Just chugging along.
April was a month where I paid rent 5x instead of 4, so that took a toll.
I'm still paying for my groceries using my US stimulus money. I just charge it to my US credit card. That helps a ton.
My scholarship ran out but was (supposedly) extended. The only way I'll know is if I receive a paycheck. I find out on Wednesday if they followed through on the extension or not.
The extension lasts until the end of June, upon which time the research program I work for will take over my scholarship until December. If I don't get my PhD done by December, I will need to find an alternate source of funding. Or work for free to finish.My job
managing my research program looks like it will be continuing through
end June 2022. I am just 0.3 FTE, which is not enough to live off of. For post-PhD, I don't know what I'll do yet. I've been written into a few research proposals. One I hope doesn't get funded -- I'm burnt out and don't want to do it. The other is ~0.2 FTE in NZ and I really want that. For that one, we should find out if that proposal moves on to the second round next week. Crossed fingers!!
In any case, I barely leave the house and therefore don't spend much money. Partly due to depression, part due to habit from the pandemic, and part because I'm still wary about outbreaks (even though NZ has done a fantastic job). Even with my very limited going out schedule, I've been near/in the "places of concern" at the same time or just after covid case people for the last two or three mini-outbreaks. I'm not freaking out over nothing here.
Speaking of covid, I'm not going to the gym until the pandemic is over. I also try to avoid all public transport and eating inside restaurants if I can. The thought of doing all that freaks me the EFF out, still.
April 2021 budget
Income: $2,417.24, made up of two PhD checks: $470.06 x 2; 2 work checks: $588.56 x 2; garage rent: $300; overage from previous month: $221.79
Rent: $1,300
Groceries: $39.41 (partially supplemented by my $600 USD stimulus check and a work trip)
Internet/Electricity: $0 (roommate hasn't told me what my share of the bill is yet -- deferred til May I guess)
Eating out: $56.90
Charity: $30
Cell phone: $36
Medical: $0
Misc: $557.14
Savings: $50
Total spent: $2,069.45
Overage: $347.79 (transferred to savings)
Misc spending:
Self care: $275 (mostly massages, my main treat since my back is so messed up and aches all the time)
Goods and wants: $160.97
Transportation: $20.77
Net Worth (if all funds are in NZD): $211,504.03
Things are going OK with the Net Worth as well. Stocks are doing well it seems.
US Funds (Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, non-retirement brokerage): $40,323.36
NZ Funds: $153,540.66
Savings: $75,640.09 (see side bar for funds)
Bonus Bonds: $160
Lending Crowd: $5,543.37
SuperLife (NZ retirement scheme): $72,197.20
