Happy June!

As I have mentioned before somewhere/time in my blog, I love new months. It's always a good opportunity to start anew cos it's not like you can always get a new year so often.. But yes. I think I have been neglecting those financial posts and goals. Well, I think it's time to start anew! I have spent so much just because I have gotten a lot of money... well, hopefully not this month. I am expecting about a grand from tax returns and tomorrow a nice big pay unlike my normal ones because I worked out of town and got petrol and accommodation pay too.

Though, after saying that, I am going to be going away in a couple of days (3 to be exact). It's going to be wonderful. I will also be the only attached friend there... that should be fun. But hopefully won't be spending too much, another friend, TS didn't really want to spend over $80. Could be done, accommodation split between us all is about $47, maybe cheaper if more people come. We'll see. Definitely keep you posted.

So. The goals:

June Goals

1. Read 2 books.
2. Watch 15(+) movies.
3. Work 15(+) hours/week.
4. Save 20%/$40 each week.
5. One "splurge"/purchase a week (if/when paid).
6. Weekly blogging (on both blogs) & (private) journaling.
7. Three meals a day/decent wake ups (to do this = food blog)

Spendings Round-up!

I find it so difficult to classify things. I'm not sure if it's the perfectionist/Virgo in me but I want the categories to be super detailed.... then I wonder does it really need to be that detailed? My current categories (that I have listed for June onwards) are:

• Dining+Bars (with friends)
• Dining BF (with boyfriend)
• Homewares
• Monthly (expenses such as mobile top up, magazine purchase and car insurance but that is filed under car costs... what do you think, should it be filed under monthly or car costs?)
• Car Costs (purchases retlated to my car such as most recently jump start cables, maintenance, WOF, registration etc)
• Clothes+Grooming (beauty, clothes and the like purchases)
• Gifts
• Savings
• Groceries (purchases from the supermarket to make dinner and other things such as snacks and such)
• Dairy buys (purchases from the dairy, usually when I require money for the bus.... or like recently water from the service station. Should this just be under a combined "food+groceries" category? Justification for this is that I want to target my spendings and know exactly where to cut back/where I am buying foods from.... hmm)
• Biscuit (purchases related to my pet guinea pig, usually just vegetables, pellets, hay, check ups etc)
• Transport (fuel purchases and bus/train tickets)
• Socializing (I contemplated having this under entertainment but in the past I have had magazine purchases and also book buys under the entertainment category... socialising is things like karaoke, pool etc. Hmm. Advice?)
• Holidays (thought I ought to have a 'holidays' category...)
• Meals Out (breakfast, lunch and dinners that are purchased/had outside of the home... or should that also go under a combined "food+groceries" category?)
• Debts (very unusual but yeah, self-explanatory)

So that is how things are categorized from now on for me and well, how I categorize.. May summary under the cut.

Transport: Filled up 5 times around $70 each time. I guess in accordance. There's 5 weeks in this month..

Miscellaneous: Bought a car phone charger (phone dies in a day if I txt constantly...), homewares such as blanket, pillows for when I forgot them when I went down to Hamilton as mentioned here and also coat hangers and hand towels for the house. Also, paid off a debt to FPA and had a new debit card fee.

Entertainment: A movie ($11) and half an hour internet time ($1.50)

Dining: Dined out with friends a couple of times and they averaged $10 each time so not too bad.

Dining BF: Dined out a few times more than usual this month with BF. One was $95 and another 2 $40ish.

Car Costs: Bought a jump start cable and also got a car check and changed ownership for my new car.

Clothes&Grooming: Way more than usual. Bought 5 lip glosses (lost one, I know a bit overboard!), a dress or two I think, a ring, pink flats, oh another 3 nailpolishes at $3.99 each, 2 x stockings and a set of small make up brushes all for $10. Yeah, spent a tad too much on myself this month! >_<

One gift, meals out averaging $5 - $10 each time, 2 semi- bigish grocery shop to make dinner which was about $20 each time..

I realized I didn't do April's so I will do that sometime.

Messy Dinners and Paydays

Payday yesterday was amazing. I got paid a grand for 17.5 hours of work! O_O I hope I have this job for a little while longer because that means I will possibly be able to get the phone I want sooner then I think, I hope :)

And then onto other things such as the dinner I had tonight and the movie I saw yesterday...

Tonight, kind of in celebration of my being paid, a lot, BF and I went out to dinner at La Bocca restaurant in Parnell and dessert at The Chocolate Boutique (no photos from here unfortunately, but we had it to takeaway anyway). It was amazing! Hmmm.. okay maybe not amazing but the service from the waiter certainly was. Actually, it was quite amazing, really did enjoy the meal and the saffron risotto was good. So yeah a good night and dinner! :) That was followed by dessert at The Chocolate Boutique. It wasn't really amazing, but then I got to the bottom and it was amazing then. I really do like Chocolate Boutique! Had some really nice and yum looking chocolates but already had a few too many chocolates at home so resisted the temptation to buy any. Photos follow!

Gratin of pan fried king prawns with garlic, white wine, fresh and sun dried tomatoes on saffron risotto (source)

The end. Clean(ish) plate =)

And other photos from here and there. Speaking of photos, should really finish that photography course at Proud Photography! I think I'll save the movie review for another entry.

Cute little stuffed guinea pig toy! I want it :(

 AMAZING! Chocolate eclair from Phillipe's Chocolate and French Pasteries in Point Chev/Grey Lynn. They have such amazing stuff! Macroons! I want to get some. And oooh chocolates! This is what I have some mornings. Damn, it's good! >_<

 Dumplings I made one night. About 87 in total.

 A really nice and amazing cake from The Cheesecake Factory that someone bought in at work one day.

Bumper Crop Post!

Kudos to the person who knows where part of the title comes from. =)

Haven't updated in ages cos just been so busy and haven't had time.... or been kind of been procrastinating... >_<

March goal check-in.

March Goals

• Working 15 -25 hours a week: Only worked 30 hours all up and 20 of them was in one week =\
• $10 left in bank account: Nope. 
• Read 2 - 4 books: Didn't happen...
• 30 for 30 challenge - no spending on clothes: Was good up until the last week, when I needed to buy a white singlet... I think that's poor preparation, could have asked around if anybody had a white singlet... so, that ruined it. Also, didn't start the 30 for 30..
• Routine - Cleaning + moisturizing: Yes. For most of the days except when I was at BF's.
• One craft: No :(
• 8 - 10 movies: Yup, 8 movies all done!
• 3 lessons of photograpy completed: Nope... I had yet to do this one part of this assignment. But I did it yesterday.
• At least $400 altogether saved in both savings accounts: Didn't work that much so didn't save... at all. >_<

March Financial Round-Up 
Below the cut... (I also apologize in advance for how the table following the pie chart sticks out! Next time, I will definitely be sure to make sure it's as small as possible....)

February Spending Summary

Before going into the monthly spending round up, just wanted to mention a few things like won a ticket to a free movie screening put on by AUSM - AUT's student movement and it was great. Really enjoyed the movie. The movie was The Adjustment Bureau and it has the perfect mix of romance and action. Or more, action than romance so the boys will probably enjoy it... not that I've seen The Bourne Identity, I kinda sense that its somewhat similar, but then they just add in the bureau and the girl.... I dunno, will let you know when I've watched the latter. 

Also, the other night, I baked the perfect 2 batches of chocolate chip cookies! This time, I used a teaspoon to scoop them and they are just SO crunchy! I love them and given a few away to friends and my mum. I want to make more! XD

And, since I did this on my LJ, thought would add it here too, in case you missed something or something catches your eye. February Summary:

• baked and spent about $100 more than I earnt
• made goals for March... more like a "monthly to-do" list.
• got into Pretty Little Liars.... still need to watch the pilot! I started watching/realized it was on one episode too late! (and also mused about the meaning of new months for me...)
• finished a book, Sloppy Firsts and watched four movies to add to my watched movies list.
• ate out at La Bruschetteria with a Spreets voucher. It was really nice! Def recommend it :)
• made my first dinner, enchiladas and hot chocolate submarino!

Then below under the cut is February's Spending Summary... I think after this month's tracking, I will set goals... after seeing if there are any themes.

January Spending Summary

To start off with, my current living situation is still at home and don't have to pay any rent or any other things, any 'groceries' are food and drink that is/can be bought from the supermarket. The other thing that might be odd and/or confusing is Biscuit is my pet guinea pig and that is the things that I buy for him, like fresh veges, pellets, cages etc,  and I think everything else is pretty self-explanatory.

This my first spending overview. Hoping to do more of these to keep track of my spendings and maybe even spend less... >_<

1. Transport: Topped up fuel once a week. Although this week, went out too much and hence overused fuel and also because had to work far away. Really hoping I get reimbursed from Inland Revenue for my fuel for work.. Also, $1.50 worth of bus rides.
2. Groceries: Seriously can't remember, but once, most recently, bought about $40 worth of gorceries for two meals and can't remember the rest... might have to keep receipts to remember..
3. Entertainment: Movies, phone topup, magazine (Cosmo). Probably next time will split my magazine subscription into months...
4. Miscellaneous: A rubbish bin [that I don't really need], vodem stick, and forgot two $5 purchases... =\
5. Dining: dinner and dessert with friends before and after movie
6. Dining BF
7. Biscuit: Pellets, 3 vege trips and bought a new cage for him, will also be reimbursed from selling his old cage.
8. Hair & Beauty: Bought Nivea sunscreen, which will last me till 2014 I believe and also 3 random hair accessories that I probably didn't need but wanted....
9. Lunch/Dinner: Lunches and dinners purchased by myself. This month was 1 lunch and 2 dinners... maybe really one altogether.... but on seperate occasions in one night..
10. Gifts: One gift for a birthday. Was a great price too! Went at the right time and also halved with a friend :)

In total, I spent $886 this month.... o_o definitely need to cut down... and most of this came from my savings with exception to one pay of $157...

If I Had A Credit Card.....

"Love is a moment that lasts forever..."
- Julie Wittey

If I had a credit card, oh no, it would be a nightmare!? Maybe....?

But yes, I just got home from watching Confessions of A Shopaholic with my friend. It was good and quite funny. I love Isla Fisher! She is so cute and adorable but that scene where she is trying to retrieve the letter that she accidentally sent to Aletta or something.. that was soo painful to watch! >.<

But I think overall it was a good movie! Awesome chick flick definitely!

And I have actually been thinking of like doing reviews of movies that I see.... coz I have kind of seen quite a few movies lately and actually having an opinion! Haha.. XD

But, anyways updates, updates... not much... nothing exciting has been happening much in my life.. it's just been uni, uni and more uni with the occasional sociality~ but not much coz I have been poor (up till recently..) and quite busy....

Oooh, what has been exciting is that I AM OUT OF OVERDRAFT!! ^^ YAY! I actually have MONEY in my account hehe. That's nice ;) And.. that's about it really.

Oooh I met up with some old friends from high school that I haven't seen in like AGES!! (One year to be exact) and that was very awesome. Omg... the conversation topics have like changed soo much and quite a few of my friends from high school are getting married and like just living life! Life is happening and er, yeah.. it's kind of exciting yet scary at the same time.. ><

I think there was something that I was to mention.. that I wanted to mention but I have forgotten it... -__-

Well. That's all. Oh! I attended a wedding ceremony of my Dad's family friend last weekend and it was, I thikn my first wedding ceremony that I've attended.. that I've remembered? But yeah, it was nice... so nice that I nearly cried!? >< I stopped myself though... but yeah... I guess I have reached that part of my life...... or I'm getting old =_= lol..

But anyways, to end this entry (that is very delayed), carrying on from the theme from the rest of the day, I will be going out with some more friends from high school and I'm just really looking forward to catching up with them and maybe also drinking (:P) and going out.. as I haven't gone out in SO long! But yeah.. :)

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend and I really kind of should post more..... but sooo busy... kind of T_T

Laziness and Whatnot Kicking In....

"Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile." Franklin Jones

.... is the reason behind my uh, lack of updates and the general feeling of un-interestingness.. even though there has been some moments in which I said I would blog... but, yeah, I lost it! >.<

It is finally happening to me. I've read in a few of the blogs that I follow this happening to them. And now it's happening to me~

There has been some good news.. overdraft is down like SIGNIFICANTLY. To -$25... now, just have to NOT spend anything till payday this coming Friday 19th! ^_^

And the China/HK trip is getting closer and closer!!! Two weeks exactly!! :D I can't wait. Will be starting to pack next week, really (week of 23rd)! Yaay! ^.^

Something sort of random that I did today, created a blend from an episode of Gossip Girl for a theme header competition at Transcending Bliss Forum.

And, speaking Gossip Girl, I am one episode away from having watched every episode of Gossip Girl! Love that show<3 Love Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass! Blair is GORGEOUS and PRETTY and Chuck is, just, Chuck. Not bad looking as the (first) season progresses~ :]

So, really what is left of this month is:
~ a week of work (this week)
~ Boxing Day Sales (YUS! Shopping timee!!)
~ and finally, CHINA/HK!! :D

This past month or the last time since I have updated hasn't been totally exciting... just been me procrastinating tidying room (since moving back) and when I have been tidying, chucking and sorting stuff etc etc.. and yeah.... exciting stuff right there.

Until next time..... which I will probably be going on about my imminent trip! :D

Hopefully everyone's holidays or week has been going great! :)

Overdraft. DOWN! =)

YAY! It's going downnn!!! ^_^ So just gotta not spend any money between now and the next payday... which is 19th Dec....

I'm happy =)

And The (Somewhat) Bad....

And of course with every goodish/badish news (yesterday's entry), there comes bad or really, unwelcome...?
Anywho, haven't really been "spending up large" but the small 'breakfast'/'first-meal-of-the-day' purchases have been adding together.... to the sum of four hundred dollars!!! :O

I know... I am.... shocked. Ah yes, shocking news! Sigh. Oh well. Gotta restrain myself (which I did today when I went to Lynnmall! :D Restrained myself from buying this $5 necklace at Equip! I want it! Maybe next week....) till next friday! When I get bpaid a nice. huge. sum! =D I can't wait! :)

One week of work over! =) Three more to go~

Next week is shopping day Thursay then... (before) my friend's 19th birthday dinner at La Porchetta! ^^ Their gelato is delicious! And so pretty! (might have to take a pic.... if I'm not feeling so self-conscious at myself for taking a picture of my food, lol).

I don't know how other people do it! I just get so! self-conscious like people, or even the people I'm with are looking at me (most probably) and/or are thinking what the hell! Also think its a very asian thing to do (mean no offence, a good thing! And just I think is typical of them :) ), I wish I had that asian-ness... don't think I'm asian enough :P

YUS! OVERDRAFT = GOING DOWN! :D

"A smile is nearly always inspired by another smile."
- Anonymous

YAYYYYY!!!! My overdraft is going down! I am sooo happy. This end of year and actaully SEMESTER has actually been pretty great! Greatness all around... and now that just sounds cheesy, lol. >.<

Overdraft = now $116! YUS! :D

The next couple of weeks is going to be quite good too... well the next week anyways...

1. Getting exams back... fingers crossed I passed! ><
2. Some plans with Chinese Class (LOL, yes, we're that tight haha XD)
3. Getting paid... haha... and equals overdraft disappearing! Also my last allowance payment~ :(
4. Friends (finally) coming to visit me!

Well.. the last one is actually this week but nonetheless, I'll count them as like next week lol... OOoh and HEROES! Coming back. OMG! It is sooo goood!!! >_< But so very whyyy and wtf as well.

Ohhh and like today also like got reconnected with an old friend on FB! Facebook is great! Lol. That's now like two people finding me in a FB group lol... (the primary school I went to~)

Soo yeah, life has never been so great! :D I'm very happy. And ooohhh of course CHINA AND HK! YUS!! HAPPY! LIKE OMG!

Sooo pretty much there is quite a few things that I am looking forward that's coming up in the next month... like:

1. CHINA/HK! LIKE OH YEAH AND OMG!!!! YUS~ ^_^
2. My friend, Chloe's birthday dinner... birthdays  are always nice and good time to catch up! =)
3. Working! Yes... lol... I found out that I will be working till the week before I leave for China/HK! ^.^
4. And the above stuff, exam handback plans, etc etc.

I am like pretty happy and satisfied with life atm. :) And exaaaaams have finsihed! Yus! Finally!

Though one thing that hasn't really like "lifted off" is that NZ site... I'm too lazy to like tend to it... emailed a few sites in the hopes of a exchange but yeah... I dunno. I think I need more help. Heh.

Oooh and of course not like forgetting my little outing today, lol! It was actually quite interesting~ Like I stumbled onto this guy on Vulcan Lane, I think like doing this awesome and soo original painting! Sucks that I was like 30c short of $2 to try and get one through the raffle he was doing! :( The art was like soo great! Pretty great~ It's like apparently this technique from South Africa and like next to no one other than he does it!? It's pretty awesome! :)

Also, this guy was busking..



And I believe that is about all! Satisfication. ♥

Oh and am also planning a few stuff before the end of the year/before I leave... presents... gotta go shopping for a secret santa present on Snark and also for some other people. =) Might leave some till I actually have money!~ But would like the snark secret santa to be like sent out soonish... since it's gotta be sent overseas~

Since, am sharing photos, below, jacket I bought at Pagani the other for half price of the original!~ :D

=)

it just keeps getting better...

*Sigh*

It just keeps getting better. This day. I just opened a letter from Work and Income (a sorta division and equivalent of tax company..) and it has something to do with my student allowance. I probably owe them money. T_T *sigh*

Like my life couldn't get any better.

The only upside to everything is the fact that I got paid like $600 which is my pay from working at my old work last week plus holiday pay.. that's the only highlight. *sigh*


And, y'know I don't know why I just seem to like gravitate towards updating this blog.. my public blog. =\

Hmm. Oh well. Well I just checked my blog stats and well, people visit so, there's a reason to keep updating.

And, this is pretty like personal.. hmmm...

I don't know eh. I wonder if this is going to come back and bite me on the ass. Well. I don't see any reason it would, I mean, I didn't exactly like pour my heart out and like mention specific details and names. Although I guess if like you really knew me, you'd probably have some or all of the idea of what and who I am talking about but... I don't think I have shared enough with one person (or maybe one or two, but I am hoping that they will not like mention it to other people and such.. =\ which I'm sure they won't..) and yeah..

So, yeah, as well as what I am currently dealing with/getting over/whatever, I have to also deal with like Studylink/Work&Income/Whoever wanting to take money away from me and accusing me of pretty much withholding money and (probably) information from them. -__-

I don't need this but I guess things just come at most convenient times~! (not. -_-)

Aaand, also there is actually like uni! T_T I just like don't feel in the mood to like study and like learn characters and remember characters. I think I have forgotten some.. =\ I haven't studied for like two weeks.

Oh and I failed a part of my Written Chinese exam. T_T *sigh*

Just. Add to it. Really. Just add to it.

Before all of this. Or this one specific thing. I thought that my life was pretty good. Nothing to complain about but it seems that once something bad happens, it seems your whole world is falling apart and is like against you. >_<

Why does it always happen to me?

Why.

First Post And Other Stuff [Kawaiib3rry]

So. I have been meaning to start off this blog. But I didn't kind of know how to... I was intending to start it off with a little rant and reasoning of why it seems that I (and possibly other people) seem to ask friends how their love lives are.. but I couldn't think of any reasonings.

But anyways. I have good news to start off this blog! ^^
I am going to get paid about $600!!! I worked last week of my two week break ( which is still on atm, but not for too long =[ ). I got a call from my workmate and the Accounts/Payroll manager and she told me of the good news~! =]

Was sooo happy! =D

It's going to pay off my ($460) overdraft and I'm going to have money to spend!! Which I am going to save half of it~ ^^

So yes. Pretty happy. :)

I apologize for my lack of creativity and originality in my blog layout.. psp is being a bitch >_< and so that means no means of ummm.. well creativity or originality..

But I hope my blog content makes up for it....? :D