ShanShan's Diary - Debt Free Gonna-be!

ShanShan_2

Well I've had a pretty lazy Sunday. All I've really done is messed around on the computer, also did a couple loads of washing. Did 30 minutes on the new exercise bike. It's okay but damn does it kill your legs. Am aiming to do 30 mins per day until I get used to it and then up it to 45 mins.

Can I just say that I am being so tempted by Apple products at the moment. Not only do I have my eye on the iPhone 5s but now the iPad Air as well. I've never been one to want the next big tech thing so this is weird for me. Maybe it's because I've waited so long for the car I am being tempted by other things?

In other news, in todays money-saving efforts I have decided that instead of ordering pizza I am going to make a creation out of whatever I find in the freezer, and I have also decided not to buy any more toiletry products until I use all of the stuff I already have because I have a lot.

Anywho, I think that's all for today. Am off to find something for dinner.

ShanShan_2

So I've had a fantastic Monday.

This morning I got an email from my car salesman telling me that I will be able to pick the car up on Wednesday! Yaaaaay! I am so excited. I have Wednesday off so I will be able to spend the rest of the day messing with the cars features and syncing it to my iPhone and all of that futuristic stuff which makes me very happy.

Then at work today I was offered a promotion. Yes, that's right a promotion! I will now be the 2IC of my department. I haven't signed anything or discussed $$ yet but I know it will definitely be better than what I am currently on. I knew the promotion was coming but it was just a matter of it actually happening, if you know what I mean. Needless to say, I absolutely love the new manager for finally promoting me. YAY!

I also sorted out insurance for the new car. It's going to cost just under $1200 per year which includes no excess for windscreen damage repairs. I live in a place with plenty of highways that have trucks that like to throw up rocks with their giant tyres so definitely had to take the option of no excess for windscreen repairs.
Unfortunately due to being under the age of 25 the insurance companies seem to find it reasonable to charge ridiculous amounts for insurance because they assume all young people to be irresponsible hoons.

Am off to the bank tomorrow to get my loan/bank cheque sorted so that it's all ready for when I go to pick my car up. Also headed to the hairdressers which will cost me a royal fortune but hey what else is new.

That's all for now, unfortunately I am way too excited to sleep so I will have a read on the forums for a while.

mouche

Good news on the car Shanshan. Bet you're really excited - I wonder which one is more exciting-the car or the promotion. My advice would be that when your promotion is finalised and you start getting the pay rise - DON'T SPEND IT. Just stick the entire pay rise into your savings and DO NOT buy the iPad Air or whatever straightaway. You've been managing fine on your current pay so pretend you haven't got a payrise and give it to the savings instead.

If after a month or so, you still crave the iPad Air, then go ahead. It's very easy to spend money you haven't actually got when you know it's coming, if you see what I mean?

Another thing you could try is to ring fence your house deposit savings. Don't touch them except in dire emergencies. Then look at how much spare cash you have every month, put a portion in the house savings and divide the rest among your annual costs (including a pot for fun stuff like iPads). That way you have a pot for everything you need and you know how much you need to save before you can buy it outright.

Congratulations on all your good work, the car and the promotion!

ShanShan_2

mouche wrote: »

Good news on the car Shanshan. Bet you're really excited - I wonder which one is more exciting-the car or the promotion. My advice would be that when your promotion is finalised and you start getting the pay rise - DON'T SPEND IT. Just stick the entire pay rise into your savings and DO NOT buy the iPad Air or whatever straightaway. You've been managing fine on your current pay so pretend you haven't got a payrise and give it to the savings instead.

If after a month or so, you still crave the iPad Air, then go ahead. It's very easy to spend money you haven't actually got when you know it's coming, if you see what I mean?

Another thing you could try is to ring fence your house deposit savings. Don't touch them except in dire emergencies. Then look at how much spare cash you have every month, put a portion in the house savings and divide the rest among your annual costs (including a pot for fun stuff like iPads). That way you have a pot for everything you need and you know how much you need to save before you can buy it outright.

Congratulations on all your good work, the car and the promotion!

Hey mouche, thank you so much for stopping by. I currently have an 'iPad Fund' which is made up from the money that I've made from eBay sales (old text books and other random crap). It's about 1/4 funded so far but I have no idea whether or not I will actually use it to buy an iPad. I'll see if the craving stays if not I will chuck it straight in the car loan.

Re: house deposit savings I now have that in an account that never gets touched. I am budget crazy so have accounts/pots for everything imaginable. Will definitely be shoving all extra pay rise money into house deposit/car loan. I've spent the last few weeks crafting a budget (with my current wage - not future wage) that is inclusive of every expense possible so that everything is clearly laid out and I know exactly where all of my money is going, so that I will never have to dip into my various savings accounts. I also have an emergency fund which currently sits at around $1200 which I am adding a little bit into every week. I also have what I call a "moving out fund" where I am saving money for if I ever wanted to move out (rent) so that I won't be touching my big savings until I go to purchase a house.

More towards the new year I will post my updated budget inclusive of the new car payment which should be fun for everyone to tear apart but I think I've got it down to a pretty fine art at this point

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Also went to the hairdressers today and spent a whopping $138 which is not very MSE of me I know but unfortunately it had to be done as I have evil blonde/red/brown (patchy) hair that just has to have highlights or it looks like I've dunked my head in a mud puddle. Good thing I only get it done every 4-5 months.

Then went to the bank and got my bank cheque done ready for tomorrow. I am so so excited I can't even sleep hence am on the forums. Banker guy informs me that I don't have to start having my car payments until a couple of weeks as it takes time to get everything set up. Will have to visit the branch next week to set up my direct debit.

A question - I would like to post a picture of the car for you guys when I get it. Is there any way that I can do this?

ShanShan_2

I went and picked up the car today and it was all very exciting. Haven't taken any decent pictures yet but I do have this one. When I first picked out that colour I was a bit unsure but now that I have the car I am really liking it.





Also went and finished up the last of my Christmas shopping as well as picked up a couple of other essential bits and am now $140-ish dollars poorer. Oh well, it's all done for the year now.

I suppose I had better head off to bed. I am super tired and have work tomorrow and will hopefully be negotiating my salary so I will need plenty of energy for that.

mouche

ShanShan wrote: »

I am budget crazy so have accounts/pots for everything imaginable.

Sounds like you've got it all planned for - good for you! Enjoy the car and good luck with the pay negotiations.

ShanShan_2

Had a good day at work today. Managers day off so unfortunately no pay negotiation today but I'm pretty sure that will happen tomorrow. Not a lot to report really, car is going well though needs some fuel putting in it as the dealer only gave me slightly less than half a tank. Am feeling really tired so I should probably go to bed but am waiting for hair to dry.

KiKi

Where in Aus are you, ShanShan? I used to live in Melbourne, so just curious!

I'm very jealous that you've just finished work and we've still got half a day to go!

ShanShan_2

KiKi wrote: »

Where in Aus are you, ShanShan? I used to live in Melbourne, so just curious!

I'm very jealous that you've just finished work and we've still got half a day to go!

I am in QLD. Haha I finished work at 8:45pm. It's only thursday for me, pretty sure it's Friday for you guys.

KiKi

Nope, Thursday for us. We're 11 or 9 hours behind you, depending on when the clocks go forward and back! Currently 11!