Rampant consuming - Take 2
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Topic: Rampant consuming - Take 2
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Subject: Rampant consuming - Take 2
Date Posted: 06 July 2007 at 3:41pm
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Here ya go!
I think I might list some goals for this month. |
Replies:
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 06 July 2007 at 3:43pm
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My goal is stop spending!!! Seems simple enough but we have slipped the last few days. Kinda defeats the anti consumerist idea if I keep spending. *sigh*
------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 06 July 2007 at 4:27pm
| my goal is to: go into to town to get some thing and to come out with ONLY that some thing. we'll see. having no money at all is pretty good motivation! |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 06 July 2007 at 4:41pm
I've slipped a little too, maybe a new thread will help me find new motivation. Have also made the decision that it is time to stop eating like I am still breastfeeding and get rid of the 16kg of gremlin weight that I'm still lugging around  -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 06 July 2007 at 5:13pm
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Yeah we won't even talk about my eating this last week...and we have a big lunch and afternoon tea tomorrow....ACK! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 06 July 2007 at 5:29pm
I think once Erin's birthday passes we will be working on a new goal, of not eating up our "surplus" money every month. We have been good with our budgets, but then there always seems to be something extra - we have $280 a month for things that sneak up on us, but have to be more realistic about what fits into that category. Plus it will mean more cash that goes directly into our savings account, at the moment we only put in $200 a fortnight so that could go up to $340 which would be awesome !! 
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Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 06 July 2007 at 5:34pm
Mmmm only really going to join on the 15th as such. Want to do one total financial month. Was scary when we looked at our purchases this last month and put it in categories.  But we bought a lot of extra stuff that we "think" is neccesary but I am sure in a years time might think why did we ever buy this.
Hubby bought a scooter and should be here in another 30 days. That will cut transport cost to work quite dramatically. Guess my stress levels will go up again. But I should have known he wouldnt have stayed off a bike for that long.  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 06 July 2007 at 7:35pm
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My new plan is to try de-cluttering my house so I can see how much cr@p we already have, and therefore don't need more stuff to just sit in the cupboards ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 06 July 2007 at 7:54pm
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I'm decluttering at the moment too....there will be A LOT of Maddie's clothes going up for sale. We're cutting back and just keeping what would really be needed. It's stupid that we have stuff she hasn't worn or has only worn once or twice.
We did just spend a bit of money in farmers and the $2 shop...got some more size 1 stuff for Maddie so she is nearly outfitted fully for under $100 all up! (including stuff we had already accumulated). Also got her her own wallet and toy cell phone and purse from the $2 shop...hopefully it will help distract her from mine. 
Starting tomorrow though we'll be taking anti-consumerism literally!! Wish us luck!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 06 July 2007 at 8:22pm
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Good luck!
I have a ludicrous amount of baby clothes in the cupboard - bags and bags of hand me downs from my sisters kids and my cousins kids. Once I find out what sex this baby is (hopefully) will do some culling as this is my last (again, hopefully!). Daniel and I have sorted out our clothes and it is so much better having less clothes, but good ones. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 06 July 2007 at 8:30pm
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Well now I have done my nappy shopping (just under $400), and i'm about to buy the books I need for my papers I am so doing this. I'm aiming to save us about $200 a fortnight (just doable) and with that I'll put that money away so that we have enough money aside to go over to OZ to see my parents once they have a house over there. A good thing to aim towards. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 07 July 2007 at 2:13pm
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1. Take lunch to work/uni
2. Sell some crap 3. Make any pressies that need making 4. Pay off credit card 5. Get Hannah's lunch shopping costs down - might involve baking 6. Print out power saving tips and get power bill down |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 07 July 2007 at 2:35pm
Good list Nikki  I havent bought any greeting cards in over a year and this Xmas I am not going to buy things if I can help it. Need to think up some ideas, one of them is to make reusable shopping bags.
1. Stop buying extra food cos I feel like something in particular 2. Sell our second car 3. Declutter and sell the good stuff 4. Keep fingers crossed that we get a huge family assistance payout from the last year (and that it arrives soon) 5. Keep a spending diary for a month (much like my old weight watchers points diary!) ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 07 July 2007 at 6:27pm
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I'm going to try really hard to get my grocery bill down. I kept tabs on everything last week from the big shop to all the little spends, and it was abysmal (sp?) We ended up buying something extra basically every day!! We've already done a little better this week - I did my main shop which was $177, and our first 'extra' will be tomorrow morning because we need bread (we've had people staying for the weekend)
Plus, today, I've tried making my own dog treats and it's turned out really well (except for the almost-power chuck at the smell once I'd stuck it all in the blender  - it was a bit horrific!) and I did a costing on it and it's about half of what I spend on schmackos, maybe a little less. I buy a big bag of schmackos every other week, which is $8. The ingredients for the treats cost $8, but it has made between 4-6 weeks worth (4 weeks min, 6 weeks max depending on how I doll them out) ... and the puppies loooove them! 
Oh! And when I did my shop, I bought 1 packet of bickies (Pam's!!) and came home and baked a cake for my visitors so we could have morning/afternoon tea at home 
So, renewed energy - we're also getting closer to living off DH's income, which is my major goal. I'll be able to put my entire month's salary on my credit card this month towards paying off the accumulated bills from things fritzing. Yay! ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 07 July 2007 at 8:37pm
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Good work Ginger! I found keeping all my supermarket receipts for a month helped me write a better grocery list, cos it included all the things I usually forget! ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 07 July 2007 at 10:19pm
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Ooo! And we found a loaf of bread we bought on Thursday during our shop, so we don't need bread tomorrow after all! (Isn't it funny what floats your boat at times ...? ) ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 07 July 2007 at 11:27pm
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Ginger - my tactic is to have a running stockpile of bread, but it also helps that we have a second freezer in the basement (although only standard size it is better than nothing!). We regularly buy 4 loaves or so with each big shop (fortnightly) so I can make sure there are always at *least* one or two downstairs.
Milk on the other hand, is another story altogether - at the rate we're going I may as well buy a cow and stick it in the back yard ! 
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Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 08 July 2007 at 9:51am
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That's a good idea Jax, but we only have the one freezer, and it's the one on top of the fridge, so not big enough for that! I'm thinking though that it's going to be a good idea to get a deep freeze for the garage, especially if we have a baby, as I'll be able to make up meals, and baby food ... and now dog treats! The little monsters nearly took my hands off last night when I gave them their bed-time treats. ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 08 July 2007 at 11:57am
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Ginger - we got out the bread maker and BSDH is now baking bread most nights...ingredients cost less, he puts it all in before we go to bed and there is bread waiting for us in morning....saves heaps and is a healthier option....
ok so other than that im not saving money at all....DOH! |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 08 July 2007 at 12:04pm
actually we did save money - we decided to pick our own numbers (finnlly) for lotto - we normally get a $12-$15 lotto ticket each week but picking our own numbers is only $8.80...so a saving and possible win too? maybe one day but not last nite...
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Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 08 July 2007 at 12:48pm
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Bollocks huh? The way our luck has been running of late, I don't even bother buying tickets!
Although I do have my car back, and it's running really well and they didn't even ask about my paying for the excess on the warranty claim to do the work  Possibly because they realised I would have had them for breakfast 
I went to the Clevedon market this morning and did some 'shopping' - eggs which are a grocery item, some chocolates and afghan cookies for dessert tonight (my dad is taking us out to dinner, and I thought some nice chocolates would work for dessert at home since we're going to an Irish Pub for tea, and they do crap desserts! ), some nice bread and cheese for yummy lunch at home (instead of expensive lunch out!) ... and a ceramic kitchen cannister which at this stage I have nothing to put in  . Ahem.
I bought my first xmas pressie to put away too - a gorgeous coffee cup set (x4 cups and matching saucers) for my neighbours for $29.50. We try to spend around $40 or less on each other, so it's perfect. I start trying to stagger xmas stuff from about here on in, so it's not a big shock all at once. I found a perfect present for DH (an Italian cook book by a woman whose restaurant we've been too - Mama Pias in Wellies - and looooved ) but it was $45.00 so I just clocked where I can get it from, and will save up over a couple of weeks for that one.
The breadmaker route would probably be a really good one for us too BS considering the quantity of bread DH eats - and he likes the McKenzie Country bread too which is beautiful, but expensive when you're eating a loaf a day! ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 08 July 2007 at 12:59pm
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Ohhhhh McKenzie Country bread is sooooooo devine....but waaaaaaaaaaaay off my budget.
I make our bread sometimes too but we don't have a bread maker so we do it the long way....kinda fun though! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 08 July 2007 at 4:37pm
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We should probably use our breadmaker more And Ginger - while I'm not saying you HAVE to shell out on a new freezer, the extra storage capacity is super handy especially once you have a baby ! (Don't think I can stress that enough...)
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Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 12 July 2007 at 1:52pm
I've done better this week Yay! Progress!
Main shop (Thu) - $177.22 Wool wash (Sunday - can't get it from Pak'n'save) - $7.58 (Ecostore - ouchy! Lasts for aaaages though) plus crumpets $1.49
Monday - Marg (actually Alpha One spread) - $3.69 plus Herald $1.60 Wed - Milk $4.40 Total spent - $195.98. Wooppeeeee!!!!!
Plus, we had guests for the weekend, so it was even more of an achievement since I fed them, and only had to do a dash for more marg (a tub of marg lasts me about 2 months ... half of one lasted them the weekend! )
*Does a happy dance* ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
ginger wrote:Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 12 July 2007 at 1:54pm
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Oops. Forgot the coffee beans. $24.00 I bought 2 weeks worth so that I'm not tempted to go back in next week, and buy beans AND a coffee
So, total was $220.98, but that's still progress! ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 12 July 2007 at 3:03pm
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Doing well!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 12 July 2007 at 4:52pm
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Bravo Ginger, that's great !!
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Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 12 July 2007 at 8:23pm
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Well done Ginger! ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 13 July 2007 at 9:42am
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Very impressed.
I was planning on spending lots today... luckily I dropped in here as the guilt is now preventing me from doing so! |
Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 13 July 2007 at 11:00am
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Perhaps I should have sent DH in here yesterday - he bought an MP3 player $360!! Admittedly, he's done some overtime which will pay for it, but I'd much rather he'd waited until he'd been paid for the overtime (it's due next pay day - 2 weeks) rather than sticking it on the Visa now. Oh well! Baby steps!
On the plus side - I got paid today, and I was able to put the entire amount (one months salary) on my Visa against accumulated debt (the cars etc), so we're definitely working off DH's salary for our budget. There's nothing left over of course but we'll work on that!! ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 14 July 2007 at 3:54pm
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Okay did my fortnightly shopping. Had to buy almost all cleaning stuff and baking stuff. Ran out of most stuff with that over here. Bought enough meat for a month and spent in total $340.76 And $30 was stuff for hubby to make sushi. And that wasnt on my list. He forgot to tell me about it. lol. Bought lots of fruit ect. Granted I must still buy milk this week and milk and bread and fruit next week which will add to it.
But I dont think it is too bad seeing that I dont have to buy cleaning stuff or baking or toiletries with the next fortnight spent so should be way way less and should come out better than previous month. (if hubby dont decide to add more stuff that is.) ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 14 July 2007 at 8:01pm
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All up the whop. Friggin car is broken. We're broke. GAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 14 July 2007 at 8:18pm
B*gger Paws!! At least that means you definitely won't be spending anything though?  I hope it gets fixed quickly.
I really need to join in with this. My goals: 1. Get back in line with the weekly grocery budget 2. Bake and invite people over rather than going out (easier with DD anyway!) 3. Make the presents! Start now for Christmas so I don't panic two weeks out and go buy expensive cr*p because I can't think of anything else. 4. Declutter my wardrobe, only buy what I need instead of stuff that catches my eye and that I will never wear. Ginger, your grocery shopping has inspired me! You're going so well!
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Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 14 July 2007 at 8:30pm
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Well I've had a bad few days, feel quite guilty actually. Bought Hannah some new nappies cos her's werent fitting right, may sell the old ones depends how new ones go. Also bought Hannah a fairy dress ($20 but its for her birthday). And spent a wee bit ($65) at PP, but that was 3 pants and 2 hoodies. Bought my Crowded House ticket for October. Oh and just went to the supermarket for a few things and spent $40!! Argh!
Well I have lots turning up in the mail in the next few days, so that should keep me happy for a while. Am back on the wagon now, and in my defence has been my first slip... ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 17 July 2007 at 9:36am
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Paws! Oh no!! Broken cars suck. I've had 2 recently and I'm still trying to recover financially
How is everyone doing? I've been a bit naughty - I got my hair done on Saturday ($70.00). I really needed to get it cut, but I still feel bad. $70.00 seems like so much now! I also bought x2 trugs for the house, which are marvellous (one for the wood by the fire, and one for all the dog walking stuff by the back door) but it was still $50.00. Cheaper than a proper wood basket though I suppose. I also bought a mooncup and some reusable pads,so an upfront hit, but it'll even out over time (not having to buy pads and tampons) and be much healthier for me and my poor abused body, and better for the environment too. Otherwise though, my grocery bill looks like it is coming closer to $200.00 a week (this week $218.92, and our shop for next week will be a smaller one as last weeks had cleaning products and beer which hikes the bill up). I had a bit of a disaster, although vaguely a success, wiht dinner last night - I did stuff sausages and found that using expensive ($7 for 4 , meaty, spiced sausages doesn't work (because they're so meaty and fatty they collapsed and made a terrible mess, and dried out)! So, next time, I'll use cheap sausages like I used to once upon a time, and make the potato really tasty!!
We have a bit of an expense coming up soon - we're heading down to Palmerston North to meet with a reputable Chinese herbalist to see if she may be able to do something for us pre-IVF. I'm not imagining she'll be able to make us fertile, but as healthy as we can be is a bonus. ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: Anna
Date Posted: 17 July 2007 at 10:03am
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Ginger, I have friends who tried a Chinese herbalist in Palmy.
They went on to have success with their seventh IVF round!! (It was gonna be their last shot...) ------------- Anna http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 17 July 2007 at 11:10am
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Other than the car we've been pretty good...then again with that sort of bill it's pretty easy to be good as gold!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 17 July 2007 at 11:17am
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Woohoo Anna! That's the sort of thing that I want to hear (Any idea who it was? I know it's a long shot! I'll be feeling VERY cheerful if it's the same person!)
Paws - I know what you mean. I nearly fainted at our $3500.00 bill, and didn't even want to do groceries that first week afterwards! ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 17 July 2007 at 8:05pm
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Am not sure whether I feel guilty or not - spent $70 at PP today but it was via birthday money that my dad sent from Canada for Erin anyway
Having a bit of trouble controlling my caffeine and sugar addictions though
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Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 17 July 2007 at 8:22pm
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I'm doing the grocery shop tomorrow, so had to check in here to remind myself to be good!
Bought from the bakery on sunday after procrastinating too long before a pot luck lunch, but haven't made any other purchases food-wise. We have started a system where we have a whiteboard in the kitchen and as we run out of stuff or think of things we *need* from the supermarket, we add them to it. I'm going to use that each week along with the staples (milk, bread etc.) and NOTHING ELSE and see if that gets us through. Did baking today and invited someone over .
Got a rude shock having to pay for creche for the first time this week, trying to acclimatise DD before I go back to work. A definite reason not to spend! And - very exciting - I'm about to send out my first invoice for my business! Yay!! I didn't realise how much I missed contributing to our income.
Although am feeling better about our spending after just seeing on the money doctor programme now the couple who are in debt for over $30,000 on hire purchases and stuff...eek! How scary! |
Posted By: Anna
Date Posted: 17 July 2007 at 8:49pm
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Sorry Ginger! Not the faintest idea! I am sure it would be easy enough to find out tho!
Apologies for the thread jack there ladies! ------------- Anna http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 27 July 2007 at 11:58am
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Woohoo! I went shopping this morning and it didn't cost me a BEAN
I bought a new pair of pants, a new top AND a new jersey and the whole lot is on my work expense account. Happy joy! And, I've just emailed my manager and told him he's paying for it (I've been working in the warehouse, on top of my admin job, and my clothes have taken a beating and since I'm not getting paid, I figure they can stump up for it in a slightly more inventive way. Go me! ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: james
Date Posted: 27 July 2007 at 1:18pm
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i might join on in here i have paid a bill off all in one go but worth it and have done james shopping (food and nappies) i am trying to get my self out of deapt so i can take me and james to perth for a hoilday next year ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 27 July 2007 at 1:37pm
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That is a great goal Lu!
I have had a really bad few weeks, but a lot of it has been extra food cos I've been feeling so yucky. Have also bought Han a few things for her birthday in Oct and me a few maternity clothes. Am going to Auckland next weekend then after that am going to do a proper no spend month. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |