bills for the month...feeling good about our finances this year!!

News years eve here today...going to be low key...hubby is down sick had to call medics out last night...he is doing better today and is going to see his doc but still not great....think it was something he ate.

Our state isn't doing fireworks this year...just to keep the social distancing happening and we are fine with that...also windy so less chance of bushfires...had enough of those last year.

Hope everyone goes into the new year full of hope..happiness and lets hope 2021 is a much better year then 2020 was...happy new year...may you all be blessed with good luck and happiness

Well this is probably my last post for 2020...roll on 2021

So much to do already for the start of 2021...we already have 15 appointments for jan...and some for feb/march/april...

we are moving in feb...yes they are not renewing our lease...and that is fine...just need to find a house to move to and we have just over 50 days...so starting to slowly pack what we aren't using and what we will donate to charity etc...that way I can spread out my energy as much as possible...or lack there of energy!!

Also got my new planner in which has everything I need in it including a menu planner, shopping list, gift list..savings etc...literally everything you need in it!!

Going to be on a strict budget next year unless it is an emergency..if its not in my budget then we are not doing it...simple!!! need to save as much as possible for a house deposit...my goal is $50,000 (pretty unrealistic) but if we get $35,000 I will be thrilled...just like to challenge myself a bit all year.

I have financial goals set up for the next couple of years...2021 will be saving for a house deposit and keeping my $2,000 ice acct. 2022 will be saving $10,000 in my ice account and 6 months worth of bills into an account...once that is done it will be paying off our morg (hopefully we will have one by then) we plan on when we buy to pay the payment and interest each month so it comes down quicker...at least this is the plan!

My number one goal is to get a diagnoses of what is wrong with me (haven't got one in 7 years) and to get healthier...

We are ending this year with no debt, $2,000 in our ice account and some money in the bank...not much but some....so feeling confident going into 2021...hope everyone has a great new years, stay safe....and we will talk again in 2021!!

Well christmas is a couple of days away my sister and her hubby will be staying with us for a couple of nights since my other sisters house burnt down and she is staying at my moms...so that will be interesting...but nice to catch up with them. We have almost everything we need for christmas...just a couple things food wise to pick up christmas eve...and then to make salads.

We do have a lot that we need to do in the next couple days...we are trying to sort out our shed and put stuff into our storage shed we are renting...what a job...but hopefully we will get it done in time..other than that we are set.

Our accounts are looking a bit sad right now...actually a lot like 2020 has been...but we are ending the year with no debt...a newer car and a brighter future...so we are happy with that.

Our goal 2021 financially is to try and save $50,000 for a house deposit...that is a stretch and I won't be upset if we don't make it..but I like to challenge myself...so we will see how close we get...will be nice to start looking for a new place of our own...although we will be moving in feb to a new rental if we can find one...fingers crossed.

I have been spending a little to much lately on christmas..its been a crap year for some so just want to end it on a happy note..but next year it will be tight to reach my goal...

I have been taking cbd oil for the last couple weeks it has been really helping me out so hopefully we are going to keep going forward healthwise...although it is really expensive it is worth it...everyone has seen a positive change in my health...that is another one of my goals it to get healthier next year...and I might be able to do that with this oil!!

I have aready done my mothers budget for next year, it barely changes as her bills are usually the same each month.

I have done ours...as I am always tweaking it I have done it on the computer now...I have done the basics but I need to get my new doctors and medication into my budget...then it will be done...hopefully tomorrow as we don't have any appointments that we need to attend...hopefully we can get some decent savings up next year for our house deposit...we are looking at saving at least $30,000 but hoping to save more...so fingers crossed.

Food over here has gone up and we knew it would this year due to the bushfires we had at the end of 2019/early 2020...just got over that and covid hit...but we are still not using all our food budget money so we are kind of saving there...will revise every few months next year and see if we can lower it a bit...its hard when you have such a lack of energy that cooking becomes real hard...but heres hoping.

Also need to add in the budget our moving expenses in feb...other than that not much is changing in our budget...

All we have left to do for christmas this year is buy the christmas food and we will be done...should be fine to come out of our regular food budget...hope everyone else is ready for christmas 

Australia has had no community covid cases for a week now...I know its only a week but that means the whole of australia has no covid cases in the community at all...hopefully will stay that way....we do have some in the quarantine hotels but they aren't in the community...so happy all the lockdowns and protocols we have been doing are working!!

I hope the US adopts some of these and your cases drop and you can start having your numbers drop...unfortunately I can't see this happening because unless each state does the same thing or you shut down your state it will continue to spread

My daughter started a new job a couple weeks ago they had trouble with the system so she didn't get paid and wont till the next pay cycle (2 weeks) so we have had to lend her money for her bills/food/gas...she will pay it back when she gets paid but it is a pain for us...she also won't get paid till 2 days before christmas...hopefully after that things will be fine...my mom was over yesterday and said how much my budgeting has not only helped her financially but the way she views money and what she buys!!

Went and saw an intergrated doctor today...they listened...they need to get my records from my other doc that I see regularly so I don't have to have unnecessary tests..it was suppose to cost $300 for the consult but I got a discount so it costs $240 then I got a rebate of around $215 but the meds he gave me cost around $239...so it cost me a lot less than I thought it would...next year it will cost me more until we hit our threshhold...but i am hoping to get some answers. They have put me on CBD oil to see how I go..so I'm hoping it works.

On a better note was walking the dog in the park near us and saw our usual koala...swaying in the tree (it was windy) and then we saw a younger one a bit further down..it was nice to see as you only usually see one at a time...my daughter loves taking photos so went to take some of them...and found a 3rd one...so it looks like a family is there together...I love living where we are because of the wildlife here but I do miss the beach so hopefully heading back that way in feb...!!

Hope everyone is getting ready for christmas...not long to go now

So starting to go through things ready to move in feb 2021 and have managed to sell a few things so in total an extra $300 to put into our home account

All bills are paid for the year...only gas and food left to get...and christmas food....everything else is done!!