July 2016 Budget

Didn't I just do June's budget round up? Gosh, time is going by way too fast...

	July 2016 Budget
Category	Spent	Budgeted Amount	Balance
Rent	$1,125.00	$975.00	-$150.00
Groceries	$527.79	$425.00	-$102.79
Internet	$26.34	$26.33	-$0.01
Electricity	$76.01	$50.00	-$26.01
Eating Out	$219.30	$150.00	-$69.30
Charity	$0.00	$30.00	$30.00
Cell phone	$16.00	$40.00	$24.00
Medical	$36.00	$65.00	$29.00
Misc	$579.26	$700.00	$120.74
Savings	$500.00	$500.00	$0.00
Total	$3,105.70	$2,961.33	-$144.37
Remainder	$216.15

$$ to spend: $3,321.85

WAY over-budget on eating out and groceries. I am cooking at home WAY more--doing awesome at cooking for the week every single Sunday--but obviously I am eating out more as well. How is that even possible?! I always cook too much food for one person!

Oh well. I'll be more aware of it next month.

Next month I visit home, too. My credit card minimum spend is $1K USD in the next three months. I have $3K to spend during this trip, but I'm not keen on spending that kind of money without a minimum cc spend to meet.

I'll aim to just spend the $1K or close to it, and save some of the rest of the money (~$2K) for my next credit card minimum spend--Chase Explorer $2K in May 2017 on Trip #1. This will also save me from having to spend the $2K West Coast Trip fund.

Hit by the 5/24 Chase Fairy

I applied for a Chase credit card recently, unknowing that their crazy 5/24 rule was about to hit me smack in the face.

They instated a rule last year saying you couldn't have opened more than 5 credit cards in the past two years, or else they wouldn't give you a credit card at all. It could be ANY bank's credit card, Chase or not, but Chase cobranded cards (e.g. "Southwest Airlines card provided by Chase") didn't count against your 5 cards. I thought I was in the clear as my LANPASS and Chase United Explorer cards are cobranded cards.

NOPE.

I got denied! The 5/24 rule is real, y'all. And the rules have changed: clearly cobranded cards count, too.

The good news is that the cards I got in 2014 should drop off my list this year. But not in time for me to meet any minimum spends during my US trip next month!

I've updated my Master Travel plan accordingly, and have already applied for another card, NOT through Chase, in order to maximize US spending toward bonuses. It was an instant approval, so I'm on my way to implement my new plan.

My Budget, My Values?

NZ Muse posed a useful question recently: Does your budget reflect what you value?

I decided to look in a little more detail at my budget to see what I could figure out. It's especially good timing because I just got a raise at work. It's time to revise my budget! :)


Here is how I say my values stack up:

1. Personal Health: mental, physical (technically includes Home Comforts & Good Food)
2. Fulfilling my purpose in Life/Passion (which happens to be my Career. If I can't do this, my personal health is at risk, so this goes before friends/family, sadly.)
3. Friends/Family
4. Security/Retirement
5. Travel/Experiences
6. Giving Back

And this is my spending:

Income (typical month with 2 paychecks & 4 weekly carpark rental payments):
2 x $881.28 for part time project management job
2 x $449.30 for PhD
4 x $65 for garage rent

Total: $2,921.16

New Budget (after raise; average month):
Rent: $880 ($220 per week)
Groceries: $450 (this was increased)
Internet: $26.33
Electricity: $50 (average over the year)
Eating Out: $150 (this was increased)
Charity: $50 (this was increased)
Cell phone: $40 (Skype subscription + $16/month cell phone pre-pay plan)
Medical: $75 (this was increased)
Misc: $700
Savings: $500

When I looked at it in more detail, I could make out a few value categories:

Home Comforts: Rent, Electricity
Friends/Family: Cell phone (plus some Misc)
Entertainment: Internet (plus some Misc)
Good Food: Groceries, Eating Out
Health: Medical (plus some Misc for exercise)
Giving Back: Charity
Security/Retirement: Savings
Travel: Savings


The breakdown, by percentage:








Home Comforts: 32%
Entertainment: 1%
Health: 3%
Giving Back: 2%
Security/Retirement: 8% (plus 8% taken out of every paycheck, which isn't shown here)
Travel: 9%
Friends/Family 1%
Good Food: 20%
Other: 24%



SUMMARY
Problems
There are a few problems with this exercise. One is that when you live in a HCOLA and don't make a lot of money, your budget skews heavily towards things like food, rent, utilities, and basic household items. Those need to be taken out of the equation to adequately figure out values from your budget. Also, the things I value don't usually cost a lot of money! For example, I spend most of my time with friends and family playing boardgames, watching TV shows or movies on our couches, cooking dinner together, just chatting or texting over the phone, or going for walks. The last gift I gave was my absolute favourite gift I've ever given someone (a personalised, handcrafted Cards Against Humanity card deck), and it cost $0. So a small amount spent on friends or family is not necessarily reflective of how much I value them. Example #2: Giving back doesn't have to cost money either. I'm donating my hair this year...this also costs me close to $0. A low charity donation for the year doesn't mean that I'm not giving back. Nevertheless, it was a useful exercise.

Discussion
OK, firstly, I need to take out Rent/Utilities and Groceries to some degree, due to the HCOLA issue mentioned earlier. Secondly, 'Other' is such a broad category. I'm not sure how to quantify them, though, so I'm just going to leave them as-is. 

Spending by Ranking:

1. Home Comforts (32%)
2. Other (24%)
3. Food (20%)
4. Security/Retirement: (16+%; $250 or more per month PLUS 8% of every paycheck)
5. Travel (9%)
6. Health (3%)
7. Giving Back (2%)
8.  Friends/Family -- Entertainment tied (1%)

Versus what I say my values are:

1. Personal Health: mental, physical (technically includes Home Comforts & Good Food)
2. Fulfilling my purpose in Life/Passion
3. Friends/Family
4. Security/Retirement
5. Travel/Experiences
6. Giving Back

I found this exercise really interesting but I don't think my spending ultimately reflects how I live my life or what I value that well, mostly because the things I value most can be done very cheaply or for free! In the end, this exercise is most useful for people who maybe spend a ton of money on stuff that they don't cherish or value and need to change that to feel more fulfilled and streamline their budget. For those of us who have figured that out already, or aren't super passionate about clothes, cars, things, etc., it is a bit more tricky to say that our spending adequately reflects our values!

I think I am going to do another post on my time spending vs values. Maybe that one will be more accurate and a more useful exercise for me at this point in my life?

2016 Spending Halfway Mark Review

Like I did with my goals, it's time to look at my spending and see if I'm on track.

Seven months out of 12 is about 58%, so I should be at 58% spent or under. I'm over in Medical and Internet, for various reasons. Rent is left out here; it's automatic and messy since it isn't paid monthly (is paid weekly--some months have 5 payments, some have 4).

Internet: I switched to fiber internet and had to buy a new modem and stuff, so that's why that is over. I'm happy with my new, lower cost, unlimited plan. At $26.33 per month, that is about as low as it is gonna get!

Medical: I've had some issues this year, plus I've been exploring various options and getting some needed vaccinations/boosters. I will spend as much as I need to on Medical. A single therapy session is $275, with follow ups at $175 a pop, so I will be overextending this by quite a bit if I start going.

I'm a teeny bit overbudget in Eating Out. But that's OK!

My income since January has been $20,433.94 and I've spent $19,061.30 (including Rent). I'll make about $35K after taxes and retirement cuts this year, IF you include my $65 per week garage rent income. If you don't, I make a little over $31,600 from my straight up salary.

What is weird is that feels totally extravagant--over $30 G's to spend/save for the year?! My existence is expensive. Good thing I am saving a little! I've saved about $1,400 this year on top of my retirement savings (8% of salary) and my $500/month budgeted savings ($3,500).

Yep, I'm pretty happy with how much I make and how I'm using it. The great news is that (barring health difficulties), I should never make less than this after I finish my PhD. There will be a year where I will have to go full-time and will make only $23K, but I hope to top that up by applying for a $16K PhD 'completion scholarship.'

2016 Goals: Halfway Mark

Well, it's over 6 months into the year, but I thought it might be a good time to check in on my 2016 goals. I've reviewed them below, and I think I'm on track for completing them by the end of the year. 

As a reminder, here they are, with updates:

Main goal: Fix sleeping schedule. I now think I know my keystone habit, the one that gets me on track for doing everything I'd like to do in my life: getting up early. The trick is actually doing it. I am failing the majority of days, but I still keep committing myself to the goal every night.

Other goals:

Financial Goals

DONE:

1.    Revise 2016 budget according to PhD salary and lifestyle in 2015. Done Jan 2016
2.       File US taxes.
3.    File state taxes.
4.    Buy basic Renter's insurance (including public liability). AA insurance? Quoted $338 annually for $10K of contents, $307 for $5K, $420 for $25K, $400 for $20K, $290 for $2K (their minimum), and $370 for $15K. Done Jan 2016. Even got $50 back in a promotion!
   $12K for $350 and $1K excess.
   
5.   . Join CreditKarma.
6. Use airpoints for trip home in 2016.  Done! Tickets booked.
7.    Strategize credit card rewards to get free trip to West Coast for wedding in April/May 2017, and East Coast afterward. I think this is done! For 2017 travel, I have 80K United airmiles I can use for round trip airfare to/from the West Coast, and 48K American Airmiles I can use to get to the East Coast. I'll have to play with open-jaw ticket/stopover options, but I think I am OK. 
8. Figure out cc airmiles earnings for 2017 US trip #2 spending. DONE--see here.
9. Transfer 2015 Kiwisaver money from Rabobank and contribute to Superlife Kiwisaver. 
10.    Contribute lump sum $2750 saved in 2015 to Kiwisaver. This should allow me to meet the Kiwisaver minimum contributions to get the tax credit.

LEFT TO DO:

1. Review my NZ retirement allocations. Scheduled for September
2. Review my US retirement allocations. These continue to SUCK. Scheduled for September
3. Review insurances, will, and Master Financial documents. Scheduled for September
4. Check Experian and Equifax credit reports from the US. Check TransUnion after October 13 2016. Scheduled for October.
5. In late June: book W Coast tix for May 2017 wedding, then on to East Coast for family visit & back. OR decide to go back home after conference to West coast later that year (?). Tix booked to W Coast for wedding. Need to book tix back to NZ.
6.     Save $500/mo to long-term House DP goal. This is on track.
7.  Figure out a method to track travel expenses. Any tips? Still struggling here, but I think a combo of keeping receipts and logging spending each day would work if I can remember to do so.
8.  Track every penny and stay out of debt. This is on track.

Travel/Experiences/Social

DONE:

1.    Find someone to travel to Chile with and plan 2 week trip. DONE!
2.     Go on one date. Nope. I'm not dating anymore. Or am I?

 STILL TO DO:

1.     Beat Stranger Danger: go to one meetup event where I know no one every quarter (Jan - Mar; April - June; July - Sept; Oct - Dec). (note: even though I'm not dating, I still think this is a really good idea.). Q1: photography class & friend's going away (I knew no one else going but talked to as many people as I could in 2 hours...I think that counts!). Q2: meetup pub quiz. This is on track.
2.    Visit home. Half done: Airmiles used to book tix! This is all but done.
3. Do Coast-to-Coast hike. 
4.     Find something to do for Xmas and New Year's Eve 2016. BFF & I are thinking about booking a bach up north again.

Learning/Projects

DONE:

1.    Take a photography course. Should be doable one Saturday! $185 NZD Done! Mar 2016--now I want to do a night course and the intermediate course!
2.     Play with smartphone camera. 
3.   Learn how to drive stick (Chile). FAIL
4.  Refresh Spanish online using Duolingo. I have new goal of 50% fluency (as measured by Duolingo) by my trip, and 90+% fluency by end 2016 so that I can put this on my CV & LinkedIn. 

STILL TO DO:

1.     Do Lumosity (free version) several times a week. This is on track.
2.     Take public speaking workshop.
3.     Take an Artstation course.
4.     Go to the Stardome 4x a year, in each season. Learn how to identify at least 5 constellations/heavenly bodies in each hemisphere. This site is neat for that. First visit: May 2016;

Career

DONE:

1.     Give one public talk.
2.   Write PhD proposal.
3.  Get awarded at least one grant. (DONE in January! $68K grant awarded.) 
4. Start writing first paper for PhD (lit review/methods). 
5. Sign up for ORCiD.
6.  Grant one media interview. Done March 2016--but journalist postponed story. (I think it still half counts because I had to really get up the courage to say yes...) Done June. But it was over email. I should still do another talking-one to get the experience I need. 
7.     Write grant proposal #2. This is now out of my hands; my supervisor has to send it in once he makes his changes. 
8.     Collaborate with educators to improve curricula/public outreach. First meeting done, museum display curated, and an outreach event is fully planned.

STILL TO DO:

1.     Update my CV, LinkedIn, Twitter, blog, staff page, and Researchgate profiles for work in January, April, July, and November.  This is on track.
2.     Guide one field trip.
3.     Prep for Conferences #2 and #3 in 2017. Abstracts due Jan 2017. Timeline sorted; goals stated to supervisors, now all I have to do is the WORK.

Medical/Physical/Mental Health

DONE:

1. Go to physio and get instructions for stretches for posture, splits, hip openers, shoulder therapy. Appt made for late Feb./early Mar.
2.     Get medical check up. Normal yearly check up. S. America vaccines. Get thyroid levels checked. Check for Zika/Chagas disease!!  Get DTaP/pertussis booster shot (cheaper in NZ!), flu shot (wait til flu season). Check eczema if they can. Done Mar & June 2016.
3.     Get eye check up. Early part of 2016. My prescription has changed. I ordered new glasses Dec 2015.
4.     Get another eye check up to confirm #5's results. I don't quite believe the new prescription (my eyesight got a lot...better?!) And I want to get my contact lens prescription, too. Jan 2016: done! different prescription, but eyes have definitely gotten better. Got my CL scrip, too--I ordered new contacts. I think I (sigh) actually need DIFFERENT glasses now, as my second prescription was weaker than the first. Basically, my eyesight is all over the place! 
5.   Get dental check up. Early part of 2016. Jan 2016: made appt for late Feb. March: Get dental cleaning, check in with grinding guard, and electric toothbrush recommendation.
6.    Go to the dermatologist for eczema and mole check (grab mole map from existing--creepy--dermo). May was earliest appt. Will cost $300. I will see if my normal GP can prescribe the eczema meds I need instead. In that case I will need to figure something else out for the mole check. Doctor gave me eczema meds. I need to figure something else out for the mole check. Maybe next year. 

STILL TO DO:

1.     Floss every day! I keep skipping. My former self who did it every day for a year would be appalled. This is on track.
2.  Order fitting sunglasses. :/ I hate the ones I bought from Zenni, they slip down constantly. Scheduled for September
3.       Meditate a few minutes every day. I don't do this every day yet, but I am doing it more consistently.
4.     Treat yo'self! Every month, get a massage or other deal via grabone to have some luxury me-time in the midst of super stressful PhD life. This is on track.
           January: pedicure. Done.
           February: Try a Float Tank Nope. circumstances made this impossible the date that I wanted to go.
           March: Float Tank and S. America trip
           April: S Am trip
           May: ?
           June: Got hair cut: the works. Love it when I get my hair washed for me!
           July:
           August:
           September:
           October:
           November:
           December:
5.    Take a work out class: pilates, tennis, weight/strength training, stretch class. I need to work on this.
6.    Learn how to do the splits.  I need to work on this.

Other

DONE:

1.    Time log for 3 weeks.
2.     Food diary for 1 week.
   

STILL TO DO:

1.    Back up computer 4 times a year: March/June/September/December. This is on track.
2.     Identify staple pieces for wardrobe: Joanna Gaines Blog 1  Scheduled for September
3.     Make a physical recipe book so that I no longer have to reference my laptop for recipes while cooking: this is at home. I need to ship it here. This is on track.
4. work on ancestry book for both sides of family. Scheduled for September
5.     Log general mood and correlating habits (sleep, food, hormones) for 3 months.  I am getting better at noticing my dips and swings.
6.      Start thinking about 2017 goals. This is on track.

Single and Childfree and NOT a career high flyer. Is that a problem?

I do wonder: are there any other PF blogs out there written by late 30's+ single, childfree people? And ones that are maybe not career high flyers?

From poking around online as long as I have, I have noticed that even if someone doesn't have one of those things, they most likely have the other. Does the fact that I lack both the super successful career AND ALSO a husband and/or kids mean something about me? Anything?

I feel like a lot of people would look at that succinct summary of my life and feel pity for me. Ha, well, I guess I never got anywhere by being 'normal!' The only reason right now that I can think that I would want any of those things is to fit in and not feel weird amongst my peer group. I mean, even my dad is giving me grief about being single now. He actually told me to go to a bar and pick up whatever I could recently. He thinks I am a freak and not normal!! I have no words...

When I probe my honest truth, though, I still keep coming back to this: if there weren't those 'benchmarks' out there constantly thrown in my face, and the fact that ALL of my friends are coupled up/have kids, I wouldn't feel at all panicky or anxious about my situation. I'd be content to go about my business as I always have. The truth: I'm A-OK alone. I would prefer to have a partner but I've made peace with the idea of being without one in life. I'm more than A-OK childfree (maybe even grateful about that one! ETA: THIS and this only reaffirms my feelings: summary:

"In sum, research on how childfree adults fare later in life shows that few regret their decision not to have or rear children and that many find alternative ways to connect with others and engage in their communities.").

And I'm ridiculously satisfied with my career choice, even though I am likely to never break $80K/year, even once I get my PhD. (Someone asked me what I'd do if I won the lottery, and I said I'd stay in my current vocation. It is 100% true. I'd actually give up the whole lotto win if it meant I had to stop doing what I do.)

So, I don't need gobs of money. I don't need a life partner. I don't need kids.

I need friends and family. I need to be doing stuff in my choice of career and get paid a little bit for it, just enough to get by, save, and travel a little.

What does all of that mean? Why does that make me such an oddity to people? I don't know. I do wonder sometimes (because I hear it from everyone else) if it means that there is something wrong with me. But even if there is, the one thing I do know, and hope will never change, is that I don't want to make choices in my life based on what everyone else is doing.

Stay Away from Sony phones!

I have a Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, bought nearly 2 years ago for its "better" camera. I've had many Sony cameras and loved them, so I thought I'd love their integrated phone/camera too.

But the camera is utter crap!! Totally grainy. Zoom is virtually unusable due to the blur that happens (even on a tripod). The SD card suddenly unmounts itself at awful times, too, like when I'm playing a song or looking up directions on a saved map. I've been sick of my phone for a while now, but unwilling to part with it because I spent SO MUCH MONEY on it (over $400 USD) and because it has been working fine otherwise.

Until a few weeks ago. All of a sudden, it would shut off and go to 0% power even though it had been on 90% + battery the second before. So weird. I thought it was just my time tracking app, so stopped tracking my time usage, but no--it still happened. And is getting more and more frequent. I can't take a picture or send an email without it shutting down on me now. It doesn't seem to be linked to a particular app or function--just, if I'm doing ANYTHING, and it isn't directly connected to the charger, it shuts off completely until it is connected again.  The power bank I carry with me everywhere isn't strong enough to start it up again, either. I have to be plugged in wherever I am, which obviously isn't an ideal situation...

I went to the computer repair place and they said my battery needed to be replaced. Only, the battery is internal and not accessible without taking the phone apart. Good move, Sony. :/

They quoted me >$150 and I'd have to lose my phone for at least a week to get it replaced. ARGH.

No no and no. $40 later, I've bought a replacement battery and tools on TradeMe and schooled up on Youtube about how to take my phone apart to replace the battery. Now all I have to do is wait until the parts arrive to see how I am at phone repair! [ETA: phone surgery done & it is working great so far!]

Until then I am using my old old back up phone, if I can get it to work with my microSIM!

Unfortunately, even though I need a new phone, I really really hate setting up/transferring files to new laptops, phones, whatever. Technology SUCKS. Also, I looked around and there aren't any that fit my bill:

1. amazing camera for my work (the social media side)
2. waterproof for fieldwork
3. reliable/long battery life
4. Android
5. external SD card slot/expandable memory
6. GPS
7. Quad band
8. 4G
9. less than 4.5" mini/compact size
10. 3G UTMS/WCDMA/HSDPA 850 & 4G LTE BAND 3 1800 for NZ data
11. 3G UTMS/WCDMA/HSDPA 1700 & 2100; 4G LTE BAND 4 1900 and 2100 for US data (T-mobile)

So, unless the battery replacement doesn't work out, I won't be getting a new phone this year. Maybe next year? If so, I'm looking to switch brands for sure: right now I'm eying up Samsung and LG phones. They've always been good to me.

Samsung J1 Ace?

Will my phone work?

Smartphone comparison

July Goals!

July Goals

1. Main goal: Fix sleep schedule. 
2. Meditate/deep breathing a few minutes.
3. Make physio appt for numb toe/shoulder issues.
4. Make appt for therapist.
5. Make chicken soup. Keep cooking for the week every Sunday.
6. Go to one work out class.
7. Float tank/bday pampering. :)
8. Figure out tracking system for moods, weight, exercise, sleep, hormones.
9. Figure out flight back from US next May/June & work out road trip.
10. Xfer everything to old phone til I get a chance to fix new phone. Research new phones in case new phone can't be fixed. 
11. Open up laptop and blow it out with air duster.

PhD/Work Stuff:

1. Meet/get guidance: Meet PhD supervisors once mid-month. 
2. Update my CV, LinkedIn, Twitter, blog, staff page, and Researchgate profiles for work. 
3. Fieldwork: Plan and organise to take samples towards end of month.
4. Write: 
1. Outline paper #1 (Intro/lit review/methods/results).
2. Finalise grant proposal #2 (up to supervisor to do so, is out of my hands!).
5. Analyze: Learn how to process data from December.
6. Organize: 
1. make schedule to prep for conference #1. 
2. clean out pen data storage to make room/archive deleted pencasts on PC.
3. Set up ExpanDrive on both my laptop and work computers.
7. Labwork: Pick and start prepping samples from sites #1, #2, and #3 & #4.
8. Communicate: Keep up with Twitter.
   

June Goal Review

Didn't do great this month. Still feeling really tired. Sleep schedule completely out of whack, and I have ZERO will power or self-discipline these days to do what I know I need to do: exercise, and get up early. So. Tired...

June Goal Review:

1. Main goal: Fix sleep schedule. Unh. No.
2. Get bloodwork done for follow up doc appt
3. Think about physio or not. Made an appt. One of my toes has gone numb!
4. Make appt for therapist. I really should do this. I don't know why I keep putting this off!
5. Meditate/deep breathing a few minutes. Not really.
6. Finish online cooking course. Still need to make soup, but otherwise done.
7. Go to one work out class.
8. Do Float Tank or other monthly pampering thing. Got hair cut.
9. Back up my computer. 
10. Keep on keeping track of my time/mood/other items as I can (diet, sleep).
11. At the very end of June, check on airmiles flights to cousin's wedding in US for next May (airmiles seats will be released 1 year and 4 weeks after my intended return flight date). Bought airmiles tix to West coast! Still need to get flight back from US, just not sure when.

PhD/Work Stuff:

1. Meet: Meet PhD supervisors to go over progress and work plan/questions/doubts. Two meetings done. 
2. Write: 
1. Turn in draft of grant proposal #2.  
2. Finalise and submit award application (PT) by the end of June submission.
3. Finish short summary of how 2015 award was spent & turn in.
4. Outline paper #1 (lit review/methods/results). This is on-going
3. Analyze: Learn how to process data from December. Still on-going. Have made some headway, had a few meetings, I have more tutorial meetings scheduled.
4. Organize: 
1. clean out pen data storage to make room/archive deleted pencasts on PC.
2. Set up ExpanDrive on both my laptop and work computers.
5. Labwork: Start labwork again. 
6. Communicate: Write work project summary article and submit to newsletter. Submitted one press release.

June 2016 Budget Summary: only 55% of income spent!

OK, first off: this is one of the best articles I've ever read.

Secondly, I've been remiss in posting because I am not making a lot of progress on my goals. I've been really ill/tired/something for months now. My doctors ran a large battery of tests; they came up clean. We can come up with no more ideas on what could be happening. So there is nothing definable wrong with me; I just have to keep taking care of myself and sucking it up. Being tired is life now. I have to carefully manage what I commit to and do. One of my toes has also become numb, despite not ever wearing high heels, ever?! Apparently this is quite common, is related to nerve damage in my foot, and is incurable unless they do major surgery to sever the nerve. It isn't painful, just weird-feeling, so I guess I have one more thing to add to the list of my bodily creaks, weirdnesses, aches and concerns! You should hear me going down steps--I sound like I'm popping a bunch of bubble wrap!

A few things of note happened this month, even with my extreme fatigue.

1. The results of the DNA test I took a long time ago ended up reuniting an adoptee with a distant member of my family. Life is so bizarre!

2. A really good friend moved away from NZ for good. I am absolutely gutted to see him go, but happy for him, as I've wanted to move away for ages, too, and his reasons for moving are very similar to mine. He's actually gone and done it! Beyond losing a friend that I see in person a lot, it also sucks because he has all the traits of my ideal partner. He and I never clicked together like that (it was the ONLY thing missing, plus he was completely oblivious to all of my advances), but for some reason seeing him go makes me feel like I've lost any chance of finding someone like that again. Sad.

3. Somewhat related--my best guy friend and I ended up crossing the friend line a little lot. He and I get along really well and do have chemistry, but he has almost none of the traits I'm looking for in a long-term partner. (Wish I could combine dudes.) I can't tell if it was a mistake or not right now. I don't regret it (yet), I don't think it is going anywhere, I don't think I want it to go anywhere, but we have yet to discuss, and who knows how this will affect the friendship. On my part, it was fun but it didn't mean anything to me, which is really confusing because that is not how I normally operate and because of how much I care about him as a friend.

4. My work contract got renewed for another year, and I got a small raise.

5. I'm cooking more. Yay!


 

	June 2016 Budget
Category	Spent	Budgeted Amount	Balance
Rent	$900.00	$900.00	$0.00
Groceries	$437.54	$425.00	-$12.54
Internet	$26.33	$26.33	$0.00
Electricity	$71.44	$50.00	-$21.44
Eating Out	$154.17	$143.00	-$11.17
Charity	$0.00	$30.00	$30.00
Cell phone	$16.00	$40.00	$24.00
Medical	$0.00	$65.00	$65.00
Misc	$268.00	$700.00	$432.00
Savings	$500.00	$500.00	$0.00
Total	$2,373.48	$2,879.33	$505.85
Remainder	$1,019.50	$1,019.50

    Groceries: On budget despite spending a crap ton on food this month, for my cooking course. One of my grocery bills was $190!!! Wowza. I have started eating a bit healthier, slowly but surely. I've completely cut out junk food like chips and the cheetos from the American store I normally eat as a snack. I do have a few squares of dark chocolate, either solid and coated in peanut butter (yum), or melted to dip strawberries into when I want something sweet (rarely). I still have a huge craving for cheesy corn chips, though...

Internet is the same every month. Unlimited fibre for $79, divided three ways amongst the flatties.

Electricity is up! Winter is HERE. Even divided 3 ways amongst the flatties, it is HIGH.

Eating Out: could do better here. I had Sal's, dominoes, thai takeaways, moustache cookies, and McD's once.

Will need to pick a few charities soon!

Cell: $16/mo plan gives me way more than I need.

Medical: Love NZ. Even with all my doc appts and blood tests, I paid $0 this month.

Misc: $268? Who AM I? Well, this month was easy because I was feeling awful and didn't leave the house for much of the month, except for my friend's leaving do.

MISC
alcohol	$          49.50
entertainment	$               -
exercise	$               -
fees	$               -
gifts	$               -
goods and wants	$        113.50
transportation	$        105.00
travel	$               -

Thanks to my low Misc spending and tax refund, I have $1019.50 left over for June. Huzzah! 1/3 rolls over to July for a little spending cushion, 1/3 goes to my West Coast US Camping Trip Fund, and 1/3 goes to my PhD Fun(d).

Since I don't seem to be using much of my PhD Fun(d), I moved some $$ around. I've taken about $800 out of it and moved it to the West Coast US Camping Fund so that it's done. Yay! Still have about $1K left in there for whatever. Not sure what!!