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Home > Archive: May, 2009

Archive for May, 2009

No accident

May 30th, 2009 at 06:46 am

I got my insurance bill. Because I have made no claims on house and contents my payment has gone down. nz506.16

So I get to work and there is a cunningly placed box of patterns. Of course I can't resist going to have a look and finding one for .80 cents. The good thing about patterns is you can use them any number of times.

to the movies

May 26th, 2009 at 08:44 am

which is something I don't do very often. Movie going has just never appealed to me, but since today is discount day I thought I'd go and see Untouchable girls. It's a doco about the Topp twins, the world famous in New Zealand yodelling lesbian twins. I had a good laugh, but some of the political footage made me feel really old. I need to start my own campaign about price gouging on icecream and popcorn.

Stamp tax

May 25th, 2009 at 09:54 am

I nearly came out even today. I went to post my tax return and then I remembered; for most govt departments sending in forms is freepost. The IRD asks you to pay for the stamp yourself (maybe they are trying to boost Post Office revenue?). So I went to buy a stamp for nz.50 and on the way back I rescued a 10 cent and a 20 cent from being buried alive. There were roadworks going on and they were lying not far from the hole. Glad the workman didn't poke his head out as I was picking them up or I'd have been embarrassed. Now I wonder, do I have to declare .30 cents as income from the Ministry of Transport?

Filing

May 24th, 2009 at 06:17 am

It is still drizzling outside so I decided to stay home and do my tax return. I wound up doing a major search of all my papers becuase I couldn't find the reciepts for my charity donations. In the process of going thru my filing cabinaet, and turfing a lot of old stuff in the process, I wound up with properly sorted and labelled categories. Now I have to stop myself from just shoving stuff in the miscellaneous folder.
BTW, I did find my reciepts.

wool gathering

May 23rd, 2009 at 08:38 am

I decided with all the nasty weather we are having lately I need a pair of legwarmers. Not enough suitable wool in my stash, so I decided to buy some at work today. I knew the cheapest all wool I could get would cost me nz2.80 a ball and I'd probably need at least 4. On my way to the shop I thought I'd look in the Hospice shop as they often have balls of yarn. While I was there a hand knitted sweater caught my eye. I didn't like the design much, but I recognised the wool as retailing at nz11.80 a ball. So I bought it for $4. Once I've unravelled it I think I will have enough for a vest as well as legwarmer, or maybe a scarf and beanie.

change

May 17th, 2009 at 08:47 am

I found two coins on the way back from church, a ten cent and a twenty cent. I now have a total of nz26.40 in my change jar, so will buy a $25 Bonus Bond tomorrow.

I actually don't collect all that much change. I think if I had lots of it, I would be looking at reducing my spending on sundries, then reducing the amount I got out of the bank. I never have masses of it in the jar - I hate the thought of missing out on even miniscule amounts of interest, so when it gets to about 10.00 I usually stick it into a savings account.

Grr

May 16th, 2009 at 06:22 am

It's that blessed debit card that does it. When I have only a little cash to spend i am careful because i don't want to get any more out, but since my pay went it the debit card keeps telling me - go on - only $6.00 for lunch; you've got $300 in your checking account, you can afford it. I guess I can because the bills come out of another account, but there are things I am planning to buy, like a new coat, and frittering my money away stops me reaching my goals. I only spent nz3.20 in cash today, on a needle guage which I'd planned to buy, but nz20.00 went on junk food and other junk. I'll have to stop carrying the plastic fantastic.

At work we were tearing the covers off the old knitting magazines to claim credit, and the manager told me I could take them home if I liked, so long as I didn't sell them to anyone. So now I have a fresh load of patterns - the trouble is I want to buy a fresh load of wool to knit them all. Hmm, I can see I am going to be spending a lot of my wages in the shop.

Book Sale

May 15th, 2009 at 08:12 am

So today was the annual big book sale. The books have gone up in price from .50 cents to nz1.00 each. I heard some of the workers saying next year will be the 30th and the last year in the current format. It goes for 24 hours and they have bands playing. As it was so crowded I didn't stay long, just bought a big load of craft magazines for nz4.50. Should keep me busy over winter. I like it that the older ones show you how to make stuff out of odds and ends, instead of going out and buying special materials which cost a bomb.

a little bit here and a little bit there

May 12th, 2009 at 08:32 am

It was really wet out side so I stayed at home and had a NSD - except the meter reader called so I will be getting a bill shortly for the power I'm using.

I did my banking online. My pay from my first job went thru last week, 73.30, and the one from the second job eventually turned up today, 75.30. I haven't got a payslip for that yet, and I suspect they've automatically enrolled me in Kiwisaver and taken out 2%. I've an idea you're only aloowed to sign up for one job with the scheme, but I will have to check. Would be a shame to miss out on the employer contribution.

I also recieved nz20.00 from my Bonus Bonds. And a letter from WINZ saying they are going to deduct 32.00 a week from my benefit, but that's okay. I just have to keep them informed if my hours change.

Ouch

May 11th, 2009 at 07:54 am

Routine visit to the dr today, altho I've been feeling more energetic recently, I had to get a new prescription. So with my Community Services card it was nz30.00 for the dr and nz6.00 for the pharmacist. However as a high user, I qualified for a free flu jab. My arm is sore, but hopefully I am protected for the winter.

Cold tootsies

May 9th, 2009 at 09:28 am

Brr, it's freezing today. A southern blowing all the way from Antartica, and snow down to 300 meters. I need warm wooly socks, so bought sock needles for nz4.30 with my discount. I have forbidden myslef from buying any more wool until I have used up my stash - good job I have lots of fingering wool.

where did it go?

May 8th, 2009 at 09:36 am

What happened? I took nz 40.00 from the ATM on Wednesday and two days later I only have 14.50 left. This is what happens when you're not paying attention - automatic pilot takes over.

I have just started a spirituality course which includes a section on mindfulness. Instead of watching my breath in and out I think I shall have to start watching my cash in and out. Dollar Buddhism.

Confessions of a rarebit fiend

May 4th, 2009 at 07:57 am

I love cheese, but rarely buy it as it is so flippin expensive - and fattening. Today I thought I would splash out on a far too small piece for nz5.00. I have already eaten all of it on toast. I don't regret the money, but now I'm worried about getting on the scale!

Interest

May 3rd, 2009 at 02:33 am

I recieved notification that I earned nz133.98 interest last year. Happy happy joy joy. If I use the 20% discount I get on purchases at the yarn store, I can get some Rowan wool.

It never rains...

May 1st, 2009 at 08:36 am

...but it pours. Today I got offered a second job, working at the LYS (local yarn store) on Saturday. I hope I can cope with 2 part time jobs, but there is a chance I may be offered more hours at the yarn store, in which case I will let the cleaning job go. In the meantime, I think it will be enough to see me through the winter (always a difficult time for me)

My mouse decided to celebrate by dying on me, so purchased a new one for nz29.95. I also thought I would buy myself a little treat, so went to a cafe I haven't been to before. A club sandwich and a long black cost me nz8.20. Ouch! I'll stick to a samosa from the Indian takeaway in future.