Here in Australia you have to have your spouses permission to do anything when it comes to joint accounts etc, my hubby has a hard time understanding (his hearing isn't great) foreign workers talking on the phone so he tells them to talk to me but they say they can't he has to discuss things if it is his card or account ( we have seperate mad money accounts). We use to be able to sign a form giving permission but they don't do that anymore and now they say if he wants me to discuss things then I would need power of attorney to do this. Same with many bills elec/gas etc only 1 name can be on it and the other person can't discuss it because it's not under heir name. I get privacy etc but we are married. I have told them that if he dies and owes them money don't come talk to me about it because it's not my issue, they say well your married...and I say you can't have it both ways you can't not discuss things with me about an account for privacy reasons even though we have said its fine to discuss with either of us, bit then if something happens you want the other to pay....nope sorry doesn't work that way. I just opened another account in my name only and gave him the card so any issues I can just call about it...and we closed his account when they asked why we told them why...they didn't like but but oh well. 

So just wondering if the US is like this or is it much easier as a married couple to deal with these issues...it wasn't like this until a year or so ago...but it is frustrating

Every year we have issues with the IRS seriously thinking of never doing taxes there again...they received our taxes 7 weeks ago and we know this because they have to sign for them, we can't do them online and we can't have an online account (because we dont have US address) and yet they aren't even acknowlee dging that they have them yet... we can't call because it is way to expensive calling overseas on a cell phone and that is if you can get a hold of anyone. So how long do we have to wait or do we just not bother and hope they will eventually get to them...seriously the IRS is one of the worst govt agencies we have ever dealt with, this is the 7th year in a row that we have had issues with them and I'm really over it

We are finally settled enough into the new house where we are back to cooking each day, which is great..we all really missed our vegies everyday...the weather is coming in cooler now so we can do more slow cookers which makes life a lot easier...so we spend around $1200 a month on food for 3 adults, now granted that covers everything we use food/cleaning etc...but I would like to get it down even with prices going up. I do have to start menu planning again which can be hard because I use to do it each payday with the specials that the stores had but now we do a big shop on the 1st month as we get 10% off our order which actually saves us more than the weekly savings...but just means we have to do a monthly menu. we do shop from a butcher which means our meat is so much better and we buy from a local fruit/veg vendor which is all local produce so fresh and well priced...we do shop sales for things that we get low on when they are on sale and we will start going back to our local bulk store its where you can buy all your flours/beans/nuts etc...in bulk or as little as you like....just so we can work on filling up our food bins more...we have a huge fig tree out the back we probably wont get fruit from it though as we have some huge fruit bats that eat the fruit at night...they must be about a metre wide with their wings spread....they are a protected species anyways...so will let them enjoy the fruit...I have never eaten a fig...and was going to try one but we will see what is left.

I don't really want to cut the budget more than it is because the only monthly bills we have is rent & groceries, we do put money away each month for annual bills and just pay when they are due and elec/gas/water is paid every 3 months so we put money away for that. We no longer have a car so we put money away for my daughters car to help with ins/gas/rego etc when it is due (she pays it annually as well) because she does a lot of our errands/appointments with & for us so thats what we chose to do. 

I do have to pay off the CC again this month so probably wont get much into savings but not creating anymore debt and saving a little is better than having debt...so next month will be better.

We have state elections this week will vote like we normally do because those women are out and about in the community ALL the time not just election time, they have done so much for our area and continue to do so, and yes election here you get fined for not voting so we have to get it done. Our daughter flies out for a week long work trip so will be weird with just the 2 of us at home and the pets has been awhile

Other than that not much happening on the financial front want to start saving for retirement better late than never I guess we now have a pretty boring budget without debt...which is great pay everything in the beginning of the month and then we are done

Well we all knew it would happen once bombs were released but our petrol/gas has fone from $1.50 to $2.20 pretty much overnight and they say it could get to $3 a litre...Thanks Trump for starting a war we don't need or want it costs us all but he doesnt care he has his billions, his food, his bunkers etc he will be just fine...lets hope i ends soon and prices will come back down because I am sure sick of all the prices rising and no-ones wages rising at all,,,rant over

I have to say I don't like trump in any way shape or form...but I went to send out a package today to a friend in the US and before you would write what was in the package and then pay and it would be on it's way...no now Trump wants to know what is in the box, what country it is made in, how many, the weight etc, so we now have to write out what country it is from....I'm like it's coming from australia so what does it matter...so now have to undo the package and get all the information done...so much more work to do just because of him. 

On A brighter note we have paid all our bills for the month (except rent) that is a scheduled payment so for the rest of the month we will put the rest of our money between CC & saving and get one paid down and one boosted up a bit...and still try figure out how to get one of bpay refunds back since we are no longer with the bank

Well I can't believe it is march already...this year is just flying by so fast.

February was an expensive month with the move most of our savings went to rent/bond/end of lease bills so now it is time to get back on track. I have done our budget since our rent is more than the last house. It is pay week so will pay the bills today and will do the monthly shopping list and order it, then we only will neeed to pick up the essentials and the stores are literally a 10 minute walk or less away so easy to get to.

We do have around $1500 to pay on the CC but that should be done this month, I just don't want to use all our savings as I want to get it back up and growing, but the CC will be paid in full this month I refuse to have debt. 

Other than that in other news hubbys arm is looking gross but we think it is healing well, no sign of infection etc. My daughter goes interstate for a week long job in a couple weeks, we have state elections in a couple weeks...we always vote for the same people as they are consistently in the community during their time not just when elections are coming up and they do a lot for our community and live in our community and also have families.  

The weather here has been hot and muggy...has been disgusting, we have had rain for last couple days and humidity has been at 96% makes it hard to breathe. Well back to it have to get things organised to do the shopping

Well since moving our budget is all over the place so later this week I need to sit down and get it back on track, dont have exact numbers yet but will by end of week. Still have a few things to buy that we need and we have been using the CC a fair bit that we need to pay down again and our savings are very low again but next week is pay week so that will help and we are paying an extra $100pw rent so have to add that in and then the transistions of bills from one house to another but hopefully march we will be back on track again.

Well we had to take hubby to the ER yesterday, we have ramps around the patio and steps but long steps and with macular degeneration he just misaligned it and fell and fell hard, his elbow has a blood blister the size of a golfball and he has some brusing but no broken bones thankfully. I am thankful that going to the ER, having bloods, xrays etc and it doesnt cost us anything...the move has depleted a lot of our savings so we are starting over AGAIN! But I have to say this house is a home and feels like it unlike the other one. We should be handing in the keys tomorrow and be done with it. Then just need to finish up getting everything put away here.

This week will be updating the budget as we are paying more rent although our insurance went down so that was nice, so will rejig the budget and get back on track and start saving again, will update sidebar end of month which is in a week...this year is going by so fast...we finally have some cooler weather which is much nicer.

UPDATE: He is doing much better a little sore but his arm will take awhile to go down a bit still the size of a golfball

We have finally moved, we still have a few things to do at the old house but we have everything moved and finished cleaning the house today, have to have a part of the floor repaired and the garden done which will be done thurs and friday. I have to say I don't know what it is about moving but as much as I plan and execute it just all falls apart everytime. First I hire a company only to find out the day before late in the day that they hired a 3rd party to do it instead, that company showed up 3.5 hrs late, then wanted cash instead of me paying with my card. So we gave them cash and got them to sign something saying we paid them the cash...which they did which was fine, we just had to go get the cash. then they ripped the flooring and when I called the company that we hired they movers denied it and said it wasnt them. I had photos and told the company that yes they did do it and they will cover it or i will take it further. So they offered me $100. I wasn't happy but already have a quote on patching the floor and it was $150 so figured I would only be $50 out of pocket but I just have so much going on right now. Anyways we discussed it some more and they offered me $180 as long as I didnt come after them for anymore so I took it and bonus is only costing us $150 to fix. 

I have to say I am so grateful for my daughter, niece & nephew (in law) did so much of the move for us me and hubby were down sick and with my chronic illness I just couldn't do as much as I wanted but they made sure it was all moved even though they had to work on monday. They were so amazing, they wouldn't take money so I did send them some and told them to get a nice dinner or do something nice together..they eventually kept it...we finally got the house cleaned today and just have a few things left to do then can hand it back. Now we just have to finish unpacking boxes and settle into the new place...I know I don't have the energy I use to have when I was 20 LOL!!

On another note my taxes still aren't showing up online and I know they got there a month ago because they signed for them so hoping they will be done soon. 

other than that life has been busy but just to tired to write it all down...and only averaging around 4 hrs a night...I have 4,30am itis LOL...for some reason I am waking up at 4.30 every morning for the last 4 or so days. Well time to get some sleep and get back to it tomorrow

We got the house we were hoping for, got the call a couple hours ago...still waiting for the contract to sign and where to pay the  bond/rent etc. They said we could move next week I said can we do it sooner so he is seeing if we can do it thursday instead...fingers crossed.

Now I get the fun of starting all the paperwork to move into that home and moving out of this one. I am yet to still see the house, so when we get keys will go take a look and then clean before we move in...it's just something I do when we move. Then we will start moving things over, cat cage and shelving will be going over first so when we move things over it will go straight onto shelving in the shed/pantry etc.

OOHH I'm so excited to be moving and starting a new chapter

So they are going to start advertising the house for sale on the 16th feb...they will have 2 showings on 21 & 23 feb and more the week after if they need it...that should give us 60 days before we have to move out.  I hate having opens and people walking through with our stuff in the house/shed...I know peole who walk through and take inventory and then they are robbed later. I know they take everyones namenes and phone numbers but I still don't like it...maybe we will be lucky and get a house and be moved by them. I did tell them that they needed to use old photos because I dont give permission to put my stuff online in the photos, so thats what they are doing. 

We have been doing a lot already to move, we have sold a bunch of stuff, donated a bunch of stuff...and I mean a lot, made my daughter get rid of a bunch of stuff she was no longer using and she wouldnt use and she is happy that she got rid of it...her adhd makes it hard for her to be organised and get rid of things...hubby is the same, but we have paired down a lot so now I am just retidying things and packing things I know that we wont need, cleaning the oven etc...only needed to be wiped out as I clean it regularly anyways but just organising and cleaning ready for the move...so if I start now will be much easier when we actually move...wish me luck going to need it.

Well it's official we finally got notice of them selling the house they hav to do something with photos because I dont agree with having my stuff online but they have 2 weeks to sort it out before it goes online and they can organise open houses....I loathe them...but have no choice. 

So now we have more of a timeline so we have at least 60 days before we have to move...depending on who buys it...let the fun begin. We have started doing a lot around here, we took a load of rubbish cost $30 and took our cans back got $29.40...so almost evened out... we had a group of 5 young mormon women come do our weeding they did an amazing job and did it for free..they were lovely people and I felt bad that they wouldnt accept anything but when they came to look at the job we got to talking and they mentioned some candy we have here that they love...so we bought them a couple big bags and also gave them a cold drink when they left...yes they had water bottles and we asked them a couple of times,,,they were so thankful for them...so right now we have paid 28.60c for everything we have done for the move....heres hoping we get some decent houses to look at

Well it is only the begining of the month and we have already paid all our bills (we dont have many)  put $1000 into our ice acct and now our savings are at $9400 and we will still add to it again in the month so will be back over $10k until we move and we will need to pay bond/rent...loving that our budget is doing so well this year.

Well it's the end of the month and our last payday and we didnt need the money so just put it into savings and I do have $320 in cash to put into the bank as well from some stuff we sold will do that maybe tomorrow or the next week. That will make our savings up to $8k so that is noce that we were able to save some this month should be able to add to it each month...slowly but surely and we have not added to the debt so even better. 

Wow I think this year is going to go as fast as last year. It's going to have some major moments for us this year, so my daughter & her fiance are moving back closer to where we all live (right now an hr away) and will sell their home and save up to buy their dream home...my oldest will be travelling for her business in march its a couple she did work for and they have asked her to come help them for a week, they will pay airfares & for the work, so excited for her. She will also be doing IVF again first part of the year...she is recovered from surgery but wants to wait to after her interstate trip to do the procedure, she is also travelling to scotland to visit a friend. I am doing a "topical chemotherapy" end of april will take a couple months to work through that. We will be moving house. and this is just the 1st half of the year...hopefully will be a g'ma by the end of year.🥰

Well we will be moving house soon as the title suggests, we got a call yesterday saying that the owner wants to sell. It doesnt surprise me this house has so many issue and the last one where we had our front light that was hanging down which we reported in august last year but was never fixed. It was hanging by a wire and hit the door everytime it was opened. They sent someone out who knocked on the door, said he was there to fix the light, next thing I know 2 mins later I hear a car drive off and he is gone, he put 2 screws in it and left. I emailed her and said we need an electrician because the light isnt working and you can see by the photo that some wires are loose. They then sent out an electrician who actually had more work to do because the 1st guy put a screw through the wires so they had to be replaced. I told the owner what happened and that I didnt think he should have to pay for the 1st guy because he really didnt do anything except cost him more money. He told me he was thinking about what to do when we moved out of the rental (we have been looking since sept) guess he made his choice.The land agent is a real piece of work she is a horrible person who tries to turn everything around on the tenant but I am someone who does everything via email and has all receipts and communication for the entire time we live in a property including photos before moving in and when we move out...so she picked the wrong person. Also have to add that the owner has also gone with a different real estate company to sell their house so the company she works for wont get any commissions from the sale etc.

Although we will be paying more rent which isnt great and a lot of house savings will go towards bond/rent it will be a good move and one we are looking forward to. And we dont have to pay movers because we were selling a bunch of things which my niece & her hubby wanted so I did a deal they could have it as long as they helped us move house...they would anyways and can carry a lot more heavy things so we will just provide lunch/drinks and just have the truck rental and gas to pay for and if we get the house we really want it is literally 3 minute drive from this house...so now the fun begins. Looking for a rental, packing, yard work, selling things, donating things (we just did a car load), taking cand back, removing empty boxes to recycling plant and the cleaning of the home...cant wait!!

Obviously we have all been watching the news about trump wanting to take green land and what may happen if he tries, I mean the implications of going against another NATO country is insane. many are saying that others will call in the US debt which will bankrupt the country...I don't know a lot about it but it seems to be all over the internet. I am just curious how you all feel about that? I know many of you have saved for your lifetime and some have just started saving for retirement etc so if that happens what do you have in place when it comes to your money? Would you still have your money...I am genuinely concerned for you all but also dont know a lot about it...any insights?

Well almost a week into the year and we have paid all of January's bills already and put money back into our ice account and put $800 into house savings....we still have 2 pay checks to go. It is my birthday month but not sure what we are doing yet if anything we will see what the weather is doing this week its 100-106 all week so if its like that won't be doing anything. Feeling positive in 2026

That my word for this year Positive...I am going to try stay positive all year in every aspect of my life....will make for a much better year.

Well we have 10 hours till it is 2026...can't believe this year is already over.

We are starting the new year with a savings goal of $40,000...hoping to save more but we will see.

We are still debt free

Starting with $7800k in savings

January menu planning all done

Meat order ready to go when stores open

monthly food order ready to go when stores open again

yearly budget is ready to go

We are ready for 2026 and its going to be the best year yet...happy new year to everyone here may it be prosperous for us all!!

AAHH America you really make life hard for people who have to deal with you but don't live there!!

Everything is going electronic in the US, you need to do everything online, so hard to get anyone on a telephone over there in an office, they tell you to do it all online...problem is you can't have accounts with social security etc online unless you have a US address...which we don't....so we ask them how do we do it online when we dont have a US address...they say you cant...well then how do we do things...you have to do it online....seriously its an endless loop...yet im guessing if we just didnt bother with it then they would be on us...Im just kind of over it...same with taxes in order to do it online over here we have to pay like $400 whats the point when we can do it ourselves...so we do a paper one every year...and will till they make it where we can do it online....I get wanting to do everything online but it needs to be for everyone not just the ones in the US....and I only see with the president you have it becoming worse. We will see what happens when we just don't bother anymore

So anyone who reads my stuff knows that us and the IRS are just at odds most years and hard to sort out when living in a different country....last year was the best year yet in dealing with them. 

So in july this year I wrote and asked them to take my itin back, I didnt want to be on my hubby's taxes, Ive never lived in the US, never worked in the US and frankly don't want anything to do with their tax system. They have sent me 2 letter latest being in nov saying they need more time, like they can't have an answer in 5 months.

I have decided to put my hubby as head of household but only put him on them this year, yes it will cost us more but I really don't care about that. When he passes, I won't get any survivor benefits from the US military and pretty sure I won't get any social security so I don't see that I need to be on them. 

I have tried looking online and can't find any information on this scenario, would I get in trouble for not being on them? Does anyone know where I can find this information...any information would be great

Well we have 1 payday left for the year but it will be going into savings as we dont need to put it anywhere else.

I have been working on my 2026 goals, they are usually the same each year or similar but it's how I keep myself on track.

So these are what I am doing

1. Going back to menu planning (havent done it in a few months)

2. Going back to using a budget, we had no bills as all paid so going back to using one

3. saving $40k....hoping to get to $50k but that would be a big big stretch...so $40 is what we are aiming for.

4. moving house and keeping our costs low as possible

5. get healthier..my biggest goal here and the hardest one I think

Once we move and I unpack all of my jars etc I will learn how to can food and start doing that and making my own bread etc as this kitchen is way to small to even fit all our appliances in...but I want to do more of this and when we buy a home I will make the best garden that will produce a lot of our fruit/vegies/herbs

it will be nice to start the new year off debt free and with some savings will update sidebar when the new year starts because I don't know how much we will have until then

I was out doing some shopping earlier this week and heard several conversations over the day about how many of them are in debt for christmas AGAIN!!

They were talking about what the lastest things that they bought their kids & grandkids, how much money they spent on them and got the kids whatever they wanted...a few of them...and I mean several of them said that they spend all year paying off their credit card just so they can pay it use it again for christmas....so wow all the interest they are paying each year on CC's just to spoil kids.

My daughter looked at me and said lucky we do christmas with cash and layaway (when they were younger), we have never used anything but cash for christmas. Even when we do things on the giving tree same thing, and donations to food banks and pet places. it all done with cash.

One thing I don't understand is over here we have a 6 month layaway so you have 6 months to pay it off and christmas comes but once a year and the date never changes so why don't people save for it? So my question is how do people do christmas here cash or CC's...just curious

I was reading back through my post this year and one of the major things that happened was as of august we are debt free which has helped us out tremendously. Our focus next year will be saving for a home so going to make that our goal for the year. 

I have been really slack on menu planning, and having a budget so have gone back to doing that next year, I have our budget up and will work on our menu after christmas, its summer here so will be lots of salads and BBq's.

Daughter has had her surgery so that is done, she is having a month off work to recover but that has all been paid for so she is happy and then she has a big job in march interstate then she will do IVF.

We are hoping to move by march into a new rental, wanted to move 3 months ago but it didnt work out that way...so we will see what the new year brings. 

Financially I think next year will be the best year for us and for once we are starting out debt free....

Well I can't believe we are almost at the end of 2025...this year has just flown by...so that means working on next years budget, we had a few changes this year so budget took a bit more work. So we became debt free, we still use CC but it is paid off each month. Hubby sold his car and got a scooter, so we have no more car expenses but we will pay half of our daughters since she does our appointments/errands etc more now, but that still cuts it way down. I paid all our bills for a year in august so many wont be due till sept 2026.....so I have a lofty goal to save $40k towards a house next year, I really want to save $50k but also want it to be reachable...so starting with $40k...love working towards goals. We will also have a move next year hopefully by march (at latest).

Daughter has surgery today...the hottest day of the year so far (102) and has to stay in overnight, I dont like that idea at all but know she will be fine. Other than that we have been decluttering and getting stuff done as we can...cant believe it is a week till christmas...although we still dont have our tree up yet should get around to that before christmas Im sure 😬

So our govt gave students 20% off their loans this year and if you paid them off after the 1 june then you got the 20% in cash...I paid mine off in august...was waiting for the 20% but it took to long so just paid it off. So I ended up with around $5400 to add to our savings...so that was nice.

Christmas shopping is done although hubby had his phone stolen yesterday so annoyed as he has only had it 6 weeks so now we have to get another one today so frustrating...hopefully we can claim on insurance

Other than that we are doing okay and just living 1 day at a time

We had a utility trailer that we have had for years, with hubby no longer choosing to drive and my daughter not really wanting to tow a trailer we decided to sell it, I put it up for sale at 11pm, hubby wanted $350...I put up for $500 and it sold in 15 minutes with 7 people on the waiting list if they didnt pick it up today, they did pick it up so within 12 hrs we had it listed/sold and picked up....I posted it at 11pm thinking I would check it in the morning and offers just started coming in...it was ridiculous...but it is gone now and the car has sold as well so all that should be finalised by wednesday and hopefully we can order his scooter this week...has been a busy day and its only monday

Well the time has come..I cant drive due to dizziness (24/7) and find it hard to travel in a car for long (40 mins max) and hubby was diagnosed with macular degeneration about 18 months ago, he has been having shots in his eyes every 4-6 weeks but he doesnt like to drive at night or when it rains etc, he can still drive but he doesnt feel like he should all the time so HE has decided to sell the car and get a mobility scooter...thought it would be hard for him but he is taking it like a pro. That means my daughter will be the only driver in the house...will make it hard but we will make it work. I will split the money we use to use on the car between saving for a newer one in a couple years when she has her kids and we will pay half expenses for her car like gas/insurance/registration etc...Not a great time since we will be moving soon but life will work out...it always does.

Once we move I will be getting back to budgeting and saving for a home...can't wait!!

This is about my daughter not us but wanted to share because I think it is quite amazing for her. A little back story our oldest got epsstein barr virus when she was 14, she got real sick and ended up with chronic fatigue to the point where you could barely wake her up, that was 20 years ago and she has improved over that time dramatically but it took a long time which she contemplated suicide a couple times (no she didnt try) but she had no life and her friends disappeared and barely had the energy to eat, I had to bathe her...it was hard!! she also has bad flare ups when she does to much. She has always been great with money as I taught them when they were young so they didnt have to go through what we have. She has paid cash for her car, all her ivf treatments etc...she is a cash person. Anyways she wanted to buy a new phone and it was liek $1200 (she is low on cash due to paying $50k in ivf) so she joined airtasker around 9 months ago, just to earn extra cash to buy one. 

She got plenty of work because she is very hands on/perfectionist and a woman so many women would prefer she came to the house than a man they don't know....within 2 weeks she had the money for the phone. But so many of them contacted her for other jobs but didnt want to go through air tasker because of the fees so she started her own little business, she is kep busy and businesses are searching her out as well. Also there is a couple she did work for here that are going to fly her interstate at their expenses and pay her for her work, she will have her own bungalow to stay in for the week, and they will take her whereever she wants to go....because they love the work she did for them here...all this because she wanted a new phone and now she is making decent money, even a lot of guys have her out to do things because they dont know how to fix things....it just goes to show how fast and easily things can change....I am proud of her because she cant do 9-5 job and she can work around her illnesses (also has add adhd and bipolar)...so prud and it goes to show that even if you are disabled you can still make your life great even if it does take awhile to get there...and yes she is still paying cash for everything, and yes she does contribute to the household budget as well.

Is it me just thinking this or is it just our country or all over the world that it is happening. 

So all our bills have risen, our food prices have risen, rents...everything basically has risen in cost. I have has several elec bills that have been wrong and they have charged me on average $1200 more than what they should have, lucky I look at the bills and check them. But it seems like no matter what the businesses and banks are all in record profits for the last couple years...so why are they the only people making money while everyone else is struggling or paying higher prices? They were profitting before prices went up now they are just making more money while people struggle to eat or keep a roof over their head (we eat fine and can pay rent, I just mean in general). 

Then we see people stealing from stores all the time, its happening more and more over here...so what do others think??