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Archive for June, 2010

No cooking tonight

June 29th, 2010 at 07:50 am

Almost at the end of the month and I still have money in my wallet, so I dined out. Twice even.

That is, I had coffee and a gooey muffin with a friend and I bought a helping of fries. Loaded with salt. Yummy. Total amount paid nz$6.60. We po' folks likes our little treats, even when we're bent on saving every penny. I'm looking forward to that nice rest home where people bring me food.

I am atoning tonight by finishing the last of the celery from the garden before it freezes.

Danger Will Robinson!

June 27th, 2010 at 09:25 am

So I have nz$3,600 saved in my travel account and 1,800 in the account I use for repairs, new appliances and anything else connected with the house. And I keep wanting to shift some money across to get the travel a/c up to $5,000, which is what I intend to spend on my trip.

I *must not* do this! Sure as eggs, Murphy will puncture the water heater or something. Besides, there is a $1 withdrawal disincentive on that particular a/c. Patience patience. I will get there by the end of the year.

Full of oats

June 25th, 2010 at 08:01 am

My only purchase today was a bag of oats for nz$2.29. Hmm, .50 cents more than last winter - I thought prices were supposed to go down in a recession.

As I picked out my store brand packet, I couldn't help noticing all the schlepped up oats at fancy prices, all full of dried fruit (and a lot of sugar) and all the granola/candy bars. Amazing what the healthful reputation of oats will do for the manufacturer's bottom line. Aha, they're all buying the stuff - that's why it's getting expensive. I thought competition was supposed to drive prices down.

Write on my tombstone: she pondered the nature of oats and capitalism.

Sale away

June 23rd, 2010 at 07:36 am

There's a sale on at the yarn shop. It's good because I get extra hours, but it's hard being surrounded by lots of lovely cheap wool and seeing it all walk out the door, wondering if there'll be any left for me. I keep wanting to buy, buy, buy but I am staying focused on my goals. The only purchase i have made is 3 balls of black silk laceweight, because it's hard to come by, especially at nz$4.50 a ball. It's for a special gift for a friend at Christmas, so it's budgeted for. And I bought a new cable needle because I lost mine.

I must make time to visit the wool shops when I go to Britain. I will buy something really special as a souvenir.

All for me

June 22nd, 2010 at 07:26 am

Payday, and as all the regular monthly bills are already paid, there is only groceries to buy for the week. This month is a 5 paycheck month, so bar anything unforseen cropping up, I should have nz$400 left over on the 30th. Impatiently counting the days off the calendar...

and a bit more...

June 21st, 2010 at 07:31 am

Shortest day of the year. Brr, thank goodness summer is on its way back. I dread my next power bill. I celebrated midwinter by having a NSD - and finding .40 cents. With the change I'd already saved up, that made nz$8.90 to go into my travel a/c.

Squeezy peasy

June 20th, 2010 at 06:58 am

I have been a black belt tightwad this week - only spending money on groceries and busfare. I saw a couple nice tops I wanted to buy, but desisted and put the money into my travel account. Now I have the return plane fare saved up, everything I can save will be for spending money when I go to Britain next July. So instead of buying anything now I will buy it when I get to London.

This blog may become very boring - how many times can you boast of a NSD before people get fed up.

Inside out

June 14th, 2010 at 07:40 am

My umbrella, that is, which I paid $15 for last month. It was leaking already too.

What to do? Buy another cheapie on the theory that if it goes at least it wasn't an expensive one. How do you know before trying it that it's a good quality one? Goes off to search for consumer reports on umbrella makes...

Fast Cash

June 4th, 2010 at 08:13 am

I was waiting at the intersection going home, when I saw just down the road a young man trying to cross regardless of blaring horns and screeching brakes. He miraculously got across in one piece and went directly to - the ATM. Now come on laddie. The two minutes it would have taken you to walk to the crossing and wait for the light to change were surely well taken and better than risking life and limb for a few dollars in your pocket immediately. Noone ever died because they were without cash for 5 minutes.

Now all you writers out there, what is the story behind the young man and his desperate desire for dollars. I'll start.

His girlfriend had just walked out on him and he had to get flowers for her before she went back to her ex. He arrived at the florist 2 minutes before closing time and then remembered his wallet was empty. Hence the desperate dash.

Moral: always carry a credit card.

Well, no, that's not the message I want to promote on this blog. I'm sure somebody can do it better. Waht are your ideas?