New Year's Eve

My plan for NYE is to drive up to One Tree Hill and view the fireworks on the Sky Tower!  I don't think one of those huge clubby downtown parties would be fun by myself, and I'm not sure how safe it is for a single girl to camp on the beach when everyone is drinking and being ridiculous.  All I really wanted for NYE was some fun fireworks, anyway!  May it be a good one for all!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[EDIT:  didn't make it that far, just walked up the road from my apartment and had a great view of the fireworks!  I discovered when driving around that I had a great view only a block away from my apartment...I thought I'd be alone on the street but it seems like a lot of people also noticed the view there...there was a pretty large group of families tonight.]

2010 & Proper Pronunciation

Is it 'Twenty-Ten' or 'Two-Thousand-Ten?'

What gets your vote?  See my poll. --->

Just curious...

Either way, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2009 Spending

I just went over my income for 2009, so here's my spending summary:

• $16,045, or 40.9% of my net income, was spent on needs (rent, groceries, electricity, and medical expenses)
• $8,439, or 21.5% of my net income, was spent on wants (internet, cell phone, eating out, charity, and misc expenses)
• the remainder, $14,790, or 37.6%, was saved in various funds for my 2009 goals
• $118.38 was saved in my Kiwisaver account.

I'm doing well tracking my finances every day, keeping within my monthly budget, and accomplishing my short-term goals.   I'm not doing so hot at saving for longer-term goals and other permanent things.  I will address this issue and other improvements that I could make in 2010 in future posts.

2009 Income

What a doozy to begin to figure out!  However, my 2009 spending is actually much easier than most.  It was the first year since starting the blog that I a) didn't move continents/hemispheres,  b) stayed in the same apartment with the same rent, c)  was debt-free, d) didn't change my full-time status at work, or e) some combination of the above. 

In 2006, I moved apartments within my CA city and was still paying debt off.  In 2007, I was debt-free, but moved in with XBF, and I went part-time at work to take classes.  In 2008, I was still debt-free, still taking classes and then I moved from CA to NZ, was unemployed for a few months, and also moved apartments within Auckland.  Whoa.

In 2009, I grossed $49,938.13.  I paid $10,588.22 to the NZ government through taxes (21.2%) and I contributed $118.38 to my Kiwisaver (100% matched by my employer up to 2%), leaving me with a net income of $39,231.53. My salary is technically $51,300, however, I took some unpaid leave to hang at home in the US.  All in all, I had over 6 weeks of vacation time in 2009.  Well worth it to me to take vacation over the money.

2009...An Epic Year

In 2009, my long-term, live-in boyfriend and I broke up, I hiked the Tongariro Crossing, I had an Immigration interview and became a permanent resident of NZ, I camped near and hiked on Tarawera, I visited 3 of my best friends in DC, I went to Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel, I camped at Kaphia, my best friend from home became pregnant and had a baby girl, I saw kauri trees, I turned 31, I visited the South Island for the first time since moving to NZ, I saw penguins and sea lions in Otago, I presented a poster at a conference and that poster is now in the Auckland Museum, I visited all the geothermal spa sites in Taupo and a few in Rotorua, I had a BBQ with long lost friends from high school, my contract at work was renewed for 2 more years, I got a new roommate who I like, I made three friends in NZ and then they all left, my dad almost lost his thumb, my mom and sister were in relatively good health, I joined the Kiwisaver, and so much more! 

Halfway through the year, my 2009 goals were complete.  To review, my original 2009 goals were:

1) $5K in a 2009 US Travel Fund, to be used to pay for airfare to the US to visit my family, once in the summer and once for Christmas.

Update:  SUCCESSFUL.  $2,500 of that money was used for a trip home in July.  I decided not to go home for Christmas, so that $2,500 is being spent on Christmas presents, items on my 'Wish List' (see sidebar), and some NZ travel. 

2) $1.1K in a New Laptop Fund. Just in case.

Update:  SUCCESSFUL.  Money is now gathering interest in my savings account.

3) $3K Car Fund, for renting or leasing a car this summer (Nov-Mar) to travel around NZ.

Update:  SUCCESSFUL.  I put $2,700 towards some NZ traveling when some friends come to visit in Feb 2010, and $300 for a weekend in Dunedin/Otago with some friends after a conference down there.

After these goals were done in July 2009, I then scrambled around to define some more goals.  They came pretty easily, and were not confined to financial outcomes, but I'll only focus on the financial bits for now.

2009 (July - December) Financial Goals

• Fill out US EF goal to $5K USD (approx. $3.8K NZD)

Update:  SUCCESSFUL.  That goal was probably the most difficult of the year...it just seemed that I'd never ever get there!  I think the NZD-USD conversion really threw me for a loop.  I also ended up only needing to save $3.1K due to the exchange rate changes and other income (interest).

I also identified some potential 2010 financial goals:

2010 Goals (Financial)

• Save $6K for US travel (this is already done, but $2.8K instead of $6K, because I'm planning on going back once instead of twice next year, and because I completely miscalculated the amount I saved in 2009.  Ugh.)
• Save $4K for NZ, Oz, Pacific Islands Travel 
• Fill out my #1 and #2 slush fund objectives  (These later turned into my Long-Term Goals, see side-bar for their progress.  They are:  House Downpayment Fund, Europe Fund, Kiwisaver Fund, and Future Roth Contribution Fund)

I amended my 2010 financial goals a little bit to be more realistic.  New post coming soon.

Happy Holidays!

To those of you who celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas today!  To those of you who don't, Happy Holidays!

Fire! Unprepared!

My roommate almost burned our building down today.

I came home from my jaunt around town in my fancy rental car, and smelled something burning.  I rushed into the kitchen, and there were three eggs sitting in a dry pot, cracked open and burned to a crisp, flames shooting from the bottom of the pan around them.  The burner was on high, and no one was in sight. 

Luckily the flames were contained in the pot and so I turned off the burner and moved the pot to a cool burner.  Then I grabbed the fire extinguisher our landlord thoughtfully left for us, pulled the pin, and aimed at the pot.

It was also lucky that I am the floor fire warden at work, and have had training about how to deal with kitchen fires and how to use a fire extinguisher.

It was 1:30 pm; my roommate had left the house around 9:30 am!!  OMG, what if I hadn't come home then?!  My plan was to go about an hour and a half out of town but I decided to go elsewhere today, at the last minute.  Whew.

Our patio window and bedroom windows were wide open and a breeze was blowing straight through the apartment; otherwise I'm sure the fire alarm would have gone off already.  But there was nothing.  I guess the fire has to be much bigger before it goes off.

Also worriedly, neither of us has renter's insurance.  My theory was, I don't own enough in NZ to replace to justify the cost, and that my landlord's home insurance should cover their belongings in the house.  But now I don't know.  I kind of want insurance.

What I'd grab in a real, get out now fire:  my grandmother's heirloom ring; my laptop; my backpack with my wallet in it; and my paper file carrier with all my tax info on it.
Whoo, it was a scary day.

No Party

My Orphan Party on Christmas is cancelled.  :(  I bought all these decorations, food, games and presents for everyone that was coming (7 people), and had already taken everything out of their packages and boxes (even the presents--can you return lottery tickets?) and set it up, so I can't get my money back for anything.  Argh.

Unfortunately, the flakiness gene is rampant these days.  Three days before Christmas, and suddenly everyone has other plans (including my roommate and her friends!), even after confirming that they were coming last week and were bringing certain items for the menu!  I'm pretty bummed that I'll be alone on Christmas even after all my planning!  Guess that's what I get.  Lesson learned:  go home for Christmas.  And don't take anything out of their boxes/packages until the day before your party!  :) 

I wonder if it's too late to volunteer somewhere?  At least then I wouldn't be alone and I could actually help someone else!

I love Saturdays in December...

...because it means two episodes of Dollhouse!  Yay!

*Now With Transportation!

I had to rent a car for yesterday's work--I was picking up some samples and boy are they heavy.  No freakin' way was I carrying those around on the bus/while walking.  I also need the car to do a little sampling field trip next week for 3 days.  So instead of trekking out the half hour to the rental car place and back twice in 3 days, I just rented the car through the weekend.  Yeah!

I have so many plans for that lil car!  It's adorable.  And you know what I love?  I could turn down the $10/day optional insurance without any worries!  A) my credit card covers me for up to 30 days in NZ and B) I'm only liable for $1K if the cc falls through (this is just how the rental car company does it...).

Anyway, where should I go this weekend?

I'm thinking:

• the Mercer cheese shop (alfred alferink, I think the name is)
• gold panning in the coromandel (can i handle the 'mandel?)
  
• the mall (all of them?)
• Bunnings, a big house repair shop (maybe they are like Home Depot and will have some cool furnishings for my walls for my room??
• a cheap grocery store, Pak N Save!
• the beach, any of them!  (although I was told about a secret beach near mission bay recently...will try to get there, I think!)

Hmmm...maybe I will have to extend my rental lease!  Since I knocked all but two short-term goals off of my list this year, I kinda decided to spend all of my second December paycheck as a reward.  I'm well on my way to doing that, but still have about $600 left.  Merry Christmas to me!

Interior Designing (Before)

As part of my holiday project to spruce up my room, I've started to buy new accessories and have gotten creative with the stuff that's already in there.  I'll now share some before pictures!

View as you walk into my room (I took the pic at night, sorry for the bad lighting!).

View back towards the door.  You can see I have this weird entry/hallway to my room, and I have no idea what to do to the walls there.  I don't want it to feel too claustrophobic.  Also, there's the electric panel on the left.

I'll go in a clockwise fashion around the room.  here's the shelves (you see the side of them as you walk into the room), and my desk area.  I love the bulletin board but it's pretty boring and messy.

Moving over to the right, my bed area.  Again, messy, brown, and boring!  Lots of wall space that I'm not sure what to do with.

All that wall space...

Continuing around the room, here's my 'craft corner.'  I bought a few picture frames; they and my paint canvases are just living on the floor til I decide what to do with them.

Craft corner and wardrobe.  Again, there's some weird wall space above the wardrobe that I'm not sure what to do with (if anything).  Which brings me to: 

My wardrobe!  Packed to the gills.  I've installed the lime green/blue fabric drawers and the sweater organizer/hanger, but it still needs some work to make it look neater.

As you can see, there's no real theme or anything--the walls are a sort of cream/off-white color, the wardrobe is white, the headboard and nightstand are a dark brown, and the desk and shelves are a tan/light wood color, the curtains are navy blue, and the carpets are a lighter navy blue.  Ugh.  I can't change:  the curtains, the carpets, the wardrobe, the walls, the headboard, or the nightstand colors.  I can change:  that ugly light wood on the desk and shelves.  I'll just have to live with the other colors, as I'm not going to spend the money to change or replace things that my landlord has provided to me/owns.

I did have some of my paintings up on the walls, and that made it more 'homey' and not so boring, but I've decided that I really dislike my own paintings, and I'm not good at it, so I took them all down.  I'll throw up some real photographs that I've taken, instead. 

I've already bought a colorful new duvet cover that brightens things up tremendously.  I'm planning to rearrange the furniture, too.  If anyone has any suggestions, please make them!  'After' pictures to come when I've finished!

Taking the 'Pay' Out of Painful

Surgery went fine, it took like 15 minutes.  I'm so happy it's over with and that it wasn't as bad as they said it would be (I researched it online and people said it was VERY VERY PAINFUL).  Doc is 99.9% sure that  it's NOT malignant from its appearance, but they are doing some lab tests to be sure.  Whew.

Again, so lucky this is free here (aside from the initial premium of ~$400), there are no co-payments, no nothing as long as I go to the student health center on campus.  If I'd had to pay, it definitely would have made the surgery more painful!!  It is still seriously weird to breeze by the front desk after the appointment, not having to stop and pay.

Dentistry costs mucho moolah, though!  In that way it is the total opposite of the US (I'm not talking root canals here; the 6-month regular cleanings and annual Xrays are usually free or pretty cheap in the US, at least with all the insurances I've had).  My eye exam was also expensive here compared to the US, even with work covering for most of the exam and $200 allowance for new glasses--and that was only because I use a computer for >50% of my work.  Glasses here can easily run over $400.  I got the cheapest lenses and frames that they offered (that I could use the $200 allowance with) and I still had to pay $135 out of pocket.  Crazy!

I guess I need US insurance for dental and vision, and NZ insurance for my main medical.  Then I'd be set!

My XBF-linked health insurance ends next Feb, though.  I could pay to have it renewed but I don't think he likes that I'm still linked to him like that.  I'd be down with keeping it if he'd let me for all the awesome perks, but I have a feeling that I'll have to find my own insurance.  Heh.  Probably with Southern Cross, since everyone seems to like it, and since I supposedly get a discount through work. 

I get basic health care as a right as a permanent resident (THAT IS SO WEIRD AND AWESOME!), but the copayment would be $60 at the student health center that I go to.  And I'm still hesitant to go completely without insurance, because I have heard stories about how the US insurance companies treat people who have a gap in insurance coverage.  If I ever want to go back to the US, I need proof of coverage.  I don't want to mess with that!

A Surgery and An Embarrassment of Riches

OK kids, it's time to play Good News, Bad News!

Good News:  My mom sent two packages of my stuff over last week, and one arrived today!  I had to bus it all the way out to Morningside ($3.20 each way) to pick up the package as I was not home when they tried to deliver it, but whatevs.  I got my package!  This one contained some US snacks, my new rainjacket, new contacts, new glasses, my earbuds, and a few cute messages and cards from family.  It makes me sooo happy!  (Note:  a 7 lb package from the US cost $65 USD to get to me.  The other package is 11 pounds...WHOA!)

Bad News:  I went to the doc today and they are doing surgery on my scalp tomorrow.  It is a long story and I don't want to gross anyone out, but I have several small 'lumps' on my head and recently they've been hurting and ugh...growing.  The doc wants them out immediately to test them for, you know, the C word (esp. given that I'm so tired and seem to get ill quickly lately).  I am not even thinking about that last part of that sentence, so I'm focusing on being nervous about being cut up.  I am so squeamish!  and scalps bleed a lot.  They have to shave a little (teeny tiny) bit of my head!  Not looking forward to tomorrow; I'm pretty scared.  This is the kind of time where I actually miss having a boyfriend.   :(

Good News:  The surgery (all of it) is free.  Not only that--I originally went to the doc to handle my ongoing (neverending...) hayfever allergy, and to get a refill on another med, and I walked out of the pharmacy with 4 prescriptions, free of charge:  nasal spray, antihistamine tablets, and two topical lotions.  Crazy!

Good News:  they are renovating our offices, and someone filed an OSH (Health and Safety) complaint about the ground floor hallway where the construction workers are storing all the crap they pull out of our offices, and which they use as workspace.  It's dusty and dirty and there are cords running across the entire floor, so I don't blame them for complaining!  And the elevator smells strongly of paint fumes...  Therefore, the bosses came around the office today to tell us that we are not to come into the office until after the holidays--and said that if we 'can't' work from home--BONUS!  Time off!  I will have to finish some work for the rest of this week from home, but I'm taking next week off, baby!

Good News:  3  Bad News:  2

Shopping to Fill the Holes

I have been brave thus far, but faced with the real prospect of my first Christmas away from my family, I am starting to get little twinges of sad.  And then I stop it before I can dwell too long.  It's more than the holidays, though--I've never been away from home for this long, other than one year when my family came to visit me for Xmas during grad school.  I've definitely not been away from my family for this long before.  I just want to go home and be able to hug my mom and dad!  Oh, poor little 31-year old kindergartener.

Is it any wonder that I keep making up little projects for myself to keep from thinking too much?  And therefore, spending money to fill in the gaps?

I've dived (dove?) into organizing my Orphan Party on Christmas Day, making lists, buying decorations, planning the dinner.

I'm redecorating my room...actually, I can't say I'm re-decorating, because I haven't decorated it in the first place yet!  I've been in this apartment for a year, my contract at work will last a year and a half more, I'm a resident of NZ...it's time to make a more permanent mark on my surroundings.  Today I bought a new duvet cover and some photo frames.  I think I've decided on a color scheme of teal and chocolate brown with fun prints of red, orange and yellow on the wall (along with my own colorful photos).  We'll see how that turns out. 

As part of my room decorating, I've reorganized my closet.  New drawers, new hanging shelves, and space to put my laundry basket!  I'll also be rearranging my furniture in my room and adding a shelf for my rock and shell collection. 

Does anyone know what kind of paint to use to paint fake (particle) wood?  I want to paint my desk and two small shelves.

Cost thus far to decorate (over the past two weeks):

$38 fabric drawers in turquoise and lime green (will be hidden in my closet)
$17 6-shelf sweater organizer in light pastels (again, will be hidden)
$23 new duvet cover in teal and chocolate brown
$16 2 teal photo frames 4x6
$11 1 large teal rectangular photo frame, 4 4x6 photos
$9   3 chocolate brown foto frames, 8x10, 5x7, 4x6
$114 total

I'm not a great designer, by any means.  I've started watching HGTV online (with Hotspot Shield, that thing is a LIFESAVER!) to get some tips, though!

I think I've justified the cost because I recently completed my 2010 US travel fund.   Oy vey...I have to make it til August til I see my family again!  That thought makes me want to go buy some more stuff.  Thank God they don't have Target or WalMart here...esp WM because it's usually open 24-7 and I'd probably be on my way right now!

Shipping Mojo, GO!

My mom lovingly packed two boxes for me a few days ago, full of the stuff on my most-wanted list (over to the right), and shipped it to me.  Mom and Dad are covering the cost of the shipping as my Christmas present, along with buying a few tiny items. 

99% of the time, I found free shipping deals (to my parents) on my items, and the item costs much less in the US than in NZ.  So, I've saved a lot on items that I would have bought in the US during a trip home for Christmas, and packed them in my suitcase to bring back to NZ.  Whew!  Not only did I save the $3000 plane ticket home, I also saved lots on items that I've wanted for years now.  It doesn't feel good to spend the money, but it is good to know that I spent a lot less than I could have for the same item!

Mom also packed some US treats in the boxes.  I really hope they make it past Customs in time for Christmas...oh man.  I CAN'T WAIT to get those boxes!!  According to USPS, they should arrive in NZ in about 10 days.  Customs will probably hang onto them for a few more, and then...they will be with ME!

Don't really know...

Ok, so I'm not sure how I did it, but I had over $3500 in my bank account once I got paid today.  I'll have to check my US funds and see if my US checking has enough to pay off my US credit card bill next month, but I believe that I'll have enough--meaning that I shouldn't need to transfer anything to cover my US bills, and that $3500 is MINE, ALL MINE! [muahahahaha] to spend, er, save.

Since I only 'need' $1044 per fortnight to make my $2088 monthly budget, I usually leave about that much in there.  However, since I'll have to shell out a bit more for the Orphan Party on Christmas, and because I want to decorate my room before I have guests over (my walls are literally blank), I left a little bit more in my checking.

I took $2000 of that $3500 and put it in savings pots:

$200 to Roth
$70 to House Downpayment
$70 to Europe Travel Fund

$1434 to US Travel in 2010 Fund, making it 100% complete!


This left $226, and I added it to my Summer Fun travel Fund, since I now will be traveling for the entirety of February!

$en$e

Ha ha.  Ke$ha's Tik Tok has been all over the airwaves and TV here in NZ for the past several months, and I can't get her song out of my head, even though the video is so...trashy.  As in, if kids follow her lead, they will be homeless dropout parolees/alcoholics/single parents before the week is out.  For shame that I keep adding to the Official Video's Youtube counter.  And that she's inspired me to put two dollar signs in my blogger name, Sense = $en$e, just for this post!

Good news, soon I'll be partying it up too--my roommate and I decided to host an orphan party here in our apartment for our friends that aren't near their families on Christmas Day.  We'll decorate, set up a Skype station so everyone can call their families, bake cookies, play Christmas carols, play some card games, and have a good potluck dinner.  Still don't know what we're doing for New Year's, but I'm sure we'll think of something. 

Also, I'm taking basically the entire month of February off--my flaky friend has finally decided that she's actually coming, AND has bought her ticket.  So now all that money that I've been using to buy stuff needs to be replaced so I can have some Ke$ha-style partying when my friend arrives.  Half of my savings for Dec - Feb are going straight to the Feb Fun Fund.

Killing Spam

Like SavingDiva, I've recently noticed a great increase in the spam that I'm getting...therefore, comments will be moderated and word verification instituted.  Sorry all!  The many ruin it for the few...

NZ Performance Review, Part 1

Oh man, I've been dying to get home to update this blog about my first ever NZ performance review ever since it ended earlier today. Thanks to everyone who wrote nice things on my last post. It turns out that my boss has never had a PR...her first one is tomorrow! How funny. I'm sure that's why this one turned out the way that it did.

My previous experience in PR's from my last job is this: 1) your bosses each fill out a review sheet, ranking your performance in various areas, 2) all of these are collated and submitted to the chief financial officer, who then decides how much of a raise to give you. You are then called into his/her office, along with your direct supervisor, and they go through your rankings with you. Your supervisor then leaves, and the CFO tells you how much you're getting the next year!

Notice that in that type of review, the employee input is basically null. I was asked, do you have anything you would like to add? during the PR's each year, but that was it, and it was a pretty intimidating scenario, as we only saw the CFO when we got our raises or needed time off for bereavement leave, etc. (she even took her lunches in private, so even the few days she was in the office, none of us saw her).

This review was a total 180 from that experience. I had filled out a performance review sheet in the past few months, and submitted it to my boss a few days ago. The sheet asks about your job description, what problems you have with the company and your supervisors, what you like about the company and your supervisors, and finally--to describe where you'd like to be in the next year and the next 3-5 years, professionally, and what skills you'd want to learn. I went hog-wild! I wrote everything I've ever thought of for all the sections, including being very blunt about the problems I had.

Who knew? I just needed to be asked... :)

I had nothing but praise for the boss that I had the meeting with. At one point, I think she even blushed. But she's awesome! And my job description couldn't be better even if I tailor-made it for myself--which I kind of get to do, since my bosses are very interested in hearing my ideas. My boss agreed that some of the problems I had with the company were problems that she had too, and she actually researched ways to alleviate my issues, and presented them to me. Where she couldn't fix the problem, she said she'd talk to the higher ups about the issues.

We also had a heart-to-heart about why I didn't tell her that XBF and I broke up--she understands, but she still feels like I should have told her because it was 'a big event in my life' and she didn't want to say something wrong to offend me. And I may or may not be slightly Aspberger's in my line between personal/business, but I still don't understand why that is necessary to bring up at work (?). However, I think we both see each other's point of view; she'll respect my boundaries and I'll try to include her in my life a little more. Which is odd for a boss, but you know, I'm willing to bend a little for someone that so clearly goes out of her way for me.

So--it went well. Obviously. My feedback was mainly positive, although my boss had some suggestions and questions for me. I was happy to hear it all. It's amazing how different the benchmarks are for myself vs what my bosses expect: I hold the bar much, much higher for myself than they do. And I still think I'm capable of doing even more than that...the only person getting in my way is myself (and my health at times...gotta look into that).

We concluded the meeting by setting 5 S.M.A.R.T. goals for both her and I to strive for in the next year (some of the work is collaborative). She is so fabulous!

My second, other boss was on leave today and so we're meeting her next Monday to go over her reactions to my work. I was mainly worried about this particular meeting/boss today, so that one should go pretty well, also.

This Is It

On Wednesday, two days from now, I have my first official performance review at work. Yeah, the one I was supposed to have last February! The one I negotiated for in my initial contract! This one isn't for a salary review, that will come next Feb (hopefully?).

I'm actually somewhat glad it took so long, because I was a mess last February. And March. And especially April, when shiznit went down with XBF. The rest of the year has been recovery from that and from other boy issues that will remain nameless here!

I had to fill out a looonng questionnaire about work over the last few months to prepare. It was all about S.M.A.R.T. goals, where I see myself in 3-5 years, and what I do and don't like about my job.

And I was honest. Every little complaint I had, I wrote down. And then I sent it to my boss.

Oh boy.

Are you 100% honest with your work about how you feel about things? Why or why not?

At my last job, I was not honest, not completely. I kept most of my complaints to myself, and the fact that I wanted to leave. I did tell them what skills I wanted to learn, and was able to ask them to pay for classes and books. Pretty sweet. But I never said what I thought was wrong with the company, not like I did with this job. For some reason I feel like I can tell them that I am planning on leaving eventually, that I hate the general meetings, that I do not intend on participating in their gossip-fests, and that it is bullshiznit that we don't get company credit cards and have to use our own money and then get reimbursed. Yeah! I would like to be the type of person that says exactly what she is thinking, rather than keeping it all to myself. I'm working on that. I think it also helped that I could write it down rather than saying it first.

Will let you know how it goes...I'm bracing myself for an onslaught of criticisms. It's funny, I always think I know what they are going to say...but they never do. At my last job, it was like the more I hated my job and the worse I thought I did, the better they rated me and the more money they threw at me. We'll see how this one goes...

Why Do You Blog?

When I started this blog, I did it because I was inspired by some great PF bloggers out there. I originally started paying off my debt because of Karyn, and then I stumbled onto the Budgeting Babe one day on my lunch break at work, and was hooked. When I started writing my own blog, I had just one or two payments left on my once-totaling $11K+ debt, and was excited to share my story, figure out what was next for me, and to keep that motivation going.

But that wasn't all: I have been writing in a pen-and-paper or online journal since I was very young. I remember my best friend moving to another state in fourth grade, and being so upset about it that I had to write it down to get it out. I shared that journal entry with my mom, a fact that amuses me today, because as the years wore on, writing became a way for me to get emotions out that I didn't want to share with anyone else. I could be blatantly, guiltless-ly honest, without feeling like I was gossiping or spreading rumors, or super paranoid or ashamed or whatever my teenage self deemed the emotions I was feeling to be. Whenever I'm feeling nostalgic, I can always turn to my 15 year old self and see how far I've come and what I was feeling back when Kurt Cobain died.

Anyway, I started thinking about this because, funny enough, I had to ask J. Money of Budgets are Sexy what a PR (page ranking) was a long while ago. (Mine is 3, by the way, apparently the 'average' for most websites.) That simple question just made me think about why I'm doing this whole blog thing, and what I'm getting out of it, and why I keep doing it. I think most of us bloggers do it mainly for personal satisfaction, track goals, to share knowledge, to connect with a like-minded community, and if a high PR or ad money comes out if it, great! If not, that's fine as well. I don't care if I make money doing this, or a high PR, or even if I have a huge following, either. I do it because, honestly, I need to. It's a part of my life now; I have to get some of my thoughts out, track my goal progress, etc., even if no one reads it (but I'm always happy when people DO read and comment, of course!).

Crazily, it's been way over three years since I started this blog. I remember trying to come up with a catchy, witty name (very unfortunately, I chose one that has a horrible acronym (STD), but we won't dwell on that, will we??). I never ever thought anyone would read this; I'm honestly not sure why I decided to make the blog public in the first place, as that really doesn't fit with my usual M.O. Now that I have, I think it's too late to go back. I continue to keep this public because of the wonderful community that has grown of it for me. Your comments regularly make me laugh, cheer me up, and entertain me. I also care about my fellow bloggers over there on my blogroll, and I feel so lucky that they share their lives with me on the internet. They've all taught me a lot, made me sad when things go wrong, and put a smile on my face when good stuff happens to them. I feel like I belong to a secret club or something. :)

So thank you, all, for reading this. Thanks for commenting, for linking back, for putting me on your blogrolls. Thanks for teaching me, and thank you for caring. I've enjoyed every minute with you all, and hope to continue this for as long as possible!

Some Pictures from Otago

View from the start of the walk to Sandfly Bay. The World's Steepest Street! This is in Dunedin, NZ.

The view looking down from the top (yes, we drove it). It looks like it just disappears!
Dessert pizza from Filadelphio's! Marshmallow, caramel, white chocolate, and banana. YUM!

View of the lighthouse at the tip of the Otago Peninsula (next to the albatross colony).


I surprised this guy and woke him up from his nap. This is Grumpy, growling at me and about to attack! Apparently you NEVER get between a sea lion and the sea, and you stay 10 meters away from them, and the males are very territorial this time of year. Oooooops.

View from The Chasm.
Sunset from Penguin Place on Otago.

Larnach Castle.Larnach Castle Green Room and Reflecting Pool.Gerbera flower at Larnach Castle. It had some beautiful gardens!

View of the sea from Larnach Castle.Sheep and two lambs. Awww.View of the beach where we were supposed to see penguins but didn't!

November Round Up

Total spent in November 2009: $1,661.80.

Rent: $840 as usual.
Groceries: $319.81. Under budget by $30.19 but still sooo expensive. 7 days of food were on work; 2 were included in my Otago trip.
Internet: $49. Under budget by $11.
Electricity: $76.63. Under budget by $23.37.
Eating Out: $36.40. Under budget by $63.60. Fast food and thai.
Charity: $0. Fail once again.
Cell phone: $55. Over budget by $5. $20 on my V8 card; $35 on Skype. No big deal, was under budget last month!
Medical: $0. Under budget by $65.
Misc: $284.96. Under budget by $115.04. Misc spending includes:

$19.50 transportation (taxis, busfare)
$63 entertainment (tix to ballet ($23), Great Ape Race ($25), drinks ($15))
$203 random (tissues while in the field, shoes, webcam, computer cables ($141), hairbands/toiletries ($19), pantyhose ($3), allergy medicine ($13), movie rental ($6), music download for road trip ($20))

Total income: $3,071 this month, a decrease because my Kiwisaver contributions started during this last paycheck (almost $40 per paycheck).

Which means, of course, that I've saved the leftover amount, $1,410.

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Savings and Investments (NZ)

Kiwibank checking: $2,133.63

Kiwibank savings: $1,694.23

Raboplus: $15,743.02

Total: $19,570.88

$10K EF

$1.1K new computer fund;

$3,469 dedicated to NZ travel and other 'wants' expenses

$1,020 various long-term funds

$3,566 2010 US travel

total: $19,155 (not sure why this number doesn't match the total above, but I think it's because I need to transfer it to my US accounts to pay for some of the travel I put on US credit)

Retirement (NZ)

Kiwisaver: $80 ($40 my money, $40 my employer's)

Savings and Investments (US)

BoA checking: $1272.30

BoA Savings: $0

HSBC: $5,015.74

ING: $1.75

Total: $6,289.79

Retirement (US)

Roth IRA: $4,104.00

Traditional IRA: $5,555.91

Total: $9,659.91

Saving: Best Habit Ever

Got paid last Friday; was happy to transfer ~$900 to my 2010 US travel fund. My friend has planned a wedding in August so I'll definitely have to go back during that time...if I'm still invited. A few of my friends have randomly decided to elope or hold impromptu ceremonies that I unfortunately wasn't able to attend.

That makes about $1500 in savings this month. Saving a lot has become a happy habit. It seems like I'm saving a lot lately but it never gets old! And now with my new strategy of short- and long-term savings, I feel like I'm making headway on many of my goals, and taking care of my needs in both the near and far off future.

Once the weather (finally?) warms up I'll be saving less. I want to make the most of the good weather while it's here, and that will include (hopefully) lots of traveling around, festivals, social activities outside, and time away from home, where it's easy to NOT spend money.