First Boxes Have Arrived

My first batch of moving boxes arrived yesterday, so now I must begin the arduous task of packing. I have a whole bunch of things set aside to sell on Ebay but I'm wondering, do you think I should just give them to Goodwill or pack them up and take them with me to my next city?

I'm Back

What a whirl-wind couple of weeks I've had! I apologise for the lack of posts, I went away for two weeks for a work course and didn't have access to the Internet.

It is official! I am a university graduate. Well, there is still the ceremony where I get handed my degree next Wednesday and I will only get that if I return all of my library books, but I've done all of my exams and passed all of my courses!

Needless to say, I am relieved. During my work course, I spent the middle weekend letting loose in Melbourne with some friends. I spent a lot of money (for me anyway) but it was worth it to me because I was rewarding myself for my three years of hard work!

But now I need to get into planning mode, I have to start getting ready to be an adult (see my last post). Glad to be back though!

Being an Adult

I graduate from university in around a month and after a few weeks of summer holidays, I will then start my first ever full time job. I'm nervous and excited!

This does mean, however, that I have to start thinking about rent and buying food and all that big, bad adult stuff. To begin with, I will be utilising company accommodation (basically just a room to sleep in, shared bathroom and kitchen facilities). This is until I get my footing in my new city, know what is what, that sort of thing.

However, I am sick of communal living, not having a home or a kitchen, that sort of thing. So I would like to move out and into a nice little apartment. At this stage, I want to live on my own, but may need to look for a roommate to save money. I don't really know how to budget to see what I will be able to afford as I have no idea what my expenses will be next year.

Any suggestions?

Christmas

Well, it's now less than two months to Christmas! Time to start thinking about gifts!

A little while ago, I put some things on lay by. It was my mum's, my younger brother's, my sister's and my three little cousins gifts. These cousins are the only ones I buy for, because they're so little.

I have almost paid it off. I've been very lax in making payments as I don't see the rush, it will just create clutter in my room once I pick it up. But, I still have more gifts to buy, most of which I can't think of anything for.

I need to get my dad something, my older brother and my two best friends. I don't know what to get any of them! Any ideas out there?

It's Going Well

My new lifestyle is off to a fairly good start. I have been quite good about my eating habits, eating all the lovely fresh stuff I have. I did spend the weekend at my grandparents where my diet was a little carb heavy, but that couldn't be helped without being rude. So now, back onto the healthy eating!

I have been a little lax about the exercise though. My exams start tomorrow and I've been studying for those, pushing exercise to the side. I know that's bad, I should definitely make time for both and it would probably even help me study better! So here's hoping I do better with that this week.

I had a very inexpensive weekend. All I had to buy was petrol and a box of chocolates for my grandparents. This week will also be inexpensive, as will the weekend, as I will mainly just be studying. Yay for savings!

New Lifestyle

I have decided to start a bit of a lifestyle re-vamp. I'm careful not to call it a diet because I want it to be something I stick to for the long term. As a result, I went grocery shopping last night and bought a lot of things I don't usually buy.

I bought a lot of fresh produce and it was surprisingly cheap. I spent around $50 all up, which I've easily spent in a week before on who knows what!

I honestly thought it would be more expensive for me to buy healthier food but in much larger quantities. But alas, it is not!

Super Update

Well it has certainly been a little while since I've posted. We're down to about 40 days until graduation, and it's a tremendous feeling. I'm just preparing for exams as best I can, don't want any nasty surprises preventing me from graduation.

I am still doing my best to save and not spend too frivolously, but also trying to enjoy myself, at least a little.

I got my superannuation (like 401k, just Australia's version of retirement savings) summary yesterday. I have $28 000 in there. Not heaps I know but I have only been working full time for three years and don't have a particularly high salary. I contribute the maximum 10% that is allowed. Maybe in ten years or so I will open a private account in order to contribute more, but that's not something I'm focusing on right now.