G'day!! One year in.....

ms_london

Hellooooo. At home on a Sat night - very mse - so thought I would pop in and say hi and see how things were with you dfw'ers!!

I am coming up to the end of my time in Oz, my visa runs out in a week - cant believe it has been a year already, complete madness!!

Seems as though there are a lot of new faces on here, and lots of "oldies" giving the same old good advice!!

The whole being in debt & MSE experience has gone a long way to make this trip what it is and make sure that I see all I want to see and do all I want to do, but doing it within my means!! Met so many travellers that are going home with debt - will I be one of them? No siree. Not on your nelly.....

Just finished up at work, and am heading to Thailand next (6 weeks) and then coming back to Oz to finish my travelling, and then scooting over to NZ for my working hol visa there. Thats a year but not sure whether I will stay that long - who knows!! But I need to come back home with a bit of money, so if that means I am living and working in NZ for longer then so be it - not a bad thing anyway really is it.

For those of you who are new to these boards, stick at it and you will get there - it is tough but will be the best thing you ever do. Being debt free brings so much choice and freedom - a better feeling than any new top or pair of shoes will bring you thats for sure.

Anyway, just wanted to pop in and say hi and let you know that I havent forgotten about you and regularly think of you and wonder how things are going.. If someone could let me know when Martin's new book is out that would be fab !!

Almost bedtime for me, so I hope you have a good weekend.

Take care xx

hypno06

Fab post Ms L! Have a good night's sleep and send us a virtual postcard from Thailand!!

HairyHandofDartmoor

Hi, nice to hear from you. It is after lunch on sat here!

I'm interested to hear that you are still debt free despite being away for nearly a year. You have cleared eaked out your original savings by working abroad. But haven't you been tempted to overspend? There must be lots more temptations abroad. How have you resisted and stayed strong?

Your trip sounds great. You must be so proud of yourself for saving up for it and finishing it debt free!

HairyHandofDartmoor

Martin's new book is out now, if you mean the thrifty ways one? Is there another one I don't know about?

ms_london

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

Hi, nice to hear from you. It is after lunch on sat here!

I'm interested to hear that you are still debt free despite being away for nearly a year. You have cleared eaked out your original savings by working abroad. But haven't you been tempted to overspend? There must be lots more temptations abroad. How have you resisted and stayed strong?

Your trip sounds great. You must be so proud of yourself for saving up for it and finishing it debt free!

Hey. Ok, didnt quite go to bed - the danger of having the internet at home!!

I must admit I have overspent a bit, and I did go a bit mad in Sydney buying clothes & stupid stuff like that, but I havent spent money I didnt have and was saving every month whilst I was earning...

I still have a few pounds left from my original savings pot, but have topped that up since I have been working, and have just found out I have $4000 in a tax rebate coming back to me, which is fab news, plus I can get my super (pension equivalent) back when I leave the country...

I guess that MSE habits die hard, and despite having a temporary relapse (and I mean very temporary!!), I still save money where I can, get things free where I can, and try and make my money go further....

It has been harder because I want to go out and do things and see things, whereas when I was paying off my debt & saving for my trip I was at home most of the time and rarely going out...

I understand the attitude of "You only live once" and "I'll pay it off when I am home" but having been there and done that and had the debt t-shirt, i dont want to go down that route again, even if it was "only" debt of say a grand or my flight home. Eeeurgh. And I cant return to my parents home (and why should I!), so I NEED enough money to pay for a months deposit on a flat and a months rent, plus enough to tide me over until I find work..... Just practical I guess..

Ooops, rambled again, sorry!! :rolleyes:

ms_london

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

Martin's new book is out now, if you mean the thrifty ways one? Is there another one I don't know about?

Umm, not sure which book - but I think there may be a mention of me in one of them, but that may not be out yet. Not sure......!

LookingAhead

Wow I can't believe it's been that long!

I remember the heart rendering posts when Ms_London didn't want to be stuck at work on a Saturday in the nice weather last year....but look at her now!

I hope you enjoy the remainder of your travels and wring out every joyful experience hon.

Take care!

LA xx

ms_london

LookingAhead wrote: »

Wow I can't believe it's been that long!

I remember the heart rendering posts when Ms_London didn't want to be stuck at work on a Saturday in the nice weather last year....but look at her now!

I hope you enjoy the remainder of your travels and wring out every joyful experience hon.

Take care!

LA xx

Haha, yep I still remember that too!! Feels like a lifetime ago now!!

Thank you. How are you? I think I will be home Aug 2008 - thats if I spend 6 months in NZ, but if I am there a year it will be later..... So a while to go yet, but having the best time....

Those saturdays stuck in work have definately turned out to be worth it. Although it was hard at the time (and for those of you having to hear about it!) hehe!!

xx

HairyHandofDartmoor

You are definitely an inspiration to me ms_london. It is really interesting to hear how you done it. Shows mse really is a lesson for life.

JAMIEDODGER

hi hun! really great to hear from you:):wave:

glad things are going well for you and i cant believe its been a year either! i became debt free this month too great isnt it. i too never want to be back there again!

enjoy your time in thailand and pop in soon and say hello!

jamie x

ms_london

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

You are definitely an inspiration to me ms_london. It is really interesting to hear how you done it. Shows mse really is a lesson for life.

Thank you

I think MSE definately is a lesson for life, but it also VERY easy to slip into old habits thats for sure..

The next few months will put this to the test as again I will be travelling with no income coming in, so we'll see how that goes & how I can make my money last... :eek:

We shall see.....

Thank you xx